Tag Archives: economy

On Brighton Beach: Here’s what we learned

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The goal: To find out what both native Brighton Beachers and visitors feel about the area’s increasing commercialization. The result: A mixed bag.

Brighton Beach Avenue, the neighborhood's main shopping center. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Violette79.

I asked a few pointed questions about the changing economy in Brighton: What’s your favorite local business? What’s your reason for visiting Brighton Beach (i.e., beach, Russian culture and food, etc.)? Would you still want to visit the area if it lost its unique “flavor”? In the end, ten people participated. Publicizing the post on Facebook – on both my wall and the walls of groups dedicated to Brighton – garnered me the most responses, though I also put it up on Twitter. Unfortunately, I don’t think I got any Brighton natives, and only three respondents had ever actually visited there before. So the information I got from this survey were more theoretical than practical, though still useful because they all pointed to one definite feeling: That Brighton Beach completely loses its appeal if it’s all chain stores and no more Russian mom-and-pop shops.

My favorite comment – which really sums up the general mood of the respondents – was from the person who said, “Why visit a place that’s lost its character?”

Going forward, if I were to do another survey like this, I’d obviously have to change my methods somewhat, though I’m not sure how. More aggressive marketing, maybe? I noticed that there was a spike in the number of responses for the hour or two after I re-posted the survey link on Facebook or Twitter – and then they’d drop off completely. An interesting commentary on how fast life moves online!

 

 

Bow making in tough times

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Nick Caraccio examines the tip of a bow he's making. The production of a new bow from scratch takes about one week. Photo by Jenny Marc

Nick Caraccio has been making and repairing violin bows for over thirty years. Although he makes bows for string instruments, he rarely touches his cello, and prefers the saxophone instead.

He works in a one room studio on the Upper West Side that sees anywhere from zero to seven customers a day. Despite a flailing economy, Nick has been getting by, working six days a week to make ends meet.

[audio:http://cdn.journalism.cuny.edu/blogs.dir/383/files/2011/10/NICK-FINAL-11.mp3|titles=Listen to Nick Caraccio]

Job-talk in Zuccotti Park

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Diverse in ideology and demands, many occupiers of Wall Street agree that jobs and the economy are central issues of their movement.

Protesters have gathered in Zuccotti Park for the last 26 days to express frustrations over a variety of ideas.  Jobs and the economy have been hot topics of conversation amongst the occupiers.

Photo by Alex Robinson

“10 years ago you could select what company you wanted to work for and find a job very easily. Now you have to be on a list and send out 300 resumes without any promise of employment,” said Carlos Cabrera, a 34-year-old Brooklyn man who has been at the protest since its first day, September 17.

Cabrera was a paramedic for 12 years before losing his job. He has been unemployed for the last year and a half. Cabrera said that he has considered going back to school to rebrand himself, but it would put him in debt.

Sharon Kennedy, 62, a retired attorney for the state’s court system attended the protest for the first time today.

“Two of my three children are having trouble finding work. One has actually had to go to Korea to teach English for a couple years because he couldn’t find a job when he got out of college, so there’s a very direct impact on our family,” she said.

Kennedy attributes Occupy Wall Street to the recession and unemployment. She said that the recent economic downturn highlighted the long-standing social inequalities of the country.

“I’m here to express my support for the jobs bill because I think that it will create jobs and reduce some of the income inequity by making the wealthy pay more of their fair share then they do now,” she said.

Attack of the Big Bad Businesses

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Brighton Beach, Brooklyn is equally renowned for its boardwalk and its borscht. But now, one of those claims to fame is in jeopardy.

Shoppers on Brighton Beach Avenue. Photo courtesy of Flickr member Axel Drainville.

Small, family-run operations – like the dozens of beachfront restaurants specializing in Russian and Ukrainian cuisine – have dominated the Brighton Beach economy for over 50 years. In fact, according to a report released in July by the state comptroller’s office, an astounding 88 percent of the Greater Coney Island area’s businesses have fewer than 10 employees. But in the last few years, residents have seen a marked increase in the number of national chains moving into the neighborhood. Walk down Brighton Beach Avenue, the fifteen-block heart of Brighton’s retail scene, and you’ll see half a dozen wireless stores, and nearly twice as many large banks. (And if those numbers sound excessive to you, check out the “All Shops” listing on the Brighton Beach BID website for proof.)

