Assemblymember Yee Introduces Resolution Urging State & Municipalities to Allow Feng Shui Building

ACR 144 May Provide a Better Work Environment for State Employees and Visitors

SAN FRANCISCO - Assistant Speaker pro Tempore Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has introduced an Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) that urges the State Architect and local municipalities (planning departments, planning commissions, design review boards, et al.) to adopt design standards that allow for the use of feng shui principles. The resolution is not a mandate, but rather a suggestion of one way government can be more culturally sensitive and allow everyone to benefit from feng shui design principles.

"The concept of feng shui is a simple one: to improve your life by improving your relationship to the environment around you," said Assemblymember Yee. "It is important that our local codes do not hinder those individuals, builders, and developers who want to use feng shui design in their properties."

While this concept is fairly new to western society, China has been building with these design principles for over four thousand years. Feng shui, however, is gaining popularity in western culture with many large western companies designing with such concepts, including Citibank, Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, TD Waterhouse, British Airways, Wall Street Journal, Chase Manhattan, Paine Webber, and Shell. Many spas and resorts are designed in accordance with feng shui design principles, including the Nob Hill Spa at the Huntington Hotel in San Francisco.

"The passing of ACR 144 is about respecting the diversity of cultures here in California and providing a positive work environment for our employees," said Assemblymember Yee. "This resolution is simply a recommendation based on ancient science and natural wisdom, and it will not cost the state any money, nor will it mandate any changes in existing law or design standards."

Those who will likely be most affected by any changes in state building codes are state employees. AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, has already publicly supported Assemblymember Yee's proposal.

Assemblymember Yee, also a child psychologist, has been a long time advocate on issues of health, children, and working families. In addition to his leadership role in the Assembly, he serves as Chair of the Mental Health Subcommittee and the Select Committee on Children's Physical and Mental Well Being in Diverse California Communities.

ACR 144, amended

WHEREAS, California has immense cultural diversity, and is committed to respecting an individual's cultural heritage, and

WHEREAS, The practice of Feng Shui originated 4,000 years ago in ancient China when palaces and senior official residences were built according to Feng Shui design principles that ensured that the royal families and senior court officials enjoyed harmony and high vitality living in a positive environment; and

WHEREAS, Feng Shui means wind (Feng) and water (Shui), and Chinese practitioners have focused their studies on understanding how people are affected by their immediate surroundings and its core philosophy states humankind must live in harmony with the environment; and

WHEREAS, Feng Shui is widely practiced in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, and it is regarded as a vital part of everyday life in many parts of Asia; and

WHEREAS, developers and realtors have responded to the rise in Asian homeownership in various California communities by applying Feng Shui design principles to properties being built or sold to meet the demands of the consumer, and

WHEREAS, Several western companies incorporate Feng Shui principles in the design of their workplace, including Citibank, N.M. Rothschild, Shell, and Sime Darby, and the design principles of Feng Shui are used in popular culture with fashion designers such as Donna Karan and Tommy Hilfiger integrating it in their showrooms, and entrepreneur Donald Trump utilizes Feng Shui consultants at his properties; and

WHEREAS, The structure of a building can affect a person's mood, which can influence a person's behavior, which, in turn, can determine the success of a person's personal and professional relationships, and the aim of Feng Shui is to promote balance and harmony and improve the quality of life for each individual; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California urges the State Architect, local planning commission, local design review boards, and other appropriate agencies to consider design concepts that allow for the use Feng Shui principles; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

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