New York, N.Y. -- Rocky Chin, City Council Candidate in District 1, today joined the Asian American Federation of New York in a reception at the City Hall Restaurant to celebrate “a new era of Asian American political participation.”
“I am very proud to be among this field of 13 Asian Pacific American candidates running for City Council in 2001,” Rocky said. District 1, the City Council seat Rocky is running for, includes Chinatown and City Hall.
“I congratulate the Asian American Federation for organizing this event and for its efforts to educate the community and candidates on public policy issues. Just by holding this event, we have made history! And in September of 2001, we will indeed make history when we elect Asian Pacific Americans to the new New York City Council!
“I am proud to have played an important role in building the Asian American movement – a movement to empower our communities, a movement to give a human face to Americans of Asian Pacific heritage, a movement which continues to demand that Asian Pacific Americans, like every other American, have a right to be treated with dignity, equality and respect whether we came here yesterday, or whether we have been here for several generations.
“For over 20 years I have worked side by side with many community leaders in this room to secure services for our respective communities, to fight hate crimes, stereotyping and scape-goating and to ensure that our voices, while varied in tongue, will be heard loud and clear. Running for City Council in District One is a logical continuation of this struggle.
“Asian Pacific Americans constitute about 10 percent of the New York City population, making it one of the fastest growing groups in the country. Asian Pacific Americans unfortunately are also seriously underrepresented at the highest levels of city government and in the City Council. This year provides an historic opportunity for Asian Pacific Americans across the country and especially here in New York City. Our numbers have increased throughout the city and state and it is time that a representative from the community is elected to public office.”
