T!C’s 2026 NY Primaries Candidates Guide:
State Assembly 65 — by Candidate

BOROUGH-BASED JAIL PLAN
What are your views on the Borough Based Jail Project (BBJ) and the community-led proposal for affordable housing in its place? What specific actions have you taken to support your views and/or mitigate the impact of BBJ on the Chinatown community?

I oppose the Borough Based Jail project at 124-125 White Street and support the community-led proposal to use the site for affordable housing, open space, and community-serving uses instead. Rikers must close. It is unsafe, inhumane, and has caused deep harm to incarcerated people, families, and communities across our city. However, closing Rikers cannot mean building a massive new jail in the middle of Chinatown -- especially through a flawed process that has failed to listen to the needs of the community. Chinatown residents have already faced the site being shifted to White Street during ULURP, inadequate community engagement, and the threat of years of demolition and construction impacts. The community-led proposal reflects what Chinatown actually needs: deeply affordable housing and investments that help long-time residents and small businesses stay rooted in their neighborhood. Public land should meet community needs, not expand the footprint of incarceration, worsen displacement pressures, or take away spaces like White Street Plaza that were supposed to serve the community.

As a lifelong Lower Manhattan resident and NYCHA resident, I have spent the last three decades fighting for housing justice, anti-displacement, and community accountability in my community. I have led marches and spoken at rallies against the jail, and I have spoken with Chinatown residents, tenants, and small business owners about the impacts of BBJ and the need for a different path. If elected, I will oppose the Manhattan BBJ plan, advocate for the affordable housing alternative, and demand enforceable protections around noise, air quality, construction hours, traffic, and short- and long-term disruption to Chinatown’s residents, small businesses, and local economy. I will also work with Chinatown organizations and residents to ensure language-accessible engagement and accountability from city agencies.

As an elected official representing Chinatown, how would you navigate the tension between engaging City and State agencies on the design and construction of the jail, and reflecting the community’s strong opposition to this project?

I would be clear with City and State agencies that engaging on design and construction impacts does not mean accepting or legitimizing the jail project. My responsibility would be to reflect the community’s strong opposition to BBJ while also doing everything in my power to protect Chinatown residents, small businesses, workers, seniors, and families from harm if the City continues to move forward. I have led marches and spoken at rallies against the jail, and would continue to stand with the community in opposition to the project. That means I would continue to oppose the Manhattan BBJ plan and advocate for the community-led affordable housing alternative. At the same time, I would use every available point of agency engagement to demand accountability: language-accessible communication, transparent timelines, public reporting, air quality and noise monitoring, traffic mitigation, small business protections, pedestrian safety, and real consequences if agencies or contractors fail to meet their commitments. Chinatown should not be forced to choose between opposing a harmful project and having a voice in decisions that affect daily life in the neighborhood.

CHINATOWN CONNECTIONS

The Chinatown Connections project combines $11.5 million in DRI awards with $44.5 million in City capital to revamp Chatham/KimLau Square. What are your views on how the Chinatown Connections process has unfolded? Have you personally engaged in the Chinatown Connections process or addressed community concerns around it?

I support long-overdue investment in Chinatown’s public spaces, pedestrian safety, accessibility, increased walkability, and small business corridors. Chatham/KimLau Square is an important gateway to the neighborhood, and Chinatown deserves public infrastructure that is safe, beautiful, culturally meaningful, and usable for community life, not just designed as a pass-through space. At the same time, the Chinatown Connections process needs to be more transparent, language-accessible, and accountable to the community. Major public investment decisions must be made with residents having a real opportunity to shape them. The community deserves clear information about the project’s timeline, design choices, construction impacts, and how resident feedback is actually being incorporated. I have spoken with Chinatown residents, small business owners, and community members about the need for investment that strengthens the neighborhood without accelerating displacement or turning Chinatown into a space designed around tourists. If elected, I would push City and State agencies to ensure that Chinatown Connections improves walkability, public space, and community use while serving existing residents and businesses first.

The ongoing closure of Park Row and coordinating traffic with our NYPD neighbors is a contentious issue that has not been addressed in the Chinatown Connections project. What are your views regarding traffic on Park Row and how it should be resolved?

The closure of Park Row has had a lasting and significant impact on Chinatown and needs to be addressed directly, not treated as separate from the Chinatown Connections project. For decades, this closure has limited access into and through the neighborhood, affected traffic circulation, and reduced connectivity between Chinatown and surrounding areas. I believe Park Row should be addressed through a comprehensive, community-led traffic plan that improves access for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, emergency vehicles, and local traffic. NYPD’s operational needs matter, but they cannot be the only factor shaping the future of a public street. The people who live and work in Chinatown deserve a meaningful voice in determining how Park Row functions and how public space is used. The people who live and work in Chinatown deserve a meaningful voice in determining how Park Row functions and how public space is used. If elected, I would push DOT, EDC, NYPD, and other agencies to put Park Row back at the center of the Chinatown Connections conversation. Any resolution should be transparent, language-accessible, and based on actual traffic data and community needs. The goal should be to reconnect Chinatown, improve walkability and safety, reduce congestion, and ensure that public streets serve the public.

70 MULBERRY AND DESIGNATED CULTURAL SPACES

The reconstruction of 70 Mulberry, a public building designated for Chinatown’s nonprofits and cultural organizations, is extremely behind schedule. How will you help ensure progress moves forward on the project?

70 Mulberry is one of Chinatown’s most important public buildings, and the delay in its reconstruction is unacceptable. Before the fire, it housed vital nonprofit, cultural, senior, workforce, athletic, and community organizations that served Chinatown for generations. Rebuilding it is not optional. It is a promise the City made to Chinatown, and it needs to be treated with urgency. If elected, I would use my office to push for a clear public timeline, regular progress updates, and direct accountability from the agencies responsible for moving the project forward. The community should not have to rely on rumors or occasional announcements to understand what is happening with a building that belongs to them. I would also work closely with the displaced organizations and Chinatown community leaders to make sure their needs remain central throughout the reconstruction process. That includes ensuring the final project reflects the needs identified through community visioning, including affordable nonprofit space, cultural space, and a real path for displaced organizations to return.

