Mayor Bill de Blasio Seeks Reduced Fines and Law Changes

Ricard Picon and wife Clarisa Penzini speak to city leaders including (l-r) Councilman Andy Cohen, Councilman Antonio Reynoso and Mayor de Blasio. | Credit: AMNY by Todd Maisel

The Sandwich Shop in Brooklyn — a popular eatery in the Williamsburg community — served Mayor Bill de Blasio and two City Council members Thursday as they sought input from them as to how to help mom and pop stores thrive.

Not only did they get a stomach full of eclectic sandwiches that they purchased at the counter, but owners Ricardo Picon, an immigrant of Venezuela and his wife Clarisa Penzini, from Corsica, Italy, also gave them a gingerly earful.

Picon and his wife said they have a successful 7-year-old business, but not without some hardships. A new bike lane that runs the full length of Grand Street where they are located, eliminated parking on the south side of the street and plastic barriers separate that lane from the roadway – making it extremely difficult to get deliveries. Trucks sometimes park on the bike lane because there is no other place to make deliveries – making a sliver of space for bikes to pass through.