THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER FERNANDO CABRERA

107 East Burnside Ave

Bronx, NY 10453

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 6, 2013 Contact: Karen Cooper (O. 347-590-2874 ext. 209 C. 917-557-6928)

COUNCILMAN CABRERA SUPPORTS THE KINGSBRIDGE ROAD MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION REQUEST FOR PROPER FUNDING ALLOCATION UNDER KNIC/KARAS CBA

Councilman Cabrera announced his support for the request made by the Kingsbridge Road Merchants Association. It petitioned that funds allocated for businesses, under the Kingsbridge National Ice Centers CBA, be granted directly to the merchants. The announcement came after the zoning and franchise subcommittee hearing on the KNIC project. As of right now, the Community Benefits Agreement stipulates that the coalition, a group that lacks experience in business improvement, manage all the money meant for businessesone million dollars over the course of four years. The merchants are certain, and the Councilman agrees, that the association has the capacity to manage these funds since the organization was specifically established to enhance the Kingsbridge commercial area. Remarkably, the coalition did not engage the Kingsbridge Road Merchants Association in the conversations concerning funds allocation that would benefit them. As a matter of fact, despite being a fundamental component of the community, the merchants do not appear among the coalition signatories. The reason being that the association received the benefits agreement on the same day of the deadline to sign. As a result, the association did not have time to thoroughly go over the CBA and could not sign the agreement. We regret that the coalition did not approach us with ample time to review the CBA before signing. We firmly believe that it isnt right to have the money for local businesses going through a coalition whose area of expertise doesnt focus on business improvement. We are open to partner up with KNIC for a reasonable CBA in which we are fairly represented, said Nancy Fernndez, President of the Kingsbridge Road Merchants Association. When it comes down to business we are the ones at the frontline . We know and understand first-hand the existent needs. The funds outline for businesses should be allocated to the organization that represents businesses. We can only do so much with the limited resources we have, but having direct access to the funds would allow us to do greater things to improve this shopping corridor, said Christian Ramos, Vice-President of the Kingsbridge Merchant Association. Literally, the million dollar question here is, why are businesses not getting directly the funding intended for them? There should not be a middleman between the merchants and the funds allocated, especially when in this case the middleman lacks the experience developing business

improvement districts. In order for the project to move forward, this matter as well as critical land use issues cannot be overlooked. Being the person who started this whole process, I have the eagerness to see the ice center project through. However, there is only one chance to get the biggest project in the city done right. It is not just the end game that has to be done right; for me the process is as important as the product. At the end of the day, it is all about the community I represent and the concerns they have raised, said Council Member Fernando Cabrera.

### Councilman Fernando Cabrera has served the 14th Council District of the Bronx since January 2010.