Nepali Community Raises Key Issues, Including Crime and Safety, at Roundtable with NYC Mayor

NYC Mayor Eric Adams hosted a roundtable discussion with leaders from the Nepali community at City Hall on Friday. This meeting marked a significant moment for the Nepali-American community, as it was the first of its kind with the NYC Mayor.

The primary focus of the discussion was the safety and security of the Nepali community, particularly in light of recent crimes targeting its members. Community leaders expressed their concerns, highlighting incidents of robbery against Nepali businesses in Queens and assaults on individuals.

One business owner recounted a robbery at her money transfer business, while another community member shared a harrowing experience of being attacked in Jackson Heights. This underscored the growing fear among the youth, with one individual revealing that his son now fears walking in the area.

The conversation also addressed the state of Diversity Plaza, which community members described as increasingly chaotic. The leaders discussed the challenges faced by small business owners and professionals in accessing city business resources and navigating the diversity quota.

Community leaders such as Keshab Raj Sedhai, a NYC-based immigration attorney; Khagendra GC, another NYC-based immigration attorney; Amit Pratap Shah, founder of Mithila Center and a member of Queens Community Board 6; Pradip Shrestha, president of the Greater New York Nepali Chamber of Commerce; Narbada Chhetri, co-executive director of Adhikaar; Nabaraj KC, a realtor and member of the Asian Affairs Advisory Council for the Mayor of New York City; and Shreeya Tuladhar, executive director of the Minority Empowerment Network in New York, voiced their concerns and posed questions regarding crime and safety issues, TLC license plates, community centers, business resources, U visas, and TPS holders.

The Mayor was joined by a host of city officials, including Fred Krizman, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs; David Do, commissioner of the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission; Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Kevin Kim, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services; Laquisha Grant, deputy executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health; Sookranie Dhanpat, South Asian liaison of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs; Dilip Chauhan, deputy commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs; Kaz Daughtry, commissioner of operations of the NYPD; John Chell, chief of patrol of the NYPD; and AAPI liaison Gilbert Hoe and Muslim liaison Mohamed Bahe.

Mayor Adams, who has made history as the only NYC Mayor to participate in Nepali Day parades and hoist the Nepali flag in the city, reiterated his commitment to the Nepali-American community. The roundtable, coordinated by South Asian Liaison Sookranie Dhanpat, was a step toward strengthening the relationship between the city administration and the Nepali community, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed.