I was walking in Chinatown the other day, and a group of people yelling and waving banners drew my attention. As I listened closely to what the protesters were saying, I realized they were all screaming for adequate and affordable housing. The issue of gentrification has come up before, especially when you're a participant of Chinatown Youth Initiatives, which focuses on issues and events affecting and relating to Chinatown, but to see so many voicing their concerns for their lives and their community was sort of a shock to me.
Chinatown has always had a history of suffering and poverty, but it has always been an upward journey, however slow and unbearable. Now, as the city plans to redevelop the Lower East Side and launch a Business Improvement District (BID), tenants and families are forced back into one-room apartments and poor living conditions. Many in Chinatown already live below the poverty line, and as the BIDs require a three to five percent tax hike on private property and small businesses, the quality of life will only continue to deteriorate.
Recently, I had a discussion with a friend about the man-made waterfalls that now line the Lower East Side, and I was a bit disappointed to hear, "It's art. We just don't know how to appreciate them," as a response to my claims that they were a waste of $15.5 million. But while these waterfalls are a part of a plan for upscale high-rise development to attract more tourists, the property tax it entails would push small business owners out of Chinatown. I believe that such art, which does not benefit the community as a whole, does not deserve such appreciation.
Claims that the BID and redevelopment will only benefit Chinatown have been met with fierce opposition from the people whose lives revolve around the community. Chinatown is the hub of Chinese heritage and culture in New York City, and to redevelop and invade it is to erase our past and replace it with skyscrapers.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Chinatown + Tourism = ?
On May 10, 2004. NYC kicked off their new Tourism campaign with "Explore Chinatown!"
There are arguments both for and against Tourism industry in Chinatown. According to Asian Americans by PyongGap Min, the survival of chinatowns depend on tourism. But some of you may have mixed feelings about this like I do.
Chinatown has often been described as a self-sufficient neighborhood. An acquaintance of mine once told me that "you could live in Chinatown and never need to speak english." So why does Chinatown need tourists? Well, it bolsters the chinatown economy that had been heavily disrupted by the 9/11 tragedy. The Tourism campaign helped bring business to the restaurants and bakeries in Chinatown. Furthermore, it brings awareness of Chinatown as an important place in New York City. Although fireworks or anything of the sort are usually banned in NYC, we have experienced pyrotechnicians perform the firecracker ceremony at Chatham square for Chinese New Year.
However, tourism has many, much more negative, side-effects. In order to keep the tourism industry prosperous in Chinatown, the Chinese like to show the Chinatown community to be composed of law-abiding citizens who are fairly well off. This creates a mask over Chinatown as a happy society and hides all the turmoil and under-the-table dealings within (For example, low wage, long hour garment factory jobs and the fact that well-off small business owners live in confucius plaza, which was supposed to be affordable new housing for the poor).
Tourism is also a big player in the gentrification of Chinatown. Affluent people would build commerical establishments like Starbucks to takea dvantage of the influx of toursists. "Because rentals [of low-income housing] were very low and people were moving in, there was a great demand for these industries, and thus, the businesses that were already there could no longer compete because although the rentals were low, they still could not afford it. "(socyberty.com)
I believe the tourism industry has a negative impact on Chinatown. Despite increased city attention, the value of the culture that many Chinese Americans fight so hard to preserve is quickly decreasing. Chinatown may soon turn into another couple manhattan blocks with banks in the middle of the streets and Starbucks on the corners.
- James
There are arguments both for and against Tourism industry in Chinatown. According to Asian Americans by PyongGap Min, the survival of chinatowns depend on tourism. But some of you may have mixed feelings about this like I do.
