Area Businesses Meet To Discuss Action Against Con Edison

At a meeting of area business owners at Grand Caf on August 10 (l. to r.) state Senator George Onorato, former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. discussed filing a class action suit against Con Edison for losses sustained in the July blackouts that struck Northwest Queens.

Owners and proprietors of businesses in the Steinway Street and 30th Avenue area met last Thursday, August 10, at the Grand Caf, 37-01 30th Ave. to discuss possible legal remedies against Con Edison for losses sustained during the power outage of July.

The meeting, coordinated by the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition (CALDC), in conjunction with the 30th Avenue Business Association and the Steinway Street BID, with the assistance of former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr., was a direct response to the arrogant attitude of Con Edison regarding any losses sustained above and beyond the $7,000 being offered for the loss of perishable goods.

According to Julian Wager, CALDC president, "Businesses have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars whether it be in lost revenue, equipment failure, generator costs or perishable goods. $7,000 is an insult." State Senator George Onorato and Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., addressing the crowd, agreed with this sentiment and argued that a lawsuit might be the only avenue to explore since Con Edison has shirked its moral obligation to alleviate the losses suffered by the small businesses community. Con Edison's responsibility to reimburse businesses is directly tied to its lack of communication on the severity

and possible duration of the outage. "Had businesses had an idea of the scope of the problem, they would have had the option to shut down, given their staff vacation time, and taken precautions with their foodstuffs and equipment," Vallone Jr. said.

Vallone Sr. explained that the businesses needed to provide as much information as possible regarding their losses, including perishable goods, equipment damage and drop in revenue as compared to the previous month or year and insurance coverage to get an accurate accounting of the losses sustained in the area. He then introduced the law firm of Bernstein, Litowitz, Berger & Grossman LLP who, along with the firm of Vallone and Associates, will try the class action suit.

The New York City Business Solutions Center represented by Bernadette Nation and Eric Parker, then announced that the Northwest Queens Emergency Business Loan Program formerly at 1 percent or 2 percent, will now be offered as a 0 percent loan. However, according to Marie Torniali, CALDC executive director, "Our elected officials are doing their utmost to help our businesses. Now Con Edison needs to step up to the plate."