Sample petition letter to Assembly Member Mathew Harper

To:

Assembly Member Mathew Harper

California 74^th Assembly District (R)

1503 South Coast Drive, Suite 205, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Phone: 916-319-2074

Web page to submit e-mail:

https://ad74.assemblygop.com/addresses

Dear Assembly Member Mathew Harper,

I am writing to you to petition for the relocation of the proposed State Veterans Cemetery from the OC Great Park. Please issue either urge the governor to an executive order or propose an amendment to bill AB1453 for this relocation.

With all due respects to veterans, we do support any and all necessary and suitable veteran cemetery sites. However, we question the compatibility, feasibility, and its underlying politic motivations on such oddly located cemetery site that is in the center of a highly populated city, neighboring to residential area, and adjacent to a future high school.

Irvine is a highly populated and diverse city with about 40% of the population as Asians, and this cemetery site is located very close to the urban center. Most of the residents lived next to the cemetery are Asians. In Asian culture, the location of the cemetery is very important. It is a taboo to place cemetery next to homes or close to urban area. Even the emperor's tomb is built far away from urban areas.

Veterans fight for us, die for us, we absolutely respect them, but I am pretty sure they fight so that we can have freedom to voice our opinions, so that we can live happily on this land of free, and the home of the brave. I am sure once they really understand Asian cultures and know it is a taboo to put cemetery to homes or close to urban areas, they will work with us to find a better location for everyone.

There was little or no notices regarding this proposed cemetery in Asian languages from all levels of government agencies. As a result, most of the Asians residents (including me) did not know about this cemetery until October, 2014. We feel shocked about the proposed cemetery and blindsided. We feel our culture and views have not been respected and our voices have not been heard.

I urge you to do the right thing, and:

• Immediately urge the governor to stop any funding for the design and construction of this cemetery until a comprehensive communications with Asian communities, and an acceptable agreement by all parties has been reached
• Set up a search committee to search for a suitable alternative site for the State Veterans Cemetery in the Orange County. We love to help you in this search too since we do want our veterans to have a good cemetery site.
• Urge the governor to an executive order or propose an amendment to bill AB1453 for this relocation.

Sincerely,

 

Signature                                                                                                                          

Name (Please Print):                                                                                                        

Address:                                                                                                                           

Veterans Cemetery from the OC Great Park is at a wrong location, and is right Next to Residential Area and a Future High School!!! Please help us to relocate the cemetery to a suitable location!