New York Chinatown: Fighting for Equity after Sept. 11th (2 of 2)

Demanding Notice
Relief agencies directed almost all their attention and resources toward the employees of the Towers and the abutting, wealthy residents in Tribeca and Battery Park (with the notable exception of undocumented workers who worked in maintenance and the restaurants).

Chinatown organizations had to organize a series of demonstrations outside the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get aid for Chinatown. Presently more resources are directed toward Chinatown, particularly health insurance for workers and loans for businesses. Access and information however remain difficult. A lot of the neighborhood businesses operate through the informal economy and therefore can not provide documents necessary to qualify for programs. According to Tarry Hum of Queens College, smaller and less connected community based organizations have had more difficulty getting access programs and have been affected adversely since September 11. Thus Chinatown’s infrastructure has been significantly damaged. It has been Chinatown’s militancy that has won it some relief. Even now, the New York Post has questioned why Chinatown receives aid in a series of articles.

Present and Future
Presently, the community still suffers. Many workers are still looking for work, and landlords have taken advantage of the situation to displace tenants and garment shops, building upon the trend to gentrify parts of Chinatownß. Finally, some businesses have shifted the burden of recovery unto its workers by even more flagrantly violating labor standards. The community groups must continue to press for equity in treatment for a minority community that the establishment routinely takes for granted.

There is a possibility for building a healthier, better Chinatown out of this crisis, but it will require a more cooperative and broad minded effort. AAFE, has started a Rebuild Chinatown Initiative and is planning a November conference. However a number of organizations have not been notified. In building a new Chinatown, community groups should fight for stronger rights for workers, a better healthier community, and housing and services that serve working class immigrants.