On February 2nd, 2025, Eric Yu, a candidate for the City Council in the 1st District of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, visited the Yufeng Hall in New York for the first time. He elaborated on his political platform, listened to the opinions of the locals, and engaged in lively discussions while addressing their questions.
During the visit, Chairman Yugen Yuan warmly welcomed Eric Yu to Yufeng Hall and introduced his background to the attendees. Yu mentioned that his grandfather founded the Wo Hop restaurant, he grew up in Chinatown, and later joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Urban Affairs. He has been serving in the MTA and has also been a member of Community Board 1 in Manhattan, as well as the Vice Chairman of the South Bridge Building, responsible for financial management.
Eric Yu emphasized his commitment to improving public safety, revitalizing the economy, and strengthening the city’s infrastructure to promote the development of communities in the Lower East Side, including Chinatown. He criticized the closure of Park Row as disrespectful to the city and emphasized the need for people to visit Chinatown and support small businesses.
He also opposed the concept of congestion pricing, seeing it as a tax burden on businesses and residents. Locals expressed that this policy has further harmed the already struggling businesses in Chinatown and inquired about how it could be abolished. Eric Yu stated that congestion pricing falls under state-level policy, and if elected, he would work with other City Council members and persuade the mayor to advocate at the state level for changes to this policy.
He also advocated for strengthening police enforcement to ensure community safety and for timely maintenance of public utilities to support economic prosperity.
Many elderly residents expressed concerns about public transportation issues, including delays in MTA elevator repairs resulting in inconvenience for those with mobility issues and significant delays in weekend bus schedules. Eric Yu, who has long worked at the MTA, highlighted that this is one of the reasons he opposes congestion pricing. The maintenance of subway facilities primarily occurs at night or on weekends, affecting schedules. He acknowledged the practical nature of the issues raised by the locals and pledged to provide feedback to relevant departments to seek improvement solutions.
The event was attended by elders from Yufeng Hall in New York, including Yujingxin, Yuhongji, Yuyingchang, and Yuyingchang. The translation was provided by Fiona Wang.