Frank Zhang
True North bullies
Restaurant at Chinese Cultural Center
Per Beijing Garden’s lease #26 Option to Extend
Term,after previous lease expires, it automatically renews 5
years if tenant notifies the landlord regarding the renew
intention within 180 days which Beijing garden did o June 20
2017. So, basically, Beijing garden has valid lease now, they
are totally legal to stay there to continue to run the business.
However in the morning of Mar 2nd True North turned off Beijing
Garden’s exhaust fan on the roof. Also cut the phone line. This
was the fourth time True North “accidentally” cut off the phone
line. True North called police 3 times and fire department once
and each time was told that True North cannot lock the
restaurant door. True North has threatened to remove all pipes
to Beijing Garden’s exhaust fan. Around 5pm on March 2nd True
North lured the restaurant manager out of the restaurant and
tried to lock the restaurant door. Luckily there staff in the
kitchen and the lockdown attempt failed. The property manager
threatened the owner saying we are not done and wait. Police was
called, 5th time last night. What an eventful night at Chinese
Cultural Center. Around 1:30am this morning one person with a
black bag forced his way into the restaurant asking for beef
fried rice. The owner said they could not cook because property
management shut down the exhaust fan. One cannot help thinking
if this was a setup. Can landlord lockdown a restaurant with
valid lease? Were True North’s actions criminal or civil
violations? Why are True North behaving with bad faith? Please
investigate and support Beijing Garden’s business
posted:
3/3/18
1.Arizona News
http://ktar.com/story/1701741/phoenix-residents-hope-to-save-chinese-cultural-center-with-online-petition/
Phoenix residents hope to save Chinese Cultural
Center with online petition
PHOENIX — A group of dedicated residents are
fighting to save the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center from being
demolished by using an online campaign.
Jennifer Yang, a resident from Gilbert, Arizona,
is asking seven state officials to preserve the center after its
new owners have been rumored to “strip away all elements of
Chinese culture,” the petition reads.
“This would destroy an important piece of
Arizona’s history. We urge you to preserve our Chinese cultural
heritage, Phoenix’s first Chinatown,” it continues.
As of Tuesday night, the petition has more than
5,600 of the 7,500 signatures it needs to be sent to Arizona
Gov. Doug Ducey, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Phoenix
councilwoman Kate Gallego, state Sens. Kimberly Yee and Katie
Hobbs and state Reps. Ken Clark and Lela Alston.
Many of the petition’s signers commented on the
sense of community the center has brought them over the years.
“My family and I buy Chinese food there every
weekend, it helped us release homesickness. We are so proud of
that specific Chinese culture building here in Phoenix,” read
one comment.
“We have to preserve their own culture. It always
educates the public of Chinese culture and food. This must
stay!” read another.
Center could change under new owners
The Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center, located near
44th Street and Van Buren Street, was built in the 1990s by the
COFCO Group, a state-run enterprise of the People’s Republic of
China. The center also host Chinese New Year celebrations and is
home to numerous gift shops and restaurants.
It was bought by True North Companies, a private
equity firm based in Scottsdale in June. According to the
Phoenix Business Journal, the new owners “may look at changing”
the center’s “distinctive architecture.”
“True North plans to modernize the center and
move 300 employees there. Proponents of the center are pushing
the city to declare it a historic center,” the Journal reported.
Petition says center conserves Chinese culture,
history in Phoenix
According to the petition, the Phoenix Chinese
Cultural Center was built with the help of “community volunteers
and donations from local Chinese immigrants.”
“Special materials and supplies were brought from
China, and skilled workers from China spent years making this
one of the most beautiful Chinese Cultural Centers in North
America,” it continued.
Preserving the center will “benefit business and
long-term development of the area, and maintain an important
piece of Arizona’s history,” the petition argues.
2.Petition · Doug Ducey/Save the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center
· Change.org
Save the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center
Jennifer Yang started this petition to
Councilwoman, City of Phoenix Kate Gallego (Councilwoman, City
of Phoenix) and 14 others
Please find the latest update at
https://www.phoenixchineseculturalcenter.com/
The new owner of the Phoenix Chinese Cultural
Center plans to strip away all elements of Chinese culture. This
would destroy an important piece of Arizona's history. We urge
you to preserve our Chinese cultural heritage, Phoenix's first
Chinatown.
The Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center, also known
as the COFCO center, was built by the first owner with help from
community volunteers and donations from local Chinese immigrants
with support from the City of Phoenix government. Special
materials and supplies were brought from China, and skilled
workers from China spent years making this one of the most
beautiful Chinese Cultural Centers in North America. The names
of donors are engraved in the Wall of Honor, and it has become a
Phoenix landmark, and part of Arizona's history.
For the last two decades, the Center has played
an important role in the Valley of the Sun. Chinese New Year
performances and celebrations have educated both tourists and
locals about Chinese culture, and the garden and its artifacts
are an important example of Chinese workmanship and cultural
significance.
While the new owner has recognized the historical
importance of the Center, and has offered the garden artifacts,
we want to save the entire Chinese Cultural Center. It would be
impossible to fully disassemble and restore the center's
heritage at another location.
Conservation of culture and history encourages
building strong relationships with the local community to
address its needs; preserving the Phoenix Chinese Cultural
Center will benefit business and long-term development of the
area, and maintain an important piece of Arizona's history.
Please sign this petition to share your support
for preventing the destruction of the Phoenix Chinese Cultural
Center.
3.Azcentral
Nearly 200 Chinese-Americans who begged the
Phoenix City Council to step in and preserve the Chinese
Cultural Center on Tuesday didn't get the "yes" they were hoping
for — but they didn't get a "no," either.
Instead, the council voted 8-0, with Councilman
Daniel Valenzuela absent, to allow residents to commission a
survey analyzing the historical significance of the 20-year-old
property on 44th Street near Loop 202.
The results of the study could help or hinder the
case the community has tried to make in favor of a
historic-preservation designation for the property after it
changed hands in June.
True North Companies sparked panic earlier in the
summer when its plans to revamp the center — swapping
traditional glazed-tile roofs and red posts for a modern
business center — emerged.
"Hopefully, we can find a win-win situation where
we can sit down as a community and also with the developer … to
find out if there’s somehow a way to coexist to make sure this
treasure isn’t lost forever," Councilman Michael Nowakowski said
at Tuesday's policy session. "Hopefully, this is the first step
in that direction."
