By Anna GUstafson
Hundreds of borough residents and community activists flocked to the Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church in Flushing Sunday for S.J. Jung’s official announcement that he is running for the City Council’s 20th District seat.
Citing a campaign platform based upon “creating a unifying leadership,” fighting against budget cuts, creating jobs and revitalizing small businesses, Jung emphasized a desire to reach across racial, ethnic and religious lines to “represent everyone.”
“To me, ‘S.J.’ stands for ‘social justice,’” Jung said. “For the past 20 years, I’ve worked hard to fight for the powerless.”
A bevy of community members spoke at Jung’s campaign event Sunday afternoon and all of those who addressed the crowd praised Jung’s work on social issues, from advocating for affordable housing to education reform in the city.
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside S.J. in efforts to expand opportunities for immigrant and low−income New Yorkers,” said Ana Maria Archila, executive director of immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York. “He’s motivated thousands of people in my community to work together to improve working conditions for Latino and Asian workers, expand access to health care for vulnerable families, engage new citizens in the electoral process and make immigration laws more humane.”
In vying for Councilman John Liu’s (D−Flushing) current Council seat, Jung is up against education advocate and community organizer Yen Chou, Democratic District Leader James Wu and Holly Civic Association President Isaac Sasson.
So far, Chou has raised the most money, nearly $100,000 since January, according to city Campaign Finance Board records. The 20th District seat primarily covers Flushing, Kissena Park, Queensboro Hill and Mitchell Gardens.
Liu, the first Asian elected to a city office, has launched a campaign to become the next city comptroller.
Jung became involved in community activism not long after he immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1986 and in 1987 joined the Young Koreans United of USA.
Jung ultimately was elected president of the group, and the candidate said he has worked with area leaders, city government and nonprofits to provide working families, senior citizens, youth of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and immigrants with educational programs, social services and free legal assistance.
“This is someone who’s reaching out to all ethnic communities,” said Madhulika Khandelwal, a Queens College professor. “I, as an Indian American, feel as proud of S.J. as if someone from my community were running for this seat.”
Other individuals who have thrown their support behind Jung and spoke at Sunday’s event include Ken Cohen, president of the northeast Queens branch of the New York NAACP; civil rights attorney and Columbia University Professor Elizabeth OuYang; senior community leader Hyung Bin Im; and CUNY political science Professor Ron Hayduk.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e−mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 174.
