Photo courtesy of Frontline Foods Queens
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.2 COM | DEC. 4-DEC. 10, 2020
BY JACOB KAYE
David Aronov, a City Council
candidate vying to be the
first Bukharian Jewish person
elected to the legislative
body, demanded the city and
state step up and help small
business owners during the
COVID-19 pandemic at Queens
Borough Hall on Nov. 24.
Aronov, who is running to
replace term-limited Councilwoman
Karen Koslowitz in
City Council District 29, called
on Mayor Bill de Blasio and
Governor Andrew Cuomo to
institute a series of polices
aimed at aiding small businesses
including rent relief
programs, clearer protocol for
indoor and outdoor dining,
reduce fines, increase small
business eduction and streamlined
communication between
the state, city and businesses.
“Our small businesses have
been hurt, and we have to ensure
they get the support they
need to continue to be open and
succeed,” Aronov said. “As the
backbone of our city’s economy,
the lack of investment into
our small businesses now will
cost us in the long run.”
The City Council candidate
citied the city’s color-coded
COVID-19 zones as a cause of
confusion for the city’s small
businesses. Aronov has also
taken umbrage with the fines
doled out by the State Liquor
Authority to businesses found
in violation of COVI-19 guidelines,
which he said are “over
the top.”
Aronov was joined by a
handful of small business owners
from Rego Park, Forest
Hills, Kew Gardens and Richmond
Hill – the neighborhoods
he hopes to represent.
“Small businesses can
barely make it on 100 percent
capacity with labor, food cost,
rent and utilities,” said Spiro
Gatanas, the owner of DineBar
and Tower Diner in Rego Park.
“Can you imagine how we are
all doing with 25 percent capacity
for dining? It’s a recipe for
disaster.”
On Nov. 21, City Council
District 29 had around a 3.75
percent positive COVID-19 test
rate on average over the past
seven days, about 0.8 percent
higher than the city average.
Business owners cited financial
support as the only
way to survive during the pandemic.
“As a new small business
that is not receiving grants or
loans or new small business
assistance it is extremely difficult
to create a financially
sustainable business,” said
Mohammed Islam, the owner
of Grocery Shoppe in Richmond
Hill.
Aranov faces a crowded
field of candidates in his bid
for office – 11 others have announced
their campaigns for
Koslowitz’s seat.
Additional reporting by
Dean Moses.
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
Frontline Foods Queens
launched QueensGiving, a mutual
aid project in which local
restaurants were paid to cook
over 2,500 Thanksgiving meals
to be served to families and individuals
across Queens.
The grassroots organization,
founded by Queens community
members at the onset
of the COVID-19 pandemic,
partnered with restaurants
from several neighborhoods
in Queens, including Zenon
Taverna, Sami’s Kabab House
and La Vecina in Astoria; Barzola,
Rincon Criollo and Luna’s
Kitchen in Elmhurst and
Jackson Heights; Goody’s and
The Cradle in Far Rockaway;
Maxi’s Noodles in Flushing;
La Flor and Firefly in Sunnyside
and Woodside; and Neir’s
Tavern in Woodhaven.
In recognition of the rich
diversity of traditions and
cultures in Queens, each restaurant
did their own take
on Thanksgiving meals. On
Thursday, Nov. 26, a team of
60 volunteers distributed the
meals to Queens housing,
churches and food pantries.
Frontline Foods Queens
were able to partner with the
restaurants through a Go-
FundMe fundraiser, which has
garnered more than $10,000 in
donations so far, and seed money
from World Central Kitchen.
“QueensGiving is a community
effort and we are grateful
for the outpouring of support
and donations we’ve received,”
said Amanda Newman, Frontline
Foods Queens’ co-founder.
Loycent Gordon, owner of
Neir’s Tavern, prepared 150
turkeys.
“I believe we’re only as
strong as those least fortunate
in our community. Today, I’m
grateful to partner with Frontline
Foods to help strengthen
those members in our community
that has been deepest
impacted by the effects of
COVID-19 by providing a warm
Thanksgiving meal,” said Gordon.
“We all have a part to play
to beat this pandemic. This is
our part. I urge all New Yorkers
to find something small or
large to help strengthen our
community during this time.
The Neir’s 200 Group coming
together for Neir’s Tavern to
beat this pandemic is proof
that as a community we can
conquer all.”
Five hundred meals will
go to Astoria Houses, where
residents of an entire building
have been without cooking gas
for two months.
“We know a Thanksgiving
meal is not the answer to the
pattern of injustice our NYCHA
neighbors have faced due
to neglect and disinvestment,”
said Evie Hantzopoulos, cofounder
of Frontline Foods
Queens. “But we hope this
gesture will let them know the
community supports them and
cares for them.”
In addition to Astoria Houses,
meals were be delivered to
Ravenswood Houses, Queensbridge
Houses, Astoria Food
Pantry and Astoria Welfare Society
in the Astoria and Long
Island City area; Bay Towers,
Solid Rock Church, Far Rock
Greek Council and Rockaway
Mutual Aid in Rockaway;
Great Flushing Chamber of
Commerce in Flushing; Mary’s
Nativity Pantry in Ozone Park;
Woodbine in Ridgewood: and
for the Sunnyside and Woodside
Mutual Aid.
Frontline Foods Queens has
helped many local restaurants
struggling to stay afloat during
the pandemic, by partnering
with them to feed frontline
hospital staff (they were originally
called Queens Feeds Hospitals),
essential workers in
NYCHA, food pantries, nursing
homes and other families
and individuals who are experiencing
food insecurity.
More than $700,000 has
been used to provide meals for
more than 50,000 people.
“We are so thankful to have
had the support of Frontline
Foods Queens over the last six
months,” said Elena Papageorgiou
Ioannidis, owner of Zenon
Taverna. “It has been invaluable.”
City Council candidate David Aronov called for improved small
business policies on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Photo by Dean Moses
City Council candidate
calls for improved
COVID-19 aid to local
small businesses
Frontline Foods partners
with local restaurants to
deliver holiday meals
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