Susan Zhuang Explained
Susan Zhuang is an American politician who is a member of the New York City Council for the 43rd district, which covers Sunset Park, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Borough Park, and other neighborhoods in southern Brooklyn.
Early life and education
Zhuang was born in Baipu, a small village in China, and came to the United States in 2008 as a student. She earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the State University of New York at Oswego and later a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Indiana.[1]
Career
Zhuang previously worked as chief of staff for New York State Assemblyman William Colton.
New York City Council
Zhuang announced her campaign for the 43rd district, a newly created Asian-majority seat. While campaigning, Zhuang told a voter in Mandarin that her ideas aligned with the Republican Party and that she was running as a Democrat out of convenience.[2] Zhuang's election marked the first time the area had been represented by Asian Americans in both chambers of the New York State Legislature as well as the New York City Council; though policy and political differences between New York State Senator Iwen Chu, Republican Assemblyman Lester Chang, and Zhuang persist.[3] In office, Zhuang has been described as a conservative Democrat.[4]
New York Daily News reported that in February 2024, Zhuang used her official government email account to solicit money, in a potential violation of state ethics laws, for a local united front group called Asian American Community Empowerment, which goes by the acronym BRACE.[5] [6] In March 2024, Zhuang and Colton led a large protest against a proposed homeless shelter location in Gravesend.[7] On July 17, 2024, Zhuang was arrested and accused of biting NYPD Deputy Chief Frank DiGiacomo during a protest against a homeless shelter.[8] She was released without bond that same day.[9] In an interview a week later, she claimed to have protected an elderly woman who fell amid the chaos.[10] BRACE subsequently organized a protest march across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Zhuang.[11]
Notes and References
- Web site: Meet the New Council Members: Susan Zhuang. Brian Lehrer. Lehrer. Brian. February 13, 2024. June 19, 2024. WNYC. June 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619100203/https://www.wnyc.org/story/meet-new-council-members-susan-zhuang/. live.
- Web site: Susan Zhuang running for NYC 'Asian opportunity' seat caught claiming GOP values. Calder. Rich. Williams. Zach. June 17, 2023. June 19, 2024. New York Post. June 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619100201/https://nypost.com/2023/06/17/video-shows-brooklyn-dem-council-candidate-is-wannabe-gop/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter. live.
- Web site: Asian American voting power is breaking through in southern Brooklyn. May 6, 2024. June 19, 2024. McDonough. Annie. City & State. June 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240619100201/https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2024/05/asian-american-voting-power-breaking-through-southern-brooklyn/396314/. live.
- Web site: 2024-07-19 . Accused of biting police official, NYC Council member says police were the aggressors . 2024-07-21 . . 2024-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720211822/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/accused-biting-police-official-nyc-council-member-police-112097077 . live .
- Web site: Sommerfeldt . Chris . 2024-03-13 . NYC Councilwoman Zhuang's team used city emails to solicit funds for nonprofit in potential violation . 2024-07-29 . . en-US . 2024-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240526075031/https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/03/13/nyc-councilwoman-zhuang-office-use-of-city-email-to-solicit-funds-for-nonprofit-potential-violation/ . live .
- Web site: Yan . Flora . December 2, 2021 . 'China Day' in New York: A Case Study in United Front Work . 2024-07-29 . . en-US . 2024-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240609041904/https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/china-day-in-new-york-a-case-study-in-united-front-work/ . live .
- Web site: Daly . Adam . March 19, 2024 . Gravesend residents rally against planned homeless shelter . . June 19, 2024 . June 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240619100203/https://www.brooklynpaper.com/gravesend-rally-against-homeless-shelter/ . live .
- News: Meko . Hurubie . Schweber . Nate . 2024-07-17 . City Councilwoman Is Charged With Biting Police Chief During Protest . 2024-07-29 . . en-US . 0362-4331 . 2024-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240720150646/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/nyregion/councilwoman-bites-police-protest.html . live .
- Web site: 2024-07-17 . New York City Council member arrested, accused of biting police officer . 2024-07-29 . . en . 2024-07-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240728070210/https://apnews.com/article/nyc-council-bite-police-zhuang-brooklyn-443c3f74f95ddb329c2b2d3d9ffc4767 . live .
- News: NYC Councilwoman Zhuang's exclusive interview after cop bite arrest: 'I see her as my grandmother'. July 24, 2024. Arthur. Chi'en. WNYW. August 6, 2024. August 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240806025354/https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-councilwoman-susan-zhuang-interview. live.
- Web site: Jaramillo . Valentina . Bhole . Aneeta . Fitz-Gibbon . Jorge . 2024-07-28 . Protesters with ties to Chinese Communists march in support of NYC lawmaker accused of biting NYC cop . 2024-08-20 . . en-US . 2024-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815111621/https://nypost.com/2024/07/28/us-news/chinese-communist-linked-group-marches-in-nyc-for-lawmaker-accused-of-biting-nypd-cop/ . live .