Blackbottom

I. Legal Recourse
In working with business, government agencies, and large institutions, it is important that a community understands the legal tools available.

Case #1: The Vine Street Expressway
In November of 1973, The Federal Highway Administration required that an Environmental Impact Statement be completed, because previous studies neglected air and noise analysis, as well as other secondary impacts. The success here was that the community could continue to dispute until its voice was heard. This law gave some power to the community to voice its concerns and take action upon them. Finally in 1983, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) filed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Penn DOT) and Region 3 of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contained a compromise plan for the expressway that met most of the needs of Chinatown.

Case #2: The Stadium
After the struggle in the 1960s against the demolishment of the Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church, the Asian Community was savvy in its use of tactics to stop the Stadium development. The SOOC Coalition requested access to the development reports including the economic impact statement and the environmental impact statement.
When the city failed to comply, the SOOC hired attorney Robert Sugar man to sue the city for their failure to provide public information. The complaint was filed under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Act.

II. Media
In addition to knowing the legal recourse for providing power to the community struggle, the media can serve as an efficient and effective tool to draw unwanted attention to any controversy.

Case #1: The Vine Street Expressway
When images of the youthful protestors climbing up to stop the bulldozer crossed the front pages of local newspapers, such as the Evening Bulletin, people stopped to take note. The objective of using the media is to get attention and public support. Headlines on August 7, 1977 read: Chinatown: A Community in a Squeeze told Philadelphia that something was happening to the community. With enough negative public attention, the government and large business will stop to listen to the community.

Case #2: The Stadium
By 2000, Philadelphia had seen many headlines about the trouble of Chinatown. An article in the Philadelphia City Paper adequately captures the disgust with the encroachment upon Chinatown, by simply saying, Here We Go Again.
Plan on interviewing kids to get the youth perspective; we already have that of the middle and elderly.

III. Rallies and Shut downs

Case #1: The Vine Street Expressway
The courageous Cecilia Yep refused to leave her home on 8th and Race Street even after all of her neighbors had left. They left in 1966 when the proposed expansion of the Vine Street Expressway began to level buildings on her block. Nicknamed “The Alamo of Chinatown,” Ms. Yep stayed until 1980s, even though three different mayors tried to evict her.

Case #2: The Stadium
One successful strategy that the Stadium Out of Chinatown Coalition used to persuade the city planning commission was to shut down Chinatown. On the afternoon of June 8, 2000 local business and organizations shut their doors in protest to the Stadium.

IV. Coalition Building
In the 1960s, when urban renewal and development plans were beginning to encroach upon Chinatown, individuals joined for a town meeting and formed the committee for the Advancement and Preservation of the Chinese Community, which was later, incorporated to become the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC). PCDC continues to strive today to preserve and promote culturally aware development in Chinatown. When the Stadium threatened Chinatown, the Asian community melded their differences and formed a coalition. The coalition bridged a diverse ethnicity and widened age gap, but solidified the movement forming a planned action to produce results.

The Philadelphia Chinatown Coalition to Oppose the Stadium included the Chinese Benevolent association, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, Holy Redeemer Church and School, Pennsylvania Indochinese Senior Citizens Association, Greater Philadelphia Chinese Chamber of commerce, Taiwan United Association, and Asian Americans United.

V. Cultural Celebration

Case #1: The Vine Street Expressway
In 1984, Chinatown build the Friendship Gate, located on 10th and Arch, as collaboration between Philadelphia and her Chinese sister city Tianjin. This is a successful way to physically define the area of Chinatown. It also is a rallying point for community support and pride.

Case #2: The Stadium
The Mid-Autumn Festival began in the mid-1990s to celebrate and preserve the culture of Chinatown.
This can be seen as both a tactic to preserve the culture and community of Chinatown, it is also a success. As a success it shows that the community stands together and is invested in the future of the community. With this investment, they will continue to struggle and fight against institutions, business, and governmental agencies that threaten to encroach upon their neighborhood.