This is an issue that needs more momentum throughout New York City. All kinds of businesses, particularly the historic “mom and pop” shops are under siege. Spiraling commercial rents, burdensome city regulations and what appears to be a political desire to favor the strong over the weak have all led to the decline of local operators. One of New York City’s greatest strengths is its diversity. All races, all colors, all religions, all ethnicities all crammed into in a small area has always made our city diverse and fantastic all at once. In the not so distant past, we all knew the local barber, dry cleaner and bodega owner. Now, small businesses are becoming a thing of the past. Is this due to evolution of the times or is there more at play here?
Small businesses have always offered a connection with a neighborhood and an unparalleled sense of place. That is just one reason why people are so distressed by the recurring closures of legacy businesses. Supporting small businesses is perhaps one of the few bipartisan clichés left in politics. So why can’t we come up with measures to help and why can’t our elected leaders do something so as to no destroy the fabric of our neighborhood?
Many Local car services in NewYork have been around since the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, when the radios were taken out of the yellow taxi cabs. (Remember when you could call a taxi company and have them come pick you up in a yellow cab). While technology may have drastically changes in the past 35 years, the needs of the public for good, reliable and affordable transportation remains the same. This is even truer in the outer boroughs of NYC. What is someone to do when they live in Brooklyn or Queens, don’t live near a subway station, there are few local bus routes and need to go to the store, the doctor, the airport or just to visit a relative. They call their local car service.
Traditionally, many people in NYC have called their tried and True local car service to provide them with a well needed service that fulfills their transportation needs. All of this was always done with the smile of the local car service owner and in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, they provided a service in locations that were dangerous or not so popular to do so. These small businesses weathered the storms of 9/11, hurricanes, NYC MTA strikes and stayed open at all costs when their service was needed the most.
Now, politics seems to have taken over. The small businesses, such as the local car services, are not as powerful and well-funded as Uber and Lyft. They can’t pay for access to politicians and can’t get their views heard as easily as those big companies with money and power. Just like the demise of the old time around the corner book store when Barnes and Noble came in and wiped them out. Do you want this to happen to your Local Limousine service? Of course not. As such, you must support your local car service and continue to use them. Also, you must contact your local politician, write a letter to the governor and continue to do all you can to keep the fabric of our city as diverse as can be. Most of all, we need to continue to keep small car services alive so the public has more choices to obtain good transportation at an affordable price. If you do nothing, eventually the local car service will go the way of the small bookshop around the corner and the essence of our city will be destroyed.

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