During the 70 Mulberry design process and many other public outreach efforts, the community has repeatedly identified the need for more cultural gathering spaces such as performing arts theaters, cultural centers, and affordable spaces for local nonprofits. Have you personally taken any steps towards addressing this ongoing and growing need? And how will you help ensure DCAS addresses community needs in the design process? ‍

The Chinatown community must have more places for people to gather, create, organize, and care for one another. That includes performance space, cultural centers, and affordable space for the local nonprofits and community organizations that residents already know and trust. These spaces are not a luxury. They are essential community infrastructure, especially for older adults, immigrants, and working-class residents who rely on neighborhood institutions for connection, services, language access, cultural programming, and community. I have spoken with Chinatown residents, small business owners, and community members about the importance of protecting Chinatown’s cultural identity and making sure public investments serve the people who live and work here. That means supporting spaces shaped by local needs, not by tourism, luxury development, or outside priorities.

If elected, I would push DCAS to show how the concerns raised by the community are being reflected in the 70 Mulberry design. The City needs to provide clear updates, communicate in the languages people use, stay in direct contact with displaced tenants and local cultural groups, and explain what changes are being made in response to feedback. I would also advocate for 70 Mulberry to include flexible, affordable space for performances, community gatherings, programming, and nonprofit use, so the rebuilt building truly serves Chinatown’s long-term needs.

PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS & USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN CHINATOWN

$50+ million in “community funds” were designated to MOCA, Columbus Park, and 70 Mulberry as part of the the Borough-Based Jail plan. TThe Chinatown Partnership LDC receives approximately $1.8 Million annually in property assessments and oversees nearly $1.7M in projects out of the $20M NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds. How would you work with these organizations to ensure the Chinatown community is informed and in agreement with how these public funds are spent?

Whether the funding is connected to MOCA, Columbus Park, 70 Mulberry, the DRI process, or the Chinatown Partnership, the community deserves clear information about how decisions are being made, who is making them, and how residents, small businesses, and local organizations can shape the outcome. If elected, I would work with these organizations while also holding them accountable to the public. That means pushing for regular multilingual updates, accessible public meetings, clear budgets, timelines, and reporting on how funds are being used. Outreach must reach the people most affected by these decisions, including tenants, older adults, immigrant residents, small business owners, and local nonprofits, not only the people who already know how to navigate government processes. I would also advocate for community advisory structures that have real influence. Chinatown has experienced too many planning processes where funding is announced in the name of the community, but residents are left unclear about what is happening or whether their concerns matter. Public dollars should strengthen Chinatown’s existing residents, businesses, parks, cultural institutions, and community spaces, and the community should be able to see and shape that process at every step.

The Chinatown community uses public spaces intensively, despite lack of infrastructure such as well-maintained lighting, public restrooms, and electrical hookups to support community events. Community-led efforts have activated public spaces, like the day & night markets at Forsyth Plaza and lighting projects in SDR Park. Have you worked towards improvements to parks and plaza spaces in Chinatown?

I have not personally worked on improvements to parks or plaza spaces in Chinatown, but I strongly support the community-led efforts that have activated spaces like Forsyth Plaza and SDR Park. These spaces still need basic infrastructure like lighting, public restrooms, electrical hookups, seating, and reliable maintenance. I see this as an accessibility issue. Public restrooms, safe lighting, and usable gathering spaces are not luxuries; they are necessities. When public spaces lack basic infrastructure, they become less accessible and less welcoming to the very communities they are supposed to serve. If elected, I would work with Chinatown organizations, residents, vendors, and small businesses to identify the specific improvements needed in each public space and push City and State agencies to fund and maintain them. I would also work to find broader solutions across AD-65 and the city so that public space is safe, welcoming, accessible, and usable day and night for the people who live and work here.

How would your office specifically support community efforts to improve infrastructure in public spaces and support community uses such as cultural events and street vending?

My office would support community-led public space improvements by helping residents and organizations navigate government, secure funding, and get agencies to follow through. Often, communities identify clear needs, like lighting, public restrooms, electrical hookups, seating, maintenance, and safer street design, but the process for getting those improvements is unnecessarily confusing and slow. An Assembly office can help by convening agencies, tracking commitments, elevating community priorities, and advocating for state and city funding. I would also support cultural events, markets, and street vending by working with the community and government agencies to make permitting and enforcement more accessible and fair. Public spaces need infrastructure that matches how people actually use them. If elected, I would work to make sure Chinatown’s plazas, parks, and streets are safe, accessible, and equipped to support daily community life, cultural programming, and local economic opportunity.

The Open Streets program on Canal street has been a source of friction in the community between restauranteurs/hospitality groups and residents/other businesses. What guardrails on the Open Street program would your office work toward to ensure a lively economy, equitable use of public space, and harmony in the neighborhood?

Open Streets can be a valuable way to support small businesses, create safer pedestrian space, and bring energy to commercial corridors, but it cannot work if residents and other businesses feel ignored. On Canal Street, the program needs stronger guardrails so that public space is shared fairly and the benefits do not come at the expense of the people who live nearby. My office would push for clear, enforceable rules around hours, noise, sanitation, emergency access, pedestrian circulation, and the amount of space used for commercial activity. Public space should not become an extension of only one industry or one set of businesses. Restaurants and hospitality businesses matter, but so do residents, longtime merchants, and street vendors. If elected, I would work with DOT, Community Board 3, local businesses, residents, and community organizations to create a more accountable process for evaluating the program each season. That means multilingual outreach, public reporting on complaints and enforcement, and adjustments when problems arise. The goal should be a lively local economy and active public space while preserving the quality of life of the people who call Chinatown home.

LOCAL ECONOMY

What is your plan to protect Chinatown’s ecosystem of affordable housing, small businesses, and family-run property owners? Which of the following do you  support or oppose and why? 

Commercial Rent Stabilization: I support commercial rent stabilization or similar commercial tenant protections for small businesses, especially legacy businesses that are being pushed out by sudden and unaffordable rent increases. Chinatown’s small businesses are not interchangeable storefronts; they are part of the neighborhood’s cultural identity, local economy, and daily life. Any policy should be designed to prevent displacement, curb speculation, and give small businesses the stability they need to remain in the neighborhood. Protecting long-standing community businesses is essential to preserving Chinatown as a place where residents can continue to live, work, and access culturally relevant goods and services.

Rent Vouchers for Legacy Businesses: I support rent vouchers, grants, or targeted subsidies for legacy businesses, particularly businesses that have served Chinatown for generations, provide culturally important goods and services, or employ local residents. These businesses help keep Chinatown livable for the people who call it home, not just attractive to visitors. Any voucher program should be easy to access, multilingual, and paired with technical assistance so small businesses are not excluded by complicated applications or limited administrative capacity. Public support should prioritize businesses that are rooted in the community and at real risk of displacement.

