LA’s City Council President and candidate for Mayor, Eric Garcetti, introduced a motion to re-establish an Office of Immigrant Affairs. The Office was first established in 2004 with the purpose of connecting the immigrant population with city services. Unfortunately because of shifting policy priorities at City Hall, the Office was dismantled. With the recent support from President Obama in regards towards creating a legal pathway to citizenship, the need to re-establish the Office of Immigrant Affairs was deemed necessary by the Council President to make sure that city services are being accessed and utilized in welcoming the New Americans.
Panida Rzonca, our staff attorney, was present at the City Council’s meeting. Speaking during the public comment portion in support of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, she addressed immigrants’ positive impact on our community. “Immigration is not a threat to the economy. If anything, it makes us stronger. Immigrants fill critical gaps in our workforce, invest in new businesses, and bring much needed skill sets in science technology, engineering, and math.” She wanted to demonstrate to the Council-members that immigration is not only a Latino issue. With thousands of the Thai immigrants who work in the US, it’s an issue that is also affecting the Asian Pacific Islander community as well.
Panida concluded with a brief summary of Thai CDC’s work in helping Thai immigrants thrive and drive the local economy. Thai CDC helped plan and develop East Hollywood. Out of that development, Thai Town was born which fosters and nurtures development of small businesses. The Thai Town Market Place, which is a small business incubator that creates 40 permanent local jobs, and the East Hollywood Certified Farmers’ Market, which creates fresh food access to the local community and new business opportunities, is actively promoted through our small business program, our Entrepreneurial Training Program, and Small Business Expo.