It was not immediately clear how long the survey
would take or how much it would cost supporters. The decision
does not stop True North from proceeding with development plans,
however.
The Chinese Cultural Center cost tens of millions
of dollars to build in 1997. COFCO, a state-owned Chinese
company, envisioned it as a tourist attraction that would
connect Arizona and China.
Community members raised money to support a
Chinese garden with pagodas and handmade replicas of Chinese
pavilions and monuments.
For years, the 165,000-square-foot center hosted
festivals, Phoenix Chinese Week and school field trips. It had a
dim sum restaurant, a sprawling Asian supermarket and a Chinese
medicine shop, among other businesses.
Occupancy rates dropped in recent years, a change
True North said pointed to the center's decline. Supporters of
the center blamed mismanagement.
True North said remaining tenants would have the
option to remain at the property after its overhaul, which is
expected to take about a year. It has offered to maintain the
Chinese garden, preserve and relocate sculptures and other
architectural elements, and make available extra pallets of roof
tiles.
More: Community fights for Chinese Cultural
Center; owner cites miscommunication
For much of the community, those offers fell
short. Nearly 16,000 people have signed a petition asking that
the center be preserved, with hundreds marching on weekends
outside the complex to rally support.
The council received a citizens petition to take
up the issue, which under the Phoenix City Charter requires a
hearing and a formal response.
"The craftsmanship used to design and install the
roof tiles and wood timber is of ancient origin. These pieces
can't be simply deconstructed like some modern-day Legos set,"
the Chinese United Association of Greater Phoenix said in a
statement.
"To suggest that the garden can be protected but
the rest of the property and/or its Chinese relationship can be
removed and relocated elsewhere is like a doctor saying we had
to amputate your feet and hands but you are still whole."
Nearly 40 members of the Chinese community, as
well as a handful of other supporters, requested to speak at
Tuesday's policy session. Recent immigrants spoke of visiting
the center when they wanted to remember home, and others shared
memories of attending educational trips or festivals there.
Kwok: Save the Chinese Cultural Center? Shouldn't
it be one first?
"There is no question that the Chinese Cultural
Center has become an iconic landmark that brings recognition to
Phoenix’s commitment to diversity," said Paul Gilbert, an
attorney representing the Chinese United Association of Greater
Phoenix. He said the center is "a place of religious observance"
and "a reflection of the Chinese contributions to Phoenix."
Elizabeth Yu, who was involved in the center's
design and construction, said a business center can be built
anywhere, but the Chinese Cultural Center is irreplaceable.
"Do we want to let it be taken down?" she asked
the council. "We will have regret the rest of our lives."
City staff said it would be difficult to make a
solid case for a historic-preservation designation. The
designation typically is reserved for buildings at least 50
years old, and the new owner is not willing to preserve the
entire structure.
Jason Rose, who is representing True North on the
project, said the company has "clear property rights" and has
nonetheless "outlined numerous, positive options" to the Chinese
community. True North is willing to donate $100,000 for a new
Chinese Cultural Center at Hance Park, he said.
Talks between attorneys for both the Chinese
community and True North are ongoing, according to
representatives.
READ MORE:
Chinese Cultural Center market closes
Hundreds protest sale of Chinese Cultural Center
Protesters fear changes to Chinese Cultural
Center
4.Construction showdown over Chinese Cultural Center - Arizona's
Family
http://www.azfamily.com/clip/13712450/construction-showdown-over-chinese-cultural-center?from=message&isappinstalled=0
Construction crews showed up at the Chinese
Cultural Center to put up fencing but supporters of the center
said this is escolation. (Wednesday, September 13, 2017)
5.Property owner of Chinese Cultural Center ordered to pause
remod - Arizona's Family
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) –
http://www.azfamily.com/clip/13723867/property-owner-of-chinese-cultural-center-ordered-to-pause-remodeling
A judge has ordered the property owner of the
Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix to pause its remodeling and
keep its main street sign on until next Friday.
6.Chinese Groups Petition Phoenix Council To Preserve Cultural
Center | KJZZ
http://kjzz.org/content/526963/chinese-groups-petition-phoenix-council-preserve-cultural-center?from=message&isappinstalled=0
Chinese Groups Petition Phoenix Council To
Preserve Cultural Center
By Christina Estes
Published: Thursday, August 31, 2017 - 7:33am
Updated: Thursday, August 31, 2017 - 8:57am
Members of the Valley’s Asian community are
pressuring Phoenix leaders to save the Chinese Cultural Center.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Raymond Tang,
president of the Chinese United Association of Greater Phoenix,
presented a petition asking councilmembers to take up the issue
of preserving the center within 15 days or at its next policy
meeting.
In part, the letter states “For two decades, the
Chinese Cultural Center has been our state’s only bridge for
introducing not only Phoenicians, but all Arizonans to Chinese
history, culture, architecture and cuisine.”
The Arizona Republic reported a new property
owner plans to turn the location near 44th and Van Buren streets
into a business center and corporate headquarters. That worries
people like Andy Zhang, vice president of the Arizona Asian
Alliance and an immigrant from China.
“We’re a country of melting pot, right?” he said.
“Before coming here I was told America’s a county of melting
pot. So to save this Chinese Cultural Center in my view is to
preserve the idea, the value, the melting pot ideal.”
Before COFCO, a Chinese state-owned company,
opened the center in the late '90s, Zhang said Chinese artisans
used traditional materials and techniques in its design.
“So you can’t possibly replicate it now and you
certainly can’t move it elsewhere,” he said. “Because once you
dismantle it, it’s damaged. It’s gone.”
He said they hope to convince the new owner to
avoid demolition.
Community groups are also trying to get the
city’s historic preservation department to designate the
property as culturally significant, which might help protect the
architecture.
7.Fight over Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix far from over -
Arizona's Family
http://www.azfamily.com/story/36228801/fight-over-chinese-cultural-center-in-phoenix-far-from-over?from=message&isappinstalled=0
Fight over Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix far
from over
Posted: Aug 27, 2017 10:49 PM
Updated: Aug 28, 2017 1:25 AM
By Lindsey Reiser Connect
The Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix closed the
doors of its iconic market this weekend because of new
ownership. But members of the community say they will fight to
keep the identity of the building. (Source: 3TV/CBS 5)
The Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix closed the
doors of its iconic market this weekend because of new
ownership. But members of the community say they will fight to
keep the identity of the building. (Source: 3TV/CBS 5)
(Source: 3TV/CBS 5)
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -
The Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix closed the
doors of its iconic market this weekend because of new
ownership. But members of the community say they will fight to
keep the identity of the building.