Other: (please add any other policy tools you are passionate about using to support Chinatown’s local economy)

I would support a broader anti-displacement strategy for Chinatown’s local economy, including stronger protections for rent-regulated and affordable housing, property tax relief or technical support for small family-run property owners who keep rents affordable, enforcement against warehousing and speculative vacancies, and expanded legal assistance for small businesses facing lease issues or displacement. I would also push for public investments that make it easier for local businesses to survive, including sanitation, streetscape improvements, fair permitting processes, language-accessible services, and support for street vendors. Chinatown should not be treated as just a commercial district or tourist destination. It is a living neighborhood, and policy should help the residents, workers, small businesses, and property owners who built it stay here.

BOROUGH-BASED JAIL PLAN
What are your views on the Borough Based Jail Project (BBJ) and the community-led proposal for affordable housing in its place? What specific actions have you taken to support your views and/or mitigate the impact of BBJ on the Chinatown community?

I was a vocal opponent of building new jails in the community. Since the jails are already being constructed, we need to ensure that the number of incarcerated people and the local impacts on the community are minimized. Chinatown is a naturally recurring retirement community, a thriving tourist destination, and a neighborhood that struggles with an affordability crisis. Our land use priority should be affordable housing, including accessible housing for seniors and the disabled.

As an elected official representing Chinatown, how would you navigate the tension between engaging City and State agencies on the design and construction of the jail, and reflecting the community’s strong opposition to this project?

As an elected official, I would host and send representatives to community meetings. I think the prior administrations moved too much without community and movement input and we should try to engage our communities on the design and construction as much as possible with the current conditions. I would share constituent concerns with relevant agencies in order to ensure that we can address them as quickly as possible.

CHINATOWN CONNECTIONS

The Chinatown Connections project combines $11.5 million in DRI awards with $44.5 million in City capital to revamp Chatham/KimLau Square. What are your views on how the Chinatown Connections process has unfolded? Have you personally engaged in the Chinatown Connections process or addressed community concerns around it?

I believe the Chinatown Connections project should go further to create usable public space. For example, Park Row should ideally be returned to community use and not merely cosmetically improved.

The ongoing closure of Park Row and coordinating traffic with our NYPD neighbors is a contentious issue that has not been addressed in the Chinatown Connections project. What are your views regarding traffic on Park Row and how it should be resolved?

Park Row should be fully restored to public access. Closing Park Row has created more congestion on neighboring streets, isolated our neighbors from each other, and made it more difficult for drivers to bring tourists into Chinatown.

70 MULBERRY AND DESIGNATED CULTURAL SPACES

The reconstruction of 70 Mulberry, a public building designated for Chinatown’s nonprofits and cultural organizations, is extremely behind schedule. How will you help ensure progress moves forward on the project?

I was devastated when the tragic fire hit 70 Mulberry in 2020, which injured a dozen people and damaged a historically significant building that had stood as a pillar of the community for over a century. I will use my office to advocate for expediting the project with communication and transparency with our local organizations.

During the 70 Mulberry design process and many other public outreach efforts, the community has repeatedly identified the need for more cultural gathering spaces such as performing arts theaters, cultural centers, and affordable spaces for local nonprofits. Have you personally taken any steps towards addressing this ongoing and growing need? And how will you help ensure DCAS addresses community needs in the design process? ‍

One of my top priorities is establishing a Social Housing Development Authority in New York, which would be able to directly fund community and cultural spaces. I’m inspired by other world cities that support art and culture where people live and work, and I know that’s also possible here. I would encourage agencies like DCAS to host public forums to ensure the community can participate in design processes.

PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS & USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN CHINATOWN

$50+ million in “community funds” were designated to MOCA, Columbus Park, and 70 Mulberry as part of the the Borough-Based Jail plan. TThe Chinatown Partnership LDC receives approximately $1.8 Million annually in property assessments and oversees nearly $1.7M in projects out of the $20M NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds. How would you work with these organizations to ensure the Chinatown community is informed and in agreement with how these public funds are spent?

Nonprofits such as the CPLDC are inherently less democratic institutions, since they are private entities with no obligation to make their decision-making transparent to the public. I think our government should be directly creating, funding, and providing resources with public input. Chinatown should have more participatory budgeting, and I am inspired by current examples in NYC such as The People’s Money and PBNYC.

The Chinatown community uses public spaces intensively, despite lack of infrastructure such as well-maintained lighting, public restrooms, and electrical hookups to support community events. Community-led efforts have activated public spaces, like the day & night markets at Forsyth Plaza and lighting projects in SDR Park. Have you worked towards improvements to parks and plaza spaces in Chinatown?

Community-led efforts are vital to the community, but they should not substitute for the government’s obligation to maintain and create public spaces. I will fight for more funding at the state level to ensure that Chinatown has more access to public restrooms, better lighting, and street infrastructure.

How would your office specifically support community efforts to improve infrastructure in public spaces and support community uses such as cultural events and street vending?

I will use my office to advocate for street vendors and fight for infrastructure funding at the state level. I would also work with member organizations such as Street Vendor Project to ensure that our efforts adequately meet vendors’ needs.

The Open Streets program on Canal street has been a source of friction in the community between restauranteurs/hospitality groups and residents/other businesses. What guardrails on the Open Street program would your office work toward to ensure a lively economy, equitable use of public space, and harmony in the neighborhood?

I would advocate for accessible loading and drop off zones to ensure local businesses can operate efficiently while our restaurant industry can benefit from the high foot traffic.

LOCAL ECONOMY

What is your plan to protect Chinatown’s ecosystem of affordable housing, small businesses, and family-run property owners? Which of the following do you  support or oppose and why? 

Commercial Rent Stabilization: I fully support and would co-sponsor Assembly Member Emily Gallagher's Small Business Rent Stabilization Act.

Rent Vouchers for Legacy Businesses: I am open to discussing rent vouchers for legacy businesses. I currently believe commercial rent stabilization is the most robust solution for small businesses.

Other: (please add any other policy tools you are passionate about using to support Chinatown’s local economy)

I believe addressing the affordability crisis is critical for Chinatown’s local economy. Too many residents are being priced out. Many workers can’t afford to live in Chinatown, and they are forced to commute long distances to work. If we don’t act, displacement will negatively impact the character of our neighborhoods. I will fight for the funding to build affordable housing, with an emphasis on accessibility for seniors and the disabled.

BOROUGH-BASED JAIL PLAN
What are your views on the Borough Based Jail Project (BBJ) and the community-led proposal for affordable housing in its place? What specific actions have you taken to support your views and/or mitigate the impact of BBJ on the Chinatown community?

