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July 2020 . Volume 16 . Issue 7
“IN A CRISIS YOU OFTEN DON’T HAVE TIME TO SIT AROUND, YOU CAN’T BE CONSTRAINED BY PARALYSIS BY ANALYSIS.”
ESD HEAD TALKS ROAD TO RECOVERY FOR NYS
EMPIRE
ALSO
• CHAMBER HANDS OUT 500,000 MASKS • THREE MEMBERS ADDED TO BOARD • AIRLINE EXECS DISCUSS THE INDUSTRY’S FUTURE
STATE MIND OF
EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT PRESIDENT & CEO ERIC GERTLER
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July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
PREP TO FINISH STRONG
Summer is undoubtedly one of quarters of the year, or July through my favorite seasons of the year. December, are spent analyzing data It has always represented a pause and evaluating trends to see how from business-related you close out the year. matters and the opportuUnfortunately, many of nity to recharge. Warmthose processes won’t be er weather, traveling in play for a number of and time spent simply businesses. unwinding a bit. But there is great This year of course news. You’ll have an isn’t quite the same aside opportunity to look at from the warm weather. these final quarters of A good number of us the year and strategize have had other concerns ways to finish strong. that take precedence TOM SANTUCCI Seeking out new ways over the normal care- CHAIRPERSON to function as an orgafree days we’ve come to nization and gain new relate to summer. insight will be the key to going When will the economy get back forward. on track? How will business look Your Queens Chamber has going forward? What are the new been around since 1911 providguidelines for operations amidst ing resources for business to thrive this ongoing pandemic? These are and grow. We’ve faced monumental all questions I’m sure you’ve asked challenges in the past and came out yourself. stronger as a result. I’m confident If you’re a business owner and this will be another one of those you’re connected to the Queens defining moments for New Yorkers. Chamber, one thing is certain: you Please connect with us at queenhave a resource in place to help schamber.org for any needs you walk you through the process and have as you set forth to finish strong assist in navigating these times of in 2020. Thank you for always uncertainty. being supportive. Together, we are Typically, the third and fourth stronger.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
ONE THOUGHT: PIVOT
As I look at the calendar and real- something completely different. ize it’s July, I ask myself where has This mindset carries over into time slipped away to? These past several of our business models several months have as well. If ever there flown by, and most of were a time for us to us are trying to adjust be innovative and strato life in the present. tegic, that time is now. In the past, many As business ownyou would be away ers, and with many of on vacation regroupyou operating a small ing from the first half operation, you’ve had of the year. Unfortuto adapt quickly to nately, that will not be changes in the way the case for many of you conduct business. us this summer. Life THOMAS J. GRECH From restaurants to as we know it has PRESIDENT & CEO retail to offices across changed. the borough, we are During my conversations with all learning the art of pivoting. various business owners, one word With the city easing into Phase has stuck in my mind: pivot. Now Three of reopening, many of you unlike never before, we’re finding are slowly getting back on track. ourselves shifting from our normal routines and modes of operation to CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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QUEENS QUICKLY
DA FORMS ECONOMIC CRIMES UNIT
In another step toward reorganizing the Office’s Investigations Division, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the creation of a new Major Economic Crimes Bureau. Combining components of the former Economic Crimes Bureau with the former Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, this new crime-fighting team will specialize in the investigation and prosecution of large-scale financial crimes throughout the borough. Led by 22-year assistant district attorney Mary Lowenburg, the bureau will target organized groups engaging in a broad range of crimes, including check-cashing and credit card fraud, identity and auto theft, insurance fraud and loan sharking. Lowenburg previously served as deputy bureau chief in the former Organized Crimes and Rackets Bureau, as well as Chief of the Auto Crime Unit. The veteran prosecutor built
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a career going after numerous Queens-based criminal organizations, from auto crime operations to narcotics and firearms trafficking rings. Investigations will utilize sophisticated crime fighting strategies such as wiretapping and location data, as well as involve collaboration with a variety of local, state and federal law enforcement partners. The DA’s Office said it will make use of New York’s Enterprise Corruption statute when appropriate. Since taking the position, Katz has been focused on rearranging the office in a way she feels will better serve the needs of Queens communities. In the last six months, the DA formed several new divisions, such as one dedicated to housing and worker safety, and another focused on cold cases. As part of her vision, Katz emphasized a comprehensive approach to crime fighting, operating with the approach that economic crimes frequently have ties to violent criminal organizations. Accordingly, the Major Economic Crimes Bureau is expected to work closely with the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, as well as other bureaus within the office. (SARA KREVOY)
POSSIBLE PROMENADE IMPROVEMENTS
If the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves the proposed LaGuardia AirTrain project, millions of dollars in improvements will be made to the promenade along Flushing Bay, according to a legal document made public by the city last week. In a Memorandum of Agreement between the Port Authority and the city, dated March 1, 2019, the Port Authority has committed to investing $16.5 million to rehabilitate the full 1.4-mile length of the promenade.
Pathway enhancements, which include improved landscaping and refurbishment of the railing and walkway, are expected to make up $8 million of that investment. Another $500,000 would go toward bulkhead and seawall repairs. The other $8 million is listed under “community park improvements,” and will include the creation of new public activity areas, installation of public art, upgrades to guideway aesthetics, improvements to park access and improved lighting. The Port Authority will make the park improvements no less than one year after the AirTrain’s revenue service begins, according to the memo. The project is currently undergoing environmental review by the FAA. Other commitments include planting or funding the planting of between 3,000 to 5,000 new trees within the promenade. The Port Authority will also relocate the boat lift, boat storage and maintenance shed during construction. They also plan to compensate concessionaires at the catering hall, gas station and nearby Dunkin Donuts for impacts during construction. In a statement, Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber, called the Memorandum of Agreement “an important first step” in the Port Authority’s commitment to make investments to the promenade. “Working with input from the local community, these historic investments will enhance the public park along the promenade,” Grech said, “making it more welcoming and user-friendly.” Last November, as part of the A Better Way to LGA coalition, the chamber, along with the New York Building Congress, Association for a Better New York, Queens Economic Development Corporation and other groups, called on the Port Authority to make these types of improvements as part of the AirTrain project. They pointed to the rotting benches, tattered fencing and distorted walkways as examples of improvements that could be made to the promenade. “It is important that AirTrain LaGuardia not only improve public transportation to the airport,” Grech added, “but also make investments
TABLE OF CONTENTS CUNY Names Three to Lead Colleges in Queens .................................6
Stay Connected With the Chamber Via Virtual Workshops ...........................17
SBS Commissioner Tours Struggling Flushing Businesses .................9
Experts Provide Updates on PPP ..............................................................................17
The Way Forward: Airline Executives Discuss New Reality ............10
Chamber Welcomes New Members ........................................................................21
COVER STORY: ESD Head Discusses How NYS Recovers ...........11 Chamber Distributes 500K Pieces of PPE to Business Groups ........12 Three New Members Added to Queens Chamber Board ..................14 Maspeth Federal Announce Community Giving Winners ................15 4
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July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7 in important community assets that all New Yorkers can enjoy.” (BENJAMIN FANG)
7 QUEENS LIBRARY BRANCHES TO REOPEN Starting on Monday, July 13, Queens Public Library will reopen seven branches across the borough with limited “to-go” services six days a week. At the Bayside, Bellerose, East Elmhurst, Kew Gardens Hills, Laurelton, Long Island City and Peninsula branches, customers can pick up materials in a designated area. The libraries will also accept returns at their exterior return machines. Branches will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with a
QUEENS QUICKLY one-hour closure from 1 to 2 p.m. for cleaning. They will also be open 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, with a one-hour closure from 3 to 4 p.m. for cleaning. Materials can be requested online, by phone or through the QPL app starting on July 6. In addition, nine other library branches will accept returns around the clock, seven days a week. They will be open to the staff for fulfilling material requests and other functions, but will remain closed to the public. Those branches are Astoria, Cambria Heights, Central, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Queensboro Hill, Rego Park, Ridgewood and South Ozone Park.
NORTHWELL REMEMBERS 20 LOST TO COVID-19
“As we begin to step cautiously back into our physical spaces and welcome customers inside, we will continue to reimagine and expand our services and respond to the diverse needs of the public,” QPL president and CEO Dennis Walcott said. Each building will undergo extensive cleaning, and all returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before they are put back into circulation. Additionally, all staff and visitors will be required to wear masks and practice physical distancing. Each branch will make hand sanitizer available to customers. On-site public programs, browsing, meeting rooms, seating, public computers and in-person references services will not be available. Customers can check out materials without accruing fines until October 1, 2020. Fine-based library card blocks will also be temporarily lifted. Customers can apply for library cards online, and cards can be picked up at one of the locations offering to-go services. “We are grateful to the public for their support and understanding as we navigate our new realities together,” Walcott added. “The library’s incredible staff are working hard to prepare for this next step, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back safely.” (BENJAMIN FANG)
CEO’S MESSAGE CONTINUED ROM PAGE 3
As part of its ongoing mission to recognize the courage and sacrifice of its employees, Northwell Health declared June 25 its “Day of Remembrance” – a ceremony for more than 72,000 Northwell employees to honor the memories and celebrate the lives of the 20 team members who died from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Families representing 17 of the 20 Northwell employees who died from the disease attended the memorial service, which included the health system’s color guard and benedictions and prayers from staff clergy. The three remaining families attended virtually through a livestream connection, which was also made available to facilities across the health system. Northwell president and CEO Michael Dowling (pictured) said the pandemic challenged health system workers in ways that no public health crisis had ever done before. “Today is an opportunity to recall, reflect and
remember,” he said. “We recall the heroism, the compassion and the caring of all the staff who did such heroic work and met the challenge.” Northwell Health is supporting the families of deceased team members in numerous ways, including: • Providing each family with $10,000 to cover the cost of funeral expenses; • Paid time off payout (up to 315 hours); and • Salary payouts for both clinical and nonclinical team members. The deceased team members came from a variety of geographical and professional areas within Northwell, ranging from food services to accounts payable to physicians. “The team members whose loss we mourn and whose lives we celebrate represent the mosaic of people and roles needed to carry out our mission and serve the communities that entrust us with their care,” said Maxine Carrington, Northwell’s deputy chief HR officer.