The takeover by AT&T and Bank of America has come at the expense of the independent shops that give Brighton Beach its unique flavor. “Every month, you see one big company come in, and three or four little guys close down,” said one staffer in the comptroller’s office – himself a longtime Brighton Beach resident. Some Brighton Beachers suspect that the forcing out of local businesses is a form of spillover gentrification from neighboring Coney Island, which has been battling its own redevelopment issues for some time.

If the big bad businesses continue to take over in Brighton Beach, pushing out the family-owned Russian bookstores, markets, and cafes, will the neighborhood lose its appeal as a tourist destination? Take the survey, and let us know what you think.

Social Media Diary

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  • On September 22nd, I posted my question on Twitter and linked to my blog post in the following tweet:

Tweet

I used the hashtags #USPS, #postoffice, #SouthBronx, #Bronx, and #jobs as they seemed like they were the most relevant that would garner the most amount of hits.  I however failed in attracting any response.

After I didn’t receive any reply to this either, I started to wonder if there were better hashtags for the Bronx and the South Bronx, and found out that people use #bx as a Bronx hashtag.

I tried using some other hashtags, and rephrasing my query in order to attract possibly business owners in the South Bronx.  I still did not unfortunately receive any response. Because so much of the South Bronx’s population is living under the poverty line, I think it is safe to assume that a lot of them have very limited internet access. A lot of the unemployed people of the South Bronx (who are the people who I am most interested in speaking with, in all likely-hood do not peruse Twitter).

  • On October 5th, I posted the following on Flickr to promote my question and blog post:

I posted my question and link in the description of the photo, and added relevant tags (Melrose, South Bronx, Post Office, USPS…).

No Youth Jobs = Violence ?

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Ten days after 18-year-old basketball star Tayshana Murphy was gunned down in Harlem, the two young men allegedly responsible for her murder are in police custody, officials said Wednesday.

Despite a visible police presence in Harlem, youth violence has spiked in the past few years. (Photo: Sarah M. Kazadi)

As Murphy’s family mourns, her killing has shed light on the steady rise in youth violence and gang related crimes in the area. East Harlem community leaders say the surge could be largely attributed to the lack of jobs, and initiatives to create more opportunities for youth employment are underway.

Harlem hasn’t been spared from the job market’s downward slant. With overall unemployment in the area almost doubling the national rate, the youth labor force – falling between the ages of 16 and 24 – is also feeling the blow. The National Urban League reports that youth unemployment among minorities, who make up a large chunk of East Harlem’s population, hovers around 39 percent.

The high unemployment rate has coincided with the recent spike in youth violence, and community leaders have tied the two trends. Raichelle Thompson, a 21-year-old lifelong East Harlem resident, said youth violence in her neighborhood is at an all time peak. “The younger the group, the more deaths. Kids with guns and no diplomas, it’s really crazy out here,” she said.

At a community board meeting in February, East Harlem police said gang violence was their toughest challenge, and that gang members ranged from 13 to 21 years old. There are about 24 active youth gangs spanning Harlem, according to a DNAinfo report, some even using social websites like YouTube to taunt each other.

Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito established the El Barrio/East Harlem Youth Task Force in response to the alarming numbers, organizing events on youth violence and putting an emphasis on youth jobs. Congressman Charles Rangel has teamed with other local elected officials and the NUL to gain support for the Urban Jobs Act, which promises to “provide critical resources for non-profit groups to prepare at-risk youth for new employment and educational opportunities.”

With the initiatives freshly under way, it will be a while before we can determine whether they can create more youth jobs and slow down youth violence. Percentage wise, how much do you think the lack of jobs is to blame for the spike in violent youth crimes? What other factors should be addressed to stop the trend in communities like Harlem?

So you want to be a restaurant manager

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The "Jobs Act" shall support small businesses. (Photo: meironke/flickr)

 

Since you first moved to New York City, you’ve been dreaming of your own little restaurant. Last week, Obama announced payroll tax cuts for small businesses as a part of his “Jobs Act” and you decided to take your chances. But before you start writing your menus now, there are some things you should know.

