Borough Hispanic Business Leaders Show Support For Willets Point Plan
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Some Queens Hispanic business leaders come out in support of the redevelopment of Willets Point Thursday.
More than a dozen groups backed the controversial plan during a meeting in Corona.
They said it will strengthen the Hispanic community by creating new opportunities for culture, food and entertainment.
"Our message to the City Council is we need this in this difficult times," said Eduardo Giraldo, the vice president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "We need this project because we need economic development and this project means jobs. It means development and it means being green because they're going to clean this area."
The City Council votes on the plan next Thursday.
City officials have promised the redevelopment will create some 18,000 jobs, 5,000 of which would be permanent.
Opponents say it will displace businesses to make room for luxury housing and unnecessary stores.