<p class="ql-block">今天2022年1月16日，星期日，距離農曆新年還有兩週左右的時間。 中國傳統文化，華人在新年假期期間不尋求任何醫療服務，因此我必須在農曆新年前（虎年）之前訪問唐人街地區的許多居家病人。 我們的病人護理經理海倫今天安排了 18 位長者，讓我去他們家出診。 我們都知道這是第 4 波新冠COVID-19 大流行的高峰期，Omicron 變種佔據主導地位，對紐約社區造成了沉重打擊。 根據紐約市衛生部的數據，在過去的 28 天裡，我們的 Covid 陽性率超過 31%，每天約有 30,000 例確診病例。 然而，許多人已經接受這是他們正常的日常生活。 因此，我們的患者非常高興和熱切地歡迎我們的家訪。 我們都接受了 Moderna 加強針注射新冠疫苗，並佩戴 KN 95 口罩出診，完全符合 CDC 指南，患者安全始終是我們醫生的首要任務。</p><p class="ql-block">Today January 16, 2022, Sunday, is about two weeks away from Lunar New Year. There are many home bound patients living in Chinatown area I have to visit before the Chinese New Year ( year of Tiger) as the Chinese culture that the Chinese world not seek any medical care during the new year holiday season. Our patient care manager Helen arranged 18 seniors for me to visit in their home today. We all understand that it is the peak of 4th wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Omicron variant dominated and hits New Yorker very hard. According to the data from Department of Health, New York City, in the past 28 days, we have over 31% Covid positive rate, about 30,000 daily confirmed cases. However, many people already accept that as their normal daily life. Therefore our patients are happily and eagerly welcome our house visit. We all received Moderna booster shot for Covid vaccination, and wear KN 95 mask for the house call, fully compliant with CDC guidelines, the patient safety is always our top priority. </p> <p class="ql-block">一如既往，堅哥是我的專職司機，即使是在這個寒冷多風的星期天。 唐人街是擁有 150 多年曆史的亞裔社區中心，儘管許多年輕的移民、他們的第二代或第三代子女搬出去追求進一步的教育和不同的職業機會，而不是從事父母的傳統工作：<span style="font-size:18px;">作為餐館或自助洗衣店的工作人員，</span>但仍有許多老年人在那里居住了幾十年。</p><p class="ql-block">以下是來自國家公園服務網站（bps.gov）的描述： 1870 年代，紐約市的華人開始集中在堅尼路以南的匆街附近。 很多中國男人拋妻棄子來到美國，希望發家致富，以後再回國內娶個媳妇回來。 隨著華人區開始發展，居民（幾乎全是男性）開始形成各種社會團體。 這些社團連同家鄉和家庭協會成為唐人街居民的重要生命線。</p><p class="ql-block">到 1880 年，唐人街居住著 700 至 1,100 名中國移民。 限制華人移民的 1882 年排華法案的通過減緩了唐人街的發展。 1888年至1902年間，美國國會通過了其他針對華人移民的排他性法律，大量減少了進入美國的華人數量。</p><p class="ql-block">到 1890 年代，勿街和佩爾街（Pell Street）兩旁林立著許多中餐館，受到紐約市非華人居民的歡迎。 Joss houses 是充滿香火的道教聖地，亦是唐人街當年的地標。 1893 年，演員朱峰（Fung Chu ）在多耶斯街 （Doyers Street ）5-7 號開設了中國歌劇院，這是舊金山以外的第一家華語劇院。 華人聯合會 (CCBA) 購買了勿街 16 號的大樓，這被認為是唐人街的市政廳，現在搬遷到勿街 62 號。 該組織 (CCBA) 和許多其他組織調解了不同華人團體之間的糾紛，充當商業交易的中間人，現在更多地倡導華人和美籍華人的權利。</p><p class="ql-block">As always, Jack is my driver, even in this very cold and windy Sunday. Chinatown is the heart of Asian community with over 150 years history, there are many seniors living there for decades even though many younger immigrants, their second or third generation children moved out pursuing further education and different career opportunities instead of picking up their parent’s traditional job as restaurant or laundromat workers. </p><p class="ql-block">Here is the description from national park service website (bps.gov): During the 1870s, the Chinese in New York City began to concentrate around Mott Street south of Canal Street. Many Chinese men left wives to come to America, hoping to get rich and return later. As the Chinese quarter started growing the residents, almost exclusively men, began to form various social societies. These societies along with native place and family associations became an important lifeline for the residents of Chinatown.</p><p class="ql-block">By 1880, Chinatown was home to between 700 and 1,100 Chinese immigrants. The passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which restricted Chinese immigration, slowed Chinatown’s growth. The U.S. Congress passed other exclusionary laws aimed at Chinese immigrants between 1888 and 1902, effectively reducing the number of Chinese entering the country.