Continue reading →

From Washington DC to New York City, Politicians Talk Jobs Jobs Jobs.

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After the Bureau of Labour Statistics released disheartening unemployment numbers, the country’s political arena was full of job-talk this week, as politicians attempted to calm job-market panic:

  • Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced $180,000 worth of grants for small businesses on Tuesday. He declared that the city’s number-1 priority is to create jobs, reported WNYC. The Department of Small Business Services will give this round of grants to four businesses. After unpopular budget cuts this summer that resulted in 777 school employees losing their jobs, Bloomberg hopes that the grants will provide spark to New York City’s job-market.
  • In what was seen by some as a referendum on President Obama’s ability to handle the country’s economic woes, Bob Turner (R) won the race to replace ex-Rep Anthony Weiner, reports the New York Times. Turner beat David Weprin (D), in a tightly contended race that ended on Tuesday. “We seek leadership and direction in returning prosperity and finding jobs for the people of this district,“ said the congressman-elect in his victory speech. Jobs and the faltering economy were central issues in a race that saw District 9 elect their first Republican to congress since 1923.

  • Obama proposed his new Jobs Act to congress last Thursday, in the hopes to stimulate the country’s stagnant job-market. If passed by congress, the bill would provide tax cuts for small business owners as well as a number of spending measures. Obama has said that the $447 billion bill would be funded by deficit reduction measures determined by the Joint Congressional Committee.

New York’s Fashion Week Economic Stimulus Plan

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For the past week, New York City’s streets have been crammed – even more than usual – with turned-out girls navigating subway grates on skinny stiletto heels and young fashion students smoking self-consciously outside of Parsons. Fashion Week seems like a la-la land of $1,000-a-yard fabrics and supermodels who won’t get out of bed for less than a hundred grand, but it has a surprisingly concrete and important effect on the city’s economy.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg christen "The Fashion Line" - a.k.a. the 66th Street subway station - in honor of Fashion Week 2011

Here’s how:

  • ŸFashion is the second biggest industry in New York City. There are over 900 “fashion-related” businesses in NYC, from design houses to fabric stores to tailoring shops, adding up to a staggering $10 billion that funnels into the greater U.S. economy. And the annual Fashion’s Night Out shopping extravaganza – now in its fourth year – provides both a financial and a morale boost.
  • ŸRestaurants in Lincoln Square – where most of the runway shows are held – get a cash infusion to the tune of nearly $10 million during Fashion Week, according to a Fordham University Graduate School of Business study.
  • High-end brands have started creating lines at lower price points – like the recent Missoni for Target collaboration – to win back the consumers they’ve lost in these difficult economic times. The result: “Black Friday”-like mobs at stores and a crashed website. Guess that encouraged people to start shopping again!
  • In this video from Reuters, designers – including former “Project Runway” winner Christian Siriano, who has created several sellout accessory lines for Payless – explain how they’ve adjusted to the current economy. 

 

Being customer-friendly in a cool economy

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New York City economy growth is still slow. The unemployment rate in the city is 8.8%. The state offers a self-employment-assistance program, which provides jobless people funds and training to start their business. But the Big Apple continue to struggle with entrepreneurial activity constraints and sluggish consumer spending. The proof is the weakened demand in business loans in the New York City.

On the last week of August, financial recovery was hampered by hurricane Irene. In the summary of U.S. Federal Reserve September Beige Book edited by Bloomberg, it is stated that storm evacuations produced retail disruptions. So they may have worsened the early August trend of the slight downturn in consumer activity.

The New York Times examines fears of double-dip recession. Companies In the quest for ways to increase customer retention and satisfaction companies try out new ways to engage their clients.

Vertro Inc. launched an app that is aimed to destress people returning their purchases. The app notifies users when cash back is available.

Tech-friendly businesses could profit from using geolocation services to find customers.

They not only help to connect with potential buyers, but also boost loyalty of the existent clientele.

Social media interaction is another tool to develop productive relationship with customers. Listening to their feedback could get ideas for new products and create a personal connection to products.

While some prefer new technologies to improve customer loyalty, Saks Fifth Avenue still relies on a tried-and-true method. A letter delivered in a mailbox.