Title
Authorizing Council's Committees on Public Safety, Commerce & Economic Development, and Global Opportunities and Creative/Innovative Economy to hold Public hearings concerning recent home invasions and armed robberies that have victimized Asian business owners in the City.
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WHEREAS, Over a dozen armed robberies targeting Asian-owned businesses have occurred in the City since May 2016. In several cases, armed robbers have targeted businesses as well as the residences of these business owners; and
WHEREAS, Asian food business owners have been particularly targeted by burglars. In most reported incidences, offenders carrying handguns have invaded upstairs residences above food businesses between 4 AM and 6 AM. Cash and other items of value are taken from businesses and their attached residences; and
WHEREAS, Asian businesses in Philadelphia County, PA; Montgomery County, PA; Delaware County, PA; and New Castle County, DE; have been targeted by armed robbers. While patterns of crimes against Asian business owners have also been reported in 2015, the modus operandi of these crimes reported in 2016 has changed from following or tracking particular Asian business owners to now targeting business properties themselves along with any residence connected to the business; and
WHEREAS, While some of the criminal perpetrators have been apprehended, several remain at large. The FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department are continuing to work to find suspects and bring justice to these robbery victims; and
WHEREAS, The targeting of Asian business owners is especially traumatic for immigrant small business owners who speak limited English. One challenge is to make sure that these business owners are educated about what to do in the event of an armed robbery; and
WHEREAS, The current news has spread to China and Chinese-speaking population around the world. This has painted Philadelphia as a City unfriendly to Chinese immigrants. The perception is ...
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