Bill Text: NY K02242 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring Don B. Lee posthumously for his contributions to the Asian American community

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2024-05-21 - adopted [K02242 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-K02242-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 2242

BY: M. of A. Lee

        HONORING   Don   B.   Lee   posthumously  for  his
        contributions to the Asian American community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York  whose  lifework  and  civic  endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Don B. Lee was born in Hong Kong in 1959 and immigrated to
New York City at the age of 10 years  old,  growing  up  in  Manhattan's
Chinatown; he attended P.S. 130 and Seward Park High School; and

  WHEREAS,  Working  at  Hop  Lee  restaurant  in Chinatown to support
himself, Don B. Lee earned his degree from New York University; aspiring
to  become  a  public  servant  for  New  York  City,  he  started   his
professional    career    working    under    four   different   mayoral
administrations, where he automated operations for the  Mayor's  office,
created  a  new management system for the Fulton Fish Market, and vastly
increased small and medium business access  to  city  contracts  through
automating  a Bid-Match Program for the Department of Business Services;
and

  WHEREAS, Shifting his focus to healthcare,  Don  B.  Lee  served  as
Chief Information Officer for the South Manhattan Healthcare Network; he
transformed  the  IT  systems  of  Bellevue  Hospital  Center  and other
significant institutions in the community network, improved  service  to
thousands  of  users  across facilities, and also aided the Coalition of
Asian American IPA, Inc.; and

  WHEREAS, Truly devoted to his community  and  never  forgetting  his
roots,  Don  B. Lee had a passion for community activism; throughout his
life, he advocated for the dignity and rights  of  Asian  Americans  and
called  for  wider  scales  of justice; he served on his local community
board, then rose to the occasion to protest  for  transportation  access
for  Asian  American community during the Grand Street Subway closure in
1995; and

  WHEREAS, After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Don B. Lee  raised
support  for  Chinatown businesses and served as a liaison in connecting
local businesses with FEMA; and

  WHEREAS, Exemplifying his love for Asian American representation and
Chinese cooking, a significant victory of  Don  B.  Lee's  advocacy  was
changing the law to support Chinatown street vendors to receive licenses
and fight against unfair treatment; and

  WHEREAS,   Delving   into   research  about  the  diets  of  Chinese
Transcontinental  Railroad  workers,  Don  B.  Lee   presented   cooking
demonstrations at Railroad commemorations around the country; and

  WHEREAS,  Tirelessly  supporting  his community through the Covid-19
Pandemic, Don  B.  Lee  worked  to  ensure  hate  crimes  against  Asian
Americans were named and prosecuted accordingly; and


  WHEREAS,  Under his able leadership, Homecrest Community Services, a
non-profit organization, serves immigrant seniors and their families  in
South Brooklyn; he carried the role as the organization's Board Char for
over 20 years; and

  WHEREAS,  Don  B. Lee's reach in helping the community is remarkable
and he worked endlessly to provide services and advocate for the  rights
of  the  disadvantaged  communities,  from  setting  up health fairs, to
leading rallies, to delivering hot meals to members during the  Covid-19
Pandemic; and

  WHEREAS,  His  work  impacting  countless  families and individuals,
Homecrest Community Services established three centers  that  covered  a
wide area of South Brooklyn; and

  WHEREAS,  With  him  throughout  have  been  his  wife, Lai, and his
daughter, Victoria, both of whom have felt privileged  to  have  been  a
part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals of such  outstanding  accomplishments  are  brought  to  our
attention,  they  should be recognized by all the citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Don  B.  Lee  posthumously  for  his  contributions  to the Asian
American community; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Don B. Lee.