A Great Big Thank You to Those Who Moved The 9/11 Trials Out of Chinatown

See video below:

On May 26th at 6pm residents of Chatham Towers, Chatham Green, along with the Civic Center Residents Coalition (which includes Southbridge Towers and Chinatown Businesses) hosted a garden party to say "Thank you" to all who played a part in moving the terror trials out of Chinatown. Approximately a hundred people shared sandwiches, lo mein, fried rice, cheese and crackers, along with mini cupcakes. The food and drink was either homemade or donated from local businesses such as Everest Diner, Hampton Deli, Luna Pizza and Everything Frosted.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver arrived at around 6:45pm to receive an award from the residents and CCRC for his part in moving the trials. Jeanie Chin of Chatham Towers said " We'd like to present this award to Speaker Silver and his staff who have helped us tremendously on many many issues after 9/11, for example the restoration of bus service on Park Row, he was instrumental, along with Judy Rapfogel, in stopping the funding of the Chatham Square reconstruction which would have been devastating for our community, and so many other issues that I can be here all day talking about, but his support was so critical in moving the trials."

Sheldon Silver brought community leaders, and elected officials together, in the midst of the terror trial fervor, to hear Commissioner Kelly personally outline, in excruciating detail, what security measures would be necessary to accommodate Kalid Sheikh Mohommed's trials on Worth Street less than 100' from Chatham Towers condominiums and Columbus Park.

The speaker accepted the award and said "It's nice to have a celebration once in a while. I want to thank you for coming out, for standing up when things are wrong. The extraordinary costs involved in having the trials in this community, and the almost lockdown condition is simply too high a price for us to pay as residents as businesses and just as citizens. I just want to thank you for all of your collective voices. It just shows you that sometimes you can beat city hall, but this was greater, you're beating the White House. So keep that in mind when somebody says 'its time to show your opposition, to show you really care about something, its important that you come out and show it. Thank you again."

Community Board 1 Marc Ameruso was also an award recipient for making the link between his neighborhood of Tribeca and Chinatown back in November of 2009 before the terror trials were even reported in national media. Jeanie Chin referred to Marc Ameruso as "Paul Revere" because he posted fliers and reached out to as many neighbors as he could working well into the dead of night. Jeanie went on to explain that it was Marc, along with CB1 member and community activist John Fratta, also an award recipient, who helped to "shepard us through the community board process (of CB1)".

Marc Ameruso had these comments in receiving his recognition "I am happy to just be a part of this, to light the spark, get some people down to the meetings. It just snowballed after that. I knew we were going to win when I saw you guys chasing Jerry Nadler's Chief of Staff down the hallway (at one of the hearings) and he was running away from you guys. and I knew at that point that we were going to win. Despite what some of the public officials were saying, and we had to change their minds, we have to be wary that this can happen again, and that ideology can get in the way again...... and of course Chuck Schumer took credit for everything, but that doesn't matter, the trials are not going to be here, and it had to do with all you guys. thank you very much"

Chinese American journalist Ti Hua Chang was the first to break the story of the local residents in Chinatown taking a stand against the terror trials in their neighborhood, and continued to report almost weekly on the progress of the community's fight. While other news channels focused on the national debate, never using the word "Chinatown" or "Chinese" in their reporting Ti Hua gave a face to the men, women and children who would suffer the every day risks to having the trials in their neighborhood.

The residents showed their appreciation with an award, and Chang had this to say "It's odd to get this award because I was just doing my job, reporters should be a balance to the government and a voice of the people, especially to those who have no voice, and Chinatown doesn't have a voice. but I am happy to say that I see more and more younger Asian Americans are willing to cover the issues without being viewed as 'only the Chinatown reporter' . With that I can say the community stood up, and I congratulate the unsung people, with Jeanie and Jan and Triple and Marc who did not switch his position on the community board, he started out and stayed on his position, those are the people whom I respect, Paul Lee who told me about this, these are the people I respect because you guys are honest, and that's what its about being a reporter. A good reporter should be honest. all I did was my job , thank you!"

Patricia Tsai, assistant to the President of 100 year old Lin Sing Association, a community "anchor" and support network of many family clan associations, accepted an award on behalf of Lin Sing. Defining the community was important to Patricia, here is what she said,

"Chinatown has a transient yet permanent immigrant population. Transient in that once immigrants achieve a degree of financial prosperity, there is a pattern of out-migration. Permanent in that the immigrant population does not thereby disappear but is then immediately replenished by another wave of newcomers from abroad. All the more reason for long time residents, who have the comparative advantage of being better informed on local issues and more adept at navigating the complex web of government bureaucracy, elected officiails, and community boards, to continue the fine tradition of social activism and community advocacy. The Lin Sing Association wishes to express our profound gratitude and appreciation to Chatham Towers and Chatham Green residents for your vision and courage in spearheading and relentlessly persisting in the protest movement against holding terror trials in Lower Manhattan. Your efforts have paid off and you deserve to celebrate tonight! We will continue to work closely with you in the future on other worthy causes to ensure that our community’s voice is heard and its rights and interests protected. Thank you."

