Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
Mayor de Blasio and City leaders on Thursday dined at JMart on Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Mayor Bill de Blasio and fellow elected officials on Thursday sought to encourage New Yorkers to visit Asian-American owned small businesses in Queens that have been impacted by the fallout from fears of the novel coronavirus.
The Flushing Chinese Business Association estimates that business is down approximately 40 percent in the neighborhood, despite there being no known cases in the five boroughs.
De Blasio, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the FCBA and community leaders dined together Thursday at JMart on Roosevelt Avenue to declare Flushing open for business.
“My message to people: come to Flushing! It is a dynamic and thriving community and it’s open for business,” U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) said. “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. Much of Flushing’s success is made possible by our small businesses, and as the daughter of local small business owners, I know firsthand the critical role that small businesses play in driving our economy, and enhancing our neighborhoods. Naturally, there is much concern about coronavirus. But we must not abandon our small businesses based on unfounded fears. As I have said, people must not panic about coronavirus. People should be vigilant and prudent but they should go about their regular routines, and that includes continuing to support the many wonderful small businesses that call Flushing home. I cannot wait to get back to Flushing when I return from Washington.”
De Blasio also met with business owners to hear about how fear of the coronavirus has impacted them.
“In hard times, New Yorkers know to stand by their neighbors,” Hizzoner 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!”
Queens Chamber President Tom Grech said he was proud to stand with City leaders to promote the safety of visiting Flushing’s commerce center, which has been greatly affected by “unsubstantiated fear around the coronavirus.”
“We encourage New Yorkers from all five boroughs to visit the neighborhood,” Grech continued, “and discover the amazing small businesses that make Flushing such a vibrant community.”
Wayne Ho, president & CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council added, “New Yorkers must recognize that the coronavirus is a public health issue, not a racial, ethnic, or immigrant issue. 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.”
