Representative Adriano Espaillat, Community Leaders Propose Recommendations to Curb Violence at District Bodegas, Supermarkets.
NEW YORK, NY – Earlier this week, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and community leaders including Bodega and Spanish Community leaders issued a statement following Manhattan District Attorney Bragg’s motion to dismiss the case against Jose Alba. Tomorrow, Rep. Espaillat and community leaders will meet with DA Bragg and present a detailed list of recommendations with shared input from leaders, bodega and supermarket owners, and advocates on how best to address violence throughout the community.
It is critical to ensure a unified front in response to recent local tragedies, particularly the Jose Alba case and recent death of a 14-year old in the subway.
Based on the continued collaboration with community leaders and public officials, the following recommendations have been proposed to further address the ongoing surge in violence to increase safety throughout the community:
* Increase protections and safety protocols in all neighborhoods including community policing initiatives, mobile police units, and further police presence in hotspots of violent crime;
* Provide incentive for law enforcement officers to patrol certain designated areas;
* Install cameras, emergency response ‘panic’ buttons, plexiglass protectors and other security measures without further alarming residents, recommended by the United Bodegas of America;
* Strengthen the unified voice of community leaders, public officials, and law enforcement;
* Recommend that cases of violence be addressed in cooperation with local community voices as part of an overall issue of violence affecting all throughout the community and not solely as isolated cases;
* Urge protections for Jose Alba, and the owners of the Blue Moon Bodega considering attention case garnered throughout the city;
* Recommend increased vigilance and safety for bodega and supermarket workers;
* Recommend a study tracking crime and robberies targeting bodegas and supermarkets throughout NYC, currently these crimes are not being tracked;
* Push for increased mental health programs for victims of attacks surrounding these issues, including further general mental health guidance within our community.
Statements from Rep. Espaillat and community leaders in advance of tomorrow’s meeting with DA Bragg:
“Jose Alba’s case did not go unnoticed, and I commend District Attorney Bragg for today’s motion to the court to dismiss Mr. Alba’s case following his review of the evidence,” said Rep. Espaillat. “I heard from many of my constituents regarding the tragedy that took place earlier this month, and it remains critical that we do all that it takes to address crime and violence that has become a near daily occurrence in my district. I am grateful to DA Bragg for keeping me abreast of the Alba case, which further highlights the need for every level of government to address the escalating crime in the city of New York.
“I am grateful to Mayor Adams for walking the neighborhood with me last week where this incident and the murder of 14 year old Ethan Reyes occurred and for taking the time to hear the concerns of residents, particularly store owners, on how the city government can address crime in the area. Today’s dismissal is a step in the right direction, and I commend the mayor for increasing the mobile unit of NYPD officers in the Hamilton Heights community. I will continue my calls for increased resources to help bodega and supermarket owners ensure safety and vigilance at locations. This is a matter of safety for all throughout my district so that our essential workers can feel safe doing their jobs, families can feel safe navigating daily routines throughout our city, and some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods can have much needed resources to address the issue of crime and keep our neighborhoods from falling through the cracks of violence,” continued Espaillat.
“Today is a win, not only for Jose Alba and his family, but for the justice system as a whole,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu. “Prosecution is not a political process—it’s an evidentiary one. I applaud District Attorney Bragg for his meticulous work examining the evidence, which has resulted in the dismissal of charges. The events of July 1st are tragic, and we must not forget that they highlight the critical need for public safety and investment in our communities.”
“Members of the National Supermarkets Association (NSA) commend Congressman Espaillat for his leadership working collaboratively to address Mr. Alba’s case as well as to find solutions to crime in New York City,” said Samuel Collado, President of the National Supermarkets Association. “Today’s news of the dismissal of this case is welcomed throughout the community. Individuals must feel safe while going about routines to their local grocery provider to purchase food and other resources for their families, and we must do all it takes to ensure that tragedies such as the case with Jose Alba and Austin Simon do not happen again in our community.”
The Yemeni American Merchants Association and its members are extremely happy to learn that the charges against Mr. Jose Alba are being dropped. We appreciate the due diligence DA Bragg put into this investigation,” said Dr. Debbie Almontaser, Co-Founder of the Yemeni American Merchants Association.
“We must continue to be the change we want to see in our community,” said United Bodegas of America President Radhames Rodriguez. “We are appreciative of Rep. Espaillat for leading on this issue to bring attention to the Jose Alba’s case and are grateful to DA Bragg for today’s dismissal of this case.
“As a community of bodega, supermarket, and restaurants owners, we are appreciative of today’s outcome for Mr. Alba and are grateful to the DA for his actions to dismiss Mr. Alba’s case,” said Jeffrey Garcia, President of the NYS Latino Restaurant Bar and Lounge Association. “Violence cannot become the norm in our city and we must do all that it possible to ensure the safety of families in every corner of our neighborhoods and businesses.” “District Attorney Bragg's court request to dismiss the case against Mr. José Alba is a good decision,” said Élida Almonte, president of the Dominican Chamber of Commerce in New York. “As a community activist who defends the rights of the working class and the entire community in general, we understand that incidents like this should serve to foster unity among elected officials, activists, and members of the community, in order to seek viable solutions and fairness to guarantee the rights of all, and especially during a time when New York City is experiencing an increase in crime.” Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his third term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities. He is also a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Second Vice Chair and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where he serves as Deputy Whip. Representative Espaillat also currently serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. | 
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