New York City: Don't Call It A Comeback
New York City: The Re-opening
Re-opening feels like the wrong word entirely. For many New Yorkers, the city never closed. Delivery workers, front-line care takers, and the thousands upon thousands of lives it takes to keep this city running even at a “closed” capacity means that especially through these past six months, this city never slept.
But as the summer of 2020 winds to a close, there is an interesting sort of contrast in its reawakening. Piles of dinners, some masked and some not, gather in gaggles on sidewalks, desperate to eat something that didn’t arrive in a bag or from their own kitchen. Few shops are open in the way one might remember them. In fact, many, many more are closed—permanently. A new distinct word this city has had to tack on to its explanation of closed.
And yes, signs of life and rebound abound, but many, many more point to the challenging times ahead for businesses, real estate, and the communities that make up these glorious five boroughs. Practitioners of economics by walking around will find this city much changed, pointing to a long recovery ahead.
I’m finding comfort during this time by reading about fellow New Yorker’s perspectives, and putting our challenges in the larger context of how a recovery can come together.
One of my few daily reads, Wit & Whimsy penned an article, What It’s Like in New York Right Now, that beautifully explains the shared heartbreak New Yorkers are feeling right now. I adore that she follows this sentiment up with sharing regular insta stories footage of her walks around the city, reminding us all that we’re still standing.
I greatly appreciate the sentiment of Jerry Seinfeld’s NYT Opinion piece on the grit and resilience of New Yorkers. As lifelong personality and contributor to this city, his reassurances about its spirit and willingness to rebuild are comforting.
That said, stardust alone won’t bring back the countless jobs, control the rents, or deliver healthcare and education needs to the millions of people counting on them in NYC. Major government support and collaboration with the private sector would be needed to think about how to restore economic activity and preserve the tax base of the major corporations who are considering going remote. Expert perspectives weigh in on how to save a half open economy.
The restaurants and dining scene are a cornerstone of NYC culture. I can hardly bear to think of how this could go when the northeast winter sets in, and outdoor dining that has kept places afloat these past few months wanes. Over 1,000 restaurants have already closed in NYC and since New York’s restaurants are smaller than most of the country’s footprint, it’s not likely we’ll see indoor dining resume any time soon.
Black-owned businesses in NYC are hanging on by a thread, and have been twice as likely to shutter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are ways you can support black-owned businesses in NYC, and several resources in particular for women-owned businesses.
