A new organization is in good hands with its first-ever director.
Former Throggs Neck Merchants Association president and longtime Throggs Neck resident Bobby Jaen has a lot of plans for the neighborhood, after being appointed as the director of the newly formed Throggs Neck BID last month.
Bobby Jaen’s goals as the new director of the TNBID include improving neighborhood safety by installing security cameras and antique lighting for street illumination as well as cleaning the East Tremont Avenue corridor through beautification programs.
Another one of his goals is to install a free shuttle service, which would run from Westchester Square to Throggs Neck as well as the NYC Ferry access point in Ferry Point Park, which is expected to open sometime next year.
For this particular project, he has been working with John Bonizio, Westchester Square BID executive director Yasmine Cruz and Bronx Chamber of Commerce president Lisa Sorin.
As director of the TNBID, Jaen will also be working with the NYC Department of Transporation along with elected officials Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto. He will also be working with local activists John Marano and Frank Vernuccio for graffiti removal.
“I am honored to be the director of this organization – and I will work as dilligently as I can to get quality businesses to this neighborhood without conflicting with any other existing businesses,” Jaen said.
Bobby Jaen said that last year, there were a total of 43 business vacancies along the East Tremont Avenue corridor. In less than a year, the TNBID has already cut the number of vacancies on East Tremont Avenue in half.
The TNBID covers all the businesses on East Tremont Avenue from Bruckner Boulevard to Miles Avenue, as well as many stores located on East Tremont Avenue’s side streets.
Jaen, who was the TNMA president for the last three years, was also the previous owner of Anthony’s Flower Farm located at 3240 East Tremont Avenue for eight years as well as Health Quest in Pelham Bay. Additionally, he was a service technician at Verizon for many years. The new president of the TNBA is Richard Rosario.
Along with Jaen as director, the Throggs Neck BID consists of vice president John Sisto, chairman Anthony Basso, treasurer Billy Tsibidis, secretary Robert Velazquez and legal counsel Stephen Kaufman.
Other constituents of the TNBID include executive board members Ed Angelino, Elizabeth Engeldrum, Jim McQuade and Wayne Baker along with representatives from Small Business Services, the Bronx Borough President’s office, the comptroller’s office as well as the office of Councilman Gjonaj.
“The purpose of the Throggs Neck BID is not just to serve and support businesses, but also serving and supporting a community that has so much to offer,” Jaen added. “This is a strong, blue collar, middle class neighborhood with a historical background – and people from other communities will soon see what Throggs Neck has to offer. This is an exciting time for the Throggs Neck neighborhood.”
