PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor Jim Kenney's Commission on Asian American Affairs hosted a town hall to shed light on the current conditions and challenges that the Philadelphia Asian American community faces.
Normally, the event would have been celebratory, in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. That was overshadowed with worries and fear — of being attacked from behind, elderly parents walking down the street, and safety taking public transportation.
"We need to start a dialogue. The City of Philadelphia is predominately Black and Latino, and Asian. We need that dialogue from communities to understand common ground," said panelist Naroen Chhin.
Chhin and others expressed the importance of conversations and speaking up by reporting hate crimes when they happen.
"I'm Cambodian, I'm Southeast Asian and I hear people telling me to go back to China all the time." he said. "Let's take the politics out of this. Let's call it what it is - a hate crime."
Chhin added, "We do not believe in over-policing, we need community based policing. We are the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection."
Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw were in attendance, along with other leaders.
"It's not just about us being visible," said Outlaw. "We too do not want to over-police our communities but in the short term, we enhanced our patrol in the Asian American business corridors and residential areas throughtout the city, where we saw these upticks where hate crimes were occurring."
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The second half of the town hall focused on challenges to getting vaccines and relief funds for businesses.
Nick Shenoy of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce said their businesses have had to deal with racism in addition to inability to access resources.
"Immigrant and minority businesses make up a significant portion of business in Philadelphia but are unable to access grants and loans due to lack of banking relations, digital literacy and language barriers," he said.
"Pandemic stigma associated with our community has had a serious impact on our businesses and going to slow down our recovery of AAPI businesses moreso than others.
The panelists asked City Council to take this into consideration for economic recovery plans.
Available relief funds and other resources were shared throughout the panel.
Bystander Intervention Training
PPP Relief Funds for Businesses
PIDC Resources for Philly Small Businesses
AAPI Community-Based Organizations
Contract with City of Philadelphia for Vendors