tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57425413339028349472024-03-14T01:20:48.632-04:00Civic Center Residents Coalition NYCThe Civic Center Residents Coalition was formed shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 to address street shutdowns including Park Row, rerouting of MTA bus routes and rampant government permit placard abuse. C.C.R.C. is comprised of residential complexes Chatham Green, Chatham Towers, Southbridge Towers and Chinatown area local businesses and residents.
janccrc@gmail.comWatchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-9354140318462724572019-02-13T17:19:00.001-05:002019-02-13T17:24:22.054-05:00A Package of Bills to curtail abuse of placard parking in NYC Feb 2019 <a href="https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/inside-city-hall/2019/02/13/parking-placard-abuse-corey-johnson-explains-what-expected-legislation-would-do-to-fight-it#" target="_blank">A "Package of bills" is proposed by NYC City Council</a> - will it work?<br />
We've seen this all before, The Civic Center Residents Coalition <a href="http://www.ccrcnyc.com/2009/01/gotham-gazette-excellent-article-on.html" target="_blank">has been reporting on this for over a decade.</a><br />
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Councilmembers who do have placards should not be parking illegally, and they are not above the law , according to Corey Johnson Speaker of the City Council.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkAUb_8Kd7Y/XGSWNzaCgTI/AAAAAAAAOhk/eLmub6Xylb8twLUxWcfU4Her8HcS7vMmQCLcBGAs/s1600/180912-corey-johnson-birth-certificate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="618" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkAUb_8Kd7Y/XGSWNzaCgTI/AAAAAAAAOhk/eLmub6Xylb8twLUxWcfU4Her8HcS7vMmQCLcBGAs/s320/180912-corey-johnson-birth-certificate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Consider this for a moment, in 2019 NYC Government - all agencies - are relying on a plastic laminated card or "placard" as they are known to identify key personnel who have been designated to use this free parking privilege . Technology certainly exists that can not only track employees whereabouts in fleet or private vehicles while on Government time, and it exists to "void" the parking fee for time allotted for a particular task at each parking meter in the City. This can be accomplished with a simple app used only by designated employees, the bonus is that each trip can be tracked. Once an employee has overstayed their allotted parking time at a meter, they will have to pay for their time just like any other NY'er. The absence of a "tool of intimidation" removes the scofflaw mentality, the abusive attitude and the holier-than-thou message that sends a negative vibe throughout neighborhoods about NYPD and other agencies. The Speaker should recognize that this intimidation creates animosity in communities. <br />
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This begs the obvious question as to why NYC Government chooses year after year to police the abusers by chasing them down, documenting them on twitter, shaming them on TV, and worst of all using more tax payer money to create more red tape to get the offenders to pay a fine or track their abuse individually.<br />
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Until such time as NYC Council and its enforcement body, the NYPD does away with the plastic placard and chooses a 21st century technological approach to finally solve the balancing act of necessary vehicular travel by designated personnel and the need for more parking , we're going to hear this same whining year after year. The loophole exists so long as the physical tool of intimidation exists "plan and simple".<br />
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<br />Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-22512644441586918922019-02-13T17:07:00.000-05:002019-02-13T17:07:33.944-05:00SeeThroughNY has posted their 2018 data showing <a href="https://www.seethroughny.net/payrolls/106461737" target="_blank">Payrolls of various executives</a> in Government and public schools .<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9D7cBQQWtSI/XGSVFCAhTEI/AAAAAAAAOhY/LNjPfEx_MtIU-xu8-orBULQ48EjkxxIXQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-02-13%2B17.06.34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1412" height="157" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9D7cBQQWtSI/XGSVFCAhTEI/AAAAAAAAOhY/LNjPfEx_MtIU-xu8-orBULQ48EjkxxIXQCLcBGAs/s320/Screenshot%2B2019-02-13%2B17.06.34.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-4675650059181550522017-09-28T14:54:00.000-04:002018-08-30T17:27:28.016-04:00Another father and son duo attempt to open a bar on Mulberry St. This time its the Zabars32 Mulberry Street on the corner of Mosco (formerly Park St. renamed after the passing of Frank Mosco, a community advocate) housed the infamous LeBaron nightclub. LeBaron's former owner Ron Castellano is no longer associated with the former club Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-13080983162212109592017-07-20T00:38:00.000-04:002018-08-30T17:25:09.894-04:00Mayor DeBlasio May 2017: 50,000 more cars will park for free in YOUR neighborhoodWatchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-18665722055246852482014-07-06T15:35:00.000-04:002014-07-06T17:38:47.754-04:00Chinatown Consolidated Benevolent Assoc. Formally withdraws from Chinatown Working Group<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxhxKNEJvwo/U7mjzsw1H7I/AAAAAAAAJgM/4yEz9xdFnkE/s1600/no+confidence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxhxKNEJvwo/U7mjzsw1H7I/AAAAAAAAJgM/4yEz9xdFnkE/s1600/no+confidence.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
The much revered Chinatown Consolidated Benevolent Association, which represents numerous smaller family and merchant associations in Chinatown has formally withdrawn its membership and support from the Chinatown Working Group.<a href="http://ccbanyc.org/photo201401/140430%20CCBA%20Board%20Meeting.html" target="_blank"> In April of 2014 CCBA's Board of Directors voted NOT to support the CWG's plan,</a> the formal withdrawal seems a logical and expected decision.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrtxvfO9zbk/U7nB4WhvLsI/AAAAAAAAJgc/n6CQ1yKWvcY/s1600/CCBA+Meeting+April.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrtxvfO9zbk/U7nB4WhvLsI/AAAAAAAAJgc/n6CQ1yKWvcY/s1600/CCBA+Meeting+April.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Though the boards of Chinatown Consolidated Benevolent Assoc. (CCBA) and its sister Organization Lin Sing Association deliberated over the merits of the plan submitted by the Pratt Group, (the planning agency tasked with formulating a plan to submit to the Department of City Planning, City Council and the Mayor), it was ultimately decided that for reasons that " the surveys were the unilateral product due to lack of communication, and did not reflect the true situation of Chinatown". This is after The Pratt Group and members of the Chinatown Working Group made a presentation to the Board of CCBA in June 2014 in an effort to iron out details and misconceptions they thought CCBA had with the plan.<br />
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In short CCBA, Lin Sing Association and The Chinese Chamber of Commerce (all organizations that are over 100 years old in Chinatown), didn't have confidence in the surveys used to collect the "data" for the Chinatown Working Group's plan and they felt the list of properties included in the plan for special designation as historic and / or culturally significant was not necessary.<br />
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Surprisingly the Chair of the Chinatown Working Group had a flippant response to the ever growing number of long standing Chinatown groups withdrawing, he seemed to imply that "it doesn't matter" that these last three groups withdrew.<br />
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At what point then, does it matter, if more and more groups pull out of the Chinatown Working Group? What validity does the document hold if no stakeholders are supporting the plan?<br />
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So far the groups in Chinatown that have withdrawn from the Chinatown Working Group are:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Chatham Green Co Op</li>
<li>Chatham Towers Co Op</li>
<li>American Legion Hall</li>
<li>Chinatown Consolidated Benevolent Association</li>
<li>Lin Sing Association</li>
<li>Chinese Chamber of Commerce</li>
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A full translation of the World Journal Article :<br />
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社团退出华埠工作组<br />
by 记者洪群超/纽约报导<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Three Groups have withdrawn from the CWG</span></b><br />
------By Journalist HONG Chaoqun from New York<br />
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26日晚,纽约中华公所在常务议员会议中通过了中华公所、美东联成公所及中华总商会退出华埠工作小组的决定。中华公所主席伍锐贤表示,退出原因是与华埠工作小组理念相左,并对华埠工作小组委托普瑞特社区发展中心所做的华埠研究报告不满,认为是缺乏沟通的单方产物,不符合华埠情况。华埠工作小组共同主席王志杰回应,这三个社团已两、三年没有参加过会议,退出与否没有多大区别。<br />
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During the standing committee meeting of CCBA(Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association) on the evening of 26th this month, New York CCBA has passed the decision that CCBA, Lin Sing Association and China General Chamber of Commerce withdraw from the CWG. WU Ruixian, the president of CCBA, said it is the result of their different ideas with CWG and discontent for the Chinatown surveys made by the Pratt Center/Collective Partnership who is authorized by CWG. They believe that the surveys were the unilateral product due to lack of communication, and did not reflect the true situation of Chinatown. In response, WANG Zhijie, the president of CWG, said these three groups have not attended meeting for two to three years, and their withdrawal or not make no difference.<br />
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常务议员会议上,全体成员一致通过决定中华公所退出华埠工作小组,美东联成公所和中华总商会代表亦决定和中华公所同进退,共同退出。伍锐贤表示,华埠工作小组委托普瑞特社区发展中心(Pratt Center/Collective Partnership)进行的华埠共同研究计划没有和中华公所等社团进行充分沟通。美东联成公所主席萧贵源认为,华埠工作小组对华埠的具体情况不了解,所提计划未能照顾华埠切实利益。这三家侨团将在今(27日)下午2时30分在中华公所会议室召开记者会,希望告诉市府华埠发展真正的困难在哪里。<br />
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In the standing committee meeting, all member of the CCBA unanimously agree to withdraw from the CWG, Lin Sing Association and China General Chamber of Commerce followed suit. WU Ruixian said Pratt Center/Collective Partnership did not communicate with CCBA and other groups durning their Chinatown Collective Studies Project. XIAO Guiyuan, the president of Lin Sing Association, argued that the CWG did not fully understand the actual situation of Chinatown and thus can not take the practical benefit of Chinatown into account. In 2:30 p.m 27th this month, these three Chinese groups will hold a press conference in the meeting room of CCBA, aiming to told the real difficulties of Chinatown development to the municipal government.<br />
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2008年成立的华埠工作小组几经改组,内部分歧越来越大,其委托普瑞特社区发展中心所做的华埠研究报告在去年年底出台后即引发社区反对声,认为其中的土地使用规画(zoning)发展方向将限制华埠现行业主和小商家,阻碍华埠未来发展。华埠工作小组共同主席王志杰重申,华埠工作小组的成员由志愿者组成;对于任何计划,工作小组都乐于向社区进行解释,有问题可以提出来商讨,但「不参加会议」的做法对解决问题无济于事。<br />
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Since the establishment in 2008, the CWG has went through several reorganization which leads to increasing internal divergence. In the end of last year, the Chinatown surveys made by the Pratt Center/Collective Partnership who is entrusted by the CWG has generated discontent in the communities. The zoning in the plan was deemed to restrict the development of property owners and small tenants in Chinatown, and hinder the Chinatown development. WANG Zhijie, the president of the CWG has reiterated that all members of the CWG are volunteers; CWG is glad to explain any plans to the communities and all problems are open to discussion, but ‘refuse to attend the meeting’ is of no help to solving the problems.<br />
<br />Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-78503918910903415932014-03-24T16:18:00.001-04:002014-05-09T12:12:56.187-04:00Court House Plaza about to be closed to pedestrians?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsqMWLKd7JM/U0ivJqU3HZI/AAAAAAAAJX0/WTeVojO7i54/s1600/20140411_222747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsqMWLKd7JM/U0ivJqU3HZI/AAAAAAAAJX0/WTeVojO7i54/s1600/20140411_222747.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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updated photo april 11 2014 Worth St. and Mulberry</div>
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Around the time that Osama Bin Laden's son in law, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.545454025268555px;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/24/prosecution-trial-new-york-osama-bin-laden-son-law" target="_blank">Suleiman Abu Ghaith</a>, was being tried at the Federal Court House on Worth and Mulberry Street, we noticed two small guard booths had sprung up. These two white low quality structures were placed at either end of a public plaza that sits between <a href="http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/site_manhattan.php" target="_blank">The Moynihan Court House</a> and the back entrance to the <a href="http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/1jd/supctmanh/" target="_blank">U.S. Supreme Court</a> building.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1JPtEjp4QY/UzCJ7kehO8I/AAAAAAAAJUA/93ruSF3feQ0/s1600/2014-03-18+17.55.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1JPtEjp4QY/UzCJ7kehO8I/AAAAAAAAJUA/93ruSF3feQ0/s1600/2014-03-18+17.55.12.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4M8TGlyfwCQ/UzCKS7FU_VI/AAAAAAAAJUI/2VEscwRSr50/s1600/2014-03-22+14.35.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4M8TGlyfwCQ/UzCKS7FU_VI/AAAAAAAAJUI/2VEscwRSr50/s1600/2014-03-22+14.35.38.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.545454025268555px;">We can't help but think that the appearance of these two guard booths (currently unmanned) signify the eventual closing of the much-used public plaza that is home to Maya Lin's sculpture installation<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/2239399756/" target="_blank"> "Sounding Stones" </a>created in 1996 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">Commissioned by the US General Services Administration's Art in Architecture Program</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"> .</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyjsYEkUax8/UzCK1niBndI/AAAAAAAAJUQ/LaHRyVxSayQ/s1600/2014-03-22+14.35.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyjsYEkUax8/UzCK1niBndI/AAAAAAAAJUQ/LaHRyVxSayQ/s1600/2014-03-22+14.35.58.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">Lin says of the work "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">I design works to create an intimate dialogue with the viewer, allowing a place of contemplation, sometimes an incorporation of history, always a reliance on time, memory, and a passage or journey. The relation between the viewer and the artwork does not require a knowledge of a specific language of forms, but instead relies on a direct empathetic response to the work. This experiential reading of the work, utilizing modulations in the <b>light, sound, texture, materiality, subtle changes in height, depth, or grade,</b> has helped define my work." </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">If you ever had the pleasure to experience this sculpture as it was intended, before the barricades cordoned off the area around the sculptures, you would hear a wonderful gurgling noise from fountains within each stone. It seemed fitting that Lin's sculptures enticed the participant to walk up close, place their ear next to the holes and listen intently as this is what we're expected to do in a Court of law. Ironic then, that the whole auditory experience is removed from this piece by the placement of barricades, not to mention the obvious visual message that "security" trumps art in the eyes of Homeland Security.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">How much do we have to give up in the name of "security"? To that extent just how effective are these measures anyway? Just last week a<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/us/new-york-world-trade-center-intruder/" target="_blank"> teenage boy was able to reach the top of the Freedom Tower </a>ALONE. A few years ago Police Headquarters was the sight of a mugging under non-functioning surveillance cameras. And in <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/manhattan-court-interpreter-mugged-courthouse-article-1.1564551" target="_blank">January a court officer was violently mugged on Court House property while she exited the building.</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">The closure of public plazas has done nothing to enhance the safety of residents and pedestrians, one can argue that in fact the lack of pedestrian activity makes the area prone to crime. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--pRSzmywIxY/UzCSEnae_fI/AAAAAAAAJUk/QmPiNKa_cMs/s1600/2014-03-22+14.36.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--pRSzmywIxY/UzCSEnae_fI/AAAAAAAAJUk/QmPiNKa_cMs/s1600/2014-03-22+14.36.28.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">When the Moynihan Court House was first opened there were lovely benches and trees immediately to the side of the court house which were designed for the public to use. The community used these inherently peaceful plazas to do tai chi and play chess. Sadly these benches and the stone sculptures are now off limits, and perhaps the entire thoroughfare will be closed. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYMp2-z7BjM/UzCSi8QgFpI/AAAAAAAAJUo/lQivD7ZM6yY/s1600/2014-03-22+14.35.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYMp2-z7BjM/UzCSi8QgFpI/AAAAAAAAJUo/lQivD7ZM6yY/s1600/2014-03-22+14.35.25.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Updated April 11 2014, sculptures are now fully barricaded as are the benches, and trees.</div>
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click to enlarge photo</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGgAq6BRjmU/U0iw_yxJmXI/AAAAAAAAJYY/xp2J5Y97vt4/s1600/20140411_222637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGgAq6BRjmU/U0iw_yxJmXI/AAAAAAAAJYY/xp2J5Y97vt4/s1600/20140411_222637.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Updated April 11 2014</div>
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click to enlarge photo</div>
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FROM THE DOWNTOWN EXPRESS NEWSPAPER March 13th 2014:</div>
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Under Cover, March 13, 2014</div>
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March 13, 2014 | Filed under: Under Cover | Posted by: admin</div>
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TERROR TRIAL</div>
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Jan Lee, one of the Chinatown community leaders who has fought against many of Lower Manhattan’s post 9/11 street closures, tells us the Downtown federal trial of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law, doesn’t seem to have worsened the traffic problems, but it does appear to have prompted the installation of an unsightly new security booth that is so far not been operational.</div>
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The biggest problem with the booth, Lee said, is it gets in the way at the Worth St. public plaza outside the Moynihan Courthouse. He fears that the plaza may close again as it did for several years in the ‘00s, which would close a shortcut to the subways and mar Maya Lin’s sculptures, which have auditory sounds designed to be experienced up close.</div>
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Adding insult to injury, Lee said, the booth is the “cheapest-looking, Home Depot piece of [crap].”</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE</b></span></div>
