Editorial
Op-ed
Order up for the city
More than 16 months ago, the New
York City restaurant industry
suffered a massive economic
blow due to crowding restrictions implemented
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The worst of the pandemic is (hopefully)
behind us, and many of those restrictions
have gone by the wayside. Diners are once
again enjoying fi ne meals both inside and
outside eateries across the fi ve boroughs,
but as any restaurateur can tell you, the
road to recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.
Thousands of restaurants did not survive
the pandemic. Most of those eateries that
did fell far behind on their rents. That
included some of the fi nest establishments
in the city, owned by high-profi le chefs such
as Tom Collichio, who said on July 15 that
he owed $1.2 million in back rent at one
establishment that closed.
Collichio appeared with New York
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at a press conference
in which they called for additional
economic relief — to the tune of $60 billion
nationwide — to help independently-owned
restaurants get back on their feet.
The American Rescue Plan, enacted in
April, provided $28 billion in federal aid
to restaurant owners across the U.S., but
according to Gillibrand, the demand quickly
exhausted the supply of funding. She said
the additional $60 billion in relief proposed
would “provide direct aid to the restaurant
owners Congress initially intended to assist
and help these vital businesses keep their
doors open.”
New York’s restaurants can use all the
help they can get. The pandemic was especially
diffi cult in our city, which prides itself
on its culinary scene. The Independent
Restaurant Coalition estimates that 31.6%
of the jobs lost in New York were from the
leisure and hospitality industry — that accounts
for hundreds of thousands of New
Yorkers and their livelihoods.
The health of the New York economy is
greatly dependent upon small businesses.
Congress must not only see fi t to provide
additional aid to restaurants, but we as New
Yorkers must also step up to the plate and
continue supporting our local eateries.
New York Restaurant Week, which
began on July 19, is an ample opportunity
to show your support for our culinary scene
but also enjoy great meals at discounts.
Visit nycgo.com/restaurantweek to fi nd a
participating eatery, and spend some of
your cash with them.
Publisher of The Villager, Villager Express, Chelsea Now,
Downtown Express and Manhattan Express
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VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA SCHNEPS
ROBERT POZARYCKI
EMILY DAVENPORT
KEVIN DUGGAN
DEAN MOSES
ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
BOB KRASNER
TEQUILA MINSKY
MARCOS RAMOS
CLIFFORD LUSTER
(718) 260-2504
CLUSTER@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
GAYLE GREENBURG
JULIO TUMBACO
ELIZABETH POLLY
New York Press Association
Member of the National
Newspaper Association
Member of the
Member of the
Minority Women Business Enterprise
Trusted partners
must step up for NYC’s
recovery to work
BY DAN BIEDERMAN
New York City is still in the early
stages of one of the most daunting
recovery efforts in history, pursuing
every opportunity where we can bring
economic security after a year of turmoil
and uncertainty. These times also allow
us to imagine a better New York by reinvigorating
our public spaces and aiding the
evolution of vital industries like hospitality
and retail.
Recoveries are also when we are at our
most delicate. We need the government
and the private sector to work together
and bring about the investments we need
as a city so that we come back stronger
than before. That’s why it’s imperative now
more than ever for our city’s most trusted
partners to step up.
Across the city, Business Improvement
Districts leveraged their relationships
with public and private partners to support
people and businesses throughout
the pandemic. Whether it was transforming
physical events into virtual gatherings
or boosting the small businesses and restaurants
that helped make Open Streets
successful in neighborhoods in every
borough, many BIDs worked hard to
ensure our communities’ shared success
and recovery.
Likewise, few institutions are as tethered
to New York City the way Macy’s is. It’s a
relationship that goes beyond the fact that
the internationally celebrated department
store is headquartered in Herald Square.
Whether it’s the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
®, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day
Parade, or the overall economic impact of
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
its fl agship store in the heart of Manhattan,
Macy’s is an intrinsic part of New York City
and vice versa.
Today, as we focus on what real recovery
from the pandemic looks like, Macy’s
is once again demonstrating its historic
commitment to New York. The company
recently introduced an ambitious redevelopment
plan that would invest $235 million
in much-needed transit and public realm
improvements while re-investing in its
historic 34th Street location to ensure it
continues to be a part of New York City’s
story.
Macy’s bold vision for Herald Square
is the type of major infrastructure project
that has been most important during an
economic recovery, directly creating thousands
of jobs. When it comes to fruition,
their proposal is expected to generate $269
million annually in new tax revenues for
New York City, bring 16,290 jobs to the
area, and spark $4.29 billion in economic
activity every year.
We can’t be caught fl at-footed. We need
to be bold and think big. Our longtime
partners with demonstrated track records
will be instrumental in the work not just to
recover but come out stronger than where
we were before. That latter part — the need
to go beyond where we’ve been before —
demands creativity, ambition, and close
collaboration.
Given the 162 years of history between
us, we’re delighted Macy’s is as invested in
New York City’s future as they have been
in our past. And in the end, that’s how we
will genuinely recover as a city: together.
Dan Biederman is executive director of
the 34th Street Partnership.
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