Sunset Park New Year's Event Honors Fire Monkey, With Electeds, Lions, Fireworks & Crowds Kowtowing

The children sang, but so too did the electeds, all saluting Paul P. Mak, the Executive Director of the Brooklyn Chinese American Association (BCA), at the 2016 Sunset Park Chinese New Year’s celebration. Pak and the BCA have organized the event for the past 29 years.

BCA executive director Paul P. Mak, left and Councilman Carlos Menchaca, center. At far right, NYPD precinct commanders Captain Tommy M. Ng, 72nd, and Captain Kenneth M. Quick, 66th, who divide Eighth Avenue between them. In profile, far left, U.S. Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez.

U.S. Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez and Sunset Park City Councilman Carlos Menchaca were among the many public officials — along with New York City Public Advocate Letitia James and Comptroller Scott M. Stringer — who presented Mak with a plaque honoring his leadership and wishing the audience “Happy New Year” in Chinese.

The District 20 school supervisor also lauded BCA’s “amazing” after-school programs, and students from PS 69, 94, 97, 105, 160, 205, and 206 marched in the parade up Eighth Avenue under their schools’ banners.

Getting ready to don the Lion’s head.

Awaiting their moment to star, strings of fireworks hung on metal racks not far from the grandstand until the New York City Fire Department exploded them. Deafening noise and gun powder followed.

An “elder.”