REMARKS
Council Member Susan Zhuang speaks in support of street co-naming for Lai Wan “Mary” Chin
0:28:27
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129 sec
Council Member Susan Zhuang expresses her support for a street co-naming bill she sponsored to honor Lai Wan “Mary” Chin, an immigrant who became a significant community resource in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Zhuang highlights Chin's contributions to the neighborhood and her role in paving the way for Chinese American representation in the city council.
- Lai Wan “Mary” Chin moved to Bensonhurst in 1969 and owned a laundromat that became a community resource center.
- Chin helped other immigrant families with various needs, including language assistance and navigating local services.
- Zhuang, as the first Chinese American to represent Brooklyn in the city council, sees Chin as a trailblazer for Chinese American community members.
Susan Zhuang
0:28:27
Thank you, madam, chair.
0:28:31
Majority chair.
0:28:32
Thank you.
0:28:33
I'm speaking in supporting the street code renaming bill I sponsored for Lai Wang Mary Cheng Wei.
0:28:40
Lai Wang Mary Cheng moved to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in 1969 with her husband Moorman Chang, and their daughters.
0:28:49
Actually, one of their daughters is here today, Susan Chang, probably sitting in the back.
0:28:54
Susan.
0:28:56
And also, they were one of the first Asian family to move into the neighborhood after purchasing a laundry mat.
0:29:03
It's correct.
0:29:04
Laundromat.
0:29:04
All the Chinese business.
0:29:06
The Chen family even had to live in their laundry mat after they had a fire in their home.
0:29:12
Yeah.
0:29:12
It's also become a home for the many Asian American families moving into the neighborhood.
0:29:18
At the time, there was no English as a second language class available for immigrants.
0:29:23
So she taught herself the language and also practiced with neighbors and customers.
0:29:29
As a result, the laundromat quickly become a community resource center.
0:29:34
As other Asian families moved to the area, she became a neighbor's neighborhood resource with many people asking for if she knows where the doctors, where the schools.
0:29:48
Also she helped the neighbors call the utility companies resolve all the issues.
0:29:53
She even received award at her daughter's elementary school graduation from the local Lions Club for volunteering and assisting immigrant family.
0:30:02
Her laundromat become a social service center for the community.
0:30:09
As the first after that, after her husband passed away, she continued that Lexi still helped more people.
0:30:17
As the first Chinese American person elect to represent Brooklyn in the city council, Lai Wang, Mary Chang paved the way for me and so many other Chinese American community members in the neighborhood.
0:30:30
That's why I'm proud to sponsor this street code naming, and please vote yes.
0:30:35
Thank you.