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Turns out that the fencing and barricades were placed there</div>
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for the building of an addition to the existing courthouse.</div>
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What that addition will function as has yet to be revealed, metal detectors? screening?</div>
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See photo below of the rendering of the addition to the building.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"><br /></span>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-28703784524800815792013-11-26T17:29:00.000-05:002018-08-30T17:27:09.904-04:00Chinatown Working Group AUDIO - Questions and comments on the Pratt Planners presentation<br />
This audio recording was made at the last Chinatown Working Group presentation by the Pratt planners hired by the CWG to come up with a finalized plan to present to the City. This session is the comment and questions period following their previous presentation two weeks earlier. <a href="http://www.chinatownworkinggroup.org/Planner-Presentations.htm" target="_blank">The full plan is accessible here by clicking this link.</a>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-27920859028143321062013-10-08T03:01:00.002-04:002018-08-30T17:27:09.865-04:00L.E.S. Dwellers has been suspended by Community Board 3 Chair Gigi Li and district manager Susan Stetzer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpToOSFSHco/UlOsqnVzxsI/AAAAAAAAFWA/Hnj4pABF9U4/s1600/nospeech_print.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpToOSFSHco/UlOsqnVzxsI/AAAAAAAAFWA/Hnj4pABF9U4/s320/nospeech_print.png" width="259" /></a></div>
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L.E.S. Dwellers has been suspended by Community Board 3 by Chair
Gigi Li and district manager Susan Stetzer.</div>
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<a href="https://www.boweryboogie.com/2013/10/community-board-3-suspends-les-dwellers-3-months/">FROM
BOWERY BOOGIE BLOG</a>:</div>
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Highly-vocal block association <a href="http://www.boweryboogie.com/tag/les-dwellers-association/"><b>LES
Dwellers</b></a> is being muzzled by Community Board 3. Effective September 23,
2013, the group will be suspended for three months. Timely news just ahead of
the SLA subcommittee meeting later tonight where a number of Hell Square items
are calendared.</div>
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Below is the LES Dwellers’ response to the seemingly
controversial action…</div>
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"Community Board 3’s decision to suspend the LES Dwellers for 3 months effective Sept</div>
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23, 2013 – or more specifically, the procedurally deficient decision of CB3 Chair Gigi Li,</div>
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and District Manager, Susan Stetzer, without seeking Board approval – constitutes a</div>
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serious violation of the First Amendment’s right to free speech. </div>
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Specifically, the LES</div>
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Dwellers was suspended not because the group engaged in unlawful behavior, but rather</div>
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because Li and Stetzer objected to certain opinions being expressed by the LES Dwellers,</div>
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the manner in which the group chose to express them, and the persons with whom the</div>
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group chose to communicate them. </div>
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The First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech is</div>
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not only infringed when a government entity prevents one from speaking, but also when it</div>
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“chills” free speech by threatening or implementing punishments in response to the</div>
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decision to speak freely. That is precisely what CB3, through its Chair and District</div>
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Manager, have done.</div>
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Specifically, the LES Dwellers learned of the following consequences for our fully lawful</div>
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behavior:</div>
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●
CB3 will not recognize the LES Dwellers during public session</div>
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CB3 will publicly discredit the LES Dwellers, stating our suspension at the meeting</div>
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and that we are not a recognized group</div>
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CB3 will not refer applicants to our organization</div>
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CB3 will accept testimony and agreements with applicants only from individuals and</div>
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not the LES Dwellers as a group</div>
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In response to Community Board 3’s actions, L.E.S. Dwellers filed a complaint with the</div>
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Manhattan Borough President’s office. The complaint includes an audio recording of the</div>
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entirety of the conversation between the LES Dwellers and Li and Stetzer, in which the LES</div>
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Dwellers were told of the suspension and the reasons therefore, as well as the Community</div>
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Board suspension letter and response letter from the LES Dwellers, including 81 pages of</div>
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supporting supplemental material.</div>
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The LES Dwellers calls on Manhattan Borough President to take swift action in response</div>
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to Community Board 3’s suppression of the group’s constitutional rights, including reversal</div>
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of the CB3 decision and whatever punitive action may be deemed appropriate given the</div>
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severity of a Constitutional violation by members of the Board. Although the LES Dwellers</div>
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want to give the Borough President the first opportunity to condemn and rectify this highly</div>
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inappropriate behavior, the group is considering all available courses of action, including
taking legal action against the board and the
offending officers.</div>
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Writing for the Supreme Court of the
United States, Chief Justice Warren Burger clearly</div>
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explained that “constitutional violations may arise from the deterrent, or ‘chilling,’ effect of</div>
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governmental [actions] that fall short of a direct prohibition against the exercise of First</div>
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Amendment rights. . . . [G]overnmental action may be subject to constitutional challenge</div>
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even though it has only an indirect effect on the exercise of First Amendment rights.” (Laird</div>
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v. Tatum). Here, CB3’s position, that if and only if the LES Dwellers limit the way in which</div>
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they choose to lawfully advocate for their positions will we be officially recognized by the</div>
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Board, forces the LES Dwellers to choose between fully exercising our right to free political</div>
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speech and participating fully in the CB3 process. No government entity has the lawful right</div>
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to insist an advocacy group make such a choice. This attempt to intimidate and punish the</div>
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LES Dwellers into advocating according to CB3’s wishes is a low point in the history of</div>
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New York City Community Boards."-
L.E.S. Dwellers </div>
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<![endif]-->Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-70353106679500213872013-07-17T01:06:00.000-04:002013-07-17T01:06:30.533-04:00Chinatown's Garbage Juice - smell the progress <br />
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It's July, we're in a heat wave. The stench rising from the streets and gutters of Chinatown is enough to make you lose your appetite. The kids going to and from Columbus Park are holding their noses while they squint their eyes nearly shut trying to avoid the sickeningly sour rotting smell that hangs in the summer air.<br />
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Despite efforts of restaurant owners diligently scrubbing their sidewalks every morning, the stink remains.<br />
The stains from nightly drenchings marinate the porous cement and macadam until every pore is glazed over with a slick pungent goo.<br />
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It's garbage juice.<br />
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The garbage trucks that come around to pick up the black bags of food scraps from hundreds of restaurants, leave behind a toxic stew of fermented and rotting food mush as they crush and compact the bags in the back of their trucks with 15000 lbs of pressure. Every squeeze dribbles or vomits another load of who-knows-what.<br />
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The summer heat cooks the mess.<br />
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Stand too close to a garbage truck on its rounds and you'll be the unlucky recipient of a garbage juice shower as the muffled "pop" "pop" "pop" of black bags burst open and spray and arc of brown liquid.<br />
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There was a day when the City of New York would open fire hydrants, wash streets and even come around nightly with a street sweeper that wet down the streets while it scrubbed with hard rotary brushes every inch of gutter. No more. There were promises of a "Cleaner Chinatown" , promises of a more "tourist-friendly" environment from millions of dollars taken from Chinatown itself, but frankly I can't see it, and I certainly don't smell it.<br />
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These days when a street sweeper comes around , it's as though the smell offends even the driver, he speeds through as fast as he can, rendering the machinery useless.<br />
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And so, Chinatown and its residents, its businesses ,the oh-so-precious tourists are left to slog through the choking mist of summer garbage juice long after the ruptured bags have been scurried away in the dark of night.<br />
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The mystery remains though, in the light of day. "What the **** is that smell!?!?" you hear it over and over again. Who else can be "blamed" but the Chinese walking in the street?<br />
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Mayor Bloomberg and his high and mighty Board of Health stand proudly on their pedestals for having "successfully" installed the letter grading system for "some" but not all food establishments (delis that cook and serve food are mysteriously exempt). Ironically they would FAIL their own grading criteria for providing a dangerous and toxic environment for the residents of Chinatown. It's simply, there is no adequate cleaning of City owned streets in all of Chinatown.<br />
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So the next time you hear about how successful the "clean streets" program is, and how a Business Improvement District will "fast track" problems straight to City Hall,<br />
<br />
walk through Chinatown in mid summer,<br />
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take a deep breath, (that's it both nostrils, no cheating)<br />
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- and smell the progress.<br />
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Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-67449956126138487842013-05-15T23:28:00.000-04:002013-05-15T23:29:03.773-04:00Civic Center Residents Coalition Jan Lee on "the Races" 2013 - Downtown Express - Undercover<br />
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<span style="font-size: 26px;">Under Cover, May 15, 2013 The Downtown Express</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 26px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jan Lee Photo: CCRCNYC.com</span></div>
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<b>Lee on the Races </b></div>
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Chinatown leader <b>Jan Lee</b> has had his share of political fights with <b>Margaret Chin</b> over the years so we were surprised last week when he told us he hasn’t ruled out supporting her reelection bid to the City Council.</div>
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“Margaret and I are certainly cordial,” he told us, saying their disagreements have always been about issues. Lee, a founder of the Civic Center Residents Coalition, fought against the creation of the Chinatown Business Improvement District, which Chin strongly supported.</div>
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“We need to talk in a very candid way about the next four years on how she would improve,” Lee added.</div>
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His biggest concern is neighborhood traffic problems caused by several things including the security closure of Park Row. He said he has been dealing with family issues, but he hopes to be able to speak sometime soon with Chin and her Democratic primary opponent,<b>Jenifer Rajkumar</b>.</div>
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He has flirted in the past with running himself, but said he definitely will not be on the ballot this year.</div>
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In other races, Lee is backing Comptroller <b>John Liu</b> for mayor and <b>Julie Menin</b> for borough president. He praised Liu’s work exposing the CityTime<b> </b>scandal, and Menin’s effort helping to get the <b>Khalid Sheikh Mohammed</b> trial moved out of Lower Manhattan.</div>
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“We really connected on that issue,” he said of Menin. “I find her to be a good problem solver and not just a complainer.”</div>
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<b>Chin Notes </b></div>
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Speaking of Councilmember Margaret Chin, we had been thinking she scheduled her announcement strategically around the time of Downtown Independent Democrats’ fundraiser in Battery Park City to lessen the chance of naysayers attending, but even Chin critic and D.I.D. veteran <b>Sean Sweeney</b>, who often ascribes ulterior motives to opponents, said there was nothing to the theory.</div>
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Sweeney said Chin showed up to the fundraiser right after the announcement and “she gave more [of a donation] than the average politician gave.”</div>
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He did take a dig at Chin, pointing out she did not win the Coalition for a District Alternative endorsement that she won four years ago. CoDA voted not to endorse, but its most powerful member, Councilmember <b>Rosie Mendez, </b>is backing Chin.</div>
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Chin’s campaign spokesperson, <b>Austin Finan</b>, laughed at the notion that Chin is weaker without CoDA. “Whatever makes them sleep at night,” he told us.</div>
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He said in addition to support from Assembly Speaker <b>Shelly Silver</b> and Cong. <b>Nydia Velazquez</b>, Chin will be getting nods from most if not all of the local elected officials.</div>
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“We’re stretching it out so to speak,” Finan said.</div>
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<b>City Move </b></div>
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A last quick one on Margaret Chin. <b>Amy Varghese</b> has just joined her staff as the new communications director. She replaces <b>Kelly Magee</b>, who is now working in the press office at the Dept. of Buildings.</div>
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<b>Rockwell, </b><b>Imagination & Reality </b></div>
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We were recalling the hoopla that began five years ago when renowned local architect<b>David Rockwell</b> started talking about designing — at no cost — a new Downtown playground with professional playmates (Rated G of course), a k a “play associates,” to help children interact with innovative, movable equipment.</div>
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We paid a visit the other day with a 3-year-old source close to UnderCover to see how the promise of Imagination Playground was holding up three years after opening.</div>
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The playmate at the Seaport park did not seem to do any sort of play facilitation, which seemed fine since perhaps it’s better for kids to, well, use their own imagination.</div>
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Rockwell’s large and light building blocks are more than a nice touch, although creativity apparently extends only so far since we were told to bring one of them back to the approved block play area.</div>
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Overall, the design puts the playground above most in the city, but what really sets it apart is the well-maintained bathroom and the extremely clean sandbox — no small measure considering pediatricians and public health experts will tell you that germ-wise, sandboxes are the most hazardous part of a playground.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b>Bike Monitors </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 18.99305534362793px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We noticed city Dept. of Transportation workers Tuesday holding up stop signs on the Ninth Ave. bike lane when the bike lights turned red. D.O.T.’s <b>Scott Gastel</b> said the rush hour program started last month and is part of the city’s effort to make sure things are safer when the new bike share program rolls out Memorial Day.</div>
Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-55775510463960028802013-01-30T19:26:00.002-05:002018-08-30T17:27:09.929-04:00RISE OF THE TIGER NATION - Wall Street Journal reports of Chinese Americans<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7pt;"><img alt="The Wall Street Journal" height="31" src="cid:00b601cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="199" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0.25in 0px 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 10.8pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; text-transform: uppercase;">·</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 7pt; text-transform: uppercase;">
</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/public/search?article-doc-type=%7bThe+Saturday+Essay%7d&HEADER_TEXT=The%20Saturday%20Essay" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://online.wsj.com/public/search?article-doc-type=%7bThe+Saturday+Essay%7d&HEADER_TEXT=The%20Saturday%20Essay"><span style="color: #093d72; text-decoration: none;">THE SATURDAY
