"Businesses at Little Saigon's signature commercial center have long complained that their Vietnam Town plaza has been neglected and mismanaged. For months, San Jose officials sat idle on those complaints. But now those merchants have banded together with a lawsuit that's highlighted the extent of the plaza's issues - forging a path to reshape the plaza and fulfill its community gathering space potential."
"Their efforts - and San José Spotlight's reporting - now appear to be waking the city up. The city's Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department ordered Vietnam Town management to remove barricades and garbage dumpsters blocking access to the plaza's main parking garage by Dec. 18. The garage's closure had mystified business owners who said it needlessly choked out customer traffic, turning the plaza into a ghost town at certain parts of the day."
Vietnam Town, Little Saigon's commercial plaza, faces legal and operational turmoil as merchants allege neglect, mismanagement and misuse of business improvement funds. Merchants filed a lawsuit against the Vietnam Town Condominium Owners Association and sought access to a main parking garage that had been blocked by barricades and dumpsters, reducing customer traffic. City departments ordered removal of obstructions by Dec. 18. The death of Viet Museum founder Loc Vu intensified efforts to document elders' stories and preserve refugee histories. The Viet Museum's future remains uncertain. San Jose officials pursued symbols recognizing the large Vietnamese population, including freeway signage and an iPhone emoji.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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