Senator James Sanders Jr. Co-Sponsors Business Walk to Check In With Merchants After COVID-19, Provide Assistance

October 1, 2020

Owner Kasinauth Persaud of K & P Tailor Shop on Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park usually tailors clothes but now with more people out of work due to COVID-19, he says he’s fixing scrubs and pajamas. This was just some of the interesting information we learned on our business walk. Senator Sanders' Office Manager, Lisa George, hands him a flyer with a code to access the electronic survey.

Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) partnered with other Southeast Queens elected officials for a Business Walk on September 29th & September 30th, visiting area merchants to find out how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Staffers handed out flyers to the business owners inviting them to fill out an online survey to detail their experience and what services or resources would be helpful as they recover.

"Small business owners are the lifeblood of the local economy," Sanders said. "It is vital that elected officials on every level do what they can to provide the necessary support businesses need to sustain themselves and to provide employment opportunities as we continue to battle COVID-19."

"This was a collaboration amongst our local business associations, volunteers and the amazing political leaders of Southeast Queens and their staff," Sanders continued. "My office has also put together a business resource guide where small businesses can access various funding opportunities. Partnerships of this magnitude are what will rebuild our local economy faster than ever."

Senator Sanders' Office visited a wide array of businesses along Rockaway Boulevard in South Ozone Park and along Cornaga Avenue in Far Rockaway. These included restaurants, pharmacies, bodegas, laundromats, barbershops, beauty supply services and more.

Leading the effort on this initiative from Senator Sanders' Office was LaToya Benjamin, his Director of Economic Development.

We would like to thank our community partners: America's SBDC New York, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Queens Chamber of Commerce, Merchant Association of Rosedale, Laurelton and Springfield Gardens (MARLS) and the Jamaica Center BID.

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