ESSAY</span></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px 0.25in 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0.25in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.25in;">
<div style="line-height: 10.8pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Updated
October 27, 2012, 9:32 a.m. ET</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 22.5pt; font-weight: normal;">Rise
of the Tiger Nation</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></h1>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-weight: normal;">Asian-Americans
are now the country's best-educated, highest-earning and fastest-growing racial
group. They share with American Jews both the distinction and the occasional
burden of immigrant success.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></h2>
<h3 style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: normal;">By
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=LEE+SIEGEL&bylinesearch=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://online.wsj.com/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=LEE+SIEGEL&bylinesearch=true"><span style="color: #093d72; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;">LEE
SIEGEL</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></h3>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="[image]" border="0" height="369" src="cid:00b701cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="553" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">New
U.S. citizens take their oaths in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Last March, an interviewer
archly asked President Barack Obama whether he was aware that he had been
"surpassed" by basketball phenomenon Jeremy Lin "as the most famous Harvard
graduate." The question was misformulated. If there was any surpassing going on,
it was that Mr. Lin had become, briefly, more famous than Mr. Obama as the
country's most exemplary figure from a hitherto marginalized
minority.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="background-color: black; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204076204578076613986930932.html?KEYWORDS=asian+american" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204076204578076613986930932.html?KEYWORDS=asian+american"><span style="color: #093d72; font-size: 7.5pt; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204076204578076613986930932.html?KEYWORDS=asian+american" border="0" height="153" src="cid:00b801cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" title="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204076204578076613986930932.html?KEYWORDS=asian+american" width="272" /></span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Asian-Americans
are now the country's best-educated, highest-earning and fastest-growing racial
group. They share with American Jews both the distinction and the occasional
burden of immigrant success. WSJ's Stu Woo talks to author Lee
Siegel.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mr. Lin's triumph on the
basketball court is a living metaphor for the social group he comes from. No one
would dispute the opening paragraph of the Pew Research Center's massive study
of Asian-Americans, released over the summer: "Asian-Americans are the
highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United
States. They are more satisfied than the general public with their lives,
finances and the direction of the country, and they place more value than other
Americans do on marriage, parenthood, hard work and career success." Or as Mr.
Lin put it in a video of congratulation he made last spring for the
overwhelmingly Asian-American graduates of New York City's famed Stuyvesant High
School: "Never let anyone tell you what you can't do."</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="[image]" border="0" height="394" src="cid:00b901cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="262" /></span><cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Mark
Peterson/Redux</span></cite></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 6pt;">
<div style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Percentage
of Asian-Americans who believe that hard work leads to success, versus 58% of
the general public</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 6pt;">
<div style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Source:
Pew Research Center</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mr. Lin might well have
been thinking of a troubling backhanded homage to Asian-American success. Once
upon a time, threatened elites at Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale
secretly established a quota—known as the "numerus clausus"—for the number of
Jews allowed through their exclusive gates. Today, some of these schools stand
accused of discrimination against Asian-American students who, according to
recent studies, must score higher than whites on standardized tests to win a
golden ticket of admission. It seems that, despite their very different
histories in this country, Asian-Americans now share with American Jews both the
distinction and the occasional burden of phenomenal immigrant
success.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Asian-Americans have
become the immigrant group that most embodies the American promise of success
driven by will and resolve. When, six years ago, the Korean-American management
consultant Yul Kwon won the 13th season of "Survivor," it must have been a
social scientist's dream come true. The show's producers had separated that
season's contestants into ethnically and racially divided groups: white, black,
Hispanic and Asian-American. Never mind the sorry lack of taste. The crude
segregation also served as an illumination, bringing to the surface America's
eternal subterranean scrimmage between newly arrived tribes. Mr. Kwon's victory
made abstract social trends vividly concrete. Not only had Asian-Americans gone
beyond Hispanics as the most populous group of new American immigrants. They had
risen to the top in the pursuit of the American dream.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For the purposes of
demographic studies, Asian-Americans are defined as Chinese, Filipino, Indian,
Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese, with the Chinese being the largest group and
the Japanese the smallest. The Pew study is rich with statistics: The Indians
and Filipinos lead Asian-Americans in household wealth, Asian-Americans vote
mostly liberal, the Japanese and Filipinos are most likely to marry outside
their group, more Chinese-Americans than any other Asian-American group say they
are doing better materially than their parents were at a similar
age.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">And Asian-Americans
increased their numbers faster than any other race between 2000 and 2010,
growing by 46%. From 1980 to 2010, the Asian-American population quadrupled,
with Chinese-Americans becoming by far the largest group. Tom Buchanan, F. Scott
Fitzgerald's racist bully in "The Great Gatsby," would have plotzed (as my
Russian-Jewish relatives might have said). At one point in the novel, Buchanan
expresses his alarm over the "yellow peril": "The idea is if we don't look out
the white race will be—will be utterly submerged."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Although the fictional
character's fears might strike us as alien and repellent today, it is not just a
blessing but also historically peculiar that more Americans don't feel the same
way, especially given Asian-Americans' breathtaking success. America has always
been a place where rapid assimilation of strangers was accompanied by brutal
opposition to same.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="401" src="cid:00ba01cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="555" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">To be sure, beginning with
the large waves of Asian-American immigration in the latter half of the 19th
century, the mostly unskilled Asians who worked the farms and mines and built
the railroads met violent, sometimes lethal prejudice. Such hostility was
officially sanctioned by legislation banning, at different times, Chinese women,
all immigrants from China, and then, in 1924, immigrants from any Asian country,
period. The internment of Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor is unique in
American history—no other immigrant group has ever been imprisoned on American
soil en masse because of ethnic guilt-by-association. But since 1965, when the
Immigration and Nationality Act opened the doors to immigrants from Asia, their
assimilation into American life has proceeded without the turbulence often faced
by other groups.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="369" src="cid:00bb01cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="553" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Corbis</span></cite></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Asian
Americans share with American Jews both the distinction and the occasional
burden of immigrant success.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="[image]" border="0" height="394" src="cid:00bc01cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="262" /></span><cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Getty
Images</span></cite></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Woody
Allen</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="[image]" border="0" height="394" src="cid:00bd01cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="262" /></span><cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Getty
Images</span></cite></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Albert
Einstein</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Contrast the
Asian-American saga with that of American Jews, the immigrant group most like
them in terms of accomplishment and stability. Central and Eastern European Jews
also began coming to America in the late 19th century, but because they didn't
incite the ferocious racial hatred that Asian-Americans first confronted, they
established themselves more quickly. At the same time, since they were less
culturally reticent and more socially ambitious than Asian-Americans, Jewish
immigrants also faced more egregious obstacles to mobility than Asian-Americans
did when America once again allowed them in.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">By the 1930s, when the
only Asian presence in American movies was Charlie Chan, Jews had invented
Hollywood out of whole cloth. Back in New York, Jews began redefining stagecraft
and acting with the founding of the Group Theater in 1931. Though barred early
on from elective office by the Irish, who for a long time had a monopoly on the
insurgent ethnic side of mainstream American politics, Jews had already reached
the highest political echelons as close advisers to President Wilson. In the
1930s, they were the core of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's so-called brain
trust, his inner circle of wise men. By the end of World War II, Jews had
achieved prominence in just about every realm of American life.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Yet furtive prohibitions
against Jews, as well as entrenched anti-Semitic attitudes, thrived even after
the Holocaust, though that unprecedented atrocity had the effect of eventually
ending the Ivy League quotas on Jewish admissions. What socially ambitious Jews
aspired to were the Elysian fields of WASP bastions such as rarefied country
clubs, exclusive professional clubs, white-shoe law firms, prestigious
foundations and the like, and these were the very institutions that resisted
them the most intensely. As late as 1975, Saul Bellow could complain to an
interviewer that "a few years ago it was fashionable to describe Roth, Malamud
and me as the Hart, Schaffner and Marx of writing. The Protestant majority
thought it had lost its grip, so the ghetto walls went up around
us."</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As it happened, 1975 was
one year before Bellow was awarded the Nobel Prize, after winning the Pulitzer
once and the National Book Award twice. Contrary to Bellow's somewhat delighted
fantasy of persecution, the ghetto walls had come down around Jewish cultural
figures decades before. The perception of anti-Semitism often exceeded its
reality because, after the Holocaust, any expression of hostility toward Jews
got amplified from muted social ugliness into loud moral crime. But there was
another factor at work. Having attained prominence and social power, Jews could
be disproportionately vociferous and visible in their complaints about rejection
and exclusion.</span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">6-in-10</span></h3>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 6pt;">
<div style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Asian-Americans
say American parents put too little pressure on their children to succeed in
school</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 6pt;">
<div style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Source:
Pew Research Center</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Along with their outsider
theological status—something not shared by Asians, many of whom are practicing
Christians—one reason that anti-Semitism persisted even as Jews ascended in
American life was that Jews were frequently in the vanguard of American social
and political dissent, from the anarchist Emma Goldman to Yippie Abbie Hoffman
and beyond. Not only that, but many of the architects of America's archenemy,
Soviet Communism, had been Jews. As the WASP establishment lost ground to Jewish
newcomers, the words "communist" and "Jew" often became synonymous. The
association of Hollywood with lax morality, and of Jews with Hollywood,
heightened a kind of low-grade hum of anti-Jewish feeling, even as it proved the
general acceptance of the Jewish sentiments and sensibility that permeated
American entertainment.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 12pt;">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Asian-Americans have
followed the opposite trajectory from Jewish-Americans. Toxic racism and then
prohibitions against immigration prevented them from rising in American society
for nearly a century. And then they did so with unique alacrity. Jewish
immigrants, whether in the 19th century, in the 1930s as refugees from Hitler or
in the 1980s as refugees from the Soviet Union, came here for the most part
without a penny to their name. Today, Asian-Americans arrive in America more
highly educated, and more prosperous, than any other immigrant
group.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="174" src="cid:00be01cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="262" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Associated
Press</span></cite></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">U.S.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="[image]" border="0" height="394" src="cid:00bf01cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="262" /></span><cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Getty
Images</span></cite></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Yul
Kwon, winner of the 13th season of 'Survivor.'</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="369" src="cid:00c001cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="553" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Getty
Images</span></cite></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 4.5pt;">
<div style="line-height: 13.2pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Comedian
Margaret Cho</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="369" src="cid:00c101cdfc45$79465d90$CB3E2215@GloHP" width="553" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 7.5pt; margin: 0px;">
<cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; font-style: normal;">Getty
Images</span></cite></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Author
Amy Chua</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Asian-Americans have
tended to avoid realms of activity, like politics and entertainment, where what
might otherwise be considered the liability of transparent emotion—or the
easiness of faking emotion—is a natural asset. Asian cultural prohibitions
against public emoting play a role in these choices. There are, of course,
numerous Asian-American culture figures and a handful of Asian-American national
politicians. But physiognomies whose expressiveness is often lost on Western
eyes and a deeply ingrained modesty have, relatively speaking, kept most
Asian-American groups away from the public glare and thus out of the cross hairs
of American bias and hatred. Insofar as they do play public roles,
Asian-Americans are more likely to do pro bono work as lawyers, or to serve in
public clinics as doctors, than to appear behind a podium at a political debate
or to flicker on the silver screen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Yet the astounding success
of Asian-Americans raises the dark question of how long they will be able to
resist attracting the furies of fear and envy, especially during times of
economic stress, or of economic and political conflict with countries like
China, where the preponderance of Asian-Americans still come from. If China does
one day become an explicit antagonist, it seems likely that the anxiety among
Chinese-Americans will be even more intense than that of American Jews every
time the allegiances of the American-Jewish lobby are questioned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Some of the more vehement
attacks on Amy Chua's deliberately provocative 2011 memoir of child rearing,
"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," were perhaps fueled by resentment of
Asian-American ascendancy, especially in the context of raising "perfect"
children. Confession: I was one of the book's more vocal detractors. Was I, a
Jewish-American writer, driven to pique, in part, by a member of a group that
threatens Jewish-American cultural domination, just as American Jews once
threatened the WASP mandarinate? Well, maybe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The subtle vying for
success in various realms of American life between Asian-Americans and American
Jews makes one wonder what mores and tastes will look like when Asian-Americans
begin to exert their own influence over the culture. Will the verbal brio and
intellectual bent of Jews, their edgy irony and frank super-competitiveness give
way to Asian discretion, deference to the community, and gifts for less verbal
pursuits like music, science and math? Will things become, as they once were
under WASP hegemony, quieter?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Not if the mercurial
nature of culture has anything to do with it. Think of the wild Korean-American
comedian Margaret Cho, who belongs on the same family tree of comic art as the
wild Jewish-American comedian Sarah Silverman. Jeremy Lin himself, in his video
for the class of 2012 at Stuyvesant, included an antic rap song performed with
an Asian-American friend. And the speaker who addressed the high school's
graduates in person last June was the 32-year-old Chinese-American actor Telly
Leung, a star of the hit TV series "Glee."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mr. Leung spoke for over
20 minutes, joking, shouting, making ironic quips, teasing and provoking. At one
point, he boasted that he had overthrown his parents' middle-class expectations
of stability and security and made them redefine their idea of the American
dream. He sounded, dare I say it, like a certain type of Jew. Which is another
way of saying that he sounded like everyone who comes to America from somewhere
else and ends up exemplifying, anew, a native irreverence and vitality that is
as old as the American hills.</span></div>
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<cite><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">—Mr.
