With all due respect to a 4th generation Harlem resident, I walk 125th every day. I'm not sure how you can compare the employment impact of a Borders to a few guys hawking niche paperbacks with torn covers; presumably sans health benefits. I think this odd characterization of some "social injustice" going on is obfuscating a commonsense upgrade.
To say the community hasn't weighed in on this is also a farce. This plan has been presented for public scrutiny for no less than 4 years. Don't believe me, read for yourself: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/125th/index.shtml.
Please forgive the lack of sympathy, but as a small business owner who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps and competes in NYC everyday without handouts from tax payers, I believe I have some insight on how opportunities are created. A lot of small business in the city benifits greatly from occupying the same block as big business. Some don't, that's a free market. Overall it is impossible to argue, with facts, that success fails to breed more success.
For those activists that want to bury their heads in the sand in the name of keeping Harlem down economically go right ahead, it is your right. But at least be upfront with your struggling neighbors with what you're up to. Don't be disillusioned by believing that you are doing it for them.
With all due respect to a 4th generation Harlem resident, I walk 125th every day. I'm not sure how you can compare the employment impact of a Borders to a few guys hawking niche paperbacks with torn covers; presumably sans health benefits. I think this odd characterization of some "social injustice" going on is obfuscating a commonsense upgrade.
To say the community hasn't weighed in on this is also a farce. This plan has been presented for public scrutiny for no less than 4 years. Don't believe me, read for yourself: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/125th/index.shtml.
Please forgive the lack of sympathy, but as a small business owner who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps and competes in NYC everyday without handouts from tax payers, I believe I have some insight on how opportunities are created. A lot of small business in the city benifits greatly from occupying the same block as big business. Some don't, that's a free market. Overall it is impossible to argue, with facts, that success fails to breed more success.
For those activists that want to bury their heads in the sand in the name of keeping Harlem down economically go right ahead, it is your right. But at least be upfront with your struggling neighbors with what you're up to. Don't be disillusioned by believing that you are doing it for them.