Alba tried to get past Simon and pulled a knife when he was unable to flee, in the caught-on-video incident.
Alba was charged with murder and held on $500,000 bail till Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s office negotiated a reduced amount that allowed him to secure a $5,000 bond.
The fact that Alba was even charged in the incident drew widespread outcry.
Mateo said Alba is hardly the only bodega worker put in harm’s way in the city.
“Bodega owners, clerks, their employees are going through very similar situations as what happened to Mr. Alba [in terms of threats], and it doesn’t make the news,” he said. “But you know what? [Their assailants] are not prosecuted. Given a desk appearance ticket, if that, and they continue to terrorize small businesses all over the city every single day.”
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