... and the trend of retail minimum wage increases driving labor costs higher, as Rachel notes. The results were rather mixed in Seattle's experience. (http://www.nber.org/papers/w23532) We have not heard so much about the political push behind minimum wage increases lately. — James on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

It was mentioned on the Chinese food post. Big fan of Lan Larb. — TribecaMom on Seen & Heard: Thai Delivery Recommendations?

If it's all about landlords to you, then you have missed the retail trends of consolidation, online shopping, the death of department stores and malls, the entrance of big box retailers into NYC (despite politicians' best efforts), the shift from goods to experiences/services, etc. — James on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

Oh, Rachel! We got all our birthday cupcakes from you! And we supported the light store before you. To me it’s all about landlords. Sorry. They will be the death of this great community. City Council is working on some kind of Commercial Rent Control. NY City retail might be dead by the time any help arrives. — Jean Grillo on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

You made my 50th b'day cake and the British flag cake for a dear friend who moving to London. I also have 4 Hillary Clinton cookies in the deep freeze that I plan to eat once tRump is gone. THANK YOU!!! — Barbara E Spitzer on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

Wow Rachel, so sad to hear the news! My kids grew up in your shop. Your bakery especially the whoopie pies will be missed for sure! All the best to you with your next venture! — Andrea on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

Squirrel....Steve Bannon relaxing on park bench. — Francesco on Photo Safari!

Fun! — TG on The Craft Studio Is Opening in Tribeca

So right-on James. There was a great store there before for many, many years who was kicked out to make way for this business. I stopped going in there when a lovely young woman I know was fired from TriBeCa Treats for not being part of the gang. She was a hard worker, kind and shy. Praise to Duane Street Patisserie. We must prepare ourselves for many of these "new" business to end up struggling with the same issues the old timers did. It is the nature of the beast sadly. — TG on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

Build out the pier and put a middle school on it. That will create a few jobs and help our school shortage downtown. — Pam Warshay on The Helicopter Problem

I am sorry to read this. I just opened a business around the block and was looking forward to eating your yummy treats! I have to say that I 100% agree... I also agree with the increasing the minimum wage but it does make it very hard to find and keep good employees. For me, I also feel that the cost of rent makes things difficult. It means that the money that could have gone to improving businesses is instead going to the landlord. As Sandra wrote, I wish the city fined landlords who kept empty storefronts. — Jenny on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

I am shocked by the number of supposedly liberal (especially women) wearing fur (Canada Goose!). Do you not understand the torture that is behind your silly collar. The animals die a slow and painful death in a steel jaw trap, some skinned while still alive. Many try chew their own foot off in an attempt to escape. Is it really worth that to have an accessory on your down jacket? So bougey! — Ami on Seen & Heard: First Look at 24 Leonard

Sorry to read this!! My kids favorite spot in Tribeca, we love the whoppie pies...it had always been a sweet oasis of hapot delight on a busy afternoon. — Tam on Tribeca Treats Is Closing

Re: Thai - I don't know if anyone else has mentioned it already, but I'm a big fan of Lan Larb in Soho. Their 'official' delivery radius on Grubhub is quite small and doesn't cover much of Tribeca but I've managed to get them to deliver down to Duane St a few times by calling direct. They used to do these little curry puffs as a starter, which were incredible - if anyone could help nudge them to bring those back, I'd be grateful! — HSB on Seen & Heard: Thai Delivery Recommendations?

Art, is of course in the eye of the beholder and I would say that the bull is stretching the description of art and it is rather an example of Mr Di Modica's pretentiousness. It seems to me to be mostly a vehicle for crude photos of people at its back end by tourists art aficionados. 'Fearless Girl' " which some think represents "....overachieving females obstructing economic growth and stifling progress." Wow! I just never realized that over-achieving females were such a force for evil. — Bob on In the News: The Future of Fearless Girl and Charging Bull