[RELATED: 100+ protesters fight to preserve
Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix]
"The kids love coming here," said Cathy Tuncap.
"Sometimes we take a break they go see the, um, fish pond and
everything, so they're bummed as well."
Tuncap said she will miss having this gem just a
short drive away.
"I think it has all the diverse culture,
background, you can come in and get Chinese food, Filipino
food," she said.
"I'm from Ohio and we didn't have markets like
this in the smaller areas of the city," said John Pisctiello. He
said makes the 30-minute drive to the Chinese Cultural Center,
near Sky Harbor airport, from Goodyear.
"I really like the fact that there's a cultural
component to this, it's one of the reasons I like coming here,"
he said.
"It's a very nice place," said Jim Thomas. "The
Chinese restaurant here is fantastic, I've been going there for
years."
Thomas said he's been coming here for 15 years,
and says it's unfortunate.
"It's business, that's how business works," he
said.
"For some reason, the developer wants to take off
all the markings of the Chinese center, the rooftops, that were
made by hand," said former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.
He said he was chief of staff to the then-Phoenix
mayor when this place was built.
"The statues that he wants to move away or donate
to whoever wants to take them, that were blessed by Chinese
religious leaders that came all of the way from China," Gordon
said.
He said they want the facade of the building, its
adornments, and the garden saved. The developer, who will turn
this into office space, has only agreed to keep a small room for
community members and maintain the garden.
"He has refused to agree to not take off the roof
tile and the symbolisms that identify this as the Chinese
cultural center on the basis he said he can't rent it that way,"
Gordon said.
Gordon added they're not going to give up on
maintaining its identity and they want to go back to the table
with the developer.
"Hopefully we can do this without either having
to designate this a historic monument which would slow down the
developer's progress and no one would win, or two go to court,
which the community is prepared to do," Gordon said.
8.
Chinese Cultural Center Demolition Protest
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iHsT6Fy8LLQ&from=message&isappinstalled=0
9.Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center: What You Need to Know |
Phoenix New Times
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/phoenix-chinese-cultural-center-9687097
Here's Everything Going on with Phoenix's Chinese
Cultural Center
The city of Phoenix recently denied a citizen
petition to preserve the Chinese Cultural Center. Now, people
hoping to save the defunct center's architecture and gardens are
pursuing historical preservation efforts to legal action.
On Tuesday, September 12, the Phoenix City
Council agreed to undertake a cultural survey that Chinese
Cultural Center advocates hope will help make a case for
historic preservation. Later that week, a Chinese-American-owned
business still located on the site filed a lawsuit aimed at
stopping changes to the center.
Located on 44th Street just north of Van Buren
Street, the now-defunct Chinese Cultural Center site is set to
become the headquarters for True North, a Scottsdale-based
private equity firm. One of its subsidiaries, a company called
668 North, purchased the Center's property in June for $10.5
million.
That means major changes are coming to the site,
which had served as the city's sole Chinese Cultural Center
since it was built in 1997 by a real estate firm called BNU
Corporation. That's a subsidiary of China National Cereals, Oils
and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), a business owned by the
Chinese government.
Members of the metro Phoenix Chinese American
community are concerned the change in ownership will result in
wiping the site clean of Chinese design and
center includes 165,000 square feet of building
space with Chinese-style architecture, created with the help of
several master artisans based in China who obtained special
visas to travel to Phoenix and participate in the project. The
site also includes extensive gardens, complete with a koi pond
and several stone statues of Chinese figures. The degree to
which various elements are being preserved by the new owners is
unclear at this point.
As a commercial enterprise, the Chinese Cultural
Center was never directly funded by the city, and no public art
money went toward creating it, says Gail Browne, executive
director for the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. (The city
does help fund Phoenix Chinese Week, an annual celebration of
Chinese culture held at the center from 2001 to 2013. In 2014,
the event moved to Hance Park and has continued annually.)
The buildings at the former center's complex have
primarily housed retail businesses and offices through the
years, including some owned by Chinese-Americans. One main
tenant, Super L Ranch Market, left the site when notified by the
new owner that its lease had expired, and is getting ready to
open at a new location in Scottsdale.
Some signage at the one-time Chinese Cultural
Center site still retains the COFCO name.EXPAND
Some signage at the one-time Chinese Cultural
Center site still retains the COFCO name.
Many of the center's other spaces are vacant, but
the new owner says remaining tenants can stay until their leases
expire.
True North subsidiary 668 North purchased the
site from New York-based investment firm Angelo Gordon, which
acquired the site from COFCO in 2016, according to a True North
representative who spoke with New Times on Wednesday, September
13.
Members of the metro Phoenix Chinese-American
community are concerned the change in ownership will result in
wiping the site clean of Chinese design and culture.
They've tried different approaches to saving the
site, including holding public protests at the former Chinese
Cultural Center. On Friday, September 15, protesters gathered
outside True North headquarters in Scottsdale.
Chandler resident Raymond Tang submitted a
petition to the Phoenix City Council during its Wednesday,
August 30, meeting. Tang is president of the Chinese United
Association of Phoenix.
But the City Council voted to deny the petition
during a policy session on Tuesday, September 12. Council
members stated that private-property rights preclude them from
requiring the new owner to preserve the center.
Visible changes are already underway, including
the removal of some Chinese Cultural Center signage.
Last week, the new owners fenced off portions of
the property, but explained via press release that it's merely a
safety measure "while tenant improvements and other work is
undertaken," rather than a prelude to future demolition. No
demolition permits were on file with the city of Phoenix as of
late afternoon on Friday, September 15.
Several members of the Chinese-American community
in metro Phoenix want the Chinese Cultural Center, including
existing buildings and extensive gardens, preserved. Several
elements are replicas of significant Chinese landmarks, says
Elizabeth Mann, who helped develop the center while head of BNU
Corporation.
Advocates for preserving the Chinese Cultural
Center say the buildings and gardens have historical and culture
significance. Architect Ye Juhua has sent several letters to the
Phoenix City Council, explaining the significance of various
materials and design elements. Ye designed the Chinese Cultural
Center, and helped create a Ming-style garden for the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Dozens of Chinese-Americans spoke in support of
preserving the center during last week's Phoenix City Council
policy session.
