Сенатор Джон Лю объявил о создании новой зоны погрузки на Мейн-стрит в Флашинге для поддержки местного бизнеса

State Sen. John Liu joined a number of local business owners in Queensboro Hill in south Flushing on Tuesday, Aug. 25, to celebrate a new loading zone along Main Street that advocates say will help businesses receive deliveries without being ticketed. At present, business owners say, the city’s automated bus lane enforcement program is causing significant difficulties for businesses along Main Street between 59th and 60th Avenues, with Liu stating that delivery companies have complained of receiving “incessant tickets” along the corridor. Liu and local business advocates said the ticketing was resulting in delayed or canceled deliveries, prompting delivery companies to avoid delivering along the corridor. Liu, who has been in talks with the Department of Transportation for several months after receiving significant pushback from local businesses, joined a coalition of local business owners outside Main Street Imperial Taiwanese at 59-10 Main St. Tuesday afternoon to announce that the corridor will soon house a loading zone between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. in order to allow businesses to receive deliveries. He credited local businesses for speaking out on the issue, stating that the planned loading zone is the direct result of their advocacy. “These shops and restaurants have been hampered by the difficulty of receiving deliveries vital to their businesses,” Liu said. “This new loading zone is the result of the business owners speaking up and the DOT responding appropriately.” He said the planned loading zone represents a balance between the needs of small businesses and faster, safer public transit. The loading zone will allow more than a dozen local businesses to take deliveries while also ensuring that the bus lane remains clear during peak hours, Liu said. He added that there will be no amnesty period while the zones are installed and encouraged local businesses to follow posted rules in the meantime. Amber Chow, an insurance agent with a local State Farm branch, said recent changes to Main Street between 59th and 60th Avenues had created significant challenges for how local shops and restaurants do business. “We really appreciate John Liu and his office for listening to our voice and making this happen for us,” Chow said. “We really feel the support for our community and our small business owners.” Yi Zhong Huang, owner of Emperor Hot Pot & Roast BBQ at 59-14 Main St., said the new loading zones would be a “big help” for local businesses, ensuring that delivery companies do not delay or cancel orders. Meanwhile, Yuhong Huang of Main Street Imperial Taiwanese said the automated bus lane enforcement program had “not been easy” for local businesses. “People have been experiencing delays in receiving deliveries,” Huang said. “It’s really not easy on us.” Liu said the corridor is home to a “vibrant community” of hardworking small businesses that has created a food and shopping destination for New Yorkers across the city. “These merchants, these business owners, and these workers make Queensboro Hill a good place to shop and eat for local residents and residents from afar,” Liu said. “But they have been having a more difficult time… with the new bus lane and the incessant tickets that not only they and their patrons receive, but also the delivery companies that they rely upon to get their supplies.”