I am unequivocally opposed to the Chinatown mega-jail project. Our neighborhoods of color have been systematically oversaturated with jails, shelters, and drug clinics, while our demands for investments in our people are routinely ignored. I firmly stand with community leaders, residents, and local business owners who oppose this construction.

Instead of a multi-billion-dollar jail facility, I fully support the community-led proposal to utilize this site for 100% affordable housing. My track record proves my commitment to this exact model: as a co-founder of a local housing coalition, I successfully fought for permanent, 100% affordable housing on public land, specifically advocating for maximum affordability at the major 5 World Trade Center (5WTC) development site. I bring this exact same fighting spirit to Chinatown—demanding that government land serve the public good, not mass incarceration in the tallest jail in America, something we don’t need or want in Chinatown.

As an elected official representing Chinatown, how would you navigate the tension between engaging City and State agencies on the design and construction of the jail, and reflecting the community’s strong opposition to this project?

My office will not accept the jail as a foregone conclusion. My primary duty is to reflect the will of the community, which has spoken clearly: no mega-jail. Therefore, my engagement with City and State agencies will not be to politely negotiate the aesthetics of a jail, but to aggressively challenge its footprint, environmental impact, and disruption to our neighborhood.

I will leverage my position to demand full transparency, halt progress whenever safety or environmental violations occur, and amplify the voices of grassroots leaders. I am running to represent the community to the government, not to sell the government's plans to the community.

CHINATOWN CONNECTIONS

The Chinatown Connections project combines $11.5 million in DRI awards with $44.5 million in City capital to revamp Chatham/KimLau Square. What are your views on how the Chinatown Connections process has unfolded? Have you personally engaged in the Chinatown Connections process or addressed community concerns around it?

While investments in Chinatown's infrastructure are long overdue, the Chinatown Connections process has unfortunately mirrored a familiar pattern: top-down planning that fails to genuinely integrate grassroots community feedback. Large-scale capital projects must not be imposed on a neighborhood without deep, culturally competent, and transparent consensus.

Throughout my career in civic leadership, I have consistently advocated for community-driven planning. My views align directly with the small landlords, store owners, and community members who feel their daily realities—such as commercial loading needs, pedestrian safety, and cultural preservation—are being secondary to bureaucratic timelines.

The ongoing closure of Park Row and coordinating traffic with our NYPD neighbors is a contentious issue that has not been addressed in the Chinatown Connections project. What are your views regarding traffic on Park Row and how it should be resolved?

I have stood firmly with the community on reopening Park Row. The permanent, post-9/11 closure of this vital artery has choked Chinatown’s economy, isolated its residents, and created severe traffic congestion in surrounding corridors.

As someone who has spent over two decades in public service and has extensive experience handling complex, hyper-local infrastructure and urban resiliency issues, I know how to navigate these challenges. For example, I previously successfully advocated for the permanent closure of a street to establish a dedicated public park on Fulton Street by working with the community to improve the local landscape. On Park Row, the solution requires a balanced, secure reopening that continues to allow transit access and restores vehicular flow while coordinating closely with the NYPD to maintain necessary security protocols without sacrificing Chinatown's economic lifeline.

70 MULBERRY AND DESIGNATED CULTURAL SPACES

The reconstruction of 70 Mulberry, a public building designated for Chinatown’s nonprofits and cultural organizations, is extremely behind schedule. How will you help ensure progress moves forward on the project?

The delays at 70 Mulberry are unacceptable. This building is the historic heart of Chinatown’s civic and cultural infrastructure. As a professional accountant and controller, I look at government projects through a lens of fiscal accountability and project management.

I will use the power of my office to demand rigorous oversight over the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). We need public, monthly milestone reports and strict timeline enforcement. I will work to ensure that funding is fully locked in and that bureaucratic red tape is cleared so that the historic tenants and nonprofits can finally return home.

During the 70 Mulberry design process and many other public outreach efforts, the community has repeatedly identified the need for more cultural gathering spaces such as performing arts theaters, cultural centers, and affordable spaces for local nonprofits. Have you personally taken any steps towards addressing this ongoing and growing need? And how will you help ensure DCAS addresses community needs in the design process? ‍

Throughout my life, I have been deeply invested in youth, education, and community spaces, having served on the board of youth recreation and wellness nonprofits and school leadership teams. I understand that physical spaces are vital to preserving a community's soul.

To ensure DCAS addresses these needs, I will condition my legislative support for city initiatives on their responsiveness to local demands. I will mandate that the design process for 70 Mulberry explicitly prioritizes multi-functional, affordable spaces for local nonprofits and cultural performing arts, ensuring that the final structure reflects the living culture of Chinatown, not just administrative convenience.

Additionally, I’m of the opinion that Chinatown warrants its own performing arts center in consideration of all of the singers, musicians, lion dancers, practitioners of tai chi and martial arts and other arts. I’d be honored to deliver such a space to the community.

PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS & USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN CHINATOWN

$50+ million in “community funds” were designated to MOCA, Columbus Park, and 70 Mulberry as part of the the Borough-Based Jail plan. The Chinatown Partnership LDC receives approximately $1.8 Million annually in property assessments and oversees nearly $1.7M in projects out of the $20M NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds. How would you work with these organizations to ensure the Chinatown community is informed and in agreement with how these public funds are spent?

Public funds must serve the public trust, and there must be absolute transparency in how they are allocated. My office will institute a formal, regular reporting mechanism where these entities must present clear financial accounting and project updates directly to the community.

Furthermore, I believe that funds distributed under the guise of "jail mitigation" must be heavily scrutinized to ensure they are genuinely benefiting grassroots community preservation. I will work closely with community watchdogs, local small business owners, and residents to ensure that these large allocations are spent in alignment with the broader neighborhood's needs, rather than being concentrated without community consensus.

The Chinatown community uses public spaces intensively, despite lack of infrastructure such as well-maintained lighting, public restrooms, and electrical hookups to support community events. Community-led efforts have activated public spaces, like the day & night markets at Forsyth Plaza and lighting projects in SDR Park. Have you worked towards improvements to parks and plaza spaces in Chinatown?

Yes. I have a long, proven track record of advocating for green spaces, waterfront protection, and public parks. My past community work includes successfully transforming local street infrastructure into vibrant public park space.

How would your office specifically support community efforts to improve infrastructure in public spaces and support community uses such as cultural events and street vending?

My office will act as a direct accelerator for community initiatives. We will:

- Streamline the Permitting Process: Provide dedicated staff to help local cultural organizations navigate the bureaucratic maze of SAPO and Parks Department permits.

