Ralph St. John, owner of St. John Enterprises Incorporated, has worked in Willets Point for 36 years. Before starting his business, he did not know how to read and write, but he is well aware that eminent domain is threatening to take away his business and his livelihood.
“I’ll even work free because this is my life,” the 75-year-old said.
St. John was one of several local business owners who attended a Willets Point United Against Eminent Domain Abuse rally on Monday, June 8, at a Sunoco gas station in Willets Point to protest what they called eminent domain abuse.
City Councilmember Tony Avella spoke at the rally, denouncing the threat of eminent domain and Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s claim that he is helping small businesses stay in New York. Avella stressed that eminent domain should only be used for public resources such as hospitals and highways.
According to the New York State Attorney General web site, eminent domain is defined as the acquisition of private property for public use.
“Why can’t I develop my own property?” said Irene Presti-Giacomo, a property owner in Willets Point. “My property is not for sale.”
Alfreda Franza, 39, is the owner of United Steel Products. His father had established the business in 1975. He said that the city Economic Development Corporation (EDC) helped his business stay in Willets Point 20 years ago.
“They gave us financing to stay and build an addition to the building,” he said. “Now the city wants to kick me out.”
Franza noted that they offered him twice his current square footage, but in another location. He also claimed the EDC also had not returned his phone calls for about eight months since the offer.
Jerry Antonacci, owner of Crown Containers and president of Willets Point United Against Eminent Domain Abuse, said, “Nobody’s fighting for us. We’re fighting for ourselves.”
In response to their claims of abuse, EDC Vice President David Lombino said the city has set aside millions of dollars to compensate business owners. Contrary to what protestors said at the rally, Lombino insisted that eminent domain proceedings have not yet begun.
Lambino also noted that the acquisition of Willets Point would create 18,000 construction jobs and 5,300 permanent jobs.
Len Scarola, property owner, contended that keeping hospitals and fire departments open in the area would create jobs as well.
“Spend a little money, give us infrastructure and let this beautiful neighborhood flourish,” Scarola said. “You’re taking hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money to put us out of business and take our property away.”
The development plan for Willets Point was approved on November 13, 2008 by the City Council. The city now controls 65 percent of the site.
