BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: scr 89
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: correa
VERSION: 4/7/10
Analysis by: Jennifer Gress FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: May 4, 2010
SUBJECT:
Nguyen Ngoc Phu Human Rights Memorial Interchange
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates the Beach Boulevard interchange on
State Highway Route (SR) 22 in Orange County as the "Nguyen Ngoc
Phu Human Rights Memorial Interchange."
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
The person being honored must have provided extraordinary
public service or some exemplary contribution to the public
good and have a connection to the community where the highway
is located.
The person being honored must be deceased.
The naming must be done without cost to the state. Costs for
signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.
The author or co-author of the resolution must represent the
district in which the facility is located and the resolution
must identify the specific highway segment or structure being
named.
The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles
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in length.
The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus
and be without local opposition.
The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good faith
effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the prior
designation.
This resolution :
Designates the Beach Boulevard (SR 39) interchange on SR 22 in
Orange County as the "Nguyen Ngoc Phu Human Rights Memorial
Interchange."
Requests the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to determine the cost of erecting appropriate
signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state
highway system, and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources sufficient to cover that cost, to erect those signs.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose and Background . This resolution seeks to memorialize
Phu Ngoc Nguyen, who was a young student, community leader,
and an ardent voice for freedom, human rights, and democracy,
particularly in Vietnam.
Phu Ngoc Nguyen was born into challenging circumstances in
Vietnam on November 27, 1983. His father served as a South
Vietnamese military police officer and suffered as a prisoner
in a concentration camp for seven years. His mother struggled
every day to support her family in Vietnam.
In 1991, his family seized the opportunity to make a new life
for itself when the United States welcomed Vietnamese veterans
who fought alongside American forces in South Vietnam through
the Orderly Departure Program. The family settled in Santa
Ana, California and became part of the growing Vietnamese
American community in Orange County.
In 2001, Phu Ngoc Nguyen returned to visit Vietnam and
witnessed the abject poverty challenging the daily lives of
the Vietnamese people. Drawing strength from that experience,
Phu Ngoc Nguyen committed himself to helping the Vietnamese
American community by becoming involved in and leading student
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organizations to honor Vietnamese culture and to celebrate,
defend, and press for freedom in both the United States and
Vietnam.
His work within the community was extraordinary, the examples
of his service numerous. In 2002, Phu Ngoc Nguyen organized a
two-day hunger strike to protest human rights and religious
freedom violations in Vietnam. Phu Ngoc Nguyen served in 2003
as a lead organizer of the International Vietnamese Youth
Conference, an event that highlighted human rights, social
justice, and community service.
Phu Ngoc Nguyen served as chair of the Orange County Human
Rights Night on International Human Rights Day in 2004 and, as
chair of the Tet Festival in Garden Grove, California in 2005,
he mobilized over 700 students and 50 organizations to
participate in an event that drew tens of thousands of people.
He reached out to young Vietnamese Americans by hosting a
weekly radio program entitled "Tieng Noi Sing Vien" (Student
Voice) on Sai Gon Radio Hai Ngoai (Saigon Radio Overseas).
Phu Ngoc Nguyen died unexpectedly from heart failure on June
7, 2005. He was just 21 years old. His life serves as an
example of how one young person can have a positive impact on
those around him and his community. This resolution seeks to
recognize his service, accomplishments, and spirit.
2.Consistent with committee policy . This resolution is
consistent with all of the provisions of the committee's
policy on highway designations.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
April 28, 2010)
SUPPORT: Acacia Adult Day Services
Association of Vietnamese Language and Culture
Schools of Southern California
Coalition of the Republic of Vietnam Veteran
Associations in Southern California
Joint Action Committee for Fatherland's Integrity
Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of
Southern California
Viet Bao Daily News
Vietnamese American Community of Southern
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California
Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association in the
United States at Dieu Ngu Temple
Tri Ta, Councilman, City of Westminster
OPPOSED: None received.