Siegel is the author of four books and, most recently, the e-book "Harvard is
Burning."</span></cite></div>
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Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-50206314208484060092012-11-16T11:19:00.000-05:002012-11-16T11:58:51.547-05:00Chinese business owners left "post-storm aid meeting" with disappointment.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Chinese business owners left "post-storm aid meeting" with disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The government-held
post-storm aid meeting was a great disappointment ; Chinese business owners cried they "need
subsidies not loans"<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">10<sup>th</sup> Nov 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our reporter Jacky Wong in
New York reports Sing Tao NY</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5qDldQ527Kw/UKZnK-syslI/AAAAAAAACFg/GksdXKl3OJA/s1600/CCBA_MOTT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5qDldQ527Kw/UKZnK-syslI/AAAAAAAACFg/GksdXKl3OJA/s320/CCBA_MOTT.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Assoc. Mott st.<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Many politicians and
representatives at all levels from government gathered in the auditorium of the
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association yesterday (9th Nov), introduced
various post-storm aid programs. The event attracted about 200 people from the
business community to attend, however the aid is just low-interest loans rather
than subsidies therefore many people felt disappointed. More importantly, the
business owners pointed out the Chinatown economy has been barely breathing for
10 years, future is not guaranteed even they made through this time.
Politicians and community agencies which taking government money need to
produce a long-term rehabilitation plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Although the business owners
have different backgrounds, but all have the same anger. The owner lady of
Bayard Street Old Sichuan Mrs. Chu already became very impatient when listening
to the loans introduction, at last she was the first who shot. She pointed to the speakers on stage
and yelled, "You talk a lot. But we don’t want loans. We need direct
subsidies. Just like that after 911, each of our employees received 500
dollars. We all are realistic." Her argument won approvals from many
business owners in the audience. In those, Chan Kin Yung said, "One needs
to pay back the loans. Everybody wants direct subsidies. Another added, banking
system in Chinatown reserves 60 hundred million cash for many years and the
fund is sufficient. Government procedures for loan application are complicated.
Who would take that difficulties rather than the easy approach? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPHmhaOoh24/UKZlzwb2agI/AAAAAAAACFQ/E_Xbis2ooOw/s1600/margaretchin_arguing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPHmhaOoh24/UKZlzwb2agI/AAAAAAAACFQ/E_Xbis2ooOw/s320/margaretchin_arguing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Old
Sichuan restaurant owner, Mrs. Chu arguing with Councilmember Margaret Chin Sin Man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">However, members of Congress
Velazquez pushed the problem to the Republican Party, said that she had made a
funding proposal in Congress but Republicans blocked it. She also said the new
session will start next week, and she will once again raised the subsidy plan.
Business owners are expected to be patient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">It is followed by the owner
of Hong Kong Station Lai Chi Fung. He pointed out that losses made by the storm
cannot be recovered, and Chinatown economy is stagnant as a pool of still
water. What is the direction to go in future? Business owners still have to
continue to pay rents, utilities and
labor. “What plans do the politicians, associations, community agencies
and BID (Business Improvement District) have?” Although the City councilor Margaret
Chin tried to take the question, she was unable to provide any actual answer
because there are structural deadlocks in the Chinatown economy and it is not
her expertise. Then business owners in the audience were getting more fierce.
The </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 114%;">owner of Mott Street Mottzar Kitchen couldn’t help shouted,
"Otherwise no one will come to your meeting next time", meaning they
all we have to close down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 114%;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Margaret Chin reminded the
owners can come to her office if they need helps on the loan applications. To
that, the owner of Man Yau Stationery Lee Kwok Wai expressed with his
dissatisfaction, "If it is about to fill in the forms, we can do it on our
own on Internet." Or it is even easier to have these information printed
on the media. Because the losses including goods and profits are difficult to
estimate, everyone wants to know the way to go on. He also hoped that, by this
chance, the business owners are able to help each other and think about the
future together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-1COPaoQ00/UKZmKAAdFyI/AAAAAAAACFY/lEYIoFLPAyY/s1600/mottzar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-1COPaoQ00/UKZmKAAdFyI/AAAAAAAACFY/lEYIoFLPAyY/s320/mottzar2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
owner of Mottzar Kitchen Wong Suet Yu said, "if there is no plan, they have to
close the business and then lots of people will become unemployed."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In fact, the storm matter
indeed evoke people’s introspection about Chinatown economy. Issues such as
transportation policies failed to attract tourists and housing policies
crowding the middle class second-generation Chinese immigrants have cut these
two upscale consumer groups. While other Chinese communities have been set up,
the demands are diluted. However to solve these structural problems involves
the interests of several large bodies in Chinatown. Just as what a community
member Cheung Ying Ying said, “People holding vested interests don’t easily let
go."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Many representatives from
different community presented yesterday, including Director of the Business
Improvement District Wellington Chen Jok Chow whose achievements only limited
to street cleaning, Director of the Asian Americans for Equality Christopher Kui Yuen
Yee who became a large landowner in Chinatown benefited from parity house
policy, Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Yue Kum Shan who claims
himself representing the interests of the commercial sector but did nothing for
years. The business owners’ views are worth to them to think about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br />Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-27936015555140211282012-11-16T10:57:00.001-05:002012-11-16T11:59:55.531-05:00Sing Tao News - Translated article about Post Sandy Forum at Lin Sing Association<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SfStXabyRG0/UKZfD0eVsGI/AAAAAAAACEw/Tz48ruGh86o/s1600/HKSTATION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SfStXabyRG0/UKZfD0eVsGI/AAAAAAAACEw/Tz48ruGh86o/s320/HKSTATION.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
restaurant owner Wallace Lai ,HK Station</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">"After more than 10
years of restraint they now burst out; Chinatown business owners all rise up and howl after the
storm"<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">08<sup>th</sup> Nov 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our reporter Wong Dik in New
York reports from Sing Tao NY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Improper policies made for Chinatown
led to the barely breathing of economy for 10 years. Now it is stricken by the
Northeast storm just right after the Storm Sandy. Difficult situations forced
peoples’ anger exploded at an event in the Lin Sing Association yesterday (08th
Nov), Chinatown business owners howled to the politicians and a representative
from non-profit organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Yesterday, several business
owners were invited to the Lin Sing Association. They expected that they will
receive subsidies for their losses however the speakers just gave a bunch of
empty words and hastily introduced the procedures of applying for loans and
insurance claims on Internet. The owner
of <a href="http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/hong-kong-station/" target="_blank">Hong Kong Station </a>(Wallace) Lai Chi Fung was the first to start revolt. He
said angrily. "What’s the purpose of invitation? We can fill in the forms
on Internet at home! What you these agencies can provide us? If it is wasting
time, we’d rather go back and do more businesses!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lai Chi Fung couldn’t have
sleep for days already. He came to blame with a pair eye bags which are large
enough for shopping. "Chinatown
business owners are leading a very hard time after the storm and we have to
continue to pay the rents, utilities and wages. The economy in Chinatown is so
bad but community agencies are telling their own stories. How to revitalize the
economy in Chinatown after all? Who can tell me! "<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lai Chi Fung’s comments are
quite strong and the words go to the point. He won applause from everywhere
at the scene. Consultant of the Lin Sing Association (Eddie) Chiu Man Sang who
was one of the organizer originally had nothing to do with the matter however
he had no choice but to meet the trick. He pointed out that it is a long-term
problem in Chinatown and lots of other things are involved. But Lai Chi Fung
was so aggressive. At last <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/nyregion/thecity/12club.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Eddie Chiu</a> Man Sang was completely thrown off by the
questions and exclaimed, "I have meetings with the government everyday. I
will ask the mayor and governor to come." The business owners expected to
receive subsidies at Lin Sing however they got the opposite of what they wanted
therefore the atmosphere became more and more intense. Eddie Chiu Man Sang then
simply and directly put that “The theme today is to send out blankets!"
The boss of Shanghai Asian Manor pleaded with tactful words saying that it is a
better choice for the community agencies to take some actual actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Director of Human
Resources Center Lee Hong Sing is the only representative from non-profitable
organization, however finally he became the target of attacks for no reason.
Facing attacks from the business owners, this gentleman was also struggling to
cope. He claimed himself is a victim too because the Human Resources Center
hotlines went dead. He also turned and threw the question to the <a href="http://chinatownpartnership.org/Gui/Content.aspx-Page=CleanStreetsKickOff.htm" target="_blank">ChinatownPartnership Local Development Corporation (CPLDC) </a>saying that it is an
organization established for economic development in Chinatown. When speaking
about CPLDC, the owner of Man Yau Stationery Lee Kwok Wai whose shop in the
Confucious Plaza was filled with pent-up anger. He complained, "We don’t’
want to listen to the truths and theories. Just tell us what we can do for you?
And what you can do for us?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The owner lady of Bayard
Street Old Sichuan Mrs. Chu probably ate too much chili so she was especially
fierce yesterday. She lashed out directly, "Loans are not what we want, we
need direct subsidies, just like those after 911. This time it is even worse
than 911. Where are Lau Sun Yat and<a href="http://council.nyc.gov/d1/html/members/home.shtml" target="_blank"> Councilmember Margaret Chin</a>? Why do
politicians come for money for elections and they disappeared when we need
helps?" It’s hard to tell for the past 40 years, but Margaret Chin indeed
tried to fight for direct subsidies for owners of small businesses, even if
there are no actual results. 14:00 today she will also work with other
politicians for an aiding event held in the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally, Mrs. Chu appeared
to be helpless, and raised a suggestion with a no-harm-to try attitude,
"Maybe one of you can give 500 dollars to each of our employees, 300
dollars will do anyway! Regretfully the speakers looked at each other and do
not know what to do."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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telling her own story and people don’t bother to hear it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 114%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">In fact, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-menin" target="_blank">Julie Menin</a> who is
the former chairman of the First Community Board came to donate 500 blankets.
