Kemang businesses react angrily to city's closure plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city's plan to close 180 businesses in
\nKemang for permit violations is \"unfair\" and should be
\nreconsidered, according to those affected by the decision.<\/p>\n
Local businesspeople said yesterday that they were \"victims\"
\nand the city should be \"more flexible\" in its approach to land
\nuse in Kemang.<\/p>\n
When interviewed by The Jakarta Post, they rejected the
\nadministration's claim that they had ignored complaints from
\nreligious leaders in Kemang.<\/p>\n
The manager of Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant, Ali Jusmono, said
\nhe respected the administration's decision to implement the city
\nplan but it should be applied evenly to all areas in Jakarta, not
\njust Kemang.<\/p>\n
In other parts of Jakarta the administration has been more
\namenable and rezoned housing areas for commercial purposes, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I hope that the city will be more flexible when it applies
\nthe city plan in Kemang.\"<\/p>\n
Ali said that closing down businesses would make it difficult
\nfor the owners to repay their bank loans and force them to sack
\nstaff.<\/p>\n
\"The administration should consider how businesspeople can be
\nresponsible if they have bank loans. And for the employees, it's
\nmore difficult now to get a job.\"<\/p>\n
The decision to close the 180 businesses -- not all of which
\nare cafes, as reported earlier -- was announced Monday by Deputy
\nGovernor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi.<\/p>\n
The decision affects bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries,
\ntravel agents, photocopy centers, pharmacies, beauty salons, car
\nservice centers, a cassette rental center, an optical shop and a
\ngas station.<\/p>\n
The director of Articia, which specializes in interior design,
\nAtik Yunaeni, said businesspeople in Kemang were the \"victims\" of
\nthe decision.<\/p>\n
She said some business, such as Articia, had been given
\ncommercial permits but were now being told it was invalid.<\/p>\n
\"Why were we given the permit (to do business) when the area
\nis a residential site?<\/p>\n
\"If the city is to be consistent, many areas other than Kemang
\nwill have to be reverted to their original use under the city
\nplan.\"<\/p>\n
She said that if the administration enforced the closures,
\nthere should be a transition period.<\/p>\n
\"Don't enforce the policy immediately.\"<\/p>\n
The supervisor of a nearby cafe, who wanted to remain
\nanonymous, gave a similar response.<\/p>\n
\"Why make a fuss now when we are doing business and not when
\nwe applied for the permit.\"<\/p>\n
He said the presence of businesses benefited locals through
\nproperty rentals and employment.<\/p>\n
\"The negative impact of the closures will be felt not only by
\nthe owners of businesses.\"<\/p>\n
The general manager of Galeri TC Kafe and Bar, Brenda Djorghi,
\nsaid she could do nothing but wait and see if the decision is
\nimplemented.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the city administration will change its mind because
\nour presence does benefit the administration,\" she said, \"We pay
\nlots of taxes for the cafe.\"<\/p>\n
The supervisor of Coterie Restaurant, Freddy C. Kotambunan,
\nsaid he also hoped the administration would reconsider the
\nclosures.<\/p>\n
He said that many people working in Kemang relied on the
\nrestaurants for their meals.<\/p>\n
\"The closure will force them to travel much further afield for
\ntheir meals.\"<\/p>\n
Several businesspeople rejected Kahfi's statement that
\nreligious leaders had complained that the businesses were too
\nclose to centers of worship, interfered with religious activities
\nand the businesses had ignored complaints.<\/p>\n
Brenda Djorghi of Galeri TC said that if there had been
\nprotests from locals then the administration should not have
\ngranted social disturbance permits.<\/p>\n
\"No-one has protested,\" she said. \"To run a business we have
\nto get approval from the neighborhood.\"<\/p>\n
Ali Jusmono of Chi-Chi's said that traffic congestion -- which
\nKahfi blamed on the businesses -- could be solved if
\nbusinesspeople were encouraged to construct parking lots.<\/p>\n
\"This would enable green areas to be established in front of
\nbuildings where people currently park.\"<\/p>\n
However, Freddy from Coterie and Brenda both denied that the
\nbusinesses had created traffic congestion.<\/p>\n
\"The congestion is caused by the irregularity of the traffic
\nsystem here. The T-junctions at the ends of the street are not
\nmanaged well by the police,\" Brenda said. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kemang-businesses-react-angrily-to-citys-closure-plan-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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