On June 22, key officials from San Francisco City Hall, the Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office came together in Chinatown for the first-ever Chinatown Town Hall meeting. Co-hosted by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Wah Ying Club, and San Francisco Community Alliance (SFCAUSE), the event tackled urgent topics such as public safety, anti-Asian hate crimes, theft, drug-related issues, and homelessness.
Held at Victory Hall in Chinatown, which can accommodate 200 people, the venue reached full capacity by 10 a.m. A major highlight of the meeting was the opportunity for residents and small business owners to engage directly with city leaders, discussing the challenges they face in their community. In a groundbreaking move, this town hall utilized AI technology for real-time translation, which eliminated the need for on-site interpreters and allowed for increased participation from monolingual attendees.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Sheriff Bill Scott expressed their appreciation for the community’s strong support. Other notable attendees included City Attorney David Chiu and representatives from various organizations, such as the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce and the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Chen Guoqing, representing the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, emphasized that this was a historic first for Chinatown, aiming to foster open and constructive dialogue on community issues. Lee Tianshou, president of the Wah Ying Club, highlighted the surge of violence connected to hate crimes, stating that intervention from government and law enforcement is not enough. He called for more direct conversations between community members and city officials to stress the urgency of the situation.
The event also featured the daughter of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an elderly Thai man who tragically lost his life in 2021 after being violently attacked outside his home in San Francisco. This incident is recognized as a significant hate crime against Asian seniors during the pandemic, and it remains unresolved.
Sasanna Yee, granddaughter of another victim, Yik Oi Huang, also attended the meeting. Huang, 88, was brutally assaulted in 2019 while walking in a park, suffering multiple severe injuries that ultimately led to her passing after a long recovery.
Despite a reported 30% decline in hate crimes against Asian Americans in 2023, Mayor Breed pointed out that if members of the Asian community still feel unsafe, those statistics mean little. She underscored that public safety is of utmost importance, both for the Asian community and the city as a whole, and pledged to work closely with public safety departments to ensure community security.
The mayor noted the city’s commitment to supporting senior mobility, pointing out that the Department of Aging had assisted 2,500 seniors with 32,000 hours of transportation services over the past year.
District Attorney Jenkins addressed the historical tensions between her office, the mayor’s office, and the police, which have complicated the criminal justice process. She highlighted that the three entities are currently collaborating to prioritize hate crimes, especially those targeting seniors, to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
Sheriff Scott discussed the successful passage of measures E and F, which significantly enhance police enforcement capabilities regarding surveillance cameras and drones.
Community members raised concerns about a recent robbery involving a female victim in Chinatown that was captured on surveillance video by local shops. In response, Sheriff Scott explained that while police typically avoid releasing video evidence during investigations, it becomes public when assistance in identifying suspects is required, as was the case here. He emphasized the need to balance victim privacy with transparency about the investigation’s progress.
To further enhance community policing efforts, organizers provided small business owners with free surveillance equipment, demonstrating their commitment to safety and partnership within the community.
