Tag: covid-19

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AABANY Hosts Weekly Zoom Membership Mixer on May 22

On May 22, 2020, the Membership Committee hosted their weekly Zoom Mixer Membership Mixer, with 21 participants in attendance. The icebreaker question posed to the participants was “What song would be playing if you had to  make an grand entrance?” Members named “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Game of Thrones” theme song, “Eye of the Tiger,” “Final Countdown,” K-Pop classics, “‘Law and Order” theme, “Juicy,” “Young, Scrappy and Hungry,” and more great songs.

This mixer featured AABANY Treasurer Will Hao, Alston & Bird Associate Will Lee, Pro Bono Committee Vice Chairs Karen King and Kwok Ng who gave members a preview of an upcoming COVID-19 small business relief community presentations.

The Membership Committee previously hosted Monthly Mixers at bars, ballparks, stadiums, operas, etc, but due to COVID, we are moving online to offer members a weekly outlet to share their feelings, see old friends, and make new connections. Mixers start at 6:30pm on Friday and the main event ends at 7:30pm but feel free to stay on after 7:30pm for smaller breakout groups.

We are giving away door prizes on some weeks. In order to win, you must be a member and must RSVP via the calendar entry on aabany.org to get a raffle number. Non-members can join the Zoom mixer but won’t be eligible to win a prize. Mixers are not recorded, and are LIVE, so don’t miss out.

This week we gave away a Hulu subscription – congratulations to Bryan Cheah for winning! Congratulations to Bryan also for graduating from Rutgers Law School, and we wish you the best of luck in preparing for the bar exam!

Please register at https://www.aabany.org/events/event_details.asp?legacy=1&id=1366637 to join us on May 29, for a possible trivia night, and to celebrate Beatrice’s birthday!

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AABANY Presents Community Webinars on Anti-Asian Violence in Mandarin and Cantonese

Mandarin Webinar
Cantonese Webinar

On Saturday, May 16, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) hosted its “Mandarin and Cantonese Community Webinar on Anti-Asian Violence,” part of a broader series aimed at addressing the rise in anti-Asian violence in light of COVID-19. The events focused on briefing individuals on how to defend themselves if an incident were to occur and also discussed relevant state laws that protect victims. The Mandarin webinar aired from 2:00-3:00 PM and the Cantonese webinar aired from 3:00-4:00 PM.

Guest speakers included moderator Kwok Kei Ng and representatives from the NYPD, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR).

William Kwok, Asian Liaison of the Immigrant Outreach Unit of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau, discussed the practical measures by which individuals can protect themselves from immediate physical harm. Individuals are encouraged to run into public spaces such as stores or public spaces that may have police officers on duty. If they are able, victims are encouraged to call 911 or get bystanders to contact the police. There are translators on stand-by at the NYPD if needed. Most importantly, undocumented persons should not be afraid of calling the NYPD as officers are forbidden to inquire about a victim’s immigration status.

Additionally, Officer Kwok and Mr. Ng discussed specific provisions of the Hate Crimes laws that apply. New York Penal Law § 240.30-3 describes the elements of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, stating that the incident must reflect an intent to harass, annoy, threaten, or harm through physical force. New York Penal Law §485.05, the Hate Crime Law, enhances sentencing if the incident is proven to be bias-motivated. Victims and bystanders should be unafraid of reporting incidents to the authorities; any materials whether in the form of videos, audios, or testimonials can help secure a conviction. Officer Kwok and Mr. Ng presented in both the Mandarin and Cantonese webinars.

Lastly, Jiarui Li, an associate at Simpson Thacher and guest speaker for the Mandarin webinar, and Karen Yau, Co-Chair of the AABANY Pro Bono & Community Service Committee and guest speaker for the Cantonese webinar, discussed the various resources available to victims. Victims should contact the New York Office of Victim Services and the NYCCHR to see if they are eligible for compensation and legal assistance. Both New York City and New York State have dedicated Hate Crimes Task Forces that victims can contact. Victims residing in New Jersey or Connecticut can contact their own individual state Hate Crimes Task Forces.

