The famous district in Manhattan may finally get the special status needed to provide more services to its residents and businesses.
New York City's Department of City Planning is now reviewing Chinatown's proposal to form a business improvement district.
Joseph de Avila writes,
"Proponents of the district say that sanitation would be its main benefit. The Chinatown Partnership, a local economic development group, has funded street cleanings and additional trash pickups in the neighborhood for the past several years. The efforts have greatly improved sanitation in the neighborhood, but the partnership is unable to fund the cleanings forever, said Wellington Chen, director of the group."
Opponents, however, believe that the added taxes as a part of the BID status will effectively cripple or drive out small businesses.
FULL STORY: Chinatown Business District Plan Moves Ahead
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