To some in Bensonhurst’s large Chinese-American community Warren Chan is a divisive troublemaker, but to others he is the face of the community’s growing disenfranchised – those that feel locked out of the American political system in city, state and federal government.
This frustration came to a head with the recent manslaughter conviction of Asian American rookie former NYPD cop Peter Liang who accidentally discharged his weapon, killing innocent Akai Gurley man in the darkened staircase in East New York’s Pink Houses NYCHA development.
Chan was recently kicked out of a packed Coalition of Asian Americans for Civil Rights (CAACR ) Bensonhurst meeting to address the conviction that Liang, who also lives in Bensonhurst, was scapegoated after so many white cops across the country have killed innocent blacks in much more suspect circumstances and were not even indicted, much less convicted.
Chan, who is the executive director of the non-profit Asian Community United Society advocacy organization, 6822 20th Avenue, has repeatedly railed against Assemblyman Bill Colton and City Council Member Mark Treyger, for not being more vocal in representing the interests of the large Chinese constituency that both lawmakers represent in Southern Brooklyn.
But the reality is both Colton and Treyger, more than any other lawmakers in the area, have consistently supported their Asian-American constituents. Their United Progressive Democratic Club has an Asian-American president, and they helped elect 47th Assembly Female Democratic District Leader Nancy Tong, who works in Colton’s office. It is for these reasons that the old Chinese-American guard in Southern Brooklyn has high praise for Colton and Treyger.
But this didn’t stop Chan from vocally criticizing both Colton and Treyger, who were both at the meeting, so loudly that he was asked to leave. He is also left the meeting more determined than ever to find a Chinese candidate to run against the 20-year incumbent.
“It won’t be me, but we’ll find somebody to run,” said Chan. “At first, I thought to find someone as a test run, but after seeing his (Colton) eyes looking so desperate and insecure when he screamed at me at the meeting, I do think we have a chance at somebody seriously beating him. We have a few candidates we’re currently considering and we’ll find somebody.”
Chan said the Liang conviction was a definite wake up call for Brooklyn’s Chinese community to the fact they have no political muscle in the district, the borough or the city. He also criticized Colton and Tregyer for never going to the Liang trial in support of the rookie cop much the way Assembly Member Charles Barron was at the trail every day in support of the Gurley family.
“My biggest fear is that Colton and Treyger will now capitalize on the conviction and instead of triggering more Chinese to get involved in politics, will raise more money for themselves and we will remain with absolutely no power,” said Chan.
Interestingly, Chan chooses not to criticize 30-year incumbent Assembly Member Peter Abbate Jr., whose 49th Assembly District includes Sunset Park’s huge Chinatown. Abbate generally stays silent on Asian-American issues, but is a very able, hard-nosed and wily legislator that knows how to bring money home to the district.
But the defining reason why Chan is looking at Colton’s seat is because he only has about $49,000 in his campaign war chest as compared to Abbate, who has more than $832,000 in his campaign war chest, according to state campaign finance records.
But while Chan sees a chance to upset the status quo in Bensonhurst and Southern Brooklyn, Eddie Mark, the District Manager of Coney Island’s Community Board 13 ( and the first Chinese Community Board District Manager in all of Brooklyn), doesn’t see it happening.
“It’s not that Chan is wrong (about Brooklyn Chinese-American political empowerment), but there is not enough Chinese people ready to make a movement. Chan does what he can to address the issues, but that generation is that generation. They are all into themselves and how they were brought up. It will take the next generation around Warren’s age to understand policies to make things work for a political change,” said Mark.
Like Chan though, Mark who grew up mainly in Cypress Hills and went to Brooklyn Tech High School, feels Liang was scapegoated and wouldn’t have faced the charges had he been black or white. The verdict will also probably be a step back from Chinese going into law enforcement because the Chinese feel if they do no one will have their back, Mark said.
Treyger said the government failed both Gurley and Liang and that it is the government that should be held responsible for Gurley’s death.
“The NYPD testified to the City Council Public Housing Committee that they would stop pairing rookies to do verticals even before this tragedy occurred and that wasn’t adhered to on the local level. This was an absolute tragedy. We hear and time and time again about unarmed persons of color being harmed but in this particular instance the NYPD has to be held accountable. Why were rookies in the building doing verticals and NYCHA also has to be held accountable for not having the proper lighting in the stairwells. This case has stirred up real powerful emotions in the Asian Community,” said Treyger.
Treyger noted how when he worked in Colton’s office they both were and continue to be very involved in registering Chinese-Americans to vote and know their rights. Additionally, Colton was very involved in standing up for Asian-Americans being picked on at Lafayette High School a few years ago, and was instrumental in getting the federal Department of Justice to step in to end the bullying.
Treyger said more recently under the de Blasio Administration and the leadership of Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Chinese have felt slighted on several ocassions. Most notably, when the City Council wanting to do away or devalue the entrance exams to bring more diversity in specialized high schools because the Chinese do very well on them, and that de Blasio only agreed to making the Chinese Lunar Day New Year as a public school holiday after the state said they would do it.
“The other thing is that people think the Chinese are the new wave of immigrants in the country, but they actually have very deep roots in America. It was Asian-Americans that helped actualize the vision of Abraham Lincoln to build a railroad across the country,” said Treyger, a former history teacher at New Utrecht High School.
“We as a City talk about tolerance and inclusiveness, but many leaders in the Asian community feel left out when we say inclusive and tolerant city,” said Treyger, adding the highest levels of government starting with de Blasio has an obligation to meet with the Asian community and bring people together where everyone feels respected and validated in the community.
De Blasio spokesperson Rosemary Boeglin said, “The Mayor is committed to ensuring the Administration’s leadership and our City programs reflect the people we serve. That’s why we have representation from the Asian American community throughout senior leadership positions, and have elevated initiatives that have particular impact on Asian New Yorkers, such as IDNYC, Vision Zero, and the addition of Lunar New Year to the school calendar.”
Boeglin also noted that currently 12 percent of the Administration’s Senior Leadership is Asian American, which reflects the most recent U.S. census data which indicates that the City’s population is roughly 12 percent Asian.
In response to questions on whether de Blasio thought there was any political expediency or scapegoating involved in the indictment, prosecution and conviction of Liang, the press office referred to de Blasio’s comments made the day of the conviction.
