Wharton officials hold meeting for businesses impacted by I-80 shutdown
The owners say that the longer they wait for repairs, the closer they get to possibly going out of business.
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State and local lawmakers held a business support meeting in Wharton with business owners impacted by delays on Interstate 80.
Lawmakers say now that testing is finished, construction teams are working to build an underpass beneath I-80. They say commuters will soon we'll see a lot more construction, but they want more people to visit local businesses that are struggling.
At Monday's meeting, business owners expressed that they deserve grants instead of loans after now being forced to wait until mid-May for roadways to fully reopen.
"It's awful. The mall is empty, my store is empty," said Naira Kasparian, owner of Nai The Tea Lady in the Rockaway Townsquare Mall.
Local and state agencies plan to help by using two things, money and marketing, by offering more grant funding and local advertising.
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"It sounds like they're putting together some proposals that should give us some relief, "said Peter Sedereas, co-owner, Townsquare Diner.
The state Department of Transportation was expected to be in attendance to answer questions on the progression of repairs but didn't show.
"One of the reasons it's taken so long is that they were doing testing to determine the extent of the sinkholes and the mineshafts," said state Sen. Anthony Bucco.
Bucco and state Assemblywoman Aura Dunn are working together to get a bipartisan "Road to Relief" bill passed that would provide financial assistance for dozens of businesses, large or small.
"I've been talking to business owners throughout the last few weeks but to see them all come together and see it at once and to again hear about the continued impact. The first two weeks, maybe sales were down 10% but now you're hearing 20, 30," said Dunn.
Local officials advised business owners to apply for grants that are already out there so they can show the state and federal government how urgent the need is.
