Giving back to the community - 6 Decade in a Glimpse (Pius Lee Autobiography 9)

Chapter 11: Giving back to the community

I have been very fortunate that I could live and work in a comfortable environment. But it would not be possible without support and help from many community members, some of whom were very special to me.

I believe that whatever I can and when the occasion arises, I would try my best to assist. The followings are some of the examples where I reached out to the underserved members of the community in Chinatown. I hope my work may entice other people to do the same.

From 1977, for three years in a row, I held a Christmas feast at the Empress of China restaurant for 500 seniors, followed by free movies at the New Grand View Theater on Jackson Street.

In 2012, I funded the Salvation Army for its Chinese New Year community luncheon for 500 seniors, honoring our great Chinese tradition. This event was my appreciation for the contribution and sacrifices the seniors had made to the Chinese community. They experienced discrimination and unfair treatment. This charity luncheon stopped for two years due to the pandemic.

In 2013, I learnt from the Sing Tao Daily about a story of a new immigrant family. Ms. Xiao was seriously ill and her husband committed suicide leaving their daughter unattended. My wife and I donated $5,000 to help her overcome hard time. Today, she has come out of the low point of her life with a good career and a wonderful family.

Since 2017, I have given sleeping bags, hot food and red envelopes to the homeless people in Chinatown during Chinese New Year.

In January 2021, I learnt about the rough life of Ah Leung, who had mental illness. While I gave him cash and winter clothing for his immediate needs, I also checked to see how I could help him get medical treatment. I finally connected with the Mayor's Office and helped him get mental care.

On March 20, 1993, Hee Shen Benevolent Association offered the "Pioneer of Charity'' award to me to commend my work of serving the community for many years.

Chapter 12: My recommendation about drug addict rehabilitation center

In America today, drugs are rampant. Many cities in California have legalized marijuana as a recreational drug. While most members of the Chinese community oppose it, some politicians continue to have introduced legislations like SB 57 and voted to approve them.

SB 57, Safe Consumption Sites, was authored by State Senator Scott Wiener in 2022 who represents San Francisco. Assemblymember Mia Bonta, who represents Oakland over the East Bay, Assemblymembers Phil Ting and Matt Haney, who both represent San Francisco, were co-sponsors in support of SB 57.

The legislation intended to authorize the safe consumption sites set up in San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles. Although the goal of SB 57 was to reduce overdose death, the legislation was controversial among the communities who have made efforts on the drug overdose issue.

I wrote a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to veto SB 57 which would allow injection centers to operate. It was not a solution for drug addicts. Rehabilitation center is the best solution.

I am glad to see that Governor Newsom vetoed the safe consumption sites bill on August 22, 2022.

Successful drug addicts rehabilitation center requires a comprehensive and systematic plan. I believe that the best way to help drug addicts to come clean is to send them to drug addict rehabilitation centers and follow the example of Shek Kuw Island in Hong Kong.

I sent a 2020-2021 annual report of the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers in Hong Kong to Governor Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and other legislators.

The report described its 60 years of successful record at the Shek Kwu Chau Island drug rehabilitation center. It is a small island with well-equipped facilities, professional medical team, psychological counseling, job training, and employment consultation.

A rehabilitation process requires three to nine months. The success rate is 88 percent. This center serves as a stabilizing component for the community and contributes to a harmonious relationship with families.

I asked Governor Newsom and Mayor Breed to look at the Shek Kwu Chau's success story and take into consideration of local conditions. With that in mind, California can select a small island to open a drug addicts rehabilitation center, such as Treasure Island or Alcatraz Island.

If there is no suitable site, I am willing to donate 20 acres of sea land as the site of a drug rehabilitation center. It is about 5,000 feet from the old Candlestick stadium, about 1,300 feet from Highway 101, or 3,790 feet from the Brisbane Technology Park. This area has the advantage of having a water barricade that limits access to land, a similar setting to Hong Kong's Shek Kwu Chau Island.

In 1961, a prominent lawyer in Hong Kong, Brook Bernacchi, asked me to assist him with the Shek Kwu Chau drug rehabilitation center's planning process. Today, I can see that the center has become a very successful rehabilitation center.

I hope that I can play a role in helping California to tackle the issue of drug abuse. I have already sent the annual report of the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation Center in Hong Kong to Governor Newsom and Mayor Breed in San Francisco for more consideration.

I encourage the government to build more rehabilitation centers but injection centers.

( To be continued in Issue 195 )

Editor's Note: Community leader Pius Lee retires in 2024 after advocating for the community in many ways for 60 years. He has recently released his autobiography book, 6 Decades in a Glimpse, as his personal memoirs for his friends and families, not for sale. Mr. Lee shares his book with community members to be reprinted in Wind Newspaper's weekly issues starting #186 in April 2024.