We believe that true community banking goes far beyond the walls of our branches - it happens on the sidewalks, in local storefronts, and through face-to-face conversations. That is why we proudly support our own Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, David Daraio getting out into our neighborhoods to meet directly with local leaders and advocate for the establishment of a Business Improvement District (BID).
As Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, David recently met with community leaders to showcase the tangible benefits of dedicated sanitation personnel. “I felt like this was a good opportunity for us to kind of pivot and to have a formalized group that can actually make the avenue great continuously, so it’s not always about the volunteerism," David stated.
Key Takeaways from the Article:
- The Goal: Form a formalized, non-profit group managed by an elected board to handle local street maintenance, small business promotion, and safety enhancements. This shifts the burden away from the entirely volunteer-run Maspeth Chamber of Commerce.
- Funding Structure: The BID would be funded by a special assessment billed directly to commercial property owners based on frontage and property value. Estimates project a median annual cost of $1,140 at the start (in 2–3 years) and $1,850 at maximum billing (in 6–10 years). Organizers emphasize that these funds stay strictly within the community.
- Current Status: The initiative is in its outreach stage. Support ballots are being distributed to local stakeholders, and public meetings are projected to begin early next year. If enough ballots are signed, the proposalwill advance to a City Council legislative vote.
- Demonstration Projects: To showcase the tangible benefits of dedicated sanitation personnel, organizers have scheduled volunteer tree pit cleanups along the corridor on November 14 and November 21.
