Crossings Paths with Peter Koo

由Chuck Park撰寫 在過去的四個月中，幾乎每個星期六的早晨，我都戴著嶄新的手術用口罩和乳膠手套；在印有“ 美國人口普查2020” 標識的可重複使用的手提袋裡裝上洗手液，支持移動數據的iPad 還有傳單；並在法拉盛市中心0.18 平方英里的871 號人口普查區上行走，敦促您——我的紐約同胞們，去完成我們國家十年一次的人口調查。在一次外出中，來自非營利機構MinKwon 社區行動中心的隊友和我一起與兩三百人進行了交流，其中大多數是第一代講西班牙語和普通話的移民，他們在排隊等候La Jornada 食品儲藏室，隊伍蔓延過了7號線站，珍珠奶茶店和Main Street與4 0 街上的雜貨店，最終在Bland Houses 公共住房中心內的食品儲藏室分發處結束。  僅在過去的幾個星期中，我們就與數千名鄰居進行了交談，發放了數百份普查傳單和免費口罩，並在這一普查區中懸掛了數十張普查海報。除了面對面的服務外，我們還打電話、發短信並發送了明信片，還將其翻譯成簡體中文、韓文和西班牙文，並發送給成千上萬的法拉盛居民，鼓勵他們做出回覆。 結果呢？自我們從5 月16 日開始以來，人口普查回覆的幅度僅有8.7 ％的增長。自3 月普查自我回覆階段開始以來，871 號區的總回覆率是多少？僅略高於38 ％，遠低於全國回覆率65.3 ％和紐約市的58.5 ％。871 號區甚至還不如自己2010 年的回覆率，當時約有一半的家庭完成了普查。 我們必須做得比這更好。而且我們快沒時間了。 我知道現在還有很多其他事情似乎更重要。COVID-19 大流行摧毀了法拉盛社區以及附近的Corona 和Elmhurst ，對於許多人來說，您的下一份薪水和下一頓飯（而非政府的調查）已成為當務之急。 我知道你們中許多人是新來到這個國家的，以前從未參加過人口普查。您可能住在地下室公寓中，並且害怕被城市檢查人員發現。您可能未經授權就住在美國。您可能已經了解到，在第二次世界大戰期間，政府曾經使用人口普查數據來追踪和拘留數千名日裔美國人。您的擔憂是正確而深刻的。 但是普查不准確的風險也是很大的。在短期內，低估了的人口可能意味著更少的COVID-19 疫苗劑量，更少的經濟救濟和恢復資金以及在越來越擁擠的公立學校中為我們的孩子提供空間。從長遠來看，人口普查不完整可能意味著紐約在有關移民，醫療保健和直接影響我們及家人的經濟政策的辯論中失去發言權。我們的社區可能在未來1 0 年中經歷飢餓與沈默。 現在還不算太晚。人口普查回復於9 月30 日結束。請立即在www.my2020census.gov 上完成它，並確保您的朋友，家人和無記錄的鄰居也能回覆。更好的是，本週六來法拉盛與我碰面。 Park 是法拉盛本地人和前美國外交官，是MinKwon 社區行動中心的人口普查推廣經理。  該專欄最初於7 月22 日在《紐約每日新聞》上發布，網址為：https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-immigrants-trump-step-up-20200722-76x67bzd35hafasyvccaoxurva-story .html

By Chuck Park Almost every Saturday morning for the last four months, I’ve donned a fresh surgical mask and latex gloves; loaded up a “United States Census 2020”-branded reusable bag with hand sanitizer, cellular data-enabled iPads, and flyers; and walked the 0.18 square miles of census tract 871 in downtown Flushing to urge you — my fellow New Yorkers — …

Madera County Public Health is hosting two free mobile testing events this week, Thursday, Sept. 17 and Friday, Sept. 18. These events are open and available to all Madera County residents.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— The magnitude of California’s 2020 wildfire season is hard to comprehend. To date, CAL FIRE reports that more than 7,600 fires have scorched approximately 3.2 million acres this year in the Golden State — an area almost the size of Connecticut. And five 2020 fires – the August Complex, the SCU Lightning Complex, the LNU Lightning Complex, the North …

Program has delivered more than 9.1 million hot meals statewide to seniors during pandemicDALY CITY – San Mateo County Supervisor David J. Canepa will hold a press conference, 11 a.m., Friday, September 11 at Maharlika Restaurant, 7367 Mission Road, Daly City to highlight the state’s Great Plates program, which provides food for sheltered seniors and supports restaurants financially impacted by …

Fresno, CA – Today, Fresno Housing hosted a virtual groundbreaking of The Monarch @ Chinatown, a transformative, affordable housing community in Fresno’s historic Chinatown community. Funded by California’s cap-and-trade program, Transformative Climate Communities (TCC), The Monarch @ Chinatown is a mixed-use, infill development that will eliminate a blighted vacant lot and provide environmentally friendly amenities to residents and the community. …

Some Customers to Remain Out of Service Due to Ongoing Wildfire Threats, Smoke Impacts and Requests from First Responders to Keep Lines De-energized to Support Firefighting Efforts SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has restored power to approximately 97 percent of customers who can be restored and who were affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff …

Inspections and Restoration Work Beginning Wednesday Morning for Majority of Impacted Areas in Sierra Foothills, Sacramento Valley, Northern Sierra, Elevated North Bay Terrain and Kern County Remaining Weather All Clear and Patrols for Northern Sierra Expected Later this Morning SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— This morning, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) electric crews will start patrolling in the air, in vehicles …

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) confirmed this morning that customers in the Sierra Foothills, Northern Sierra and elevated North Bay terrain who were notified of an impending Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) are now without power. The PSPS event is affecting approximately 172,000 customers in 22 counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, …

Tents Plus Vans Are Being Used to Accommodate Physical Distancing While Providing Water and Device Charging for Customers SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has turned off power to prevent wildfires during severe weather for the first time in 2020 and the company has adapted its Community Resource Centers (CRCs) to keep customers and communities safe …