Mann talked about the rare materials used to
build the center, and the Chinese master artisans who traveled
to build it. For example, the center includes a type of stone
used for the Forbidden City, an imperial palace built during the
15th century for members of the Ming dynasty.
There’s also an online petition, created by
Jennifer Yang of Gilbert on Change.org. As of Monday, September
18, it had more than 16,000 signatures from people who want the
center preserved.
Advocates are holding out hope that the Center
might still be saved.
Some have retained attorney Paul Gilbert of the
Phoenix law firm Beus Gilbert, who says his clients will
continue to press for preservation. They’ve offered to fund a
survey that would address the Chinese Cultural Center's historic
and cultural context.
During its recent policy meeting, the council
approved the city undertaking such a survey. Advocates hope the
results will show that the center should qualify for historic
preservation, despite that fact that it’s just 20 years old.
Typically, buildings have to be at least 50 years
old before they can be considered for historic designation, says
Michelle Dodds, historic preservation officer for the City of
Phoenix.
But buildings can sometimes qualify due to their
special significance, she says. Conducting the survey is the
first step toward providing the historical and culture context
the city would need to evaluate whether the center might qualify
using that criteria.
The survey will likely take six months, Dodds
says. That's before a formal review process could even begin.
Even then, the odds aren't good. Only two Phoenix
properties less than 50 years old have been given a historic
designation.
One is the building previously known as the Good
Shepherd Home for Girls located near 19th and Northern avenues,
which was built around 1942 and placed on the Phoenix Historic
Property Register in 1988. The other is Santa Rita Hall, built
around 1962 near 10th Street north of Buckeye Road. That made
the list in 2007, because of a historic 1972 fast undertaken
there by Chicano activist Cesar Chavez.
"The criteria are really tough," Dodds says. "To
really have control over a property, you have to own it."
Essentially, the company 668 North is free to
make any changes not prohibited by zoning laws or stipulations
in the original site plan for the Chinese Cultural Center.
Despite advocate concerns that 668 North could
demolish buildings or gardens before that survey is completed, a
company representative told New Times in an email on Wednesday,
September 13, that they have no plans to do so.
"We have already announced preservation of the
garden," he wrote. "There will be no demolition of buildings,
only remodeling and relocation per previous press releases."
"It's so hard to build something," Elizabeth Mann
says, "but so easy to destroy it."
In a release issued on Tuesday, September 12, 668
North outlined several options for retaining or relocating
particular elements of the center.
They include preserving a block-long garden along
44th Street for the foreseeable future, and making it available
to the public during normal business hours. The release also
states that 668 North is willing to preserve and relocate
certain elements, such as sculptures and a 30-foot-high welcome
gate.
They've also offered to provide up to 8,000
square feet of retail space for a nonprofit organization to
operate a community cultural center on the site, and donate
$100,000 toward the planning or creation of a new Chinese
Cultural Center in Hance Park.
Neither the city nor other groups have announced
plans to build a new Chinese Cultural Center. And advocates, who
want the Center to remain intact at its current location, are
concerned that moving architectural and design elements could
cause irreparable damage.
One of many architectural elements for the former
Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix.EXPAND
One of many architectural elements for the former
Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix.
Some Chinese Cultural Center supporters are
turning to the courts, rather than the historical preservation
process.
On Friday, September 15, attorneys for CJ Design
& Construction filed a lawsuit against 668 North, as well as
True North CEO David Tedesco and his wife, Gemma Tedesco. CJ
Design operates the Szechwan Palace restaurant located at the
former Chinese Cultural Center, and its lawyers say the company
owns rather than leases its space there.
If you like this story, consider signing up for
our email newsletters.
10.
Demonstration against the Demolition of the Chinese Cultural
Center – YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=9xtV4aJgC60&from=message&isappinstalled=0
Published on Sep 21, 2017
On September 21st, members of the Chinese
community arrived at the garden of the Chinese Cultural Center
in order to perform Buddhist prayers for the upcoming Moon
Festival. This is a tradition that the community has been taking
part in for the last 20 years at the garden. However, upon their
arrival they found that the gate to the garden is now locked and
they tried to get an explanation from the property manager
11.Buddhists blocked in latest clash over Chinese Cultural
Center - Arizona's Family
http://www.azfamily.com/story/36426252/buddhists-blocked-in-latest-clash-over-chinese-cultural-center?from=message&isappinstalled=0
12.Buddhists blocked in latest clash over Chinese Cultural
Center
Posted: Sep 21, 2017 7:10 PM
Updated: Sep 21, 2017 9:28 PM
By Dennis Welch
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -
The fight over the Chinese Cultural Center in
Phoenix took another twist on Thursday.
A group of Buddhists claim they were stopped from
performing a religious ceremony on the site of the 20-year-old
building.
[RELATED: Renovations at Chinese Cultural Center
move forward]
"People are trying to pray that they can save
this treasurer this garden for the future generations," said
Charles Qian.
Qian said he and the other Buddhists made several
requests to use the property to celebrate the upcoming Chinese
Moon Festival.
[RELATED: Phoenix City Council approves
historical survey on Chinese Cultural Center]
However, he said the new owners denied their
requests, forcing them to pray on a sidewalk next to the
property under the watch of police.
The owners of the center were not available for
an interview, but a spokesman said they were not aware of any
requests.
[RELATED: Fight over Chinese Cultural Center in
Phoenix far from over]
Had they known, they likely would have allowed
them onto the property, said Jason Rose.
Rose also described Thursday's events as a "PR
stunt," adding that there was a very good reason for the area
was locked up.
[RELATED: New owners make statement amid concerns
about future of Chinese Cultural Center]
"It was suggested by the Chinese community
because of concerns about theft ... or even vandalism so the
property owner has responsibly taken care of the garden," Rose
said.
This the latest clash between those who want to
preserve the cultural center and the new owners, True North, who
plan to convert the it into office space.
13.
KJZZ Live Stream
http://kjzz.org/kjzzstreamer.php
14.
The Best Invaluable Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center! Oct 4th!Action!
http://phxmae.com/WX/JSSPCT.html?from=message&isappinstalled=0
15.Phoenix Chinese center backers prepared to fight for
history|William Hennelly|chinadaily.com.cn
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2017-09/29/content_32657855.htm?from=message&isappinstalled=0
Reporter Journal / William Hennelly
Phoenix Chinese center backers prepared to fight
for history
By William Hennelly (China Daily USA)Updated:
2017-09-29 12:33
To a Chinese-American group fighting to preserve
a cultural center in Phoenix, it's the history that matters
most.
