Business

February 19, 2021 0

Tech companies must address hate speech aimed at BIPOC

by Jun Li

As tech companies have grown increasingly prevalent, moderation, especially in regards to hateful or discriminatory content, has as well. While most tech companies have policies that clearly delineate what is free speech and what is hate speech, for some — such as LinkedIn — enforcing those policies is what has become problematic. Edward Hsieh, chief operating officer of the Asian American Civic Association (AACA), said he received a harassing message from a LinkedIn burner-profile accusing him of being a “spy […]

February 19, 2021 0

PPP: round 2 changes geared towards small businesses

by Carey Lin

Since the pandemic began, local economies and neighborhoods have seen devastating challenges as businesses struggle to remain open or adjust to this new environment. The hospitality industry took the worst hit, with the number of open businesses decreased to 54.6% and a 64% decrease in revenue for small businesses in the industry. In Boston Chinatown, Relationship Manager at Citizens Bank, Herb Wong said, “I know a lot of business owners, they are struggling. They asked me, ‘Hey should we close […]

January 8, 2021 0

Trump Signs Stimulus Bill for Second Round of PPP

by Christine Mui

Some long-awaited financial assistance for small businesses is coming after President Trump signed the new $900 billion dollar stimulus bill into law on Sunday, December 27. The relief package allocates $284 billion dollars to a new round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and sets aside funds for businesses in low-income and minority communities. The arts and entertainment industry, shuttered live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions will have access to $15 billion in grants. Aid measures also address […]

November 20, 2020 0

Our Voice, Our Land

by guest

by Lydia Lowe, Chinatown Community Land Trust Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA, formerly called the Boston Redevelopment Authority) held a public meeting online on November 17 to discuss the future of Parcel R-1, the publicly owned lot between Tyler and Hudson Streets that is the former site of the old Chinatown YMCA. The meeting was held in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and you can participate using a computer or tablet with internet access, or a cell phone. Origins of […]

November 20, 2020 0

Chinese Restaurant Finances in the 1920s

by Richard Auffrey

How much did Chinese restaurants earn during the 1920s? How were they financed? And what did they pay their employees? We can get some insight into the answers through examining two restaurants, the Royal Restaurant in Chinatown and the Imperial Restaurant in Cambridge, both connected by one of the same partners, Chung Moi. Chung Moi was born in China and came to San Francisco in 1912, where he remained for about three years before moving to Boston. There, he first […]

November 20, 2020 0

Let’s talk about taxes… The do’s and don’ts, the why and why nots in filing taxes as an immigrant

by Carey Lin

Taxes are notoriously complicated. Most might know that it has to do with money, keeping records, and filing them on time. But what else should we know? As part of our Special Finance Issue, Sampan interviewed Melody Tsang and Richard Soo Hoo to provide us with some reminders and a brief overview on the significance of filing taxes. Melody Tsang is Asian American Civic Association’s (AACA) Multi-Services Coordinator and specializes in immigration and tax filings. “Everyone in America has to […]

November 6, 2020 0

Anti-Asian sentiment and lack of space disincentivizes Chinatown outdoor dining

by Christine Mui

By Christine Mui and Jun Li Outdoor dining in Boston has flourished during the last few weeks despite COVID-19 rates steadily rising, but one neighborhood seems to have been left behind. Restaurants in Chinatown, where the pandemic’s economic impacts hit first and hard, have stayed reluctant to make the switch to outdoor dining, choosing to stick to takeout only instead. Approval for outdoor dining requires obtaining temporary extension of a premise permit from the Licensing Board for the City of […]

October 8, 2020 0

Cathay Bank, Economic Justice Project, Ropes & Gray offer free business workshop to Chinatown Community

by guest

Bankers and lawyers have two of the poorest reputations of any professional groups, but on September 23 representatives of these occupations showed their potential for doing good: they teamed up to present the first in a series of free seminars for small-business owners in Chinatown. The event was the combined brainchild of the Economic Justice Project (part of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights), Cathay Bank, and Boston-based firm Ropes & Gray. The EJP has worked in low-income areas like […]

September 4, 2020 0

COVID-19 makes obtaining job training even more challenging

by Carey Lin

By Carey Lin Earlier this year, unemployment rates skyrocketed to 14.7% in April, the highest ever recorded since 1948, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, MassHire Career Centers and services have been limited due to mandatory social distancing measures. While not open to the public, MassHire can still be reached over the phone or online. Nonprofits such as the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) also have services available in career advising, job training, and placement. While many services […]

August 21, 2020 0

Chinatown Master Plan 2020 covers a broad spectrum of future development and community needs

by Lydia Lowe

The Chinatown Master Plan Committee released Master Plan 2020 with two recent launch events, involving more than a hundred participants from the community, local officials, and other interested stakeholders. Chinatown Master Plan 2020 is a 91-page report, with English and Chinese language versions, that includes data snapshots, updated community development priorities, and identification of four “opportunity areas” where development could support community health and stability. Drafted out of a year-and-a-half planning process involving residents, small business owners, community organizations, and […]

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