By Shirley N Lew
AsAmNews Staff Writer
Last Monday, Margaret Chin was sworn in to serve her third and final term on the NYC Council’s District 1. She ran on the Democratic party and narrowly won the September primary by 222 votes, but won by more than 3,000 votes in the November election against newcomer Christopher Marte of the Independence Party.
During the election, many voted for the Chinese American councilwoman due to her long support of the Chinese community and the elderly. However, some who were looking for a change gave their votes to Marte and other opponents because they felt Chin could have done more to protect the Lower East Side waterfront, where a 77 story luxury condominium is currently in construction amongst low income housing.
The ceremony kicked off with a lion dance, followed by Chin thanking her many supporters, including Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Public Advocate for the City of New York Letitia James.
After the ceremony, I asked Chin what’s on top of her agenda and if all of Park Row will be opening to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Part of the Manhattan street has been closed since the September 11 attacks, crippling many businesses in Chinatown. Hear what she had to say.
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