2002:
• Gilbert Wong and Jackie Maruhashi worked on redistricting issues (local, state, and federal).
• OCASV president Gilbert Wong led and organized a local candidates Forum (local and state) and raised
the visibility of OCASV to elected officials at local, state and federal levels concerning the APA community.
 We overall, supported voter registration efforts and engaged APA’s in community participation and empowerment.

2003:
• Organized a local school board candidate’s forum in Palo Alto (10/20/03), non-political and independently
moderated. The prevalent topic was starting a Chinese immersion school program in Palo Alto (PACE), which
OCASV is a supporter of.

• Organized a city council and school board candidate’s forum in Sunnyvale (9/25/03) to inform and encourage the local Asian American communities to vote.  Silicon Valley news reporters including the Chinese press posed the questions.

• OCASV worked with 19 other Silicon Valley community organizations in a broad-based coalition to educate the public about the threat the USA Patriot Act poses to civil liberties.   History has shown that when civil liberties are sacrificed in the name of national security, the first ones required to sacrifice are often those of minority communities.  Our chapter was instrumental in getting the City of San Jose and the County of Santa Clara to pass resolutions stating opposition to those provisions in the USA Patriot Act that violate civil liberties on 9/23/03 and 8/19/03, respectively.

• During August 2003, OCASV passed out 5,000 No on Prop 54 flyers to Asian Americans in the Silicon Valley, ultimately defeating efforts to eliminate the collection of racial data that: * helps in the fight against hate crimes, racial profiling, and discrimination * provides race specific medical information to doctors so they can better treat and identify diseases that minorities like Asians might be more susceptible to.  All OCA Northern CA chapters worked together to help defeat this proposition at the October 7, 2003 elections by a 2 to 1 margin!

• OCASV spoke out against Sandra James, Vice Mayor of Cupertino, at a June 2, 2003 city council meeting,
protesting her use of racially insensitive language in earlier council meetings and in public.   Her statements and initial resistance to apologize resulted in the derailment of fundraising efforts by the Asian community to renovate a new Cupertino public library.  Ultimately, she apologized to the Asian community and renovation efforts have moved forward once again.

• On 11/3/03, OCASV issued a press release expressing our deep concerns over allegations of discrimination
against Asians by San Jose city officials in connection with the Tropicana Shopping Center.  Dennis Fong, one of our OCA members and one of the owners of the shopping center, claimed the City’s Redevelopment Agency wrongfully engaged in selective, intentional, race-based discrimination throughout San Jose – not just at the Tropicana Shopping Center. OCASV will be vigilant in this matter.

• OCASV spoke out at the 10/27/03 Palo Alto City Council meeting expressing anger that racially offensive comments made by some Palo Alto residents at Palo Alto Planning Hearings and letters were not chastised.  These comments were addressed to the house remodel project of Elizabeth Wong, another OCASV member.  Since then, there has been further escalation, via an anonymous hate-mail / threat letter sent.  OCASV will maintain its vigilance in this matter.

• OCASV held a first fundraising dance at the Mitchell Park Community Center, Palo Alto on November 1, 2003.
We had, Jes Jammin, a live Asian soul band playing 60’s and 70’s music.  Everybody had a wonderful time!