Philadelphia Councilmember Helen Gym poses for a photograph in the Chinatown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Friday, July 22, 2022.
Those are promises many in Chinatown have heard before. After decades of developments — like the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which took homes from 200 families; Interstate 676, also known as the Vine Street Expressway, which threatened to cut off parts of the community — and proposals for a jail, a casino and another sports facility that all were beaten back by the community, residents have a deep playbook of their own to choose from., some more vibrant and larger than others.
Debbie Wei is a founding member of Asian Americans United, started in Philadelphia in the 1980s to unite people of Asian ancestry to build the community and fight oppression. She was also an organizer of the protests against a proposed Phillies baseball stadium that city officials wanted to place at Chinatown’s door in 2000.
Wei described signs for chains like CVS and Starbucks appearing with Chinese translations beside them, calling it a “cosmetic illusion.” Chen fears the changes to D.C.'s Chinatown could happen to Philadelphia.
A fellow I know from South Philly wrote 'At The Hop' 'in '1958 for Danny & The Juniors 'A Dick Clark 'American Bandstand' classic.....