The early voting for the US presidential election and local elections in New York State has begun. In this year’s local elections in Flushing, Queens, there are two Republican candidates who are Taiwanese immigrants. On October 28, the New York Conservative Party held a forum at the New York Taiwan Center to emphasize the importance of voting. They pointed out that voters are like the bosses of elected officials, but only by casting a vote can they truly exert their authority, otherwise they are merely acquaintances at a table.
The three keynote speakers are long-time immigrants in the United States, living, owning businesses, and organizing events in Flushing, including John C. Liu, Chair of the Queens District of the New York Conservative Party; Yuqing Bai, a Flushing accountant and representative of the GOP Asian American Alliance; and Qingfu Lin, the current president of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce who operates a bubble tea shop near the bustling Flushing 7 Train subway station. They urge Taiwanese immigrant voters to actively participate in voting, unite the Taiwanese electorate, and showcase the role and power of voters as the true bosses by selecting the right candidates to address societal challenges.
John C. Liu mentioned that the number of votes in an electoral district determines the allocation of community resources. He highlighted the active involvement of the Jewish community in voting, emphasizing that their voices and rights are highly valued by elected officials due to their high voter turnout.
Liu emphasized, “Voters are the true bosses, elected officials are chosen by voters to serve them.” He added that “only when you cast your vote are you the boss.” He recalled a state legislator once telling him, “Only when you vote, you are my boss. If you don’t vote, you are my friend. If you’re just a friend, what can you do? Just eat, drink, take a photo, and then leave.”
The speakers recounted the history of Flushing in the 1960s and 1970s when Taiwanese immigrants arrived, worked hard, established businesses, and settled down, earning Flushing the nickname “Little Taipei.” However, the rapid population growth led to both commercial prosperity and challenges such as increased litter, unlicensed vendors, and other issues.
“If this continues, Flushing will become like a third-tier city in mainland China,” expressed Qingfu Lin, the owner of a CoCo Bubble Tea shop in Flushing. He highlighted the high cost of leasing space in Flushing and the issues faced by local businesses due to unlicensed vendors and lack of proper waste management.
Additionally, current laws make it difficult to prosecute thefts below $1,000, and suspects of petty crimes and non-violent felonies can be released on non-cash bail, allowing habitual offenders to go free, making it challenging for law enforcement to maintain public safety.
In this year’s local elections in Flushing, there are two Republican candidates of Taiwanese descent: Yating Zhu for the 11th Senate District and Shaoquan Wang for the 40th Assembly District. When asked why they decided to run for office, John C. Liu mentioned that he once inquired Yating Zhu and she responded, “Because I can’t stand it anymore.”
“We need to support those candidates who can’t stand the status quo in order to bring about change,” John C. Liu stated. He also advised voters to vote against all six proposed amendments to the New York State and New York City charters, especially the first proposal that may allow minors to make gender identity decisions without parental consent, which could have serious implications. Liu emphasized that Chinese immigrants work hard in the US and should not let these proposals, which he views as socially detrimental and with ill intentions, have a negative impact on the future. Thus, he suggested voting against all six ballot measures.