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Simply, a really bad BID

To The Editor:
Re “Soho BID needs work” (editorial, Nov. 3):

Soho residents and property owners have never wanted the business improvement district designation for what it brings to the neighborhood: the increase in layers of unnecessary administration, the division between the voters and what is being approved, information kiosks and booths, more congestion in every way, as well as the impossibility of removing them later.

We recently learned that underlying this proposal which has so vigorously been pushed on us, is that it appears to have been crafted through fraudulent means. This should render all those who supported it to be suspect.

The Soho BID Steering Committee membership has never reflected the diverse neighborhood where the BID would take hold. Narrowly focused real estate interests have been behind this scheme since the beginning and they continue to push this bad plan.

As you know, Community Board 2 overwhelmingly voted to reject this bad Soho BID plan. Councilmember Margaret Chin’s Office has been given BID documents showing that those behind the BID are looking for a “seat at the table” in City Hall and that the BID proponents are making a concerted effort to bypass our local community board. This is a scheme to consolidate their power and work their way around the voices of the local community. Doesn’t this clue everyone in to the undesirability of it?

Soho is unique. It is not a troubled retail district. Those behind the BID are not “small” businesses. What should be a small issue of garbage collection — and has been forcefully foisted on us by withdrawing ACE — could easily be fixed by enforcing the requirement for street vendors to maintain trash receptacles of their own. The city also should simply put out more trash cans, as is the city’s responsibility, and for which we already pay hefty taxes.
Lisa Bradshaw