Gowanus Lounge: Serving Brooklyn

On the Sofa, Daily Edition

July 16th, 2008 · 2 Comments

“The familial piece of the story makes this more complicated. But the issue of soaring rents and closing businesses is a common and troubling one throughout the borough (and beyond). After the initial sadness of these closings fade, many are left wanting recourse, action. Is there room for public suasion in this case– and, indeed, for the other similar cases of equally beloved businesses that will inevitably come? Can we write and petition the landlords? Or, long term, ask our electeds to tackle this complicated but serious threat to local living economies? Many of us are not against change, nor blind to the exigencies of the market— but I would like to think that together, consumers and neighbors can unite to try to shape the fate of their neighborhoods. A consumer republic—something. If someone wants to join me and write a petition urging the landlord toward alternatives, maybe GL can convene a citizens corner for just that. I am game to stand on the sidewalk of this store and get signatures…”–Park Slope Losing Last Butcher Shop: A&S Pork May be Smoked

Tags: On the Sofa · Park Slope

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 mod squad // Jul 16, 2008 at 9:38 am

    I think its called “voting with your wallet”. Its pretty much the way things have been and its been responsible for a lot of changes that have benefited neighborhoods. This is not rocket science. I don’t understand the constant need to “reinvent the wheel”. What do you propose, a committee be formed? Should it be made up of hippies, hipsters, lesbians, transgenders, and what about race and class. In this particular case the people who are the most upset are the very people who have caused the problem. Will your committee or petition judge each endangered business worthy or unworthy?

  • 2 Disappointed // Jul 17, 2008 at 12:47 am

    Yes, we should petition or write letters or do something. It’s no longer a “neighborhood” when we let things like this happen. And maybe we should “vote with our wallets” and boycott new establishments? Sucks to punish the new biz when the landlords deserve the shaft.