Rose Pak was called the "godmother of Chinatown," "the most powerful woman in San Francisco" and, perhaps most often, a "power broker." That last was a term she didn't like. "If I was white," she said, "they'd call me a civic leader." Pak's many friends and allies -- from San Francisco's political leaders to the low-income seniors, immigrants and other outsiders whose causes she championed -- are mourning her death this week. We'll discuss the controversial leader's life and legacy.
Guests
- Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government desk
- Willie Brown, former mayor, San Francisco; served for over 30 years in the CA legislature; columnist, San Francisco Chronicle
- Gordon Chin, director, San Francisco's Chinatown Community Development Center; author, "Building Community, Chinatown Style"
Highlights from Rose Pak's 2013 Forum Interview
More Information:
- Forum's Complete 2013 Interview with Rose Pak (Forum archives)
- Rose Pak, S.F. Chinatown Political Leader, Dies at 68 (KQED News)