Kim Leads Korean-American Business Advocacy Day
Assemblymember Ron Kim (D-) yesterday hosted members of the Korean-American business community for a day of advocacy in Albany.
Citing a decline in small businesses across a diverse array of industries, the business members met with Kim and his colleagues, including Assemblymembers Ed Braunstein (D-Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Broadway-Flushing, Douglaston, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Little Neck) Nily Rozic (D-Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Hillcrest, Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Bayside,Douglaston) and Clyde Vanel (D-Cambria Heights, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, Bellerose) as well as State Sen. Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Beechhurst, Clearview Gardens, Rego Park, Forest Hills, Hillcrest, Elmhurst, Fresh Meadows).
Among the small business advocates represented at the lobbly day included the Korean American Chamber of Commerce, the Korean American Business Council of New York, the Murray Hill Merchants Association, the Korean American Dry Cleaners Association, and the Korean American Nail Salon Association.
Representatives spoke with legislators about questionable unilateral mandates or regulations that have left many business owners looking for opportunities outside of New York.
“In my conversations with the members and leaders of our community’s business organizations, and with the small business owners of my district, it has become apparent how truly difficult it is for them to survive in New York today,” said Kim. “The increasingly onerous regulation that these industries face has forced countless businesses to look elsewhere. Adequate regulation is essential, but unilateral mandates that impose one-sided costs only hurt small businesses across our state. Thank you to all my colleagues who met with our guests today and I look forward to working together on finding real solutions to these issues.”
“As a representative of a large Korean American population, I understand how important small business protections are for the community,” said Braunstein. “I would like to express thanks to Assemblyman Ron Kim for organizing this event and giving these groups the opportunity to tell their story. Small businesses are the life-blood of our economy and we will do what we can to support them. I hope this event continues to inspire action and look forward to participating again in the future.”
“As Korean immigrant owned businesses work to improve services, so must legislators work to improve services for all New Yorkers. Thanks to Assemblyman Ron Kim for organizing today’s Korean American business advocacy day in Albany,”” said Rozic.
“It has been my pleasure to work with representatives of the Korean American business community,” said Stavisky. “Their experience is indicative of small businesses across New York. With increasingly burdensome regulation, we have to work closely to make it easier on small businesses to stay and work here. Thank you to Assemblyman Kim for helping to protect the small businesses that make New York so successful. I look forward to working with these organizations in the future as we continue to improve the district together.”
Holden Announces Property Tax Assessment Workshop
City Council Member Robert Holden (R-Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood) announced yesterday that he will be hosting a Property Tax Assessment Workshop for residents to discuss their property tax assessments and notices of property value with representatives of the Tax Commission and Department of Finance.
Holden is convening this property tax assessment workshop to help homeowners better understand their property tax assessment. Homeowners can meet one-on-one to learn how to dispute their assessed property value, how to change their property description and how to apply for property tax exemptions.
“Understanding your property taxes can be a confusing and frustrating process, especially when trying to navigate different city agencies,” said Holden. “These workshops will allow homeowners to get the answers they need to understand their property taxes and to navigate the appeals process.”
The workshop is slated for between 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7 at the Atlas Park Mall Community Room, 71-19 80th Street, 3rd Floor in Glendale. Any questions may be directed to 718-366-3900.
Addabbo Speaks to Rockaway Students About Wind Turbines & Clean Energy
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways.) last week spoke to the sixth grade class at Channel View School for Research about wind turbines and the planned windfarm off the shores of Rockaway.
The students gave a presentation on how wind turbines generate clean energy and demonstrated the effectiveness of different types of turbines. They then got the chance to ask Addabbo questions about the windfarm that is expecting to come to their neighborhood by 2030.
“It was great to see that the sixth graders at Channel View are so interested in these wind turbines and the importance of clean energy,” said Addabbo, who is a member of the NY Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. “All of their questions were well thought out, and I am proud to have these young inquiring minds as my constituents. Pretty soon they will be leading the way in innovation and bringing New York State into the forefront of clean, renewable energy.”
Crowley Brings Queens DREAMer To State Of The Union Address
U.S. Rep. and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-Sunnyside, Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, parts of the Bronx) last night brought Romer Cisneros, a DREAMer from Queens, will be his guest to President Trump’s State of the Union address.
“Tonight, I have the great pleasure of welcoming Romer to the State of the Union Address. Romer, a former intern of mine, is an incredible young man who also happens to be one of 800,000 DREAMers. Romer is worth fighting for, and he is part of my motivation to find a resolution for DREAMers,” Crowley said. “I hope in his address, President Trump will deliver a strong vision for America, one that includes ways to strengthen the country through investments in health care, education, job creation, and our aging infrastructure. DREAMers like Romer also deserve an answer on their future.”
Romer and his family immigrated to the United States from Peru when he was just seven years old. Romer is a senior at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he is studying to be an attorney.