The guest speakers reiterated the importance of reporting anti-Asian incidents to the police. Only by informing the relevant authorities can we adopt a preventative approach and stop bias incidents from occurring before individuals are harmed.

We thank the guest speakers for joining us and for their commitment to protecting the well-being of everyday New Yorkers. For more information on anti-Asian harassment and violence, email [email protected] or call our hotline at 516-690-7724.

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AABANY Hosts Weekly Zoom Membership Mixer on May 15

On May 15, 2020, the Membership Committee hosted their weekly Zoom Mixer Membership Mixer, with 24 participants in attendance. The icebreaker question posed to the participants was “If you were not a lawyer or did not have a job in law, what would your career be?” Members said they would be chefs, producers, directors, comic book illustrators, standup comics, cosmologists, and food critics. 

Issues Chair, Chris Kwok, moderated a discussion about the Asian Americans documentary being shown on PBS right now. https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/

The Membership Committee previously hosted Monthly Mixers at bars, ballparks, stadiums, operas, etc. But, due to COVID-19, we are moving online to offer members a weekly outlet to share their feelings, see old friends, and make new connections. Mixers start at 6:30 pm on Friday, and the main event ends at 7:30 pm but feel free to stay on after 7:30 pm for smaller breakout groups.

We are giving away door prizes in some weeks. To win, you must be a member and must RSVP on the aabany.org to get a raffle number. Non-members can join the Zoom mixer but won’t be eligible to win a prize. 

This week we gave away PBS’s Asian Americans DVD! Congratulations to Francis Chin for winning!

Be sure to register for this week’s mixer by Thursday evening, May 21, here: https://www.aabany.org/events/event_details.asp?legacy=1&id=1366636

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Mayor Bill de Blasio Releases 5/13/2020 Weekly COVID-19 Resources

Please note the following summary and resource of COVID-19 updates as of May 13th, 2020, released by the Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio.

  1. Anti COVID-19 Stigma
  2. Education
  3. Food Resource
  4. Small Business
  5. Health + COVID-19 Testing
  6. Benefits
  7. Jobs
  8. DACA
  9. Others

Read more about the resources in English and Chinese here.

In addition, please note the following events hosted by the NYC Commission on Human Rights. The Mandarin Language Bystander Intervention Training: Responding to COVID-19 Scapegoating and Hate on Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM and Wednesday, May 27 at 3:00 PM.

Please contact Xiaomin Zhao at (646) 306-9287 or via email at [email protected] if you have questions.

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NYForward: A Guide to Reopening New York

NYForward is a state mandated guide to reopening New York safely. The guide has addressed some of the critical factors that have have helped New Yorkers combat the spread of the Covid-19: statewide testing initiatives, economic stimulus packages, and maintenance of strategic reserve of personal protective equipment (PPE). As for guidelines moving forward, the guide has proposed a series of metrics by which regions would be evaluated to determine if they can reopen. These guidelines include a sufficiently low infection rate, a stable health care system that is able to absorb a potential resurgence in cases, sufficient diagnostic testing capacity, and robust contact-tracing to help prevent the spread of the virus. Additionally, the guide has provided a plan for the phased reopening of businesses.

The guide also urges community leaders to pay special attention to vulnerable populations and to hold businesses accountable to the listed guidelines. Universities and schools should craft individualized plans for reopening and state and local leaders should continue to provide sufficient mental health resources. The guide also outlines the individual responsibilities necessary for communities to curb the spread of the virus and stresses the importance of continuing social distancing policies along with practicing good hygiene.

The final section discusses lessons that can be learned from the current crisis and proactive measures that could be adopted. These policies include incorporating and integrating technology that could help schools better transition to online lessons, streamlining healthcare and transportation systems, and ensuring greater social equity through reforming housing policies and other initiatives.

To read the full guide, click on the cover image below.