</p><p class="ql-block">By the 1890s, Mott and Pell streets were lined with Chinese restaurants, which became popular with the non-Chinese residents of New York City. Joss houses, an American name for incense-filled Taoist shrines, were a fixture in Chinatown. In 1893, Actor Chu Fong opened the Chinese Opera House at 5-7 Doyers Street, the first Chinese-language theater east of San Francisco. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) purchased the building at 16 Mott Street, and this was considered the city hall of Chinatown, and now relocated to 62 Mott Street. The organization (CCBA) and many others meditated disputes among the different Chinese groups, acted as middlemen in business transactions, and now more advocated for the rights of Chinese and Chinese Americans.</p> <p class="ql-block">目前<span style="font-size:18px;">位於 62 勿街（Mott Street）</span>的 CCBA 總部。</p><p class="ql-block">The current headquarter of CCBA at <span style="font-size:18px;">62 Mott Street. </span></p> <p class="ql-block">CCBA 與我們的 Somos 社區醫療大联盟合作，於 2021 年 3 月 26 日在唐人街中心共同組織了第一次免費的 新冠Covid 疫苗接種。當時紐約州副州長，現任州長Cathy Hochul 來到華人社區發表講話，以促進疫苗接種。我們 SOMOS network 的百康醫療團隊再次來到這裡管理疫苗接種點，並為醫務人員和管理人員提供志願者，為唐人街的居民提供免費的 Covid 疫苗。</p><p class="ql-block">CCBA, worked with our Somos community care, co-organized the first free Covid vaccination in the heart of Chinatown March 26, 2021. Then New York State lieutenant governor Cathy Hochul came in to address the Chinese community for promoting vaccination. Team Excelsior Medical of SOMOS network again was here to manage the vaccination site and provide volunteers for medical staff and admin staff to give free Covid vaccines to the residents in Chinatown.</p> <p class="ql-block">CCBA 現任會長于金山 Justin Yu 和我親愛的朋友 Cong He 何聰醫學博士。百康醫療 Excelsior Medical 團隊。</p><p class="ql-block">The current president of CCBA Justin Yu and my dear friend Dr. Cong He. The team Excelsior Medical.</p> <p class="ql-block">2021 年 12 月 23 日，我們百康醫療Excelsior 再次來到 CCBA，與 VNSNY 和 BCBS 共同贊助，為華人社區提供加強 Covid 疫苗接種。 曼哈頓區長蓋爾·布魯爾 (Gale Brewer) 訪問了我們，並讚揚了我們在抗擊新冠Covid 大流行方面所做的努力。</p><p class="ql-block">December 23, 2021, we, Excelsior are here in CCBA again, co-sponsored with VNSNY and BCBS to provide booster Covid vaccination to the Chinese community. Manhattan borough president Gale Brewer visited us and praised our efforts in fighting Covid pandemic.</p> <p class="ql-block">道耶士街（Doyers Street）5-7 號，東海岸第一座華人歌劇院（1893 年至 1911 年）。當年這里曾經發生過著名的華人黑幫搶戰，有些黑幫成員在這里魂歸天國。 現在它是一家非常有名的中餐館，名叫探花樓Chinese Tuxedo的所在地。</p><p class="ql-block">5-7 Doyers Street, the first Chinese opera house (1893 to 1911) in east coast. It had a notorious shooting among the Chinese gangsters here with some died from the fighting. Now it houses a very reputable Chinese restaurant named Chinese Tuxedo. </p> <p class="ql-block">這是在唐人街非常古老的建築之一，有 102 年曆史，位於佩爾街拐角附近堅尼路以南的勿街28 號。 我的病人，這位 101 歲的老太太，自從她移民到紐約以來，已經在 5 樓住了 50年。 她獨自生活，24 小時住家家庭護理員 (HHA) 幫助她日常生活，因為她的女兒已經搬離唐人街一段時間了。</p><p class="ql-block">這些老建築幾乎每一棟都是底層有商店，頂層有公寓，從3層到5層不等，沒有電梯，只有非常狹窄的走廊和陡峭的螺旋樓梯。 住在這些公寓裡的老年人將無法下樓進行包括醫療在內的日常活動，這就是為什麼在這個歷史悠久的唐人街非常需要上門醫療服務的原因。 這就是為什麼我們<span style="font-size:18px;">急需資金來源以便於</span>改善唐人街這些老人的生活環境和個人護理醫療資源。</p><p class="ql-block">That’s one of those very old buildings, 102 years old, 28 Mott Street, south of Canal Street near the corner of Pell Street. My patient, the 101 years old lady, has been living on the 5th floor for 5 decades ever since she immigrated to New York. She lives alone with 24 hours live-in home health aid (HHA) to help her for daily living because her <span style="font-size:18px;">daughter has moved out from Chinatown for a while.