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Proposal to name Chinatown Central Subway station after Rose Pak draws strong opposition at Board hearing
Summary
Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s resolution to ask the transit agency to name the Chinatown Central Subway station after Rose Pak drew extensive public comment opposing the move; Peskin said he has a complicated relationship with Pak and the item will be heard later in the Board’s process.
A proposal by Supervisor Aaron Peskin to seek a station name honoring longtime Chinatown activist Rose Pak prompted sustained public comment and vocal opposition at the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 14.
Peskin said he introduced the item to place the question before the Board and acknowledged a complicated personal history with Pak: “I personally had a very complicated relationship with Rose Pak... she did tremendous things not only for Chinatown, but for the Asian American community in San Francisco,” he said. Peskin said the matter will be scheduled for further hearing: “This item that I introduced... has received a lot of public comment and will continue to receive a lot of public comment. And its day will come in these chambers.”
More than a hundred members of the public spoke or were represented in comments opposing the naming during the meeting’s public-comment periods. Speakers who identified themselves as Chinatown residents, merchants and community members objected on multiple grounds: they said Pak improperly used political influence, cited references to an FBI report and alleged improper access to affordable housing units, and argued that a geographic name — “Chinatown” — better reflects the neighborhood and helps visitors navigate.
Examples from public testimony include: “This is residents’ opinions and thoughts about naming the subway station not after Rose Pak,” a Chinatown merchant organizer said after bringing petitions and posters with signatures; another speaker said, “She used her privilege and relationship, got a sea view, a brand new housing, easily,” referencing claims in public accounts about Pak’s housing. Others urged the Board to consult Chinatown merchants and business owners before taking action.
Board members accepted public comment and did not take a final vote on the proposal at the meeting. Peskin, who introduced the resolution, said the measure’s public comment record and the complexity of Pak’s role in local politics warranted further deliberation. The item will return for formal hearing and consideration at a later Board meeting.
