Rockaway Park, New York – Today, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park), and State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D-Rockaway Park), announced that the businesses on Beach 116^th Street will stay open as they have come to an agreement with the MTA which would extend their occupancy until at least the end of the year. The agreement as the MTA delays their issuance of a request for proposal (RFP) for those commercial spaces, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the business owners were sent letters stating that they would have to vacate their premises by June 19^th.

“I would like to thank the MTA for being good partners and understanding that during these times keeping businesses open benefits our entire community,” Pheffer Amato said. “These businesses have been a staple in this community, and it would have been particularly unfair to make them shut their doors during a global health pandemic. I’m glad that Senator Addabbo, myself, and the MTA were able to come to a reasonable conclusion that gives the businesses enough time to prepare for next year’s RFP, while keeping their staffs employed and the space occupied until the end of the year.”

“Having the MTA allow these local businesses remain in place, especially during this health crisis when many businesses are not allowed to operate, is a positive step for the Rockaway community,” Addabbo said. “Our local businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I want to thank the MTA for this decision and for listening to the concerns Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato and I expressed for these storefronts. I support the safe reopening of these businesses and it will be great to see them flourishing again soon!”