- Direct Capital Funding: Seek to allocate funds specifically for mobile infrastructure (like portable sound systems, staging, and lighting) that community groups can utilize.

- Protect Street Vendors: Advocate for fair, clear regulations that protect traditional cultural street vending, which is an essential part of Chinatown's economy and vibrant street life, while ensuring paths remain accessible for pedestrians.

The Open Streets program on Canal street has been a source of friction in the community between restauranteurs/hospitality groups and residents/other businesses. What guardrails on the Open Street program would your office work toward to ensure a lively economy, equitable use of public space, and harmony in the neighborhood?

Open Streets cannot be a "one-size-fits-all" policy especially when they really mean closed streets for particular groups. On a major commercial artery like Canal Street, we must balance the economic benefits for restaurants with the baseline operational needs of other small businesses, apparel shops, wholesalers, and the safety of local residents.

I will work to implement the following guardrails:

- Mandatory Loading/Unloading Windows: Guarantee dedicated hours and spaces for commercial deliveries so small businesses and family-run property owners are not disrupted.

- Strict Sanitation and Noise Enforcement: Ensure participating hospitality groups take full financial and operational responsibility for clean-up and noise management.

- Localized Curfews: Ensure Open Streets hours do not infringe upon the quiet enjoyment and accessibility needs of elderly residents living on or near the corridor.

LOCAL ECONOMY

What is your plan to protect Chinatown’s ecosystem of affordable housing, small businesses, and family-run property owners? Which of the following do you  support or oppose and why? 

Commercial Rent Stabilization: Our community is being squeezed out by corporate landlords and bad government policies. I am proud to be formally supported by key Chinatown leaders like Jan Lee, Triple Edwards, and Tim Wong, alongside numerous local restaurant owners, store owners, and small property landlords. My plan is built on protecting mom-and-pop ecosystems, not corporate developers.

Chinatown’s legacy is built on its unique small businesses. When corporate landlords drastically hike commercial rents, they don't just displace a business; they erase community history. I support a fair framework that protects small, independent merchants from speculative rent gouging while ensuring a fair return for local, small-scale property owners but I’m not an expert in this area. So I would seek input from organizations and coalitions and others who are like SPONY.

As one of the people who helped to create, pass, expand and fund Zadroga which currently provides healthcare and compensation to over 150K people and as a Controller at a union shop for over 22 years, I’ve developed a knack for collaboration and negotiation often with men, powerful men in politics and construction. I know how to get things done, how to fight for those I represent. I’m prepared to apply these skills to my office and the small business and property owners will help me to be a well-informed representative.

Rent Vouchers for Legacy Businesses: Legacy businesses provide cultural continuity and vital services. Providing targeted rent vouchers or tax credits to landlords who keep legacy businesses in place is a win-win that maintains neighborhood stability and directly supports our local economy.

Other: (please add any other policy tools you are passionate about using to support Chinatown’s local economy)

I strongly support Priscilla's Law to ensure transparency, equity, and accountability in our local infrastructure and transit policies. Additionally, I will fight for targeted property tax relief for small, family-run property owners who keep their residential and commercial rents affordable. We must distinguish between predatory corporate real estate trusts and the local immigrant families who invested in our neighborhood decades ago and form the backbone of Chinatown.

Furthermore, we must fundamentally repair, if not entirely dismantle, the current Congestion Pricing framework as it applies to Chinatown. As it stands, this toll functions as a regressive tax on our historic immigrant community. It punishes the very outer-borough working-class families who travel here to support our mom-and-pop shops, and it heavily burdens our local restaurant and store owners who are already struggling with rising supply chain and commercial delivery costs. I will fight to ensure Chinatown is not economically isolated by a top-down transit policy that ignores the financial realities of our neighborhood.

BOROUGH-BASED JAIL PLAN
What are your views on the Borough Based Jail Project (BBJ) and the community-led proposal for affordable housing in its place? What specific actions have you taken to support your views and/or mitigate the impact of BBJ on the Chinatown community?

I oppose the construction of the BBJ and support the grassroots proposal to use the White Street site for affordable housing and community use. Our district faces an affordability crisis. At a time when residents are being priced out, we must prioritize housing and community needs. We must consider alternative sites, including the currently vacant federal detention facility. Community members have spent years organizing around a vision that better addresses housing needs and senior living, while protecting the neighborhood's long-term commercial vitality. We must be true to that vision.

As an elected official representing Chinatown, how would you navigate the tension between engaging City and State agencies on the design and construction of the jail, and reflecting the community’s strong opposition to this project?

Opposition and engagement are not mutually exclusive. I can oppose the current plan while still fighting for residents who must live with its impacts. In the Assembly, I would continue advocating for community-supported alternatives while demanding transparency, enforceable mitigation measures, multilingual outreach, air-quality monitoring, and protections for local businesses, schools, and senior housing. The community deserves a representative who both elevates its concerns and holds local and state agencies accountable for their actions.

CHINATOWN CONNECTIONS

The Chinatown Connections project combines $11.5 million in DRI awards with $44.5 million in City capital to revamp Chatham/KimLau Square. What are your views on how the Chinatown Connections process has unfolded? Have you personally engaged in the Chinatown Connections process or addressed community concerns around it?

Chinatown Connections seeks to improve safety, accessibility, and public space at one of the neighborhood's most heavily used intersections. I have attended community discussions on the project and saw firsthand how strongly people care, even when they disagree on the best path forward. Projects of this scale require meaningful engagement. Residents, seniors, small businesses, cultural organizations, and neighborhood institutions should have a voice throughout implementation. The final project should improve safety and public space while remaining responsive to community concerns.

The ongoing closure of Park Row and coordinating traffic with our NYPD neighbors is a contentious issue that has not been addressed in the Chinatown Connections project. What are your views regarding traffic on Park Row and how it should be resolved?

Park Row was a thoroughfare when I grew up and now has remained closed for decades, affecting mobility, local businesses, and neighborhood connectivity. Any long-term solution must balance legitimate security concerns with the needs of Chinatown residents. I support a transparent review of the closure's impacts, including traffic, environmental, and economic effects. Security measures should be regularly justified and reassessed rather than treated as permanent by default. Chinatown deserves a solution that improves access, supports local commerce, and maintains public safety.

70 MULBERRY AND DESIGNATED CULTURAL SPACES

The reconstruction of 70 Mulberry, a public building designated for Chinatown’s nonprofits and cultural organizations, is extremely behind schedule. How will you help ensure progress moves forward on the project?