This includes indoor dining for the first time in months, as well hotels welcoming guest. The Queens Chamber has never skipped a beat since March 16, working diligently on your behalf providing COVID-19 business-related resources and updates to help you navigate these challenging times. Late last month, our offices reopened as part of Phase Two. We’re committed to ensuring our current members and future members have access to every possible resource and service as we approach the last half of what has been a most interesting 2020. I count my blessings everyday to have an opportunity to head this organization. Our staff tirelessly works to bring programming and resources that will benefit you as business owners. From webinars to distributing mask to virtual town halls to keep you informed, the Queens Chamber is stronger than ever. Thank you for your dedication and support throughout what has been a challenging period in our lives. As you pivot, stay strong and know we’re in this together.
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS partners understand that “collective Queensborough Community College, Queens Rupchandani tapped community impact” is not a threat, but rather an opportunity College, and Polytechnic Institute of New York for collaboration. University. to lead Zone 126 She said she wants to sit down with local leadA nonprofit organization that drives educa- ers and elected officials to plan strategically so tional and community transformation for chil- the limited resources available will support as Three to lead Queens dren and families in western Queens has a new many students as possible. CUNY institutions leader at the helm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, shutOn June 15, Zone 126 appointed Anju Rupchandani as its new executive director. Rupchandani has been involved with the group since its inception in 2011. “Anju’s career has been dedicated to supporting students and families living in public housing and providing access to equal opportunities that level the playing field from cradle to career,” said Lynn Grossman, board chair of Zone 126. “We can’t wait to see the new heights that Anju brings Zone 126 to.” Raised in Astoria, Rupchandani is a prodRUPCHANDANI uct of the local public school system, including PS 70 and William Cullen Bryant High School. Her journey in the education and advocacy sectors began 20 years ago as an after-school counselor for the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) at PS 70. “That experience really shaped me wanting to be an educator,” she said. Rupchandani was the first person in her family to graduate from college after receiving a bachelor’s degree in adolescent education and history from Pace University. She would later earn her master’s degree in leadership and community-based learning from Bank Street College of Education. She also received certificates in executive education management from Fordham Center for Nonprofit Leaders and Columbia University. After working in several community schools, Rupchandani joined Zone 126 at its founding nearly a decade ago. “The work here at Zone 126 is really personal,” she said. “To be able to rise to this position is very humbling for me.” As the new executive director, Rupchandani said her goal will be to elevate the importance of creating a student pipeline from elementary to high school, and ultimately to community college or a four-year university. “I really believe in bloom where you grow,” she said. “I want other children to be able to see this as a path and a pipeline.” Another goal, Rupchandani said, is to ensure
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ting down schools and in-person after-school programs, Rupchandani said Zone 126’s team has been on the ground delivering food pantry bags to local families. The team has also been sending hotspots to students who don’t have internet service in their homes. “We’ve been in and out of the office supporting families,” she said. “We will continue to do that post-COVID.” Rupchandani said she feels ready to serve her home community in a new capacity. “I’m really excited and ready to go back out there, roll up my sleeves and support,” she said. “With everything going on with the pandemic and race relations, to be a woman of color leading during this difficult time is a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m ready for.” (BENJAMIN FANG)
Lisella selected for poetry fellowship The Academy of American Poets has selected an Astoria resident as a 2020 Fellow. Maria Lisella will spend the fellowship hosting “Writing Your Way Home,” a curated series of readings and writing workshops for senior citizens in Queens. The readings will feature senior poets, and the workshops will culminate in public readings throughout the borough. AAP will provide a $50,000 stipend to Lisella, who was selected as Queens Poet Laureate by the Borough President in 2015, and donate some funds to nonprofits that work with her. Twice-nominated for the Pushcart Poetry Prize, Lisella has authored Thieves in the Family (NYQ Books) and the chapbooks Amore on Hope Street LISELLA (Finishing Line Press) and Two Naked Feet (Poets Wear Prada). She also contributes articles to USA Today and La Voce di New York, which publishes in English and Italian. She holds degrees from
Three educational institutions in Queens now have new leaders at the helm. Last week, the CUNY Board of Trustees voted to appoint new presidents for LaGuardia Community College, Queensborough Community College and York College. Leading LaGuardia Community College will be Kenneth Adams, who currently serves as the dean of workforce and economic development at Bronx Community College. His appointment begins on August 17. Adams previously served as acting commissioner of the state Department of Taxation and Finance. From 2011 to 2015, he was the president and CEO of Empire State Development, the state’s economic development agency. Prior to his stints in state government, Adams also led the Business Council of New York State, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and MetroTech Area Business Improvement District (BID). He was the founding executive director of the nonprofit New York Cares. “LaGuardia is uniquely positioned to support the city’s recovery by training and upskilling workers who have lost their jobs,” he said, “and preparing students for new fields and emerging occupations in a post-COVID economy.” Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2020 by Queensborough. All letters sent to the QUEENSBOROUGH should be brief and are subject to condensation. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of the QUEENSBOROUGH. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to the QUEENSBOROUGH within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. BQE Media assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold the QUEENSBOROUGH and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS Adams, who succeeds interim president Paul Arcario, raised $2 million to support workforce training and career services programs while at Bronx Community College. He increased Continuing Education enrollment by 45 percent and the revenue by 15 percent, according to CUNY. “I look forward to working with the incredible LaGuardia faculty, students, staff and alumni, and of course the Queens community,” he added, “in a collective effort to deliver on the rich promise of LaGuardia to a growing number of students in these challenging times.” At Queensborough Community College, Dr. Christine Mangino will become the ADAMS president after 16 years leading Hostos Community College in the Bronx, including stints as dean for faculty and curriculum, and later as provost and vice president. A first-generation college student, Mangino developed her interest in the mission of community colleges while attending Nassau Community College. She later earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Hofstra University. Mangino also has a doctoral degree in instructional leadership from St. John’s University. According to CUNY, in her five years as provost at Hostos, Mangino increased three-year
graduation rates by nearly 15 percent. She also boosted the number of faculty of color by 6 percent, and expanded online offerings by 5 percent. “I look forward to working together to not only recover from the current crises,” Mangino said, “but also to continue the important work of student success and proMANGINO viding an affordable, high-quality education marked by academic excellence and rigor.” York College, meanwhile, will have a familiar face as president. Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes, who served as interim president since September 2019, will continue to serve on a permanent basis starting on August 1. Eanes came to York College from California State University Fullerton (CSUF), where she was vice president for student affairs for seven years. During her tenure, the university saw a 33 percent improvement in six-year graduation rates for first-time freshmen, as well as a 100 percent improvement in four-year graduation rates for first-time freshmen. Prior to CSUF, Eanes served for six years as vice president for student affairs at John Jay College for Criminal Justice. Since September, she guided York College through the implementation of distance learning
and remote working. Dr. Eanes earned her doctorate in social work from Clark Atlanta University, master’s degree in social work from Boston University, and a bachelor’s degree in public health from Dillard University. “It has been a pleasure to serve as the interim president this past academic year and establish the new strategic plan and priorities that will drive the future of the college,” Eanes said. “Following our ‘One York’ theme, we will push ahead and work collaboratively to embrace the amazing opportunities and tackle the current challenges together.” Eanes succeeded Dr. Marcia Keizs, who stepped down from the post last August to return to teaching. “I am especially proud to have been able to recommend these dedicated and experienced leaders to guide CUNY colleges as we continue to navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic and its many associated challenges,” said Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez. “All of these leaders have acquired the wideEANES ranging personal and career histories to make innovative contributions as CUNY college presidents.” (BENJAMIN FANG)
EXPERT ADVICE
RIGHT-SIZED COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FINANCING BY ROB RYNARZEWSKI Before COVID-19 access to commercial real estate financing was relatively simple. Borrowers rarely thought twice about who provided their loans, so long as the terms were favorable. Today, there’s more uncertainty in the commercial real-estate market. Many lenders are telling clients they are “waiting to see how the market will play out.” Challenged by growing defaults, lenders are focused on tightening structures across their client base. Too often these days we hear about “relationship lenders” ghosting their clients after they call or email. We hear from borrowers that terms are being changed at the last minute, or that loans are coming due without the ability to refinance. We hear from borrowers who are questioning whether they have the right financing partner. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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EXPERT ADVICE
COVID-19 REOPENING AND THE PPP
BY ROBERT C. INTELISANO
The long-awaited “reopen” has commenced, and New York City is lagging just one stage behind the rest of New York State. We went from “flatten the curve” to “rebuild” to “reopen.” But reopen to what, the new normal? What does the “new normal” look like? If you go back to 9/11, the “new normal” was metal detectors in airports, office buildings, stadiums, schools and many other places where large gatherings occur. After Hurricane Sandy, we changed building codes and homes were rebuilt and elevated while raising electrical circuit boards and generators. My vision of the COVID-19 phase one reopen will include many office employees working from home. I see about 20 percent in an office-home hybrid setting and 80 percent working virtually from home full time. I envision people always knowing their body temperature before leaving home. Self-administered at-home tests will be the new protocol. I interviewed Queens Chamber of Commerce member John Rafferty, who is CEO of Watch Guard 24/7, a Queens-based security firm, for his thoughts on how buildings and security protocols will change when they reopen. He sees buildings relying on their security and concierge teams to ensure a safe passage into the building and enforcing social distancing guidelines. Some of these steps will include: • Prohibiting entry into the building to persons not wearing masks. • Ensuring visitors, tenants and staff remain six feet apart, and that no one is loitering or congregating in the lobby. • Limiting the amount of people in an elevator at one time. • Utilization of hand sanitizer when entering a building.
