Clarke hosts small business town hall at MEC
By Nelson A. King
Even with the impeachment
hearings in Washington, D.C,
Brooklyn Democratic Congresswoman
Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09)
last Thursday hastened back to
Brooklyn to host a district town
hall at Medgar Evers College
(MEC) aimed at highlighting the
impact of small businesses in the
borough.
Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican
immigrants, touched on the
challenges that small businesses
are facing and what beneficial
resources are available to support
business owners.
The town hall was moderated
by Prof. Jasmine Young, MBA, and
included the following panelists:
Mark Caserta (Park Slope 5th
Ave BID), Lauren Collis (Church
Ave BID), Evan Franco (North
Flatbush BID), Andrew Hamilton
(National Black MBA), Veronica
Harris (Brooklyn Chambers of
Commerce) and DeShaun Mars
(NYC Small Business Services).
“This town hall is all about my
constituents – sharing information
and resources so individuals
and families living in Central
Brooklyn are informed and able to
thrive,” Clarke said. “Small businesses
are one of the many pillars
that make New York’s 9th Congressional
Caribbean L 8 ife, February 7-13, 2020
District so unique.
“That is why I wanted to make
a point in hosting tonight’s town
hall to provide beneficial information
regarding resources available
for small businesses right here in
Brooklyn,” she added.
As a former member of the US
House of Representatives’ Committee
on Small Business, Clarke
said she continues to fight for
the rights and opportunities of
entrepreneurs and small business
owners.
“Throughout my entire career
in public service, I have fought
for fairness, justice and equity for
small business owners,” she said.
“I have introduced several bills
that aimed to strengthen and protect
the market for small businesses,
such as, H.R. 7087, a piece
of legislation I am very proud
of that amends the Small Business
Act to establish a mentorship
program designed to help minority
and women-owned small businesses
build their capacities and
access to contracting opportunities
in the construction industry.”
The congresswoman and the
panelists also emphasized the
local challenges that have severe
effects on small business owners,
in particular property tax
increases and commercial storefront
vacancies.
“I understand small business
are facing many challenges in the
community – issues like property
tax increases that have quietly
become a much larger burden on
Brooklyn’s small businesses over
the past decade, or the issue of
commercial storefront vacancies,”
she said.
“For years, landlords are suspected
of keeping storefronts
vacant until they are able to be
filled by large corporations or until
the neighborhood is rezoned,”
Clarke added. “These are issues
that have severe effects on the
small business market in Brooklyn.
“It is crucial that we continue
to defend and encourage entrepreneurship,”
she urged. “Small businesses
in the district are capable of
flourishing in the community and
we continue to support them.”
Clarke warned that “when
small businesses are not looked
after, we all suffer,” stating that
she has strongly supported legislation
to foster economic growth
and stability in the district.
From left, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke with her Brooklyn District Director Anita Taylor
and Maron Alemu, district leader for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08).
Photo by Nelson A. King
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