In this video clip, you see Councilman Forest Williams carefully stated repeatedly that in terms of what to name the business district he strongly felt that the decision and leadership was to be made by Councilwoman Nguyen.

He would be supportive of what ever she wants to name it since she knows her district and voters best. He would support her vote what ever she decides.

Inadvertently, Councilman Williams outed himself as the first of 5 councilmembers Councilwoman Nguyen lobbied to collect enough votes before she introduced the November 20, 2007 Motion to call the one mile commercial strip along Story and McLaughlin the "Saigon Business District".

Including Councilwoman Nguyen this makes 6 out of 11 council votes garnered behind closed doors to ensure passage of a motion on a matter before it was discussed in a public forum.

This is a clear violation of the Brown Act.

All of the councilmembers committed the Brown Act violation are

1) Madison Nguyen
2) Judy Chirco
3) Sam Liccardo
4) Dave Cortese
5) Chuck Reed, Mayor
6) Forest Williams

The top 5 on this list signed a November 15, 2007 memo entitled Vietnamese Business District. On November 20, 2007 Coucilwoman Nguyen used the Memorandum above to call for a vote on the motion to name the business district Saigon Business District.

"Councilman Pete Constant - one of three council members who voted against the Nov. 20 motion, citing concerns the community was being steamrolled - said the matter should be investigated.

'If you know that people are going to be with you and follow you whatever the name is going to be, I think that is a violation,' Constant said. 'I think the Brown Act is pretty clear.'"

SOURCES:
(1) Vietnam (Liberty News) Television Interview, 01/31/07;
(2) San Jose Mercury News, 02/08/08, Little Saigon Vote in Question, by Joshua Molina
(3) City of San Jose Memorandum, 11/15/07 signed by 5 councilmembers