We need retail rent control
To The Editor:
Re “Finding solutions to save our small businesses” (editorial, Feb. 26):
I’ve listened to the excuses about why we cannot have commercial rent control while I’ve watched the East Village/Lower East Side disappear under tall glass towers and luxury venues.
Sweet 14 grew out of the early efforts to save the small stores along E. 14th St. that were facing huge rent increases. Little came out of that effort other than expensive architects touting the gateway to the East Side, and useless small signs above some small businesses on 14th St. between Second and Third Aves.
Unfortunately, the real result was even larger rent increases to the stores at the end of their leases.
The state said the city had to pass legislation to enact commercial rent control. The city said the state had to enable it.
Business owners are not organizers, but when the Small Business Task Force came about, there actually were small businesses involved. After the task force’s good efforts but a lack of success, it too faded away.
As long as commercial rents are unregulated and landlords can ask for exorbitant increases at the end of leases, mom-and-pops and small stores cannot exist.
Even those merchants that own their buildings are lured to sell out by the large amounts they are offered for their buildings — sometimes much, much more than they could earn.
Susan Leelike
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