Thanks to you and many others, the proposal for an East Village Special District that would restrict chain stores in our neighborhood is moving along.

And now is the time to help shape the contours of the proposal that the community board will be considering in the months to come.

There is an important meeting I urge you to attend, and an email action you can take to show your support, even if you can’t make it:

Wednesday, February 6 at 6:30pm
Community Board #2 Economic Development Committee
— University Settlement at Houston Street Center – 273 Bowery

The Community Board is considering the area between 14th and Houston Streets, 2nd Avenue and Avenue D. If you attend, sign up to speak and tell them you support the ‘Special District’ proposal, and that 2nd Avenue and Avenue D should be among the streets and avenues where chain stores are restricted.

And here is an email action to tell local officials to support the East Village Special Retail District being considered by Community Board #3 – please send whether or not you can attend.

It takes less than a minute to send three emails at once to our local officials when you click here.

As you know, as part of the proposal, new chain stores would be limited or prohibited in all or part of the area being studied. Grocery stores, supermarkets, and existing chain stores would not be affected. We are working hard to see the proposal is adopted and covers as much of the study area as possible.

Chain stores take dollars out of the community. Many landlords seek higher rents only national corporations can afford, so small independent businesses can’t rent space. Chain stores take away from the unique character of our neighborhood.

Please let me know if you can you attend the meeting on Wednesday, February 6 at 6:30pm? Finally, here is a link to a bilingual flier, in English and Spanish, that you can post in your lobby or favorite local store providing information about the proposal.

Thanks again for taking action to support small independent businesses in our neighborhood.