She was running for the district head and originally intended to take this
event to win people's hearts. However and to her surprise, she was lost to the
bewilderment when the business owners threw their complaints in Chinese to her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Business owners sitting at
the front were exasperated. The elders kept staring at the blankets behind the
speakers because they actually came for the blankets. Ng Aan Sim who is the owner of Amazing 66
Restaurant lost patience after sitting for a while. She kept showing the whites
of eyes and finally threw a "Waste of time", left with the owner of
the Red Egg David Wan each with a blanket under their arms.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Some politicians, non-profit
organizations and trade unions in Chinatown are still remained at the thoughts
of civil rights movement in the 1960s, and not keeping up with the immigrants’
positive objectives of climbing the social ladder. Some of them were driven by
the principle of “Weak forces demanding strong non-profitable policies”. As
consequences, many wrong population, housing and economic policies were
produced in the past 40 years which resulting in poverty and aging problems in
Chinatown and therefore pulling out an endless stream of social and economic
problems. These parties usually play the role of "A troop representing a
just cause", but they sacrifice people’s benefits because the policies are
only for their own institutional and political interests. Flushing and the 8th
Avenue are also Chinese communities but their practices are widely divergent as
they are helping Chinese immigrants to build up wealth. Even though the
business owner spoke out of the topic and complained at a wrong event, but this
outbreak tells that the business owners have long been aware of the facts thus
became unbearable. It is worthy for the community agencies to ponder and
introspect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-24853776066772486772012-11-14T13:57:00.001-05:002012-11-14T23:14:20.295-05:00Hurricane Sandy knocks out power but Community comes together to help at Hamilton Madison House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hamilton Madison House and Two Bridges Neighborhood Council Board member Victor Papa (left)</div>
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Linnit Lawton, Chung Seto, Exec. Dir. HMH Mark Handelman</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Hurricane Sandy dealt a devastating blow to New York City, especially in the Rockaways, Staten Island and Coney Island. An area very close to home, Knickerbocker Village on Monroe Street, a 600 unit housing project built in 1930 was also flooded plunging the entire complex (two city blocks square) into darkness on the night of the "superstorm". Shockingly, power and heat only returned to some residents last evening. Management from Knickerbocker, while touring the complex with Comptroller John Liu explained " water came rushing in and forced open a steel door (in one of the basements) , which pushed over filing cabinets, and the oil tank". It took many days to pump out tens of thousands of gallons of water from the basement rooms. The spilled oil created an environmental problem that also hampered repair efforts.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzU1RsqfARHyL3alfM7mjcUZv4iMaspU1JDR0v1bF3zHtqed8_7ldpPC4EMmJukkYcgZ0X9ZNRPxboZmT7OXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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Repairing the boilers and power systems that keep Knickerbocker up and running smoothly proved to be a gargantuan task given the buildings antiquated infrastructure. Some of the parts needed are unique to the era and hard to locate, while a fire in an electrical room crippled repair efforts even further. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gHPWzxUFZ4/UKPfctSiWuI/AAAAAAAACCw/TzbmTnvfS10/s1600/knickerbocker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gHPWzxUFZ4/UKPfctSiWuI/AAAAAAAACCw/TzbmTnvfS10/s320/knickerbocker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the meantime home bound senior citizens sat in the dark and cold waiting for help. They numbered at least 80+ people within the complex's labyrinth of hallways spread over two square blocks.<a href="http://caaav.org/about-us/history-of-caaav" target="_blank"> Members of CAAAV, Coalition Against Anti-Asian Violence</a> sprung into action almost immediately after the hurricane to run food donations up to home bound residents. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDkVQvwlVx0/UKPkOrPJhII/AAAAAAAACDI/HgwxRh67fkk/s1600/KHei_CT_Knickerbocker_032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iDkVQvwlVx0/UKPkOrPJhII/AAAAAAAACDI/HgwxRh67fkk/s320/KHei_CT_Knickerbocker_032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Photo: <a href="http://katjaheinemann.com/news/2012/11/" target="_blank">Katja Heinemann </a></div>
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Volunteers from <a href="http://www.us.tzuchi.org/us/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1761%3Atzu-chi-holds-distribution-to-2000-families-in-new-york&catid=183%3Asuperstorm-sandy&Itemid=463&lang=en" target="_blank">Tzu Chi Buddhist organization</a> launched an enormous campaign </div>
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to aid as many residents effected by the storm as possible: </div>
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<img alt="Tzu Chi volunteers hand out goods with deep bow and respect. (Photo provided by Tzu Chi Foundation) " src="http://www.us.tzuchi.org/us/en/images/stories/Diaster_Relief/superstorm_sandy/2012-11-13-ny.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">On November 11, 400 Tzu Chi volunteers distributed cash cards, blankets and daily necessities to nearly 2,000 families in six districts in the greater New York area. The families are suffering from a shortage of power and water and freezing temperatures almost two weeks after the passage of Hurricane Sandy. The recipients were extremely moved by this generosity."</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zOJmE12bs0/UKPkTYD1gSI/AAAAAAAACDQ/iC1y7uPBY7o/s1600/KHei_CT_Knickerbocker-B_070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zOJmE12bs0/UKPkTYD1gSI/AAAAAAAACDQ/iC1y7uPBY7o/s320/KHei_CT_Knickerbocker-B_070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Photo: <a href="http://katjaheinemann.com/news/2012/11/chinatown-blackout-update%C2%A0knickerbocker-village/#more-1385" target="_blank">Katja Heinemann</a></div>
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Immediately after the power returned to Alfred E. Smith projects at 50 Madison Street, <a href="http://www.hmhonline.org/" target="_blank">Hamilton Madison House </a>converted its gym into a commissary and warming center, as well as an information hub for FEMA, the Red Cross and donation distributions to the home bound in Knickerbocker.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRbl73FMEyo" target="_blank">Click here for video</a></span></b></div>
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On Sunday Nov. 11th about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRbl73FMEyo" target="_blank">35 volunteers from </a><a href="http://www.cyounglion.org/" target="_blank">The Chinatown Community Young Lions</a> spent the day at Hamilton Madison House translating, serving meals and going door to door with Red Cross nurses inside of Knickerbocker Village to assess health and nutritional needs of home bound seniors.</div>
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Photo: Jan Lee</div>
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Comptroller John Liu meeting with Knickerbocker Management</div>
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with Two Bridges Neighborhood Council and Hamilton Madison Board Member Victor Papa</div>
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Photo: Jan Lee</div>
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Some of the items that FEMA volunteers distributed from the central supply hub inside of Hamilton Madison House were: diapers, toilet paper, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, flashlights, pet food, bottled water, juice, canned foods, sanitary wipes and more. Lists, provided by Knickerbocker Village, were given to the volunteers from FEMA who methodically loaded up bags of items ready to deliver to individual home bound seniors within Knickerbocker. </div>
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Comptroller John Liu serving meals to residents of Knickerbocker Village at Hamilton Madison House 50 Madison Street location. Donations of hot meals came from The Goya Corporation, The American Red Cross, Comptroller John Liu, Councilmember Margaret Chin, and Nydia Valazquez among many many others.</div>
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Hot meals arrive daily at Hamilton Madison with The Chinatown Community Young Lions and other volunteers at the ready to serve upwards of 800 meals a day.</div>
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Hamilton Madison House continues to coordinate hot meal donations even after most of the units in Knickerbocker Village have their power restored as of November 14th 2012, so residents can still get needed nutrition while they put their lives back together. Hamilton Madison House staff and administration complimented The Chinatown Community Young Lions on their efficiency, courtesy, and dedication in helping to serve those effected by the blackout.</div>
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Krissy Lew and Lucas Chang (son of <a href="http://www.chinatowntrilogy.com/" target="_blank">Chinatown author Henry Chang</a>)</div>
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For many of the C.C.Y.L. members it was their first time volunteering, no doubt this experience will have long lasting effects. CCYL Member Krissy Ann Lew said "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: blue;">Maybe I needed this experience just as much as they needed my help..... It was very eye opening and it made me realize the realities of life and appreciate things in my life much more than I use to and the feeling of helping people is amazing"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">The Chinatown Community Young Lions are continuing their volunteer efforts at Hamilton Madison House daily, serving meals and assisting with Chinese translations for residents in the area wishing to get a hot meal while they recover from hurricane Sandy. <span style="color: blue;">"We are honored to be able to help our community in this way, some of our members live in Knickerbocker Village or have relatives or friends who are suffering right now, so our efforts are affecting people who are very close to us. We applaud all the groups who have come together to help"</span> Director, CCYL Brandon Tom</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vl_titl4Tqs/UKRrn8Xw7TI/AAAAAAAACEg/Ox1hdfwR1ug/s1600/KHei_CT_Knickerbocker-B_057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vl_titl4Tqs/UKRrn8Xw7TI/AAAAAAAACEg/Ox1hdfwR1ug/s320/KHei_CT_Knickerbocker-B_057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-88769707728628013132012-11-07T13:14:00.002-05:002012-11-07T13:17:43.811-05:00Sing Tao Newspaper covergage of Superstorm Sandy - Could Chinatown Pharmacies do a better job??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sing Tao Newspaper published an article that highlighted several individuals in Chinatown who braved the blackout and decided to open up shop to serve their community, while many others, despite medical obligations to serve their community remained shuttered. </div>
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. We've provided the English translation of this article below.</div>
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<span style="font-family: KaiTi_GB2312; font-size: 12pt;">他們擔心有些老人家沒有準備足夠藥物,因此決定繼續開業。</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"> 本報記者王鏑紐約報道:近日華埠大停電,很多商家無法開店,但也有一些商店花盡心思繼續開門,為僑胞提供必需的日常服務,當中有不少感人情節,而且停電期間風雨無阻,贏得不少區</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">內民眾的讚</span><span style="font-family: PMingLiU, serif; font-size: 12pt;">喻</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">。</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"> 東百老匯永順酒家便是其中之一,老闆</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">KK</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">胡昨(</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">日)坦言,他原本只是不想浪費食物和減少損失,因此桑迪來襲的第一天就用發電機繼續營運,但是後來發現附近很多居民因為缺電生活狼狽不堪,因此索性借給其他人充手機,有些商家充電一次</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">3</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">元,但他就不收分文。</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">KK</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">胡</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">說,「顧客都是這裡附近的居民,我們就當行個方便</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">吧。」昨天更有一名西裔女士入來借電,手機充電後顯得感激不盡,即使兩人沒有多少共通的語言。</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"> 僑胞黃立人</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">說,大停電前他沒有任何準備,當天所有店舖都關門了,只有永順開張,「除了可以吃到燙口的熱叉燒米粉之外,與其他人一起也讓我心情也改善了很多。而且永順沒有漲價,十分難得。」還有一位的士司機則一邊吃著碟飯一邊說:「這次老</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">闆是為人民服務。」</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">KK</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">胡笑</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">說,「這次是很多人的功勞,其實我們的廚師也沒法上班,剛好附近有街坊</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">懂得入廚,我們就請他們來幫助。還有很多客人都使用信用卡,小費給的不多,但是我們的企</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">?</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">也不計較,仍然緊守崗位,因為大家都明白這次的情況很特殊。」</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"> 另一方面,東百老匯的福州大藥房也是一直開店,馮姓藥劑師指著門外的發電機</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">說,「我們看到勿街、堅尼路等很多藥房都沒有開店,但是華埠有這</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">麼多老人,如果大家少了心臟病、血壓藥後果難以想像,所以我就還想還是應該開門。」馮藥劑師坦言這幾天都沒有賺錢,但他</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">說,這次就算是社區服務,只希望保老人家平安</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">。</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"> 家有逾八旬母親的社區人士李卓勳嘆</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">說,他很幸運在颶風來襲前做好準備,但他對於很多藥房關門實在感到失望,他指藥房是涉及性命的生意,藥房老</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">闆身家豐裕,他們在華埠賺錢,但卻沒有這種意識。而且州長也簽署命令停電期間藥房可以發出小量處方藥,無須醫生紙。</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"> 另一家位於包厘街的健康西藥房也是從停電開始每天</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">12</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">時至</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">3</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">時提供服務,負責人</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amanda</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">韓</span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">說,他們擔心有些老人家沒有準備足</span><span style="font-family: PMingLiU, serif; font-size: 12pt;">夠藥物,因此決定繼續開業,「不要說賺錢,賠本都要做吧。」事實上,參議員史葛靜助理張笑瑛到孔廈探訪耆老後也坦承,很多人反映他們藥物不足需要援助</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">。</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;"> 除此之外,停電也可見僑團的角色變化,僑團是華埠特色,先賢就是為瞭解決華僑移民的困窘而購買樓業成立僑團,雖然平時華埠僑團的活動眾多,但是今次大停電期間無論是中華公所、聯成公所、寧陽會館、福建同</span><span style="font-family: PMingLiU, serif; font-size: 12pt;">鄉會或其他僑團大多是重門深鎖,每天下班後從下城返回華埠陪伴雙親的一位李女士昨也漢說:「其實他們只要能開門給老人家聚在一起就是很好的服務,耆老可以互相緩解壓力,不過僑團雖然擁有豐富財力,但或者角色也正在逐漸改變。</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Mincho'; font-size: 12pt;">」</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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What is particularly disappointing is that only two of 25 pharmacies in Chinatown decided to </div>
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open up during the blackout to provide much needed medications to Chinatown residents.</div>
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For one, why are there so many pharmacies in Chinatown? and secondly, are there only two who will serve usduring disasters like Sandy? It's a sad commentary indeed that with all the money they make from the </div>
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local community, that they can't support us, when even tofu sellers and fruit stands made the effort</div>
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to open up. </div>
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Here is the article translated:</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Moving Stories Happening In The Restaurant And Pharmacies<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Moral Shop Owners Keep Their Doors open Against The Difficulty<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(picture) Amanda
Hon says, they worry that some elderly people didn’t prepare enough medicines,
thus decided to continue the store’s operation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Our reporter Wong Dik in New York reports: The recent
blackout in Chinatown prevents lots of businesses from their normal operations,
however there are also a number of ship-owners rack their brains continue to
open their doors to provide necessary day-to-day services for local Chinese
compatriots. Their benevolent acts are not stopped by either wind or rain in
the power outage and there are many moving stories, which won praises from
people in the area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Wingsun Restaurant in East Broadway is one of the good ones.
The restaurant owner KK Woo yesterday (2nd of Nov.) frankly commented,
originally he just did not want to waste food and wished to reduce losses. So
when the storm Sandy struck on the first day, the restaurant was still
operating by using electricity generators. But later he found that many people
in the neighborhood fell in embarrass situations because of the power shortage.
Therefore he decided to open his door for others’ cell phone charging. Some
shops charge 3 dollars for each charging but he doesn’t ask for a single cent.
KK Woo said, "Customers are all people living nearby, so we just take it
as providing convenience to the others." And yesterday there was a Spanish
lady came for phone charging. When her cell phone fully charged, the lady was
much grateful even though she did not have much common topics with the owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">A Chinese compatriot Wong Lap Yan said, he didn’t get any
prepare before the blackout. On the day that the storm arrived, all the shops
were closed except Wingsun. "Besides there are hot Cha Siu Mai Fun
available, staying with others makes my mood improved a lot. And the prices of
food here remained, this is very precious." And a taxi driver, who having
the rice served with meat and vegetables on top said: "The restaurant owner
totally SERVES THE PEOPLE this time ". KK Woo smiled and said, "The
credits go to many people this time. In fact, our chefs also cannot go to work.
Fortunately there are neighbors know how to cook so we invite them come to
help. Besides, many customers are using credit cards thus not giving many tips.
