LONG BEACH -- About 80 political and community leaders and residents gathered Wednesday at MacArthur Park for the official unveiling of banners hanging along Anaheim Street that proclaim a stretch of road as Cambodia Town.
The banners, which were actually installed earlier this week, encourage passers-by to "stop, shop, dine. "
The timing of the unveiling was propitious as the Cambodian New Year, 2557 of the Buddhist Era, officially begins on Saturday.
Pasin Chanou, the new chairman of Cambodia Town Inc., which has led most of the efforts to gain recognition of the Cambodia Town area of Long Beach, said the unveiling of the banners kicked off a crowded calendar of Cambodian events in coming weeks.
Mayor Bob Foster was among the dignitaries on hand and said the banners were "a great way to celebrate the diversity of the city. "
Councilman Dee Andrews, whose 6th District encompasses much of Cambodia Town, thanked the mayor for coming and chided other city council members for not coming out.
He also announced that another Long Beach Cambodian tradition, the New Year parade which was canceled for the second straight year due to lack of funding, would be revived.

"We'll have a parade next year, even if it's just the mayor and me walking the streets alone," Andrews said.
Shaking his head, John Edmond, Andrews' chief of staff, said: "I guess we're having a parade next year. It's just been announced. "
The Cambodia Town banners hang off light poles along Anaheim Street between Atlantic and Junipero avenues and depict a Khmer woman in traditional garb with a flower.
Chanou said the model was a woman named Mona.
"This is our Cambodian Mona Lisa," he said.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291