By Bill Parry
The plans for expanding the Jackson Heights Business Improvement District is moving forward with word that ballots will be delivered to 1,500 addresses at the end of June.
Seth Taylor, the 82nd Street Partnership executive director, made the disclosure during an informational meeting sponsored by Community Board 4 in Corona May22.
“We’ve been collecting signatures of property owners, business owners and resident, and we’ve found there’s enough support for this plan,” Taylor said.
Marty Kirchman, a vocal activist from Queens Neighborhoods United, cried foul after he and Taylor presented both sides of the arguments at the meeting in St. Paul’s Apostle Church.
“We have very serious concerns regarding the integrity of the BID establishment process,” Kirchner said. “To this day, numerous business owners, property owners and residents within the BID’s boundaries are still uninformed that a BID expansion plan is underway and that they will be asked to vote on it.”
Taylor said the city Department of Small Business Services will decide if the BID made enough outreach to the property owners, businesses and residents before they approve.
“Then the plan would go to the Interagency Review Board for further examination before it gets submitted to the City Council. It’s a long process.” Taylor said.
The two have been at polar opposites since the plan was announced last year.
After Kirchner displayed newspaper articles critical of BIDs dating back to 1995, Taylor said, “That was during the Giuliani administration. So much has changed, there’s so much more oversight now.”
When Kirchner questioned the BID taking a $500,000 donation from the Queens Development Group, the group working on the Willets Point revitalization, Taylor said that was brokered by Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst).
That was confirmed by a Ferreras spokeswoman, who pointed to a bullet point in a press release from last October.
“QDG will provide $500,000 to support business along the Roosevelt Avenue Commercial Corridor,” it said.
“It was part of the Community Benefits negotiations prior to the Willets Point vote that was approved by the City Council,” the spokeswoman said.
Taylor said taking grants is part of a BID’s mission.
“We’re trying to improve the district. If a company is willing to make a donation, of course we’re accepting it,” he said.
Kirchner argued the BID does not help small businesses but real estate investors while attracting new, wealthier shoppers and tourists to the area.
Taylor countered that the BID takes on cleanliness, public safety and crime, pedestrian safety and uninviting public spaces all to make a cleaner and safer neighborhood.
“This city needs to fix these things and we serve as an advocate –– the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” Taylor said.
It was a point that stuck in the minds of some of the meeting’s observers.
Small businessman Frank Raffaela said, “Most of these projects are supposed to be done by the city with the taxes we already pay. Why do we have to pay twice?”
Woodside resident Julia Carrey, who is studying the BID expansion as part of her urban studies at Queens College, said, “I’ve been watching this unfold all semester and I wonder why we need private funds for public service.”
Hulen Jack, a resident of LeFrak City, said, “I learned a lot that I didn’t know tonight and now I have a thousand questions.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