It is not a big issue to our waiters and they still stick to their positions
because we all understand that this situation is very special."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">On the other hand, the Fook Chow Pharmacy locates in East
Broadway continues its operation all along. Pharmacist Fung pointed at the
generator outside the shop and said, "We see a lot of pharmacies in Mott
Street and Canal Street are not opened. There are so many elderly people in
Chinatown. If they are running out of medicines for heart disease and high
blood pressure, the consequences are hard to imagine. So I think I should
continue the business. " Pharmacist Fung spoke frankly, there is no profit
in these days. And he said he takes it as community service this time and hopes
the elderly are fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Mr. Lee Cheuk Fun whose mother over
80 living in the community sighed, luckily he has prepared before the hurricane
came. He said it was disappointed that many pharmacies suspend their
businesses. He pointed out that running pharmacies is a business involved in
lives, owners of pharmacies make money in Chinatown and became wealthy however
they don’t have the awareness of helping the residents even in the situation
the governor signed the order to authorize pharmacies to sell small quantities
of medicines to buyers without prescription presented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Another pharmacy CTHC locates in the Bowery is open daily
from 12:00 to 3:00 since the blackout. The shop owner Amanda Hon said, worrying
about some elderly people who didn’t prepared enough medicines, she had decided
to continue the shop’s operation. "Regardless the profit, I will continue
to run the business even at a loss." In fact, Cheung Siu Ying who is the
assistant to New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, admitted after her visited
the elderly living in the Confucious Plaza, lots of people reflected that they
don’t have enough reservations of medicines and in needs of assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">In addition, people can see the changes of roles of local
Chinese associations from the accident. Chinese association is one of the main
features in Chinatown. In order to solve the embarrassments of Chinese
immigrants, the great and good of the past brought properties and established
the associations. Usually there are many activities being held in the associations
but this time during the power outage, no matter the Chinese Consolidated
Benevolent Association, Lin Sing Association, Ning Yung Association, Fukien
Benevolent Association or other Chinese associations, most of them close their
heavy doors. Mrs. Lee who gets back to Chinatown everyday from her work in
downtown Manhattan to accompany her parents also signed: "In fact, as long
as they can open the door to provide a meeting place for the elderly, it is
considered as a very good service, because old people can gather together to
ease the pressure. Although the Chinese associations have extensive financial
resources, their roles may be gradually changing. "</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-81368344710104188882012-10-28T11:41:00.003-04:002012-10-28T11:41:59.785-04:00SoHo BID hearing postponed due to weather<img src="http://www.rickackerman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Perfect-storm.jpg" /><br />
<br />
We received this from our neighbors in SoHo:<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Neighbors,</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>-</b> The City Council Oversight Hearing on the proposed Broadway SoHo Business Improvement District, slated for this Wednesday, October 31, has been deferred due to the impending storm. We shall update you when an alternate date is announced.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">SoHo Alliance</span></div>
Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-54638202660657824972012-10-25T12:25:00.001-04:002012-10-25T12:25:42.612-04:00"Trick or Treat?" Soho BID - Business Improvement District Hearing - hosted by Councilmember Margaret Chin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><br /></b>
<b>WHAT: SoHo BID Council Hearing </b><br />
<b>WHEN: Wednesday, October 31, 10:00 a.m. to ? </b><br />
<b>WHERE: City Council chambers at City Hall. (I.D. required)</b><br />
<br />
Dear Neighbor,<br />
<br />
Our councilmember, Margaret Chin, has called a public hearing this Halloween, Wednesday, October 31, 10:00 am at City Hall on the proposed SoHo BID, a Business Improvement District.<br />
<br />
We need you there in force if we are going to defeat this.
We do not understand why Chin is pursuing the issue, since it has been dormant for quite a while and is overwhelmingly opposed by the SoHo community, our other elected officials, the community board, and the local newspapers.<br />
<br />
The committee hearing will be conducted by the city council's Finance Committee chair, Dominic Recchia, and both proponents and opponents of the BID will present their positions at the hearing, which is expected to go on for several hours.
If you are unable to arrive at the beginning, we expect the hearing to continue into the early afternoon, so you can still arrive well after it begins. Bodies Count! Please be there.<br />
<br />
If you are absolutely unable to attend, please email the SoHo Alliance your opinion on this BID scheme and we will present it in person to the councilmembers the day of the hearing: info@sohoalliance.org
Below are some salient bullet points to include in your email:
- The BID is undemocratic.<br />
<br />
For example,<br />
<br />
condos get one BID vote per resident, but coops get only one vote per building. Thus, a 41-unit condo like 40 Mercer Street on Broadway and Grand was allowed 41 votes, while the large coop next door to it was given only one. Is that fair?
Further, there is no oversight on who votes in favor of a BID, while BID opponents must jump through hoops to register opposition.<br />
<br />
Again at 40 Mercer: a single pro-BID resident suspiciously signed his single ballot with the names of the 41 other residents, 29 of whom don't even live in the New York, mostly Europeans renting out their condos as investment properties. He submitted no affidavit, no certified mail receipt, no notarized permission or authorization documents to validate the ballot, yet the City accepted those 41 spurious votes without question.<br />
<br />
However, to oppose a BID, opponents must personally request an objection form, have it notarized and then submit it along with the title deed, a hurdle clearly intended to force BIDs down our throats.
Incidentally, of the total 96 'yes' votes in favor of the BID, 41 of those - 43% - were submitted by this one person from 40 Mercer on a single ballot form. Does that sound democratic to you?
-<br />
<br />
The BID is unnecessary; there are simpler, less expensive and less coercive alternatives that don't raise taxes.
The SoHo BID is the brainchild of ACE founder, Henry Buhl, working in concert with real estate developers. Read here. Buhl wants the BID in order to fund his organization, ACE, the nice people who clean our sidewalks. Buhl claims ACE is losing money sweeping Broadway and a BID is required. However, there is hard evidence that Buhl would like to see the BID spread to all of SoHo and that he is underfunding the Broadway cleaning by ACE in order to create the perception that a BID is needed.<br />
<br />
The executive director of ACE has stated that it cost between $125,000 to $150,000 to sweep Broadway. So why does the BID require a budget of $550,000, most of it for 'administration' and 'advocacy'. Is it to pay the high salaries of the BID administrators, while the homeless people who sweep our streets get minimum wage?
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<br />
Alternative Solutions: <br />
* A Chamber of Commerce, as other neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and Chelsea have created, voluntarily funded by property owners and businesses and not by forced government taxation<br />
* A voluntary, privately-funded, merchant/residents association like BAMRA, the Bleecker Area Merchants and Residents Association, or the NoHo-Bowery Stakeholders<br />
* A private, not-for-profit, 501-c3 association, say, 'Friends of Broadway', funded by the real-estate developers who want this BID, which could conduct a fundraiser or benefit to secure the money to clean their sidewalks<br />
* Let the BID proponents, instead of taxing us, behave like good citizens and join groups like the Broadway Residents Committee or the SoHo Alliance to get, as we have, more sanitation enforcement, better police enforcement against illegal peddlers, adequate traffic control, restrictions on street fairs, etc.
Since the BID was proposed over two years ago, not a single member of the BID or ACE have come to a community board or a police meeting to solve the problems on Broadway that they claim a BID would solve, while members of the Alliance or Broadway Residents Committee attended these meetings monthly - and get results!<br />
*Or, simply, have the Broadway stores and landlords sweep in front of their property - as we all are required to do by law without resorting to a BID.
- The BID was not originated by Broadway residents or businesses, the vast majority of whom do not want it. The BID is being foisted by people who do not live in SoHo. The chair of the BID Committee lives on the Upper East Side, the director of ACE lives in New Jersey, the BID consultant lives in Chelsea, etc.<br />
<br />
These are just some bullet points you can use. But please do your best to attend in person.
Many thanks,
Sean Sweeney, Director
Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-22177472840101370222012-07-17T12:58:00.001-04:002012-07-30T08:17:06.608-04:00A Note from the folks at Onlinecriminaljusticedegree.comTake a moment to read this brilliantly done graphic by Tony Shin.<br />
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Created by: <a href="http://www.onlinecriminaljusticedegree.com/">OnlineCriminalJusticeDegree.com</a>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-13308260945529946872012-06-27T15:05:00.003-04:002012-07-30T08:21:14.643-04:00City Council to hear the NYU (Sexton) Expansion plan - please attend!<br />
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<img src="http://www.thenational.ae/deployedfiles/Assets/Richmedia/Image/AD200810249892482AR.jpg" style="background-color: white;" /></div>
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JOHN SEXTON , President of NYU, the man responsible for the out of scale </div>
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NYU expansion</div>
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NYU FASP - Faculty of NYU Against the Sexton Plan - asks that we join them in fighting the expansion of NYU (see previous CCRC post for details)</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">VERY IMPORTANT!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Friday, June 29th 2012:</b></span></div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> The City Council holds its ONLY public hearing on the expansion plan. </span><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Join the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Presevation @ an</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">8:30 am press conference</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">on the <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">steps of City Hall</span>, before the hearing begins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">(If you go, try to be there @ <span style="color: red;">8:15am</span>). </span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Bring your energy, your voices, your signs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The hearing is inside City Hall and starts at 9:30 am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">We hope to have a packed hearing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">"WHY DOESN'T COUNCILMEMBER MARGARET CHIN OPPOSE THIS PLAN? WHY HAS SHE NOT MADE A STATEMENT DENOUNCING THIS SEXTON PLAN?" </span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">If you do go, be aware that hearing can last well into the night and that photo i.d. is required.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Be prepared to stay for a quite a while. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Written testimony is also accepted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Let's show them that we are united and will fight until we win.</span></div>
<span style="display:none! important;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">TAKE ACTION! Want to volunteer in some way or want to get the word out? Have some news? Need more information? Email </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">nyu.fasp@gmail.com</span></span></div>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-54821820423383972872012-06-18T10:46:00.001-04:002012-06-18T14:00:53.955-04:00A rally against the NYU Expansion plan tonight at NY Theatre Workshop 7PM<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">You like the <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc;">NYU</span> Expansion plan? ...No? We didn't think so. Now's your chance to do something about it and have fun too.</span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">
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<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">If you don't know about it,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1913938407"> </a></span><span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1913938407">NYU</a></span><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.nyu.edu/nyu2031/nyuinnyc/growth/the-plan.php#Intro" target="_blank"> </a>plans to jam four ginormous buildings into a two block radius, bringing in more McDonalds and Starbucks then you'd ever need. The area will be under construction for the next 20 years and will wipe out almost two acres of green space if it goes through. </span><span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc; color: #222222;">NYU</span><span style="color: #222222;"> FASP is fighting it. They are having a fundraiser, Monday night, June 18. </span><a href="http://nyufasp.com/2012/06/save-the-villlage-benefit-june-18th-at-the-ny-theater-workshop/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><b> (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION). </b></span></a><span style="color: #222222;"> Please come. Please be a part of the coalition to save the Village. Nelly Bailey and </span><span style="color: red;">Jan Lee</span><span style="color: #222222;"> and many others will be there. DONATION required for entry - whatever you can afford to stop this plan.</span></span><br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-54732914525776913232012-05-04T11:50:00.000-04:002012-05-04T11:52:00.734-04:00Coverage from Downtown Express and Villager on BID overcharge scandal<br />
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BY ALINE REYNOLDS | Though a billing snafu for the Chinatown Business Improvment District has been resolved, it has reawakened a long-standing debate over the neighborhood’s new BID and caused anxiety among some property owners about being overcharged by the organization in the future.</div>
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The BID’s interim board of directors voted in favor of retroactively charging property owners the mandatory payments starting last October, when Mayor Bloomberg signed off on the BID’s formation. However, a group of property owners contended that the fees should only have started once state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli approved the entity at the end of January.</div>
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The property owners, backed by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, claimed the charging of fees prior to February was illegal and threatened to file a lawsuit against the city to contest the charges.</div>
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“As we have noted to the city, the BID did not exist at that point, and the BID has not yet contracted with any entity to perform its services,” said Bethany Li, a staff attorney at AALDEF. “We will work with small property and business owners in Chinatown to monitor the BID to ensure that it does not run afoul of the law again.”</div>
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Andrew Schwartz, first deputy commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, which oversees the BID payments, said the start of the assessment fees has varied from BID to BID since there isn’t a firm policy in the city regulations.</div>
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“In light of the confusion, we basically said, ‘Let’s just go with Feb. 1 as the start date,’ ” Schwartz said. “We didn’t want people to think they were going to be penalized or foreclosed, so we reached a quick and reasonable accommodation.”</div>
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All Chinatown property owners that had retroactively paid the fees beginning last fall will be credited for four months’ worth of payment up until February and, from now on, billing for future BIDs will begin upon the state comptroller’s approval, according to Small Business Services.</div>
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By this July 1, Chinatown property owners will be responsible for paying five months’ worth of fiscal year 2012-13 assessment fees, between February and June. Fees for fiscal year 2013-14, meanwhile, must be paid in accordance with the property owners’ regular real estate tax bill schedule, which varies among property owners, according to S.B.S. Last week, property owners in the BID’s catchment area received letters both in English and Chinese explaining the changes.</div>
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Meanwhile, Wellington Chen, executive director of the Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation, which spearheaded the BID’s creation, said the delay in collecting fees is depriving Chinatown of vital resources. The L.D.C. has wholly financed some $300,000 worth of sanitation, holiday lighting and other BID-like services since last July, he said, and the BID’s interim board of directors has passed a motion requesting that the L.D.C. be reimbursed.</div>
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“We’ve been saving every nickel and dime, but that cannot last,” Chen said. “Regardless of when the BID clock starts, the fact is, services are being rendered.”</div>
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David Louie, chairman of the BID’s interim board, said he believes the BID is “morally obligated” to reimburse the L.D.C., particularly since funds that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation previously provided to the Partnership have dried up.</div>
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“They did all this cleaning without even knowing where this money was going to come from,” Louie said.</div>
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Property owners such as Jan Lee, however, deem the charges premature and arbitrary and say they have lost all potential trust in the BID’s actions moving forward.</div>
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Lee and others who were suspicious of the October start date of the assessment fees refused to pay when they received the bill in late February.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">“I don’t understand how this could have happened — it’s very disappointing,” Lee said.</span><span style="color: #555555;"> “The BID board was advised to say, ‘Someone has put money into cleaning that started last July, and someone should be reimbursed for that. Let’s use tax money guaranteed from the Department of Finance.’ It’s completely contrary to what the BID law says.”</span></div>
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Dean Fong, who will have to pay the BID an $800 annual tax assessment for his two commercial condominium units at 210 Canal St., also found the charges to be unlawful.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">“It was very negligent on the part of the BID board who, we were told by elected officials, would be very careful and have great oversight into making sure that monies assessed to property owners would be proper,” Fong said.</span></div>
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Fong said he feels far from relieved by the city’s reversal of its initial decision.</div>
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“I knew they had to, or they would face a lawsuit, which would be so embarrassing for them,” he said.</div>
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Councilmember Margaret Chin denied the allegations by Fong and others, saying she reached out to S.B.S. for clarification as soon as she got wind of the objection to the fees.</div>
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“Property owners have raised their concerns with the Department of Small Business Services, and their concerns are being addressed,” Chin said. “Like other elected officials, including the mayor, I have a mandated seat on the BID board. As a board member, I will continue to represent the needs of small business owners and residents while supporting the BID in their efforts to improve the Chinatown community.”</div>
