Page 10 - The Indian EYE 121225

Community Op-ED DECEMBER 12, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

New York is a Big City

of Small Businesses

Last year, during a single day — Black Friday — over 1 million people visited Manhattan retail hubs like
Bryant Park, Times Square, and SoHo alone. Retail hubs like Jamaica and Flushing in Queens, Fordham Road

in the Bronx, and Metrotech in Brooklyn, all saw year-over-year increases in foot traffic on Black Friday as well

ERIC ADAMS

ew York City is a big city of
small businesses — mom
Nand pop shops, bodegas,
food trucks, restaurants, and more
— and there’s no better time for our
businesses to shine than the holiday
season. The holiday season adds
$500 million to the city’s economy
through increased spending and
foot traffic — and this goes back
into New Yorkers’ pockets, making
the city more affordable for working
people.
Last year, during a single day — Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy and the heart of our communities. They support families and help the many diverse neigh-
Black Friday — over 1 million peo-
ple visited Manhattan retail hubs borhoods across our five boroughs thrive (File photo)
like Bryant Park, Times Square, and
SoHo alone. Retail hubs like Jamai- er and more livable, we are now in than $350 million in financing to fines, we’ve saved small businesses
ca and Flushing in Queens, Fordham the eighth straight quarter of crime small business owners and entrepre- over $70 million.
Road in the Bronx, and Metrotech declines and New York City now neurs since we came into office less Small businesses are the corner-
in Brooklyn, all saw year-over-year has the most small businesses in our than four years ago. stone of our economy and the heart
increases in foot traffic on Black Fri- city’s history. Today, more than one in four of our communities. They support
day as well. Additionally, since the start of businesses operating in New York families and help the many diverse
This data also underscores the 2024, more than 16,000 New York- City were created under our admin- neighborhoods across our five bor-
importance of the holiday shopping ers have attended a Jobs NYC Hir- istration. In January 2022, as one of oughs thrive. I encourage every New
season for our city’s tourism sector. ing Hall, which has resulted in more my first actions as mayor, I signed the Yorker to go out and support your
On Black Friday 2024, two-thirds of than 5,000 on-site interviews and “Small Business Forward” Executive neighborhood stores and spend lo-
Times Square over 2,000 conditional job offers. Order to save small businesses an es- cally.
visitors were from outside the And since we know financing and ac- timated $8.9 million in reduced fines New York City is where dreams
city and roughly half were from out- cessing capital is crucial to the suc- and advanced an education-first ap- are made, and we want every small
side the metro area. It should come cess of small businesses, our NYC proach to help small businesses sur- business to get their slice of that
as no surprise that New York City Small Business Opportunity Fund vive. When you combine our efforts dream and deliver opportunity for
retains its appeal as a global holiday has awarded more than $85 million to cut red tape with our NYC Busi- the working-class people of our city.
destination. in capital to 1,000 small businesses ness Express Service Team’s work
Thanks to steps our administra- since launching in 2023. In total, our helping small businesses navigate Eric Adams is the Mayor of
tion has taken to make our city saf- administration has facilitated more city bureaucracy and avoid fees and New York City, NY

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