No City Funding for Little Saigon Brochure

A divided City Council has denied a request to subsidize a brochure promoting Little Saigon as a tourist destination. The brochure includes graphics, photographs, maps, business names, phone numbers and other information in a style similar to other tourism brochures.

It was recently printed by Bridgecreek Development, one of the largest commercial property owners and developers in Little Saigon, at a cost of $9,335.

The pamphlet will be distributed in hotels and motels in the west Orange County area, including those around Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and other tourist destinations.

City officials had suggested participating in the project by giving Bridgecreek $5,000 toward the printing costs.

In addition to the benefits of added tourism and sales taxes, the city would receive 10,000 copies for distribution in City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce and community organizations, its staff argued.

Councilwomen Margie L. Rice and Joy L. Neugebauer favored the expenditure, but council members Tony Lam and Margaret Shillington voted against it and, with Mayor Frank Fry Jr. absent, the result was a 2-2 deadlock.

“We need to take care of some of the problems in Little Saigon before we start sending tourists there,” Shillington said. “Parking is a big problem, for example, and if people can’t park there, they’re just going to leave.”