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COMMUNITY OP-ED DECEMBER 01, 2023 | The Indian Eye 12

Saying “Yes” to New Zoning, New

Businesses, and New Opportunities

The “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity” initiative includes plans to foster vibrant
neighborhoods with more kinds of businesses in more kinds of places

ERIC ADAMS

ast month, New York City hit
an economic milestone, with
Lmore total jobs than ever be-
fore in our city’s history. Our admin-
istration is proud of the work we have
done to ensure our economy has made
a full recovery — and we are deter-
mined to keep working to create jobs
and opportunity for all New Yorkers.
Our “City of Yes for Economic This plan will also address the ongoing issue of vacant storefronts in our city, getting more of them re-rented and re-activated by loosening
Opportunity” proposal is one of the rules about which types of businesses can locate where (File photo)
many ways we are aiming to create
new pathways to prosperity. We are
seeing transformative changes in ic Opportunity” initiative includes existed 60 years ago, and our pro- and nightlife sector, the life sciences,
how we live and work, and our city’s plans to foster vibrant neighbor- posal will update these rules to al- film production, urban agriculture,
rules and regulations must adapt hoods with more kinds of businesses low businesses to grow in New York, and more.
to these new realities — especially in more kinds of places. For exam- providing good-paying jobs for New From food to fashion to tech
when it comes to antiquated zoning ple, our plan would allow a success- Yorkers. Our plan will modernize and art, these small and specific
laws from decades ago. Rules that ful bakery to expand closer to your regulations for New Yorkers who changes will have an outsized impact
made sense in the days of the rota- neighborhood, rather than having to want to run a business from their on our economy. This new way of do-
ry telephone are getting in the way move to a different area zoned for home and set new standards for us- ing things will create a new and more
of doing business in the age of the heavy manufacturing and away from ing existing buildings in new ways, collaborative culture going forward
smartphone. customers who would benefit most something that is clearly a priority — one where city government is a
We recently kicked off the pub- from having that business nearby. with the rise of remote work. partner working to streamline solu-
lic review process for this ambitious The plan is also the largest ini- This plan will also address the tions, not an obstacle to be overcome.
proposal to advance 18 essential tiative to support industrial jobs ongoing issue of vacant storefronts That is what being a City of Yes
changes to our citywide zoning code and businesses in the history of New in our city, getting more of them is all about. Yes, to new businesses,
that will boost our economic recov- York’s zoning, including by making re-rented and re-activated by loos- new industries, and new ideas. Yes,
ery, help New Yorkers access goods more space available for small-scale ening rules about which types of to new housing and opportunity. Yes,
and services in their neighborhood, clean manufacturing — including de- businesses can locate where, and by to change and creativity. And yes, to
and make it easier to expand or start signers, retailers, artists, craftspeople, modifying a counterproductive regu- ensuring that New York remains a
new businesses. Over the next sever- and makers of all kinds — and cre- lation that prevents some storefronts place where you can put your ideas
al months, all New Yorkers will have ating new zoning tools for industrial from being reoccupied if they are va- into action and succeed.
the chance to learn about this pro- businesses. cant for more than two years.
posal and make their voices heard. The current zoning was craft- We are also upgrading and re- Eric Adams is
The “City of Yes for Econom- ed for the industrial businesses that forming zoning to support our café the Mayor of New York City, NY

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