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Regardless of when the fees take effect, local property owner John Casalinuovo resents having to pay more than $2,000 annually toward the BID, particularly since city services such as trash pickups have recently been on the decline, he said.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">“This is one of the most underhanded things the city has done in a long time,” Casalinuovo said of the BID. “I have no confidence in this, no matter what they would have done.”</span></div>
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But other property owners see value in the BID. Philip Lam, who owns a residential and office building at 38 Market St., said he would have been more than willing to fund the services starting last fall. His tax assesment for the BID amounts to $1,500 per year.</div>
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“I always support them, because they do the job,” Lam said. “Somebody has to pay these workers.”</div>
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James Tsang, whose real estate company, Prosperity Enterprises, owns 185 Canal St., said the L.D.C. deserves to be reimbursed.</div>
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“They continue to do the work and clean Chinatown. I think they deserve to get more support,” Tsang said. “Without financing, how can they hire people to do cleaning or anything else?”</div>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-36712922120196897922012-04-11T23:03:00.003-04:002012-04-11T23:26:01.688-04:00Chinatown Property Owners declare Victory in Getting the city to rescind $400,000 in illegal BID taxes<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40114752?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
property owner Jan Lee , and AALDEF attorney Bethany Li (to the left of Jan)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">On April 10th Chinatown property owners (PTP Inc.) and<a href="http://aaldef.org/" target="_blank"> The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund </a>held a press conference to declare victory in succeeding to get the City to rescind an<a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/04/chinatown_prope.php" target="_blank"> illegally imposed Chinatown B.I.D. tax which would have retroactively reimbursed the Chinatown Partnership LDC BEFORE the Chinatown BID was even a legal entity.</a></span>
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<br />
<a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/04/chinatown_prope.php" target="_blank">"<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">"This misappropriation of our funds lived up to every suspicion that we had going into this," said Lee, 46, whose family has owned property in the neighborhood for 80 years. Lee, who has been a loud opponent of the formation of the BID, said that the incorrect fees add up to hundreds of thousands of illegal charges across different owners." - Village Voice </span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/04/chinatown_prope.php" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Li, from AALDEF, said it's a troubling sign that the city -- which now oversees 67 BIDs -- made this kind of error. "My understanding is [the city] just misunderstood the law, which is problematic given that this is their 67th BID."</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Ultimately, she added, the fees of the BID can be burdensome to longtime businesses who have to participate.</span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> - Village Voice</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/20120409/lower-east-side-east-village/city-refund-300k-chinatown-property-owners" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">"[Wellington] </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Chen called the issue a <span style="color: red;">"technicality,"</span> dismissing AALDEF's characterization of the BID fees as being "illegal." </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">"This is an accounting issue," Chen said. <span style="color: red;">"It does not warrant wasting time and energy."</span> - www.dnainfo.com </span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Read more: <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/20120409/lower-east-side-east-village/city-refund-300k-chinatown-property-owners#ixzz1rn9OlvZY" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.dnainfo.com/20120409/lower-east-side-east-village/city-refund-300k-chinatown-property-owners#ixzz1rn9OlvZY</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">According to the Interim Chinatown Business Improvement District Board of Dir's minutes:</span><br />
minutes:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Treasurer’s Report<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Tony Wong reported that the board needs to decide on the fiscal year and the billing date for the BID.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">There are two options:<span style="color: blue;"> </span><b><u><span style="color: blue;">1) start the billing in July 1, 2011, when Chinatown Partnership started paying the expenses for the BID; or 2) October 1, 2011 when the BID was officially approved and the Partnership extended the service to the entire BID’s service area.</span><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><b><u><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/eddy-eng/9/7a9/3b6" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Eddy Eng </span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">mentioned that once the BID decided on the billing date, the property owners will receive the bill in April, and once the BID’s bank account is set, the BID will receive 75% of $1.3 million dollars (the BID’s budget), and 50% of the FY 2013’s Annual Budget by July 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">After all the considerations and discussions, the motion to approve the Chinatown District Management Association’s fiscal year as July 1 to June 30; and start the DMA assessment billing on October 1, 2011, passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><i>Eddy Eng also suggested using a special occasion to announce the billing to the community and in a positive way.</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Acknowledgment of Chinatown Partnership</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Wellington reported that the Chinatown partnership has been paying for all the BID’s expenses since July of 2011 and is now in a cash flow situation. The Partnership already laid-out more than $200,000 dollars for the BID and cannot sustain forever in this fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">David Louie acknowledges all the works the Partnership’s board has done for the BID and suggested a donation or <b><u>reimbursement </u></b>to the Partnership for the expenses they had incurred once the BID receives its funding.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17px;">Motion to approve the reimbursement to the Chinatown Partnership of necessary and verifiable expenses related to the BID from July 1, 2011 until the BID receives its own funding passed unanimously.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">CDMA Interim Board Members Present: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jimmy Cheng, United Fujianese
American Association <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Kenneth Cheng, Fukien American
Association <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/law-offices-of-nolan-cheng-new-york" target="_blank">Nolan Cheng, Law Offices ofNolan Cheng </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Peter Cheng, Chinatown
Partnership Local Development Corporation <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://erxcity.com/news/erxcity-grand-opening-press-release" target="_blank">Priscilla Cheung, eRxCityCorporation </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Stephen Cheung, D.H. Realty
& Management <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Anthony P. Colombini, Esq., Chu
and Partners <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Eddy Eng, Small Business
Services, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Frank F. Gee, Gee Poy Kuo
Association <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Dr. Wilson Ko, Multispecialty
Physician Group <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/realestate/17cov.html?pagewanted=print" target="_blank">Philip Lam, Green City Realty </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Meng Lao, representing Jack
Eng, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Peter Lau, Confucius Pharmacy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.davidjlouie.com/" target="_blank">David J. Louie, David J. Louie,Inc. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Dr. Chun Ka Luk and Bernice
Luk, Broadway Chinatown Realty <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Gabe B. Mui, the American
Legion Lt. B.R. Kimlau Memorial Post 1291 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://peprealestate.com/view-agent-details/john-pasquale.html" target="_blank">John Pasquale, PEP Realty </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.showcase.com/b/commercial-real-estate/Michael-Salzhauer/2038923" target="_blank">Michael Salzhauer, BenjaminPartners </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Sio Wai Sang, Golden Jade
Jewelry <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.chamberocommerce.com/member/16420482/Grand_Hotel_China_Town_143_Bowery_New_York_NY_10002" target="_blank">William Su, Grand Hotel </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.councilpedia.org/index.php?title=Margaret_Chin" target="_blank">Matt D. Viggiano, CouncilMember Margaret S. Chin’s office </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Tony C. Wong, Wong & Co.,
CPA’s <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Wellman Wu, Kam Man Food, Inc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Jimmy Yan, Manhattan Borough
President Scott Stringer’s office <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Chih-Ping Yu, Lin Sing
Association <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Other Class E
Representatives: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Mary Cooley, Senator Daniel
Squadron’s office <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Karen He, Assembly Speaker,
Sheldon Silver’s office <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">John K. Leo, Community Board #3
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Michael Levine, Community Board
#1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Iris Quinones, Hon. Nydia
Velazquez <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">P.O. Nicky Teo, NYPD 7</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;">th </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Precinct <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">P.O. Sue Too, NYPD Community
Affairs Bureau <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Antony Wong, Community Board #2
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Xiao Min Zhao, Council Member
Margaret S. Chin’s office <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Chinatown Partnership </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Wellington Chen <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Shu Mei Guan Chow Lamgen Leon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Tony Wong<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-92142582564365723792012-04-10T21:01:00.001-04:002018-08-30T17:27:23.525-04:00Chinatown Property Owners with AALDEF declare victory over illegally imposed retroactive tax<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40114752?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1309613233">Chinatown BID Interim Board minutes with Politician's representatives listed, </a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1309613233">Board member's names and suggested period to start taxing property owners.</a><br />
<a href="https://www.box.com/s/0d526854f15cc084c712" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a><br />
"<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">In September, the City Council passed the Chinatown BID law and the mayor also signed off of it, but it did not get final approvals from the State Comptroller until January, 2012, spokesperson Merideth Weber said. The amount to be charged for the fiscal year will be around $500,000 instead of $900,000 and property owners will be notified of the assessment being charged and how credit will be applied for those that did pay the fees, she said." </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">- the Village Voice, Sam Levin</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">"[Wellington] </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Chen called the issue a <span style="color: red;">"technicality,"</span> dismissing AALDEF's characterization of the BID fees as being "illegal."</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">"This is an accounting issue,"</span> Chen said. <span style="color: red;">"It does not warrant wasting time and energy."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Read more: <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/20120409/lower-east-side-east-village/city-refund-300k-chinatown-property-owners#ixzz1rn141L7U" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.dnainfo.com/20120409/lower-east-side-east-village/city-refund-300k-chinatown-property-owners#ixzz1rn141L7U</a></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, in their analysis of the B.I.D. law, concluded that the B.I.D. cannot impose BID taxes on property owners PRIOR to the BID becoming a legal entity.<br />
They also concluded that the BID was not formed at the time Mayor Bloomberg signed the BID into law ( <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/20110922/lower-east-side-east-village/chinatown-bid-unanimously-approved-by-city-council" target="_blank">apparently a popular belief among BID Board members and even its Exec. Dir.</a>) in Sept. 2011, but rather when it was signed by the State Comptroller and then finalized by Small Business Services in Jan. 31 2012.<br />
<br />
According to the minutes provided by the Chinatown BID interim Board, Eddie Eng of Small Business Services advises the BID Board they have two choices in which to start the "funding" of the BID, either July 2011, or October 2011. The BID board supposedly voted unanimously to do the later, although this recently has been questioned by some on the BID Board itself.<br />
MINUTES:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">- 1 -</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>Minutes of the Chinatown District Management Association (CDMA – aka BID) Meeting</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>February 2, 2012</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>4:00 – 5:30 PM</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association</b></span></div>
<div style="left: 404px; position: absolute; top: 348px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>62 Mott Street</b></span></div>
<div style="left: 380px; position: absolute; top: 369px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>New York NY 10013</b></span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 411px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>CDMA Interim Board Members Present:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Jimmy Cheng, United Fujianese American Association</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 452px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Kenneth Cheng, Fukien American Association</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 472px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Nolan Cheng, Law Offices of Nolan Cheng</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 493px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Peter Cheng, Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 514px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Priscilla Cheung, eRxCity Corporation</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 534px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Stephen Cheung, D.H. Realty & Management</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 555px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Anthony P. Colombini, Esq., Chu and Partners</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 572px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Eddy Eng, Small Business Services, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 597px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Frank F. Gee, Gee Poy Kuo Association</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 617px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Dr. Wilson Ko, Multispecialty Physician Group</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 638px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Philip Lam, Green City Realty</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 659px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Meng Lao, representing Jack Eng, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 679px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Peter Lau, Confucius Pharmacy</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 700px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">David J. Louie, David J. Louie, Inc.</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 721px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Dr. Chun Ka Luk and Bernice Luk, Broadway Chinatown Realty</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Gabe B. Mui, the American Legion Lt. B.R. Kimlau Memorial Post 1291</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">John Pasquale, PEP Realty</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Michael Salzhauer, Benjamin Partners</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 804px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Sio Wai Sang, Golden Jade Jewelry</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 824px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">William Su, Grand Hotel</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 845px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Matt D. Viggiano, Council Member Margaret S. Chin’s office</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 862px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Tony C. Wong, Wong & Co., CPA’s</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 886px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Wellman Wu, Kam Man Food, Inc.</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 907px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Jimmy Yan, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer’s office</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 928px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Chih-Ping Yu, Lin Sing Association</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 949px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b>Other Class E Representatives:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Mary Cooley, Senator Daniel Squadron’s office</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 986px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Karen He, Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver’s office</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">John K. Leo, Community Board #3</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1031px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Michael Levine, Community Board #1</span></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1052px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Iris Quinones, Hon. Nydia Velazquez</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">P.O. Nicky Teo, NYPD 7</span></div>
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th</div>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><div style="left: 263px; position: absolute; top: 1073px;">
Precinct</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1093px;">
P.O. Sue Too, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1114px;">
Antony Wong, Community Board #2</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1131px;">
Xiao Min Zhao, Council Member Margaret S. Chin’s office</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1177px;">
<b>Chinatown Partnership</b></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1197px;">
Wellington Chen</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1218px;">
Shu Mei Guan Chow</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1238px;">
Lamgen Leon</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1259px;">
Tony Wong</div>
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The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m.</div>
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David Louie welcomed everyone and started the meeting off with a blessing performed by Tony C. Wong.</div>
