BY JASON COHEN
In January 2020, the
Throggs Neck Business Improvement
District (BID) was
established and a month later
appointed its executive director
Bobby Jaen.
Before Jaen could even get
the ball rolling COVID-19 arrived.
The former Throggs
Neck Merchants Association
President and longtime
Throggs Neck resident had his
feet thrown right into the fi re.
“We get the BID up and running
and look what happens,”
Jaen said.”They threw us in
the deep end of the pool.”
But, Jaen did not let the
coronavirus prevent him from
doing his job. One of his goals
as director was to make the
community clean.
He arranged for private
sanitation services to supplement
NYC’s Department
of Sanitation and they have
cleaned every Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday and Sunday and
kept the streets tidy during
the pandemic. In fact, the BID
offi ce has received an extensive
number of compliments
on how litter-free the neighborhood
has become.
Owners of over 22 local
businesses, including places
such as the Crosstown Diner,
Sisto Funeral Home, Cousins
Pizza and Power Express Realty
have expressed their satisfaction.
“Everyone has raved about
how clean the neighborhood
is,” Jaen said. “We wanted to
make sure our sidewalks and
streets were as clean as possible.”
Jaen also spoke to the
Bronx Times about how the
community has been affected
by COVID-19. He noted that
the majority of the businesses,
outside of supermarkets and
Clean streets in Throggs Neck thanks to the sanitation company hired by the BID.
Photo Courtesy of Frank Vernuccio
places that can offer takeout
or delivery have been closed.
BRONX TIMES R 2 EPORTER, MAY 22-28, 2020 BTR
Many are struggling and
Jaen hopes the governor rules
the city can reopen soon. He
has been in touch with people
who are a few months behind
in rent or in arrears to Con
Edison.
According to Jaen, people
want to reopen, but there’s
so much miscommunication
amongst the government that
no one knows what’s going
on.
“I truly believe that people
in government really
don’t know,” he said. “I think
they’re throwing stuff at the
wall and seeing what sticks.”
While he realizes some
stores may be forced to close
due to COVID-19, he is hoping
to attract businesses that
shutter in Manhattan and try
to get them to relocate to the
borough.
Jaen noted there are places,
which he would not name, that
do not plan to reopen and even
his barber of 25 years, has
shuttered permanently.
Ultimately, it’s his goal to
support the merchants during
the crisis. Whatever they
need, he is there to lend a helping
hand.
“We’re trying to give some
type of normalcy,” he said.
“We’re trying to keep our
neighborhood fed. This is a
team effort.”
‘This is a team effort’:
Throggs Neck BID
keeps streets clean
during COVID-19