Asian-American Heritage: Councilwoman Provides Strong Voice In Chinatown
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As the station continues its coverage of Asian-American Heritage, NY1 heads to Chinatown where a local politician is making the most of the seat it took her two decades to win. NY1's Rebecca Spitz filed the following report.Back in January, Margaret Chin had reason to celebrate as she became the first person of Chinese descent to represent Chinatown in the City Council.
"I think it's very significant especially for my community, for the Chinese community that's been here for more than 100 years that finally there's a voice, a strong voice, for them in city government," says Chin.
With a strong background in community organizing and education, Chin vied for the seat without success in 1991, 1993 and 2001, finally beating incumbent Alan Gerson in 2009.
Chin says she got the bug to represent the neighborhood where she grew up back in 1990 after the city charter was revised and the number of Council members was increased to 51 from 35.
"We organized the community to fight for a City Council district that would have Chinatown together as a whole," recalls Chin.
Chin describes her first five months in office as hectic but fulfilling as she learned the city's budget process and tried to save programs that are important to her district, which includes most of Lower Manhattan.
Even though she speaks three Chinese dialects and says she communicates very well with her constituents in Chinatown, Chin says her job is about serving all of District 1.
"Whether you are in TriBeCa or SoHo or Chinatown or the Village, we all want better schools for our kids, we're all affected by the traffic congestion on Canal Street, and we all want to support and preserve more affordable housing and the historic character of our neighborhoods," says Chin.
Given that the Asian population in her district is 42 percent and growing rapidly, Chin says part of her job is to encourage voters and potential voters get involved.
"We've seen a lot more of them coming down to City Hall for different hearings, to fight against cuts to adult literacy, to senior programs, to after school programs," says Chin.
Chin says she's not necessarily a role model but that there is a message she wants to impart to her constituents.
"Just to show especially young people that you have to participate, you have to volunteer, you have to get involved, you just can't be a bystander," says Chin.