HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-23 - Lunar New YearProclamation
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Lydia Kou
Mayor
LUNAR NEW YEAR 2023
WHEREAS, today we commemorate Lunar New Year and join families in California, Asia, and around the
world in welcoming, for those following the Chinese zodiac, or similar zodiacs in other cultures, the Year of the
Rabbit on January 22, and for the Vietnamese zodiac, the Year of the Cat; and
WHEREAS, Lunar New Year, predominantly celebrated by millions of Asian and Pacific Islander (API)
Californians of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Malaysian, Singaporean, and Vietnamese descent, is a time
of joy and renewal; and
WHEREAS, on this special day, families celebrate and prepare for the arrival of a new year of good health
and prosperity. As we look forward to a joyous new year, we proudly reflect on the contributions of API
Californians who literally built California – from America’s first transcontinental railroad to the farms and small
businesses foundational to our state’s economy; and
WHEREAS, locally in Palo Alto, Mr. Thomas Foon Chew, owner and innovative businessman for canning
processing innovations preserving fruits and vegetables at the Bayside Cannery in Mayfield/Palo Alto also known
to locals as the “Fry’s” building. Mr. Chew was also known for hiring workers from different ethnicities,
providing housing and hot lunches for his Chinese laborers. In addition, we celebrate and acknowledge Pacific
Islanders for decades providing quality and much-needed home care to many members in our community; and
WHEREAS, we also recognize that discriminatory laws, xenophobic policies, misogyny, and mistreatment
suffered by API Californians are a blight on our state’s history. We must also continue to call out and stand against
the anti-Asian rhetoric and violence that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Californians, we must
reject past and present prejudice and embrace inclusion. Today, let us join our API friends and neighbors in
celebration. As the door to the Year of the Rabbit/Cat opens, we wish good fortune, health and happiness to all
those who celebrate.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lydia Kou, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto on behalf of the entire City Council do
hereby recognize and celebrate the Lunar New Year 2023, encourage California schools to take time to educate
our students about the traditions of Lunar New Year and the past and present contributions of the API community
in our state.
PRESENTED: January 23, 2023