On Sunday, May 4th, despite the wind and rain, thousands of Chinese individuals gathered at the designated location of 2134 Coyle Street on U Avenue in Sheephead Bay, Brooklyn, for the “Community Awakening Grand Parade.” The march proceeded from the site towards Coney Island Avenue, with a surge of people along the way, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Since learning in March this year that the city government planned to change the originally planned affordable housing project at 2134 Coyle Street to a homeless shelter, local residents have been protesting continuously for over a month. Protesters pointed out that what was once a safe community is now facing the influx of large homeless shelters one after another, with no consultation with the residents by the city government, causing anger among the locals. Residents voiced concerns about the safety of their children, noting that schools, streets, and community institutions will all be severely impacted, making it impossible for the community to bear such a massive change.
During her speech, Chen Lina, president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, thanked Dimple Willabus, a candidate for City Council in the 46th district, for lending a helping hand at a critical moment. She recalled how Willabus, despite being in the hospital at the time, immediately drafted a petition for them after saying, “Give me an hour.”
New York State Assembly Member Jaime Williams from the 59th district neighboring the planned homeless shelter also showed support at the event. She emphasized that if this can happen here, it could happen in any community. Williams noted the unfairness of the city government setting up shelters in their community without consulting the taxpayers.
Curtis Sliwa, a Republican candidate for mayor, highlighted the ongoing crisis of another homeless shelter in the community and questioned why homeless shelters are not being built in affluent neighborhoods like Park Avenue in Manhattan. He criticized the absence of Mayor Adams and other mayoral candidates at the scene, urging people to continue the resistance against the city government’s actions.
Sliwa strongly criticized the city government’s “bait-and-switch” strategy, where promised affordable housing is quietly replaced with homeless shelters, completely disregarding the community’s expectations and trust. He called on people to persevere in their struggle, stating, “Your fight is our fight, and I will stand with you!”
State Senator Chen Xueli from the 17th district also criticized the city government for pushing policies in safe communities. He questioned why they are determined to destroy the last few good communities, asking where they could go when even those areas are ruined by shelters.
Chen highlighted that the protesters in Sheephead Bay did not engage in violence, looting, or attacking the police, yet the city government chose to suppress peaceful demonstrators. He questioned why the mayor is targeting protesters instead of addressing the community’s concerns.
Chen called for fundamental reform in New York City’s homeless policies, emphasizing the need to provide real assistance to the homeless instead of just allowing them a place to sleep temporarily without actual support.
The protesters also announced that the Brooklyn Supreme Court will hold a hearing on May 7 regarding the lawsuit filed by developers against two Chinese homeowners in the neighborhood. Community members will attend the hearing and gather in front of City Hall at 1:30 pm on the same day to continue expressing their opposition to the shelter plan to the government and the public.
This protest has not only united the community but also raised awareness among voters, promoting voter registration and showcasing the collective mobilization and political power of the Chinese community in South Brooklyn.