Queens council candidate outraises borough, with big boost from NY's Fuzhounese community
/
In just over two months, Yi Chen, who goes by Andy, (left) outraised all by three candidates running for council in New York City. Campaign photo
By David Brand
Just over two months after filing his campaign for city council, an Elmhurst entrepreneur with a low profile in local politics, has raised more money than all but two candidates in New York City.
Yi Chen, one of 10 Democrats running in Queens’ Council District 25, has raised $120,535 from 858 contributors since January 12, according to his first financial disclosure report. That’s $42,000 more than the second highest-earning candidate in the race to represent Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and East Elmhurst.
Citywide, only incumbent Councilmember Kalman Yeger and Manhattan candidate Erik Bottcher, the chief of staff to Speaker Corey Johnson, have taken in more money than Chen. Bronx Councilmember Mark Gjonaj has raised the most money this cycle, but decided not to run for reelection.
Chen and his supporters credit a deep network of immigrants from Fujian, China and first generation Chinese Americans who are eager to see their community represented in City Hall. They say the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes has only galvanized Chen’s backers.
“Because of the heightened attacks and discrimination, they are starting to really pay attention and get involved,” said Chen’s campaign manager, Kenneth Chiu. “A lot of people are fed up and ready to donate.”
Chen, who goes by Andy, said he has built strong ties in the community and uses WeChat to reach hundreds of friends, acquaintances and supporters. He has focused on public safety and senior services in his bid for council.
“Once I announced, everyone jumped in,” he said. “They said we’ve been waiting for this.”
His financial disclosure report raised some questions, however. About 70 percent of contributors are listed as “unemployed” or “homemaker” on the report Chen filed with the Campaign Finance Board earlier this month.
That includes several of his largest donors: 16 of the 20 people who gave Chen at least $800 are listed as “unemployed,” “homemaker” or “student” on the filing
Chiu said those contributors likely chose not to complete the entire donor form and were simply counted by the campaign as “unemployed.”
“I do not believe there are any shenanigans going on,” Chiu said. “I think a lot of people, when they fill out the donation form, they want to donate but they don’t want to fill out everything.”
Some, like a $1000-donor whose name and address match that of the head chef at a Long Island sushi restaurant, are not actually unemployed. The Eagle called the restaurant and confirmed that the chef, Hua Chen, works there, but he was not in Friday morning.
Other parts of the filing suggest the financial disclosure report simply contains oversights. For example, Chen has opted to participate in the city’s matching funds program, but his filing does not indicate that any contributions qualify for a match, even when the sum falls below the threshold and the donor has listed an address in the district.
The Eagle contacted the 20 people who gave Chen more than $800 and spoke with one contributor, the daughter of another, and the business partner of a third. Each said the outpouring of support for Chen demonstrated the power of the Fuzhounese community to mobilize.
“He's my age and I think it's really brave what he's doing. And he's the first one from that area, Fujian, China,” said Tom Yang, a Manhattan insurance agent. “We see a lot of Asian Americans stepping forward, and he’s the first one from our small community.”
Chen immigrated to the United States in 2002 when he was 13 and settled with his family in Elmhurst. He later founded a medical supply company before opening Home and Home Pharmacy in the neighborhood he grew up in. He has remained active in the community through the organization Asian American Community Empowerment, where he is executive director.
Jen Lin, the daughter of Chen contributor Su Lin, said her mother gave $1,000 to the campaign because she wanted to support a candidate from her native province. Su Lin now lives in Oceanside and is part of a “big group chat” that has spread the word about Chen’s candidacy, her daughter added.
“They are all from the same hometown in China,” she said. “They are a tight-knit community.”
