[I'm sorry not to post this earlier, but it's still important.] We were aghast by the news reported in last week's Village Voice article about the Bronx Terminal Market giving all its vendors the boot to make way for another big box economic development initiative.
"Tenants were notified on March 4 that they have until the end of the month to accept a buyout package and relocation to separate sites around the borough—or face immediate eviction."This market is pivotal to the daily life of New Yorkers - it supplies produce and dry goods for the hundreds of thousands of small business owners who are then able to keep their prices affordable for the less-privileged citizens of the city.
The market vendors essentially provide access for millions of New Yorkers. And the vendors are not exactly small scale business people. One operates out of a 50,000 sq ft "store" in the market.
Bloomberg calls the market an "eyesore" and the neighborhood "blighted." I just don't think a Target and other big box developments are the answer to jumpstarting the economy. Those chains simply do not invest back into the city, and their presence in the city is often predicated on some tax breaks in the first place.
The Bronx market vendors, however, do give back. Instead of looking through the lens of the "burning neighborhoods" 1970s New York, Bloomberg should think about improving the market for all the people that it serves, the people of New York.
2 comments:
what happend to the farmers how about a storey about the forgoten farmers who still use the market
the farmer have moved to the new fulton fish market they are open for the 2009 season april brings easter flowers flower vegie starts geraniums haning baskets and more june is the start of local produce for directions www new fulton fish market.com open 2am-8am tue-sat
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