CATHERINE M. LOZADA
Flushing is the target of a new project to update and Americanize local business signs and awnings. On April 30, Assemblymember Grace Meng announced her new Signage Project Advisory Board, which will begin meetings next month to discuss English signs and updating decorations of businesses in Flushing.
The Advisory Board was created to address growing concerns by non-Asian residents and merchants in the area who feel that many of the store signs are solely in Chinese or Korean. Others feel that even businesses with English signs are printed too small to see, and say they are less likely to frequent these stores.
“Most of the times when I attend meetings that are not solely Asian, people complain that they don’t feel welcome in these stores. Even if only one percent of people complain, I will still respond to this issue,” Meng said.
There have also been complaints from police officers and firefighters who have trouble locating addresses or businesses when there are not signs clearly printed in English, making safety a big issue.
Meng believes that by upgrading to newer signs that are more English-friendly, it will make the community look better, seem more efficient and attract more customers.
“This is not discrimination. We are Americans and we have to follow the law,” said Councilmember Peter Koo.
He said there have been studies in the area and 95 percent of businesses do have signs printed in English. Koo thinks the problem is that there is no current standard for how large the signs printed in English must be.
Civic leaders, many of whom are not Asian, signed up for the Advisory Board and will meet with local business owners and residents on a monthly basis. Anyone is welcome to join. However, it isn’t mandatory for businesses to change their signs.
“I am not imposing legislature, this is a voluntary program. No one is going to get a ticket for not changing their sign,” said Meng.
Meng is working closely with the Small Business Committee to establish a financial package to fund the changes utilizing existing funding.
