{{Short description|American politician (born 1953)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Margaret S. Chin | office = Member of the New York City Council<br/>from the 1st district | term_start = January 1, 2010 | term_end = December 31, 2021 | predecessor = Alan Gerson | successor = Christopher Marte | image = Margaret Chin 2011.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Chin in 2011 | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hant|陳倩雯}}}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|5|26|mf=yes}} | birth_place = British Hong Kong | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democrat | spouse = Alan Tung | children = 1 | alma_mater = Bronx High School of Science<br />City College of New York | website = [http://council.nyc.gov/d1/html/members/home.shtml Official website] | module = {{Infobox Chinese |child=yes |t=陳倩雯 |s=陈倩雯 |toi=Chin<sup>3</sup> Sen<sup>5</sup>-moon<sup>4</sup> |y=Chan<sup>4</sup> Sin<sup>6</sup>-man<sup>4</sup> |p=Chén Qiànwén}} }}

'''Margaret S. Chin''' (born May 26, 1953) is a Chinese American<ref name="Ma" /> politician who served as a council member for the 1st district of the New York City Council from 2010 to 2021. A Democrat, she and Queens Council member Peter Koo comprised the Asian American delegation of the city council.

Her district included all or parts of Battery Park City, Chinatown, Civic Center, East Village, Ellis Island, Financial District, Governors Island, Greenwich Village, Liberty Island, Little Italy, Lower East Side, NoHo, Nolita, SoHo, Tribeca, and the West Village.

==Early life and career== Born on May 26, 1954, in British Hong Kong as the third of five children and the only daughter in the family, Chin immigrated to the United States in 1963. Her father, who arrived in the U.S. before his family, was an undocumented worker, working as a waiter in the Bronx; his experiences inspired his daughter to advocate for immigration reform during her political tenure.

Chin grew up in Chinatown in New York City and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and the City College of New York with a degree in education. She worked for 14 years at LaGuardia Community College's Division of Adult and Continuing Education.

She has been a member of several public service groups and organizations. In 1974, she was a founding member of Asian Americans for Equality, a group dedicated to "empowering Asian Americans and others in need",<ref name="AAFE">{{cite web|url=http://www.aafe.org/pgs/whoweare.html|title=Who We Are|publisher=Asian Americans for Equality|access-date=2009-11-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803191605/http://www.aafe.org/pgs/whoweare.html|archive-date=2009-08-03}}</ref> and she served as the board's president from 1982 to 1986. She was the chairperson of the New York Immigration Coalition, a policy and advocacy organization which works on issues concerning immigrants and refugees.<ref name="AboutNYIC">{{cite web|url=http://www.thenyic.org/content.asp?cid=20|title=About the NYIC|publisher=New York Immigration Coalition|access-date=2009-11-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215011708/http://thenyic.org/content.asp?cid=20|archive-date=2009-02-15}}</ref> She was a board member of the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, an affordable housing non-profit organization.<ref name="AboutANHD">{{cite web|url=http://www.anhd.org/about/about.html |title=ASSOCIATION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT |publisher=Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development |access-date=2009-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525134031/http://www.anhd.org/about/about.html |archive-date=May 25, 2009 }}</ref> Chin was also a founding member of the Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation, a group that was formed in 2006 to "rebuild Chinatown following 9/11, and to preserve the neighborhood's unique culture while ensuring its vitality in the future."<ref name="AboutCPLDC">{{cite web|url=http://www.chinatownpartnership.org/Gui/Content.aspx-Page=AboutUs.htm|title=About Us|publisher=Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation|access-date=2009-11-04|archive-date=2009-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802082600/http://www.chinatownpartnership.org/Gui/Content.aspx-Page=AboutUs.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In local and state politics, Chin was a member of Manhattan Community Board 1 and Manhattan Community Board 3, and was elected to the New York State Democratic Committee for two terms from 1986 to 1990.

Chin has stated that her ethnicity helped her win the district that includes Chinatown. In her words, many new immigrants and seniors do not speak English, and appreciated that they could speak to her directly and "talk to a City Council member without having to go through an interpreter."<ref name="Ma" />

==New York City Council== Prior to winning the 2009 city council election, Chin had run and lost in the Democratic Party primary election for the District 1 seat in 1991, 1993, and 2001.

