Only weeks away from Election Day, self-proclaimed “Quincy kid” Tackey Chan, recently sat down with the Sampan to discuss his candidacy for state representative.
Sampan: Describe your story and background – who gave you the name Tackey?
Chan: [Laughs] People are always curious about my name. It comes from the Chinese name Chan “Duk Gei” 陳德基 – and my parents used the old Wade-Giles phonetics system (T=D; K=G), straight from the Cantonese, and got “Tackey.”
My parents immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong, moved to Boston in the 1971, and bought their first home in Quincy in 1973. They grew up in post-World War II China, and this was their opportunity to make things better. I have been a lifetime city resident. So, I’ve seen the changes [to Quincy] over the years.
I lost my dad in 1989 after his three long years of battling cancer. That was a big change in our lives. We had no immediate family around, and I remember dad would always tell me how important it is to help others, and to give back. I also went to BC High, and we were taught to be committed to community service.
I worked through college, and volunteered with kids and their families coping with cerebral palsy – important experience in my life. I came out of the last recession, when I graduated out of college in ‘95, which was the aftermath of the Savings & Loans crisis. After several internships and part-time jobs, I found my way to employment with State Senator Michael Morrissey. I then went on to law school at night, and worked with the Attorney General, defending customer interests against utilities companies. In 2001, I founded the Quincy Asian Resources, the first Asian-led non-profit in Quincy that has grown and prospered, which I’m very proud of.
Sampan: Your candidacy excited many Asian Americans. Is there a developed Asian American voting bloc in Massachusetts?
Chan: My experience with the Quincy Asian Resources provided important insights [on civic engagement] on the local level in terms of directing serving the needs and hearing the concerns of Asian residents. We’re also one of the few states that have an Asian American commission established by statue (not dependent on which governor is in office).
In terms of a voting bloc, I can’t speak on a statewide level. In Quincy, 10% of registered voters are Asian American (about 5500 people), and that’s pretty substantial. This figure will only grow after the 2010 Census, as many of the youth reach 18, and the legal permanent residents (green-card holders) get naturalized. The main challenge is always voter education: primary vs. final, lack of bilingual ballots, when or where to vote, knowing what parties and candidates stand for, and discerning the media.
Challenges are also different among the Vietnamese, Chinese, Indians, and Korean. But generally, many Asian immigrants are not used to voting in their native countries, and they have a general fear of government. Some had no choice, some had limited choices, and some dealt massive bureaucracies. But it is a very powerful thing to vote in this country. It creates a voice, and accountability for elected officials. You’re more inclined to getting your issues addressed.
Sampan: What is at stake in the local, state and federal level this election cycle?
Chan: On the federal level, there’s the 10th congressional district race, a very importance race in the South Shore between Rep. Jeff Perry (R) and District Attorney Bill Keating (D). People are still talking about the Scott Brown effect, and there is dissatisfaction with federal government. People want change. Overall, it’ll be a tough November for both Democrats and Republicans. It is important to elect someone who really does understand the constituency and bring the most for the district.
On the state level, the heavy focus is the governor’s race, which is very important. There might be a spillover effect since many people don’t differentiate between the [federal, state, local] levels of government.
In Quincy, there are cuts in the local school system, and there’s a major development project – and they part of quality of life issues. There’s also a lot of petty crime and robberies near the T-stations. Times are tough, and there are a lot of cuts in city services. It’s not easy to keep taxes down and services high.
There are also a lot of important ballot questions [on state revenue and affordable housing]. The turnout needs to be better, so we need people to get out and vote! If you can’t vote on November 2, get an absentee ballot. I also think themedia, and particularly the ethnic media can play a huge role in [fostering civic engagement].
Sampan: What can the state do to boost small business growth and create jobs?
Chan: [Containing] health-care [costs] is a big challenge for small businesses. We should use the Commonwealth Connector system to get lower rates for small businesses and their employees. We also tend to forget that not-for-profit sector also create jobs, and they pay taxes and provide stability.
We also need to renew the abilities for small businesses to get lines of credits. Steve Grossman (Democrat for State Treasurer), has a good idea to have the treasury channel money to small banks that are not part of the large banks who got us into trouble to be more proactive to provide loans to small businesses.
I also hear about barriers from immigrant entrepreneurs. For example, the Asian American Commission set up forums to listen to workers to get state contracts, and the Quincy Chamber of Commerce does a good job to provide language and technical assistance, and break down cultural and language barriers in understanding the regulatory process.
Sampan: What are the impacts of potential casino expansion in Massachusetts?
Chan: You have to thoughtfully research where you put a resort-style casino – it has a tremendous infrastructural and economic impact. The workers, visitors, and construction will put a strain on water, sewer, electricity, and traffic. I also think casinos will bring a major economic development, because it’ll employ hundreds of people, and provide direct competition with neighboring states.
Right now, we’re not getting any positive benefits from people gambling out of state. The existing social network has to bear the burden of the negative side-effects of [problem gambling]. We currently don’t get funding for mitigating gambling – the state doesn’t have direct resources to do [addiction prevention and services]. Revenue from casinos here will fund those programs properly.
Sampan: What needs to be improved in public education?
Chan: When I was growing up, I suffered the consequences of Proposition 2 ½, when, under a Republican Mayor, the city put a limit on property taxes. He then closed some schools, and sold them to private developers for condominiums. Overtime, no young families were moving in. We’re now talking about closing full time kindergarten. But schools are incredibly important, and we need a strong system that is a well-rounded – sports, academics, social clubs. Kids are expected to learn a lot and compete, but many kids are also expected to work to add income to families – and we need to acknowledge those realities.
Sampan: What do you see as the state’s role in enforcing immigration law as well as integrating immigrants?
Chan: This year, State Rep. Jeff Perry proposed legislation to ban illegal immigrants of any kind. I do not support illegal immigrants getting state benefits, but the reality is that government agencies require these checks already. If you don’t have a social security number, you don’t get public benefits. However, there are areas that the US Supreme Court has ruled to provide illegal immigrants with services such as K-12 public education. The alternative is to have uneducated underclass as opposed to try to include them, so they can be a productive part of society.
If you deny all access to every state service, there will be many consequences. For example, there are unscrupulous employers who hire illegal immigrants, and they are often paid below minimum wage, with no vacation and no health benefits. These workers need to file a police report, to access justice, and try to do the right thing. Another area would be emergency room services, and if we deny them emergency health care, it’s inhumane and detrimental to public health. We have to think all the way through, instead of pursuing heavy-handed bans for political purposes.
On enforcing immigration law, the state and local authorities can only enforce if they receive special training and partnership with federal government [ICE]. For example, state jails are holding detainees, but the federal government is leaving the jails hanging when they can use the space for dangerous criminals.
On integrating immigrants, the state should continue to fund social services. For immigrants, the first barrier is English, and people really want to learn. However, they also need to work, so we need to find services that accommodate their realities. My dad went to night school – to re-claim his bachelor’s degree, since the state didn’t acknowledge foreign certification.
The federal government took away many benefits back in 1996, when it put a 5-year waiting period for green-card holders to access benefits. We need to continue filling in those gaps, particularly in the area of Mass Health, recognizing that immigrant communities, like all others, need health insurance, education, and public safety. In addition, they need creative programs to become acclimated. This all happens in the local level. Direct outreach and integration is best done in the grassroots level, and the state can provide resources and guidance.
Samuel Tsoi is a Sampan correspondent.
