In recent times, Flushing business owners and workers have expressed concerns about safety due to rising crime rates in the area. To address this issue, the Flushing Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a program that offers free self-defense classes to business owners and employees residing in zip codes 11354 and 11355. The program will run from April 3rd to June 5th, and participants can sign up on the Flushing BID website by signing a waiver.
The classes will be taught by a professional martial artist specializing in Taekwondo at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel Ballroom. Participants will learn essential self-defense techniques, including kicking, grabbing, and de-escalation strategies for real-life situations. The initiative aims to address commercial retail theft and homeless disturbances that have made many shop owners feel unsafe. There are concerns about police response times, leading to the importance of equipping small business owners with self-defense skills.
Dian Song Yu, executive director of the Flushing BID, hopes that these classes will bring comfort to participants and empower them to protect themselves if necessary. Not all businesses have the resources to hire security guards, especially smaller shops. The Flushing BID hopes that this program will make all businesses in downtown Flushing feel safer and more secure by providing essential self-defense training. By giving business owners and employees the tools they need to protect themselves in the face of rising crime rates, the BID aims to create a more stable environment for everyone in the area.