New York City experienced an abrupt shutdown in March 2020 due to Covid-19, with businesses and streets emptied. As the city began to reopen in June 2020, the recovery has been sluggish, with many employees reluctant to return to the office and theaters reopening to fewer audiences. Despite some positive shifts towards local spending, high inflation has made it tough for restaurants to thrive. Mismanagement by city leaders regarding social issues and the migrant crisis has further complicated recovery. While the city continues to exist, it feels more fragile and less safe compared to pre-pandemic times.
Even busy restaurants now struggle to break even, as high post-pandemic costs driven by inflation impact their operations, showing that recovery is fraught with challenges.
New York's leaders compounded these stresses with missteps, like failing to control looting during summer 2020 and not easing tax burdens on small businesses.
By 2023, the city's mismanagement of the migrant crisis turned nearly 200 hotels into city-funded shelters, impacting the tourism recovery efforts.
Though New York is surviving and defying worst predictions, it feels 'off' compared to 2019, more fragile, and less safe as it tries to recover.
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