"The Chinese people appreciate and understand
history like no other civilization on earth," Thomas Simon,
spokesman for the Chinese United Association of Phoenix, told
China Daily. "History is extremely important to the Chinese
community. To us here in America, we have 250 years of history.
The Chinese talk about 4,000 to 5,000 years of history."
The association is stressing the architectural
merit of the Chinese Cultural Center as it opposes any changes
made to the building by its new owner.
COFCO, the Chinese state-owned company, built the
center in 1997, envisioning it as a tourist attraction that
would connect Arizona and China.
The company sold the property in November 2016 to
a New York investment firm, which sold it in June for $10.5
million to 668 North LLC, a real estate unit of True North Cos,
a private-equity firm.
Chinese community members have offered to buy the
building back for $13 million, but a True North spokesman told
China Daily on Sept 20 that the building is not for sale.
True North is converting the building into new
headquarters for 350 employees. It has offered to move some
elements of the center to a park in downtown Phoenix, such as
the paifang, or welcome gate, and maintain the Chinese garden at
the current location.
In a Sept 20 press release, Simon emphasized that
"relocation is destruction".
"The True North Company has incorrectly stated
that we could easily move the Chinese Cultural Center to another
location. This is a false narrative," Simon said.
"Each and every Chinese element used in the
building process of the property, including the iconic garden,
was designed by the same architect that designed the Ming Garden
located at the Metropolitan Museum of New York."
Madam Ye, the center's Chinese architect, wrote
in a recent letter to the Phoenix City Council: "The main
building structure and the garden in the foreground complement
and echo each other Removing any one of these elements would
result in losing its distinct and noble characteristics."
She called the center "a truly unique cultural
art piece that showcases cultural and classic Chinese
architecture and cultural elements in its entirety."
The technique used to construct the pavilions and
galleries with each piece interconnected is a UN-designated
World Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The center was built by masters of Chinese
traditional architecture and craftsmanship as classified by the
UN World Heritage Center (UNESCO).
Parts were prefabricated in China by hand,
transported to Phoenix and installed by more than 100 noted
Fragrant Hill Group Craft masters. (Fragrant Hills Park is an
imperial garden built in 1186 in Beijing.)
The masters' ancestors built the Imperial Palace
in Beijing, The Forbidden City.
Madam Ye said older materials used in the garden
are now exhausted, "given the demand for them domestically".
"The stone, steles, statues and monuments in the
Garden of Harmony are made with stones from Suzhou's Gold
Mountain quarry, and today that mountain is protected, and so
taking any stone from there is forbidden."
A restaurant in the center, which owns 5 percent
of the property, on Wednesday was granted a temporary
restraining order through Nov 3 to prevent any work being done
on the garden and roof tiles. And the owner of a former
supermarket in the center plans to sue True North and its
publicist for stating that he filed for bankruptcy and owed back
rent, both of which are false, said Simon.
"The center represents history to the Chinese
Americans here, and they are not going to give up," Simon said.
"This is a battle between big business and history and culture,"
he said.
16
.Rogue Columnist: The Chinese Cultural Center
Additive history | Main | The West Wingnut »
October 02, 2017
The Chinese Cultural Center
http://www.roguecolumnist.com/rogue_columnist/2017/10/the-chinese-cultural-center.html?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0
In the late 1990s, a couple of years before my
fateful and in retrospect foolish decision to come home and
write a column for the Arizona Republic, I noticed a freeway
sign for the "Chinese Cultural Center" and took the exit.
The location, on 44th Street, was strange. It was
far from the original locations of Phoenix's Chinatown in
downtown. The central core was dead then and the only memory of
Chinatown was the Sing Hi Cafe, relocated to west Madison Street
from its original site in the Deuce. There was also the Sun
Mercantile building, a former warehouse, beside the basketball
arena. Land was plentiful and more of the warehouse district was
intact. Why not put a Chinese Cultural Center here?
But, no. And although the sign was one of the
brown historic markers that usually went with something public
such as the Desert Botanical Gardens, the Cultural Center
appeared to be a private, mixed-use real-estate development.
Yes, it had some Chinese-influenced architectural features,
garden, restaurants, and Asian market, but it wasn't really a
museum or cultural center. Wikipedia says it was developed by
the Chinese state-owned COFCO group, but I don't know if this is
accurate.
Lately, the center has been in the news because
of the building's purchase by a Scottsdale private-equity outfit
which intends to redo it as a corporate headquarters. Most of
the center is emptied out and it's surrounded by a chain-link
fence. Protests from the Chinese community brought a temporary
restraining order protecting the garden statues and roof — but
it runs out Nov. 3rd. Then a new hearing will be held and
demolition could begin. The Republic and New Times have slightly
different takes on the state of play.
In all, it is so Phoenix: Disregard for history,
car-dependent far from light rail (WBIYB) or the central core,
and ultimately just another a real-estate play.
Phoenix's real Chinatown dates to the late 19th
century, originally centered around Adams and First Street
(Montezuma Street before the turn-of-the-century renaming). It
was a about a block in total in keeping with the tiny size of
the town. In 1890, San Francisco's population was nearly
300,000, Seattle's 43,000, and Phoenix's less than 3,200. This
goes a ways toward explaining why the first two cities still
have vibrant Chinatowns. Even with vicious anti-Chinese laws,
the coastal cities drew thousands of immigrants. Before they
were tourist destinations, Chinatowns were protective enclaves
against a white population that was suspicious at best,
violently hostile at worst. In early Phoenix, the Chinese
population hovered around 100 late in the 19th century and early
in the 20th century.
The first Chinese residents were three men and
two women, who arrived in 1872 and established a laundry. More
followed, including those building the Southern Pacific Railroad
into Arizona. Merchants were exempt from the federal Chinese
Exclusion Act, so many ran grocery stores, specialty shops, and
restaurants in town. Some farmed vegetables in south Phoenix.
Although they didn't face the violence and
repressive laws of the West Coast, they couldn't own property in
Arizona. They had no standing as lease-holders, either. The
Anglos tolerated them, with complaints in the newspapers and
ordinances that demanded licenses for "wash houses" — which were
initially declared "public nuisances" — and outlawed opium dens
and Chinese gambling parlors. Even in the 1930s, grocery chains
such as A.J. Bayless placed ads telling their customers not to
patronize "dirty" Chinese competitors.
