Brandon Patterson (D), who is running to succeed Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis (R, Bay Ridge, Staten Island), hosted a virtual town hall yesterday to discuss small business matters in the district amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staten Island-based JMT Media’s Jaclyn Tacoronte and Cornerstone Realty’s Frank Rizzo joined him.
As their conversation began, Patterson praised Rizzo for demonstrating the importance of local election through several people to whom Rizzo introduced him. “These issues we were talking about weren’t Democrat or Republican issues. These were issues that affect people’s quality of life,” said Patterson.
They proceeded to encourage residents of the district to continue to patronize restaurants and other small businesses. Patterson then called on the federal government to do more to support these businesses because “$1,200 just isn’t going to do it.”
Despite focusing mostly on Staten Island, this reporter asked Patterson what he would do about such establishments in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
“It is so much like Staten Island. It is a community of mom and pop shops, a lot of restaurants. It’s places that are struggling just like we are here in Staten Island,” Patterson responded.
“When we’re back up and running, Bay Ridge needs to have the same support financially that we do here in Staten Island that I am asking for, because you guys are suffering just like we are with the PPP [Paycheck Protection Program] program and small businesses…you guys need to get back to work,” he added.
Patterson proceeded to discuss priorities for Bay Ridge once the pandemic ends, bringing up sanitation issues, lack of adequate mass transit, and predatory landlords in Brooklyn who are “treating residents like crap.”
“Your needs are not that much different,” he said. “And I’ve got a great future colleague out there in [State Sen.] Andrew Gounardes. Justin Brannan, who endorsed me, is a great City Council member. We’re finally going to have a voice for you and a seat at the table.”
