Aid Needed for 2nd Ave. Business, But How?

By [Dan Rivoli] Second Avenue Subway small businesses have been seeking help for years as the massive construction project has cut deeply into their profit margins and left many struggling to stay open. The only two concrete proposals that have been offered's legislation to create a state grant fund and a property tax abatement's failed in Albany. But during a State Senate committee hearing Nov. 30 on Second Avenue Subway construction, business owners proposed their own solutions's a sales tax-free zone for stores in the Second Avenue"s construction area to drum up new business. â??Promote foot traffic that has gone down 50 percent: Make Second Avenue a sales tax-free zone, said Joe Pecora, who heads the Second Avenue Business Association and owns Delizia restaurant on East 92nd Street. He also suggested that the MTA add photographs of the small businesses to the signs, which are currently comprised of large green placards with the store"s logo. Tae Shin, a South Korean immigrant who owns Eve"s Nail & Spa and a Subway sandwich franchise, told the senators on the committee about how construction has damaged his business. He works 12-hour shifts every day and has had to cut his staff in half, from 10 to five. â??With Second Avenue Subway construction, my life has turned upside down, Shin said. One proposal suggested was to move giant containers that currently block his business in front of vacant buildings or off the main street. â??Our stores cannot be seen by our customers, Shin said. Only two of the four senators's East Side State Sen. Liz Krueger and Bill Perkins, the Harlem senator who chairs the committee's heard testimony from business owners and nearby residents. State Sen. Jose Serrano from the South Bronx, whose district covers parts of Yorkville, and Brooklyn"s Dan Squadron, who represents most of lower Manhattan, were only present during MTA officials" testimony. The MTA brass started the hearing discussing the current state of the project, ways the transit authority is helping small businesses and announcing new initiatives to better inform East Side residents about the project. Jay Walder, who worked for London"s transportation body before becoming the MTA"s chairman and CEO, was asked if there were practices in Europe for assisting small businesses in similar situations as Second Avenue Subway stores. â??The situation in London was frankly no different than the situation here, Walder said. Squadron suggested that Walder study ways the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has helped small businesses. â??There"s no question some of those same burdens are being experienced on the Upper East Side and Second Avenue, Squadron said. â??I really urge you to look at the program put in place. They are relatively cheap. Other elected officials that submitted testimony told the committee of their limited options. David Kimball-Stanley, community liaison for Council Member Dan Garodnick, testified that easing the cost of sidewalk cafe permits could help, but only for a small number of businesses. â??Our options are limited, he said. A representative for Rep. Carolyn Maloney said the Federal Transit Administration that funds construction leaves mitigation plans to localities. Walder and Michael Horodniceanu, capital construction president, also announced new initiatives to help better inform East Side residents about the project. Horodniceanu told the Senate committee, which has jurisdiction over the MTA, that a new construction map will be available on the MTA"s website. The map will give details about planned work on any corner or street along the construction route for the next three years. â??This question pops up many times, Horodniceanu said. â??I may know what happens three or six months from now but I don"t have in my head what will happen three years from now. The MTA is also spearheading a â??model block for East 92nd and 93rd streets to increase the sidewalk, clean up and better organize the construction site. The model block pilot will be tried on other streets along the subway route in the next few months, Horodniceanu said. On the rat problem, Horodniceanu pointed the finger at trash left on the street overnight because of blocked curbs. â??Allowing the refuse to stay there overnight, irrespective to the number of bait stations we"re putting around, will bring rodents to the area, Horodniceanu said. â??We"re looking at ways to pick it up faster.