</span></p><p class="ql-block">Almost every single one of those old buildings has a store on the ground level and apartments on top of it, range from 3 to 5 stories, no elevator, only has very narrow hallway and steep spiral stairway. The seniors who live in those apartments will not be able to come down the stairs for their daily activities including medical attentions, that’s why it is much needed for the house call services in this historical Chinatown. It is also a much needed funding sources to improve the living environment and personal care for these elderly in Chinatown. </p> <p class="ql-block">許多 80 歲以上的老年人和他們的家人不願意讓老人家接種新冠疫苗，因為他們害怕接種疫苗會產生不良影響。 我的理念是，如果一個人可以活到 80 歲，要么患有需要多種藥物治療的疾病，要么沒有重大健康問題，那麼他們的長壽一定有一些不為人知的充分理由，如果我們試圖改變它，甚至可能導致更多問題、 縮短他們的壽命。 如果一個80多歲的抽煙喝酒的老患者來看我，跟我說“我一輩子都<span style="font-size: 18px;">抽煙喝酒、</span>不想戒，戒了就死了”。 我的回答是“是的，繼續做你正在做的事情，只是減少吸煙或飲酒的量，跟著你的身體走，當你的身體告訴你你需要停止時就停止”。 接種新冠Covid 疫苗後出現的任何微小變化，例如發燒、感冒等症狀，對老年人來說都是一個大問題。 這就是為什麼我不強迫他們接種疫苗。</p><p class="ql-block">我今天拜訪的患者中有超過 50% 的人沒有接種過也不想接種任何 Covid 疫苗，但他們接觸的所有人都已根據 CDC 指南接種了疫苗並接受了加強劑。 我們在為病人提供服務時都戴著口罩。</p><p class="ql-block">Many of the seniors over 80 years old <span style="font-size: 18px;">and their family members </span>do not want to have Covid vaccination cited afraid of adverse effects from vaccination. My philosophy is that if a mankind can live up to 80 years old either with multiple medical conditions on medications or without major health issues, there must be some unknown good reasons for their longevity, if we try to change it that could cause more problems even shorten their life spans. If a 80 years old patient with smoking or drinking comes to see me, and tell me that “I will never want to stop smoking or drinking, if I stop, I will die soon”. My response is “yes, keep doing what you are doing, just reduce the amount of smoking or drinking, go along with your body, when your body tells you that you need to stop then stop”. Any minor changes such as fever, cold like symptoms post Covid vaccination could be a big deal for the seniors. That’s why I don’t push them for the vaccination. </p><p class="ql-block">There are more than 50% off the patients whom I visited today have not received and will not want any Covid vaccination, but all the people they contact with had fully vaccinated and received a booster according to the CDC guidelines. We all masked on while providing service to the patients.</p> <p class="ql-block">這就是一個典型例子，住在唐人街沒有電梯的老房子裡的老人和殘疾人的居住環境是很差，走廊只有3英尺多寬，客廳只有30平方英尺。</p><p class="ql-block">Again I notice that the living environment is so poor for the elderly and disabled people who live on the old buildings without elevators in Chinatown, the hallway is just over 3 feet wide, their living room is as little as 30 square footage.</p> <p class="ql-block"><span style="font-size:18px;">在我的出診病人中</span>還有一類老人是很幸運，有機會申請唐人街附近的政府或非營利機構補貼的樓房。 大樓相對較新，有電梯，房間也大得多，能夠容納 24 小時住在家中的家庭護理員 (HHA) 照顧老人。 這對夫妻年齡加起來有192歲！</p><p class="ql-block">There is another type of elderly for my house call patients who they are so lucky that they have the chance to apply for subsidized housing in the outskirts of Chinatown. The building is relatively new with elevators, the rooms is much bigger, able to accommodate a 24 hours live in home health aid (HHA) for the care of the elderly. This couple has a combined age of 192 years old! </p> <p class="ql-block">這是幸運的老人公寓。</p><p class="ql-block">The very nice buildings for the lucky elderly.</p> <p class="ql-block">這是一位 106 歲的女士和她 24 小時同住的家庭護理員 HHA。 長壽有多種因素，基因，良好的生活方式，幸福，家庭支持，生活環境，更好的醫療服務等等，但我相信善良，專業的家庭護理員（HHA ) 為老年人和殘疾人的福祉發揮了重要作用。</p><p class="ql-block">她的血壓、脈搏及其他的生命指徵都非常的正常。