In the early decades, most Phoenix Chinese were
men. Many went back to China to find wives, interracial marriage
being against territorial law. They came overwhelmingly from a
few villages in Guangdong Province, speaking Cantonese. The
largest clan were the Ongs, including the surnames Tang and
Dong. The Yees and Wongs were also prominent.
As Phoenix grew in the original townsite, Anglo
businessmen lobbied to move Chinatown. Facing petitions and
threats, the Chinese moved in 1895 to a zone bounded by Madison
and Jackson, First and Third streets. This became the final and
most remembered Phoenix Chinatown. More women came and families
expanded. From 1900 to 1940, thirty restaurants were established
in or near the district, often serving an Anglo clientele and
some considered the city's best eateries. These ranged from Sing
Yee's American Kitchen on north Central to the Ong family's Rice
Bowl on Sixth Avenue and Van Buren, several blocks from the
"new" Chinatown. So despite the move, Chinese businesses were
never totally confined to Chinatown. In 1900, only 18
Chinese-owned businesses operated outside Chinatown. By 1929,
the number was 53, many of them groceries in every part of town.
Even so, for the first few decades of the
century, deed restrictions kept the Chinese confined to
Chinatown for living arrangements. It was also the site of
celebrations and location of benevolent societies. A Chinese
shrine was built at 221 S. First Street. A Chinese-language
school opened in 1938, including instruction in calligraphy. As
in many Chinatowns, disputes were settled internally, often
under the leadership of Ong "China Dick" Louie, the unofficial
mayor of Chinatown.
The grocer who became the most prominent
Chinese-American in early 20th century Phoenix was Wing Ong. He
came to the United States in 1918, living with his father in
California. But he joined an uncle in Phoenix because Chinese
children could attend public schools here (during his years at
Phoenix Union High School, Ong worked as a houseboy for Gov.
Thomas Campbell). He took over a bankrupt store at 1645 E. Van
Buren, renamed it the Golden Gate Grocery, and repaid all the
creditors within 14 months. He sold the store in 1930 and
returned to China for two years. When he came back to Phoenix,
he started a new grocery at 1109 E. Van Buren, also called the
Golden Gate. Secure in business, he enrolled at the University
of Arizona (a classmate was Barry Goldwater), eventually earning
a law degree. He became an immigration attorney and then the
first Chinese-American elected to the state House of
Representatives in 1946 (apparently this was a national first,
too).
Wing Ong's life showed a trajectory that
eventually doomed Chinatown. Anglos became more accepting,
especially after World War II began with Japan attacking China.
The United States imposed embargoes on Tokyo as punishment.
After Pearl Harbor, America and China were allies. With
anti-Japanese sentiment high, Chinese sometimes wore buttons
labeled "Chinese" to safely navigate the streets downtown. The
Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. Chinese businesses
proliferated outside Chinatown, and by the late 1940s Chinese
were able to live where they chose.
Phoenix's Chinatown was never large or dense
enough to survive the exodus or the car-sprawl culture of the
postwar years. By the time anyone thought a Chinatown might be a
civic asset — if anyone thought such a thing — it was gone. But
reconstituting a real cultural center downtown would still be a
good idea. Not as a real-estate hustle. But one for history and,
well, culture.
I'm in debt to Vince Murray and Scott Solliday
who compiled the Asian American Historic Property Survey for the
city of Phoenix. You can read it here. The late Bradford
Luckingham also wrote an excellent book on minorities in the
city.
17. Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center backers claim religious
discrimination
Why Chinese Cultural Center supporters are
alleging religious discrimination
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2017/10/05/why-chinese-cultural-center-supporters-alleging-religious-discrimination/732156001/?from=new-cookie
Converting Phoenix’s Chinese Cultural Center into
a corporate complex would amount to desecrating a house of
worship, according to Chinese-Americans who are alleging
religious discrimination by the center's new owners.
A group of 10 on Tuesday unsuccessfully asked a
federal-court judge to prohibit changes to the center's
religious elements, saying their removal would demonstrate "an
unthinkable level of disrespect."
They also asked to regain access to the center's
prayer garden, claiming that by being turned away they'd
experienced "blatant" prejudice.
The Chinese community for months has challenged
True North Cos.' plans to modernize the center, after the firm
purchased the property through subsidiary 668 North in June.
Offers to save and relocate cultural and religious elements have
failed to appease protesters, and tensions escalated when
fencing appeared around the center on Sept. 13.
"The pain that my clients, that
Chinese-Americans, feel toward (being locked out) is very, very
real," attorney Jonathan Frutkin said.
MORE: Hundreds protest potential changes at
Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center
Different standards for different religions?
Frutkin contended his clients would be treated
differently if they were members of more prominent religions,
such as Christianity or Judaism.
"We wouldn't say to church-goers, 'Hey, we're
just going to rip out the stained-glass windows and the pews,
and we'll just move the cross over there,' " he said.
Attorney Cameron Artigue argued that erecting a
safety barrier is well within a private-property owner's rights,
and because the fence bars access to everyone, no discrimination
exists.
"That fence … keeps out white people. It keeps
out black people, Muslims, Jews," Artigue said. "It's a fence."
After Judge Diane Humetewa denied the
worshippers' requests, True North spokesman Jason Rose issued a
statement saying 668 North was pleased the court "upheld private
property rights and allowed the revitalization of the site of
the former Chinese Cultural Center to move forward."
A separate order issued in Maricopa County
Superior Court protects the center's traditional glazed-tile
roofing and garden statues from demolition until Nov. 3.
Grounds full of religious elements
The Chinese-Americans who use the center and
garden for religious purposes primarily practice Taoism,
Buddhism and Confucianism.
Taoism promotes harmony with nature, spiritual
immortality and balance. Buddhism focuses on developing inner
peace, kindness and wisdom. Confucianism emphasizes relationship
hierarchies, rituals and connections with ancestors.
Worshippers of all three religions said the
prayer garden — which True North is considering reopening to the
public following renovations — has provided them space to
meditate, reflect and make religious offerings over the past two
decades. Though religious elements are located throughout the
property, the garden and its pond are particularly rich with
symbolism, they said.
The pond's koi fish, for instance, represent
strength, ambition, perseverance and good fortune. A statue of
the Guan Yin Buddha signifies compassion and mercy, and the
lotus flowers surrounding the statue symbolize purity.
