Mayor, Speaker visit Flushing to quell coronavirus fear
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From left, Mayor Bill de Blasio; Asian American Federation Executive Director Joanne Yu, Carmelyn P. Malalis of the city’s Commision on Human Rights; Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop, Flushing Councilmember Peter Koo and Council Speaker Corey Johnson shared a meal of Chinese food. Photo via City Council/Flickr.
By Rachel Vick
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson visited Flushing Thursday to debunk myths about the coronavirus, promote local business and share a plate of dim sum with community leaders at the Royal Queen restaurant.
The leaders left City Hall to visit the New World Mall on Roosevelt Avenue, where residents packed the venue. The bustling shopping center features clothing stores and a downstairs supermarket where fish swim in tanks and lanterns line the aisles.
The visit was designed to quell fears — often rooted in rumor and racism — about the illness, which originated in China and has stopped wary New Yorkers from shopping or dining in Flushing and other Chinatowns.
“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!”
The Flushing Chinese Business Association estimates that there has been a 40 percent decrease in business since the outbreak began.
“I'm worried that this is the most serious problem we have, [more] than the coronavirus,” said Flushing Chinese Business Association Executive Director Peter Tu.
Tu said he reached out to Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Grech his concerns, which helped initiate the event. He said the presence of the local leaders, and the attendant press coverage, could make a big impact on local business.
The Royal Queen restaurant, where the meeting was held, had seen nearly 1,000 table cancellations in just the past month, Grech said.
Flushing Councilmember Peter Koo said the neighborhood is known for resilience and prosperity — but its success depends on supporting the community’s vital small businesses.
“Spend your money. If you hide it in the bank it doesn't help the economy but you can come here, spend your money,” Koo said. “You can spend a whole day here.”
Joanne Yu, executive director of the Asian American Federation, attended the lunch to show solidarity amid reports from the pan-Asian community of “an uptick in racism and discrimination” — despite no confirmed cases of the virus in New York City.
“The virus isn't an excuse for people to attack their Asian neighbors,” Yu said. “We are here to put an end to unfounded paranoia.”
The city’s deputy mayor for health and human services, Dr. Raul Perea-Henze and Sonia Lin, deputy commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs each spoke out against the fear.
So did Johnson, the Council speaker and a candidate for mayor. He encouraged New Yorkers to support the community and to rely on facts over fear. He also claimed his New Year’s resolution was to eat more dumplings.
“This is a remarkable community,” Johnson said. “We love Flushing, we love the busy streets — it’s one of my favorite communities in Queens. Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue is now the third busiest intersection in the entire city of New York and we want to keep it that way.”
