Six Months: The ECONOMIC AFTERMATH


	Tale of Two Workers "The first day I went to the Salvation Army, on the 29th of September. As I entered the building and sat in front of this woman, I started, crying, crying... I was so hurt and embarrassed because here I was, I had a job that was paying me $17 an hour, and I'm standing in front of these people asking for help" Gonela Baker worked cleaning public spaces at the Marriott World Financial Hotel, which was destroyed in the attacks. She was laid off on October 5th. "Two years ago, literally if two weeks went by and a headhunter didn't call me, it was a slow week. It was a very heady experience. It did me a great disservice because I started believing it—I fell into the trap of buying my own hype. I think that the universe has kind of held up a mirror and said, 'You weren't all that.' Let's see...five months, I've been on TWO interviews—that's pretty sad." Casey Taylor worked as the head of marketing and product development for a company that provided software for financial services firms. She was also laid off on October 5th.

	Looking for Employment? Twin Towers This hotline connects those seeking jobs to employment opportunities and other assistance. Department of Labor The employment centers provide information on how to file an unemployment insurance claim and find telephone numbers for a Division of Employment Services location near you. New York State Department of Labor A list of job banks, workers' rights and information about unemployment insurance.

	Small Businesses in the New Economy It's not what you might think. 20/20 isn't a strip club—it's a restaurant located a block from City Hall. Lingerie Night is just one of the owner's latest attempts to lure business back downtown. Last year, the number of businesses filing for bankruptcy in New York's Southern District rose by 57 percent—a rate more than four times higher than in the rest of the country. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court says it's too soon to tell how much of a role September 11th will play. But whatever the reason, many businesses are struggling. In September—when most businesses were empty, if not closed—the Park Slope Yoga Center was packed. Judy Brown had just started as a manager. Judy won't say business is better since September 11th. There's always a 30 to 50 percent increase after January as the New Year's resolution crowd comes and goes. But business isn't worse either, and at $14 a class in a recession, that's saying something. Anne Mazzocca practices yoga at the center. Is there really a direct connection between September 11th and the increase in people doing yoga? That's actually a hard question to answer, because...there's not a set reason why anyone would come to do yoga. But the fact is that while many small businesses were in the process of expanding prior to September 11th, only a handful, like yoga centers and health spas, have been able to go ahead with their expansion plans. There's nothing like being in the right place at the right time. SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES United States Small Business Administration Assistance for small businesses, independent contractors and homeowners. Downtown Alliance The downtown Business Improvement District (BID) in lower Manhattan. Has helped provide resources to businesses in lower Manhattan. Seedco and the Non-Profit Assistance Corporation One of many organizations involved in making grants to small businesses. From the Ground Up Made up of small businesses in Lower Manhattan that were hurt by the events of September 11th, their primary goal is to make the voices of small businesses heard when decisions are made about the future of Lower Manhattan.

	Additional Resources UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS New York State Department of Labor Information about how to apply for unemployment benefits. ARTS ORGANIZATIONS New York Foundation for the Arts Awards funds to artists in need due to September 11th. The Mellon Foundation A $50 million fund to assist New York City cultural and performing arts organizations that have been directly affected by September 11th. NON-PROFIT ASSISTANCE List of resources for non-profits. LEGAL SERVICES The American Bar Association (ABA) A good resource for legal assistance, advice and referrals for victims and their families, and anyone else affected by the WTC Attacks. There is also a Disaster Legal Services Toll Free Hotline at (866) 606-0626 run by the ABA Young Lawyers Division/FEMA. You can phone in, have your legal problem analyzed and then receive advice on how to handle it. NYC ECONOMIC INFORMATION Gotham Gazette A collection of recent articles about the economic impact of the attacks on September 11th. Center for an Urban Future A progressive think tank that releases reports about the city's economy to try to shape and influence public debate on a wide variety of topics. Fiscal Policy Institute A left-leaning think tank. Releases a lot of data about employment and "fiscal policy" such as taxes and city & state budgets. New York City Partnership A coalition of businesses that studies the city's economy and tries to influence public debate. The Partnership recently released an update of an important study in November about the impact of September 11th.

	"Hanging On" - The Economic Aftermath

	Tale of Two Workers: A Profile of the Unemployed Gonela Baker and Casey Taylor are among the thousands of people who lost their jobs as a direct result of the attacks on September 11th. They are two women from different places on the economic spectrum. One is blue collar, the other earns an executive level salary. Now both women find themselves struggling to hold on to what they’ve worked for.

	A TEENAGER’S PERSPECTIVE ON TOUGH TIMES On September 11th, WNYC's Radio Rookie Karla Saavedra spent the day worrying about the safety of her father, who worked in a restaurant near the World Trade Center. Her father was safe, but he was let go when the restaurant temporarily shut down and her family had no income. Although Karla's father is now working again at the same restaurant, albeit with reduced hours, Karla says the events changed her life forever. Produced by Czerina Patel.

	ROUNDTABLE: NYC’S ECONOMY Before September 11th, New York City’s economy was already slowing down from the dizzying growth it experienced in the 1990s. The boom years were over. After the attacks, everyone wants to know how deep this recession is and how long it will last. Are we headed for the bad old days of 1970s or the early 1990s? And there are questions about government strategies to revive the economy. Is Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to increase city borrowing to help close the city’s budget deficit a wise course to follow? John Rudolph sits down with three economists to take a look at these questions.

	SMALL BUSINESS Last year, the number of businesses filing for bankruptcy in New York's Southern District rose by 57 percent-a rate more than four times higher than in the rest of the country. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court says it's too soon to tell how much of a role September 11th will play. But whatever the reason, many businesses are struggling. Sisdel Overgaard traveled around the city talking with small business owners.

	DEPUTY MAYOR DANIEL DOCTOROFF John Rudolph interviews Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Daniel Doctoroff about the city's efforts to spark growth and keep corporations in New York.

	REAL ESTATE New York City’s real estate market is one of the most widely watched measures of the city’s economic health, at least by the people who pay rent here. So, how hard is it to find an affordable apartment in Manhattan these days? Mike Pesca takes a look at how, since September 11th, some aspects of apartment hunting have changed and some have not.

	THE ARTS The task of rebuilding new york's economy is not only about creating jobs and helping businesses get back on their feet. The challenge is also to preserve new york's unique economic mix, in which art and culture are major ingredients. After september 11th, many theatres, museums, and art galleries were forced to reinvent themselves to survive in this new era. John rudolph found despite the challenges many institutions have made surprising gains.

	Credits: Producer Kaari Pitkin Editor John Rudolph Production Support Stacy Abramson Chris Catanese Rex Doane George Edwards Mikel Ellcessor Ed Haber Andy Lanset Adeline Sire Irene Trudel Radio Rookie Production Czerina Patel Matt Abramovitz Lu Olkowski Technical Director and Mix Engineer Wayne Shulmeister Executive Producer and Host John Rudolph Funding is provided by the Carnegie Corporation and the Overbrook Foundation.

(Photo credits: Vanessa Bertozzi,
except Gonela by Kaari Pitkin & lingerie by jim colgan)