A tale of two campaigns unfolded in New York City’s Chinese community last week.
As gongs and drums echoed through Mott Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown on May 7, former Governor Andrew Cuomo arrived at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), one of the neighborhood’s oldest and most respected community organizations.
Cuomo was surrounded by dozens of local Chinese community leaders and Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang. Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor on an independent line, irrespective of the Democratic primary, pledged to tackle the community’s concerns around public safety and the city’s homeless shelter policies, drawing applause from the audience in the CCBA meeting room.
Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, nearly 300 Chinese American residents from South Brooklyn were rallying against a proposed homeless shelter at 2134 Coyle St. in Sheepshead Bay.
Also Read: Senate Win for Steve Chan Highlights Chinese Community’s Red Shift
Joining those rallying were Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to community safety and crime prevention, and a representative from State Senator Steve Chan’s office. Together, they chanted, “Eric Adams, come on out!” and held signs reading “No Homeless Shelters,” demanding that Mayor Eric Adams address their concerns.
A litmus test for mayoral candidates
Large-scale protests against homeless shelters have emerged over the past few years in Chinese communities in Brooklyn and Manhattan, with residents expressing fears about safety, particularly near schools and senior centers.
While some studies show supportive housing can reduce crime among unhoused populations, such as a 2022 study by the Urban Institute’s Housing Matters initiative that found a 52% reduction in arrests for homelessness-related offenses, many protesters believe the shelter would increase crime, and argue that the city has failed to address the root of the homeless crisis and engage the communities housing the shelters in the planning process.
In July 2024, a protest against a shelter planned near 86th Street and 25th Avenue drew citywide attention when Councilwoman Susan Zhuang bit a police officer during a protest. Though Zhuang was hailed as a hero by many in her district, the city did not halt construction. Daily demonstrations outside the site have now continued for nearly 300 days.
Last week’s protest in front of City Hall followed the news that a site initially approved for affordable housing had been converted into a shelter plan in mid-2023 without public notice. The backlash escalated in late April, when tensions between protesters and police led to two arrests.
Angela Zhang, a Sheepshead Bay resident of nearly a decade, said her concerns stem from the shelter’s proximity to schools and daycares. “We worked so hard to build this peaceful neighborhood. We’re not against homeless people. We understand they’re in need, but we are worried about safety,” she said in Mandarin. “We’re trying to protect our home.”
Lina Chen, founder of the nonprofit Save South Brooklyn, which is dedicated to maintaining the prosperity and safety of the neighborhood, said the petition opposing the shelter has gathered over 10,000 signatures since March 15. “The safety concerns around homeless shelters are the elephant in the room,” she said. “You always see reports of homeless individuals pushing people onto subway tracks or randomly stabbing people. These are not isolated incidents.”
Also Read: Chinatown Organizations Protest Proposed Homeless Shelter
Public safety and homelessness have become key concerns for Chinese voters in recent elections. Last November, many Chinese voters in Southern Brooklyn told Documented that these issues influenced their decision to vote Republican, including support for State Senator Steve Chan and President Trump.
That trend may continue in the upcoming mayoral race, with candidates vying for support in one of the city’s most politically active and increasingly influential immigrant communities.
Both Cuomo and Sliwa have taken steps to appeal to these voters.
On May 2, Cuomo visited a senior center in Southern Brooklyn’s Chinese neighborhood, publicly addressing the controversial homeless shelter issue and receiving endorsements from City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang and Assemblyman William Colton.
However, while explicitly opposing the 86th Street shelter in Zhuang’s district, he did not make specific commitments regarding the Chinatown shelter at his May 7 visit to CCBA. The details of the issue still need further understanding, he said, adding that he would assess the scope of the future mayor’s authority before making a decision.
Sliwa, on the other hand, has frequently appeared at anti-homeless shelter protests in various Chinese communities in Brooklyn since 2021. He has also clearly stated his opposition to building shelters in these neighborhoods, and has won the support of Senator Steve Chan.
At the protest, he criticized both the Adams administration and Cuomo, arguing that the Chinese American community shouldn’t be blamed for opposing shelters, saying, “Let Manhattan rich people do their fair share first. But these are all the contributors to Adams and Cuomo. They want to put shelters in the outer boroughs.”
However, that stance alone does not mean guaranteed approval from Chinese community members.
