SAN FRANCISCO, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Chinese community in San Francisco on Monday urged the city authorities to improve the security situation in Chinatown following recent rising waves of crimes in the community.
The Chinese community leaders invited Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents Chinatown in the city's Board of Supervisors, Robert Yick, captain of the Central Station of the San Francisco Police Department, and representatives of government officials, the state assembly and businesses to meet Chinatown residents to discuss how to make the community a safer place.
The meeting, held at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), came after two community leaders were attacked by suspected criminals at a busy district in Chinatown in broad daylight on July 15.
The horrifying violence involved robbery and beating of Zhonghua Huang, president of Huang Family Benevolent Association in San Francisco, and Hongchang Huang, assistant of the CCBA, causing panic and grave concerns among locals.
Peskin said the city officials and police authorities took the case very seriously, and the police department is actively investigating the incident.
"I'm working with the Department of Emergency Management to make sure that that does not happen again," he said.
Yick said at the meeting that his station will increase police presence and patrol in the Chinatown area and promised to work hard to bring the suspects to justice as soon as possible.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said Sunday that 18 high definition security cameras will be installed along Stockton Street, where the incident occured, aiming to create a safe and inviting public realm for residents, merchants and visitors.
Nearly 100 local residents fully packed the CCBA meeting hall, asking the city authorities to take sterner measures to crack down on rising crime in the city.