</p><p class="ql-block">This is a 106 years old lady and her liv-in 24 hours HHA. The longevity has multiple contributing factors, the gene, the good life styles, the happiness, the family support, the living environment, the better medical care service, and many others, but I do believe the good hearted, dedicated home health aid (HHA) has played an important role for the well-being of the elderly and disabled people. </p><p class="ql-block">She has the perfect vital signs! </p> <p class="ql-block">為這個106歲高齡的抗日英雄遗孀提供多年的上門醫療服務，是我作為一個服務於華人社區超過四分一世紀的社區醫生的本份及榮幸。</p><p class="ql-block">It’s my job and honor to provide years of house call medical services to this 106 years old widow of World War II hero, as I am the doctor serving this community for over quarter century.</p> <p class="ql-block">另一種出診方式是在正常辦公時間之後，我會步行到位於唐人街的病人家中。 這是一名 67 歲女性嚴重中風的案例，右側癱瘓，自 6 個月前出院以來一直坐在輪椅上，需要注射新冠疫苗加強針。 她住在紐約曼哈頓兩橋附近的一棟建築 91 Henry Street 的 5 樓。 91 Henry Street 建於 1920 年，根據該建築的公共記錄，它有 6 層樓，沒有電梯，有 24 個單元。</p><p class="ql-block">Another type of house call is after my normal office hours, I will walk to the patient’s home in Chinatown. This is the case of a 67 years old female suffered major stroke with right side paralysed, on wheelchair since discharged from the hospital 6 months ago, needs Covid vaccine booster shot. She lives in the 5th floor of 91 Henry Street, a Building located in the Two Bridges neighborhood in Manhattan, NY. 91 Henry Street was built in 1920 and has 6 stories without elevator and 24 units according to public records of the building. </p> <p class="ql-block">這就是我們的社區。</p><p class="ql-block">It is our community.</p> <p class="ql-block">這就是我们的社区典型的居住環境，唐人街亨利街 91 号勿街 28 号上百年的陳舊建筑物，我们的许多老年人和残疾患者都住在這一類的樓宇裡。這個走廊只有 3 英尺多一點。 沒有電梯，根本不可能把殘疾病人送出大樓。 在唐人街如此惡劣的環境中生活著如此多的老年人和殘疾人。</p><p class="ql-block">是否有民選官員，如區長、市長、財務總監、公共倡導者、該區的市議會議員、市住房負責人、老年機構負責人，曾經拜訪過這些人並關注過他們？ 所有這些當選的官員都急切地在這個方圓約 1 英里的唐人街地區建造更多的游民庇護所，目前大約有 10 個，並邀請更多的游民、吸毒者到這裡來，但他們確實有預算在<span style="font-size:18px;">唐人街中心</span>建造一座全世界最高的監獄大樓。 這完全是對亞裔社區的歧視，完全不公平地分配資源，毫不顧及亞裔社區的老人和殘疾人！</p><p class="ql-block">由在這個社區生活和工作的人選出的民選官員的這種有歧視亞裔的建議將摧毀整個亞裔社區，而整個亞裔社區已經因 911 和 新冠Covid 大流行病而遭受了巨大的破壞。 如果民選官員關心這個社區的老人、孩子和選舉他們的低層工作階級的福祉，他們應該使用他們的權力和預算來改善唐人街的破舊建築，將貧困的老人搬遷到一個更好的生活設施，為這個亞裔社區的豐富文化建立更多的博物館，以吸引更多的遊客，在這個社區內建立更多的學校和培訓中心，以提供就業機會，為警察部門提供更多的執法資金，以打擊犯罪，特別是最近激增的針對亞裔的仇恨犯罪行為！</p><p class="ql-block">These are the typical living conditions in our community, the building at 28 Mott Street, 91 Henry Street, Chinatown, were over 100 years old, where many of our elderly and disabled patients live in such rundown buildings. The hallway is just little over 3 foot. Without elevator, it is impossible to get the handicap patient out of the building. There are so many seniors and disabled persons living in such poor environment in Chinatown. </p><p class="ql-block">Did any elected officials such as borough president, mayor, controller, public advocate, city council members from this district, the heads of city housing, and agencies for elderly, have ever visited these people and pay attention to them? All those elected officials are eagerly putting more shelters, about 10 at this time, to this just about 1 mile radius Chinatown area, <span style="font-size:18px;">and invite more homeless to here, also they do have the budget to build a highest jail building in the whole world at the center of Chinatown. That is totally discriminatory move to the Asian community, totally not a fair share of budget, care of the elderly and disabled people for the Asian community! </span></p><p class="ql-block"><span style="font-size:18px;">This intended movement by the elected officials whom were elected by the people who live and work in this community will destroy the entire Asian community which is already suffered huge damage from 911, the Covid pandemic. If the elected officials care about the well-being of the seniors, the children, and the working class who elected them in this community, they should use their power, their budget to improve the rundown buildings in Chinatown, relocate the poor seniors to a better living facility, establish more museums for the rich culture of this Asian community to attract more tourists, more schools and training centers within this community to provide job opportunities, provide more funding to the police department for law enforcement to crack down the crime, particularly the recent surge of against Asian hate crimes!