San Jose Voters to Decide On 'Little Saigon'

Reed and Nguyen asked that people vote on the name and, they hope, asking for an open vote will encourage local voters to exercise their franchise more often.

In their memo they wrote, ''A November 2008 ballot measure to decide this will best ensure that the greatest number of voters turn out, ensure inclusiveness, and perhaps, even encourage first-time voters energized by this issue to vote for other issues such as President of the United States.''

The council angered local Vietnamese Americans who wanted the area to be named ''Little Saigon,'' and the ensuing protests included weekly marches outside City Hall and demands for Nguyen’s resignation.

The two also recommended that money budgeted for signage for the area to help cover the cost of the election; work on the design of banners and signs for the area be suspended until a name has been determined; and staff draft a policy that outlines a process to officially name areas/districts of the city that is modeled on the council policy for changing street names and provides that proposals to name business districts must come from an organization representing the businesses in the district.

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