W000210
Wednesday, November 07, 2001 6:58 PM
Not to do is also doing. Harm.
Business was attacked. The most concentrated business complex and area was destroyed. What has been done to rebuild it. What has been done to find and assist the business owners now floundering and dying. Standard fare SBA loans with interest, paperwork like an audit and your home as collateral. Bridge loans with interest, that once taken, first payment is due within 30 days.
WTC tenants lost their entire location and contents and probably clients. WTC neighbors lost income for weeks. Loans? Gap money to cover lost sales, to supplement personal living expense, to offer emotional support that the government will not allow the initial damage to continue killing more businesses, and will be there to help keep the knocked down small business people standing.
Direct, no-strings, grant money, disbursable simply by having a hot-zone small business owner providing a sheet of verifiable info. to one organization. Approval and check with 7 days. Ability to come back if need be.
There is cleanup, and dealing with the issues involved with those tragically killed and injured. And there is business to save. 1000s of small business is affected aversely on a daily basis. A beautiful and potent neighborhood to save.
3 Zones. The WTC itself. Inaccessible area immediately around it. Residual blocks up to 14th St. Each affected on different grades. Each to be helped differently. Types of business within these groups also should have assistance distinct to the business type. Involve business owners in the process of determination how and what would be of greatest assistance.
Should have started 9/12.
In the age of internet speed our government crawls when responding to the issues internal to the decimated business infrastructure of the attacked area, a megacity unparallel in the US. Our government and major charity organizations are becoming party to the destruction started with the planes.
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