In a primary with low voter turnout, she won the Democratic nomination with 39% of the vote, ousting two-term incumbent Alan Gerson. Chin earned 4,541 votes to Gerson's 3,520; the other three candidates, PJ Kim, Pete Gleason, and Arthur Gregory won 1,927 votes, 1,293 votes, and 235 votes, respectively.<ref name="GlassmanKoral">{{cite news|url=http://www.tribecatrib.com/news/2009/september/352_chin-is-winner-in-city-council-primary.html|title=Chin Wins City Council Primary|author=Carl Glassman and April Koral|publisher=The Tribeca Trib|date=September 2009|access-date=2009-11-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717101504/http://www.tribecatrib.com/news/2009/september/352_chin-is-winner-in-city-council-primary.html|archive-date=2011-07-17}}</ref> Campaigning on the issues of affordable housing, improving infrastructure, immigration reform, and better services for senior citizens,<ref name="Ma">{{cite news|url=http://dnainfo.com/20091104/chinatown/chinatowns-margaret-chin-makes-new-york-city-history|author=Suzanne Ma|title=Chinatown's Margaret Chin Makes New York City History|publisher=DNAinfo|date=2009-11-04|access-date=2009-11-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107074508/http://www.dnainfo.com/20091104/chinatown/chinatowns-margaret-chin-makes-new-york-city-history|archive-date=2009-11-07}}</ref> Chin won the general election held on November 3, 2009, against Republican candidate Irene Horvath in a landslide, carrying 86% of the vote.<ref name="GenElecResults">{{cite web|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2009/results/city-council.html|title=2009 Election Results|work=The New York Times|date=2009-11-09|access-date=2009-11-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109185422/http://elections.nytimes.com/2009/results/city-council.html|archive-date=2009-11-09}}</ref>

In 2013, Chin ran for reelection. She received an endorsement from the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York prior to that year's September Democratic Party primary<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.margaretchin.com/ |title=Re-Elect Council Member Margaret Chin 2013 |access-date=2021-11-07 |archive-date=2014-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208172230/http://www.margaretchin.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and received funding from REBNY for mailings.<ref name="Vill">{{cite news |date=8 September 2017 |title=Christopher Marte for Council in District 1 |publisher=The Villager |url=http://thevillager.com/2017/09/08/christopher-marte-for-city-council-in-district-1/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929172825/http://thevillager.com/2017/09/08/christopher-marte-for-city-council-in-district-1/ |archive-date=29 September 2017}}</ref> She was challenged in the primary by Democrat Jenifer Rajkumar, a Lower Manhattan District Leader, in a widely publicized race. Chin won with 58.5% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/projects/elections/2013/nyc-primary/city_council/results.html|title=New York City Primary Results: City Council|date=2013-09-10|website=The New York Times|access-date=2017-03-04|archive-date=2017-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203123219/http://www.nytimes.com/projects/elections/2013/nyc-primary/city_council/results.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The councilwoman retained the right to run a third term due to legislation passed in 2008,<ref>{{cite web | title=Asian Americans fight for council seats in New York City primary | website=NBC News | date=September 8, 2017 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-americans-fight-city-council-seats-new-york-city-primary-n799851 | access-date=November 28, 2024}}</ref> despite New Yorkers subsequently voting against the concept in 2010.<ref>{{cite web | last=Hernández | first=Javier C. | title=Term Limits in New York City Are Approved Again | website=The New York Times | date=November 3, 2010 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/nyregion/03limits.html | access-date=November 28, 2024}}</ref> In 2017, Chin ran for re-election and won her primary with 46% of the vote against her main challenger, Christopher Marte, a newcomer who received 37%. Marte ran against her again in the general election on the Independence party line, and Chin won the general election with 49.9% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web | last=Savitch-Lew. | first=Abigail | title=In Tightly Competitive District 1 Race, Chin Holds Seat | website=City Limits | date=November 8, 2017 | url=https://citylimits.org/2017/11/08/in-tightly-competitive-district-1-race-chin-holds-seat/ | access-date=November 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Election history== {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ New York City Council District 1: results 1991-2017 !Year ! !Democratic !Votes !Pct ! !Republican !Votes !Pct ! !3rd party !Party !Votes !Pct ! !3rd party !Party !Votes !Pct |- |1991 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Kathryn Freed''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |5,717 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |51% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Fred Teng |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |2,630 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |23% | |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Margaret Chin |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Liberal |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,853 |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |25% | | | | | |- |2001 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Alan Gerson''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |12,209 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |47% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jordan Kaufman |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |3,349 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |13% | |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Margaret Chin |{{Party shading/Independent}} |Liberal |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |4,178 |{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |16% | | | | | |- |2009 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Margaret Chin''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |18,750 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |86% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Irene Horvath |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |3,093 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |14% | | | | | | | | | | |- |2013 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Margaret Chin''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |16,976 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |99% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |- |2017 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Margaret Chin''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |11,468 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49.8% | |Bryan Jung |2,014 |8.75% | |Aaron Foldenauer |Liberal |1,103 |4.40% | |Christopher Marte |Independence |8,502 |36.92% |}