“I don’t know who I’ll vote for yet,” said Angela Zhang, a protester who has been living in Sheepheads Bay for nearly 10 years. “But I’ll be paying close attention to how each candidate handles the shelter issue. We need someone who will speak up for our community.”
Leo Liu, a longtime Sheepshead Bay resident, said he doubts Cuomo has the political will or power to stop the shelter plan. “Even if he wants to change it, the pressure within the Democratic party is too strong,” he said. “Sliwa has consistently shown up for us, I prefer him.”
Chen, who supports Sliwa, echoed that sentiment. “Any candidate who wants Chinese support needs to be honest about where they stand,” she said. “It’s not enough to say, ‘We won’t build them in your neighborhood.’ Then where will you build them? If you’re just making empty pledges for votes or donations, how can we trust you?”
Xuhui Ni, communications director for State Senator Steve Chan, attended Wednesday’s protest in support. Speaking in a personal capacity, he said the topic of homeless shelters is unavoidable for any candidate hoping to engage Chinese voters, and concerns over public safety have been a key driver of the “Red wave” in Brooklyn’s Chinese community in the past elections.
Ni said he sees the division among Chinese voters as a positive sign. “It’s a sign that Chinese voters are becoming more mature,” he said. “If we all had one unified voice, that would be abnormal. It means it’s harder for any one party to manipulate the votes in the Chinese community.”
A Trust Crisis
At the protest, many community members in Sheepshead Bay also voiced frustration over the city’s decision to repurpose 2134 Coyle St. from an affordable housing project into a homeless shelter, accusing officials of sidestepping community input and betraying public trust.
Ni said many constituents see the current shelter system as fragmented and ineffective, addressing symptoms rather than root causes. He noted that recent corruption scandals involving shelters during the Adams administration have only deepened public skepticism. “All of this leaves people wondering, what’s really going on behind the scenes?” said Ni.
“This is definitely a bait and switch!” said Theresa Scavo, chair of Community Board 15, which covers Sheepshead Bay, in a statement. “The Community Board approved a zoning change for affordable housing in 2021, then it proceeded for city approval in 2023 […] the property was then sold and repurposed for a shelter without any [Community Board] input.”
Scavo added that the board first learned of the change in December 2024 and attempted to schedule meetings with the city’s Department of Social Services (DSS) and nonprofit operator Westhab, but were repeatedly met with delays.
Also Read: Chinese Community Marches to Tell Adams: “Our Voice and Vote Matters”
Scavo said the developer currently holds demolition permits, adding that the Community Board stands with the community in opposing the shelter. “The CB is working with local elected officials to rescind the city contract and delay building department permits,” said Scavo.
Frank Shea, spokesperson for Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse of District 46, which includes Sheepshead Bay, also said their office was not informed that 2134 Coyle St. would be converted into a shelter until January 2025. “The notice we saw in July 2023 was never verified by DHS,” he said, noting it wasn’t mentioned during reviews of two nearby rezonings that assumed the site would become housing.
“The real issue is that the administration can unilaterally repurpose a site […] without any additional input from the community that approved it,” Shea said. He added that the office is urging a return to the original affordable housing plan, has requested a full site audit, and is committed to fighting “profit-driven deals that manipulate the zoning and land-use process.”
However, DSS spokesperson Nicholas Jacobelli said the agency notified the community about the 2134 Coyle St. shelter in July 2023 and they remain committed to providing at least 30 days notice before opening any new shelters. The timeline, he noted, depends on securing necessary city and state construction permits.
Jacobelli also emphasized that Sheepshead Bay currently has no long-term shelter facilities, making this the first of its kind in the neighborhood.
“While these protestors have every right to publicly express their views and opinions, they must do so peacefully and in a manner which complies with the law,” Jacobelli said in a statement. “We will continue to maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders and elected officials from the area in order [to] keep them apprised of the status of this project.”
Responding to safety concerns, Jacobelli said the facility will house 169 families and offer holistic support services. He noted that Westhab, a nonprofit which is developing and operating the Sheepshead Bay shelter under contract with DSS, will provide 24/7 security with at least five guards per shift, 125 surveillance cameras, and community patrols. A 24-hour hotline will also be available for local feedback.
Chen said community members will continue opposing the proposed homeless shelter. While she supports Sliwa, she encouraged residents to vote for candidates who reflect their values. “If you want to make a difference in your community, attend voter registration events and vote!”
