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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kahiem Rivera, General Manager of Le Dive
1:18:51
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129 sec
Kahiem Rivera, the general manager of Le Dive, testifies in support of the restaurant's sidewalk cafe application. He emphasizes the restaurant's efforts to be a good neighbor and accommodate both customers and local residents' concerns.
- Rivera highlights his New York roots and sensitivity to neighborhood changes
- He discusses the restaurant's efforts to address issues like smoking and crowding
- Rivera argues that the sidewalk cafe is important for jobs and managing customer demand efficiently
Kahiem Rivera
1:18:51
Alright.
1:18:51
Thank you.
1:18:52
I am the general manager at Ladiv.
1:18:56
I started on October.
1:18:58
I'm a third generation New Yorker.
1:19:00
My mother and grandmother both grew up here.
1:19:04
I'm super sensitive to neighborhoods changing and gentrification.
1:19:08
My mom has been priced out of most of the neighborhoods that she used to rent from, you know?
1:19:15
Since I started in October, my employers have always told me prioritize the neighbors.
1:19:21
I give my information out to anyone that comes by and says they're a neighbor as a guest or just, you know, that I'm introduced to.
1:19:31
It's really been a priority to listen to feedback and adjust accordingly.
1:19:36
At least since I've been there, we've I don't know.
1:19:40
I I definitely wouldn't work for people who were aloof to the needs of people who actually live there.
1:19:47
It's it's been super important to adjust.
1:19:51
I try my best to go up to tables when they're smoking and tell them, you know, you can't do that here.
1:19:58
Go around the corner.
1:19:59
People think they can, so it's hard to catch it immediately, but we do.
1:20:05
And it relative to other places that are putting out the quality of food that we are putting out, it's a pretty cheap place.
1:20:15
Inflation is real, but, like, as a native New Yorker, like, I feel like this place is accessible.
1:20:21
I was a guest before I was a manager and I loved it and the staff really cares and losing those seats is real.
1:20:30
It is jobs and it makes a huge difference.
1:20:34
And the thing is, it doesn't lessen the demand or the traffic.
1:20:37
So not being able to seat these people will create more crowds.
1:20:41
You know what I mean?
1:20:42
Like, we actually want to accommodate people and we wanna get them down at a seat and get food into their belly.
1:20:50
We don't wanna have a sidewalk party.
1:20:51
We don't wanna have lines.
1:20:53
You know?
1:20:53
We wanna be able to operate.
1:20:59
That's all.