Elsewhere, builders mounted dragon, tiger,
phoenix and turtle statues intended to protect and guard the
property. The center also features a replica of the Confucius
Temple of Nanjing, a Chinese holy site, and an "ancestors wall."
'Rooted in my blood'
Religion marked the center's construction from
start to finish, according to officials involved in its design.
A feng shui master provided blessings for peace
and harmony. Craftsmen could not eat meat, followed a strict
bathing schedule, and prayed each day they worked on the site.
For years, the Chinese community celebrated
Chinese New Year at the center, as well as the Duanwu, or Dragon
Boat, Festival. Worshippers hoped property owners would open the
fence in time for Wednesday's Harvest Moon Festival, which
resembles Thanksgiving in its themes.
Last month, about 20 members of the Chinese
community tied yellow ribbons to the construction fence to honor
Confucius' birthday.
In addition to holidays, Chinese-Americans have
used the center for weddings and engagements, they said.
"The Chinese Cultural Center is full of the
elements of the religious beliefs that have been deeply rooted
in my blood since I was born," said Jinhui Chen, who began
visiting the center after moving to Arizona in 2010.
"I fight for the religious rights, not only for
my religious believing, but also for all the community members
who hold the same beliefs," he said.
18.
Chinese Cultural Center: Opponents say they offered $13M to buy
development - Phoenix Business Journal
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2017/10/05/chinese-cultural-center-opponents-say-they-offered.amp.html?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0
Chinese Cultural Center: Opponents say they
offered $13M to buy development
By Mike Sunnucks
– Senior Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal
Oct 5, 2017, 4:27pm MST
By Mike Sunnucks
19. Chinese Cultural Center protest continues in Tempe
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=UtBdQcwwKzc
Published on Oct 9, 2017
❤Save
Chinese cultural center wonderful speech in Phx City Council
Meeting https://youtu.be/D-b0bnq-df4
❤little
heroes save Chinese cultural center wonderful speech collection挽救鳳凰城中國文化中心小朋友演講集
❤Chinese
Cultural Center protest continues in Tempe
20. PHXCCC_media
https://sites.google.com/view/phxccc?from=timeline&isappinstalled=0
PHOENIX (AP) — A judge has ruled that a temporary
restraining order will remain in place prohibiting a
construction company from making any changes to the exterior of
the Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix.
Demolition of Phoenix's Chinese Cultural Center
Put on Hold
A judge has ruled that a temporary restraining
order will remain in place prohibiting a construction company
from making any changes to the exterior of the Chinese Cultural
Center in Phoenix.
That includes any renovations to the center's
Garden of Harmony and the iconic tile roof.
True North Companies has been seeking to renovate
98 of the 103 condominium units it owns on the site of the
cultural center.
Community members and Arizona Foundation for
Chinese Religious Rights filed a lawsuit against True North and
the city of Phoenix.
They claim religious rights and other laws were
violated due to the planned changes at the cultural center.
On Wednesday, a judge extended the temporary
restraining order through Nov. 3, which is the next court date.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten or redistributed.
21. Miki and Jacob Engagement // Chinese Cultural Center
http://mattlephotography.com/2016/01/20/film/miki-and-jacob-engagement-chinese-cultural-center
January 20, 2016 by Matt Le
Miki and Jacob Engagement // Chinese Cultural
Center
“Meet me in Paris and then we’ll fly to Hong
Kong. We’ll walk through the city parks on brick pathways under
rice paper umbrellas. We’ll take wooden bridges over khoi fish
in jade crystal ponds. I’ll buy you your favorite milk tea with
those sweet gummy tapioca balls. And we’ll just sit and laugh
under the warn wintery sun.”
Congrats to Miki and Jacob on their engagement!
Thank you for allowing me to capture your engagement photos on
Kodak Portra 400 film. I love these photos because the film
makes it look like an 80s kung fu movie or something lol.
Anyways, enjoy.
22.Chinese Cultural Center - Cub Scout Field Trips
https://sites.google.com/site/cubscoutfieldtrips/Home/all-field-trips/local-cities/phoenix/chinese-cultural-center
Chinese civilization and culture spans over 5,000
years. Now we can experience Chinese culture here in the Valley
by visiting the Gardens at the COFCO Chinese Cultural Center.
The Gardens feature replicas of landmarks from five ancient
Chinese cities. Visitors can walk in the harmonious atmosphere
of the Chinese gardens that emperors once treasured. Designed by
the famous garden architect, Madame Ye, The Gardens carefully
adhere to Feng Shui and Ying Yang principles. The architecture
within the Gardens displays the careful craftsmanship of
thousands of years of training that only Chinese artisans can
produce.
23. Chinese Cultural Center supporters don't understand property
rights
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2017/10/26/chinese-cultural-center-property-rights-phoenix-not-understand/790665001/?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0
Consider the discussion taking place over the
Chinese Cultural Center near Sky Harbor Airport.
Other sites weren't as well preserved
In 2016 the original developer of the site, an
arm of the Chinese government, sold the property to an American
real-estate company. It did so without mandating stipulations
that it retain its distinctive Chinese architectural elements.
That company then sold it this year to a local
company seeking to relocate its corporate headquarters and
hundreds of employees from Scottsdale to Phoenix. It has pledged
to retain the Chinese garden along 44th Street and preserve
other statues and elements for relocation to other parts of the
city or Valley.
Such on- and off-site preservation is far more
than what happened to the Cine Capri at 24th Street and
Camelback Road. Or the redeveloper of the Rawhide, Greasewood
Flat and Pinnacle Peak Patio sites did in Scottsdale.
But that’s not been enough for some in the
Chinese-American community. We don’t mean that as criticism.
Indeed, we’re agnostic about the property’s aesthetics.
But architectural preference cannot trump private
property rights, no matter how vociferous the objection by
objectors at Phoenix City Council meetings.
Next time, it could be your property
It is at times like these that principle, not
politics, must carry the day. It is not appropriate nor a
beatitude for a bureaucrat, judge or rabble-rouser to slow walk
these rights. For such action would only encourage it to happen
again, but next time to your business, your property or your
home if someone simply doesn’t like what you are doing.
In the case of the Chinese Cultural Center, the
option should be very clear to everyone. If you want someone’s
property rights, pay for them.
If the owner doesn’t want to sell, that’s their
right. If the owner is willing to listen to offers, as is
apparently the case here, come up with the money to purchase the
property.
If you can’t, be aware that the 65 percent of
Arizonans who passed Prop. 207 are watching closely to see if
the City of Phoenix shows fidelity to one of Arizona’s most
critical laws.
