Small Victories Amid Painful Cuts
By Liz Krueger
Even in the best of economic times, it’s never “easy” to balance the State’s budget. This year it was particularly difficult because our state government had less money and more debt, while the need for public services has only increased. This is not a problem unique to New York: 44 states are facing a combined budget deficit of over $112 billion this year, as the nation struggles to climb its way out of the recession.
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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
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
Construction Creeps Downtown
The Subway sandwich shop on the corner of Second Avenue and East 93rd Street employed four people when it opened four years ago. Now there are two.
Eve’s Nail and Spa next door used to staff nine people each day. Now there are five on a good day.
Tae Shin, who manages both stores, sits at one of the tables in his small sandwich shop. Besides Shin and his two employees, the shop is empty. He’s wearing a khaki-colored polo shirt that contrasts with his reddening face. He’s mad. So mad his hands are shaking. He blames the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s construction on Second Avenue for his mounting economic troubles. Read more
