The endorsements came during a community event and press conference at the East Market Restaurant on East Broadway where Henry took questions from a large bilingual audience.
At the event, Henry discussed the community's need for a senior center dedicated to the rapidly-growing Fujianese community and his plan to meet that need. Henry underlined his commitment to modify the East Village/Lower East Side rezoning in order to protect vulnerable residents and businesses in Chinatown located outside the rezoning. Henry also discussed his understanding of and commitment to fighting for improved education and English language learner programs in the district.
"The needs of the Chinatown community and its scores of new immigrants have been largely ignored by Speaker Silver," Henry said. "The area remains one of the poorest in all of New York City. Economic disadvantages combined with severe language barriers, overcrowding, and pollution are realities of daily life for residents of this important part of Lower Manhattan, and that is unacceptable. Unless addressed, the city's affordable housing crisis will only serve to increase the desperation," he added. Henry vowed to champion the interests of this vital, vibrant community.
The event was covered by Sinovision and local Chinese-language newspapers.
For more information, please contact Kate Tomassi at (646) 408-4452, press@lukehenry.org.
