Election creates void on San Jose City Council for Vietnamese community
January 28, 2021
Vietnamese residents receive information during a Tết event ahead of last year's census count. Photo courtesy of Census 2020 San Jose Counts.
From the sensory delights of Little Saigon to colorful celebrations at Lion Square, the influence of the Vietnamese community is seeped in San Jose — except on the City Council.
Following November’s election, San Jose — where more than 1 in 10 residents is Vietnamese — no longer has a councilmember representing the community, leaving leaders with mixed feelings. Some see it as a loss while others say they are waiting for a strong candidate to step up.