whohurtsharlem:

It was just announced today that Red Lobster is coming to Harlem and filling in the empty lot next to the Apollo Theater. While it is great that an empty lot is getting filled on our major thoroughfare the developers have qualified for ICAP which means that they will defer property taxes for at least a decade and probably more. That means that people who are already spending their time and dime on making their properties nicer and improving their businesses will get an increased tax bill and essentially subsidize Red Lobster even though they’ll be using more resources.

Harlem doesn’t need more shlocky chain restaurants that serves unhealthy food that takes money out of our community.

We need local businesses.

And while Red Lobster speaks to their “commitment to sustainable seafood” Red Lobster serves farmed salmon and farmed shrimp - two of the most ecologically devastating products on the marine environment. To say nothing of the absence of health benefits of these highly processed foods.

Harlem is in a health and financial crisis and we need the right kind of investment and this isn’t it.

Big international corporations based in Lakeland, Florida dont need property tax breaks while we get stuck with the bill and they don’t need to be serving more unhealthy food in our community.