Another person in the media, Editor and co-publisher of the Tribeca Trib Carl Glassman received an award for his part in covering the residents of Chatham Towers.

"Its' rare to get appreciation from the people you cover, often times you get the opposite, so this means a great deal to me. It really does, all I can say is thank you very much, and congratulations on everything." said Glassman.

Jeanie Chin then acknowledged Sing Tao Newspaper, the largest Chinese language press in America, with an award received by Editor Lotus Chau. As Lotus motioned for reporter and colleague Jacky Wong to approach the dais ( he didn't out of shyness), Jeanie Chin explained that "For those of you who don't know, Jacky who is being shy now, is usually the one who asks the bold questions at community board meetings and hearings and demands answers, and Lotus is the Editor for Sing Tao Daily and she does the same thing. they have been fantastic in covering this issue over and over again, right from the very start, so thank you very much Lotus." Lotus responded "As a community newspaper we have an obligation for our reporters to report on issues that are important in our community, so we have to work together, thank you very much."

Former Councilmember Alan Gerson was unable to attend, but was an award recipient as well.

Gerson had encouraged the community, while many elected officials said otherwise, to keep up the fight. He was unwavering in his stance against the terror trials.

Property owners are told they cannot enter City Council Hearing on the BID today

About forty property owners patiently waited outside 250 Broadway today to testify against the formation of a Chinatown Business Improvement District. Today was the last chance for the public to testify in person if they supported or opposed the Chinatown BID's formation.

As the last few Chinatown Partnership Local Development employees passed through the metal detectors to go upstairs to the 16th floor hearing room, the remaining people on line, were told the hearing was closed. The video of what happened is posted here.

The security for 250 Broadway explains that the hearing is closed for the rest of the day, and a representative for the City Council explains in the video clip that a "list" of speakers is already determined and that if the property owners who showed up to speak are not on that list, then "you messed up". The Sargent at Arms for the City Council informed the property owners who wished to testify that he was told directly by the Chairman of the Finance committee that "those people who are scheduled to testify are being allowed up, if you are scheduled to testify...." "There is no list" said Jan Lee, property owner, "There IS a list, I told the finance chairman 'are you taking testimony?' he said 'only the people who are scheduled to testify'" Explained the Sargent at Arms. "So this was preset with the committee lawyers..... You guys didn't get on that list, then you guys messed up."

This is no way to treat Chinatown property owners who took time to come to what they thought would be an open and democratic process. The Chairman of the Finance committee sent a clear message that the Committee, its legal advisors and Councilmember Chin have taken "preset" lists of people to testify and closed out the rest of the opposition.

To support this bias towards BIDs is to support a failed and dysfunctional system of pay to play politics at its utter worst.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund FOIL requests missing data of The Chinatown Partnership LDC

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund has used the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request to obtain missing information pertaining to The Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation, on behalf of Chinatown property owners and small businesses. The Chinatown Partnership is the entity that has been trying to morph into a Business Improvement District for Chinatown.

A Copy of the FOIL Request is below, which can be downloaded and/or printed:

Property Owners in the BID district must fill out this form to object to the Chinatown BID

Unfortunately there exist many obstacles for property owners and businesses who do not wish to be in a Chinatown Business Improvement District.

There is a deadline for the objection forms to be filed which is

June 25th 2011.

Under city law those wishing to object to the formation of a Business Improvement District must first obtain an official form at the City Clerk's office. Then property owners must get the signature notorized and then provide a copy of the deed for EACH property they own.

Although only property owner's forms are counted in the official vote, businesses are also welcome to object as this makes a clear statement to the City Council that indeed Chinatown businesses do not want a BID in their neighborhood.

If 51% or more of the properties in the BID district object to the BID, it will not happen.

Previous to this posting there is no convenient way for property and business owners to obtain the only official objection form recognized by the City Clerk of New York.

Well, with the help of volunteers we've gotten the proper form and made it available for anyone wishing to object to the Chinatown BID can PRINT OR DOWNLOAD (down arrow) either the English or Chinese form BELOW by clicking the button to the far right below the form

NOTE: THE CHINESE VERSION IS FOR REFERENCE ONLY!!!!

Only the ENGLISH VERSION may be submitted to the City Clerk's office.

