Bodega workers have a right to defend themselves and their business.

0:01 Speaker 1 What is today is Fernando Matteo. He is the head of the United Bodegas of America, representing the whole country on bodegas, and he lives in New York. So I guess the number one concern is New York. Fernando, give us an update. What is going on. There’s so much trouble in the food business today. Give us an update.

0:25 Speaker 2 Well, John, as you might know, you know bodega owners have been victims of robberies and looting since way before COVID, way before any of this situation regarding the shutdown of the city. But what’s important here is that thousands of bodegas have been robbed and looted. Cops are making arrests and purps are being released. Bail reform has been protecting

0:54 these repeatal fenders, so they keep coming back and back every every day. Nwazenberry was shot in the head and killed in February because he did not want a looter to steal his cigars, so he went out to try to coop it, and he was shot in the head.

1:14 Jose Alba was arrested for two weeks under DA of Brags jurisdiction here in Manhattan. The DA understood after viewing the videos and meeting with us that this was a self defense case and dropped the charges. Natesh twenty one year old kid was just arrested because he stabbed a louder a robber in the chest and self defense. So

1:47 you know, this just keeps happening. Bode ghettos are advised by US to let people rob them and loot them and get away with it. But you know what, some boy they got. Owners and employees are just hired of the abuse, so they are fighting back. Now. People in the community that witness these robberies and lootings and assaults

2:07 every day do not want to get involved. They’re afraid to help it because they will be accused of something. Everyone says that if you see something, say something. We have been saying if you see something, do something. But people look at the marine Daniel Perry’s case, who tried to save others by doing something and is now being prosecuted.

2:33 So people don’t want to get involved. So they see these acts of violence every single day and they’re afraid to move forward. But you know, we witnessed in Na tesh Nat. We have the DA Melinda Katz, who is effective, has common sense and is one and is probably one of the most one of the most finest selected officials

2:56 the city has. She must have seen something and then the test attack that drove her to releasing the test and not pressing charges. You know, the people responsible for this vandalism and assaults and depths are people that created baill reform. You know, the bail reform laws were created while Governor Cuomo was still in office, and we hold

3:21 him responsible. Another legislators responsible for the bloodshed, for the robbers, for the looting. Because you know what, these guys are getting away with it and no one is doing anything to do anything. Governor Julkl just said she’s going to invest five million dollars of the state of state and funds to protect bodega owners. But the truth of the

3:42 matter is, we have not seen that money. Where is that money. How do we tap into that money to light up the stores, to put doors that you can’t break into, to install cameras in every bodega inside and outside.

3:56 You know, we want to know what’s happening with these odega owners. And the truth of the matter is we are starting to arm ourselves because you know what we need to fight fire with fire. If you come in and you rob me and you assault me and my life is in imminent danger, we’re going to fight back.

4:15 We’re going to defend ourselves. And that’s what some of these bodega clerks and owners are doing now. They’re tired of sitting back watching people destroy take their livelihood away, and not be able to do anything. And when they do something, they usually accused and prosecuted by the district attorneys.

4:35 So we commendiate Belinda Catz for not pressing charges for not going after an attest, the twenty one year old who stabbed a man to death in self defense two days ago.

4:49 Speaker 1 Fernando, you know, I am pro common sense Democrats, and Melinda cats has showed herself to be a common sense Democrat. I’ve always supported her because she does have common sense. And I’ve told Melinda, you know what else I’ve told Melinda.

5:07 When she was Borough president of Queens, there was no skyline. There was no skyline in Queens when she became borough president. Now there’s a whole skyline in Queens. So business is good in Queens and hopefully people will get safer and safer, and I look forward to that do you have a hotline for bodega’s or small supermarkets to call you?

5:33 Speaker 2 We know we usually rely on NYPD. Uh. This way we keep it all or streamlined through them. They’re doing an amazing job. I think Mayor Adams is doing the best that he can under the circumstances. His hands are tied, you know, by the city council. But Eddie Caban is leading the police department in the right direction.

5:57 They are making arrests, but unfortunately the judges are releasing these people back out on the streets. I spoke to Melinda Katz. One thing about her is she picks up her phone when you call her, and I spoke to her about this Nateche case and explain to her, please look at the videotapes that are available that NYPP has.

6:19 Make sure you make the right decision because this is a common sense issue. And as you always say, John, common sense is a commodity today. It’s if not everyone has it. She does, and she’s a fine elected official and we will support her moving forward because she does the right thing.

6:41 Speaker 1 Well, Fernando Mattel, I support her too, and thank you for all the work you do, and thank you for keeping people Alert and WABC. Our job is to let everybody know where the common sense prevails and let’s catch up again real soon.

7:00 Speaker 2 Absolutely will stay in touchy.

7:02 Speaker 1 Thank you, thank you,