United Bodegas of America officials announced Saturday that they will meet with the district attorney on Tuesday to discuss Jose Alba’s case. Their pleas for clemency come as Mayor Eric Adams and City Council members on both sides of the aisle asked the embattled prosecutor to drop charges against Alba, 61, who was seen on camera fending off an attack by Austin Simon, 35, before he fatally stabbed him on July 1. Footage showed Simon going behind the counter at the Hamilton Heights grocery store at Broadway and West 139th Street in Manhattan when his girlfriend couldn’t make enough money to buy a bag of chips. Alba stabbed Austin five times after he was pushed into a bookshelf, officials said. The employee was then allegedly stabbed by Austin’s girlfriend in the shoulder and arm. Bodega owners, including United Bodegas of America President Radhames Rodriguez (speaking), called on Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg to weigh in on Jose Alba’s charges. Gregory P. Mango “Mr. Alba was clearly defending himself from a younger and stronger man who attacked him,” wrote UBA president Radames Rodriguez. “There was no time for Mr. Alba to think when his life was in danger. The videotapes clearly show who was the aggressor in this case. Austin Simon went behind the bench to beat Jose Alba and possibly kill him, Jose just defended with whatever he got.” The team plans to hold a press conference Monday morning in the Bronx. Alba was released from Riker’s Island on a $50,000 bond Thursday. Bodega association leaders said he could not afford a defense attorney. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was asked to charge Jose Alba with murder.AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File Simon has prior arrests, including robbery and assault, and served time in state prison for a 2016 conviction for assaulting a police officer. His girlfriend was not facing charges in the stabbing in Alba, who has no criminal record. Bragg’s critics cited his reputation as a moderate-crime prosecutor who recently told his office not to seek prison terms for felonies such as armed robbery and drug trafficking as they seek leniency in Alba’s case. “The fact that you are even prosecuting Mr. Alba reveals how your twisted sense of justice not only protects violent criminals, but actively seeks to destroy the lives of crime victims,” read a letter signed by two of the city’s Democratic lawmakers and five Republicans.