This is the form translated in to Chinese, which also didn't exist until volunteers in the community took it upon themselves to do.

THIS IS FOR REFERENCE ONLY !!! Only the ENGLISH version of this will be accepted by the City Clerk !!!! DO NOT SEND IN THE CHINESE VERSION - ONLY THE ENGLISH ONE IS ACCEPTED.

for more information Jan Lee: 917-710-7503

Stephen Cheung (Chinese and English language) 718- 961-1272

Chinatown BID Hearing May 26th 10:am PUBLIC HEARING

CHINATOWN BID STEERING COMMITTEE

On behalf of

THE CITY COLNCIL

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING

The City Council, by resolution adopted on May 11,2011, set May 26,2011 as the date, 10:00 a.m. as the time, and the City Council Hearing Room, 16th Floor, 250 Broadway, New York, New York 10007, as the place for a public hearing (the "Public Hearing") to hear all persons interested in the proposed legislation which would establish the Chinatown Business Improvement District (the "District") in the Borough of Manhattan. The District shall be established in accordance with a district plan (the "District Plan") on file at the Office of the City Clerk.

The City Council has authorized the Chinatown BID Steering Committee to mail, on its behalfl this notice of the Public Hearing containing the information required by Section 25-406(c) of the Administrative Code of the City of New york and summarizing the resolution adopted.

The District Plan provides that the proposed District shall include properties in an area generally bounded by Broome Street to the north, Broadway to the west, Allen Street to the east, and Madison and Worth Streets to the south. Services in the District shall include, but not be limited to sanitation, holiday decorations, marketing, transportation management

and parking, advocacy, administration ofthe District and additional services required for the enjoyment and protection of the public and the promotion and enhancement of the District (hereinafter "services").

Pursuant to the District Plan, capital improvements (hereinafter "lmprovements") may include, but shall not be limited to: streetscape improvements;

sidewalk amenities such as lighting and street furniture; trees and plantings; open space enhancements and traffic calming improvements; and new trash receptacles. The Improvements shall be implemented on an as-needed basis.

During the existence of the BID, the maximum cost of the lmprovements, if any, shall not exceed $6,500,000. The District shall be managed by the chinatown District Management Association, Inc.

To defray the cost of Services and Improvements provided in the District, all real property in the District shall be assessed in proportion to the benefit such property receives from the Services and Improvements. Each property shall be assessed at a rate, determined annually by the Chinatown District Management Association, Inc., to yield an amount

sufftcient to meet the District's annual budget. The annual budget for the District's first year of operation is $1,300,000.

Those properties within the District which are devoted in whole or in part to retail, commercial or professional use, or mixed used with commercial and residential components shall constitute Class A properties and shall be assessed in accordance with the following formula:

Rate l: 0.5 xBudget-(TotalAssessmentsofClassB andC+Total$200&$5.000Assessments)

Total Class A, D, E, (0.5*F) & M Linear Front Feet (FF) Rate2: 0.5 xBudeet-(Total Assessments of ClassB andC +Total $200 & g5.000Assessments) Total Class A, D, E, (0.5*F) & M Assessed Value (AV)

Individual Assessment: (Rate I x Individual Property FF) + (Rate 2 x Individual Property AV)

For Class A property, there shall be a minimum assessment of $200 per annum. In addition, there shall be a maximum

assessment calculated as follows:

Maximum Assessment: Current Year Assessment Budget x $5.000

FY 2011 Assessment Budset For the first contract year, Rate I shall not exceed $15 per individual property linear front foot, and Rate 2 shall not exceed 0.0015 per each dollar ofindividual property assessed value.

Those properties within the District devoted in whole to residential uses shall constitute Class B properties and shallbe assessed at one dollar ($1.00) per tax lot per year.

Govemment and not-for-profit properties within the District devoted entirely to public or not-for-profit use shall constitute class C property and be exempt from District assessment. Govemment or not-for-profit owned property devoted in part to commercial or for-profit uses shall constitute class A property and the portion ofthe property devoted

to commercial/for-profit uses shall be assessed in the same manner as those properties listed in class A.

All vacant properties within the District, without structure or any commercial use, shall constitute Class D properties and shall be assessed at the Class A rate until such time as they receive a temporary certificate of

occupancy.

All properties within the District. used as parking lots shall constitute Class E properties and shall be assessed in the same manner as the Class A property.

All properties devoted in whole or in part to retail, commercial or professional use, or mixed-used with commercial and residential components, and located on one tax lot and within two business improvement districts, shall constitute class F properties and shall be assessed at 50-percent ofthe class A property rate.

