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CREAA IN THE COMMUNITY
Introduction: The recent tone of the SF mayoral campaign led CREAA to publish the following open letter to the community. The September 8 Chinese -language half-page ads in Sing Tao and World Journal newspapers were drafted by Jeff Woo and Samson Wong in English. Fanny Chu and Albert Tam reviewed the Chinese draft by Amy Chai
IT'S ABOUT HOUSING AND JOBS, NOT RACIAL INNUENDO
Open Letter to the Community
Dear Friends:
Our votes can make history on Election Day, November 8.
For the first time in 161 years, San Francisco has an Asian American Mayor, Public Defender, Assessor-Recorder, State Senator, State Assembly member, BART Director and four members of the Board of Supervisors, including the Board President. In a city where Asian Americans make up one-third of the population, five well respected leaders from our community are now running for Mayor.
For 34 years, the Chinese Real Estate Association of America (CREAA) has strived to make our American Dream of homeownership come true for San Francisco residents. While CREAA is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates, we know that our central mission is to ensure that the voices of aspiring and current homeowners and the Asian American real estate community are heard on important political issues of the day.
When ugly and shameful racial stereotypes and xenophobic campaign remarks by political figures are allowed to go unchallenged, Asian Americans and the real estate community must denounce such statements. Our leaders are not "dorky Chinese" or agents of a foreign government. Such comments only incite racism against our community. Instead, our local political parties should embrace diversity in not just people but in ideas - especially when it comes to our American Dream.
We are disappointed that the San Francisco Democratic Party central committee did not endorse one worthy candidate among five well qualified Asian Americans running for Mayor. CREAA acknowledges that the endorsements maybe more about gamesmanship and personal power than racism. However, with time remaining before the November 8 election, the SF Democratic Party can uphold its highest ideals by considering more diverse endorsements for Mayor.
Since 1977, CREAA has been dedicated to serving Asian American homeowners in San Francisco. This election is about the economy and jobs - helping families find an affordable home, assisting struggling households cope with financing a home and spurring more home construction that will employ our contractors and construction workers who will dine in our restaurants and shop in our stores.
This election is not about racially coded phrases that divide us.
It's about the economy - jobs, business and our homes for our families.
Amy Kong, 2011 President
Albert Tam, 2012 President-Elect
John Lee, 2008 President; 2010 President, SF Association of Realtors*
Jeff Woo, 2006 President; 2012 President, SF Association of Realtors*
John Yen Wong, 1995 & 1996 President; 2005 President, SF Association of Realtors*
Allen Okamoto, Honorary Director; 1980 President, SF Association of Realtors*
Chinese Real Estate Association of America
Dedicated to the American Dream Since 1977
www.CREAAUSA.org
Foreclosure Prevention Outreach Event
by Fanny Chu, CREAA President 2005
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif._ More and more distressed homeowners holding upside-down value properties are struggling daily to keep their homes while falling behind in mortgage payments. In the past four years, many large Foreclosure Prevention Workshops around the country have attempted to assist distressed homeowners on the spot, including California - two in Los Angeles and the latest in the San Francisco Bay Area.
On August 18 to 20, one major lender, Bank of America, conducted a Foreclosure Prevention Outreach Event for 19,000 San Francisco Bay Area homeowners who received a special invitation to attend.
"The workshops were very meaningful and helpful to the consumers, but also myself" said Amy Kong, CREAA President, who nearly "broke down in tears" over cases like one retiree with a degenerative illness. "Sustainable homeownership is much more important nowadays," she said.
Daniel Wong, board member and a mortgage loan officer, said the "stories melt your heart" as he recounted one Central Valley homeowner who left at 4 am with his wife, young daughter and a carriage suitcase of mortgage documents.
At the September 8 CREAA board meeting, volunteers offered suggestions for future workshops and ways to encourage especially those reluctant to respond to communications from banks and mortgage companies, especially when the homeowner is late in the foreclosure process.
Aside from lender staff from all over the country, participating non-profit partners included:
- National Association of Real Estate Brokers- Investment Division, Inc.
- NID-HCA San Leandro-Chambers of Commerce
- CREAA - Chinese Real Estate Association of America
- Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco- San Francisco, HPF Affiliate and Santa Rosa Offices
- Mission Economic Development Association
- Money Management International Oakland
- NID Sacramento
- National Asian American Coalition
 | Volunteers at the Foreclosure Prevention Outreach Event (Photo courtesy of Amy Kong)
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CREAA brought in the most volunteers with at least 25 volunteers providing diverse bilingual skills and serving as counselors for the three days. Homeowners attended workshops, received one-on-one counseling on their documents and direct lender loan modification assistance. We encourage CREAA members to take part and support upcoming similar community events. Sincere appreciation goes to: Frurizalie Baclay, Adriana Castillo, Carmen Chong, Garrett Choy, Allen Ching, Olivia Chiu, Joseph Chu, Fanny Chu, Joan Hume, Kaye Kim, Amy Kong, Eugene Pak, Juanita Leung, Louis Woo, Tina Pham, David Lobato, Maureen Moyer, Thez Santos Christa Shahbazian, Suena Suen and Tina Wong. Samson Wong contributed to this story. MORE CREAA IN THE COMMUNITY SUNDOWN MIXER AT ONE RINCON CENTER SAN FRANCISCO_ CREAA's spring featured mixer featured new SF District 2 Supervisor (Marina/Pacific Heights) Mark Farrell and Philip Kilbridge of Habitat for Humanity for the Greater San Francisco on April 21. CREAA members had the opportunity to view breathtaking sundown and evening views of the Bay Bridge and AT&T Ballpark at One Rincon Hill. Part of the mixer proceeds went to Habitat for the Humanity.
 | | San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge day view from One Rincon Center (photo by Eugene Pak) |
 | | Philip Kilbridge of Habitat for Humanity (photo courtesy of Eugene Pak) |
 | | Supervisor Mark Farrell and Tina Wong (photo courtesy of Eugene Pak) |
 | | Kitty Lee(seated left), Peggy Lo, and Xavier Tsang check guest in (photo courtesy of Eugene Pak) |
 | | Eva Hom, Tina Wong, Manuel Quijano, Karen Kong, Allen Okamoto,and Fanny Chu (photo courtesy of Eugene Pak) |
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