CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR at SURROGATE’S COURTHOUSE

CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR at SURROGATE’S COURTHOUSE

By: h. nazan ışık —

22 February 2024—

The Mayor’s press office announced: “Mayor Adams will host a reception to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the New York County Surrogate’s Courthouse, and approximately 6:30 PM will deliver remarks”.

I arrived there at 17:30 (5:30 PM). There were two very long queues from the right and the left side to enter the building. And inside it was even more crowded. People were waiting in line to be checked in first, and join the checkpoint lane, remove anything metal and bags, and walk through metal detectors to enter the reception area.

I was in the waiting area. No press table yet to check in.

I noticed some people in costume.

“ Are you going to perform, are you Lion Dancers?” I asked.

“Maybe. Later maybe. We already danced.” said one of them.

I don”t know what else I missed.

It was 18:10 (6:10 PM), and finally someone came to check the press members in.

As I got in line for checkpoint and to walk through metal detectors, I saw Commissioner of Small Business Services, Kevin Kim on stage talking: “Good evening, everyone.Happy Year of the Dragon. Too often, the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islande) community in New York City has gone unseen and unheard.(..) We make up 18 percent of all New Yorkers and own 23 percent of small businesses.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce to you the mayor who gets stuff done for the AAPI community, and the mayor who truly sees each and every one of you, Mayor Eric Adams.”

Mayor Adams entered, wearing a red jacket, almost blended into the background.

Mayor Eric Adams: “Wow. Wow. Look at this crowd. Just wanted to get a picture of the crowd that we have here.

Just really excited to be here, and you know, to say to you, Happy New Year, you know, wish you many, many great years.

What is this the year of, the year of the what?”

Audience: “Dragon.”

Mayor Adams: “The year of the what?”

Audience: “Dragon.”

Mayor Adams: “Love it, love it. And I’m joined by just a full complement of our Asian, South Pacific elected officials. who are here with me.(…) Year after year we see how much this community has grown and continues to be such a vital part of, not only the economic strength of our city, but as you see, the rich diversity of our city.

“Welcome to the Surrogate’s Courthouse. Normally, we host this celebration at Gracie Mansion, this year, we’re downtown here at Surrogate Court. And it shows the strength and power of this community.

“And I especially want to welcome the international dignitaries. We had international dignitaries here from Korea, a place that I visited, Vietnam, a place that I visited, China, a place that I visited, India, a p;ace that I visited, and many other locations.

“And you all know the Year of the Dragon is about action, innovation and prosperity.

Or as we say in City Hall, it’s about Getting Stuff Done.

Happy New Year to you. May the Year of the Dragon bring you health, happiness and prosperity to all. Thank you very much.”

Commissioner Kim: “And we invite everyone to stay and enjoy the rest of the night.

Thank you very much for coming.”

Food tables were upstairs and a bar downstairs. People who stayed took selfies.

And enjoyed the night. It was a well organized event.

NKENdiKEN

NEWS/HABERLER

CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR at SURROGATE’S COURTHOUSE