All properties within the District devoted in part to commercial use and in part to residential condo or coop use shall constitute Class M propefty. The proportion ofthe property devoted to residential use shall be assessed at one dollar ($1.00) per annum. The proportion of the property, as determined by the Finance Department, devoted to commercial

use shall be assessed at the same rate as the Class A property.

The amount, exclusive ofdebt service, assessed and levied in any given year against benefited real properly within the District may not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total general City taxes levied in such year against such properties.

Copies of the resolution adopted by the City Council, which include a copy of the District Plan, are available for public inspection from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday at the Office of the City Clerk located at 141 Worth Street, New York, New York 10013. In addition, copies of the resolution are available free of charge to the public at the Office of the City Clerk.

Any owner of real property, deemed benefited and therefore within the District, objecting to the District Plan, must file an objection at the Office of the Cif Clerk, on forms made available by the City Clerk, within thirty (30) days of the close of the Public Hearing concerning the establishment of the proposed District. If owners of at least fifty-one percent

(5 1%) of the assessed value of benefited real property situated within the boundaries of the District proposed for establishment, as shown on the latest completed ass€ssnieiit roli of the Ci6r, or at least fifty-one percent (5104) of the owners of benefited real property within the area included in the District proposed for establishment file objections with

the City Clerk, the District shall not be established.

Details of the bill introduced by Margaret Chin - No Liquids on City Sidewalks

As a courtesy to local businesses The Civic Center Residents Coalition is circulating this detailed description of the bill introduced into the City Council by Council Member Margaret Chin.

To our knowledge at this time this detailed information is not translated into Chinese and Spanish.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the cleaning of liquid on a sidewalk, flagging or curbstone generated by trash placed curbside for collection and allowing the use of a hose to conduct such cleaning during times otherwise proscribed by such code.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 16-118 of the administrative code of the city of New York is

amended by adding a new paragraph c to read as follows:

(c)(1) Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or person in charge of any food or beverage service

establishment shall properly clean any liquid found on any sidewalk, flagging or curbstone resulting from the placement of garbage bags or waste receptacles for collection at or near any such location by any such person.

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Where collection of waste for any such establishment is scheduled to occur during such establishment’s regular hours of operation, the owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or person in charge of such establishment shall properly clean any such liquid within one hour of waste collection. Where collection of waste for any such establishment is not scheduled to occur during such establishment’s regular hours of operation, the following

cleaning requirements shall apply: (i) where such collection is scheduled to occur before midnight, the owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or person in charge of such establishment shall properly clean any such liquid on the next day of business by the later of 7:00 a.m. or two hours before the time at which such establishment reopens for business; (ii) where such collection is scheduled to occur after midnight, the owner, lessee, tenant, occupant

or person in charge of such establishment shall properly clean any such liquid by the later of 7:00 a.m. on the day that collection is scheduled to occur or two hours before the time at which such establishment reopens for business on such day. If the food or beverage service establishment is not open for business on such day, the cleaning requirements of subparagraph i of this paragraph shall apply.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “food or beverage service establishment” shall mean any

establishment that serves food or beverages that is required to be permitted pursuant to articles 85, 87, 88, or 89 of the New York city health code or any beverage service establishment required to be licensed pursuant to section 100 of the New York state alcoholic beverage control law that sells beverages for on-premises consumption.

§ 2. Subdivision 9 of section 16-118 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended, subdivisions 10 and 11 of such section are renumbered as subdivisions 11 and 12, respectively, and as renumbered, subdivision 11 is amended, and a new subdivision 10 is added to read as follows:

9. Except for any violation of paragraph c of subdivision two of this section, any violation of

subparagraph one of paragraph b or paragraph c of subdivision seven of this section by a person using or operating a motor vehicle, [or ]any violation of subparagraph two of paragraph b of subdivision seven of this section, or any violation of paragraph d of subdivision seven of this section, any person violating the provisions of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred fifty The New York City Council Page 2 of 4 Printed on 5/13/2011

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of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred fifty dollars, except that for a second violation of subdivision one, three, four, or six of this section within any twelve-month period, such person shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than three hundred fifty dollars and for a third or subsequent violation of subdivision one, three, four or six of this section within any twelve-month period such person shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less

than three hundred fifty dollars nor more than four hundred fifty dollars.

10. Any person who violates paragraph c of subdivision 2 of this section shall be liable for a civil

penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, except that for a second violation of such subdivision within any twelve-month period, such person shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than five hundred nor more than six hundred dollars and for a third or subsequent violation of such subdivision within any twelve-month period such person shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than seven hundred dollars nor more than nine hundred dollars.

[10] 11 . In the instance where the notice of violation, appearance ticket or summons is issued for

breach of the provisions of this section and sets forth thereon civil penalties only, such process shall be returnable to the environmental control board, which shall have the power to impose the civil penalties hereinabove provided in [subdivision]subdivisions nine and ten of this section.

