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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to spend up to $120,000 to maintain access for an Amazon delivery hub during construction in the Bronx. This includes reimbursing costs related to a temporary route for Amazon’s Morris Park facility. Meanwhile, East Harlem business owners are frustrated, as they report significant losses due to Second Avenue Subway construction and claim the MTA has refused to provide similar support. Merchants like Lu Nicaj and Solomon Fresh say the MTA's decision favors large corporations over local businesses struggling from disruptions caused by ongoing projects.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The MTA plans to spend up to $120,000 to maintain access for Amazon's 367,000-square-foot Morris Park delivery facility during ongoing Bronx construction. The funds will cover costs such as a temporary curb cut on Marconi Street and an updated site plan from the Buildings Department. Meanwhile, East Harlem business owners like Lu Nicaj of Eagle Tile are frustrated, feeling that the MTA is prioritizing Amazon over local businesses affected by similar disruptions due to Second Avenue Subway construction. Nicaj claims this project has reduced his contractor business by nearly 90%. The disparity in support highlights concerns about fairness and resource allocation during major infrastructure projects.
Written for “MTA Harlem Station Upgrade” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning: leans left for article 58064 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-10-05
The MTA plans to spend up to $120,000 to preserve access to an Amazon delivery hub during Bronx construction — even as East Harlem mom-and-pop shops say the agency is refusing to help them survive similar disruptions.
asserted
them → plan → disruptions
The transit agency would reimburse Amazon-related costs tied to a temporary access route at its 367,000-square-foot Morris Park delivery facility, according to Metropolitan Transportation Authority documents.
uncertain
agency → reimburse → documents
The money would cover Amazon’s review and approval of the planned route, a temporary curb cut on Marconi Street and an updated city Buildings Department site plan, records show.
asserted
records → cover → Street
The MTA needs the new route because it will periodically close Bassett Avenue — the only way in and out of the facility — while building a new Metro-North station entrance and pedestrian overpass as part of its Penn Station Access project.
asserted
it → need → project
But the MTA’s six-figure budget to keep Amazon moving has left East Harlem merchants fuming.
asserted
Amazon → keep → merchants
“They make my blood boil,” Eagle Tile owner Lu Nicaj said.
asserted
Nicaj → make → ?
“A trillion-dollar company they reimburse, but they don’t reimburse guys like me that need this money?”
asserted
that → reimburse → money
Nicaj said Second Avenue Subway construction has wiped out nearly 90% of the contractor business his store relies on.
asserted
store → say → business
He said the MTA took over his loading zone, blocked access with barriers and equipment and then went silent after promising to help with access for customers picking up bulky orders.
asserted
MTA → say → orders
“Here I am a mom-and-pop shop and all of a sudden MTA comes and destroys everything I’ve built for the past 35 years,” Nicaj said.
asserted
Nicaj → come → years
“And yet they find $120,000 to reimburse Amazon?”
asserted
they → find → Amazon
Nicaj said that same money could help him relocate.
uncertain
money → say → him
“$120,000 would help me move and relocate,” he said.
asserted
he → help → ?
“I could do it tomorrow.”
uncertain
I → do → it
Go Donut owner Solomon Fresh said sales at his Second Avenue shop near East 119th Street have dropped 70% since construction moved outside four months ago.
asserted
construction → say → Street
He said the MTA repeatedly told him it “can’t pay us anything.”
asserted
it → say → anything
“It’s really disrespectful,” Fresh said.
asserted
Fresh → ’ → ?
“They just don’t care about us.”
asserted
They → care → us
Fresh said he is not asking for $120,000 — only some relief while construction fences and noise keep customers away.
asserted
fences → say → customers
“This is how I feed my son,” he said.
asserted
he → feed → son
“They’re making it difficult for me and my family.”
asserted
it → make → me
East Harlem merchants previously told The Post that the nearly $8 billion Second Avenue Subway expansion has squeezed sidewalks, blocked loading areas and slashed business.
asserted
expansion → tell → business
The MTA insisted it has been working with the East Harlem shops to help mitigate the effects of the construction.
asserted
it → insist → construction
The MTA said in a statement Friday officials at the transit agency are working with the NYC DOT to “try to identify alternative commercial loading and unloading space nearby.”
asserted
officials → say → space
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