Flushing Chinese Business Association Executive Director Peter Tu (second from left) dines with Mayor Bill de Blasio at the Royal Queen in Flushing.
Photo: Carlotta Mohamed/QNS
Mayor dines in Flushing to encourage New Yorkers
to visit the neighborhood amid coronavirus scare
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | FEB. 21-27, 2020 3
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Flushing is open for
business.
With zero confirmed cases
of coronavirus – or COVID19,
as it is now known as – in
New York City, Mayor Bill
de Blasio dined with community
leaders on Thursday in
Flushing to encourage New
Yorkers to visit Asian-American
owned small businesses
in their neighborhood.
“In hard times, New Yorkers
know to stand by their
neighbors,” de Blasio said.
“We’re in Flushing today to
embrace Asian-American
owned small businesses and
say to all New Yorkers: New
York City’s Chinatowns are
open for business!”
It was a celebration for
guests that included New York
City Council Speaker Corey
Johnson, Tom Grech, president
and CEO of the Queens
Chamber of Commerce, administration
officials and the
Flushing Chinese Business
Association, who met at the
Royal Queen restaurant inside
the New World Mall, located
at 136-20 Roosevelt Ave.
“Unsubstantiated fear
around the Coronavirus has
hurt commerce in the neighborhood,
so we’re asking that
everyone show their love on
Valentine’s Day and dine out
at one of Flushing’s great restaurants
tomorrow,” Grech
said.
Following the coronavirus
outbreak, many businesses
and restaurants in Chinatown,
Flushing and Sunset
Park suffered. Despite there
being no known cases in the
city, restaurants and shops
in Flushing experienced a 40
percent decline in business,
according to Peter Tu, of the
Flushing Chinese Business
Association.
For Connie Zhang, president
and CEO of Royal Queen,
business had dropped tremendously
— around 70 to 80
percent, she said.
“I received the first cancellation
on Chinese New Year’s
Eve, which is supposed to be
the busiest night because that
is the tradition where everyone
comes out having their
family dinner,” Zhang said.
“It was the slowest Chinese
New Year’s Day in five years,
and we received more than
1,000 tables of cancellation in
February.”
Zhang said she hopes customers
return to the Royal
Queen and other businesses
in Flushing.
Meanwhile, Health Commissioner
Dr. Oxiris Barbot
said the risk for COVID19 in
New York City remains low,
but preparedness as a city remains
high.
“While it is understandable
for some New Yorkers to
be concerned about the novel
coronavirus situation, we
cannot stand for racist and
stigmatizing rhetoric, or for
myths and half-truths about
the virus. The best precaution
you can take is to practice
what you would during
any flu season: Wash your
hands, cover your mouth
and nose when you cough or
sneeze, and please stay home
if you’re feeling unwell. The
Health Department is committed
to separating the facts
from fear, and we encourage
all New Yorkers to do the
same.”
Wayne Ho, president and
CEO of the Chinese American
Planning Council (CPC), said
they’re grateful that the city
is standing up for the Chinese
American community.
“New Yorkers must recognize
that the coronavirus
is a public health issue,
not a racial, ethnic, or
immigrant issue,” Ho said.
“Since the news of coronavirus
has escalated, Chinese
Americans have been
hit hard by the dangerous
‘perpetual foreigner’ myth
that already hurts our community.
We have heard stories
of Chinese restaurants
having dinners canceled,
Chinese stores being empty,
Asian American community
members having strangers
isolate them in public
spaces, and families fearful
of bringing children to
daycare in Asian American
neighborhoods. We have a
responsibility to make sure
that we are reducing any
bias that our community
members experience.”
Dr. Henry Chen, president
of SOMOS, said although
risks of infection in New York
remains low, he is gravely
concerned by the increased
xenophobia against the Asian
American population, specifically
the Chinese community.
“When people play off stereotypes,
it distracts from
the real risks and can lead
to misperception and misinformation
about the source
of the virus. We are grateful
to stand with the mayor, city
elected officials and community
leaders to ensure we
eliminate any stigma with
the virus, continue public
outreach efforts, and educate
the public of the real risks,”
Chen said.
Local elected officials,
such as Congresswoman
Grace Meng and City Councilman
Peter Koo, are asking
all New Yorkers to show their
love for Flushing and dine out
on Valentine’s Day.
“The area has so much to
offer from fantastic restaurants
and shops to exceptional
markets and entertainment.
Tourists and many from outside
the area often come to
Flushing to experience this
outstanding food, culture and
fun, and we want that to continue,”
Meng said.
Koo added, “New York has
zero cases of COVID19, and
as long as we all continue to
use proper precautions recommended
by healthcare
professionals, there is no reason
to fear the delicious food
in Flushing. Just remember
some of it may be a little
spicy!”
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
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