The Rafu Shimpo - L.A. Japanese Daily News

Local Support Mounts for Ousted LADOT Executive
By ELLEN ENDO
Rafu Managing Editor
Saturday, July 29, 2006

James Okazaki was abruptly dismissed June 1 as assistant general manager.

MARIO G. REYES/Rafu Shimpo
James Okazaki

The Japanese American Bar Association is the latest in a growing roster of organizations to decry the removal of Los Angeles Department of Transportation Assistant General Manager James Okazaki by new department chief Gloria Jeff.

In a letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last week, JABA president Patricia Kinaga called Okazaki “someone who has been an important member of the City’s leadership...an extremely loyal, excellent ambassador for the City, including your Administration.”

Kinaga urged the Mayor to “reconsider the manner in which (Okazaki) has been treated and take into account his important contributions over the past 35 years.”

Jeff, who was appointed LADOT director last March, notified Okazaki on June 1 that he was being permanently removed as assistant general manager. She gave him until the close of business that day to gather his personal belongings and leave, placing him on administrative leave.

His removal raised questions about the manner in which he was dismissed and drew reactions from throughout Southern California and as far away as Lansing, where Jeff previously headed the Michigan Department of Transportation.

A June 20 letter to Villaraigosa was unanimously approved by the Little Tokyo Community Council and called for an investigation into “the shameful and disrespectful manner” in which Jeff advised Okazaki that he was being removed from his position.

The LTCC missive triggered similar responses from other organizations, including the Southern California Chapter of the Asian-Pacific State Employees Association, which asked Villaraigosa to personally intervene and immediately reinstate Okazaki The group said Jeff’s reported actions constituted a “gross abuse of authority.”

“The City of Los Angeles won’t be able to ‘save money’ by dismissing loyal, hard-working, and dedicated professionals who are part of the City’s staff,” wrote Milly Yamada, APSEA president.

Charlie Woo, chairman of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment, commented, “The abrupt dismissal of Mr. Okazaki...was a disservice to the City of Los Angeles and reflects poorly upon the City’s personnel management practices,” adding, “an ominous shadow will be cast upon the City’s reputation in the community as word of Mr. Okazaki’s dismissal gets around.”

Jimmie Joe, President of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Los Angeles Lodge, noted: “At a time when there are few Asian Pacific Americans in senior management positions in City Hall, it is a real loss for our community...and an affront that he was removed in such a crude manner.”

Similar comments were sent by Don T. Nakanishi, Director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, East West Players board chair Lynn Arthurs, and Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival Executive Director Wendy Fujihara Anderson. A Michigan-based group, most of who had worked under Jeff in the MDOT, added their support for Okazaki.

“We are extremely troubled (and) look to you for respectful resolve,” Arthurs said in her letter to the Mayor.

Villaraigosa responded to LTCC president Tom Kamei in a June 30 letter, saying he was unable to comment on the matter because the issues raised concern personnel matters “which are necessarily and appropriately confidential...”

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