By Suzanne Ma
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CHINATOWN — As Margaret Chin, the newly-elected City Councilwoman from Chinatown, works on her first term agenda for District 1, DNAinfo talked to people living and working in the neighborhood and brought their concerns to her.
Chin answered their questions in an exclusive interview with DNAinfo.
Lim Sing Tse, a home health aide:
My brother was killed in 2005 when he was crossing Canal Street near the Manhattan Bridge. My heart pounds every time I cross that intersection. It's really very horrible. The cars come speeding off the bridge and there's no time for pedestrians to react. A lot of seniors and children travel through that intersection every day. I just hope someone can hear my story and do something about this.
Chin:
We are doing something about it. Recently, we found out that the Department of Transportation did institute some signs in the summer asking people to slow down to 35 mph when they're coming off the bridge. Thirty-five is too fast. We should make it slower than that. Whether it's 25 or less.
I have suggested that the DOT install rumble strips to slow traffic down.
Also, people just can't cross whenever they want to cross. You've got to have education. We have to work with the DOT to guide people where to cross. In Midtown, there are mid-block crossings where people cannot cross at certain corners. We have also suggested blocking off pedestrian access on the south side of the bridge. That is not the safest place to have people walk.
Jeanie Chin, Chatham Towers resident:
What is your position on the terror trials and its impact on the community right outside your door? Are you also advocating for the removal of the terror trials to Governors Island? If the trials are not moved, what are your suggestions for improving life for the community that lives at the trial site?
Chin:
I think we should move the trials out of residential neighborhoods, out of Manhattan. We could talk to the Governors Island people. The issue is where are these people going to be locked up? If they're still down here, we're still involved.
In terms of how we improve life down here when the trials come, let's just hope we don't get to that point. Because I don't think anything will be bearable.
It's crazy. Our office is right smack in the middle of the security zone. We just have to keep the pressure on and get other people to change their opinions.
Harold Jacob, Grand Street resident, on the Seward Park Urban Renewal Project:
The five lots by the Williamsburg Bridge have been empty for decades. Now there's a new Council person, who thinks she has enough political clout to make something happen. Unless her name is Houdini, that's not going to happen. I believe the neighborhood is already saturated with low-income housing. Why not get a private developer who will pay the city for the land?
Chin:
First of all, I don't think we ever said that it's just low-income housing. This is a precious government resource. It's a great opportunity to create something magnificent there that can serve the residents there and the city.
I'm not a cynic. I'm very optimistic. Now I have a say in it and I'm going to try.
We don't want to sell it to private developers. There should be a combination of mixed income housing, commercial developments and recreational facilities. People should come together to explore this opportunity. People should just sit down and start talking. Maybe different people. Times have changed so you might have different players.
Ho Wong, Chinatown bus patron:
The buses used to line up in front of the Mahayana Buddhist Temple near the Manhattan Bridge. But it was too dangerous there, with cars rushing by and crashing into the parked bus and the people lining up for the bus. Now they've moved the loading zones onto other streets. But it's still dangerous for riders and the buses back up traffic.
Chin:
They need a central place to pick up and drop off passengers. With Chinatown streets being so congested and crowded, we've got to have a place, one or several places. Right now it's not working. The bus companies are getting chased everywhere they go. Police traffic agents have to be clear on where they can ticket bus operators, and bus drivers need to be aware of rules, like when not to idle. We already started meeting with bus companies last week.