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• Thermal thermometer scans to prevent entry by asymptomatic persons into the building. These are minimal steps that buildings should be looking to incorporate. Rafferty said when his company reopens its office to the entire staff, they will be implementing teams that will work on different days and times to further protect their staff. “This will be the new normal, and we need to be proactive at this time to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY ACT (PPPFA) The way business owners decide to spend PPP money will have a direct effect on our economy and the unemployment rate. Uncertainty is rampant as there have been few recent guidelines released by the U.S. Treasury Department. Here’s some tips for PPP recipients: • Set up a separate bank account. For those approved who haven’t received funds, do not “commingle” with other bank account expenses. This is a much cleaner approach. • Consider ordering paper checks for your new bank account as soon as you have an approved loan reference number to literally create paper trails when spending PPP money. This will be important for loan forgiveness purposes. • Be careful to meet the 60 percent minimum requirement for payroll costs as defined by the U.S. Treasury and Small Business Association. • The date you receive funds will generally determine the beginning of your eight-week spending period to accumulate expenses eligible for forgiveness. There is some flexibility to align your spending period start date to coordinate with your payroll date. For example, you receive funds
on June 27 and your June payroll periods were on the first and fifteenth. You can move your spending start date to July 1 to coordinate with your next payroll period. • Document in writing asking every employee to return to work. I suggest furloughing employees instead of termination. After a week or two, invite them back to work. It’s a win-win as the employee now has a choice of unemployment or their job back. There is a “final bailout” that kicks in should an employee refuse to come back to work. If that happens, you will not be penalized for that worker’s refusal to return.
INSURANCE • AUTO INSURANCE: There has never been a better time to shop your auto insurance, as insurance carriers are dropping rates by different percentages to gain market share. Many carriers have applied discounts on premiums or sent checks back for March and April or April and May. There are fewer cars on the road, and accident risks have decreased while people shelter at home. Check with your auto agent. • LIFE INSURANCE: During these difficult times we have seen a large increase in families feeling the need to increase their life insurance. We have providers on our platform that will issue nonmedical underwriting (it can be as fast as one to two weeks) policies for people under 60 years old. Up to $3 million of coverage is available with no direct human contact. Three life insurance companies have announced there will be 10 to 25 percent increase in premiums. I foresee only a two to six-month window to apply before other insurance carriers follow suit, and COVID-19 could be excluded. HEALTH INSURANCE: Laid off or furloughed workers were
allowed to stay on their plan until May 31 without electing COBRA. Due to COVID-19, early refills on prescriptions are permitted. Most health insurance companies have relaxed these rules and will allow you to switch from a 30-day supply to 90 days. Tell your pharmacist to file form SCC13 (submission clarification code 13). Not all pharmacists will be familiar with this code. COVID-19 testing is free from in-network deductibles and copays. TELEHEALTH: Consulting with a doctor virtually is now accounting for about 80 percent of doctor interaction. I suggest reviewing your policy’s telemedicine co-pay, as they range from free to $40 on most health insurance policies. There are also stand-alone telemedicine plans that can be added to existing group health insurance policies that currently don’t have them.
Robert C. Intelisano (CLU, CSA, LUTCF) is available for pro bono business strategy sessions for all Queens Chamber members at Rob@InsuranceDoctor.us, or go to InsuranceDoctor.us and complete a simple intake form.
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
FLUSHING BUSINESSES STRUGGLE AMID REOPENING NEW SBS COMMISSIONER TOURS NEIGHBORHOOD’S SHOPS & RESTAURANTS BY BENJAMIN FANG When the COVID-19 pandemic struck New York City, business at Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing basically came to a halt. Ed Staniszewski, the hotel’s general manager, said the outbreak has had a dramatic impact on business. Although the hotel was able to house some workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and emergency medical technicians from out of state, he said the crisis has affected long-term business by at least 60 percent. “We don’t see it recovering for about a year and a half or longer,” he said. While business is low, the hotel has resumed renovating its lobby and lower level, a project that
started prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Staniszewski said most of his focus now is on creating a safe and sanitized experience for hotel guests. “Once this does start regenerating and recuperating, we’ll be more poised and in a position to better welcome guests,” he said. For Vivian Liao, program director for the New York Golden Eagle Senior Corporation, an adult day care center in Flushing that serves more than 130 people, the coronavirus pandemic has put the business in jeopardy of closing. Despite receiving a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan after three applications, Liao said the senior center, which closed on March 19, is “getting squeezed”
by insurance companies. Their other concern is the rent, which they have not paid for three months. “Right now, my worry is we won’t get help with rent,” she said. “If the rent is not forgiven, we are going to go bankrupt. “It’s really, really hard for us,” Liao added. Staniszewski and Liao were just two of the several business owners visited last month by Councilman Peter Koo, Flushing Business Improvement District (BID) executive director Dian Yu, Tom Grech from the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Jonnel Doris, the new commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Doris, whose office has distributed two million face masks to businesses across the city, gave 150,000 to the Flushing BID and another 150,000 to the Queens
Flushing BID’s Dian Yu (left) and the Queens Chamber’s Tom Grech joined SBS Commissioner Jonnel Doris (center) on a tour of Flushing businesses.
Chamber. The new SBS commissioner encouraged businesses to give the face masks to customers. The Queens Chamber president and CEO noted that even before the pandemic struck, there was a falloff in business in Flushing starting in late January. “We want to make sure the new SBS commissioner sees firsthand what has gone on here for the last 12 weeks,” Grech said, “and get him to offer any assistance that he can.” Doris also visited a local bar and takeout spot to speak to business owners about their road to recovery. Prior to the tour of Flushing businesses, Koo told the new SBS commissioner that the Asian community, especially the business community, is “very disappointed” with city government. He said few Asian-American small business owners received city-backed loans, despite paying hefty amounts in property taxes. “We didn’t get enough attention,” he said. “This is a high property tax area, but in return we don’t get many services.” Doris responded that when he was the director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Womenowned Business Enterprises, he helped change the law to include Asian-owned businesses. “I am very much for AsianAmericans, and I want to make sure the Asian community knows that,” he said. The SBS commissioner added that he hears the concerns of local businesses that want to flourish and need city services to get there. “We have to do more, and that’s why I’m here, to do more and hear from you,” Doris said. “I want to make sure you know that I’m committed to this.” After the tour, Doris said he learned that Flushing businesses are resilient, but the city has to help them find a way to thrive. “We want to do everything that is safe, but we want them to have an opportunity to do business,” he added. “We’re going to do whatever we can to help facilitate that.”
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
AIRLINES WELCOMING TRAVELERS BACK TO PLANES EXECUTIVES DISCUSS SAFETY, OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE BY BENJAMIN FANG As New York City continues to reopen in phases, major airline companies hope travelers resume flying with safety in mind. At a town hall hosted by the Queens Chamber of Commerce last week, representatives from Delta, United, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines discussed the safety protocols that they have undertaken amid the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. The panel kicked off with an update from Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who spoke about the $8 billion rebuilding of LaGuardia Airport. The Port Authority maintained construction during the coronavirus outbreak, but instituted many worker safety requirements, Cotton said. Temperature checks and face shields were required to enter the construction site. Contractors also conducted safety briefings, vastly enhanced cleanings, and provided handwashing facilities and dispensers. “Social distancing is the rule,” he said. Cotton noted that air travel numbers during the pandemic remain “hugely depressed.” New York, which was the epicenter of the virus for several months, had a hard time dispelling that reputation, Cotton said. But the Port Authority executive director said he believes air travel will come back. “It’s a question of when, not if,” he said. “We want to be ready and prepared. We want to do our part by enhancing the airports to the greatest extent possible.” Stephanie Baldwin, vice president of Delta Airlines, said the company had 230 peak flying days last year. So far in 2020, they have only had 23 peak days. But Baldwin said they are starting to see “some positives.” The company will soon reinstate service to San Juan, Santo Domingo
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and Santiago, as well as key business markets like Cleveland and Charlotte. “Delta is welcoming you back,” Baldwin said. In terms of cleanliness, Delta sanitizes 100 percent of its aircraft everyday, Baldwin said. The company uses an “electrostatic spray” that gravitates toward surfaces and kills viruses on contact. They also recirculate air using HEPA air filters. Delta requires face masks, which Baldwin said is “non-negotiable.” They also have hand sanitizing stations throughout airports and passengers receive sanitizer in flight as part of a care kit. Like many other airlines, Delta has seat caps for both economy and first-class travel. Coach is capped at 60 percent capacity, while first-class is capped at 50 percent. At JFK Airport, Delta conducts temperature checks for every employee, Baldwin said. They have also started COVID-19 antibody testing for their workforce. “We are not going to compromise on our customer safety” she said. Similarly, United Airlines also conducted COVID-19 swab and antibody testing two weeks ago, according to vice president Michael Erbeck. They also use electrostatic cleaning on aircraft, and have partnered with Clorox and Cleveland Clinic on best practices. Erbeck said customers are required to wear masks, and the company also conducts temperature checks with employees. “We have a layered approach to everything we do,” he said. As for JetBlue, Jeffrey Goodell, vice president of partnerships, government and airport affairs said the company launched a “comprehensive health and safety plan” with proactive measures. He noted that JetBlue was the first airline to require face masks. The airline is blocking most middle seats, and capping air-
Representatives from four major airlines spoke about the safety protocols they have taken to address COVID-19 during a virtual town hall hosted by the Queens Chamber of Commerce. crafts between 50 and 60 percent capacity. JetBlue will continue that practice through the end of July. “We have always been a values-driven organization,” Goodell said. “Safety is always our first priority.” The JetBlue executive noted that in June, the company operated about a quarter of its pre-COVID flight schedule. He expects that number to be around 50 percent in July and tick up to 60 percent in August. “We’re all focused on the same mission,” Goodell said, “which is to reassure travelers that when they’re ready, they should come back and travel with us.” David Harvey, vice president at Southwest Airlines, detailed what his company is doing to ensure safety, including overnight cleaning and capping the number of tickets to two-thirds of the aircraft, a practice Harvey said they have extended through at least September 30. Harvey said distancing on board is the biggest factor for passengers’ comfort level. Like the other airlines, customers can’t fly Southwest without wearing a face mask.
