Bodegas Declining in Manhattan as Rents Rise and Chains Grows by Mark Kauzlarich, discusses the rapid closing of small businesses, specifically delis closing, and how big business is taking over. Specifically, due to rent rising and no long-term leases creates a unstable business climate. Even after being able to negotiate a long lease of 5 years landowners can still inform the local delis that they will not be able to renew the lease, creating still an unstable climate even with a longer lease deal. I chose this article because in New York for Sale, Angotti says, “The project would have displaced 2,400 tenants, 450 single-room occupants, 4,000 homeless beds, and over 500 businesses.” In discussing how the Cooper Square Community Development Committee and Businessmen’s Association fought to stop this urban plan by proposing there own ideas. This is important because without the regulation small businesses, and their likes, low income housing are at risk of being relocated and replaced. The cooper square community fought with the terms of the project to go from removing 94% of current residents to 50%. To keep a balance in the community and to not lose small businesses like bodegas and have housing for low income residents.
Question
- Is the new plan of replacing 50% residents a sacrifice you could take for the community or should harsher conditions be negotiated?
- How can small businesses fight landowners on an individual basis?
- Would government interference in rent control for small business have a profound effect on the “free market”?
