The Rise of One-Downmanship
When did complaining become a competitive sport?
The cocktail party was crowded, as every self-respecting cocktail party should be. I was therefore making depressingly slow progress in my foray to the bar, during which I overheard the following conversation:
“So how are you doing these days?” asked one man, sipping his drink.
“It’s been pretty tough. And you guys?” said another man. He was wearing a wine-colored bow tie. (It’s a fact that parties on Park Avenue contain more bow ties per capita than parties in any other neighborhood.) Read more
Law Would Hurt N.Y.’s Ability to Stoke Innovation
Would impose obstacles for investors in telecommunications
By Jim Gerace
In these uncertain economic times, it is critical that our lawmakers in Albany make good decisions that promote jobs, investment and innovation. Wise public policy decisions are those that encourage job creation and investment in communities throughout by helping to grow the state’s “innovation economy.” Read more
Creating Jobs, Greening Buildings
New bill would lessen energy dependence on hostile foreign regimes
As I meet people during my travels across the state, New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds have the same thing on their minds: jobs. With unemployment in New York City still in double digits, and an estimated 15 percent of our state’s construction workers out of work, it is clear that we must continue to help working families weather the economic storm. Read more
Un-Chain Local Stores
Exploring support for small business owners
By Shannon Geis
Anyone tracking the closure of local, independent businesses and the proliferation of chains will tell you that constantly rising rents are largely to blame. According to the Real Estate Board of New York, retail rents rose 54 percent between 2001 and 2008. The board also reports that rents have not decreased significantly in response to the recession. Read more
Let’s Support a Living Wage
Our economic recovery depends on government incentives for good jobs
By Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mike Fishman
With the shift in our city’s economy from manufacturing to service jobs, the percentage of low-wage workers has reached record, if not epidemic, levels. Nearly one-third of working New Yorkers are struggling to stretch their paychecks to cover high prices for rent and rising costs for groceries and transportation. In order to stem the tide of what threatens to undermine not just our economic recovery, but the future of our city, we need to invest in increasing the number of good jobs. Read more
BUSINESS IS BOOMING
Lehman Brothers collapsed, Circuit City is in the process of liquidating and pretty much everyone knows somebody who’s been laid off. Even the ubiquitous Duane Reade is rumored to be near bankruptcy. But not all businesses are on the brink of failure. In fact, some small local entrepreneurs have not only been surviving in these harsh economic times, but thriving.
Nancy Ploeger, president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, is one expert who sees firsthand the current challenges, as well as the opportunities, for local businesses. Read more
BILL CLINTON, MATTHEW BISHOP CONVERSE AT THE Y
Capping off a week when the Clinton Global Initiative raised $8 million, former President Bill Clinton spent the evening of Sept. 28 at the 92nd Street Y kicking off a new speaker series, “The Business of Giving in the 21st Century.” Proceeds from the initiative’s annual meeting will go toward projects helping up to 150 million people worldwide.
The Y’s program was introduced by Marc Lasry, a longtime Clinton donor, initiative board member and board member at the Y. Lasry and his wife Cathy underwrote the appearance. Read more
