GreatExpectations2007 - Chinatown / Independence Library REPORT ON CITIZENS FORUM

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Date: Jan. 20, 2007

Location: Independence Library

Citizens attending: 50 participants, most from Center City

Inquirer observer: Tom Ferrick Jr., Inquirer columnist

Check out reports from the dialogues:

Group One: Led by moderators Jean di Sabatino and Alan Sharavsky.

Group Two: Harris Sakoloff, Kiki Bolender and translator Wen Jing Mai.

Group Three: Led by moderator Chris Satullo.

Participants in each group were first asked to describe one hope or one fear as the city enters its election year. Then each group did an exercise that asked participants to imagine they were giving a good friend’s family advice on whether to move to Philadelphia.

What would be the pros and cons of that move?
What forces and factors underlie those pros and cons?
What steps could the city and region take to strengthen those pros or weaken those cons?

For a full description of the exercise, see http://go.philly.com/friendsdilemma

Observer's Notes:

Tom Ferrick Jr.

Inquirer columnist

The language was Chinese, but the complaints were pure Philadelphian.

Not enough safety. Not enough police presence in the subways. Dirty streets. A public transit system that is extensive but gets a C- when it comes to service. As one woman put it: "Some bus drivers are very nice ... but some are rude. They act as if they are angry at the passengers."

The woman's words were translated into English by Wen Jing Mai, also known by her American nickname, Mandy. For two hours on Jan. 20, Mandy translated the thoughts and words of nearly two dozen Chinese Philadelphians at a Citizens Forum held at the Independence Branch of the Free Library, on Seventh Street near Market Street, and adjacent to Chinatown.

Of the 23 Chinese Americans present, most were senior citizens, so it was no surprise they focused on issues close to home. There were complaints that the senior-citizen center that serves Chinatown was too small and lacked bilingual staff. They also wanted to see more government and official forms printed in Chinese. As one woman told Mandy: "For us (the older generation), this is a problem; for our grandchildren it is not."

But, many of their concerns transcended neighborhood. When asked what her hope was for the city in the next year, one woman responded, simply: "I want a mayor who is a good person."

Like residents at other forums, the Chinese Philadelphians have a great deal of affection for their city. they praised its long history, its affordability -- certainly compared to New York City; and the fact that its diverse Asian populations -- Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian, to name a few -- get along well together.

Another strong point several mentioned was Chinatown, which was and is a welcoming presence for Asian immigrants. Thomas, a Penn sophomore who was the youngest participant, pointed to the elaborate red-and-gold Chinese arch that spans 10th Street: "The arch on 10th Street is a symbol ... It is a metaphor for welcome."