When New York banned single-use plastic bags in 2020, environmental activists hailed the new law and vowed to push for more eco-friendly legislation. But more than three years later, they say a lack of robust enforcement has allowed scores of stores, including several major national chains, to continue handing out plastic bags to customers. “This […]
Small Business
Posted inVendors
Neighborhood Cop Plotted to Disrupt Corona Vendor Rally, Misconduct Complaint Alleges
An NYPD neighborhood coordination officer is accused of taking sides in a local conflict rather than serving as a liaison between the police and the community.
Posted inSmall Business
New $10 Million Loan Program Aimed at South Bronx Businesses
The new leader of the Bronx Economic Development Corporation found unspent millions from a 1990s federal program.
Posted inRestaurants
Se Acabó: Legendary Cuban Restaurant Rincón Criollo is Closing
‘This is the best restaurant in Queens,’ says one fan of the the Corona mainstay, founded in Cuba in 1950.
Posted inFAQ NYC
LISTEN: A Plan for a Retail Revival
Jonathan Bowles of the Center for an Urban Future lays out the group’s ideas for what government can do to help new small businesses prosper. Subscribe to the FAQ NYC podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever podcasts are found.
Posted inImmigrants
City’s Newest Migrants Head Underground Looking to Survive
Mothers with small children — and some tykes by themselves — have become common in the subway system.
Posted inHow to New York
How to Become a New York City Tour Guide
You need a license to lead paid tours in New York City. Get ready to take a 150-question exam before you take a group of tourists out on the town.
Posted inState Government
Why Can’t Legal Cannabis Sellers Open Shops? Sometimes NY State Is Their Adversary
Business owners looking for retail space to site licensed weed stores say the state Dormitory Authority is rejecting locations deemed too close to competing state-leased storefronts.
Posted inSmall Business
These Community-Oriented Lenders Have Remained a ‘Quiet Secret’
More steady government support for nonprofit Community Development Financial Institutions serving areas without banks could help small businesses thrive, says a new report.
Posted inCourts
New York Businesses Say Cash Advance Firms Sent Threats and Looted Bank Accounts
“They don’t need a license. Anyone can do it. They’re not regulated unless the attorney general has the time to crack down on them. And they can’t go after everybody because it’s like whack-a-mole, right?”