No Guarantee of Smooth Recovery, Says Andrew Yang

New York, NY—Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang believes he has what it takes to be New York City’s next mayor. But he warned this morning that the city’s comeback from the pandemic-ravaged economy is not assured.  

Yang spoke virtually and remotely to the Association for a Better New York from the lobby of a midtown office building at 1180 6^th Avenue to demonstrate that a big part of the city’s economic recovery depends upon the return of hundreds of thousands of office workers. He pointed out that pre-pandemic the lobby and the surrounding area would be teaming with activity. Instead, we’re all stuck in Zoom purgatory.

“Companies can get by on Zoom, as we’ve seen, but here is the message we have to pound loud and clear: companies cannot excel over Zoom,” said Yang.

He added that New York City is a “place-based” economy and “Zoom is not our friend.” The city cannot let COVID-19 become the moment when businesses decide that they don’t have to be here, where they decide that they should look elsewhere.

“And know this: our city’s comeback is not assured,” Yang said.

“It’s not a sure thing—we have to compete and execute and have a vision. Getting government agencies working again is only part of it. We will have to activate the private sector, the non-profit and philanthropic sector, and even our tech industry to get our city back on track.”

But even before the pandemic, the city wasn’t working for far too many families, noted Yang.

He mentioned that during the Michael Bloomberg years economic inequality worsened, while during Bill de Blasio’s term the private sector was ignored, thus leaving the city ill prepared for a public health crisis.

As a result, public confidence is shaken.  

“Again, there is no guarantee that our city will come back from this the way we want it to. This is why I am running for Mayor,” Yang said.

But he wants to prove that’ll he be the mayor who is laser-focused on job growth. In fact, he said just yesterday he spoke with the CEO of JetBlue, Robin Hayes, who is contemplating moving the airline’s corporate offices from Long Island City to Florida.

“The city’s next mayor needs JetBlue and other companies like it to know that they are a vital part of the fabric of this city. They are going to be a key to our comeback. I will fight to get entrepreneurs and businesses to come here and stay here,” added Yang.

During last year’s presidential campaign Yang popularized the idea of a universal basic income to help offset job losses from automation.

On the mayoral campaign trail, he’s advocated for a cash relief program to help those in extreme poverty.

He reiterated this morning that he would launch a “People’s Bank” if elected.

“Eleven percent of New Yorkers don’t have bank accounts and waste on average $600 per year on check cashing fees alone. It should not be this expensive to be poor,” exclaimed Yang.

The “People’s Bank” would also guarantee hundreds of millions of dollars in affordable loans to small businesses in minority communities, contributing to a proposed goal of 15,000 business openings or re-openings during Yang’s first year as mayor.

Concerning job creation, Yang is in favor of the proposed $250 million geothermal power plant on the Long Island City waterfront that would create about 1,000 jobs and generate power for local residents and businesses.

“This will be the first project of many. I will be a mayor who builds and rebuilds the city to more closely resemble the city of the future that New Yorkers know we deserve,” Yang said.

At the conclusion of his remarks to ABNY, Yang was off to greet sports fans at Yankee Stadium during Opening Day.

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