Every candidate who received Think!Chinatown's questionnaire took the time to respond. Residents may agree or disagree with their answers, but they were willing to share their positions, explain their reasoning, and engage with the community on the issues that matter most to Chinatown.
Jacky Wong chose not to respond.
The questionnaire covered some of the most significant issues facing Chinatown today: the Borough-Based Jail project, affordable housing, Park Row, Chinatown Connections, 70 Mulberry, cultural spaces, public spending, small businesses, housing policy, and the neighborhood's future. These are not fringe issues. They affect residents, merchants, property owners, nonprofits, and community organizations every day.
No candidate is expected to have all the right answers. But candidates should be willing to answer the questions.
By declining to participate while every other candidate did, Jacky Wong denied voters the opportunity to understand where he stands on these issues. More importantly, he declined an opportunity to engage with a respected community organization that invested significant time and effort into creating a forum for public discussion.
Elections are about more than positions. They are also about accessibility, accountability, and respect for the communities seeking answers. When every other candidate made the effort to participate, the decision not to respond stands out.
Silence is not a position but a choice. Voters can decide for themselves what that choice says about a candidate's willingness to engage with the community he seeks to represent.