BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: June 30, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, TOURISM, AND
INTERNET MEDIA
Ian Charles Calderon, Chair
SCR
55 (Pan) - As Amended June 19, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
SUBJECT: Centennial of the founding of Locke, California.
SUMMARY: Resolves that the Legislature recognizes and honors
Locke, California, as the last remaining Chinatown in North
America, and commemorates the centennial of its founding by
urging all Californians to learn about the important history of
Locke, California, and its inhabitants. Specifically, this
resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1)The year 2015 marks the centennial of the founding of Locke,
California.
2)Locke, California, is the only town in the United States of
America built exclusively by the Chinese for the Chinese, and
is the last remaining Chinatown in North America, as all other
Chinatowns are connected to, or lay adjacent to, an existing
town or city.
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3)Locke, California, was found in 1915 after the Chinese section
of Walnut Grove, California, was destroyed by a fire and the
Chinese inhabitants decided it was time to establish a town of
their own.
4)The inhabitants of Locke, California, have made tremendous
contributions to farming methods that spearheaded California's
leadership in agriculture, especially as it pertained to pear
orchards and asparagus fields.
5)Locke, California, was instrumental in reclaiming swamps along
the Sacramento River Delta and turning them into rich arable
farmlands.
6)Levee construction originally brought the Chinese to the area,
but by the time Locke, California, was built most of the jobs
in the area were in farming, which resulted in Locke,
California, having many businesses that catered to the farm
workers and residents of the region.
7)From the 1920s through the 1940s, Locke, California, had a
permanent population of 600, which swelled to 1,000 during the
harvest season.
8)In 1970, Locke, California, was added to the Registry of
National Historic Places by the Sacramento County Historical
Society, and in 1990, Locke, California, was named as a
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National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of
the Interior.
FISCAL EFFECT: None.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "Locke, California was
founded in 1915 and this year marks its 100th anniversary.
Unlike, other China towns that we are familiar with, Locke is
unique because it is the only Chinatown in the United States
that is not a part of another city. In order to preserve its
charm the Sacramento County Historical Society added Locke to
the Registry of National Historic Places. It is an honor to be
able to continue its preservation and celebrate the centennial
anniversary of Locke." Press clippings supplied by the author
note that, "The town was founded by early Chinese immigrant
laborers who came to this country seeking a better life. They
were instrumental in reclaiming swamps into rich, arable
farmland along the Sacramento River Delta. They made tremendous
contributions to farming methods to spearhead California's
leadership in agriculture."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
There is no support on file.
Opposition
There is no opposition on file.
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Analysis Prepared by:Dana Mitchell / A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M. / (916)
319-3450