By Bob Harris
Different speakers explained that there are 185,000 small businesses in New York City which employ 1.2 million people. It was sadly explained that bankruptcies were up and these include bankruptcies of established stores, not those that just come and go. Insurance rates are up, electricity rates are up and so are rents, gas and cartage rates. Then there are the inspectors who come and fine shop owners for paper on the sidewalk, fallen food on the floor even though the shop owner is making things at the time. The KASBSC believes that taxes and fees and fines seem to be the way the city is trying to make money. For a couple of years, the KASBSC has urged the creation of a task force to try to solve these activities but the city has just not done this simple request. Sung Soo Kim, president of the Korean American Small Business Service Center, Inc., said that the city is rated at 45th in a list of the worst environments for small businesses.One of the groups present was the Queens Civic Congress, an umbrella group of civic associations in Queens. It started working with the KASBSC, several years ago to oppose the proposal to let large box stores open up all over the city. The Queens Civic Congress fought to preserve neighborhoods with the small stores that serve the communities and the KASBSC wanted to prevent their member stores from being driven out of business by mega stores. Other civic leaders present were Barbara Stuchinski, president of the Forest Hills Civic Association; Heidi Chain, former president, Citizens Police Academy and president of the112th Precinct Community Council; Lois Marbach, chairwoman of the Queens Coalition for Political Alternatives; Keun Bok Kim, director, Young Women's Christian Association of New York City; and Kyung Suk Kim, director, Young Women's Christian Association of New York City.Government officials present were Republic of Korea Consul Chang-Jin Kim representing Ambassador Bon Joo Moon; Joseph L. Barracato Jr., chief inspector, FDNY; Marilyn Bitterman, district manager, Community Board 7, with her husband Jack; Una Clarke, director, Brooklyn Community Network Office, Empire State Development Corporation; Ignazio Terranova, Office of Community Affairs, city Department of Sanitation and his wife Terranova; Jason Chan, Community Liaison, city Department of Sanitation; and Evelyn Astacio, officer-secretary, city Department of Sanitation. It is interesting how many Sanitation Department officials were present at an event hosted by greengrocers.The Queens Civic Congress showed concern about the number of fees, taxes and fines which the small business were subject to. There was also concern about the tons of biomass waste generated by the vegetable stores. It is expensive to collect and should really be used to make fuel or composted for garden use. That would be the green way. State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) spoke about the need to have no more taxes on small business since small businesses are the largest employers in New York state. Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) agreed that small businesses have problems which should be solved. Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), deputy majority leader, spoke in support of the group. Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. came to the dinner to praise them. Randy J. LaFargue spoke for Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. Councilman Robert Jackson, the person who started the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court case and who is chairman of the Education Committee, spoke also and gave out newsletters. Comrie was the honoree. Special recognition awards were given to Lou Powsner, chairman of the Joint Council Kings County Board of Trade, and to Ted Park, president of the Metropolitan Supermarkets Association. Community assistance awards were given to Denise Thomas, director of the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and to Clarence Thomas, supervisor of the Division of Food Safety and Inspection, city Department of Agriculture and Markets. Acknowledgment awards were given to Sung Duk Kang, president, Queens Fruit Corp.; Jeong Hyun Yoo, president, JHY Farm Corp.; and Ock Heang Joh, president, St. John's Fruit and Vegetable, Inc. The corporate sponsor award was given to Peter Toscano Sr., president of Mr. T. Carting Corp.GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK: Think of all the people who work to get the fruit and vegetables we bring to our table.BAD NEWS OF THE WEEK: Think of the obstacles they often face.
