Press Releases

Statement from Assemblymember Grace Lee Regarding Incident on Canal Street

“I am heartbroken by the death of a beloved 77-year-old Chinatown community member on Canal Street this morning. My thoughts are with his loved ones, and with the two other individuals who have been hospitalized. What is all the more devastating is...

Statement from Assemblymember Grace Lee Regarding Borough Based Jail

"My office has been overwhelmed by calls from constituents fearful of the new structural concerns arising from the Manhattan jail construction site, which threatens the foundations of surrounding buildings, including Chung Pak senior housing. I stand...

Assemblymember Grace Lee and Grand Street Settlement Distribute Over 1,000 Free Backpacks to Families

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Manhattan – On Friday, Assemblymember Grace Lee and Grand Street Settlement hosted a free back-to-school event distributing over 1,000 free backpacks filled with school supplies to families across Lower Manhattan. The event was organized by Assemblymember...

Assemblymember Grace Lee Champions Updated Tax Exemption for New York Clergy Members

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Albany, NY – Today, Assemblymember Grace Lee celebrated the passage of bill (A9570C) to extend critical property tax exemptions to clergy members living in cooperative (co-op) housing and close a long-standing loophole in the state tax code. Currently,...

New York State Legislature Passes Legislation to Protect New York’s Drinking Water

Albany, NY – Assemblymember Grace Lee and Senator Brian Kavanagh today announced the passage of A8634B/S3207B, legislation that sets strong, science-based limits on PFAS, toxic “forever chemicals,” in New York’s drinking water. The bill comes...

Assemblymember Grace Lee Celebrates $2 Million in State Budget Funding for Life-Saving Cancer Research for 9/11 First Responders

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New York, NY – Assemblymember Grace Lee celebrated the inclusion of $2 million for Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center in the New York State Fiscal Year 2026–27 Budget. The funding will expand a groundbreaking cancer genomics study focused...

Assemblymember Grace Lee and State Senator Brian Kavanagh Help Secure Housing Protections for Seniors and People with Disabilities in Chinatown and the Lower East Side

Albany, NY – This week, the New York State Legislature passed a critical expansion of rent-freeze programs, the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE), and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE), as well as the expansion of critical exemptions...

NYS Asian Pacific American Task Force and Chairwoman Grace Lee Celebrate $31.6 Million In Historic Funding for AAPI Communities

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Albany, NY – The New York State legislature made a historic commitment of $31.525 million for the fourth consecutive year for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) New Yorkers in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 state budget. The NYS APA Task Force and...

Assemblymember Grace Lee Touts State Legislation to Protect Immigrant Communities

Today, the New York State Assembly passed a comprehensive package of legislation designed to protect immigrant communities and strengthen government accountability. Assemblymember Lee said: “Donald Trump and his administration think they can brush aside...

Chairwoman Assemblymember Grace Lee and NYS APA Task Force Host Third Annual AAPI Summit

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Albany, NY – The New York State Assembly’s Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force and Chairwoman Assemblymember Grace Lee hosted the third annual New York State AAPI Summit in Albany on Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, 2026. Now in its third year,...

Assemblymember Grace Lee’s Statement Regarding ICE Searching for New Parking Spots in Lower Manhattan

“It is deeply disturbing that ICE is looking for new parking in Lower Manhattan after their current contract to park at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park expires on June 30th. We deserve to know when our neighborhood is being used for ICE’s deportation...

Assemblymember Grace Lee and Senator Shelley Mayer Push to Establish Fred Korematsu Day in New York State

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Albany, NY – On Tuesday, April 28th, Assemblymember Grace Lee, Chair of the New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force along with Senator Shelley Mayer, and a coalition of legislators, community leaders and advocates in Albany to...

Assemblymember Grace Lee’s Statement on Re-Raising of the Pride Flag at Stonewall National Monument

“The Trump administration’s decision to remove the pride flag at Stonewall National Monument was a blatant attempt to erase LGBTQIA+ history. The flag, which should have never been taken down, will fly again.  Let us be clear: this reversal did...

Assemblymember Grace Lee’s Statement on Columbia University’s External Investigation Report on Robert Hadden

“Survivors have waited decades for the truth, and this report does not deliver the transparency or accountability they deserve. After more than two years, the findings read less like a full investigation and more like a book report – largely summarizing...

AAPI Equity Budget Coalition and Assemblymember Grace Lee and Senator John Liu Rally in Support of Funding New York State’s AAPI Communities on Million Dollar Staircase

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Albany, NY – Today, over 100 advocates, service providers, and community leaders from the AAPI-led and -serving community-based organizations from the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition (EBC) rallied in front of Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase in support...

New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force Chair Grace Lee and Assemblymember Nily Rozic Present $589,061 to South Asian Community in Queens

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Queens, NY – On Monday, the New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force Chair Assemblymember Grace Lee and Assemblymember Nily Rozic announced $589,061 in state funding for the South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), a leading...

New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force Chair Grace Lee and Assemblymember Steve Stern Present $10,000 to Pakistani Americans of Town of Huntington

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Huntington, NY – On Monday, the New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force Chair Assemblymember Grace Lee and Assemblymember Steve Stern announced $10,000 in state funding for Pakistani Americans of Town of Huntington (PATH). This...

Assemblymember Grace Lee and Vision Urbana Ease Holiday Food Insecurity, Host 7th Annual Turkey Drive on the Lower East Side

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Lower East Side, NY – On Saturday, Assemblymember Grace Lee and Vision Urbana launched their 7th annual turkey drive on the Lower East Side. For seven years running, Assemblymember Lee and Vision Urbana have organized the largest annual turkey drive...

New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force Chair Grace Lee, Assemblymember William Colton, and Senator John Liu Present $251,680 to United Chinese Association of Brooklyn at Annual Gala

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Brooklyn, NY — On Thursday, the New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force Chair Assemblymember Grace Lee, Assemblymember William Colton, and State Senator John Liu announced $251,680 in state funding for United Chinese Association...

New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force Chair Grace Lee and Assemblymember Colton Provide $920,000 to Chinese American Community

Brooklyn, NY – On Thursday, the New York State Assembly Asian Pacific American (APA) Task Force Chair Assemblymember Grace Lee and Assemblymember William Colton announced $920,000 in state funding for Brooklyn Chinese-American Association, a leading...