APPELLATE COURT DECIDES IN FAVOR OF FRESHDIRECT

This comes as the lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division has been decided. 

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is praising today’s decision of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department in the matter of South Bronx Unite!, et al v. New York City Industrial Development Agency, et al, concerning the future relocation of FreshDirect to the Harlem River Yards in Mott Haven.

The court found that the decision of the lower court to dismiss the lawsuit in May 2013 was correct, and that the City did not violate the law in its environmental review process. The full decision can be read here: http://bit.ly/1jSPMKg.

“The court’s decision is a victory not only for FreshDirect, but for The Bronx as a whole. FreshDirect will continue to be a great asset to the Bronx.  My office has, since day one, understood that this project is crucial to the future economic health and vitality of the Bronx, and I am glad to see that the continued legal efforts to stop this critical project have been thoroughly dismissed,” said Borough President Diaz.

Borough President Diaz also noted that this project will create 1,000 new jobs while also relocating 2,000 jobs to the Bronx from Queens. Already, FreshDirect has displayed their commitment to the Bronx through hiring initiatives that have led to Bronx residents getting jobs at their existing Queens facility, the impending greening of their delivery fleet, the expansion of their services to the entire borough, food donations to Bronx families during the holiday season and their efforts to expand their services to EBT users.

“FreshDirect is bringing much needed jobs to our borough, and this decision will allow for this project to move forward without delay. I look forward to continuing our work with this company to get Bronxites hired,” said Marlene Cintron, President of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation.