16 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 20, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Mayor dines in Flushing to encourage New Yorkers
to visit the neighborhood amid coronavirus scare
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Flushing is open for business.
With zero confi rmed cases of coronavirus
– or COVID19, as it is now known as
– in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio
dined with community leaders on Feb. 13
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
suff ered. 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 fi rst 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 fi ve 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. Th e best precaution you can
take is to practice what you would during
any fl u season: Wash your hands, cover
your mouth and nose when you cough
or sneeze, and please stay home if you’re
feeling unwell. Th e 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, specifi cally
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 offi cials and community leaders to
ensure we eliminate any stigma with the
virus, continue public outreach eff orts,
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.
“Th e area has so much to off er from fantastic
restaurants and shops to exceptional
markets and entertainment. Tourists
and many from outside the area oft en
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!”
Photos: Carlotta Mohamed/QNS
Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech (r.) with Commissioner of the NYC
Department of Small Business Services Gregg Bishop.
Mayor Bill de Blasio attempts to eat with chopsticks.
City Councilman Peter Koo
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