I for one thing the helicopters are fantastic and an asset to a city with the attributes of NYC. I have used the helicopters for both sightseeing as well as commuting. What better way to see a city, with the size and scale of NYC! It is also an incredibly efficient way to get to the airports, and at a reasonable price. For a while Delta offered a connection from downtown to JFK. You checked in and went through security at the helipad. It was not crowded, and very fast. You would land on the tarmac, having already done all the security and luggage handling. With a flight time of less than 10 minutes. Beats an unpredictable one hour plus. The helicopters are also a great way to take longer trips, that are easily accessible by helicopters, and dramatically reduce travel times. There is also a certain magic, or romance to the helipads and helicopters. Whether it be running or cycling past one of the three helipads. It is one of the sites and sounds unique to NYC. There will always be noise in the city, that part of city life. There are always quieter places to live if that is your motivation. I for one wish there where more helicopter options. Especially to the airports. — Julian on The Helicopter Problem

Taylor Swift and Tribeca Citizen in the Post: https://nypost.com/2018/02/17/looks-like-taylor-swift-and-her-neighbors-have-some-bad-blood/ — James on In the News: Taylor Swift Purchase Confirmed

I was looking at an apartment at 5 Beekman recently near the 40th floor and the broker was quick to point out that 1 Beekman would top out at 25 floors and not threaten the view. It seemed odd at the time that he didn't recall how tall 25 Park Row would be...now his amnesia makes sense...slimy. — fidus on Seen & Heard: First Look at 24 Leonard

Another data point indicating the small size of the helicopter tourism employment of New Yorkers, in comparison to the large nuisance impact on the population. Here is a helicopter industry promotional report hosted on a city councilperson's website. It says: "Based on data provided by one of the largest air tour operators, we estimate that the helicopter sightseeing industry directly employs approximately 70 people in New York City. [...] "As of the end of 2010, the three Manhattan heliports collectively employed 53 people directly, including 50 who worked full time and 3 part-time employees. More than three-fourths of the employees at the three heliports are racial and ethnic minorities. Together, the three operators paid a total of approximately $2.475 million in salaries and wages in 2010 — an average of more than $48,000 per full-time or full-time-equivalent job. "Of these 53 employees (as shown below in Figure 5), 31 full-time and 3 part-time employees were residents of New York City — 10 full-time workers lived elsewhere in New York State— and 9 lived outside New York State. More than half of the city’s heliport employees work at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, where the operator provides all full time employees with health care benefits and access to pension programs." http://helenrosenthal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Industry-Report-Mitchell-Moss-NYU.pdf — James on The Helicopter Problem

Here is the most optimstic number of jobs "at the heliport." Franchise and Concession Review Committe Public Hearing July 11, 2016 "MR. TOLBERT: Good afternoon. My name is Brian Tolbert and I am the manager of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. I have been managing heliports in New York City for over 30 years, having come into the industry after serving my country in the United States Navy; however, as the manager of the heliport, I also want to recommend the FCRC that there are a number of people who make their living in this industry. Employment at the heliport exceeds 250 people with a large percentage being minorities or women and many military personnel like myself." With respect to mix, per aopa.org, the largest of the 5 tourism operators at this heliport employed 25 pilots in 2011, so one can infer that a large portion, perhaps 25-30%, of those "250 jobs" includes pilots. I would bet another large portion is the maintenance and hangar crews all based in New Jersey. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/mocs/downloads/pdf/071116-FCRC-Public-Hearing.pdf — James on The Helicopter Problem

(The "No" was not to the posters here, but to the idea of putting the 2 sculptures together permanently...sorry if unclear) — Marcus on In the News: The Future of Fearless Girl and Charging Bull

No. "Fearless Girl" is a work in its own right, but should be separate from "Charging Bull", as its original artist stipulates. No artist should have his/her work modified in this way without permission. — Marcus on In the News: The Future of Fearless Girl and Charging Bull

When this was being discussed the first time around someone said most of the jobs are in New Jersey, not New York. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the jobs. How many are full-time, and how many of those are filled by NYC residents? Maybe the guys handing out the flyers on the street and a few office/ticketseller people live here, and they’re including the staff that works at wherever in NJ the helicopters are garaged (hangared?) and serviced. — Hudson River on The Helicopter Problem

Amen.. and yet re-elected easily. it's truly sad how poor the leadership choices were (are) for this great city. — Jeff on In the News: The Future of Fearless Girl and Charging Bull

Good Morning Erik, this sign is located outside of the parking entrance at 28 Beach Street, Sonia F. Stock & Joseph Altman Safe place right next to the Police Station! — Sonia F. Stock on Where in Tribeca…?