Editorial
Our holiday wish
Friday, the city celebrates Christmas
Day — which, along with other
winter holidays such as Hanukkah
and Kwanzaa, includes the themes of light
and hope.
We’ve heard so much about what a
horrible year this has been — and it has
been horrible. Coronavirus, social unrest,
protests, political divisions, economic strife
— there is little redemption for 2020, and
all of us will look back on it with varying
degrees of anguish.
We live in a dark period, and in darkness,
despair too easily sets in. Yet there
remains room for light and hope, particularly
in this city. And, like the celebration
of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, we
have much to look forward to in the year
ahead — even as we cope with the very
diffi cult present before us.
For one thing, COVID-19’s grip upon
our city, country and world, while still too
awfully tight, is slowly loosening. Vaccines
— a miraculous feat developed at record
speed with the advent of science and the
marvels of human ingenuity — are fi nally
beginning to be administered.
The crisis is far from over; we must all
continue to be careful, smart and safe. But
each person vaccinated brings us a little
closer to the end of this horrifi c tragedy
— and not a return to normalcy, but rather
a return to life as each of us wants to lead it.
The streets of our city will become busy
again. Businesses will reopen in full; those
businesses that didn’t survive the year will
be succeeded by others that will survive
decades. The economy will roll once more.
But we also look forward toward the
rebuilding of New York as a more equitable
city. This year has brought to the fore the
long-ignored issues of inequality. The effort
to end disparity in New York City has only
begun; it won’t be completed in a year or a
few years, but it must continue.
We also have a new ally in Presidentelect
Biden, who takes offi ce on Jan. 20.
We hope he gives this city the help it needs
to rebuild — and that those who work to
undermine him because Trump lost will
have a change of heart, and respect the will
of the people.
Our wish for you this holiday season
is peace, health and happiness, now and
in the future — and that we take care of
ourselves and each other.
Op-ed
If you care about New
York City, care about
tech infrastructure
BY TRAVIS FELDLER
New York is a city
built on innovation
and big ideas. Since
its founding, we’ve seen
thousands of the world’s
most successful, cutting-edge
businesses from every industry,
from fi nance to media to
tech, set up shop and grow in
New York.
But right now, New York
is falling behind. As other
cities install the technology
for connectivity that will
propel their economies into
the future, New York remains
stagnant. If New York
wants to maintain its historic position at
the center of industry and if the city is to
recover and come back stronger from the
pandemic, we urgently need to update the
connectivity, like 5G networks, to undergird
our economy and ensure opportunities
for future generations of New Yorkers.
I’m a proud New Yorker, born and
raised. And I have had the pleasure of
building my virtual reality education technology
company, TechRow, in my native
city. I chose to establish TechRow here because
I want to give back to my community
and serve the students of New York, and
because being a part of New York’s tech
sector is benefi cial for both my organization
and for the students participating in it.
Unfortunately, current city leadership’s
unwillingness to update the city’s digital
infrastructure by deploying 5G technology
threatens the future of TechRow, the
students we serve, and the long-term health
of New York City’s economy. Here’s why.
Many major cities, including Chicago
and Los Angeles, already have the infrastructure
necessary for 5G in place. We are
behind – and may lose desperately-needed
jobs as a result.
Tech companies and startups account
forhundreds of thousandsof good-paying
jobs in New York City. Many, including
TechRow, rely on next generation
technologies, like virtual reality and augmented
reality, and will need 5G to stay
at the cutting-edge of their industries and
continue to develop their products. If they
don’t have the tech infrastructure they need
FILE PHOTO
to continue to innovate, they will look to
set up shop elsewhere and take high-paying
jobs with them. We can’t afford to let that
happen as we stare down the worst unemployment
crisis in over a decade.
And we can’t forget the impact that the
pandemic is having on students. This crisis
has laid bare longstanding inequities in access
to education and career opportunities.
TechRow and other ed tech organizations
exist to provide young people – particularly
those who have been traditionally underserved
– with the immersive learning experiences
and knowledge they need for the
jobs of tomorrow. Students represent the
future talent pipelines of industry in New
York City. How can we prepare learners
for the future when we are teaching them
on the digital infrastructure of the past?
Strengthening New York City’s economy
has never been more urgent as we dig out
from this crisis. And updating our tech infrastructure
will be a major part of that effort.
From emergency response during a global
pandemic, to educating our young people,
to driving an innovation economy necessary
to maintain our city’s competitiveness, every
single person in New York will benefi t from
an improved connectivity. Let’s make sure
New York stays at the forefront of business
and innovation where it belongs.
Travis Feldler is the Founder and CEO
ofTechRow, an education technology
organization that harnesses the power of
community and innovation to improve
learning and life outcomes through immersive
technology.
Publisher of The Villager, Villager Express, Chelsea Now,
Downtown Express and Manhattan Express
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
CEO & CO-PUBLISHER
EDITOR IN CHIEF
REPORTERS
CONTRIBUTORS
ART DIRECTORS
ADVERTISING
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR
The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes
or typographical errors that do not lessen the value
of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for
others errors or omissions in connection with an
advertisement is strictly limited to publication of the
advertisement in any subsequent issue.
Published by Schneps Media
One Metrotech North, 3rd floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (718) 260-2500
Fax: (212) 229-2790
On-line: www.thevillager.com
E-mail: news@thevillager.com
© 2019 Schneps Media
VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA SCHNEPS
ROBERT POZARYCKI
GABE HERMAN
ALEJANDRA O’CONNELL
MARK HALLUM
MICHELE HERMAN
BOB KRASNER
TEQUILA MINSKY
MARY REINHOLZ
PAUL SCHINDLER
MARCOS RAMOS
CLIFFORD LUSTER
(718) 260-2504
CLUSTER@CNGLOCAL.COM
GAYLE GREENBURG
JIM STEELE
JULIO TUMBACO
ELIZABETH POLLY
Member of the
Minority Women Business Enterprise
8 December 24, 2020 Schneps Media
/www.thevillager.com
link
link
/www.thevillager.com
link
link