The rebuilding of 70 Mulberry must move forward with urgency, transparency, and accountability. Chinatown has waited too long to see this important civic and cultural space restored. I would work with local elected officials, community organizations, and city agencies to ensure regular public updates, clear project milestones, and accountability for delays. The community deserves confidence that the project will be completed as soon as practicable, and that the final building reflects the needs identified through years of public engagement. Right now, that is sorely lacking.

During the 70 Mulberry design process and many other public outreach efforts, the community has repeatedly identified the need for more cultural gathering spaces such as performing arts theaters, cultural centers, and affordable spaces for local nonprofits. Have you personally taken any steps towards addressing this ongoing and growing need? And how will you help ensure DCAS addresses community needs in the design process? ‍

The organizations displaced by the fire should absolutely be able to return in ways that make sense for how they now operate, but the conversation cannot end there. Chinatown's nonprofit and cultural ecosystem has grown significantly in recent years, and harnessing the energy of generations to come means also making room for newer organizations that struggle to find affordable space to serve our constituents. I would advocate for state cultural capital funding, nonprofit support, and additional community-serving spaces that expand opportunities for arts, education, and civic engagement.

PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS & USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN CHINATOWN

$50+ million in “community funds” were designated to MOCA, Columbus Park, and 70 Mulberry as part of the the Borough-Based Jail plan. The Chinatown Partnership LDC receives approximately $1.8 Million annually in property assessments and oversees nearly $1.7M in projects out of the $20M NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds. How would you work with these organizations to ensure the Chinatown community is informed and in agreement with how these public funds are spent?

Public dollars should serve the public good. None of these organizations exist in a vacuum, and we must demand transparency, accountability, and meaningful community participation. Whether funding comes from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the Borough-Based Jail commitments, or other public sources, residents deserve clear information about how funds are allocated and spent. I support regular public reporting, multilingual community meetings, and ongoing engagement with neighborhood stakeholders to ensure investments reflect community priorities and deliver measurable public benefits.

The Chinatown community uses public spaces intensively, despite lack of infrastructure such as well-maintained lighting, public restrooms, and electrical hookups to support community events. Community-led efforts have activated public spaces, like the day & night markets at Forsyth Plaza and lighting projects in SDR Park. Have you worked towards improvements to parks and plaza spaces in Chinatown?

Chinatown's public spaces are some of the most heavily used in New York City, yet they often lack the infrastructure needed to support the number of residents and community events. I will strongly advocate for investments in lighting, safety, seating, public restrooms, accessibility improvements, electrical hookups, and increased park maintenance. Public spaces are extensions of our homes in a dense neighborhood like Chinatown, and they should be safe, welcoming, and capable of supporting the cultural events and community gatherings that make the neighborhood unique.

How would your office specifically support community efforts to improve infrastructure in public spaces and support community uses such as cultural events and street vending?

My office would work to secure state funding for public-space improvements while partnering with community organizations to identify grants, advocate for capital projects, and help navigate city and state agencies when projects stall. I support investments in lighting, electrical access, sanitation, accessibility, and event infrastructure that make public spaces more usable year-round. I would also work with community groups to support cultural events, night markets, and street vendors, which are vital to Chinatown's economy and often serve as a launching point for new small businesses.

The Open Streets program on Canal street has been a source of friction in the community between restauranteurs/hospitality groups and residents/other businesses. What guardrails on the Open Street program would your office work toward to ensure a lively economy, equitable use of public space, and harmony in the neighborhood?

Open Streets should support both neighborhood quality of life and economic activity. I would support regular community review, clear sanitation and noise-management plans, effective enforcement measures, ensuring emergency and delivery access, and engagement with residents, restaurants, retailers, and other businesses. The goal should be a program that benefits the entire neighborhood. Food, shopping and nightlife are economic drivers for our neighborhood, but residents should not be held hostage to bad actors. Successful public spaces require ongoing management and community engagement.

LOCAL ECONOMY

What is your plan to protect Chinatown’s ecosystem of affordable housing, small businesses, and family-run property owners? Which of the following do you  support or oppose and why? 

Commercial Rent Stabilization: I support exploring commercial rent stabilization and other commercial tenant protections, particularly in neighborhoods like Chinatown where rising rents threaten longstanding small businesses and cultural institutions. We want to preserve Chinatown’s traditions while ensuring room for future growth. However, any proposal must account for family-owned buildings that rely on commercial income to maintain affordable residential units. My priority is a balanced approach that protects local businesses from displacement while recognizing the realities faced by small property owners.

Rent Vouchers for Legacy Businesses: I support targeted rent assistance and voucher programs for legacy businesses that contribute to Chinatown's cultural identity, economy, and community life. Many operate on thin margins yet provide services, jobs, and neighborhood character that cannot easily be replaced once lost. I would explore a joint state-city fund to help defray commercial rents for legacy businesses and support a community-based commission to help inform voucher allocation. These programs can help stabilize important institutions while broader efforts address rising commercial rents.

Other: (please add any other policy tools you are passionate about using to support Chinatown’s local economy)

N/A

BOROUGH-BASED JAIL PLAN
What are your views on the Borough Based Jail Project (BBJ) and the community-led proposal for affordable housing in its place? What specific actions have you taken to support your views and/or mitigate the impact of BBJ on the Chinatown community?

I support the goal of closing Rikers Island and creating a more humane justice system. However, after listening to Chinatown residents and attending a community meeting recently on the Borough Based Jail Project, including presentations on the Environmental Impact Statement, I have serious concerns about the current location. Residents have raised valid issues regarding air quality, construction impacts, truck traffic, environmental burdens, and the close proximity of the proposed facility to homes, schools, and small businesses.

I am also sympathetic to the community-led proposal to use the site for affordable housing, especially given the ongoing affordability crisis facing our area. I believe we should seriously explore alternative locations, including existing correctional facilities, while prioritizing housing and community needs.

As an elected official representing Chinatown, how would you navigate the tension between engaging City and State agencies on the design and construction of the jail, and reflecting the community’s strong opposition to this project?

As an elected official, my responsibility would be to ensure that the people most impacted have a seat at the table. I would create a task force made up of resident leaders, nearby businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders so that I can receive firsthand feedback on the impacts of the project and ensure that community concerns are driving the conversation.

I believe all actions related to the project should be transparent and aligned with the recommendations of that task force. I would also work to strengthen communication and engagement between the community, the City, and the State so residents are not hearing about decisions after they have already been made. Whether someone supports or opposes the project, the people who live and work in Chinatown deserve a meaningful role in shaping decisions that will affect their neighborhood for generations.

