The Annual Meeting of the Throggs Neck Business Improvement District will take place on THURSDAY, JANUARY 19 at 3pm
The agenda will include an opening statement by our Chairman, a review of our past accomplishments and future plans, a report on BID finances, a guest speaker, and an opportunity for your comments.
Only Registered Members may vote on any issues, but all community members are invited to attend and participate in the event.
Proposed Agenda:
Welcome and Introductions: Chairman Anthony Basso
2. Reading of the Minutes of the prior Annual Meeting: Frank Vernuccio
3. Financial Report: Vice Chairman John Sisto
4. List of Accomplishments: Executive Director Bob Jaen
5. Guest Speaker Captain Johnny Orellana, 45 Police Precinct
6. Future Plans: Executive Director Bob Jaen
7. Questions from the Floor
8. Any additional Business
9. Request for Motion to close: Chairman Anthony Basso
Due to ongoing health safety concerns, the meeting will be conducted via zoom. To Sign in:
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2022 Annual Meeting
Held January 19, 2023
at
3800 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx NY 10465 and via Zoom
A Review of the BID’s 2022 Year
On behalf of our Chairman, Anthony Basso, our Executive Director, Bob Jaen, and the Board of Directors, welcome to the Annual Meeting of the Throggs Neck Business Improvement District (BID), covering our accomplishments for the year 2022.
Early Challenges
By now, many of you know the unique story of our BID. We were formed to help the property owners, businesses, and residents of our area. Our plans included increasing security and cleanliness, improving lighting, bringing more prosperity to the area, and developing beautification projects. We have achieved those goals. In the coming year, we are seeking to further enhance those efforts and to market our local businesses to the entire region.
As soon as we began operations, a major new challenge emerged, as COVID ravaged our city, state and nation.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has stated that The Bronx was the hardest hit economically of any New York City Borough. He noted that the Bronx had the highest unemployment rate in the city, peaking at 24.6% last May, and suffered from inadequate resources for the small businesses that make up the majority of the commercial activity in the borough.
Our newly formed-BID responded quickly. Early on, we realized the hurdle faced. We were determined to not let the pandemic harm the Throggs Neck Community or to derail the magnificent plans we had made to make the area the best it could be. At significant personal risk, BID staff, including Executive Director Bob Jaen and Associate Frank Vernuccio, repeatedly went door-to-door distributing masks, sanitizers, gloves, and thermometers to local businesses. Through our newsletter and social media, we provided important information on how to deal with the challenge. Additionally, we arranged for curbside screenings and sidewalk distributions of protective equipment.
Accomplishing Goals
Engaging in these efforts did not deter us from our original goals. We retained a private sanitation company to provide additional cleanup activities six days a week. We are now considered the cleanest BID in the Bronx.
We also are working to make our community the safest in the city. To that end, we hired a private security firm to patrol our neighborhood. We didn’t stop there. With funding from Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, we initiated the process of placing anti-crime cameras throughout the BID. This effort is scheduled to be completed within the next nine months.
Unique among area bids, we convinced the Department of Transportation to substantially improve the lighting of our sidewalks and streets. This task has been accomplished, and the brilliant improvement is there for all to see. This was an urgent need. Before the installation, area streets had severe dark spots resulting in the loss of life.
As Comptroller DiNapoli has noted, small business is the bedrock of commerce in our borough. To assist these enterprises navigate the often confusing and complex web of regulations and requirements, we publish a weekly newsletter that contains valuable information. The publication has received numerous accolades.
Perhaps the most visible impact of the BID has been our beautification efforts. We planted new trees and plants, and placed decorative railings around them. A long-hoped for goal, the planting of a centerpiece tree at the DeRosa-O‘Boyle Triangle, was finally achieved. That’s just for starters!
We are now in the planning process of arranging beautiful planters that will not only dramatically enhance the appearance of our community, but will be strategically placed to prevent vehicles from accidentally breaching curbs and mounting sidewalks. And of course, we placed those magnificent overhead lights that brighten the holidays.
A Key Part of the Community
As we engage in all these efforts, we realize that the people who live in our area must be a key focus of all that we do. We have partnered with the 45 Precinct on outreach programs such as the Fall Festival. We have worked with a local church, the Family Worship Center, to distribute food to needy families on a number of occasions. At our joyous Holiday Tree Lighting event, we distributed thousands of toys to area children. With the assistance of local restaurants, a delicious and abundant selection of prepared meals was provided.
On a number of occasions, BID personnel testified before the City Council and Community Board 10 on matters of importance to our area.
The BID held a very successful fundraiser in October. (It become the social event of the year!) A portion of the funds collected were donated to local causes such as the Throggs Neck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the purchase of graffiti removal equipment, and a local food bank.
Measuring Success
One way to examine the success of our efforts is to note the eagerness of businesses to open up in our area. Since the worst of the COVID pandemic ended, twenty-eight new businesses have entered our community. Some long-standing needs, including a top-quality steak house and a full-service bakery, are among the latest additions. New providers of professional services, including attorneys, dentists, physical therapists, financial consultants and others have opened up in the BID.
BID Brightens the Holidays
The Throggs Neck provided holiday lights to encourage diners and shoppers to come to our community.
2023 Plans
The Throggs Neck Community has been greatly enhanced by our efforts over the prior two years. Now is the time to tell the world about all we have to offer.
We will be marketing our success. In the near future, we will be compiling information on the food, merchandise, and services available within the BID, and getting that information out to the entire region.
We will further enhance our community with new planters, giving our neighborhood an even greater appearance.
BID staff are currently exploring the possibility of bringing a shuttle service to East Tremont Avenue, linking it to sites such as Waters Place.
The BID’s provision of private sanitation and security services, as well as the maintenance of tree pits and the publication of a weekly informative newsletter will, of course, continue in 2023.
Board of Directors
Our all-volunteer Board of Directors represent the property owners, businesses and residents of our area.
Anthony Basso, Chair; John Sisto, Vice Chair; Bill Tsibidis, Treasurer; Robert Velasquez, Secretary; Ed Angelino; Jackie McQuade; Donald Engledrum; Michael Musano; John Cerini; Frederick Hooke, representing NYC’s Small Business Services; Greer Mayhew, representing the NYC Comptroller’s Office; Tom Lucania, representing the Bronx Borough President’s Office; and Mike Corbett, representing Council Member Velasquez.
Our legal counsel, who graciously volunteers his services, is Stephen B. Kaufman, esq.
We recently lost two truly beloved members of our Board of Directors who were instrumental in our founding: Elizabeth Engledrum, and James McQuade. May they Rest in Peace.
Volunteers
A number of public-spirited volunteers have generously provided time and services to the BID. To name just a few: John Provetto and John Murano, who keep the community graffiti-free. Maria Vazquez, Gerri Colon, and Rita Stemberga who tirelessly helped make every BID event a success.
