REMARKS
COVID-19's impact and changes in consumer behavior affecting small businesses
1:24:32
ยท
72 sec
Council Member Vickie Paladino discusses the profound impact of COVID-19 on small businesses and changes in consumer behavior. She emphasizes that everything changed during the pandemic, affecting people's lifestyles and how they interact with local businesses.
- Highlights the shift to online delivery services like Uber Eats and Grubhub, which take a significant percentage of businesses' profits
- Mentions the increased use of Amazon and online shopping for groceries and other goods
- Expresses concern about high commercial rents despite changed market conditions
Vickie Paladino
1:24:32
Thank you very much.
1:24:34
I just wanna say to you, thank you so very much.
1:24:38
You are awesome.
1:24:39
I mean, everything we've done and we've worked together on has been has been great.
1:24:45
To address the issues that have been here today, what I really wish we could do, is press a reset button because, everything changed during COVID.
1:24:56
Everybody's lifestyle has changed Mhmm.
1:24:58
Since COVID.
1:24:59
So we could address store vacancies, to greed and to landlords who own the buildings that they're in still requiring 15 to $30,000 a month rent.
1:25:12
Mhmm.
1:25:13
We could also, blame COVID for the reasons why people now use Uber Eats and Grubhub, and that to the point of bodegas and my corner deli, Cherry Valley, that I go to every night, for my half and half full bananas or whatever I need, you know, they are now no longer doing deliveries.
1:25:35
They are doing Grubhub, which takes a big percentage of their money.
1:25:40
And, it's a this is a real battle we are up against.