CHINATOWN CONNECTIONS

The Chinatown Connections project combines $11.5 million in DRI awards with $44.5 million in City capital to revamp Chatham/KimLau Square. What are your views on how the Chinatown Connections process has unfolded? Have you personally engaged in the Chinatown Connections process or addressed community concerns around it?

To be honest, this is the first time I am hearing about the Chinatown Connections project in detail, so I would not want to pretend that I have been actively involved in a process that I have not participated in.

That said, my approach to projects of this scale is always the same: the people who live, work, and own businesses in the neighborhood should be at the center of the decision-making process. Before forming a final opinion, I would want to meet with residents, merchants, community organizations, and project leaders to understand both the benefits being proposed and the concerns being raised.

If elected, I would work to ensure that investments in Chinatown are guided by meaningful community engagement, language access, transparency, and accountability. Major projects should not happen to communities they should happen with communities.

The ongoing closure of Park Row and coordinating traffic with our NYPD neighbors is a contentious issue that has not been addressed in the Chinatown Connections project. What are your views regarding traffic on Park Row and how it should be resolved?

For more than 20 years, Chinatown has shouldered the impacts of the Park Row closure. I think it's fair for residents and businesses to ask whether the current restrictions are still necessary and whether there are alternatives that can maintain security while reducing congestion and improving quality of life. Before making a final determination, I would want to bring together residents, businesses, transportation experts, and the NYPD to evaluate the data and develop solutions that put the community at the center of the conversation.

70 MULBERRY AND DESIGNATED CULTURAL SPACES

The reconstruction of 70 Mulberry, a public building designated for Chinatown’s nonprofits and cultural organizations, is extremely behind schedule. How will you help ensure progress moves forward on the project?

The fire at 70 Mulberry displaced many of Chinatown's cultural, nonprofit, and community organizations, and it is understandable that residents and stakeholders are frustrated by the slow pace of reconstruction. These organizations provide critical services and help preserve the history, culture, and identity of Chinatown.

As a State Assembly Member, I want to be honest that 70 Mulberry is a City-owned building, and I would not have direct authority over the reconstruction process. However, that does not mean I would sit on the sidelines. I would use my office to convene the impacted organizations, City agencies, and elected officials to ensure there is transparency, accountability, and regular communication with the community. I would push for clear timelines, public updates, and work to identify any state resources that could help move the project forward.

My role would be to make sure the community is not left in the dark and that the organizations that have waited years to return home have a strong advocate fighting alongside them

During the 70 Mulberry design process and many other public outreach efforts, the community has repeatedly identified the need for more cultural gathering spaces such as performing arts theaters, cultural centers, and affordable spaces for local nonprofits. Have you personally taken any steps towards addressing this ongoing and growing need? And how will you help ensure DCAS addresses community needs in the design process? ‍

While I have not been directly involved in the 70 Mulberry process, I understand the importance of preserving and creating community spaces that serve as cultural, educational, and organizing hubs. In the Lower East Side, we have faced a similar struggle with CHARAS/El Bohío, a building that for decades served as a vital cultural and community center. I have supported efforts to return that space to community use because I believe neighborhoods need places where residents can gather, organize, celebrate culture, and access services.

As a State Assembly Member, I would advocate for a design process that is truly driven by the organizations and residents who will use the space. While DCAS ultimately oversees the project, I would work to ensure community stakeholders have a meaningful voice throughout the process and that the final design reflects the needs that residents have consistently identified, including cultural programming space, nonprofit offices, and gathering spaces. Communities should not have to fight for every square foot of public space that serves the public good.

PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS & USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN CHINATOWN

$50+ million in “community funds” were designated to MOCA, Columbus Park, and 70 Mulberry as part of the the Borough-Based Jail plan. The Chinatown Partnership LDC receives approximately $1.8 Million annually in property assessments and oversees nearly $1.7M in projects out of the $20M NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds. How would you work with these organizations to ensure the Chinatown community is informed and in agreement with how these public funds are spent?

I would not want to pretend that I know all the details of these funding allocations or the decisions that have been made regarding them. What I do know is that whenever public dollars are being invested in a community, the people who live and work there deserve transparency, accountability, and a meaningful voice in how those funds are spent.

As an Assembly Member, I would work with organizations such as MOCA, the Chinatown Partnership LDC, and other stakeholders to encourage regular public updates, multilingual community meetings, and opportunities for residents, small businesses, and community organizations to provide input before major decisions are made. I believe community engagement should be ongoing, not a one-time meeting after decisions have already been made.

My role would not be to dictate how independent organizations spend their funds, but to ensure there is a transparent process, clear communication, and meaningful opportunities for community members to shape investments that will impact Chinatown for years to come.

The Chinatown community uses public spaces intensively, despite lack of infrastructure such as well-maintained lighting, public restrooms, and electrical hookups to support community events. Community-led efforts have activated public spaces, like the day & night markets at Forsyth Plaza and lighting projects in SDR Park. Have you worked towards improvements to parks and plaza spaces in Chinatown?

I have not personally worked on improvements to parks and plaza spaces in Chinatown. I believe it is important to be upfront about where I have direct experience and where I am still learning.

That said, I recently had a conversation with FABnyc about their efforts to bring more programming and community activities to Sara D. Roosevelt Park. I appreciated hearing their perspective because it reinforced how important activated public spaces are to a neighborhood's health and vibrancy.

More broadly, I support investments in public spaces that make them safer, more accessible, and more useful to the community, including improved lighting, public restrooms, electrical infrastructure for community events, and ongoing maintenance. As an Assembly Member, I would work with community organizations and residents to identify needs and advocate for resources that help public spaces better serve the people who use them every day.

How would your office specifically support community efforts to improve infrastructure in public spaces and support community uses such as cultural events and street vending?

Supporting community events is not something I hope to learn as an elected official it is something I have been doing for years. Through organizing the Lower East Side Puerto Rican Parade and Festival, community food distributions, cultural celebrations, and neighborhood events, I have firsthand experience navigating permits, coordinating with City agencies, securing resources, and overcoming the logistical challenges that community groups face when activating public spaces.

As an Assembly Member, my office would serve as a partner to community organizations, cultural groups, and small vendors by helping connect them to funding opportunities, navigate government processes, and advocate for infrastructure improvements such as lighting, electrical hookups, public restrooms, seating, and maintenance. I would also work to ensure that public spaces are accessible to cultural events, community gatherings, and street vendors that help preserve the unique character and identity of Chinatown and the Lower East Side.