“We don’t want to create undue risks,” he said. Harvey noted that Southwest is back up to 20 flights at LaGuardia Airport, which will be up to 40 flights soon. When asked about the possible return of business travel, airline executives said they believe it will come back, but not as quickly as previously thought. “When your first competition goes out to meet their client, that will start it off,” Erbeck said, noting that is what happened after 9/11. “It just takes time to get comfortable with the new world we’re in.” Others spoke about their optimism about the industry. Goodell said they are confident about the future, even if there is uncertainty. “We really do believe we will come through this,” he said. “We might be slightly different looking companies, but we’ll be well positioned to serve our communities.” Baldwin added that all airline companies are even setting aside the competition to work together to get the public confident with flying. “We really invite you to fly with us,” she said. “We’ll make it work for you.”
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
LGA TERMINAL B PROJECT COMPLETE BY BENJAMIN FANG Travelers flying out of LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B now have a new arrivals and departures hall. Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Port Authority and LaGuardia Gateway Partners celebrated the opening of the new Terminal B Headhouse last month. Officials said the project, which was built on time and on budget, is the “most significant milestone yet” in the $8 billion transformation of LaGuardia Airport. “We’re grateful for this once-ina-lifetime opportunity to reimagine LaGuardia from the ground up,” said Richard Kennedy, president and CEO of Skanska USA, one of the companies responsible for designing and constructing the new Terminal B. “And for the thousands of employees, subcontractors and trades who logged millions of hours helping us realize this vision.” The four-level building integrates with passenger concourses and gates, includes a new parking garage and connects to Terminal C and the planned LaGuardia AirTrain. The 850,000-square-foot facility also features 60-foot-tall ceilings and a glass facade. On the first floor is a new ground transportation center for arriving passengers, with the arrivals hall and baggage claim on the second level. The third floor will be home to check-in, while the top floor contains shops, restaurants and other amenities. The $8 billion renovation of LaGuardia Airport has been conducted in phases to allow for the building of a new terminal without disrupting operations. The airport handled a record 31 million passengers last year, officials said. The project’s most recent milestone was the completion of the Terminal B Eastern Concourse, which opened to the public in December 2018. It houses a total of 18 gates. Another concourse is currently under construction. When completed, it will allow Terminal B to have a total capacity of 35 gates.
In addition to completing the Headhouse, Skanska will also construct 17 new roadway bridges, more than eight miles of new roadways and two miles of new taxiway space. Officials said that will improve aircraft circulation and reduce taxi times and delays. Overall, the new roadway network will have 16 fewer traffic lights. “Today’s opening should be a shining symbol of the region’s potential for a strong economic recovery with the vitality of New York before COVID-19,” said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority.
EXPERT ADVICE
TAILORED BANKING FOR OWNERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
At Piermont Bank, we understand that capital is the lifeblood of your commercial real estate business. And when opportunity knocks, especially in the competitive New York City area, you need a lender that’s prepared to act. During these unprecedented times, Piermont has stepped up its support for enterprising commercial real-estate owners and operators looking to access $1 million to $10 million for multi-family, industrial, office, mixed-use, and condo properties. We’ve taken on appraisal assignments, honored term sheets, and delivered when other banks and hard money lenders were not able to meet their commitments. Our support is not just in words. One borrower with an existing portfolio of properties in Brooklyn and New Jersey had a loan already underwritten and appraised by their bank where they had a deep and longstanding relationship. With negotiated loan documents ready to be signed and in the borrower’s hand, the bank became skittish at the last minute and backed out of the deal. Fortunately, Piermont stepped in and took an assignment of the third parties, turning around a $3.75 million loan in days.
And that’s not all. Over the past few months, we are proud to have funded deals that include: $2.3 million for a mixed-use building in Brooklyn with a 60-month term, $3.9 million for a sale-leaseback, and $4.5 million for a mixed-use property in the Bronx. In addition, we have closed several bridge loans, including $3.2 million for a completed mixed-use construction project that needed a bridge during lease up. Furthermore, Piermont has helped its commercial real estate clients by providing tenants with PPP loans to help them with immediate relief. We believe that a true banking partner helps owners, developers, and those who are vital to the success of their businesses. Since its inception in 2019, Piermont has provided a digitally enabled, high-touch alternative for enterprising borrowers who have been looking for a bank that values their relationship and stays true to its word. Often overlooked by large banks and regional lenders, these clients have been frustrated by wrong-sizing – using a bank that’s too big for their needs – and challenged by smaller banks with limited options. At Piermont, we deliver peer banking: we meet you where you are. We provide fast answers and
flexible financing solutions all within 24-hours of your online application submission. Our floating and fixed-rate commercial loans start at $500,000 and go up to $10 million. Our ValueAdd Bridge loans range from $1 million to $10 million. And our lines of credit and note-on-note financing go up to $4 million. During these uncertain days, you need clarity and certainty. You need a lender that’s in it for the long haul, not just the immediate or short term. You need solutions that fit to your size. If you have a great business and a promising future, but are saddled with an ill-fitting banking partner, consider Piermont. We provide a tailored banking experience that blends the best of financial services with agile startups. Get a dedicated banker and answers quickly, it’s easy. Start by submitting your deal at piermontbank.com/talk-to-us-about-yourdeal. If you’re looking for rightsized deals, why not look at a bank that’s right-sized for your business. Reach out directly with a deal or contact us at cre@piermontbank. com. Rob Rynarzewski is head of Commercial Real Estate at Piermont Bank.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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COVER STORY
ESD HEAD DISCUSSES LEADERSHIP AMID COVID BY BENJAMIN FANG The last 11 months have been intense for Eric Gertler, president and CEO of Empire State Development (ESD). Nominated by Governor Andrew Cuomo for the post in August 2019, Gertler has led New York’s economic development agency since last September. Though the past year has “flown by,” Gertler has managed the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic and will help the state recover from its current crises. “Never did I expect the range of issues we’d have to deal with, particularly what the agency had to address and confront over the last four months,” he said. “You never know what to expect. You play the cards you’re dealt.” Prior to being appointed as the head of ESD, Gertler served as executive chairman of U.S. News and World Report. He was also a managing member of Ulysses Ventures, a multi-strategy investment fund based in New York City. This is Gertler’s second stint in public service. He previously served as an executive vice president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. The former media executive, entrepreneur and published author noted that there are many similarities between the public and private sectors. He said Governor Cuomo in particular has “many of the same priorities that we have in the private sector,” including showing results and moving the ball forward. In the public sector, the main difference is that officials need to think more multi-dimensionally, Gertler said, and consider all of the different constituent groups. “That’s what makes the public sector challenging,” he said, “but also very exciting.” Coming into the role, Gertler said his personal goal was to lead the agency to do the most it can. In terms of agency priorities, he wanted to focus on increasing employment and opportunities
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ESD president & CEO Eric Gertler speaks at 2019 PITCHNY, a program to cultivate homegrown talent by expanding pathways for aspiring creators, as well as showcase diverse communities through film, TV and creative content.
for all New Yorkers, attracting businesses and supporting large infrastructure programs. Other goals included boosting the “I Love NY” initiative and building up the life science industry in the state. In March, the COVID-19 pandemic struck New York, forcing the agency to transition to activities to support the state’s response. Gertler said ESD was involved in defining essential workers and businesses, monitoring the supply chain and sourcing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies. The agency also identified real estate or warehouses to store equipment and alternative locations for patients and health care workers. As the state recovers from the health and economic crises, Empire State Development will continue to focus not only on jobs and attracting businesses, but also supporting small businesses. Gertler said the agency has worked to ensure federal money goes to small businesses, which make up 98 percent of businesses in New York. The state created the New York Forward LoanFund program, which helps businesses
with 20 employees or fewer, particularly those unable to access federal dollars and minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs). Additionally, ESD is helping businesses that want to retool and provide different types of PPE and COVID-related equipment. The agency has provided state grants and credits for those efforts. While Gertler acknowledged the challenges New York will face on an economic front, he said he is bullish and optimistic in the long term about the state’s future. “History is a great teacher,” he said, noting that the state came back after 9/11, the 2008 recession and Superstorm Sandy. “This state recovers after crises. It’ll do it again.” The reason for the state’s success, the agency president said, is because New York is “inhabited and filled with smart, talented, innovative and resilient people.” “It starts with the people,” he added. “We are New York tough.” Gertler said New York’s economy is not only important for the state, but for the whole country. He noted that before COVID-19, New York had close to a $1.7 trillion economy.
