DATE:            Jan. 24, 2011

STORY:       Houston Council Member Al Hoang Saved

                   Lunar New Year Houston at Viet Hoa

BY:               Glenda Joe

At Lunar New Year Houston 2010 at Viet Hoa center, Houston Fire Department Fire Marshals threatened to shut down the Lion Dance firecracker displays.  The Fire Marshals also threatened to deny any future permits to celebrate the New Year with firecracker displays.

The HFD Fire Marshals had no understanding or respect for the ancient New Year traditions.  They treated this most significant 2,000 year-old celebration as a trivial and unnecessary inconvenience of their time.  With their threats, the Fire Marshals made an  embarrassing scene for Lion Dancers and celebration organizers.

Lunar New Year Houston director, Glenda Joe, called Council Member Hoang that very day.   The Council Member was on the phone that Saturday until midnight putting his staff on notice and making personal calls to HFD officials.

Council Member Hoang said, "This is a slap in the face of our culture and heritage.

This is unacceptable conduct and the problem must be resolved."

The Council Member's immediate action and effective response saved the 2010 Lunar New Year Houston Lion Dance celebrationfor the following day of he event.

Thereafter, Council Member Hoang convened formal meetings between leadership

of the Asian community and Houston Fire Department to resolve the problem with the Fire Marshal Office.  His discrete diplomacy and passion for preserving the Asian community's Lunar New Year tradition in Houston was the key to facilitating a solution to the problem in time for the New Year of the Rabbit.

Through Council Member Hoang's committed efforts, the Fire Marshal Office is now especially appreciative of the significance of the City's Lunar New Year celebrations.  Because of the Council Members effective intervention, Lunar New Year Houston will celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with a million Lucky Red Firecrackers and 100 Lions to bring Good Fortune to the New Year!