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Asian Pacific American Coalition
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Tong Endorses Obama
By Genghis Conn
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
We've been wondering what Connecticut Democrats were going
to do now that Chris Dodd is out of the race. State Rep. William
Tong quickly endorsed Sen. Obama today. Will this be a trend?
Tong said in a release:
"I am honored to be the first elected official in
Connecticut to formally endorse Senator Obama for
President. As a student in Senator Obama's Constitutional
Law class, I witnessed first hand the strength of Senator
Obama's intellect, his deep understanding of our
constitutional principles and values, and the power of his
vision for this country and our people. His campaign is a
call to hope and a call to service that I, like so many other
young people in this country, are compelled to answer. He
challenged me as student, he inspired me to run for office,
and I am so excited that Senator Obama will lead our
country as the next President of the United States."
The timing here is interesting. I think a lot of Democrats who
might have been tempted to endorse Clinton or Edwards will
instead go to Obama following last night's win for him in Iowa. A
lot of them may decide to see what happens in New Hampshire,
too.
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Contact APAC
39 Hall Hill Rd
Willington, CT 06279
Tel:(860)933-4787
E-mail
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Asian community seeks seat at government table
By: Keith M. Phaneuf, Journal Inquirer
02/23/2008
HARTFORD - Connecticut's Asian-American community is seeking its own
state agency, similar to those created to give other ethnic groups a louder
voice in government.
Several members of the statewide coalition testified this week before a
legislative panel, urging creation of an Asian Pacific American Commission.
But the outcome may hinge on Connecticut's economy and the final state
budget negotiations in May.
One of the fastest-growing populations in the country, Asian Pacific
Americans struggle with economic, political, health care and education
inequalities - problems compounded by a "model minority" image that is
a harmful myth, said Angela Rola, director of the University of
Connecticut's Asian-American Cultural Center on the Storrs campus.
"Simply defined, the 'model minority' is hard-working, never complains,
economically and educationally successful, with a strong family structure,"
Rola testified this week before the legislature's Government
Administration and Elections Committee. "While on the surface many of
our community members can fit that definition, so can members from
many other communities. By living under this 'model minority' image, real
issues often facing Asian Pacific Americans are most often glossed over
and ignored."
Health care access is a serious problem, Laurie Julian of Bloomfield, the
Connecticut Asian Pacific American Coalition's legislative chairwoman, said.
Language barriers and "the cultural fear of Western medicine institutions
and procedures results in the avoidance of prevention and screening
services," Julian said. "So many fall between the cracks of our health care
system."
Asian-Americans have disparately high rates of tuberculosis and cervical
cancer.
William A. Howe of Glastonbury, a coalition member and state education
consultant, testified that while some Asian-Americans excel in school, the
group suffers more frequently from depression, anxiety, and isolation
than do white students. They also have a higher dropout rate, 19 percent
to 15 percent, he said.
And in two-thirds of Connecticut's school districts, the largest minority
group is Asian-American.
Advocates of a new state panel said the community's numbers are
growing rapidly everywhere, not just in schools.
From 2000 to 2005, the Asian Pacific American population in Connecticut
grew nearly 30 percent, from 84,000 to 108,000, according to the U.S.
Census, involving people with roots in nearly 50 countries and ethnic
groups.
State government already has established the Latino and Puerto Rican
Affairs and the African-American Affairs commissions to advise state
officials on issues of concern to those groups.
Both agencies represent a small fraction of the overall $17.6 billion state
budget. The Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission has six full-time
posts and a budget this fiscal year of $571,636, while the
African-American Affairs panel has four full-time posts and a $413,436
budget.
An Asian Pacific American Commission was proposed last year. And
though it wasn't created, Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the legislature did include
$25,000 in the preliminary state budget for 2008-09 for such a group.
Rola said advocates believe about $250,000 is needed.
Rep. Christopher L. Caruso, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the Government
Administration and Elections Committee, said with a recession looming,
launching new programs would be difficult.
But Caruso added he's hopeful some compromise could be reached. "I
think the idea definitely has merit," he said. "The testimony we received
was very compelling."
©Journal Inquirer 2008
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