167 NYC Business Leaders To De Blasio: Take Action On Recovery

NEW YORK CITY — Take action on crime and quality of life issues before New York City decays, a group of city business leaders urged Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The 167-strong group of CEOS and other prominent corporate bigwigs laid out their concerns for the city's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic — among other problems in what de Blasio is fond of calling a "perfect storm" — in an open letter to the mayor this week.

New York City may have largely fought back the coronavirus, but "widespread anxiety" over public safety, cleanliness and other quality of life issues threatens its revival, the letter states.

"We need to send a strong, consistent message that our employees, customers, clients and visitors will be coming back to a safe and healthy work environment," the letter states. "People will be slow to return unless their concerns about security and the livability of our communities are addressed quickly and with respect and fairness for our city’s diverse populations."

The group — Partnership for NYC — previously warned a third of the city's small businesses could never reopen from the pandemic.

They set out a series of recommendations, including raising taxes on the top 1 percent of earners, to help New York City recover in their July study.

The new letter offers de Blasio their help and support amid a surge in shootings and widespread speculation that "New York City is dead."

"We urge you to take immediate action to restore essential services as a necessary precursor for solving the city’s longer term, complex, economic challenges," the letter states.

It was signed by, among others, the CEOs of Lyft, Warby Parker and the WNBA.

Read the letter here.