Chamber Holds Breakfast Meeting

By Jose B Rivera
East Harlem - February 5, 2010. The chamber held it's first meeting of 2010, a breakfast meeting, at the Terrance Cardinal Cook Center. The breakfast's topic was "East Harlem Businesses; How to operate during A Recession". The breakfast hall was packed with attendees, including the Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito, State Senator Jose Serrano, Jr., Congressman Charles Rangel, and State Senator Adam Clayton Powell IV.

Mr. Henry Calderon spoke about the need for local business to advertise, increase discount and specials in order to bring in customers. He also mention the need to improve a business establishments' appearance. Mr Calderon also spoke about businesses taking advantage of small business tax incentives and Empire State Zone business hiring incentives. Lastly, Mr. Calderon spoke of the need to keep the business.

A discussion panel spoke on the topic: "EAST HARLEM:STATE OF THE ECONOMY" The featured speaker was Seth W. Pinsky, President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Fellow panels members included Hector Santana, Jr. Chairperson EHCC, Assembly Member Adam C. Powell,

Featured Speaker: SETH W. PINSKY, President, NYC Economic Development Corp, City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, Community Board 11 Chairman Matthew S. Washington, as well as representatives from NYC Small Business Services, NY State Empire State Development Corp, East Harlem Business Capital Corp,

The primary issue for discussion was about JOBS for East Harlem residents. The EHCC has focused on two main areas that it believes will create sustainable, living wage jobs;

* Infrastructure & Transportation
* Real Access to Business Loans

The Infrastructure & Transportation discussion focused on developing East Harlem's Waterfront for commercial activity. How to begin to create the public/private partnerships which will provide the financing to create destinations for residents & tourists? The possibility of an increase the flow of visitors to our neighborhood by Water Ferry? How to inform the many thousands of daily visitors to the East River Plaza of the many Entertainment, Cultural and Dining locations in East Harlem? Does a Trolley, which would transport the consumers (at no cost) between East River Plaza and the rest of East Harlem, make economic sense?

The Real Access to Business Loans discussion focused on the extreme difficulties that business owners face when they apply for a business loan. Does the CRA still have validity among the lenders? Is it a casualty of the economic meltdown? How to open up the spigot and get money moving across our commercial corridors?