“I have no doubt New York State will get through the challenges,” he said, “and once again lead in terms of its economic resurgence.” As for attracting businesses, Gertler said a lot of companies still want to come back to the state and grow here because they see New York as the optimal place to set up a business. While life in the post-COVID world will be different, companies still want to be in a place that has access to the right talent and business environment. “New York has all of that,” he said. As the state continues to reopen in phases, Gertler said he’s seen what has happened in other states in terms of rapidly rising coronavirus cases and deaths. While he doesn’t know if New York will see another outbreak, he believes government needs to prepare for the worst. The basic game plan, he said, is to manage the health and safety of New Yorkers, while also being ready with equipment and guidelines in place. “We are preparing contingency plans to ensure that we are even better prepared in the event there is another outbreak,” he CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS
CHAMBER DISTRIBUTES 500K MASKS TO BIZ GROUPS BY BENJAMIN FANG As New York City moves toward the third phase of its reopening, small businesses are being supplied with millions of face coverings for employees and customers. Last month, the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) sent the Queens Chamber of Commerce 500,000 face masks to give out to Queens businesses. Altogether, SBS has given out more than four million masks to organizations and stores across the city. “New York City means business,” SBS Commissioner Jonnel Doris said in a statement. “Our small businesses are tough, resilient and they are coming back.” In addition to giving out 500,000 masks, the chamber distributed 20,000 face shields courtesy of NewYork-Presbyterian. They also gave out flyers in numerous languages that contain resources and guidance on safety measures and reopening. The Queens Chamber’s headquarters at the Bulova Corporate Center in East Elmhurst served as the main distribution hub. “Small businesses are the backbone of Queens and they have been among the hardest hit by COVID-19, here in the epicenter of the epicenter of the pandemic,” said Tom Grech, president and CEO of the chamber. “It is essential that we help them navigate this reopening safely so we can get Queens back to business.” Starting last Tuesday, representatives from local business improvement districts, business associations and other groups arrived to pick up boxes of face masks and shields. Among them was Jennifer Furioli, executive director of the Jamaica Center BID. She said she sees her organization’s job as expediting and making things easier for local businesses. Stores are already trying to communicate with employees, communicate with customers and figure out all their new systems and logistics, she said, so face masks
The Queens Chamber team gave out free PPE to business groups to distribute to their members. are just “one less thing they have to immediately worry about.” “Our businesses have been really diligent about following the rules and wanting to do the right thing,” she said. “But it’s been like drinking from a firehose for them.” Furioli said businesses in the area are enthusiastic and positive. Even at the worst point of the crisis, she said she wasn’t getting a lot of distressed calls. “They’re just trying to do their best, trying to work with the situation that they have,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of excitement now that these businesses are ready to open their doors and begin engaging with customers again.” Dian Yu, executive director of the Downtown Flushing BID, said giving out face masks during phase two is especially important because retail stores and beauty salons, places with a “more personal touch,” are reopening. Seeing the spike in COVID-19 cases in other states across the country, Yu said businesses want to do everything to avoid another widespread outbreak. “People need to not forget we are still in the first wave,” he said.
“The first wave is not over yet. We’ve got to be careful.” In Flushing, Yu said while businesses are slowly reopening, they are still struggling. One big problem is that customers are not fully back. He foresees the restaurant industry in particular will struggle until around November. “When people are fully back to patronize all the businesses, that’s the crucial thing,” Yu said. Furioli noted that when the COVID-19 pandemic started, all of the economic development organizations and professionals throughout the city “clicked together.” They formed a Facebook group for coronavirus response and recovery to share information and answer questions. On a hyperlocal level, the Queens Chamber coordinated all of the borough’s economic development organizations. That was important, Furioli said, because Queens was the hardest hit and has a high immigrant population. They initially met virtually twice a week to share materials, develop a deeper relationship and work in collaboration. For example, many businesses complained that customers were
not adhering to the six-foot distancing rule, especially when speaking to staff. The Jamaica Center BID’s graphic designer made a poster, uploaded it and shared it with other groups to use. “There have been no egos involved,” Furioli said. “We have all worked together.” Yu said because COVID-19 is the “invisible enemy” and it’s everywhere, everyone is collectively fighting it. “Everybody has to do their share and continue to fight this disease in every way we can,” he said. Ikhwan Rim, president of the Union Street Small Business Association in Flushing, said knowing that the local chamber of commerce is helping groups like his offers some comfort. “Especially our association, most are mom-and-pop stores,” Rim said. “It will help a lot to protect themselves and our customers too.” Furioli urged people to make an effort to shop locally as much as possible. “These businesses need it more than ever,” she said. “It was important before to have a ‘buy local’ mindset. Now, it’s critical.”
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS
CHAMBER WELCOMES THREE TO BOARD BY BENJAMIN FANG
team and look forward to working with them in the future.” The Queens Chamber of ComKammas has been a member of merce announced at its annual the chamber for three years. He meeting and election of officers in said of all of the business associaJune that three busitions he’s a member of, ness leaders are joining the Queens Chamber its Board of Directors. is the best at identifyAnthony Kammas, ing what his needs are, president and foundwhat types of clients ing partner at Skyline he’s looking for and Risk Management, putting him in touch Bert Lurch, a health with them. care business owner “They really spend and entrepreneur, and the time to understand Stephen Preuss, vice who I am, who my chairman at Cushman company is, and what LURCH & Wakefield, are now our needs are,” he said. helping to guide the “It’s been really fanborough’s largest and oldest busi- tastic. ness association. Born and raised in Queens, the “We are thrilled to welcome president and founding partner at these three accomplished business Skyline Risk Management said leaders to our board,” said Thomas joining the Board of Directors is Santucci, chairman of the Queens his way of giving back to the chamChamber. “Each brings decades of ber for everything they’ve done to experience and an impressive array help his business. of talents to the table, and I look His goal is to continue to grow forward to working together with the chamber in its current mission them as we help the Queens busi- to be a true advocate for smaller ness community grow and thrive.” business owners. In addition to Santucci, presiKammas is also the incoming dent of Gateway Investments, the president of the Professional Insurchamber’s Executive Committee ance Agents of New York, which for the upcoming year represents about 1,000 will include Nash Roe agent members statefrom City Underwritwide. He said he can ing Agency, Patrick Yu offer the board an from Baker Tilly Virindustry perspective, chow Krause, Richard as well as an underDzwlewicz from TD standing of where Bank, Susan Browning business owners are from Long Island Jewcoming from. ish Forest Hills, and Given the borough’s Fran Biderman-Gross diversity and many from Advantages, Inc. colleges and universiDeparting from the ties, Kammas added KAMMAS Board of Directors are that he sees Queens Vincent Petraro and as a potential technolJeff Levine of Douglaston Devel- ogy hub. He also believes neighopment. However, they will be borhoods like Long Island City joining the chamber’s Senior Advi- and Flushing are on the rise, with sory Council. more to do in terms of modernizing “Our Board of Directors is among buildings. the most diverse we have ever had,” “There’s still a lot of growth that said Thomas Grech, president and could be done within Queens,” he CEO of the Queens Chamber. “I said. am proud of the assembled board Lurch, CEO and co-founder of
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E Central Medical Management, Preuss, vice chairman at Cushwas also a member of the chamber man & Wakefield, has actively parfor three years before joining the ticipated in and sponsored many board. chamber events and meetings, as He co-chaired the well as real estate panHealth and Wellness els. Last June, he was Committee for a year honored at the chamand a half, putting on ber’s annual golf outwell-attended eduing. cational events for “It was a natural promembers and the pubgression for me,” he lic about health care said about joining the issues. board. “It made a lot of “After getting a sense.” closer understanding Preuss noted that of the leadership of Cushman & Wakefield the chamber and their has the most active PREUSS goal,” he said, “it fell brokerage team in the in line with the things borough, and deals I’m trying to do.” with hundreds of properties every As a minority entrepreneur for 20 year. years, Lurch said he understands “There’s a lot of synergy we can the pitfalls, challenges and suc- cross our businesses with,” Preuss cesses behind being a successful added. “They do such great work business owner. He will bring that for the borough, and with us being experience to the chamber, which so entrenched in Queens, it was a Lurch said is a great resource for natural fit.” small businesses that normally As a board member, Preuss said don’t have the time for business he wants to initially familiarize development. himself with the board and other “For the chamber to provide members to help him get to the a one-stop shop resource is very next step in terms of what to conimportant,” he said. “One of the centrate on. things I’d like to do is continue to “I’m absolutely thrilled that they get a better understanding of how nominated me to be a part of it,” the chamber helps small business- Preuss said. “I’m very excited to es and bridging the chamber with see how I can assist and immerse minority communities.” myself into the board.”
ESD HEAD TALKS RECOVERY CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
said. Gertler praised Governor Cuomo for implementing the best model of managing during a crisis, which includes “communicating clearly, doing what you say you will do, and executing, prioritizing and moving as thoughtfully as you can.” “No one knows when a crisis is going to happen,” he said. “It’s when a crisis hits that leadership really matters. “In a crisis, you often don’t have time to sit around, you can’t be constrained by paralysis by
analysis,” Gertler added. “You have to make smart decisions and execute. That’s what New York State has done.” Though ESD is not a large agency, Gertler said he feels they have “certainly punched above our weight.” He said he has been enormously impressed with the work ethic, commitment, dedication and hard work of his team. “It’s made me enormously proud to lead this agency, notwithstanding everything we’ve been through as a state and as an agency,” he said. “I wake up every day privileged to be able to do this type of work.”
