Clinton urging LMDC to address Chinatown issues.Concerned about the level of assistance given to Chinatown businesses and residents in the aftermath of Sept. 11, Sen. Hillary Clinton wrote to John C. Whitehead John Cunningham Whitehead (b. April 2 1922), is currently the chairman of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation (WTC Memorial Foundation), and former chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation until he resigned in May of 2006. , director of the Lower Manhattan Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York. Lower Manhattan is generally defined as the area delineated on the north by Chambers Street, on the west by the Hudson River (North Development Corporation, this week, requesting that he address outstanding community concerns in the area. In her letter to Whitehead whitehead /white·head/ (hwit´hed) 1. milium. 2. closed comedo. white·head n. 1. , Clinton pointed out that since Sept. 11, 40 garment factories in Chinatown have closed, restaurants have seen a 30%-70% decline in business, and retail has seen a 55% decline. In addition, workers in Chinatown businesses have seen their average weekly wages decline between 46% and 80%. In her letter, Clinton said that she had reached out to Joe Allbaugh Joe M. Allbaugh (born July 27, 1952) is an American political figure in the Republican Party. After spending most of his career in Oklahoma and Texas, Allbaugh came to national prominence working for Texas governor George W. , director of FEMA FEMA, n.pr See Federal Emergency Management Agency. , to express her concern regarding the denial of 7,000 applications for aid and was relieved to hear that FEMA would be reassessing its decisions. However, she requested that the Community Development Block Grant dollars be used specifically to address the immediate needs of the Chinatown community, ensuring that the neighborhood's businesses receive grants in an expedient ex·pe·di·ent adj. 1. Appropriate to a purpose. 2. a. Serving to promote one's interest: was merciful only when mercy was expedient. b. manner and residents receive grants to stay in Lower Manhattan. In her letter, Clinton also requested that the community be involved in any ongoing planning and development efforts being undertaken by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. Clinton's letter was prompted by a meeting of Chinatown businesses and residents on May 5, in which a number of concers was raised, including access to assistance and air quality. |
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