New York – In an effort to gauge the impact of the recession on small businesses throughout his district, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) conducted an informal, door-to-door survey of close to 100 stores in Flatbush and 142 businesses in Borough Park over a two-month period.
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A sampling of store owners answered the following four questions:
1. How has your business been performing this year relative to previous years?
2. What obstacles do you feel are in the way of your business’ expansion?
3. Are there any particular local laws or policies you feel negatively affect your business?
4. What solutions do you feel could be implemented to help your business thrive?
The findings revealed that virtually every small business surveyed, from restaurants to clothing stores, and even funeral homes have experienced a decline in business since the recession began in late 2008. Some business owners even indicated that business was worse this year compared to last year.
Interestingly, supermarkets, as well as specialty shops such as card shops or maternity clothing stores seemed to be less affected by the recession.
Stores which sell luxury items like jewelry or silver were the most severely impacted by the economic downturn. The degree to which businesses suffered did vary slightly depending on where the store was situated. Overall, owners were pessimistic about the future of their business, and named a decrease in consumer spending as an obstacle to the growth of their business. Other obstacles which were identified by store owners included inadequate parking, overzealous enforcement by parking and sanitation agents, and insufficient funding for advertising.
“I plan on doing everything I can to assist the struggling business in my district,” said Hikind. “We are currently working on a number of initiatives to aid small businesses and revitalize those which have been hit particularly hard by the recession.”
Hikind is currently looking into the possibility of a merchant’s association, as well as implementing Project Sweep, a program which cleans the sidewalks outside of businesses twice a day for a small fee. If a merchant receives a sanitation ticket while enrolled in the program, the ticket is paid for by Project Sweep.
“It is essential that we, as a community, commit to helping one another during these difficult times,” Hikind remarked. “Through our joint efforts, I am confident we can stimulate economic growth throughout the district.”
Dov: Maybe if you and your colleagues would stop voting for all these subsidy programs and giveaways to your favorites mosdos (aka pork barrel projects), small businesses would not have to pay such high real estate and income taxes and workers compensation taxes.
mabey ask govener for more money???
Dov if you can have the DOT not issue so many tickets on 13th ave. maybe i will reconsider shopping locally…
Everyone keeps saying that the Mayor is running the city like a business. So by raising taxes, fees, summons, penalties, water bills, transportation costs, etc. that makes him a great businessman?
What he has actually done is, he is competing with me for the same dollar for his business as I am for my business and guess what, he wins because the City gets paid first….. the City will always get paid first. Which leaves all other businesses to deal with the lost revenues which are going to Meglo Mike and the City of NY.
My Friends, our Mayor has singlehandedly created a mini socialist City where we work to pay the local government so they can spend like drunken sailors and take care of his own.
Shame on you Mr. Mayor, you nickel and dime us to death and expect us to thank you when you’re done. It may be a game of monopoly to you, but it isn’t for everyone.
In Flatbush, the small stores stay in business about a year and a half and then they are forced out most of the times because of the landlords because they raise the rents, and they cannot afford the higher rents. Just rent, taxes, utilites, and then you pray that the customers will come throught he doors– they cannot make it!!
nothing to do by recession its just everything is half the price on the internet compared to stores on 13th avenue
This is a very interesting survey. Kudos to mr. hikind and his staff for taking the initiative.
If the DOT would stop giving tickets on 13th avenue then driving there would become even more impossible. As it is too many people double park, stop to shmooze and are inconsiderate of others.