There's an interesting article in the New York Times on the old political process of opening a business in Harlem and how many of the new generation of shop owners have decided to rather do things on their own. A sort of "kissing of the rings" was expected with prominent politicians or the 114-year old Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce to show respect which could also lead to patronage for political gatherings or getting the right connection for government grants. The article points out that the process can be bureaucratic and recent focus on big mall developments or cultural centers make it difficult for smaller businesses to get immediate attention. More than a few of the new shop and restaurant owners seem to be skipping out on this type of political etiquette and have been successful but one politician was quoted saying that "there's not enough of the new people coming in yet to keep them (the new stores) alive." Check out more on the clash of business attitudes new and old in today's NY Times:
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This is an excellent story of another area of new Harlem vs. old Harlem as the power in Harlem shifts. As the article states, when it comes to starting a business, the new entrepreneurs are more concerned with handling their business than coddling egos of the old guard. One thing concerns me in this story is how it is repeated several times by old timers that if new business people do not “kiss he right rings” the new businesses are doomed to failure. This speaks of cronyism and should not be encouraged. Business should succeed or fail based on their product and services alone. However I feel, newcomers to Harlem should be respectful of existing culture but not if it is unhealthy like cronyism.
ReplyDeletePrior to gentrification (and I use that term loosely since much of what has gone on in the past decade is revitalization) Harlem was indeed struggling and there were very few successful black owned businesses. Today even there are blocks and blocks nearly boarded up along ACP and Lenox. So I don't think the old guard was very successful at anything from a business perspective. In fact, were it not for their sanctimonious stance, Harlem would be much further along by now. Best of luck to the new more diverse and more inclusive Harlem.
ReplyDeleteWhat Inez Dickens fails to understand is that each one of these small retail businesses that she disdains for "not understanding the culture here" represents a proprietor using real money to pay rents and pay staff. That's an investment in the neighborhood, in the real estate and in the families.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of leader would ignore that kind of investment to push her own agenda?
Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteYour question answers itself, unfortunately. May it not always be so...
The fact that Rangle would never once support a new thriving business for anything is a sad statement. Also Inez Dickens symbolizes the exact thing I detest, the longer they stay in power the more they feel that the world revolves around them and their agendas.
ReplyDeleteAs Jonathan said what type of true leader would ignore people coming into the neighbourhood to bring legitimate businesses that pay salaries. Most of the new businesses are hiring locals so they not only put up money but they take the time to help the community residents get new skills.
I just don't get these folks!! They can kiss my ring FFS!!
The new business have are coming in either are using thier own money or money from somewhere else so they literally don't owe Harlem's old guard a thing.
ReplyDeleteAll buisness ventures have an element of risk to them. So if/when a business does fail in Harlem (or anywhere else for that matter) it will be because of the usual factors and NOT because they failed to kiss Inez Dickenson's ring the right way.
Ginger was a little pricey for the neighborhood it was in and that is what did it in. Period.
These people need to get over themselves.
It's Rangel and Wright and Dickens that have kept Harlem a virtual wasteland for years. When the 'old guard' goes, all of Harlem will breathe a collective sigh of relief!
ReplyDeleteThese jokers haven't figured out yet that Harlem is changing, and they had better embrace that new diversity or start thinking about new political careers. (I'm still amused by my encounter with William Shay at Keith Wright's office -- I was there to complain about the real noise in the plaza of the 125th building where Wright has his office. Shay said, "this is Harlem, an we don't have to follow laws if they're against our culture.")
Classic Bob, just classic!!
ReplyDeleteThis infuriates me to no avail. With these statements Dickens makes absolutely NO attempt to veil her 'cosa nostra' way of governing. No attempt whatsoever. It's out there for all to see and this general sense of immunity is a classic and the most obvious of old order characteristics. New business owners in Harlem should never have to contend with these ghoulish muscle-flexing types of threats.
ReplyDeleteShame on you Dickens! Disgusting!
You can't stop progress. Fortunately Inez Dickens' importance is only in her own mind. She probably would not know what or how to order in Society or Bier International. Please, Inez, stay at Sylvia's and leave everyone else alone.
ReplyDeleteUnless they evolve, these political dinosaurs will be extinct soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm a small business owner, and asked UMEZ to consider me for a loan, to match an investment someone wanted to make in my business. UMEZ said they couldn't help me -- then had the nerve to ask me for the contact for my investor -- saying they had a BBQ restaurant they would like them to invest in! Those guys are on another cloud.....and are not doing much to help the smaller, less established companies -- who would nevertheless create jobs, and activity.
ReplyDelete