The good news is Fresh Direct has decided to relocate to the Bronx. The bad news is Queens will lose 2,000 jobs.
The credit for keeping the company, which delivers groceries and caters to places throughout the metropolitan area, goes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who came up with a package of incentives that beat those offered by New Jersey.
State Sen. Michael Gianaris said he was “disappointed they couldn’t find a way to stay in Long Island City, but I’m glad that we kept them in New York City.”
It is not clear how many of Queens workers will decide to make the trek each day to the Bronx. The commute will add at least two unpaid hours to their work day.
According to the governor, Fresh Direct will be spending $112.6 million on a 500,000-square-foot facility near the Harlem River Rail Yards. This will create 1,000 new permanent jobs and some 684 construction jobs. The company says this will allow Fresh Direct to expand services through New Jersey and into Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
We are disappointed. The loss of this company will have a negative impact on the small businesses in Long Island City that served employees from Fresh Direct.
Gianaris said he is hopeful a company can be found that will take the place vacated by Fresh Direct.
High-tech Cops
Cell phones, laptops and iPads have become the No. 1 target of the city’s lowlifes. Robberies of these items take place every day in nearly every precinct. But a quick-thinking cop in the 105th Precinct has shown that the technology sword cuts both ways.
A 27-year-old man reported that his wallet, iPhone and iPad had been stolen. The robber allegedly pulled a gun and then beat his victim over the head with it.
One of the responding officers quickly used a computer program called iCloud to track the stolen iPhone. In a short time, the thief was arrested.
Hopefully, this program and others like it will take the profit out of stealing gadgets.
