NY & Clean Transportation

Environment, ,

Clean transportation has become a priority in NY. Several programs encourage clean transportation:

  • Evolve NY is a $250 million electric vehicle expansion program that will help accelerate NY’s goal to launch 10,000 electronic vehicle charging stations by 2021.
  • The Drive Clean Rebate Program gives NY residents a rebate of approximately $2,000 for the purchase of a new hybrid or electric car from participating car dealers
  • Other incentives include discounts on toll charges for drivers who carpool using NY EZ Pass, also known as the Carpool or Green Pass Plan
  • As an alternative to driving, consumers are encouraged to bike to work. In NYC, Citibike has 12,000 rental bikes available in 60 neighborhoods.

By committing to change, clean transportation can become a reality.

Making Money in New York

Employment,

While people believe that living in New York can be crippling due to its expense, a recent article in Work at Home Adventures presented the Top 12 Ways to Earn Money Fast in New York City.

If you’re fascinated by the hype and pace of NYC, why not remove your clothes and become an art model?  Making between $20-30 an hour there seems to be no shortage of opportunities for those comfortable in their bodies and “unafraid to pose in front of strangers.”

Mike Brassfield wrote a similar article on his Penny Hoarder blog. He presented money making options including dry cleaning delivery, Lyft/Uper driving, Airbnb rental and work from home positions through reputable ZipRecruiter.

UK-US International Trade Day

Economy, , , ,

Hosted by Her Majesty, Dr. Liam Fox, the UK-US International Trade Day took place earlier this week, 22 October on the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth HMS. A few days before the event, “US Treasury Secretary, Robert Lighthizer, announced that the US intends to begin negotiations towards a UK-US Free Trade Agreement after the UK leaves the European Union.”

At the event, the Department for International Trade (DIT) set up a roundtable giving a various top cyber companies from the UK (including: Garrison, iProov and Tessian) an opportunity to present their technology and software to US Fortune 500 companies.  The goal of this is to create new deals.

The event was exceedingly important for both countries, as Dr. Fox explained:

“The United States is one of our closest allies, our largest single bilateral trading partner and we will see that bond continue to strengthen as we leave the European Union. This ‘trade day’ will see some of the UK’s most innovative businesses meeting their US counterparts as we continue to combat growing overseas cyber threats together. My international economic department is currently consulting on the potential of a future free trade agreement with the US, and I would strongly encourage British businesses and the public to make the most of this opportunity to share their thoughts on what this deal should include.”

Another goal of the event was to work together to fight against international cyber attacks.

 

Mom and Pop Stores: Do They Exist in NY?

Architecture, Real Estate,

It’s common knowledge that small, individually owned businesses—affectionately named “mom and pop shops”—have been replaced by large franchises.

New York, like many big cities, has experienced this trend. Rising real estate costs have driven out many small business owners. As these stores vanish, they often take personal histories with them.

One NY couple, Karla and James Murray, have been documenting this evolution through a project titled Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York City. This couple have compiled pictures and interviews of mom and pop stores since the 1990s.

“And sadly in 2018, it’s over 80 percent that are closed now that are included in the book,” Karla says sadly.

The couple have also created a sculptural installation of mom and pop stores inside Seward Park in NYC.

Other New Yorkers, who develop friendly connections with personnel at larger chain stores, are unfazed by this phenomenon. “Some franchising gets a bad rap, but that person is still a small-business owner,” said John Armstrong, the owner of the franchising consulting firm FranNet of New York City. “They’re still putting in their capital, time and effort — they’re just going a different route.”

New York Rentals

News, , ,

Between 1945-63, there were commercial rent controls in the city of New York.  That has long gone so how are small businesses in the region meant to thrive? Indeed, in 2016 Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce member Patricia Dorfman said:

“It feels as though a great tsunami is coming towards us: big real estate dominating the city. You’re talking about life rafts and water wings when a tsunami is coming.”

So what plans are there to rectify this?  At the end of next month the plan is for a hearing to be held on the Small Business Jobs Survival Act (SBJSA), a Bill sponsored by Ydanis Rodriguez.  Should it come to fruition it would mean landlords would have to give commercial tenants 180 days before lease expiration on whether it will be renewed and if not, provide a “valid legal reason.”  A 10 year lease could also be offered, thus putting tenants in a more powerful position to “demand arbitration if they believe the rent increase is too much.”

According to Friends of SBJSA member David Eisenbach there is “extreme optimism that the essential principles of the bill will remain intact.”

It is hoped that the hearing will provide an opportunity for policymakers to hear real stories about the closing of small businesses in New York City due to lack of control over rent increases.

Before getting too excited though, according to a recent article in The Real Deal by David Jeans, the law: “would not stand up in court…lacks legal grounding and has been proposed several times in the past.”  It would also cause “inconsistencies with state law.”

Can You Afford to Live in NYC?

Economy, ,

A recent report from SmartAsset showed that those living in a 2 bedroom New York apartment need to make $164,614 per annum.  Median Manhattan rentals are $3,450 and the median cost of buying is $1,315,700.  While that figure has dropped 1.0 percent in the last year it is estimated that it will increase 2.5% within the following year.

So it’s not cheap to live in New York.  However, jobs in the city are generally high paying.  Indeed, according to recent analysis from Ladders, New York has the second highest number of six figure jobs.  As well, companies around the world offer high salaries to people who will work for them and live in New York.

So can someone like 32 year old Alicia Kennedy — a freelancer NYC food blogger — make it in NYC?  Three years ago when she first went freelance (having left a steady copy editor position at New York Magazine), the $5,000 tax bill was quite a surprise.  She’d miscalculated at $3,000.  Anyway this is how she makes it.  She spends:

  1. $1,000 on rent
  2. $1,000 on food (don’t forget she’s a food blogger)
  3. $250 monthly student loan repayments
  4. $150 on phone
  5. $15 on gym
  6. $150 in a monthly savings account.
  7. $200 miscellaneous (incl. transportation, charitable donations, credit card, leisure).

So Alicia is successfully living in NYC even though she’s far from a six figure salary!