§ 3. Section 24-332 of title 24 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:

§ 24-332 Use of water through hose. [It] Except for the purposes of cleaning liquids by an owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or person in charge of a food or beverage service establishment as provided in paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 16-118 of this code, it shall be unlawful for any person to wash any street, sidewalk, areaway, steps, building or other place in the city by means of a hose or piping, or to use water through a hose or sprinkler for watering lawns or gardens, or to operate any outside shower where the water runs upon a street, sidewalk, or other public place between the first day of November and the last day of March

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following.

§ 4. This local law shall take effect immediately.

JJH - LS 1511

12/15

Chatham Towers and Chatham Green Withdraw from The Chinatown Working Group

Chatham Green co op photo: midcenturymundane

Chatham Towers co op photo: condodomain

In an emailed letter today two residential co ops informed the CWG co-chairs that their properties and volunteer boards are formally withdrawing from the planning exercise known for the last two years as "The Chinatown Working Group". Danny Chen submitted the following statement:

"To: Members of the Chinatown Work Group

With this letter we would like to announce the withdrawal of our two buildings, Chatham Green and Chatham Towers, from active participation in the Chinatown Work Group. We each have our reasons for withdrawing but we have common hopes and concerns which we would like to share with you.

Two years ago, when presented with the opportunity to participate in what appeared to be a

ground breaking effort to bring the minds and voices of our community together, we deliberated on the pros and cons of participating. The pessimistic view said that the effort would be mired in politics while the optimistic view saw a wonderful opportunity to amplify our own voices to get the City to focus on the right issues for our community. Looking back, we can say there were elements of the CWG that both the optimists and the pessimists could point to in support of their views.

As members of volunteer boards for our respective co-ops, we are forced to choose where

we focus our time and attention. Despite our best efforts to open the organization to different

modes of communication and participation, CWG participation remains constrained to the once monthly in-person meetings - with alternate meetings occurring during business hours. Our calls to open up the CWG mail list to facilitate member to member communications have been met with puzzling resistance. There is no better example of this than this very letter - which we are forced to route through the co-chairs for distribution. We also note that our suggestions for weighted voting for “decision making” seems have fallen off the agenda for discussion.

Despite all this, we feel that our participation in the CWG has been worthwhile. We have met

some truly dedicated people who sacrifice much for our community. On the flip side, we have

also met people from outside of our community with a disproportionate voice in the CWG.

Navigating the politics of trying distinguish altruistic volunteers from potential carpet baggers

has been an interesting experience.

The draft Preliminary Action Plans represent a good amount of work and captures some of

the issues that are relevant to our community. And while we have often objected to co-chairs

stepping beyond their roles as “facilitators” and instead acting like former President Bushstyle

“deciders”, we commend all co-chairs, past and present, for taking on the facilitator role. It

is a difficult role but we should all remember that when one makes a unilateral decision, voices

are being silenced.

We end this letter with well wishes and a note of caution. Even though much work has gone

into drafting the various Preliminary Action Plans, even more work is required to keep these

documents “alive”. These documents should have an “expiration date”. Otherwise, future

decision makers may be basing their direction on ideas that have gone “rancid”.

Respectfully,

Danny Chen, Chatham Green

Jeanie Chin, Chatham Towers

Downtown residents "mop up" the pop up cafe idea by D.O.T.

SoHo and NoHo have successfully defeated all but one application for the so-called "pop up Cafes" that were supposed to be springing up like spring flowers all over the downtown area, regardless of existing zoning laws or traffic conditions. The pop ups are six foot wide platforms that would sit in the gutter and protrude into what are usually parking spaces, although in some instances the DOT has targeted areas where cars are prohibited (usually because parking there would pose a serious safety threat).

Here's the story on www.nearsay.com <--------click here.

A family comes together to help all New Yorkers in the wake of personal tragedy.

The Civic Center Residents Coalition reported on the passing of Stuart Gruskin in June of 2009.

We also reported on the founding of the Gruskin Family Foundation.

photo : Gothamist, Krista Ciminera

Sadly cycling blogs and bike lane advocates didn't acknowledge the passing of Mr. Gruskin, that is until his wife Nancy Gruskin turned personal tragedy into her mission - to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen to more New Yorkers. Stuart Gruskin was struck by a cyclist going the wrong way, with no bell, no brakes, and no helmut. The cyclist worked for a catering company who, after the accident, settled with the Gruskins out of court.

