City of Philadelphia - File #: 160318

• File #: 160318
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 4/14/2016
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 4/14/2016
• Title: Recognizing May 2016 as Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month in Philadelphia to celebrate and commemorate the proud heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their invaluable contributions to enhancing the City's culture, economy and the founding ideals of independence and democracy.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Taubenberger, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Green

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
4/14/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
4/14/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Recognizing May 2016 as Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month in Philadelphia to celebrate and commemorate the proud heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their invaluable contributions to enhancing the City's culture, economy and the founding ideals of independence and democracy.

Body
WHEREAS, Section 102 of Title 36, United States Code, officially designates May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and authorizes the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on the People of the United States to observe this special month; and

WHEREAS, The month of May was chosen because of two important historical dates in Asian American and Pacific Islander History: on May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States and on May 10, 1869, the building of the transcontinental railroad was completed due to significant contributions of Chinese workers; and

WHEREAS, Today, the United States is home to nearly 19 million Asian Americans and 1.4 million Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; and

WHEREAS, The Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has grown to over 300,000 citizens; and

WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, between 2000 and 2010, both Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations grew significantly, increasing 43% and 32%, respectively; Philadelphia has nearly 110,000 Asian Americans and over 3,100 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; and

WHEREAS, The Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia will hold its 10th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Festival on Saturday, May 7, 2016 in Franklin Square Park, where participants will experience Asian culture and many other facets of Philadelphia's vibrant and dynamic Asian American and Pacific Islander Community; and

WHEREAS, All citizens of Philadelphia are encouraged to participate in learning about the rich heritage and contributions of...