Chinatown has often been described as a self-sufficient neighborhood. An acquaintance of mine once told me that "you could live in Chinatown and never need to speak english." So why does Chinatown need tourists? Well, it bolsters the chinatown economy that had been heavily disrupted by the 9/11 tragedy. The Tourism campaign helped bring business to the restaurants and bakeries in Chinatown. Furthermore, it brings awareness of Chinatown as an important place in New York City. Although fireworks or anything of the sort are usually banned in NYC, we have experienced pyrotechnicians perform the firecracker ceremony at Chatham square for Chinese New Year.
However, tourism has many, much more negative, side-effects. In order to keep the tourism industry prosperous in Chinatown, the Chinese like to show the Chinatown community to be composed of law-abiding citizens who are fairly well off. This creates a mask over Chinatown as a happy society and hides all the turmoil and under-the-table dealings within (For example, low wage, long hour garment factory jobs and the fact that well-off small business owners live in confucius plaza, which was supposed to be affordable new housing for the poor).
Tourism is also a big player in the gentrification of Chinatown. Affluent people would build commerical establishments like Starbucks to takea dvantage of the influx of toursists. "Because rentals [of low-income housing] were very low and people were moving in, there was a great demand for these industries, and thus, the businesses that were already there could no longer compete because although the rentals were low, they still could not afford it. "(socyberty.com)
I believe the tourism industry has a negative impact on Chinatown. Despite increased city attention, the value of the culture that many Chinese Americans fight so hard to preserve is quickly decreasing. Chinatown may soon turn into another couple manhattan blocks with banks in the middle of the streets and Starbucks on the corners.
- James
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Chinatown Youth Initiatives (CYI)
Chinatown Youth Initiatives (CYI) is a youth leadership organization dedicated to providing a safe space for New York City youth, and empowering them to be agents of social change in New York's Chinatown and beyond. CYI embraces the philosophy that young people are not only tomorrow's leaders but also leaders of today, and as such, we must help develop their ideas, passions, and skills to strengthen their sense of self worth, as well as their families, communities, and ultimately, our global community.
Since its establishment in 1999, CYI has guided high school students through the exploration of personal identity, as well as issues affecting
Chinatown, Asian Americans, and other underrepresented communities, as a means for providing the foundation and skills necessary to articulate the unique needs and wants of their communities - whether in Chinatown, New York, or America. While our mission remains the empowerment of the youth, CYI continues to shift its focus to promoting activism and the application of leadership skills in the real world environment through community projects.
Since its establishment in 1999, CYI has guided high school students through the exploration of personal identity, as well as issues affecting
Chinatown, Asian Americans, and other underrepresented communities, as a means for providing the foundation and skills necessary to articulate the unique needs and wants of their communities - whether in Chinatown, New York, or America. While our mission remains the empowerment of the youth, CYI continues to shift its focus to promoting activism and the application of leadership skills in the real world environment through community projects.
Friday, August 01, 2008
AAYA! me please!
"It is as difficult to start things as it is to finish things." - or something like that. I don't even know who said that... So I'm sorry if it's copyrighted or something. Just know it's just not my saying.
It took me forever to think about what to write for AAYA!'s first entry and it's still hard to put what I want to say into words. If you got what I just said, you're a miracle reader-worker-person.
Asian American Youth Action!, aka AAYA!, is Chinatown Youth Initiatives' little blogger that's run by youth for youth. What was once a little newsletter is now an internet blog source where your input matters. Isn't that just awesome?
AAYA! discusses stereotypes, discrimination, personal experiences, sexuality, and anything that may be concerned with any of your problems. AAYA! encourages every youth to speak out because we're going to be the world's next hopefuls in our society's problems. Speak out because your opinions matter as much as our future presidents' speeches! No, seriously! It really is!
[AAYA! is for everyone and the staff would appreciate it if you don't leave irrelevant and extremely negative and hurtful comments. And in return, AAYA! won't respond back with irrelevant, negative and hurtful entries. Please and Thank you.]
It is as hard to finish something as it is to start something. It really is.
Thank you for reading AAYA!'s first post.
P.S. I'm Eva and I'll be your AAYA! writer for today! :D
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