Nancy Gruskin is nearly impossible to ignore these days, she initiated a dialog with Commissioner of Transportation Janette Sadik-Kahn shortly after the cyclist hit and killed her husband in 2009, to start teaching delivery men and women to be more responsible cyclists and to make sure the City was up to enforce the laws regarding safe cycling.

Sadik-Kahn, living up to her reputation as a less-than-sensitive bulldozing machine who listens only to those clutching bike helmets when speaking to her, sent a form letter response to Gruskin's request for a meeting addressed to Gruskin's late husband Stuart. The faux pas got some press, and the Commish was forced to make up for it with a meeting, who knows if she would have met with Gruskin had the snafu not occurred? City leaders have commented that they can't even get a phone call returned by Sadik-Kahn, others have been on the receiving end of a shout-fest instead of a conversation. We're sure The Great Kahn was minding her manners when confronted with a real life hero like Nancy Gruskin.

So here's three cheers for Nancy Gruskin - A NY'er of the week on NY1 News. &left;--- click here to see the video of Nancy's interview.

Chinese New Year Festivities Continue this Saturday - Chinatown Community Young Lions closes in on 40 years!

Chinese New Year celebrations are continuing tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 12^th in Chinatown. Once again the fierce lions and dragons will wind their way through the streets of Chinatown doing their best to ward off evil spirits and cleanse the path into the new year.

What: the closing of the Chinese New Year celebrations

When: Saturday , Feb. 12 11:am to 5:pm

Where: all the streets of Chinatown

Why: because New York is privileged to witness living history in the streets of Chinatown during this time of year.

Among the troupes in the parade is The Chinatown Community Young Lions, of which I am a director . Founded my by sister Valerie Tom in 1972, the troupe has become recognized as a vital teaching institution, mentoring program, and safe haven from the streets for thousands of urban youths over the nearly four decades of its existence. Valerie, a former”NY1 New Yorker of the week” explains “when my son told me that he wanted to learn lion dance I found that he had to join a kung fu school, or a family association at that time in the early seventies. Those either had tuitions, or were affiliated with gang activity. So a friend of mine from the neighborhood who owned a restaurant, when he saw that my kids and their friends could play and wanted to perform, brought out some old lion heads and a drum and gave them to us”. Little did he know that that gesture would plant the seed for what has become one of Chinatown’s anomalies, a group of largely American born Chinese, including African Americans, Jewish and Puerto Ricans, not only learning and perfecting the drum beats and dance steps of Toi Sahn villages, but remaining faithful to the group’s mission which was to become a safe haven away from the bad elements of the street.

Existing for nearly forty years fully dependent on talent alone to get them through, the group has struggled from time to time debating about the future of “the club”. Having 501 3C status has helped over the years. Members pay no dues and are free to come and go, most stay however, and the founding members are raising their children to learn the culture and traditions of the most important holiday in the Chinese culture through lion dance. The teachers and directors all volunteer their time and resources. When the City Of New York doubled the rent on a space used by the club for over three decades in a DCAS operated building CCYL was forced to leave, so I carved out space in my showroom in Brooklyn for them to store their equipment. This February the club practiced on the sidewalks of DUMBO, Brooklyn to prepare for the parade in Chinatown.

The lion dance itself dates back to the early dynastic era and differs widely from Northern to Southern China. Nuances in drumming and the shape of the lion head distinguish one region from another. The Chinatown Community Young Lions preserves a drumming beat and dance style most akin to the region of China that the founding fathers of New York Chinatown originated from, Toi Sahn, a city state within Guangdong Province. Most New Yorkers don’t know that they are witnessing a living history through the lion dance performed in the streets of Chinatown, which has over a hundred year history in America.

The connection to this spiritual dance was no more profound than in the months after 9/11. With smoke still rising from the pile at ground zero and many streets barricading Chinatown, The Chinatown Community Young Lions felt the full weight of their responsibility to lift its residents and businesses out of the paralyzing shock of the unknown. With fewer tourists in the streets that year, and with reports of possible future attacks on New York, Chinatown merchants asked the troupe to bring the lions into their stores and restaurants to bow to the altars often tucked away near the back, reassuring the owners and staff that all will be ok. Away from the tv cameras and tourists, in the peaceful quiet of the store a merchant gently strokes the lion as he guides it to his altar, the performers, crouching on their knees are careful not to misstep, knocking over a teacup or a chair would be a bad omen.

As the lions back their way out of the store the drums kick into an “up beat” and the store owners are smiling, confident that somehow they averted whatever disaster the coming year might have brought.

