In the U.S. alone there are over 50 million store-front and home-based small businesses that employ over 120 million Americans. Collectively, they provide a solid economic foundation for the nation and the heart and soul of many communities. However, the landscapes of most cities are becoming more and more dominated by chain stores, big box retailers, and banks. Small businesses are losing their store space, employees, and financial incentives such as tax breaks to large corporations and there isn’t any political action being taken. Small businesses need help so they can claim their rightful stake in cities against the influx of global capital, gentrification, and rising rents.
Brooklyn is no exception. Heartbreaking stories of local loved businesses like Jesse’s Deli having to close after 20 years of service due to skyrocketing rents are becoming all too common. These stories are set to continue, especially in Brooklyn where rents are increasing the most rapidly, unless action is taken.
Brooklyn’s small businesses are taking the action needed. By using new online technologies, local business owners are joining together to fight for rights and have real impact. Technology has long enabled people to galvanize around important issues and bring political movements to the public attention. Twitter was imperative to bringing the Arab Spring to the world’s conscious. #BringBackOurGirls brought the plight of the 219 Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists to the world’s media. Until now, however, there has not been a tool that enables small businesses to organize and work together at scale to tackle their own political action that doesn’t require they side with right or left, only that they side with the goal of bringing about a fairer system. I am privileged enough to be witnessing first hand this type of action happening across NYC via the Townsquared platform and our amazing members bringing about the change they want.
Around a year ago, small businesses owners from all over the city came together on Townsquared wanting to find an answer to their most pressing issue: lack of commercial tenant’s rights. From a few starting conversations, suddenly a city-wide discussion erupted and highlighted how widespread the issue was. One conversation brought the hope of an answer to light: there was a law that had recently been introduced to the City Council, The Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which if passed would give commercial tenants the right to renew and negotiate their lease. This led to more conversations, more people emerging to show their support, and, most important, a willingness to act. Through platform-based organization a political movement soon emerged: TakeBackNYC. It brought the voices of small businesses together, amplifying their concerns so loudly they could no longer be ignored.
This wasn’t exactly how I had originally envisioned Townsquared would be used. I thought it would only be about local neighborhood businesses sharing advice, partnering together, and addressing crime and safety issues. But, like any useful tool, our members told us what they wanted to use it for – to organize and communicate around political issues and what to do in order to make the future fair. The bill now has 27 Council Members signed on and our members our organizing to put the pressure on the New York City Council to call for a Public Hearing and a vote.
If you are a small business owner or employee in NYC and want to help move this conversation forward, find out the latest information, or learn how to have your voice heard, sign up for Townsquared and join the #TakeBackNYC thread. If you aren’t a small business owner, but want to help your local businesses, check out the TakeBackNYC website for more info on easy ways you can get involved.
This is the future of politics, this is the future of small business: working smarter together.