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
MFS ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY GIVING AWARDS In May, Maspeth Federal Savings launched a new campaign to recognize small businesses and first responders who went above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic. Community members in Queens were asked to nominate potential recipients for the COVID-19 Community Giving Award. For each nomination received, the bank donated $1 to a local charity, up to $5,000. Ten small businesses were awarded $1,000 each in grants, while 20 first responders or essential workers were given $250 gift cards and two KN-95 masks. Altogether, Maspeth Federal Savings awarded $20,000 in grants to the winners, which were announced on June 8. The Community Giving Award was part of Maspeth Federal’s charitable actions throughout the pandemic. The community bank
donated more than $50,000 to community organizations, 10,000 KN-95 masks and delivered food every week to police precincts, firehouses and a local pharmacy. Throughout the crisis, Maspeth Federal has stayed open with many precautionary measures put into place. Social distancing was established early on, while employees worked behind safety glass. More than half of the staff was also able to work remotely. The winners of the COVID-19 Community Giving Award come from all over Queens, from Maspeth to Forest Hills to Bayside. The individual recipients also range in occupations, from nurses to paramedics and sanitation truck drivers. The small business award winners included: • Prince Umberto’s Pizzeria, Franklin Square - Donated to
various nonprofit organizations, as well as 4,000 breakfast meals. • 69th Lane Pilates Studio, Maspeth - Owner checked in on senior citizen clients every week and delivered masks to those who didn’t have any. • The Avenue Bar & Restaurant, Glendale - Created a “Thank-AHealthcare Worker” program and delivered lunch bags to workers at Wyckoff Heights Hospital. • Shabulixius Restaurant, Bayside - During quarantine, the owner/chef made and donated meals to hospitals around the city. • Steve’s Deli, Middle Village Donated food to Wyckoff Heights Hospital at the height of the pandemic. • Our Lady of Mercy Church,
Forest Hills - Met spiritual needs of people by holding virtual masses, and offered food and monetary assistance to those who need it. • The Hungry Monk, Ridgewood - Delivered food to the needy and homeless, and sponsored a food bank three days a week. • Grand Avenue Pharmacy, Maspeth - Staff was wonderful, helpful, and courteous during the height of the pandemic. • Tap House Bar, Forest Hills Made and delivered free meals to staff at Elmhurst and Forest Hills hospitals. • Ma Kin Thai Restaurant, Middle Village - Made food for several hospitals and set up a table with free pad Thai for anyone who couldn’t afford it.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CULTURAL GROUPS COUNTER COVID It looks like a long, hot summer is ahead for New Yorkers. No camp. Bad economy. Few entertainment options. Queens feels the pain, but the borough’s creative community is making some delicious lemonade out of lemons with online programs. And in a clear sign that times are changing, one program is outdoors! Socrates Sculpture Park: Located near the Astoria-Long Island City border, this is New York City’s only public area dedicated to displaying largescale creations. It’s also open! Go there to see mind-expanding sculptures. July 10 – March 2021, Monuments Now. This exhibition features queer, indigenous, and diasporic narratives. In the first phase, three artists - 2019 MacArthur Foundation Genius Grantee Jeffrery Gibson, Hunter College Associate Professor Paul Ramírez Jonas, and Agnes Gund Art for Justice Award Winner Xaviera Simmons – will unveil commissioned works on July 10. Then more sculptures, chosen via an open call competition, and a piece by local teenagers will pop up on October 10. Related performances and workshops are also on tap. Queensborough Performing Arts Center: This Bayside concert hall is streaming shows on Friday nights at 7 pm. All the events fea-
SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK
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ture live music followed by Q&A sessions with the artists. July 10, Up Close With Yaniv Zarif. This extraordinary entertainer, who sings in 32 languages, will do everything from Broadway to pop. July 17, Judy Carmichael. This Grammy-nominated pianist/vocalist will play favorites from the Great American Songbook and jazz. She loves to tell stories, so expect to hear why Count Basie nicknamed her “Stride.” July 24, Love Is A Rose: Celebrating the Music of Linda Ronstadt. Blues-rockers Paula Hanke and Peggy Ratusz dig deep to bring authenticity to Ronstadt’s 28-album catalog of music. July 31, A Band Called Honalee: The Music of Peter, Paul & Mary. This modern-day folk trio promises a musical oasis for the soul. Dance Entropy: The Long Island City-based culture-and-performance space strives to build a community of artists and promote emerging troupes. In July, it will offer a form of virtual camp. July 13-17, Summer Dance Intensive. Geared toward every skill level, campers can take two classes per day. At 10 am, Artistic Director Valerie Green will lead a choreography workshop centered on movement and tools that stimu-
A BAND CALLED HONALEE
late the mind and body to improvise and generate new ideas. Then at 1 p.m., teaching artists will lead a 90-minute Street Styles engagement. The upbeat class will include Afro Beat, Commercial Hip-Hop, Funk, House, and Urban Freestyle. Lewis Latimer House Museum: This Flushing nonprofit honors its namesake, who helped invent the telephone and lightbulb, by offering the Summer STEAM Series. July 10, Music Makers Workshop, 1 pm. Queens Council on the Arts Honoree Claire Lim teaches how to make electronic music. Lim, who describes herself as a “technologist,” fuses electronica, hip-hop, future bass, K-pop and dance music to create her art. She paints original soundscapes
with synths, drum machines, and controllers. July 17, Engineering with Paper, 1 pm. Using only paper, tape, and scissors, participants will learn a paper engineering “alphabet” of techniques and then transform ordinary supplies into fun projects. Queens College: The Flushing university’s Hellenic American Project is dedicated to researching, documenting, and presenting the Greek-American community. It’s streaming an homage to nurturing. Life Giving Art: 9 Women Artists of the Diaspora is a virtual show celebrates women who support and nurture others without being their biological mothers. The contributors contemplated the Greek Diaspora and their personal visions of motherhood when creating the pieces for this show. They include mixed media artist Eozen Agopian; visual artist, architect, and interior designer Helen Daferera; mixed-media information artist Nicole Economides; sculptor and installation artist Eleni Giannopoulou; sculptor and ceramicist Morfy Gkikas; painter Despina Konstantinides; mixed media artist Despo Magoni; photographer Aphrodite Navab; and sculptor and painter Sophia Vari. The monthly “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council. More info at itsinqueens.com.
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS JULY 7/9, 10 AM
ARE YOU STAYING HEALTHY AND STRONG?
This webinar will not only explore our mental health but the role pet therapy plays in helping individuals cope with the challenges of these current times. Join us as our panel guides us through the importance of a healthy mental life and shares how you can benefit. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 7/10, 1:30 PM
FACEBOOK LIVE - TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Spectrum Reach will discuss the role a communication organization has played during the pandemic. Dennis M. Walcott, president & CEO of Queens Library, will share what the library has been doing over the past 90 days. Councilman Paul Vallone will talk about his interactions with his constituents. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 7/15, 10 AM
UPDATED PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS APPLICATION AND EIDL REOPEN
Learn about the Revised and New PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Forms and the New
Instructions. EIDL reopened on June 15. If you did not apply during the first round of funding and you still need financing, you can still apply. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
presenter is Joshua Bienstock, director of the NYIT Schools of Management. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
7/15, 10 AM
8/14, 9:30 AM
Review your member benefits and business resources and learn about committees. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
A one-hour workshop on how to manage the stress and conflict generated by these unsettling circumstances we find ourselves being forced to cope with. This workshop will help you manage balancing your working remotely and commitment to your clients, customers, vendors and colleagues in these competing worlds of commitments. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
7/15, 2 PM
POST COVID-19: MANAGING YOUR CASH FLOW
Now more than ever, it is essential that you know your cash flow and the factors that impact your future cash flow. The guest speaker will be Paul Rosenblum of Numerex Services. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 7/17, 9:30 AM
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: NAVIGATING THE FINE LINE
This workshop will help you understand which interview questions are legal and appropriate and which questions cross the line and are illegal and inappropriate. The
AUGUST
THE ART OF MANAGING CONFLICT & STRESS
EN ESPANOL 7/8, 2 PM
MARKETING Y MENSAJERIA PARA SUS CLIENTES DURANTE COVID-19
Únase a nosotros en este taller donde le proporcionaremos consejos y estrategias para adaptar su comercialización de productos y servicios para satisfacer las necesidades de los clientes durante este momento desafiante.. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
EXPERTS PROVIDE UPDATES ON PPP
BY BENJAMIN FANG As New York City reemerges from the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, financial experts are still advising small businesses to apply for the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Speaking with the Queens Chamber of Commerce in a virtual town hall, Neil Seiden, president of the financial advisory firm Asset Enhancement Solutions, said the deadline to apply for the program is still June 30. There is still some $100 billion left in the program, he said. “Companies should really apply as soon as possible to avoid losing the opportunity for a PPP loan to get converted into a permanent government grant,” he said. Seiden noted that many small businesses still don’t know about PPP, while others don’t realize they are eligible to apply. He said the “devil is in the details” when it comes to eligibility. For example, a staffing company with 1,200 employees did not think they were eligible. The firm reached out to Asset Enhancement Solu-
Queens Chamber President and CEO Tom Grech speaks with Maspeth Federal Savings President and CEO Tom Rudzewick about the bank’s recent activities. tions, which brought on an outside consultant to assist with evaluating the company. Ultimately, the staffing firm was deemed eligible, and later received a $6.9 million loan. Similar, Seiden said, a health care company in New York City also with 1,200 employees sought help from the advisory firm. They applied for a $4 million PPP loan. “The takeaway is even if you think you’re not
eligible, you should ask somebody, explore and investigate,” he said. Some companies were incorrectly turned down at the beginning of the program in April because many lenders didn’t understand all the rules behind the new initiative. Seiden said the rules have been changing almost daily. CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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love WHERE YOU
live LETS BEAUTIFY JAMAICA TOGETHER ZARA'S PHILANTHROPY Involvement on community boards richmond hill hs computer lab Voices of Jamaica features community events Fundraising
Luxury Apartments in Jamaica, Queens 166-07 Hillside Avenue Jamaica, NY 11432 718.291.3331 • application@zararealty.com
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2020 STARTUP! WINNERS BUSINESSES GET $1,000 EACH FROM RESORTS WORLD CASINO NYC A tech-savvy networker, a zerowaste caterer, and a mobile meditation provider were this year’s winners of the Queens Economic Development Corporation’s annual StartUP! Business Plan Competition. Thanks to funding from Resorts World Casino New York City, each entrepreneur and their team received $10,000 to invest in the companies. Emily Wazlak and Shine Registry prevailed in the “Technology” category. Her Flushing-based business connects women for networking and the interchange of ideas and information. Shine’s website hosts profiles of agencies and their founders with wedding registry-style lists of items, actions, and contact information. Dianna Rose’s Jars of Delight, which creates and distributes zerowaste meal kits, took top honors in the “Sustainability” category. Her Jamaica-based business provides socially conscious catering services throughout the metropolitan area. After COVID emerged, she pivoted temporarily to feeding frontline workers with compostable boxes at local hospitals. The “Community” award went to Kristin Westbrook and Calm City, a mobile meditation van. Her Astoriabased team operates an RV with soft seating and minimalist inte-
rior design where clients meditate in 10-minute sessions. It circulates across the city per a public schedule. “I am inspired by the winners’ entrepreneurial spirit,” stated Genting New York State President Robert DeSalvio. “Their innovation and ingenuity are why startups are the lifeblood of any economy, and on behalf of Resorts World Casino New York City, I want to congratulate the winners on this amazing achievement.” Now in its 14th year, StartUP! is a five-month instruction course and competition. During this recent cycle, more than 250 participants received technical assistance and training on such topics as operations, marketing, and financial statements, while also enjoying access to Queens Library’s resources. After attending workshops, a total of 50 teams submitted anonymous business plans to a panel of judges consisting of local commerce experts. “It is an honor to work alongside QEDC and watch as new generations of entrepreneurs realize their dreams and fulfill their potential,” stated Bill Singh, director of Planning and Analysis for Genting Americas, Inc. “These winners represent the very best of the future of Queens.”
