Long Beach council approves funding aid for Cambodian New Year Parade

Long Beach’s City Council has agreed to Councilman Dee Andrews’ request to help cover the costs of police and other security measures at Sunday’s Cambodian New Year Parade.

“I would just like to let the Cambodian community know that we’re behind you,” Andrews said during Tuesday’s council meeting.

The council voted 7 to 0 Tuesday to transfer about $11,400 to the city’s Special Events and Filming office to pay for those costs. The dollars could have otherwise been spent on an infrastructure project within Andrews’ council district.

Andrews represents Long Beach’s 6th Council District, which includes part of the Cambodia Town neighborhood. He asked for the funding transfer since this year’s controversy over the now-cancelled appearance of Cambodian Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, made it difficult for parade organizers with the Cambodian Coordinating Council to raise the necessary funds, according to his office.

Hun Manet is the son of Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen. A Human Rights Watch profile accuses the elder Hun of a patte of violence and corruption since coming to power in 1985.

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