In this Oct 21, 2019 photo, then US Democratic presidential candidate entrepreneur Andrew Yang speaks to the National Press Club in Washington. (JACQUELYN MARTIN / AP)
Andrew Yang returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday to continue his bid to become New York City mayor after ending a self-imposed 10-day quarantine because an aide tested positive for coronavirus.
Yang, 46, toured businesses in hard-hit Chinatown in Lower Manhattan where there has been a dramatic reduction in foot traffic due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We need to let folks know that restaurants are open for business and we should support them," Yang said.
Born in upstate Schenectady, a few hours from New York City, Yang moved to Manhattan when he was 21.
Andrew Yang, a former tech entrepreneur, launched his campaign for the New York City mayor's office on Jan 13. He is well known nationally following his unsuccessful bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination
Yang recalled fond memories of being taken to Chinatown by his parents, who came to the US in the 1960s from Taiwan.
Yang spoke alongside Democratic New York City Council member Margaret Chin, who endorsed him for mayor because "every New Yorker will benefit".
Gigi Li, a candidate for Chin's City Council seat, was also in attendance and got Yang's endorsement.
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Chin said she wants to see a funding boost for the Department of Aging and senior centers. Yang said as mayor he would support that.
Half an hour before his visit, Yang tweeted a picture of himself on the subway with the caption "heading downtown".
He has been keen to be seen not only doing Zoom meetings online but also doing local walking tours.
Yang launched his campaign for the mayor's office with a slick online video on Jan 13. He won the endorsement of Ritchie Torres, a freshman US congressman and the first Afro-Latino member of Congress.
Incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio cannot run because of term limits.
Similar plan
Yang, a former tech entrepreneur, is well known nationally following his unsuccessful bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
He ran on a popular platform backing a universal basic income and has a similar plan for New York.
Although he has limited support from labor unions, clergy and neighborhood leaders, Yang has proved popular among New Yorkers.
A recent survey by Public Policy Polling showed he'd get 17 percent support in a crowded Democratic primary.
READ MORE: Businessman Andrew Yang ends eclectic presidential bid
At the height of the pandemic, he swapped his apartment in the city for his spacious home in New Paltz－90 minutes north of Manhattan.
On the eve of his announcement, Yang did an interview with The New York Times from his second home.
He said it would have been hard to do his job as a CNN commentator with two small children in his Hell's Kitchen apartment.
He also faced criticism for a video he posted to Twitter that showed him in a "New York City bodega".
Many people tweeted that it did not look like an authentic bodega. Additionally, he's faced a backlash for not voting in local elections.
New York's Democratic primary election will be on June 22.
belindarobinson@chinadailyusa.com