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NYCCHR Chair and Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis’ Response to a Rise in Anti-Asian Harassment and Hate Crimes

The recent spike in Anti-Asian harassment and hate crimes have prompted a strong response by NYCCHR Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis. Encouraging New Yorkers to stand together against discrimination, she describes the history of scapegoating in times of crisis and the dangers of fearmongering. She encourages individuals to combat Asian-American stereotypes and misconceptions that underplay anti-Asian racism. With Malalis at the helm, the NYCCHR has formed a COVID-19 response team to handle reports of discrimination and harassment. She strongly encourages victims and bystanders to record and report such incidents to the NYC Commission on Human Rights.

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AABANY Hosts Weekly Zoom Membership Mixer on May 8

On May 8, 2020, the Membership Committee hosted their weekly Zoom Membership Mixer, with 20 participants in attendance. The question posed to the participants was, “If you could choose one only movie, book or TV series to watch or read repeatedly for a one year quarantine, what would that be?” Members said they would choose: Harry Potter, The Office, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Seinfeld, The Dream of Red Chamber, On a Pale Horse, Matrix Trilogy, and Blade Runner.

The Membership Committee previously hosted Monthly Mixers at bars, ballparks, stadiums, operas, etc. But, due to COVID-19, we are moving online to offer members a weekly outlet to share their feelings, see old friends, and make new connections. Mixers start at 6:30 pm on Friday, and the main event ends at 7:30 pm but feel free to stay on after 7:30 pm for smaller breakout groups.

We are giving away door prizes in some weeks. To win, you must be a member and must RSVP on the aabany.org to get a raffle number. Non-members can join the Zoom mixer but won’t be eligible to win a prize. 

This week we gave away a 4-month Showtime subscription! Congratulations to Suehyan Cho O’Leary for winning and we hope you enjoy watching Billions, Homeland, and The Affair.

For the Membership Mixer on May 15, please watch the PBS documentary “Asian Americans” https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/ and we will be having a discussion of same with Chris Kwok moderating.

WE WILL NOT BE RECORDING THE SESSIONS – live Zoom meetings only! Don’t miss out. Be sure to register for this week’s mixer by Thursday evening, May 14, here: https://www.aabany.org/events/event_details.asp?legacy=1&id=1366635.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio Releases 5/5/2020 Weekly COVID-19 Resources

New York State on PAUSE is extended through 5/15. Non-essential workforce is directed to continue to work from home until at least 5/15.

Please note the following summary and resource of COVID-19 updates as of May 5th, 2020, released by the Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio.

  1. Anti COVID-19 Stigma
  2. Education
  3. Food Resource
  4. Small Business
  5. Health + COVID-19 Testing
  6. Benefits
  7. Jobs
  8. DACA
  9. Others

Read more about the resources in English and Chinese here. Please contact Xiaomin Zhao at (646) 306-9287 or via email at [email protected] if you have questions.

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AABANY Signs onto Statement of Support for Resolutions Opposing Anti-Asian Sentiment

On April 27, 2020, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) along with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and many other bar associations signed onto a statement of support for Congressional resolutions opposing anti-Asian sentiment related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Asian American and Pacific Islander community has been the target of increasing acts of bias, racism, and xenophobia in connection with the coronavirus. AABANY firmly stands against racism and discrimination and is proud to support efforts to address the experiences our community may face with these issues.

Please visit here for the full statement.

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Legal Services NYC COVID-19 Resources for Clients

Legal Services NYC has compiled an extensive COVID-19 Resources Guide for its clients. The resource guide includes, but is not limited to, updates on the local, state, and federal court systems; public benefits and unemployment insurance resources; and information on how to continue to access our services. It is continuously being updated and is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Legal Services NYC Resources: https://www.legalservicesnyc.org/what-we-do/covid-resources

Legal Services NYC’s Access Line is OPEN and the organization continues to serve clients and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Legal Services NYC’s physical offices are closed as of March 17, 2020, the organization’s dedicated staff are working remotely on behalf of new and existing clients.

Current clients should contact their advocate’s office or extension for more information about their cases.

If you are seeking legal assistance on a new matter, you can call the Legal Services NYC legal assistance hotline at 917-661-4500, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff can take calls in any language.