On February 22nd, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine and State Assembly Member Grace Lee co-hosted a Chinese New Year celebration at Jing Fong Restaurant in Chinatown. The event drew a crowd of political figures, legislators, and community members, with hundreds of guests coming together to exchange blessings and well wishes in the festive atmosphere.
Lee, as the chair of the State Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force, highlighted several achievements in her speech, including securing record-high budget support for Asian American community service organizations and the passing of the AANHPI Education Equity Act, which allows for a more comprehensive inclusion of Asian American history and stories in classrooms. She also successfully advocated for the Lunar New Year to be designated as a statewide school holiday. At the event, she received support for her candidacy for State Senator.
Levine commended Lee for her outstanding performance in the past three years, recognizing her efforts in advocating for various community issues. He expressed gratitude towards the non-profit organization “Welcome to Chinatown” and its founder Vic Lee, praising the organization for its vitality and significant impact in energizing Chinatown and the wider Asian American community. Levine also introduced several distinguished guests present at the event, including New York City Council Speaker Manning, Congressman Goodman, and Council Member Mattei, among others.
Council Speaker Manning extended New Year greetings to the community in her address, emphasizing the deep connection and shared values between the Jewish and Asian American communities. She pledged ongoing collaboration in advocating for public safety, gifted and talented education programs, and combating anti-Asian hate and anti-Semitism. Regarding city budget negotiations, Manning firmly opposed any increase in property taxes.
Congressman Goodman’s speech began with a touch of humor as he remarked on his friendly language competition with Levine during Chinatown events, highlighting the importance of cherishing the community connections they have built together.
Council Member Mattei specifically addressed the issue of bilingual street signs in his speech, thanking Speaker Manning and her team for supporting the first-ever hearing on related legislation. Mattei emphasized the significance of preserving bilingual street signs in Chinatown, following concerns raised when some signs were removed two years ago, stressing the importance for cultural visibility and community dignity.
State Senator Kavanagh praised Chinatown’s resilience and continuous progress, expressing pride in his involvement in advocating for essential resources for the grassroots community over the past few years. Community leader Yu Jingshan extended New Year greetings to the guests, lauding Grace Lee’s efforts in advocating for community rights and pledging her support for Lee’s State Senator candidacy, leading to a round of applause and an atmosphere filled with congratulations and anticipation.
Goodman, Levine, and Lee extended New Year blessings to the Chinese readers of Epoch Times at the event.