在全球亞裔慶祝農曆新年之際（1/30/2014），美國加州West Covina選區的西裔民主黨籍州參議員(State Senator) Ed Hernandz提出的一項提案已在加州參議院(State Senator)悄然通過：該議員嫌加州大學系統（University of California System）的亞裔學生太多了，要求限制亞裔入學，提高西裔和非裔在加大系統中的入學比率。此提案已以27票贊成，9票反對通過。下一步即將提到州眾議會投票。此提案如果在州眾議會（State Assembly）獲得通過，將於今年11月公投，決定是否恢復在加大校園中實行所謂的平權措(Affirmative Action），限制亞裔招生，多招西裔和非裔。
加州於1996年通過209提案，成為全美第一個州禁止公立大學以種族決定入學，政府也不可以種族為聘用標準。209法案規定，包括政府單位在內，不可因個人或團體的種族、性別、膚色和原國籍，給予公立教育特殊待遇。參議會通過的SCA 5修憲提案將取消部分209法案的規定，首先是取消對UC Systems，Cal State Systems 和公立學校適用209法案，換言之，UC Systems, Cal State Systems 和公立學校將可基於種族的原因對某些特定的種族在損害亞裔利益的基礎上給與優先的考慮！
從今年開始，西語裔的人口已經超過了白人成了加州的主流族群，雖然沒有一個族群在加州占絕大多數，但人口的構成已不同從前。在這個提案的州參議員Ed Hernandez和其他選區的西裔參議員（Sen. Ben Hueso, San Diego / Richardo Lara, Bell Gardens）看來，亞裔不計入他們眼中的少數族裔的，他們認為，自從一九九六年209法案實施以來，西裔和黑人在著名的加州大學（UC）里不是增加了，而是大大減少了! 實事上，如果把亞裔和其他的少數族裔合計的話，少數有色族裔佔到了67.8%，這大致與加州的人口結構是一致的！但把亞裔單獨計算的話，亞裔佔到新生錄取的36%。所以，這個提案實際上就是針對亞裔社區和亞裔學生的。
Ed Hernandez 的發言人Janet Chin在解釋這個提案時說道，這個提案是為了保障大學反映我們加州的種族多元性，長遠來說，在全球經濟的競爭中，我們需要一個良好訓練的多元的勞動力，它有助於為所有的加州選民創造一個公平的機會。 自從209法案通過後，我們的校園已變得越來越不多元化， 合格的學生被忽視，少數族裔在大學里沒有被充分地代表，SCA 5提案就是要糾正這個錯誤，保證最好和最聰明的學生受到教育。(原文：resolution would take steps to 「ensure that universities reflect the diversity of the state.」 She said long-term benefits would include creating equal opportunity for all Californians by having a 「well-trained, diverse workforce」 that is needed to compete in the global economy. "Campuses have become less diverse」 since Prop. 209 passed, Chin said. 「Qualified individuals have been looked over.」 Since Prop. 209, she said, minorities have been 「underrepresented」 in universities, and SCA 5 seeks to correct this error by securing the best and brightest students.)
「Please vote NO on SCA 5, the constitutional amendment to repeal provisions implemented through the enactment of Proposition 209. I believe preferential treatment based on race in college admission is not the right practice and violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Children who study and work hard deserve equal opportunity in college admission regardless of their race. I strongly urge you to vote "No"on SCA 5. Thank you for listening to the voice of your constituent.」
2.現在加州眾議院有7位亞裔議員， 7位非裔議員，和至少16位西裔議員。如果您在以下亞裔議員的選區內請跟提醒他們要保護我們自己族裔的利益。（Mariko Yamada ( District 4）; Bob Bonta (D18) , Philip Ting (D19), Paul Fong (D28), William Das (D37); Ed Chau (D49); Al Muratsuchi (D66)
In my humble opinion, 1/30/2014 marked the darkest day in California』s recent history of politics. On this day, the California Senate overwhelmingly (27:9) approved SCA-5 http://legiscan.com/CA/bill/SCA5/2013 which would appeal provisions of Prop 209 and allow the State of California to discriminate an individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
In the 18 years that Prop 209 has been in effect, California has become the most diversified state in the US. Also, comprehensive measures were introduced to help students from disadvantaged families to obtain high education, which have my full support. Now SCA-5 seeks to roll back the clock to unfairly punish Asians simply based on race. The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution clearly states that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The SCA-5 is wrong and in violation of the US Constitution.
As a beneficiary of the Prop 209, in just a few years of career life, I have directed works that brought tens of millions of dollars of revenues into California, helped to create/maintain hundreds of jobs benefiting all ethnical groups, with a lot more down the road. However, some day, my children might tell me: 「Dad, I lost the opportunity simply because of the color of my skin.」 Not to mention that a student from a disadvantaged Asian family could lose nearly all opportunities to pursue any "American Dream".
Currently, the bill is at the California Assembly. I hereby urge you to call your representative at the Assembly http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers to vote no on SAC-5. I will also deeply appreciate if you could help spreading the words.