Neil A. Carousso produces NewsNation original “Kurt’s Country” – a celebration of country music and a slice of Americana with host Kurt Bardella.
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New Businesses Flock to Flatiron District as BID Expands in January
By Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The Flatiron District is seeing growing interest from a variety of new companies looking to set up shop in New York.
In total, 70 businesses have expressed interest or signed new leases since July 2020, according to the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership.
“We’ve seen a continuing trend of tech, media/info organizations,” said Executive Director James Mettham. “We’ve also seen the start of a life science hub on Park Avenue South, which was invested in before the pandemic. It’s all towards this diversifying of the economy and strengthening our neighborhoods.”
Mettham told Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight, sponsored by Dime Community Bank, that the business improvement district (BID) is stronger 20 months after the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York because it is no longer relying on one type of tenant or industry for the viability of its neighborhoods.
“We’re not a one industry town anymore,” he said.
Office occupancies in the Flatiron District are about 30 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The Delta wave pumped the breaks on the return to the office this fall. Now, the target is early next year for many companies.
“You have a lot of people, employees, that have found a way to make the most of working from their homes and are comfortable in doing that. At the same time, I think everyone sees the value in coming back together in a creative environment that’s not just confined to the walls that you’re in, but just, the air that you breathe in a neighborhood like Flatiron and NoMad where there’s just an abundance of like-minded organizations/companies that are the future of the kind of the digital economy,” said Mettham.
The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership is nearly doubling its footprint in January after the New York City Council approved their expansion proposal to cover 20th Street, the Sixth Avenue gateway to the district, and more of NoMad.
“The core quality of life work that we bring to the table, and actually, to set the table for more vibrancy through commercial and business growth will be brought to the streets inside of NoMad,” said Mettham, continuing, “That means there are supplemental cleaning services, that means there are public safety officers on the beat working with our city agencies, homeless outreach as well, and then, marketing, concerted marketing and district promotions for the business community that resides in this greater footprint.”
The New York business leader noted the Flatiron District’s Instagram page that promotes local businesses has grown above 27,000 followers.
BIDs play an important role in supporting local businesses, and in Mettham’s words, “uplifting” families and communities. They can be a great resource for business owners when considering renting, expanding or finding new clients in specific neighborhoods. The Flatiron BID executive director told WCBS 880 he takes a hyperlocal approach to economic development.
“With jobs, with business entrepreneurship, innovation, mixed in with important public realm improvements like our NoMad Piazza and our slow streets on 23rd and 21st and Broadway – all of that comes together and creates a special mix where commerce can grow and people – as we’ve seen in New York City over the past two decades – want to live, work, and play, and visit,” Mettham said.
Watch the WCBS Small Business Spotlight video above for more on how the Flatiron District is rebuilding for the post-pandemic future.
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880 Weekly Rewind: Vaccinating Kids and Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day
Produced by Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Doctors are hopeful vaccinating kids against COVID-19 will make a significant dent in fighting the pandemic.
On The 880 Weekly Rewind, Lynda Lopez asked Dr. Lee Savio Beers, M.D. questions every parent wants to know now that Pfizer’s vaccine is approved for kids ages 5-11, including about symptoms and efficacy.
Also on Rewind, CBS Evening News Anchor and Managing Editor Norah O’Donnell tells WCBS anchor Steve Scott about some remarkable stories of service that CBS News is highlighting the week of Veterans Day in their series Honoring Our Heroes. O’Donnell talks about growing up as a self-described “Army brat” and explains why stories about military families and veterans’ issues hit close to home.
Listen to The 880 Weekly Rewind Podcast for a deep dive into the top stories of the week, produced by Neil A. Carousso for WCBS-AM New York.
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Elections Indicate a Changing Political Landscape; Corporate COVID Vaccine Mandate Could Cause Workforce Disruptions
By Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia surprised pollsters and political pundits and indicate a shift ahead of next year’s consequential midterms.
The 880 Weekly Rewind examines those close races. Plus, Lynda Lopez interviews New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams and presses him on his campaign promise to mandate school kids be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Neil A. Carousso talks to David Lewis, human resources expert and CEO of OperationsInc – an HR consulting firm based in Norwalk, CT – about the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for private sector employees. Lewis is warning his clients about potential workforce disruptions if they rush to implement the mandate, which is set to take effect on January 4. He explains there will likely be legal challenges that delay the mandate’s start date.
Subscribe to The 880 Weekly Rewind Podcast for a deep dive into the top stories of the week, produced by Neil A. Carousso for WCBS-AM New York.
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New York Could be Transitioning from a Pandemic to an Endemic
By Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Epidemiologists are optimistic that COVID-19 will eventually become a seasonal threat like the flu. They credit high vaccination rates in New York for helping transition the state and most populous city to an endemic from the highly deadly pandemic that overwhelmed New York hospitals in the spring of 2020.
On The 880 Weekly Rewind, Dr. Mangala Narasimhan, critical care pulmonologist and director of critical care services at Northwell Health, told WCBS producer Neil A. Carousso that she is concerned about the potential for a twindemic this winter.
“I don’t think it’s time to completely get rid of masking; I don’t think its time to completely get rid of social distancing,” Dr. Narasimhan said of living with COVID-19.
Rewind Host Lynda Lopez also takes a deep dive into next week’s local elections, including the New York City mayoral race, New Jersey gubernatorial race and the Virginia gubernatorial race that could be a referendum on President Joe Biden’s first year in office.
Subscribe and download The 880 Weekly Rewind podcast for in-depth reporting and deeper analysis of the top stories of the week, produced by Neil A. Carousso, for WCBS-AM New York.
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Why Inoculating Kids is the Key to Driving Down U.S. COVID-19 Infections
Produced by Neil A. Carousso
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine could be approved for children as soon as next week after the company’s data showed its kid-sized dose is nearly 91 percent effective in preventing symptomatic infections.
On this week’s 880 Weekly Rewind, Lynda Lopez covers the latest developments in the pandemic fight and looks at ways to improve healthcare in communities of color.
Subscribe to The 880 Weekly Rewind podcast for in-depth reporting and deeper analysis of the top stories of the week, produced by Neil A. Carousso, for WCBS-AM New York.
