Center of Asian American Community Threatened

 
The focal point of the Chinese and Asian American community in Phoenix is under threat.
 
For the second weekend in a row, several hundred protested outside the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center against the recent sale and possible building renovation, reports the Az Central.
 
A sign outside the building marking the building as the Chinese Cultural Center was recently painted over, according to the Phoenix New Times.
 
The action presumably by the new building owners, True North Companies, added to fears that the Cultural Center will lose its space.
 
“They won’t return calls, but have time in the middle of the night to sneak out and cover up the cultural name on the front of the building,” said Thomas Simon, a consultant for the Chinese United Association of Greater Phoenix. “It just says volumes. It just says ‘shove it.’ That’s how [the community is] taking it.”
 
Frank Zhang of the Arizona Asian Alliance says every effort is being made to save the center.
 
“We are trying to negotiate with the owner so we can preserve this cultural center,” Gilbert said. “We are willing to purchase the center from the owner and give him a profit or work with him to preserve the buildings and promote the Chinese culture.”
 
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