ARTURO SANCHEZSeth Taylor, the executive director of the 82nd Street Business Improvement District (BID), is spearheading the initiative to expand the BID along Roosevelt Avenue and the surrounding immigrant commercial strips. The BID initiative has generated a heated controversy and triggered a pushback by small business owners, local residents, and grassroots activists.

On Wednesday, June 26th, I interviewed Mr. Taylor on the upcoming vote regarding the BID initiative. Before asking any questions, I made it clear that the interview was for piece I was preparing as a columnist with QueensLatino. My intention was to avoid any confusion or ambiguity regarding the nature of the interview.

The interview was nothing less than a disaster. When ask about the format and language of the BID ballot, he responded in a belligerent, disrespectful, and unprofessional manner. The question infuriated him and he began to shout. He reached across the table, grabbed by the interview notes out of my hands, and accused me of playing “f…king games.” I calmly insisted that he return my notes; which he eventually did, but only after selectively crossing out a section of my notions that he disliked.

Mr. Taylor’s behavior and language is unacceptable. Substantive and difficult questions should be answered in a thoughtful and deliberative manner. As the person charged with marketing the expansion of the BID – into working-class immigrant neighborhoods – he is responsible for addressing questions or concerns in a manner that fosters inclusion and participation, not exclusion and marginalization. And on both counts, Mr. Taylor comes up short.

On a personal level, I feel that Mr. Taylor’s behavior was disrespectful. It was disrespectable to me as: an immigrant; a Latino male; a concerned and engaged resident of Jackson Heights; a member of the Spanish language press; and as an academic that has written and lectured extensively on immigrant issues. But more importantly, to be treated in a disrespectful and degrading manner speaks volumes about Mr. Taylor’s approach in responding to concerned immigrant stakeholders that live and work in the community. It also casts doubt on Mr. Taylor’s ability to make a coherent case in support of the Roosevelt Avenue BID. Shutting down a reasonable discussion on an important public policy issue is counterproductive.

I might be open to dismissing Mr. Taylor’s comportment on the grounds that he was just having a bad day. We all have bad days. But, unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. QueensLatino has reported that well-known residents and immigrant activists have been subjected to his aggressive and demeaning tactics. In effect, what we are dealing with is a form of patterned behavior.

Mr. Taylor’s abusive pattern in dealing with the point-counter-point of public discourse is disheartening and should be immediately addressed. It must be addressed because it sends a chilling message to immigrants that live and work in Corona, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights.

Democracy is a messy and unruly process. It is often marked by disagreements and tensions. That is a given. Nonetheless, if local democracy is to have any hope of working it must be based on mutual respect and open discussion. Failure to do so, diminishes and tarnishes the civic ideal of immigrant engagement in building community and contributing to the common good. As New Yorkers, born here or abroad, can we ask for anything less? I hope not!

Arturo Ignacio Sánchez, Ph.D. is chairperson of the Newest New Yorkers Committee of Community Board 3, Queens. He has taught contemporary immigration, entrepreneurship, and urban planning at Barnard College, City University of New York, Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, and Pratt Institute.