Strong public spaces do not happen by accident. They require investment, collaboration, and a government that views community organizations as partners rather than obstacles. That is the approach I would bring to this work.

The Open Streets program on Canal street has been a source of friction in the community between restauranteurs/hospitality groups and residents/other businesses. What guardrails on the Open Street program would your office work toward to ensure a lively economy, equitable use of public space, and harmony in the neighborhood?

I believe public spaces should serve the entire community, not just one group of stakeholders. Open Streets can be a valuable tool for supporting small businesses, cultural programming, and economic activity, but it must also be responsive to the concerns of residents and other businesses that are impacted by it.

I would support creating a community advisory group made up of residents, merchants, restaurants, vendors, and community organizations to regularly evaluate the program and make recommendations. Guardrails should include clear communication, language-accessible outreach, sanitation standards, reasonable operating hours, and opportunities for community feedback. My goal would be to ensure that Open Streets remains an asset to the neighborhood while balancing quality-of-life concerns and creating equitable access to public space.

As someone who has organized community events myself, I know that successful public spaces require collaboration, transparency, and ongoing communication. The people most impacted by these programs should have a meaningful role in shaping them.

LOCAL ECONOMY

What is your plan to protect Chinatown’s ecosystem of affordable housing, small businesses, and family-run property owners? Which of the following do you  support or oppose and why? 

Commercial Rent Stabilization: As someone who works in Chinatown, I see firsthand the challenges facing the neighborhood's small businesses, family-run property owners, and longtime residents. I have watched storefronts sit vacant, businesses close, and commercial corridors struggle to recover. One example that stands out is the market area beneath the Manhattan Bridge, where many businesses have shuttered over the years. At the same time, rising costs, changing development patterns, and congestion pricing have raised concerns among merchants who rely on customers from other boroughs and neighboring communities to support their businesses.

Protecting Chinatown's ecosystem requires recognizing that affordable housing, small businesses, and family-owned properties are interconnected. When residents are displaced, businesses lose customers. When small businesses close, the neighborhood loses its cultural identity, economic vitality, and the character that makes Chinatown unique.

I support exploring commercial rent stabilization measures, particularly for small and legacy businesses that have served Chinatown for generations. Small businesses should not be forced out solely because of dramatic rent increases that make it impossible to remain in the neighborhood.

Rent Vouchers for Legacy Businesses: I support programs that provide financial assistance to legacy businesses that contribute to the cultural and economic fabric of Chinatown. These businesses are community institutions, and targeted assistance can help them remain in place during periods of rising costs and economic uncertainty.

Other: (please add any other policy tools you are passionate about using to support Chinatown’s local economy).

I support investments in technical assistance, language-accessible business services, low-interest loans and grants for immigrant-owned businesses, and stronger protections for legacy businesses. Organizations such as Welcome to Chinatown, Think!Chinatown, CPC, and the Chinatown BID have done important work connecting businesses to resources, grants, and technical assistance, but it is clear that more support is needed. I also believe we should closely evaluate the economic impacts of congestion pricing on Chinatown merchants and residents. If data shows that small businesses are being disproportionately harmed, we should explore mitigation measures, exemptions, or targeted assistance while continuing to pursue cleaner air and environmental goals.

I also support affordable housing policies, including TOPA and the Social Housing Development Authority Act, because preserving the people who live in Chinatown is essential to preserving the businesses that serve them. Chinatown's strength comes from its residents, small businesses, cultural institutions, and family-run establishments. Any economic development strategy must focus on helping those communities remain, grow, and thrive for generations to come.

BOROUGH-BASED JAIL PLAN
What are your views on the Borough Based Jail Project (BBJ) and the community-led proposal for affordable housing in its place? What specific actions have you taken to support your views and/or mitigate the impact of BBJ on the Chinatown community?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

As an elected official representing Chinatown, how would you navigate the tension between engaging City and State agencies on the design and construction of the jail, and reflecting the community’s strong opposition to this project?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

CHINATOWN CONNECTIONS

The Chinatown Connections project combines $11.5 million in DRI awards with $44.5 million in City capital to revamp Chatham/KimLau Square. What are your views on how the Chinatown Connections process has unfolded? Have you personally engaged in the Chinatown Connections process or addressed community concerns around it?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

The ongoing closure of Park Row and coordinating traffic with our NYPD neighbors is a contentious issue that has not been addressed in the Chinatown Connections project. What are your views regarding traffic on Park Row and how it should be resolved?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

70 MULBERRY AND DESIGNATED CULTURAL SPACES

The reconstruction of 70 Mulberry, a public building designated for Chinatown’s nonprofits and cultural organizations, is extremely behind schedule. How will you help ensure progress moves forward on the project?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

During the 70 Mulberry design process and many other public outreach efforts, the community has repeatedly identified the need for more cultural gathering spaces such as performing arts theaters, cultural centers, and affordable spaces for local nonprofits. Have you personally taken any steps towards addressing this ongoing and growing need? And how will you help ensure DCAS addresses community needs in the design process? ‍

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS & USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN CHINATOWN

$50+ million in “community funds” were designated to MOCA, Columbus Park, and 70 Mulberry as part of the the Borough-Based Jail plan. The Chinatown Partnership LDC has also been designated $20 Million in NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funds and receives approximately $1.8 Million annually in property assessments. How would you work with these organizations to ensure the Chinatown community is informed and in agreement with how these public funds are spent?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

The Chinatown community uses public spaces intensively, despite lack of infrastructure such as well-maintained lighting, public restrooms, and electrical hookups to support community events. Community-led efforts have activated public spaces, like the day & night markets at Forsyth Plaza and lighting projects in SDR Park. Have you worked towards improvements to parks and plaza spaces in Chinatown?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

How would your office specifically support community efforts to improve infrastructure in public spaces and support community uses such as cultural events and street vending?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

The Open Streets program on Canal street has been a source of friction in the community between restauranteurs/hospitality groups and residents/other businesses. What guardrails on the Open Street program would your office work toward to ensure a lively economy, equitable use of public space, and harmony in the neighborhood?

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

LOCAL ECONOMY

What is your plan to protect Chinatown’s ecosystem of affordable housing, small businesses, and family-run property owners? Which of the following do you  support or oppose and why? 

Commercial Rent Stabilization: Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

Rent Vouchers for Legacy Businesses: Candidate did not respond to requests for response.

Other: (please add any other policy tools you are passionate about using to support Chinatown’s local economy)

Candidate did not respond to requests for response.