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Court Street Merchants Association, Inc          The Voice Of Court Street

509 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, Fax: 718-875-0998   www.courtstreetmerchants.org

 

 

 

 

 

August 5, 2009

 

 

THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ELECTED OFFICIALS:

 

  Governor Paterson, Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand,

  Senator Squadron, Assemblywoman Millman, Congresswoman Velazquez,

  Congresswoman Clarke, Congressman Towns, Borough President Markowitz,

  Councilman Yassky, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilman de Belasio

 

As an organization comprised of over 400 merchants, service providers, and property owners, the Court Street Merchants Association (CSMA) is deeply concerned about the economic health of our community and the vulnerability of our members.

 

It is for that reason CSMA recently sent a letter to President Obama encouraging him to withdraw his support of the Employee Free Choice Act and a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency expressing our opposition to listing the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site.  Copies of both letters are enclosed.

 

Legislature that increases the cost of doing business ultimately results in businesses either closing their doors, laying off workers, or increasing prices – any and all of which have a negative affect on the public in general.     

 

It is our hope that we can raise awareness of our position on various local and national issues by reaching out to elected officials and government agencies who we believe appreciate the contribution small businesses make to the communities they serve.

 

It is with that in mind that we urge you to utilize the resources of your office to go to bat for small business in matters that adversely affect and at times even threaten their very existence.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

 

 

 

Vincent Mazzone

President

 

 

Enclosures (2)

VM/mp



Court Street Merchants Association, Inc          The Voice Of Court Street
509 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, Fax: 718-875-0998   www.courtstreetmerchants.org
 
 
 
 
 

June 29, 2009

 

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear Mr. President,

 

On behalf of our more than 400 members I urge you to withdraw your support of bill #HR1409/S560 (The Employee Free Choice Act) which we believe to be completely contrary to your efforts to encourage small business owners to invest in the future.

 

To date we have not heard one good reason why this bill is necessary.  If anything, it actually confirms the importance of keeping the secret ballot.  Employees deserve the right not to be pressured by anyone – union or employer.  The secret ballot does that!  Employers deserve the right to know that the employees’ final decision is in fact freely made.  The secret ballot does that!

 

Our members hear over and over how they, as small business owners, are the backbone of our country.  And yet, this bill that is both insulting and offensive to the millions of men and women who have risked so much for the opportunity to own and operate their own businesses has been presented before Congress.  This is a bill that will do serious harm to the small business community, and even greater harm to our country.

 

The very name and nature of this bill implies that today’s employees are enslaved and that they are not fairly treated and compensated.  What could be further from the truth!  Small business owners realize that in order to attract employees to fill the jobs they are creating, they must be competitive in the salaries they offer and the benefits they provide.

     

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer”.

 

Respectfully,

 
 
 
 

Vincent Mazzone

President

Court Street Merchants Association, Inc          The Voice Of Court Street

509 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, Fax: 718-875-0998   www.courtstreetmerchants.org

 

 

 

 

 

July 1, 2009

 

 

 

Docket Coordinator, Headquarters

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

CERCLA Docket Office

(Mall Code 5305T)

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20460

 

RE:  FDMS Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0063

 

On behalf of our more than 400 members, CSMA is strongly opposed to the listing of the Gowanus Canal on the National Priorities List (Superfund). 

 

After listening to both the EPA’s and City’s respective proposals, it is our understanding that the Army Corps Of Engineers and the EPA will be fully involved in this cleanup no matter which plan is decided upon, and that the EPA can, at any time, declare the Gowanus Canal a Superfund site should the City’s Alternative Plan fail to conform to the high standards set forth.

 

We believe the City’s Alternative Plan better safeguards the financial investments and livelihoods of our members and their employees, and for these and many more reasons fully support the City of New York’s Alternative Plan.

 

Respectfully,

 

 

 

 

Vincent Mazzone

President


You may contact us at: email@courtstreetmerchants.org