Braunstein, Queens Chamber and local BIDs talk
COVID-19 recovery at small business roundtable
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Last week, Assemblyman Edward
Braunstein and the Queens Chamber
of Commerce met with chamber
members and Business Improvement
District (BID) leaders for a small
business roundtable.
The discussion, which followed the
lawmaker’s recent appointment to the
Assembly’s Working Group on Transitioning
NY Economy Toward COVID-19
recovery, centered around steps toward
post-pandemic economic relief, small
business support and the upcoming
FY2022 state budget.
Back in January, Governor Andrew
Cuomo outlined facets of the executive
budget, including $130 million that
would go toward the Pandemic Recovery
and Restart Program. Under the
program, which Braunstein called on
the state Legislature to expand, funds
would be allocated to create the Small
Business and Restaurant Return-To-
Work Tax Credit programs.
“In the last year, the COVID-19
health crisis has presented extraordinary
challenges to New York City small
businesses and restaurants, who are
doing their best to continuously adapt
and survive,” said Braunstein. “With
New York’s commercial eviction moratorium
expiring, we need real and immediate
rent relief for our small businesses.
It is critical that the New York
state budget include this and other
needed relief and that the federal government
provide the necessary funds
so that New York business owners are
positioned for success.”
Several BID directors were present
at the Feb. 26 roundtable, including
Christine Silletti from the Bayside Village
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BID, Jaime-Faye Bean from Sunnyside
Shines, Elizabeth Lusskin from
the LIC Partnership and Kevin Alexander
of the Rockaway Development &
Revitalization Corporation.
The directors echoed the urgent
need for commercial rent relief, while
also highlighting some inconsistencies
between city and state regulation
and enforcement and the need for relief
grants for newer businesses.
“The Queens Chamber is honored to
work with NYS Assemblyman Edward
Braunstein and the COVID-19 Recovery
Working Group he is representing,”
said Thomas J. Grech, president and
CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
“Assemblyman Braunstein is a
trusted partner of business not only in
Queens, but statewide. We thank him
for asking for the input of our members,
large and small, as we emerge from the
COVID pandemic.”
In February, Speaker Carl Heastie
appointed Braunstein to the Working
Group on Transitioning N.Y. Economy
Toward COVID-19 Recovery in order
to aid COVID recovery for workers and
businesses on the local and state levels.
“The Assembly Working Group
on Transitioning N.Y. Economy Toward
COVID-19 Recovery will allow
us to take a holistic approach to this
recovery process by giving a voice to
all stakeholders and allowing us to determine
the best strategy for a strong
recovery,” Braunstein said. “One year
into the pandemic, there is a light at the
end of the tunnel and Queens will come
out stronger on the other side.”
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal by email
at jbagcal@qns.com or by phone at
(718) 260-2583.
Assemblyman Edward Braunstein talks COVID-19 economic relief with Queens
Chamber President and CEO Tom Grech and local BID representatives.
Photo via Braunstein’s offi ce
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