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 82ND STREET PARTNERSHIP
37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Executive Director: Leslie Ramos 718.335.9421 82ndstreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with more
than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The district is on 82nd Street from 37th Avenue to Baxter Avenue. The board meets quarterly with the annual meeting in June. There are free immigration services every Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 71-29 Roosevelt Avenue. All services are free, confidential and open to any member of the community. Some of the services include DACA, TPS and document replacement and renewal. Call (212) 652-2071 with any questions.
BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID
213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361 Executive Director: Christine Siletti 718.423.2434 info@baysidevillagebid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $218,000 and over
350 members. Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.
BAYSIDE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 41-16 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 President: Ed Probst Vice President: Judith Limpert 718.229.2277 info@baysideba.com baysideba.com
Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.
BUSINESS CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS (BCNA)
78-27 37 Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Business Development: Tshering Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@nycbcna.org QUICK GLANCE: Since 1997, BCNA has been
serving New York City entrepreneurs. BCNA is an approved Small Business Administration Intermediary Lender and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). BCNA’s Microloan program is the cornerstone of its services. They provide small business loans and microloans to business owners who are not able to obtain loans from traditional lenders.
FOREST HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375 President: Leslie Brown
718.268.6565 FHChamber11375@gmail.com FHChamber@aol.com QUICK GLANCE: Re-formed in 1995, the group
has over 225 members. Chamber meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, in Forest Hills.
GATEWAY JFK
Executive Director: Scott Grimm-Lyon 516.730.3400 info@GatewayJFK.org GatewayJFK.org QUICK GLANCE: Formerly the Greater JFK
Industrial BID and founded in 2016, the group seeks to provide support to the off-airport air cargo and services district through supplemental services and improvements, technical and professional services for its members, and advocacy and administration.
Executive Director: Jennifer Furioli 718.526.2422 jamaica.nyc @JamCenterBID (Twitter) @jamcenterbid (Instagram) @Jamaica Center BID (Facebook) QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1979, the Jamaica
Center BID serves over 400 businesses on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 169th Street. With a budget of over $1 million, the BID’s goal is to promote and maintain Downtown Jamaica as a thriving business hub and an enjoyable destination to shop, work, live and visit.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE P.O. Box 300687, Jamaica, NY 11430 Executive Director: Clorinda Antonucci
GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
39-01 Main Street, Suite 511, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and represent-
ing over 200 businesses.
GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight 718.291.0282 gjdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group
has 75 members. GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth.
GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID
84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with more
than 350 businesses under its umbrella on Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans.
JAMAICA CENTER BID 161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 419 Jamaica, NY 11432
President: Al DePhillips Vice President: Joseph Morra JFKCoCExec@gmail.com jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has
over 200 members. The chamber was chartered in 1978 by a group of business people in and around JFK Airport. It is the only airport in the nation to have its own Chamber of Commerce. The chamber seeks to create an environment in which members of the business community can work together to enhance the growth, well being and economic development of the airport community and its aviation industry.
LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP
President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 longislandcityqueens.com
Founded in 1979, the Long Island City Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits LIC’s industrial, commercial, cultural and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to the neighborhood, retain those already here, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixeduse community. The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone.
MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Daraio
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queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have 120
members and a budget of $115,000.
MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)
BOC: 96-11 40th Road, Corona, NY 11368 Coordinator: Quincy Ely-Cate 718.205.3773 qelycate@bocnet.org mibanyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Covering roughly 600 business-
es with 30 active members, the Maspeth Industrial Business Association provides a collective voice in advocating the needs and interests of industrial and manufacturing businesses in Maspeth. They help companies in the Maspeth Industrial District in developing workforce, accessing tax credits, obtaining financing, navigating government regulations and, in some cases, finding real estate.
MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379 President: Salvatore Crifasi 718.894.8700 Sal@Crifasi.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35 busi-
nesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80th streets. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs.
MYRTLE AVENUE BID
62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 Executive Director: Ted Renz
718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with over
300 retail and service businesses under its purview. Board meetings are held four times a year with the annual meeting in June. The district includes Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood between Fresh Pond Road and Wyckoff Avenue. Program support is provided by the Ridgewood LDC.
QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
12-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 309 Kew Gardens, NY 11424 Executive Director: Seth Bornstein 718.263.0546 queensny.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $1.5 million and a
resource for over 2,000 businesses in the borough of Queens. Register online for upcoming virtual events, including:
ROCKAWAY BUSINESS ALLIANCE
info@rockawaybusinessalliance.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and a
resource for over 200 businesses. The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions, and engagement for the local community and the visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces.
ROCKAWAY DEVELOPMENT & REVITALIZATION CORPORATION 1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 President: Kevin Alexander 718.327.5300
www.rdrc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the Rockaway
Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) was established to promote the revitalization of the Rockaway’s economic base and neighborhoods by creating long-standing partnerships with city and state agencies.
STEINWAY ASTORIA PARTNERSHIP BID
25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103 Executive Director: Marie Torniali 718.728.7820 info@steinwaystreet.nyc steinwaystreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID has
over 300 members. The Steinway Street Business Improvement District encompasses all 300 business located on Steinway Street from 28th Avenue to 35th Avenue. National chain stores such as Victoria’s Secrets, The Gap, Benetton, and Express are side by side with local family-owned shops some of them fixtures on the street for some 50 years.
SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos 718.729.4688 sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: With an annual budget of
$55,000, the chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation throughout the neighborhood.
SUNNYSIDE SHINES
45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104 Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam 718.606.1800 director@sunnysideshines.org sunnysideshines.org QUICK GLANCE: The BID has a budget of
approximately $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella. The mission of Sunnyside Shines is to invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe, welcoming and dynamic commercial district in Sunnyside
SUTPHIN BOULEVARD BID
89-00 Sutphin Boulevard, Suite 204C Jamaica, NY 11435 Executive Director: Glen Greenridge 718.291.2110 sutphinblvdbid@verizon.net QUICK GLANCE: The BID was founded in 2004
Dian Yu, executive director of the Downtown Flushing BID, puts a box of face shields in his car he acquired from the Queens Chamber’s PPE distribution. More information on page 13.
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and represents 134 businesses, 56 properties and 39 property owners along Sutphin Boulevard between Hillside Avenue and 94th Avenue.
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7
NEW MEMBERS CORPORATE
City National Bank
68 S. Service Road, Suite 100 Melville, NY 11747 cnb.com Los Angeles-based City National Bank offers a full complement of banking, trust and investment services through 72 offices, including 19 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville, Atlanta, Minne-
PPP UPDATES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
“A company that might have been ineligible in early April could be eligible in May or June,” he said. Asset Enhancement Solutions provides not just consulting services, but also functions as an agent for a number of different lenders and a “trouble-shooter,” Seiden said. While lenders and agents are not prohibited from charging applicants a fee for accepting and processing PPP loans, and lenders get a processing fee from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Long Island-based firm does not charge for many of its PPP-related services. “We discussed it as a team, and we unanimously decided that it was our obligation to help businesses,” Seiden said. “It’s our way of giving back to the business community and the community at large.” Last week, Congress passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act to provide more help to small businesses and nonprofits that apply. According to Seiden, the new law changes the cover period of the loan from eight weeks to 24 weeks, ending on December 31. Initially, businesses that receive a PPP loan had to use 75 percent of the funds for payroll purposes. The new law lowers that amount to 60 percent, which allows businesses to use the funds on other expenses like rent, lease payments and interest. Any part of the loan that is not forgiven will now be paid back over a five-year period, instead of a two-year period. That lowers the monthly payment for applicants. Seiden said the flexibility will eventually allow companies to convert close to 100 percent of the loan into a grant that will be forgiven. “It’s really a win-win for companies,” he said. “It’s a way to get some free money to keep them afloat until things get back to normal.”
apolis, Washington, D.C. and Miami. Its 5,300 colleagues deliver highly personal service and complete financial solutions to entrepreneurs, professionals, their businesses and their families.
Holt Construction
50 E. Washington Avenue Pearl River, NY 10965 holtcc.com Founded in 1919, Holt Construction is celebrating 100 years in business with our 3rd generation of Holt family leadership. Holt thrives on its reputation as a quality construction company that maintains its core values and “family” atmosphere while providing the best services to our clients.
Horticultural Creations, Inc.
2 Gold Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10038 hcinc.org Proudly servicing New York City ’s largest corporations and finest hotels, HC long ago flourished from being the small family business we started as almost 40 years ago, leading the industry with our ground-breaking design and technology. Over the years what we at HC, have never outgrown is the original promise made back in 1976, to provide the finest quality product and unparalleled customer service to each and every client. To this day Steve and Harold still oversee every account, from initial design to final installation.
Pi Capital Partners
136-18 39th Avenue, 12th Floor Flushing, NY 11354 picapitalpartners.com Pi Capital Partners is a real estate investment and development firm located in New York City. The firm develops and manages over 40 properties and over 800 apartments, offices, and retail units. Pi Capital is privately and independently owned with no equity partners and no outside investors.
Securitech Group, Inc.
