Policy

Across New York City’s five boroughs, office space occupies 730 million square feet (600 million of which is in Manhattan), according to CoStar data obtained by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. This is the most of any North American city; runner-up Los Angeles has only 432 million square feet of office space. So, it’s no wonder that the conversation around post-Covid commercial real estate vacancies is such a hot-button issue, especially considering that Manhattan’s residential vacancy rate is just 1.2 percent.
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Throughout the day, I’ll think about what I’m going to have for my next meal. Maybe I’ll step out and grab a salad for lunch, and then choose a fun recipe to make for dinner. And I’m the first to admit that I can easily lose sight of the number of people who don’t have that luxury. Instead of arguing with their partner about whether to order pizza or Thai, they’re worrying if they can afford to buy food for their family's dinner. To put this in perspective, the New York City Council reports that New York City’s poverty rate is nearly twice the national average—23 percent compared to 12 percent. The most recent data shows that 20 percent of NYC residents are enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), a number that jumps to over 40 percent in the Bronx. This means that nearly 1.8 million residents of the five boroughs were affected by the Trump Administration’s refusal to release federal SNAP funds last month. If you’re wondering how you can help, we’ve rounded up some of the biggest NYC food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens accepting donations to support New Yorkers now, as well as throughout the holiday season.
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