24. Images of culture center
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=phoenix%20chinese%20cultural%20center&qs=AS&form=QBIR&sp=1&pq=phoenix%20chinese%20cul&sc=6-19&cvid=CE514BE735F64F3A9BC0FBA3F3211248
25. Community fights to save Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2017/08/15/community-fights-save-phoenix-chinese-cultural-center/547214001/
26.Chinese-American Community: Sign Defaced at the Chinese
Cultural Center | Phoenix New Times
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/chinese-american-community-sign-defaced-at-the-chinese-cultural-center-9604691?from=message&isappinstalled=0
Sign Plastered Over at Chinese Cultural Center in
Phoenix
Molly Longman | August 17, 2017 | 4:06pm
When employees arrived at the Phoenix Chinese
Cultural Center near 44th and Van Buren streets this morning,
something was missing
At least one sign in front of the historical site
signifying the cultural center had been plastered and painted
over, leaving only the physical address.
Related Stories
•Here's Everything Going on with Phoenix's
Chinese Cultural Center
Members of the Chinese and Asian-American
communities say the removal of the cultural center's name from
the sign was the result of a recent change in ownership.
Tenants at the center and members of the
Chinese-American community have been attempting to negotiate
with the new owner of the property, True North Companies, since
the Scottsdale-based company purchased the property in June,
according to Thomas Simon, a consultant for the Chinese United
Association of Greater Phoenix.
"They won't return calls, but have time in the
middle of the night to sneak out and cover up the cultural name
on the front of the building," Simon said. "It just says
volumes. It just says 'shove it.' That's how [the community is]
taking it."
True North Companies Chief Executive Officer
David Tedesco did not return a call from Phoenix New Times.
If you like this story, consider signing up for
our email newsletters.
"The Chinese people are very respectful, and
they're taking this as a sign of disrespect," Simon said.
Garry Ong, a spokesman for the coalition formed
to save the Chinese Cultural Center, held a press conference at
the restaurant Szechwan Palace in the center to discuss the
disheartening move to mar their signs.
Ong announced that the cultural center's new
owner agreed to meet with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. He said
he's hopeful the mayor will convince the new owner to leave the
rest of the cultural center unscathed.
"There's so much culture and history there, and
we don’t want to lose it," Ong said. "We want to sit down and
see how we can make this work for both of us."
27. Save the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center and Garden Protest
March AZ Resist
https://azresist.org/event/save-the-phoenix-chinese-cultural-center-and-garden-protest-march/
Save the Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center and
Garden Protest March
August 20, 2017 @ 4:40 pm
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Don’t let the City of Phoenix become the first US
city to demolish their Chinatown!
Please join our demonstration at 4:40pm on
Sunday, August 20th to save Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center from
demolition!
We are gaining momentum! Our last peaceful
demonstration on Sunday has been covered extensively by all
major local TV news and newspapers. Phoenix City Councilman
Michael Nowakowski joined our last demonstration. We have
gathered more than 5,000 signatures, and we have presented our
case to Mayor Greg Stanton. Mayor Stanton shares our view that
Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center is of great historic and
cultural value, and it should be preserved.
The Chinese Cultural Center, located on 44th St
in Phoenix, was built 20 years ago, It was designed by an
architect from China, built by Chinese artisans using
traditional techniques, with special materials and supplies
shipped here from China. Over the years, it has become a major
landmark and attraction where non-Chinese could acquire a sense
of what Chinese culture can mean in terms of architecture and
aesthetics. It is also a place where Chinese Americans can feel
a heartwarming connection to their roots. It has become part of
Arizona’s history and cultural heritage.
The cultural center is not just for the Chinese
community, it’s for all Arizonans. It’s not just for our
generation, it’s also for our children, and theirs. It is a
cultural icon in our state, and is enjoyed by people of all ages
and ethnic backgrounds. We believe we are acting in the best
interest of the community as a whole, and that the preservation
of the cultural center pays off in the long run.
We will be holding our second demonstration this
Sunday, August 20th at 4:40pm at the Cultural Center, which is
located at 668 N 44th St, Phoenix, Arizona 85008.
Please share this with your friends and family,
and join us to save this Arizona Chinese Cultural Center!
There is ample parking in the parking lot, as
well as in the underground garages onsite.
28.Rose‘s
Speech
Good afternoon Mr. Mayor and Council
Members
We are here because we believe in
ourselves and because we love our Chinese Cultural Center. It
represents our ancestors and the way they lived.
About 2,500 years ago, a philosopher
named Laozi founded the religion of Tao. He influenced us so
deeply that even Confucius tipped his hat to him. A great
believer in non-violence, Laozi’s teachings are very similar to
what Christians believe today. So, True North, don’t mistake our
humbleness as weakness!
The first time I heard that the Chinese
Cultural Center had been bought, I did some research to find out
if it was true. At first, I just thought that my favorite store,
the Ranch Market, was moving. I had no idea that True North had
bought the entire property. How did that happen? I thought we
Chinese owned it. Now we know. The sad part is that the new
owner doesn’t appreciate or respect Chinese culture. They
deliberately want to destroy the center.
I’ll be handing out important
information about zoning stipulation #11. I hope this will help
you understand how it applies to this situation.
The Chinese people of Phoenix worked
very hard to meet the public art requirement of this
stipulation. The Chinese Cultural Center has continued over the
past 20 years to make these significant art pieces, gardens, and
community square open to the public.
This isn’t an empty lot or a warehouse
that needs to be built or repaired. True North bought a piece of
Chinese history and culture and now they want to destroy it.
Why?
I have been to many Chinatowns in the
United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York,
Chicago, and Washington, D.C. None of them can compete with the
history and beauty of our Phoenix Chinese Cultural Center.
Phoenix is a multi-cultural city and I
heard that the city is planning to build a Latino Cultural
Center. Listen up, Latinos. You had better cross all the T’s and
dot all the I’s and carefully look into all the documents. I
would hate for you to have the legal problems in 10 or 20 years
that we do now.
Not too long ago, some of our people
demonstrated at a Pump-Up event. True North’s reaction was to
jack the price up on the Cultural Center. On September 13, they
removed the stone lions in front of the Ranch Market. We don’t
know if these statues were damaged, but they are priceless.
Furthermore, if True North damages the rooftop when they remove
it, why should we want to buy it?
This is not over. It’s just the
beginning.
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