Rent stabilization for small biz

To the editor:

Hooray! Johnson Diner and Bar is open, endeavoring to fill the empty shoes left when the beloved Blue Bay Diner closed in November 2022.

On its fifth day of operation, my cousin and I had lunch at the new eatery. Our lox, egg and onion omelet and breakfast wrap were delicious, both piping hot (home fries not). We gave The Johnson a four-star rating, and are sure it will only improve.

The owner and staff are working hard to please customers. For now, its menu is limited, and its concentration is on dining in with plans to add delivery at a later date.

The large tray of gratis black-and-white cakes for customers to take on the way out was a nice touch. We are lucky the owners can finance the diner.

However, shops right off the Johnson Avenue and West 235th Street intersection that were empty due to rising rents when Blue Bay closed are looking seedier by the day. They’re a blight when they could surely be outlets providing a valuable service or selling goods lacking in our retail enclave.

Some 18 months ago, I wrote to The Riverdale Press not only bemoaning the loss of Blue Bay, but also the stores shuttered when owners could no longer afford rent increases. And that there should be penalties for landlords keeping their stores empty long-term. 

If they remain vacant, the neighborhood would lose its vitality, I wrote. 

I called for our local representatives from Councilman Eric Dinowitz up to Mayor Eric Adams to work for citywide rent stabilization for small businesses. It was something the City Council had, in fact, been looking at pre-pandemic.

Yes, there are urgent short-term problems to solve in our city, but such rent stabilization for small businesses would have long-term benefits.

Join me in the effort toward keeping our communities economically and socially alive and thriving.

Muriel Adams