Empowering Flushing Businesses: Free Self-Defense Classes Aim to Combat Rising Crime Rates

The rising crime rates in Flushing have left business owners and workers feeling unsafe. To combat this issue, the Flushing Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a program offering free self-defense classes to business owners and employees in zip codes 11354 and 11355.

The classes will run from Wednesday Apr. 3 through June 5, 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 focusing on kicking, grabbing, and de-escalation strategies for real-life situations.

The initiative aims to address the rising 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, the BID aims to give business owners and employees the tools they need to protect themselves in the face of rising crime rates.

Flushing’s safety problem is not unique as many other cities experience similar issues with increasing crime rates leading to concerns about safety among business owners and workers.

The Flushing Business Improvement District (BID) recognizes this problem and has taken action by launching a program offering free self-defense classes to business owners and employees in zip codes 11354 and 11355.

The initiative is aimed at addressing rising commercial retail theft and homeless disturbances that have made many shop owners feel unsafe.

Participants will learn essential self-defense techniques focusing on kicking, grabbing,