54-60 46th Street Maspeth, NY 11378 securitech.com Renowned for multi-point locking and the best deadbolt locks, Securitech prides itself as America’s leading “Go-To” high-security door hardware manufacturer. From schools and behavioral healthcare facilities to worldwide retailers, government institutions, and infrastructure, Securitech’s proven lock security solutions provide for a unique niche in various industries and markets
Soter Technologies, Inc.
113 Comac Street Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 sotertechnologies.com The Soter name is inspired by Greek mythology wherein Soter is the personification of safety, deliverance and preservation from harm. Using advanced sensor and software technology, Soter Technologies develops and delivers innovative solutions for environmental and social intelligence – to make the world a safer place.
Sterling Sanitary Supply Corp.
32-32 57th Street Woodside, NY 11377 sterlingsanitarysupply.com Sterling Sanitary Supply Corp. is a respected pioneer in the environmentally friendly, green cleaning industry. We are dedicated to further developing environmentally responsible solutions which do not sacrifice performance. Sterling Sanitary Supply Corporation has been serving the needs of its customers for over 65 years. Sterling operates state-of-the-art distribution centers in Woodside, NY and Farmingdale, NY.
INTRODUCTORY
Enlightened Energy Consultants, LLC 655 Meadow Court, Unit #15 Southhold, NY 11971
Imago.ai Limited
17890 Castleton Street, Suite 115 City of Industry, CA 91748 join.sesameeat.com
Journey to
116-35 225th Cambria Height, NY 11414
Moxie Group
197 Manorhaven Blvd., Rear Port Washington, NY 11050
Shiftyy Technologies, Inc. 3503 29th Street, 6G Astoria, NY 11106 shiftyyHealth.com
Sats Trucking and Courier, Inc. 115-44 125th Street South Ozone Park, NY 11420 satsservice.com
Venture Promotions & Marketing Corp. 157-51 11th Avenue Whitestone, NY 11357 venturepromotions.com
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE Thomas Santucci
Richard Dzwlewicz
Thomas J. Grech
Brendan Leavy
Nash Roe
Fran Biderman-Gross
Joanne M. Persad
Jacqueline Donado
Chairperson
Associate Treasurer
Vice Chairperson
Associate Secretary
Treasurer
Immediate Past Chair
Patrick Yu
Susan Browning
Mayra DiRico
Secretary
SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE STAFF President & CEO
Business Development Manager
Chief of Operations
Strategic Program Coordinator
Alejandra Espejo
Jef Gross
Financial Controller
Neil Wagner
Business Service Program Manager
Manager of Committee Development
William Blake Vincent L. Petraro, Esq. Dominick Ciampa George Rozansky Joseph Farber Gerard Thornton Louis D. Laurino Jeff Levine Joseph M. Mattone, Sr
QUEENSBOROUGH (ISSN0033-6068 is published 12 times a year for $12.50 annually by the Queens Chamber of Commerce of the borough of Queens. 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephanie Baldwin Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan KY Chow
Sal Crifasi Steven DeClara Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Charles Everett, Jr. Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof
Howard Graf Raymond Irrera Anthony Kammas Kenneth Koenig Neil Levin Jeffery E. Levine Bert Lurch
Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul Maria Odysseus Jeffrey Owens Stephen Preuss Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock
Juan Santiago Thomas Santucci Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson
Henry Wan Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner
CORPORATE MEMBERS A&E Real Estate A&L Cesspool Services Corp AARP Adria Hotel and Conference Center Aeroterm AFC Urgent Care - Howard Beach Amaracon Testing & Inspections, LLC American Lions LLC Amna Construction Corp AmTrust Title Andromeda Antun’s of Queens Village Apple Bank for Savings Apple-Metro, Inc. ARK Development LLC Ashnu International, Inc. Assured Environments Astoria Sports Complex Atco Properties Accounts Payable Aurora Contractors, Inc. Avison Young AYC Properties LLC Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Balkan Sewer And Water Main Service Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of Hope Bellozino Bethpage Federal Credit Union Bijal Hospitality - Hyatt Place LIC & Fairfield Marriott LGA Blink Fitness Boyce Technologies Inc. Bridgehampton National Bank Broadway Stages Cactus Holdings Inc Capital One Bank Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens CBRE
Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Ciampa Organization Cipico Construction, Inc. Citibank CityMD Clearcell Power Conference Associates, Inc Cord Meyer Development LLC Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott Crescent Properties, Inc Crown Castle Crunch - Rochdale (Please correct spelling in magazine) Cushman & Wakefield Damian Family Care Centers, Inc. Daniels, Norelli, Scully & Cecere P.C. Daroga Power, LLC Dedline AV East Coast Energy Group Ecosave Inc. Emigrant Mortgage Company Enterprise Fleet Management eXp Realty: Andrew Wu Exquisite Construction F & T Group Farrell Fritz, P.C. First Central Savings Bank Flushing Council On Culture & The Arts Forest Hills Financial Group Inc. GF55 Partners Gil-Bar Industries, Inc. Glenwood Infinity LLC (Hello Panda Festival) Global Industrial Goodwill Industries of New York & North-
ern New Jersey, Inc. Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center (GMDC) Gum Studios Hampton Inn by Hilton JFK Airport Healthy Corner Pharmacy Hilton Garden Inn Long Island City New York Hook & Reel LLC Hyatt Place Flushing IBIS Styles New York La Guardia Airport INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry Innovo Property Group Instacart Intercontinental Capital Group iRCM, Inc. J.W. Hampton Jr. & Co., Inc. James F. Capalino & Assoc. Jaros, Baum & Bolles Jason Office Products JC Elite Construction JDP Mechanical JetBlue Airways Corporation JFA Insurance Brokerage & Associates Inc. JGM Construction Development, LLC Jones Lang LaSalle Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc. Kimco Realty Corporation Klein Weath Management/ Hightower Advisors Laffey Real Estate Laguardia Plaza Hotel Laser Bounce of Brooklyn Inc.
Levine Builders Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Association, Inc. Luxury Office Suites LLC Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. Madison Realty Capital Manpower McBride Consulting & Business MCT Fine Wine & Spirits, LLC Medisys Health Network Mega Contracting Group LLC MetroPlus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade MicroGrid Neworks, LLC Millennium Dae Dong, Inc. Molloy College Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp. Muss Development LLC My Benefit Advisor, LLC NEOLEDGE Neuman’s Kitchen Newtown Creek New York + Atlantic Railway New York Health Plan Association New York Oil Heating Association Northwell Health NYC Ferry Operated by Hornblower Olympia Court Real Estate OneGroup Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates Patrizia’s Italian Restaurant Petro PGA Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Piermont Bank Premier Paint Roller Co LLC
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Michelle Stoddart ResortsWorld Casino New York City michelle.stoddart@rwnewyork.com Jayson Simba Festival of Cinema NYC FestivalofCinemaNYC@gmail.com
BANKING & LAW
Margaret T. Ling, Esq. Big Apple Abstract Corp. mling@bigappleabstract.com Paul Harrison Chase paul.harrison@chase.com
COMMUNICATIONS Cody Fisher Blue Ox Marketing, LLC cody@blueoxmarketing.com
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ENERGY
Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com Jay Solly Sol Strategies jaypsolly@gmail.com
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION Bill Staniford bill@staniford.com Michael Grella Grella Partnership Services mike@socialquityventures.com
HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS
Susan Browning Long Island Jewish Forest Hills sbrowning1@northwell.edu Bert Lurch E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com
HOSPITALITY
Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Vincent Gentile Vassilaros & Sons Coffee vincent@vassilaroscoffee.com
MANUFACTURING Lina DeLaCruz Control Electropolishing Corp. lina@controlpublishing.com
NONPROFIT
Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org Maria Odysseus Investors Bank modysseus@myinvestorsbank.com
REAL ESTATE
Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Kevin Louie Cushman & Wakefield kevin.louie@cushwake.com Michael Wang Politan Real Estate mwang121@gmail.com
TECHNOLOGY Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Fred Canone Telehouse mwang121@gmail.com
TRANSPORTATION Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com William Harris Edge Auto Rental william@edgeautorental.com
Premier Payroll Solutions Prime Storage Priority 1 Security LLC ProHEALTH Care QSIDE Federal Credit Union Queens Center Mall Queens Public Communications Corp. Quontic Bank RCG Mortgage Receivable Collection Services, LLC Rego Park Seniors Club LLC Related Retail Corporation Rochdale Village Community Center Royal Waste Services, Inc. Safeguard Global Safety Facility Services Samaritan Daytop Village Santander Bank SBT Advantage Bank Seagis Property Group, LP Signature Bank Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C. Skyline Risk Management, Inc. SL Green Realty Corp. Solomon Agency Corp. Spring Hill Suites New York Jamaica/JFK Airport Squad Security Inc. St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s Episcopal Hospital St. John’s University Sterling Risk Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Suffolk Sussman-Automatic Corporation Target TC Electric TGI Office Automation Thales The Andy Li Team at Compass The Botanist The Durst Organization The First National Bank of Long Island The Flying Locksmiths -Queens NY The Heskel Group The Liquidity Source The Lovett Group The Marcal Group T-Mobile TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp. United Airlines United American Title Agency United Construction & Development Group Corp United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vanguard Building Solutions, LLC Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Vic Kessler Signs LTD Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP Watch Guard 24/7 LLC White Coffee Corp Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. YMCA of Greater New York / Queens Branches York College - CUNY Young Nian Group, LLC Zara Realty
July 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 7 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS
We hope you are enjoying the newly designed, expanded Queensborough, the monthly publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. We, the Chamber, direct and approve all content deciding what stories are covered in each issue, editing all copy and forwarding information that is contained in the publication. BQE Media produces it for the Chamber. We look forward to continuing to highlight the outstanding business persons, services and activities that make our borough unique. We welcome all your letters, manuscripts, etc. Please send all materials to the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 or call 718.898.8500 for more information. We reserve the right to edit for space limitations. Your support of the magazine is critical to its success. We encourage you to include Queensborough in your advertising plans. To place your ad, please call BQE Media at 718.426.7200.
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