State lawmakers are calling out San Jose officials for changing the locks and community event access to a Vietnamese cultural garden that’s opened a political rift in Little Saigon.
A Tuesday letter from San Jose’s elected representatives in Sacramento questions who’s really in control of the city’s parks. It comes after District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan’s office in August announced he would be taking more control over who can host a monthly flag raising ceremony at the Vietnamese Heritage Garden on the first Saturday of every month — the same date that a political rival of Doan’s typically holds the popular event, which the assemblymembers frequently attend.
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“It is highly unusual and very concerning that only one elected official would have full control of a public space and the permitting process to control the public’s ability to exercise their free speech rights and ability to gather in a public space,” the joint letter from Assemblymembers Ash Kalra, Evan Low, Alex Lee, Marc Berman and Gail Pellerin reads.