In the aftermath of 9/11, many roads in Chinatown closed. Eventually, all except Park Row reopened. A section of Park Row that runs beneath an entrance ramp to the Brooklyn Bridge has now been "temporarily" closed for security purposes for almost two years. The closed section is the most direct route in and out of Chinatown from the City Hall area.

The police have held Park Row on a tight leash and its closing has seriously affected the lives of Chinatown residents.

A group of residents from different backgrounds formed the “Fight Against the Closing of Park Row Coalition,” to fight for the reopening of this road vital to Chinatown’s economic recovery. On July 30th, the coalition demonstrated at Park Row.

Jien-Kong Li, a Mott Street merchant led the demonstration. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) was first to speak. She said that she had complained to the Police Commissioner many times that the continued road closure was undemocratic and unfair to the community. She also said that when she fought in Congress for $750,000 for improving the traffic situation in Chinatown, she expected that the city government would cooperate with her. But so far, the city has failed to join her struggle.

“Mr. Mayor, please come here and hear the words of the people,” Velazquez urged.

Former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern bluntly accused the city government of racial discrimination. “If this were Park Avenue, the Mayor would never close it. Unfortunately, this is Park Row. Although I am not a Chinatown resident, I cannot remain silent on this,” he said.

City Councilman Allan Gerson said that the police’s decision to close Park Row for security reasons had the opposite of the desired effect. Ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles must detour, increasing their response time. “This would take at least ten minutes away from saving people’s lives,” Gerson said. “This treats the residents’ lives as jokes. How can this be called security?”

Walter Goldschmitt, the head of emergency services at a Chinatown hospital, said that the hospital he worked in was located south of Park Row, and so it was significantly affected by the closed road. He hoped that the city government would listen to people’s opinions.

Din-tin Ng, the chair of China House, said that Park Row was how people travel from Chinatown to downtown. Since it has closed, Chinatown’s economy, community safety and quality of life have been adversely affected.