</span></p> <p class="ql-block">但是我們的華裔都繼𠄘了幾千年的中華文化傳統，克苦耐勞，逆境求生。這就是我们的社区的另一面，煉武強身，保護我們社區的安全，維持社區的繁榮人人有責，只要大家同心協力一定會有一個更好的唐人街！ </p><p class="ql-block">Our Chinese Americans have inherited the thousand years great traditional cultures, able to sustain unimaginable difficulties and challenges, able to survive and strive in the unfavorable environments. Here’s another side of the story in Chinatown, we promote Kung Fu (marshal art) in the community, built up our strength, protect our community, maintain the prosperity of our community is the duty of every single Chinese Americans. United, we can build a better Chinatown!</p> <p class="ql-block">在這華埠的老城區我找到了新會同鄉會的總部。雖然我出生在廣州，但新會是我父母親的出生地，用中國的傳統方式計算，我是新會人，我終於找到了”組織”啦！</p><p class="ql-block">In this old street of Chinatown, I have found the association of Xing Hui, the birthplace of my parents. According to the Chinese tradition, I am considered the people of Xing Hui, even though I was born in Guangzhou. I found my roots here!</p> <p class="ql-block">繁華的唐人社區，各種各樣的東方美食，小業主經營的各種各樣的商品、生意，還有各個門派的武館，公所，共鄉會林立。雖然自從911後華埠的熱鬧程度下降了一半以上，但也吸引了很多全世界各地的遊客，也有許多美國各地及紐約市區的華人都來這裡會面，享受這種特別的中國文化，總之唐人街還是紐約的一個重要打卡點。</p><p class="ql-block">New York’s Chinatown is truly a unique place, not only carrying the history of Chinese immigrants but also showcasing the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Despite challenges such as 9/11, economic downturns, and the pandemic, Chinatown has retained its charm, remaining an important gathering place for both tourists and local Chinese seeking a taste of home.</p><p class="ql-block">In recent years, while some traditional small businesses have disappeared due to rising rents and declining foot traffic, a new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs has brought innovation, blending modernity with tradition in Chinatown. For example, long-established restaurants continue to attract diners, while emerging tea shops, fusion cuisine restaurants, and boutique stores cater to the younger generation’s tastes.</p><p class="ql-block">Community associations, hometown societies, and martial arts schools remain vital pillars of Chinatown’s culture, preserving community ties and hosting various celebrations during festivals, such as Lunar New Year festivities and the Lantern Festival, bringing a festive atmosphere to the neighborhood. Chinatown is not just a tourist attraction but also an integral part of the Chinese immigrant story, carrying the memories and emotions of multiple generations.</p> <p class="ql-block">今年，2022年，是虎年，虎虎生威！這兩年在新冠病毒肆虐下，加上仇恨亞裔的不良政治環境，我們的美籍華人承受著巨大的壓力。我衷心希望今年有猛虎開路，帶領我們一起衝出難關，建立一個繁榮昌盛的華人社區。祝同胞們新年快樂，身體健康，重振虎威！</p><p class="ql-block">This year, 2022, is the Year of the Tiger—may we embody the tiger’s strength and vitality! Over the past two years, under the ravages of COVID-19 and the unfavorable political climate of anti-Asian sentiment, Chinese Americans have endured immense pressure. I sincerely hope that this year, like a fierce tiger clearing the path, we can break through these challenges together and build a thriving and prosperous Chinese community.</p><p class="ql-block">Wishing all my fellow Chinese a Happy New Year, good health, and the resurgence of our tiger spirit!</p>