On Friday February 19th, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer toured businesses on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx with Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) and the United Auto Worker Association. Other attending groups included Legal Aid Society, the North West Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and the Pratt Area Community Council. The walk began at C3 R-Mega Auto Dynastic Car Shop, a car shop that mentors and trains local community residents to become mechanics, and continued on Jerome Avenue, visiting JR Flat Fix Tire and a location of a recently closed auto shop.
Business owners and employees discussed their issues related to the planned rezoning of Jerome Avenue with Comptroller Stringer. While the discussions surrounding the impacts of the planned rezoning have focused on housing, the participating groups raised awareness about the ramifications for local businesses. With already rapidly rising rents, some auto shops have already been forced to shut down, raising concerns in the community. Additionally, many of the existing businesses are not protected from potential risk of displacement as a result of the projected rezoning.
“I wanted to come to the Bronx to hear the concerns firsthand of business owners who are affected by the rezoning of Jerome Avenue,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “Many of these New Yorkers have invested their life’s work in building these establishments. They’ve hired locally, started apprenticeship programs and met the demands of the surrounding community and we should do everything in our power to make sure that they have a fair and fighting chance to make it. We have to ensure that all stakeholders are included when we discuss our City’s plans for the future.”
Over the last year, Comptroller Stringer and his Red Tape Commission have held public hearings in each borough to listen to stories and solutions directly from business owners and community members. Following these hearings, the Commission will produce a final report with recommended solutions to cut through the red tape that stifles local business.
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