As groups have joined the parade over the years, bringing in flourishes and tricks, fluorescent uniforms and bizarre color combinations to their lions and accoutrement, the Young Lions remain steadfast in doing things the same way since the beginning. The trade mark red sweatshirts, a significant color for the holiday, paired with the member’s own black jeans (budgets simply don’t allow for dressing a hundred and fifty kids in custom pants sizes) and the same frayed and tattered banners are a welcome sight to Chinatown merchants. There are only about a half dozen performance troupes in Chinatown that are indigenous to the area despite fifteen parade permits given out every year. In the old days of CCYL’s existence practically every merchant and restaurant owner knew someone in the club, it was that connection that filled the little red envelopes with lucky money in exchange for a blessing from the lions that appeared on the doorstep. Today, with the economic downturn many of the merchants from years ago have gone out of business or retired. The Young Lions are performing to a different audience, some from Viet Nam, Fujian Province, Shanghai or Cambodia but the task remains the same, to chase away evil spirits and offer a blessing, even if the envelopes are a little less full these days.

Full of youthful energy and the need for new funding resources The Chinatown Community Young Lions haven’t limited their performances to Manhattan. The troupe now includes Queens on their roster of events both public and private, recently performing in a newly opened mall in Flushing.

With renewed vigor and opportunity in the outer boroughs the Young Lions continue to thrive as business owners outside of the area cheer and squeal with glee that an authentic Chinatown lion dance troupe has come to their “distant shore” . As it has been for the last forty years the older members pack as many kids into their mini vans and cars as they can and drive off to their next performance, “is it a wedding, a bah mitz mah, a restaurant opening?” no one seems to care, instead they practice drum beats on the floor boards of the van and argue about who’s under the head first. A troupe director reprimands a kid “you have to put your whole body under the lion tail next time!” a student quips back “do you know how hard it is to stay bent over like that!?” , a collective “YES!” from the directors says it all.

- Jan Lee is a member of the Civic Center Residents Coalition and a director of The Chinatown Community Young Lions.

CLICK HERE to hear an AUDIO PODCAST of Governance Committee of Chinatown Working Group January 4th 2011

Community Board # 3 votes tonight on whether Chinatown should have a Business Improvement District

Community Board # 3 Manhattan

Voting tonight on the proposed Chinatown Business Improvement District

SPEAK OUT - sign in before 6:30 pm

meeting at :

Full Board Meeting - Tuesday, December 21 at 6:30pm

PS 20 - 166 Essex Street, (E Houston & Stanton Sts)

PRESS CONFERENCE - Former Chinatown Partnership LDC employees speak out against a Chinatown Business Improvement District

we received this press advisory today from Chinese Staff and Workers:

What: Press Conference

Who: Chinese Staff & Workers' Association

When: Monday, December 20, 2010 at 2pm

Where: Chinese Staff & Workers' Association (55 Chrystie Street b/t Canal & Hester)

Why: On Monday, cleaning workers of the Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation (CPLDC), who is pushing the BID in Chinatown, will speak out against the BID and also against the management and gross misuse of public funds by CPLDC.

If the Chinatown “Business Improvement District” BID is successful, it will clean the Chinese people out of Chinatown.

“We all want a cleaner, healthier environment for our community, but not at the expense of displacing people who work and live here. We are in an economic crisis now. The City is already forcing us to pay higher fees and taxes. Now they want us to pay for services the City should be taking care of! They don’t care about small businesses here. They don’t care about working people here. They won’t be satisfied until all the Chinese are gone,” said Xiu Yun Guo, resident and worker in Chinatown.

“I was fired after working at CPLDC for two years, because I did not give a red envelope to the management. Only those who bribed the management got to keep their jobs. My co-workers couldn’t take any time off to take care of their family. They pushed out those who were older. And the management doesn’t do anything all day except goof around. Are these the kind of people who can really improve Chinatown?!” said Mr. Sun a former cleaning worker at CPLDC.

Chinatown Businesses Hold Press Conference Against Chinatown Business Improvement District Dec. 17 2010

Long Time Chinatown Resident Cathy Glasson on why a Chinatown BID won't help with filth

Long time activist and resident Cathy Glasson has been fighting the City of New York for twenty years. She knows more about health codes, building codes, statutes than most people in City government. She's able to quote chapter and verse to NYPD, and city agencies when they give her the run-around. She testified against a Chinatown BID, and explained that a BID simply won't be able to tackle the quagmire that is NYC's bureacracy.

DNAinfo.com reports on charges of RACISM by Soho residents - re: BID

Click below to hear Lora Tanenbaum, former chair of the Econ. Dev. Land Use committee of Community Board 2 - testifying on why she does not approve of the proposed Chinatown BID map because she feels it includes parts of traditional SoHo.

BUT is she guilty of RACISM? you decide.

