Community News
 

Chinatown Friendship Gate Restored to its Original Beauty

After months of painting and specialized leaf work, and years of planning, the Chinatown Friendship Gate is finally complete!  Many of you have probably noticed the scaffolding along with the artisans working busily throughout the late summer.  The artisans finished their work in early October and returned to Tiajin, China on October 6.  Many local restaurants supported the artisans while they were here.  We appreciate Joy Tsin Lau, Reading Terminal Market, Vietnam Restaurant, David’s Mai Lai Wah, Lee How Fook, Sang Kee, Shanghai Gourmet, and Mong Kok Station for providing delicious food to them.  We also want to recognize and thank the generous funders of the gate, including: Councilman Frank DiCicco, the Capital Program Office, DCED, the Philadelphia Foundation, PECO Energy, Tenet/Hahnemann, Rohm & Hass, and the Wachovia Regional Foundation, as well as many individual donors.  A delegation of City officials from Tiajin, which is Philadelphia’s Sister City, is expected to arrive later this fall to celebrate the completion of the gate. 

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No Casino! – It Is Not a Done Deal

Once again, Chinatown has been dealt a bad hand with a deck that has been stacked against us.  Foxwoods Casino is deciding to open shop at the Gallery Market Street East for walk-in clientele.

If Foxwoods relocates to the Gallery, they will take advantage of the Center City location and entice working class transit riders and local Chinese American gamblers. The casino will be at Chinatown’s front door.

Councilman DiCicco has started the zoning process to amend the Commercial Entertainment District area regulations for the area bounded by 6th, Chestnut, Broad, and Arch Streets; however, Foxwoods has presented no plans, no parking studies, no traffic studies, nor economic impact studies. There is no reason to rush the process when Foxwoods has presented nothing. Councilman DiCicco needs to withdraw the legislation.

The gallery site is wrong for Foxwoods. It is not in the cards. You can help stop the zoning legislation by:

· Joining PCDC and community leaders on November 1^st at City Council to oppose the legislation and demand a slower process.

· Calling Mayor Michael Nutter’s (215 686-2181)and Councilman DiCicco’s (215 686-3458) offices to voice your opposition.

Accessing Services
 

The Independence Blue Cross & Highmark Blue Shield Caring Foundation’s bi-lingual specialist Jennifer Lam will be available on Monday, September  8th  from 10:00am to 1:00pm to provide application assistance for health insurance for low-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid at PCDC’s office (901 Wood St.). You must call Ms. Lam at (215) 779-8954 in advance to schedule an appointment.

Important News and Activities
 

Important News – Food Stamp Program Changes

I attended a forum by the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. I have some good news from the event. Starting on October 1, 2008, the Pennsylvania Food Stamp Program has new rules to help more working families, seniors, and legal immigrants in getting food stamps. Here are the changes:

If your income is low, you can get food stamps even if you have money in the bank or other property. Savings don’t count against you anymore. Families with high child care costs can get more food stamps too.

Seniors can request a telephone interview that will save them a trip into the food stamp office. High housing costs or medical expenses mean higher food stamp benefits.

Most legal immigrants can get food stamps. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for food stamps. However, undocumented immigrants CAN apply on behalf of their citizen children. Food stamps WILL NOT affect your immigration status. 

You can apply online at www.compass.state.pa.us or call one of these numbers: Philadelphia: (215) 430-0556, Delaware County: (610) 874-8451, Montgomery County: (610) 277-6363, Rest of the state: (800) 634-2033.

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Free – Social Security Workshop

The Social Security Administration will explain and assist the community to apply:

Retirement Benefits

Disability Benefits

SSI

Date: November 21, 2008

Time: 2-3pm

Location: Coffee Cup (247 S. 10^th Street)

Interpretation will be provided.

If you are interested, please RSVP to Mr. Lai: (215) 627-8048 or Mr. Chen: (866) 613-3969 Ext. 10615

Sponsor: Social Security Administration

www.socialsecurity.gov 

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New Poll Site in Chinatown for Election

The City of Commissioners has approved the relocation of the poll site for Ward 5, Division 13 to the Chinese Christian Church & Center (225 N. 10^th Street). The Chinatown Firehouse (10^th & Cherry Streets) is no longer a place for voting. The Chinese Christian Church and Center (CCC & C) will provide adequate space for the voting booths and check-in tables.

Voter information:

·  First time voters must bring a form of photo identification, or a utility bill that includes their address

· If voters are not on the voting list, and they are at the correct poll site, they have the right to a provisional ballot, which is a conditional vote. County Election Officials will examine these ballots after the election to determine whether you were entitled to vote in the election at the election district where you voted.

· There will be Chinese interpreters assigned to the new Chinatown poll site. If the interpreter is not available at the site, the City has a Telephone Interpreter Service available. Ask the Election Board members (polling place officials) working at the table to assist you in using the service. Voters can also bring their own interpreters into the voting booth with them.

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Free Concert Tickets

The University of The Arts, through their community outreach program, has donated tickets to the Chinatown community for University of the Arts events and productions.  Performances include the Lou Donaldson Quartet – Benny Golson Quartet (Saturday, November 1, 6:30pm), Little Women (Thursday, December 4, 8pm) a Dance and Music Concert (Saturday, December 6, 7pm) and a Winter Dances (Friday, December 12, 7pm).  Tickets are available to community members on a first come, first serve basis, and limited to 4 per family.  Contact PCDC for more information to receive your free ticket!   For information on these programs, you can go to www.uarts.edu or call 1-800-616-ARTS.