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Members of the Interim Chinatown BID Board introduced themselves, and Mr. Louie asked everyone to</div>
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review the minutes from the last meeting that was already posted on the Chinatown BID’s website within</div>
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three days of the BID’s January meeting.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1619px;">
Clarification was made in that the Interim Board members listed on the minutes do not represent the</div>
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complete board, but just the members that were present at the last meeting.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1681px;">
Michael Salzhauer questioned the procedures of posting the minutes without the review and approval of the</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1702px;">
board first as it is typically done. Both Mr. Louie and Wellington explained that they already posed this</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1722px;">
question to the office of Council Member Chin, and the response was that it was the City Council’s ruling.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1743px;">
However, Council Member Chin’s representative, Matt Viggiano, will ask the City Council to review</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1764px;">
whether to allow posting of the minutes within three business days after the Board’s approval as the standard</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1785px;">
operating procedure.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1826px;">
Motion to approve the minutes of January 5, 2012 passed unanimously.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1867px;">
Eddy Eng reminded everyone that the BID needs to work on the Incorporation papers, the by-laws and the</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1888px;">
Executive Committee needs to sign an agreement with the Chinatown Partnership, unless the BID hire an</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1909px;">
Executive Director. He also reminded that the incorporation documents will need an organization name.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1950px;">
Wellington emphasized based on outreach feedbacks that the (real) final BID’s name needs to be diverse and</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1971px;">
not offend or leave out anyone or sectors or industries, but we need a name for incorporation purpose for</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 1992px;">
now, and there will be a DBA under the official name similar to other BIDs.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2033px;">
After discussions on whether to choose either a cleaner or a lengthier name, the name of “CHINATOWN</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2054px;">
DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC.” with a 15 to 9 vote was selected over “Chinatown</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2074px;">
Business Improvement District Management Association, Inc.”</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2116px;">
The By-laws Committee has been working very hard on the by-laws and will have a preliminary draft soon.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2157px;">
Presented for review was the “Draft Committee Survey” based on the preliminary feedback from the</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2178px;">
previous meeting. Michael Levine asked the different between “Program Service Committee” and “Program</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2195px;">
Development Committee”. Wellington explained that the latter one is basically the same as fundraising and</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2219px;">
marketing. All these committees need to work alongside with the Chinatown Partnership as tandem.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2257px;">
Motion to change the “Program Development Committee” to “Fundraising and Marketing Committee”</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2281px;">
passed unanimously.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2323px;">
Eddy Eng agreed to Co-Chair with Frank Gee the Fundraising and Marketing Committee. Peter Cheng also</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2344px;">
announced that he would like to join and Chair the Nomination Committee.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2385px;">
Motion to approve all the Committees chairs as indicated in the “Draft Committee Survey” results pending</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2406px;">
their acceptance passed unanimously.</div>
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- 3 -</div>
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<b>Treasurer Report</b></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2683px;">
Tony Wong reported that the board needs to decide on the fiscal year and the billing date for the BID.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2703px;">
There are two options: 1) start the billing in July 1, 2011, when Chinatown Partnership started paying the</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2724px;">
expenses for the BID; or 2) October 1, 2011 when the BID was officially approved and the Partnership</div>
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extended the service to the entire BID’s service area.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2786px;">
Eddy Eng mentioned that once the BID decided on the billing date, the property owners will receive the bill</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2807px;">
in April, and once the BID’s bank account is set, the BID will receive 75% of $1.3 million dollars (the BID’s</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2828px;">
budget), and 50% of the FY 2013’s Annual Budget by July 2012.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2869px;">
After all the considerations and discussions, the motion to approve the Chinatown District Management</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2886px;">
Association’s fiscal year as July 1 to June 30; and start the DMA assessment billing on October 1, 2011,</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2910px;">
passed unanimously.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2952px;">
Eddy Eng also suggested using a special occasion to announce the billing to the community and in a positive</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 2973px;">
way.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3014px;">
<b>Acknowledgment of Chinatown Partnership</b></div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3055px;">
Wellington reported that the Chinatown partnership has been paying for all the BID’s expenses since July of</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3076px;">
2011 and is now in a cash flow situation. The Partnership already laid-out more than $200,000 dollars for the</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3097px;">
BID and cannot sustain forever in this fashion.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3134px;">
David Louie acknowledges all the works the Partnership’s board has done for the BID and suggested a</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3159px;">
donation or reimbursement to the Partnership for the expenses they had incurred once the BID receives its</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3180px;">
funding.</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3221px;">
Motion to approve the reimbursement to the Chinatown Partnership of necessary and verifiable expenses</div>
<div style="left: 65px; position: absolute; top: 3242px;">
related to the BID from July 1, 2011 until the BID receives its own funding passed unanimously.</div>
</span></span><br />
<br />
The interim Chinatown Business Improvement District Board of Directors includes these representatives:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Alice Cancel</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Comptroller John C. Liu's office<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Pauline Yu</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Mayor's Community Assistant Unit<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Eddy Eng</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Small Business Servies, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Elizabeth DeLeon</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Small Business Services<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Michael Melamed</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Small Business Services<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Matt D Viggiano</span><span style="color: #222222;">, Council Member Margaret S. Chin's office<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Xiao Min Zhao</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Council Member Margaret S. Chin's office<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Jimmy Yan</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's office<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Mary Cooley</span><span style="color: #222222;">, Senator Daniel Squadron's Office<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Karen He</span><span style="color: #222222;">, Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver's office<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">John K Leo</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Community Board # 3<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #222222;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Michael Levine</span><span style="color: #222222;">, Community Board # 1<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Iris Quinones</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Hon. Nydia Velazquez<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">P.O. Nicky Teo</span><span style="color: #500050;">, NYPD 7th Precinct<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">P.O. Sue Too</span><span style="color: #500050;">, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #500050;">-</span><span style="color: blue;">Antony Wong</span><span style="color: #500050;">, Community Board #2</span></span></div>
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Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-60791208423927013682012-04-01T23:45:00.000-04:002012-04-04T20:19:10.391-04:00Once Trashed by Cyclists and Skateboarders Kim Lau Square is Now in Full Bloom Thanks to Chinatown Volunteers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Local residents around Kim Lau Square have been working hard to reclaim their once peaceful park from <a href="http://newyork.nearsay.com/nyc/east-village-les/local-news-chinatown-hopes-relief-menacing-bikers-and-skaters" style="color: #006699; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">menacing skateboarders and trick cyclists for the past several years</a>. Volunteers Nancy Linday and Jeanie Chin, both residents of a nearby residential building led the effort in organizing nearly a dozen people to beautify and protect the Square. They hope the new plants will prevent the skaters from using planters as ramps, and create a more appropriate use of open space for locals and tourists to enjoy. The addition of more park benches, intentionally placed in the exact spot where skateboarders illegally cemented over the hand laid cobble stones to smooth surface so they could use it as a ramp, have curtailed the skateboarders use of Kim Lau square significantly. Residents worked closely with elected officials and the Parks Dept. to place the benches in the exact spots that would eliminate skateboard jumping and cycling.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKrIoGOFOwQ/T3ziy0hK6UI/AAAAAAAACAQ/YmbzYkCIQNM/s1600/kimlausquarebefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKrIoGOFOwQ/T3ziy0hK6UI/AAAAAAAACAQ/YmbzYkCIQNM/s320/kimlausquarebefore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kim Lau Square planters before volunteers planted bulbs provided free of charge by </div>
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Partnership For Parks</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rzkmX1n264c/T3kfBS4oo1I/AAAAAAAAB_0/tqGkpkzwZnY/s1600/kimlausquare_flowers_2012_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rzkmX1n264c/T3kfBS4oo1I/AAAAAAAAB_0/tqGkpkzwZnY/s320/kimlausquare_flowers_2012_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo: CCRC (click to enlarge photo) Kim Lau Square planters April 2012, in full bloom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times, serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The benches were installed by the Parks Department after a tremendous amount of community advocacy and political will. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-fUoPIziQg/T3kfJfhhehI/AAAAAAAAB_8/PjOJ6uOpKJ0/s1600/kimlausqflowers2012_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-fUoPIziQg/T3kfJfhhehI/AAAAAAAAB_8/PjOJ6uOpKJ0/s320/kimlausqflowers2012_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
photo: CCRC (Click to enlarge photo)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today the square is in full bloom thanks to the volunteers who, in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"> an effort to preserve the beauty of Kim Lau Square, part of</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;"> </span><a href="http://newyork.nearsay.com/tag/chatham-square" style="background-color: white; color: #006699; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Chatham Square</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">, joined together for a day of gardening and cleaning back in November, 2011. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2iFqeoLJjI/T3keoZtv9-I/AAAAAAAAB_k/FLwZN6wnwMY/s1600/kimlausquare2012_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E2iFqeoLJjI/T3keoZtv9-I/AAAAAAAAB_k/FLwZN6wnwMY/s320/kimlausquare2012_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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photo: CCRC (click to enlarge)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sySWbe_O4GE/T3nOkIYWc6I/AAAAAAAACAI/Su9ysfFpfP8/s1600/SingTao_Bulb_Planting_kim_Lau_Sq_nov_2011_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sySWbe_O4GE/T3nOkIYWc6I/AAAAAAAACAI/Su9ysfFpfP8/s320/SingTao_Bulb_Planting_kim_Lau_Sq_nov_2011_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sing Tao Newspaper (click to enlarge photo)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;">They </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;">planted various bulbs (all provided free of charge) over the course of a few hours with the guidance of <a href="http://partnershipsforparks.org/" target="_blank">Partnership For Parks, who provided tools, gloves and expertise to the novice garden volunteers</a>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLzRmSXg-tU/T3kexznCZWI/AAAAAAAAB_s/V5zkVd4J6Co/s1600/kimlausquareflowers_2012_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLzRmSXg-tU/T3kexznCZWI/AAAAAAAAB_s/V5zkVd4J6Co/s320/kimlausquareflowers_2012_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kim Lau Square today , photo CCRC (click to enlarge)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7iYALDPK0L4/T3kd5FYq6DI/AAAAAAAAB_U/CJZaYr5yNIY/s1600/kimlau_square_cyclist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7iYALDPK0L4/T3kd5FYq6DI/AAAAAAAAB_U/CJZaYr5yNIY/s320/kimlau_square_cyclist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kim Lau Square last August, photo: Downtown Express</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.downtownexpress.com/?p=2268" target="_blank">Last August Downtown Express reported on the rogue cyclists and skateboarders trashing Kim Lau Square, </a>which is home to the memorial arch dedicated to Ben Kim Lau and veterans of Chinese American decent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.ccrcnyc.com/2010/11/seniors-children-and-disabled-menaced.html" target="_blank">C.C.R.C.'s volunteers and friends spent considerable time documenting the nearly complete take over the Square by obnoxious skateboarders and trick cyclists </a>using the area as their private playground. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today the space is used by musicians, tourists and residents who can relax without the threat of a bicycle hitting them, or a skateboarder slamming into them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742541333902834947.post-91345278758844925302012-03-28T22:52:00.003-04:002012-03-29T13:13:20.840-04:00Hamilton Madison House invites you to join the 33rd Annual Chinatown Banquet April 20th '12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJmg5ztQyDA/T3PN0OdCYVI/AAAAAAAAB_M/eHOYf2fijAU/s1600/HMH_Logo_vert._(color).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJmg5ztQyDA/T3PN0OdCYVI/AAAAAAAAB_M/eHOYf2fijAU/s320/HMH_Logo_vert._(color).jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.couragetohelp.com/HamiltonMadison/HamiltonMadison/Hamilton-Madison_House.html" target="_blank">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO</a> about the great work Hamilton Madison House does and why it is such a vital part of New York City, especially for those in the two bridges community downtown.<br />
Here's your invitation, you can print this by clicking the printer icon at the bottom of the image:<br />
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="400" src="https://www.box.com/embed/l9esikqc96t5ry5.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="466" wmode="opaque"></embed><br />
Donations and reservations here, you can print this by clicking the printer icon at the bottom of the image:<br />
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="400" src="https://www.box.com/embed/mtk212x92pk0v0c.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="466" wmode="opaque"></embed><br />
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I’ve been on the board of Hamilton Madison House for over three years now and I am constantly amazed at the work that the “House” does every day. I learned about Hamilton Madison House through my mother June who has been a board member for over three decades. June now enjoys Emeritus status on the Board and I can only hope to add as much to the House as she has over these many years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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June Lee was instrumental in founding the Chinatown Banquet Fund raiser for Hamilton Madison House thirty three years ago. The HMH Chinatown banquet is not only an evening full of culinary delights, it’s a celebration of the hard work that the House does every day in providing <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>300 men and women E.S.L. , and citizenship classes each week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>4,500 people with case management, wellness and counseling services at the Chinatown Resource Center<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>1000 children and adults with bilingual clinical services, including gambling addiction <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>6500 seniors with care at the City Hall Senior Center, Helen Harris Center, knickerbocker Village,Smith NORC, and Southbridge Towers<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Social Adult Day where HMH provides the only program of its kind in the City for Chinese speaking seniors with Alzheimer’s disease.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Caregivers that provide services and support to Chinese and Korean speaking families caring for an elderly family member.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>300 Children and teens with after school, Summer Day Camp, Saturday WISE, Music school, Tween and Teen programs<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>and to help every child we care for develop their self-esteem while acquiring the skills to succeed in school and at home<o:p></o:p></div>
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and much much more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I hope you will join me at the 33<sup>rd</sup> Hamilton Madison House Annual Chinatown Banquet and help us raise necessary funds to keep our programs going at a time when our community needs us the most.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe very deeply in the “House” and from my experience I can see my dollars and my time benefitting a great number of people in need in the most immediate sense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.box.com/s/9e8b2e96256b053a5b34" target="_blank">If you cannot join me, please take a moment to send in a donation to the House. </a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Hamilton Madison House -<a href="http://www.couragetohelp.com/HamiltonMadison/HamiltonMadison/Hamilton-Madison_House.html" target="_blank"> "Never turn away".</a></div>
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Thank you<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jan Lee, Board of Directors HMH<o:p></o:p></div>Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03547109582162435771noreply@blogger.com0