Michael Salzhauer - one of the Chinatown Partnership's chief supporters, said "It's silly to the point of racist, - cleaning benefits everybody." quote from : DNAinfo.com reported on the RACISM charge by Chinatown BID supporters

Parks have no business being in the CHINATOWN Business Improvement District

Chinatown resident and small business owner Shane Yamane testified at Community Board #2's Economic Development and Land Use Committee and asked Chinatown Partnership LDC to remove Columbus Park from the proposed Chinatown BID - they did not respond.

"The Park is new, the sidewalks are clean, it has no business being in a BID" said Yamane.

CLICK HERE to hear a pocast : City Council finally has DOT Commissioner Sadik Khan in the hotseat

FROM WNYC :

New York City Council’s Transportation Committee held a meeting today on the impact of bicycles and bike lanes in the city. Committee chair James Vacca told the packed room that when it came to bikes, he knew passions were high. “Believe it or not,” he said, “few issues today prompt more heated discussion than bike policy in New York City.”

And it showed: there was a long wait in line to clear security, and the City Council hearing room’s overflow room had to be used. More than 70 speakers signed up to voice their opinions about bikes and bike lanes, but the hot seat belonged to City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, who was grilled by council members for almost two hours. (Click the TITLE of this blog posting to hear her statement, as well as the extensive—nearly two hour—question and answer session)

WNYC - Brian Lehrer covers the debate over A Chinatown Business Improvement District - click here to hear the AUDIO Podcast of the program

CLICK BELOW to hear the PODCAST provided by WNYC

Originally aired 11:30 am Dec. 8th 2010

WNYC has the INCORRECT recording on their website.

HERE is the correct recording which aired on Dec. 8th. <--click

Eric Enquist of Crainsnewyork.com is a political reporter for Crain's New York. At the end of this piece he diminishes (quite irresponsibly) my comment about bill # A11672, as a "red herring". Although Mr. Enquist is entitled to his opinion, keep in mind that HE's not going to be paying MY rapidly escalating BID fees attached permanently to my property tax assessment with no way out.

After calling The Comptroller's office Monday Dec. 6th, I learned that John Liu is not going to comment on #A11672 with regard to how it relates to prevailing wages (which his office sets for NYC Government workers) and Business Improvement Districts - not because the bill makes no mention of BIDs, but because it simply hasn't been look at it that context. To diminish this bill in any way is foolish because even without the bill making it into law, the unions are already scrutinizing wage practices of BID contractors which puts a whole new spin on how everyone is going to pick up the trash from now on.

Daniel Massey of Crainsnewyork.com reports the story THIS WAY:

"In a new wrinkle to a larger legislative dispute that has festered for months, building-service powerhouse 32BJ SEIU has filed a complaint with New York City Comptroller John Liu alleging that the Union Square Partnership business improvement district is covered by existing prevailing wage law and has been underpaying workers by more than $14 an hour.

The union says it bases its argument on interviews with workers and a copy of the BID's contract with the city, which it obtained via a Freedom of Information Law request. It has requested contracts of BIDs across the city to evaluate whether they too might be in violation of the prevailing wage law.

In the complaint, the union alleges workers employed by BID subcontractor Atlantic Maintenance Corp. are paid as little as $7.41 per hour. The hourly prevailing wage for office cleaners in the city is $21.80, plus $8.36 in benefits; for security officers, it's $11.75, plus $4.46 in benefits.

“Well-funded BIDs have no financial reason for cutting costs on the backs of working New Yorkers,” said a 32BJ spokeswoman. “And some may be violating the law that prohibits tax dollars from being used to finance poverty-like jobs.”

Dan Biederman, chairman of the BID Association, an umbrella group representing the city's 64 BIDs, said the complaint is the latest in a series of “ongoing lobbying efforts” by 32BJ surrounding a prevailing wage bill under consideration in Albany that would end exemptions for public utilities.

A spokesman for the Union Square Partnership said in a statement that the BID's sanitation workers are represented by Amalgamated Industrial and Toy and Novelty Workers Local 223 and that a new contract went into effect July 1. “Atlantic Maintenance negotiated a comprehensive, fair and mutually agreed upon compensation package through a collective bargaining process that includes wages ranging from $8 to $14 per hour, paid vacation, and health coverage,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Liu had no comment."

Senator Daniel Squadron's town hall hearing on the LES - Click here to hear audio podcast EXCERPTS

Senator Daniel Squadron hosted a town hall event to hear first hand from residents from Chinatown and the Lower East Side on November 30th. There were many issues raised, too numerous to list here, but we've attempted to provide you with an audio podcast excerpt of some specific complaints raised about Chinatown pedestrian safety issues.

Click here to hear an audio podcast EXCERPT about the numerous bus lines that have been eliminated in the area.