Bill Calls For Count Of Asian Communities
By MEGAN MONTALVO
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| Councilman Daniel Dromm called for a better count of Asian-Pacific Americans during a speech on the steps of City Hall. |
In an effort to increase access to meaningful health and social services for Asian Pacific American communities, Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) has introduced new legislation.
On Sept. 24, Dromm stood with leaders from the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, New York University Center for the Study of Asian American Health and the Asian Research Institute at the City University of New York on the steps of City Hall to announce a bill that would disaggregate data collected on Asian Pacific Americans.
“If we don’t fully understand the true makeup of our Asian population, how can we ensure that we are effectively delivering services to communities that are currently underserved?” Dromm said. “Disaggregated demographic data is necessary in order for our city to properly identify and address the needs of all members of the City’s Asian Pacific American population.”
According to the 2010 Census, Asians were the fastest growing community in New York City between 2000 and 2010, growing by 30 percent. The minority group now represents 14 percent of the City’s total population.
While many Asian Pacific Americans share geographic and cultural commonalities, many sub-demographic groups within the community face different challenges that require a diverse set of needs to seek services from City agencies.
Currently, unique factors such as social, educational and economic differences associated with different Asian ethnicities are not reflected in required data research.
“Asian Pacific Americans play a vital role in New York’s workforce and economic success,” said Wayne Ho, executive director of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families. “This bill will lead to more effective policies, funding and services for New York’s fastest growing community.” Under the proposed legislation, City form documents used to collect demographic information will be required to separate collection categories for each major Asian Pacific American group, including, but not limited to: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Guamanian, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Native Hawaiian, Nepalese, Pacific Islander, Pakistani, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Thai, Tibetan and Vietnamese.
If passed, the data is expected to help make better use of federal funding streams by allowing providers, advocates, funders and decision makers to identify needs and resources that will aid in the development of public programs.
Reach Reporter Megan Montalvo at (718) 357-7400 Ext. 128 or mmontalvo@queenstribune.com.