QUESTION
What are the potential impacts of opening a homeless shelter in a busy business district?
0:40:58
·
142 sec
Council Member Susan Zhuang raises concerns about the potential negative effects on local businesses from opening a homeless shelter with 150 men struggling with drug addiction in a busy business district.
- Zhuang cites complaints from nearby businesses about the shelter's impact on them.
- Tian Weinberg from the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) states they cannot directly speak to the impacts but are open to looking into the situation.
- Zhuang inquires about support SBS can provide to affected business owners.
- Weinberg expresses willingness to meet with business owners to understand challenges and explore SBS services.
- The conversation touches on the relationship between SBS and departments handling homeless services.
Susan Zhuang
0:40:58
I I have business quarter on 86 Street.
0:41:03
And see, they want to put a homeless shelter there with 150 men with drug addiction.
0:41:09
I get a lot of complaint from the business around there.
0:41:13
Do you think that's going to affect the business there?
Tian Weinberg
0:41:17
I I don't think that's something that we can speak to, but we look a little bit more into it and understand what's going on in the district.
Susan Zhuang
0:41:24
Yeah.
0:41:24
And, also, I'd like to see because I get a lot of complaints saying that's gonna affect to that business, anything SBS able to get involved and any support you guys able to give those business owners.
Tian Weinberg
0:41:38
We can certainly, you know, join you to meet with those business owners and see what services we provide, match the challenges that they say that they're facing.
Susan Zhuang
0:41:48
What's the relationship?
0:41:50
Do you guys work together in different subjects between SPS and the What's the that department called?
0:41:58
Som
Calvin Brown
0:41:59
homeless service.
Tian Weinberg
0:42:00
Someless service.
0:42:02
We do work together, and we love working with all of our city agency partners.
0:42:06
I don't think that we have looked specifically at this issue quite yet, and we can certainly engage with our city partners as well as the neighborhood partners on the ground.
0:42:17
In general, with, you know, groups like the Department of Homeland Services or Social Services, We focus on helping folks who are in shelter, you know, gain employment across New York City through our workforce 1 centers.
Susan Zhuang
0:42:30
I I for me, I think it's very important to help those people that are homeless, help them to get regular job, get training, find the job.
0:42:39
And, also, if SBS able to I think it's a bridge connect between business and homeless people, that will be very helpful for our city.
0:42:50
We're really able to resolve the issue about homeless.
0:42:53
That I'm looking to see more the work you guys coordinate together work for our community.
0:42:58
Thank you.
0:42:58
I appreciate that.
Calvin Brown
0:42:59
And and I just wanna mention counsel, we do currently have an Avenue and YC grant in your ear.
0:43:04
So if there's any, you know, additional suggestions or recommendations you have, we can pass that on to the local group that is doing the work.
0:43:11
In that area to address any of the vacancies or commercial court or challenges that you've identified.
Erik Bottcher
0:43:18
Thank you.
Oswald Feliz
0:43:19
Thank you.
