Quote:
Originally Posted by TJPHXskyscraperfan
I don’t agree with that at all. China Town’s are where there are many Chinese people, LA, New York, San Fran, Seattle. Chicago even has a China town, they do have a good size Asian population as well. Little Italy in New York, they have a lot of Italians in New York. Mexican Town in Chicago, for a Midwest city has a large Mexican population. Korea Town in LA, ummmmm, ever been there? Yeah, lots of Koreans. Little Havana in Miami, need I say more?
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Those "towns" are generally legacies from the earliest phases of migration from whatever country the "town" is named for. The first waves of immigrants clustered there, but their children, along with more recent arrivals, tend to see their version of the American Dream in the suburbs. In most historic Chinatowns, the actual population of Chinese origin is quite small compared to much larger clusters outside the city center. There are far more people of Chinese origin in Flushing, Queens, than in NYC's Chinatown. Likewise, the San Gabriel Valley long ago surpassed LA's Chinatown. Closer to home, there's Dobson Road in Chandler and Mesa. These are all newer and larger than traditional Chinatowns.
With respect to the Mexican / Hispanic / Latino population in Phoenix, the combination of "town" with the name of a country or ethnicity could come across as dated or offensive, reinforcing the worst stereotypes associated with SB1070. Keep in mind that many traditional "towns" arose in cities because of segregation. A more contemporary approach is to favor names chosen by communities themselves. In recent years, the cluster of small businesses on 16th Street just north of McDowell have sometimes been identified as "Calle 16." Extending that brand onto nearby areas of McDowell might be a workable strategy if supported by residents and business owners.
Long story short, I think your idea has some merit if modernized in its language and undertaken with community support rather than imposed from outside.