Bring It On

Despite all the objections about the 9/11 trials there is one group that has no complaints: Residence and business owners who live near the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan where the preceding will take place. They are not fazed. They don’t care if all the security and traffic issues disrupt their daily lives. They say bring it on.

“I mean, come on, you have all around here the FBI, homeland security and local police stations, that really I cannot be worried,” said Hugh O’Reilly, 32, who lives at 111 Worth Tribeca, a luxury apartment building a couple hundred yards from the steps of the federal courthouse.

The pending trial has been the talk of the neighborhood since the U.S. government’s Nov. 13 announcement that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would be tried at 500 Pearl St. Last Saturday, more than 1,000 people protested the trials on Foley Square, across the street from the courthouse. While the trials may bring loads of security concerns and inconveniences to some in the area most are not bothered by the news.

Steven Macada, 39, is a computer programmer who lives in Chinatown’s Chatham Towers co-op apartments located on Park Row, just a block from the federal courthouse. Macada believes people who are worried are over-reacting. “I know a lot of people around here who complain but come on you live in Manhattan, right next to the federal courthouse where it is always a circus,” said Macada.

Even people who are personally not in favor of the tribunal are not scared.
Joe Pak,29, works at the Equitable Building in the financial district and lives at 170 Park Row. He lost his uncle in the World Trade Center on 9/11. While he is uneasy about the suspects being tried in New York City he is not afraid. “ I am not sure what the purpose of them being here is,” said Pak. “ But I am not scared because I know that security will do a good job. They are here to protect us and as a result we just have to deal with the inconvenience.”

Local business might be affected around the courthouse, considering the amount of security, road blocks, and press people that will be infiltrating the area, halting local customers and foot traffic.

According to Alan Siege, a New York University professor who teaches a class called, “ Starting your Own Small Business” local businesses near the trials can lose about 10 percent income on a given day. “Especially in these times any money you take away from business owners will make them nervous,” said Siege.

But Ramon Paniagua, the manager of Albella Restorante and Bar, a high-end bar and restaurant across the street from the courthouse on the corner of Elk and Reade St. said he does not care about losing customers. He believes integrity takes precedence over money. “Yes it will affect my business but I understand it is one of those things that has to happen,” said Paniagua. “. “The crime was committed here and it should be here.”

Needless to say, not everyone is happy with the news. Around the corner from Albella Restorante, on Lafayette and Duane Streets, Faro Costanc, the manager of Corte Café, was working when the planes hit the towers. He is pissed. “It’s bad for business, bad for this area and it is going to bring back bad memories of that painful day,” said Costanc, 50.

At least one woman who lives at 111 Worth Tribeca is not thrilled.” Ya, I am a little scared because you just never know,” said the woman who wanted to remain anonymous. “ I won’t even be able to walk my dog.”

The 9/11 Never Forget Coalition organized the protest on Saturday, which was composed mainly of family members and firefighters who lost loved ones on 9/11. The founder, Tim Sumner, said locals have reasons to worry because security will halt day to day life. “The whole area will be a frozen zone,” said Sumner.

Steven Brams, a Professor of Politics at NYU, disagrees that the security will be an issue. “ I do not think the security will be unduly high,” said Brams. “ That is the cost of the judicial system. They are going to cause inconveniences but overall it will not be a major issue.”

“ This is the most secure place in the world,” said Arlene Ancona, 63, an artist who also lives at 111 Worth Tribeca. Ancona said that previous big name trials with high volumes of security have not been an issue. She is confident that with the 9/11 trial the result will be the same. “ I know I won’t even feel it,” said Ancona.

Community Board 3 includes ChinaTown and Park Row. According to Susan Stetzer, the District Manager at CB3, there have been no complaints so far.

Ro Sheffe, chairman-of-the-board at Community Board One, also said there have been no calls. But he is getting ready for objections once the date is set. For now, he is in favor of the trials but is hesitant to see how much it will impede on people’s way of life. “ Justice should be served where injustice was done,” said Sheffe. “ But if it disrupts residence and businesses than I and probably many others at the board would be opposed to the trials.”

Small Businesses Hanging on By a Thread.

Small businesses in Lower Manhattan are getting slaughtered. Last year there were 320 businesses in the downtown district that closed and 240 were in the financial district. But despite hard times on Wall Street, many small businesses in the financial district are finding ways to adapt. Some are setting up new websites for take-out while others are finding better prices for their customers.

“During these times it’s not fair to let me customers down,” said Mouhamad Shami, owner of Alfanoose’s Middle Eastern Cuisine, located on Maiden Street in New York City’s financial district

Shami runs around his restaurant frantically every day. One second he serves his Middle Eastern food behind the counter, the next second he package orders he receives from his restaurants website which he installed in September.

Times are tough for 54-year-old Shami, a husband and father of two boys and one girl. Still, he is doing whatever he can to make ends meet and stay loyal to his cliental.

Shami use to make a good living but is now getting killed, as income is down about 50 percent. Factors such as the recession and reconstruction projects blocking foot traffic have contributed to the decline in revenue. But the mom and pop business that are staying open are doing so because they are catering to loyal customers they consider family.

Shami, who was born in Lebanon, moved and opened Alfanoose in 2004. So far, Shami said the website has helped revenue about 10 percent.

In a few months, Shami will be serving middle-eastern breakfast consisting of meat pies and chick pea dishes, something his long time customers have requested.
Meanwhile, Shami also started putting advertisements for his restaurant on Yelp, a search engine for restaurants.

Most importantly, Shami maintains his loyal customers by treating them like family.
“Many of my customers keep coming back because they know my kids, we becomes part of their family and they become part of ours,” said Shami.
Phil Yeni, who is 29-years old, works as a financial investor in midtown, said he comes to Alfanoose for the family feel.

“I moved here from Lebanon, so to me this place hits home,” said Yeni.
Currently, small businesses in the financial district are moving over for big time corporate chains.

To help matters, The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation two years ago installed a federal loan program to aid small businesses downtown. In the last four months, Community Board 1 has successfully pushed for almost $2 million of the $5 million dollars promised to be allocated. Last week, Shami finally got his share of the fund, and paid off his landlord.

All around Maiden Street, small businesses are honing in on their loyal cliental.

At Chameleon Comics and Cards, 45-year old Jimmy Wu is also altering. Wu actively is on eBay each day trying to find his customers the cheapest prices on specialized sports memorabilia. “I have to give customers what they want so they keep coming back,” said Wu.

But can small businesses, like Alfanoose, still survive?

“Yes, because he (Shami) has done some good analysis,” said Alan Siege, who teaches a class at New York University called “Starting your own small business. “ Not everyone can do what Alfanoose does because most people don’t know how to solve their needs. When things get tough you have to really adjust and distinguish yourself,” said Siege.

However, Ro Sheffe, chairmen of district board one, believes many small businesses in the financial district will have to close up shop, mainly because not enough money can be guaranteed by the LMDC.
“Simply put, these guys are hanging on by their fingernails,” said Sheffe.

But the LMDC is doing the best they can.

“Two weeks ago we included funds to more than 200 blocks of small businesses that have been hurt,” said John Delibero, media liaison at LMDC.

If business does not continue to improve by the end of the year, Shami will either move to a smaller location or share his large space with another business.
Yet, Shami still believes. “As long as you see a light at the end of the tunnel you can still hope,” said Shami.