City Council hears calls for Little Arabia designation
Created for Multimedia Reporting, Fall 2021.
The Arab American Civic Council and other Anaheim community members have been asking the city council to officially designate Little Arabia with street signs, or at least put the issue on the agenda for discussion.
The most recent campaign has lasted for about a year, with Little Arabia advocates coming to speak at every bi-weekly city council meeting.
So far, the city council hasn’t said anything.
Arab American Civic Council Fellow Amin Nash, 31, asks the Anaheim City Council to designate Little Arabia at the Dec. 7 meeting. Nash said he doesn’t feel completely represented by the council, and would at least want the District 2 representative Gloria Ma’ae to support Little Arabia’s designation.
Mike Lyster, Anaheim communications manager, says the issue isn’t as simple as putting up street signs. Half of the population in that area is Hispanic, so they may not feel represented under the designation of Little Arabia, Lyster said.
Arab American Civic Council Fellow Aneesah Muhammad, 21, has been speaking at city council meetings since September, though advocacy for Little Arabia started around 2004. Even if Little Arabia’s designation is not approved, adding it to the agenda would be a sign of representation, Muhammad said.
Arab American Civic Council Executive Director Rashad Al-Dabbagh said the recent push for Little Arabia’s designation started last year, after the civic council saw the effect of the pandemic on businesses. Al-Dabbagh, Nash and Muhammad say designation would increase cultural tourism for businesses in the area.
Muhammad said she finds the city council’s lack of response or counter-argument disheartening, disrespectful and a sign that the city doesn’t want to hear their people’s voices.
According to Lyster, legally, the council cannot comment on any issue that isn’t on the agenda, but councilmembers can decide based on public comments to make a motion to add an issue to the next agenda.
Speakers are given three minutes to address the council, though councilmembers are not permitted to respond.
Muhammad said she was encouraged to see District 2 councilwoman Gloria Ma’ae smiling during her public comments on Dec. 7. Appointed in September, Ma’ae is the newest council member and originally opposed Little Arabia’s designation. Since Ma’ae joined the city council, she has visited restaurants and businesses in Little Arabia and Muhammad hopes she might second a motion to put the issue on the agenda.
Anaheim resident Vern Nelson dances and waves a Little Arabia sign to punctuate his comments at the city council meeting. “I thought you people loved tourism?” he asked the council during his comments. Nash said the Little Arabia movement has seen more support lately, especially among non-Arab community members.