MISSION 

The Chinatown Working Group (CWG) is a community-based planning initiative on the future of Chinatown in New York City. Our goal is to support the community’s residents, workers, businesses and visitors. Chinatown Working Group members include Chinatown’s stakeholders – representatives of community groups, Community Boards #1, 2 & 3 and interested parties.

Our focus is on issues of shared concern throughout Chinatown including but not limited to affordability, preservation, revitalization and the social and economic well being of families, seniors and youths.

The Chinatown Working Group's objective is to articulate common goals for Chinatown’s future with consideration for its impact on adjacent New York City communities, and to formulate and work with New York City agencies to implement a precise, comprehensive, meaningful, timely and broadly supported community-based plan.

Some Highlights
 

Photographer: Molly Woodward	On July 11, 2011, the Full Chinatown Working Group voted for new Co-Chairs, one to represent the downtown Community Boards 1, 2, or 3, and the other to represent a community-based organization. Members elected Antony Wong (representing Community Board 2) and Mae Lee (representing Chinese Progressive Association as Co-Chairs. CWG would like to thank Gigi Li for her service during the past nine months as Acting Co-Chair. We look forward to her continued guidance as we start to complete work to create a 197-a Plan for Chinatown and its surrounding areas.
Photo courtesy of The LoDown	On April 4th, 2011 the CWG voted to adopt the following Governance Protocols: Leadership Structure Membership Picture at left courtesy of The Lo-Down
Photographer:  Zella Jones	On May 19, 2010 the Chinatown Working Group met at the request of Secretary Ray LaHood of the US Dept of Transportation as part of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).  Read here about the CWG initiatives presented.  Read here about the White House initiative. Pictured at left:  Ed Ma, Dan Chen, Jim Solomon, Thomas Yu (far right) with Secretary Ray LaHood, US Dept of Transportation, May 19, 2010
Photographer:  Vanita Solomon	The Second Town Hall Meeting on February 1st, 2010 was conducted in Cantonese, Mandarin, Fukienese, Spanish and English Charrettes and provided valuable feedback for the Chinatown Working Group's  Preliminary 197a Action Plan.   Feb. 1st  Town Hall Charrettes Notes

OBJECTIVES
                 
The Chinatown Working Group's plan is to create an inventory of existing conditions and identify realistic implementation of strategies that address, among many issues: truly affordable housing, multi-cultural and historic preservation, economic revitalization and sustainability, commercial stability, residential and business displacement, small/light manufacturing use, open space, public infrastructure, transportation, congestion, tenant rights, the environment including air quality, education, the arts, human rights, immigrant needs, social conflicts and crime, the well being of families, seniors and youths, and zoning.  Although zoning is a powerful planning tool that can be used to mitigate the potential negative impacts of development in a neighborhood, it is not the only strategy that should be applied in Chinatown.  A broader community-based planning strategy that goes beyond zoning may be pursued.

STRATEGY

The Chinatown Working Group's community-based plan for Chinatown will engage in a democratic, comprehensive and transparent process in building consensus among diverse groups.  CWG will conduct extensive public outreach to involve as many of Chinatown’s stakeholders as possible.  CWG meetings will be held regularly and open to everyone.  CWG hopes to have the full cooperation and support of the City for this community-based initiative including access to staff from various agencies, such as City Planning, HPD, Small Business Services, Department of Transportation and Economic Development Corporation.

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The Chinatown Working Group (CWG) is a democratic and transparent initiative.  Meetings are open to everyone. 

• The full Working Group regularly meets the first Monday of each month, 4-6pm @ American Legion Post 1291, 191-193 Canal St, 2nd Fl., New York, NY.  Check listings in the right column for updates.

• The Working Group Steering Committee regularly meets the second Wednesday of each month, 4-5:30p, @ Community Board #1,  49-51 Chambers St, Rm. 709,  New York, NY.  Check listings in the right column for updates.

Check for all meetings, as they are scheduled, in column to the right.

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