==Criticism== In September 2017 ''The Villager'' endorsed her opponent Christopher Marte, saying:<ref name="Vill" /> {{blockquote|While [Chin] has ably served some portions of her district, she has alienated her constituents in large swaths of it, including the Village and Soho, as well as the Lower East Side waterfront area where enormous 'supertall' towers are now beginning to sprout out of control. Chin has repeatedly failed to stand with residents in these neighborhoods on issues that are vitally important to their quality of life. And those times when she has made a show of support, it has always come too late — long after the time for action has passed and when it could have actually meant or done something. (See Niketown in Soho, Met Foods supermarket in Little Italy, etc.…) ... Chin has been both antagonistic and unresponsive to large segments of her community. She has dodged debates with her opponents — ours wasn’t the only one she avoided — and at the only town hall she has held during her time in office, the public’s cherished First Amendment right to express their views and disseminate information was stifled in a manner one would associate with a fascistic dictatorship.}}Critics in October 2019 also opposed her lack of clarity before the vote to expand the current jail in her district;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/8838-chinatown-advocates-call-on-council-member-chin-to-make-her-position-clear-ahead-of-jails-vote|title=Chinatown Advocates Call on Council Member Chin to Make Her Position Clear Ahead of Jails Vote|author=Jan Lee|website=Gotham Gazette|date=2019-10-09|access-date=2019-11-11|archive-date=2019-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029064815/https://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/8838-chinatown-advocates-call-on-council-member-chin-to-make-her-position-clear-ahead-of-jails-vote|url-status=live}}</ref> more than 1,000 marched to get her attention on the matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archpaper.com/2019/10/city-council-approves-rikers-jails/|title=Rikers replacement plan moves forward with reduced jail tower heights|author=Sydney Franklin|website=Archpaper|date=2019-10-23|access-date=2019-11-11|archive-date=2019-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024125202/https://archpaper.com/2019/10/city-council-approves-rikers-jails/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 8 November 2021, during the lame-duck period of her final term on the city council, Chin introduced a bill specifically targeting over 1600 housing units in her district designated as JLWQA (joint living-work quarters for artists) for fines and flip-taxes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per unit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Dashiell |date=2021-12-08 |title=Why??? C.B. 2 confused, frustrated by Chin's exiting push to boost fines for Soho/Noho nonartists |url=https://thevillagesun.com/why-c-b-2-confused-frustrated-by-chins-exiting-push-to-boost-fines-for-soho-noho-nonartists |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=The Village Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> The legislation was introduced one day before a vote on rezoning the SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods in her district and was opposed by her elected successor, Christopher Marte. Chin nevertheless tabled and voted for the bill,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York City Council - File #: Int 2443-2021 |url=https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5208872&GUID=605C7ED2-A961-462C-AF02-A94E70FB28CD&Options=&Search= |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=legistar.council.nyc.gov}}</ref> triggering years of legal action after her retirement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brenzel |first=Kathryn |date=2022-02-11 |title=Group Sues NYC Over Soho Rezoning, Citing Artist Housing Fee |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2022/02/11/group-sues-to-annul-soho-rezoning-citing-artist-fee/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=The Real Deal |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life== Chin is married to Alan Tung, a public school teacher, and has retired to San Diego, California. Their son, Kevin, also graduated from the Bronx High School of Science. He completed his studies at Syracuse University, and is now studying photography in Santa Barbara, California.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://council.nyc.gov/d1/html/members/home.shtml Official New York City Council website]

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box|title=New York City Council, 1st district|before=Alan Gerson|years=2010&ndash;2021|after=Christopher Marte}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chin, Margaret}} Category:New York City Council members Category:Living people Category:Hong Kong emigrants to the United States Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:1954 births Category:Asian-American people in New York (state) politics Category:Women New York City Council members Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Asian-American New York City Council members Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians