BY SOFIA MONTAGNA
On June 25, the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District (BID) – a partnership of property owners, business owners, residents, elected officials, and city agencies that aims to enrich the economic life of Sunnyside – was joined by community members for its annual meeting at Sunnyside Community Services.
Event attendees had the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers, including New York Secretary of State Walter Mosley and Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines BID Dirk McCall de Paloma.
In his keynote speech for the event, Walter Mosley spoke extensively about Governor Kathy Hochul’s affordability agenda, which he described as an effort to keep money in the pockets of New Yorkers. “Affordability across the state is the number one issue. As a result, the governor said, ‘We’re going to find ways to keep money in the pockets of New Yorkers, while at the same time, put money back into the pockets of New Yorkers to the degree that, on average, every single taxpaying New Yorker will probably see, on average, $5,000 back into their pockets,’” Mosley said.
In his keynote speech for the event, Walter Mosley spoke extensively about Governor Kathy Hochul’s affordability agenda.
In addition to expressing the need for New York to become more affordable, Mosley described ongoing state efforts to help make New York more business-friendly. Mosley explained, “We do that by providing new access to low-interest capital for small businesses. We enhance our performance-based associate job tax credit. We protect workers from wage theft.”
Mosley also stressed the need for strong public-private partnerships to make sure that proper revitalization takes place in communities like Sunnyside.
The meeting also featured speeches by representatives from the New York Police Department (NYPD), the NYC Department of Buildings, the New York State Liquor Authority, and the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. These speakers shared updates on their organizations’ initiatives and successes, including efforts to support local businesses.
Dirk McCall de Paloma, the Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines BID, delivered a presentation reviewing the organization’s efforts and accomplishments over the past year. In the past year, 11 new businesses were launched in the district and Sunnyside Shines BID launched the first Sunnyside Night Market (in August 2024). The organization’s initiatives also included graffiti removal, sanitation, streetscape enhancements, plaza activation, neighborhood marketing, and a robust calendar of cultural programming and live performances via the Sunnyside Community Cultural Initiative.
McCall de Paloma commented, “We are making sure that these events look like Sunnyside, and we’re making sure that we celebrate all the cultures that are here.”
