tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post6979383490685612386..comments2023-08-14T11:44:27.299-04:00Comments on Jeremiah's<br> Vanishing New York: Darwinian City?Jeremiah Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11791516443125872364noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-80899841823584294002017-07-19T12:37:45.429-04:002017-07-19T12:37:45.429-04:00Thank you for challenging Glen. If the mayor staff...Thank you for challenging Glen. If the mayor staffs his agencies with former Goldman Sachs execs this is the mindset we get. I don't assume it's malicious - but it is the mindset that problems get solved using the same formula that got us in trouble in the first place. <br /><br />It's also the problem with living in a city with a multi-trillion dollar real estate industry and a country that's been openly overtaken by grifters. How much any one politician can do within capitalism's self-rewarding 'legal' system is a real question, but we can and should require pragmatic policy changes that create and preserve affordable housing and small business. Endorsing and passing laws that can survive a 'legal' test in this current system is not a small hurdle with plenty of room for disagreement over when/if you compromise to get (any?) protections.<br /><br />In my neighborhood every small business (all run by people of color) was overtaken by high-end clothing stores/restaurants. No more tailor, no more shoe repair, no more copy shop, no more bodegas, no more diner, no more nursing homes. Real estate interests dominate and create a neighborhood that serves to provide amenities for those with means - not functional resources for working people.Bowery Galshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00740129509673547498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-40943729132291327352015-10-31T11:00:43.625-04:002015-10-31T11:00:43.625-04:00To Scout; They may be finite, they may be brief an...To Scout; They may be finite, they may be brief and you may try to rationalize them anyway you wish, bottom line, and my point, they are a waste of tax dollars and in most cases are unnecessary, especially in today superheated NYC real estate market environment. NYC is giving away billions of dollars each year, to individuals, organizations and corporations that are just plain greedy and the least deserving of such windfalls. You may not see this as any big deal, but to put it in a very clear perspective; to paraphrase former Senator Everett Dirksen: " a million here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking about real money". rongeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01566865793728147959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-6905304363930253482015-10-29T08:49:27.880-04:002015-10-29T08:49:27.880-04:00Those are all merely finite (relatively brief) dev...Those are all merely finite (relatively brief) development abatements that operate on the accepted assumption (whether valid or not) that 5-10 years of development will create subsequent decades of enormous additional tax revenue for the city (to potentially be spent on infrastructure and social services, among other necessary and [to some] unnecessary things).<br /><br />The American/capitalist theory is that a city or business will die if it doesn't continuously grow (like cancer). And so NYC believes that it must continue to grow, to make and spend more money, to build up, up, up. The only time that this theory can be invalidated is when it explodes in our leaders' faces. But who knows when (or if) that time will come?<br /><br />Meanwhile, if the city continues to spend more each year, it absolutely MUST continue to increase revenue. And the only way to do that is to increase taxable property. And the only way to do that is build up. I don't like it; I don't think the theory is sound. But I know that, unfortunately and unavoidably, money drives the city, not human interest stories. One can say, "I speak with my vote," but if you can find a viable/electable politician with enough power to change this paradigm, I believe that you'll have achieved something truly remarkable.Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07860208585189661470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-47760789037829884732015-10-28T12:00:38.006-04:002015-10-28T12:00:38.006-04:00To Scout; I doubt you are serious about the tax ab...To Scout; I doubt you are serious about the tax abatement giveaways to NYC developers, especially developers of luxury apartment and commercial towers. But here are a few; <br /><br />Tax abatement law 421a, enacted in 1971 to help with development in a financially strapped city. Still in effect today and recently extended by Gov. Cuomo (it was set to expire in June 2015) This program alone costs the city $1 billion a year in property tax revenue.<br /><br />Forest City Develpoment: $3 bil. <br /><br />Fresh Direct: $127 mil.<br /><br />One Hudson Yards: $77 mil.<br /><br />Related Co. & Oxford Development: $328 mil.<br /><br />A few more: Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Barclay Center, Goldman Sachs Towers, Bank of America Towers, Gateway Center Mall <br /><br />Proposed: Willets Point Development<br /><br />Here are a few pertinent articles you may want to consider reading;<br /><br />Subsidizing Inequality: New York City's Crooked Development Agenda, Alex Ulman, 6/23/14<br /><br />Bloomberg: NYC's No Longer Ailing Developers Seek To Retain 1971 Tax Break, Henry Goldman & Freeman Klopott, 5/01/15<br /><br />Bloomberg: NYC Business Tax Breaks Face Skepticism From de Blasio, Martin Braun, 12/06/13<br /><br />CityLab: Why Billionaires Don't Pay Property Taxes in NY, Kristan Capps, 5/11/15 (This is an especially interesting article, as it gives examples of unbelievable and questionable need for such tax breaks and details who ultimately picks up the tab. <br /><br />Tons more reading out there, available online, detailing the huge tax breaks given to the well connected NYC developers, most of it unnecessary (as detailed by de Blasio when he was public advocate) stating that roughly 82% of development projects in NYC would have proceeded even if tax abatement would have been denied.rongeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01566865793728147959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-88102207108294272152015-10-28T11:21:58.796-04:002015-10-28T11:21:58.796-04:00Then you're only getting half the story Scout,...Then you're only getting half the story Scout, and these "facts" you rely upon are VERY malleable.DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-21897730194473618642015-10-28T08:50:08.972-04:002015-10-28T08:50:08.972-04:00Well, rongee, like I said - "conspiracy theor...Well, rongee, like I said - "conspiracy theorists." Unless, of course, you have actual facts and figures that verify claims of "sweetheart deals" that have significantly decreased the city's tax base. I'm always truly delighted to listen to authentic facts and figures; less so rumors and suspicions.Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07860208585189661470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-40406087230384998642015-10-27T09:29:11.223-04:002015-10-27T09:29:11.223-04:00To Scout, I wonder how many billions upon billions...To Scout, I wonder how many billions upon billions of dollars in tax abatement and sweetheart land development deals have been given to the likes of Silverman, Brookfield, Helmsley, Trump etc. over the recent development boom. Tax dollars that would have (could have) significantly limited the property tax increases that you mention, tax dollars that are legitimately owned by all citizens of NYC, but given away by elected city officials to special interests who happen to have close relationships to the seats of power. There's a start, no more special tax deals to developers. If tenets have to pay full price, so should developers. Believe me, NJ & Ct. are not the next NYC ! rongeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01566865793728147959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-70707374688292012192015-10-27T08:36:41.071-04:002015-10-27T08:36:41.071-04:00The sentiments expressed above are well-meant, but...The sentiments expressed above are well-meant, but the enormous fact that is ignored is this: if the city were to reduce rents for all small businesses, the owners of the buildings in which they are housed will be hard pressed to pay their property taxes. Most small buildings in the city are owned by individuals, not huge corporations like Silverstein, Brookfield, or Helmsley. And those small building owners, despite the suspicions of conspiracy theorists, are not getting rich.<br /><br />So what do you do to keep small building owners from having their property repossessed by the banks or the city for default on property taxes? Lower the taxes on small buildings? Then who will pay for the city's infrastructure and social services? Where is that missing money to come out of the budget? Schools? Roads? Homeless shelters?<br /><br />Some conspiracy theorists will then say, "Raise the taxes on big businesses!," forgetting that New Jersey and Connecticut will welcome those businesses with open arms and lower taxes when they flee NYC. This is what happened when NYC almost went bankrupt in the 70s (most people don't remember back that far).<br /><br />Before shouting your complaints, it's always best to be prepared to offer a truly viable alternative economical plan, otherwise, the city will simply ignore you, no matter who loudly you vociferate. Preparing that economical plan will take a lot more time and work than just shouting, but it'll be received with much more respect.<br /><br />The person who can come up with that plan is the one who will really be the hero or heroine who will save NYC's small businesses. Anyone can raise awareness; it's the rare achiever who can actually do something.Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07860208585189661470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-33178891530962613802015-10-26T23:56:00.087-04:002015-10-26T23:56:00.087-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16018698439789288968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-66237327294053951702015-10-26T23:54:53.263-04:002015-10-26T23:54:53.263-04:00It's not the Mayor's/Deputy Mayor's jo...It's not the Mayor's/Deputy Mayor's job to protect local merchants and the people who live and work in our neighborhoods? It's become upside-down world. <br /><br />Thanks for challenging them Jeremiah.zuzuzpetalshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020314595485087690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-73289802427528948132015-10-26T23:30:45.496-04:002015-10-26T23:30:45.496-04:00You can add "Allied Builders" Hardware a...You can add "Allied Builders" Hardware and Paint, 59 Second Ave. to the list of mom & pop businesses that are in the process of closing. The building was recently sold to a new landlord, who thought it would be okay to triple the current rent of the commercial space to $26,000 a month. Allied has been serving the hardware & paint needs of the lower East side community since 1982. rongeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01566865793728147959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-43071919950408353312015-10-26T22:14:12.936-04:002015-10-26T22:14:12.936-04:00I would like this same question asked to DeBlasio ...I would like this same question asked to DeBlasio and the City Council. Are there any advocates for this idea that have come out in support? Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04362859175287085919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-85205364779809428332015-10-26T20:57:28.117-04:002015-10-26T20:57:28.117-04:00Excuse you, madam, I live in Crown Heights. We hav...Excuse you, madam, I live in Crown Heights. We have a Rite Aid and that one is plenty thank you. I'd prefer to go to the independent pharmacy. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07727548467558452045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-55502838541782274302015-10-26T20:13:46.905-04:002015-10-26T20:13:46.905-04:00The City's real estate taxes are going up just...The City's real estate taxes are going up just as fast as the rents. R/E taxes make it hard to keep mom and pops at affordable rents.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05867426763761141442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-88027738950159620202015-10-26T13:15:11.260-04:002015-10-26T13:15:11.260-04:00How depressing that this woman is our Deputy Mayor...How depressing that this woman is our Deputy Mayor. And how utterly pathetic that these are her actual views. <br /><br />What are our community boards and city council members doing? We're about to lose any teeth remaining in our landmark laws, we have more homeless, we have greater wealth inequality here in Chelsea than almost anywhere in the country (the numbers make us look like Mumbai), while our politicians and representatives continue to throw the middle class to the side in their desperate desire to pander to wealthy developers and corporations.<br /><br />It is incredibly sad to start agreeing with the old right-wing adage that government isn't the solution - because it is indeed increasingly clear, at least to me, that it's a huge part of the problem.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03895267154977126113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-41528255776851913592015-10-26T12:29:07.192-04:002015-10-26T12:29:07.192-04:00Obviously, the solution is....
N E V E R G I V E...Obviously, the solution is....<br /><br />N E V E R G I V E U P ! ! !<br /><br />SOMEtimes, common sense wins.....but 'ya gotta keep hammerin' at them until they WAKE UP! <br />I know it ain't easy, and most times not much fun, but we can stand this issue on its head as long as we NEVER SAY DIE!<br /><br />Keep on chooglin' everybody!DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.com