New York Gritty

Steve Kastenbaum

Is New York City in a death spiral, or will it mount an epic comeback from the impacts of the pandemic? New York Gritty explores the resiliency of New Yorkers in a time of crisis. Will they find a way to bring their city back from the brink of economic disaster, or has New York been irreversibly changed? The spread of coronavirus transformed the Big Apple in previously unimaginable ways, from shutting down the subway system overnight for the first time to dimming the lights on Broadway indefinitely. Over 1 million jobs were lost across New York during the shutdown. The city faces a projected $13 billion budget shortfall over the next four years. Each of the ten episodes of New York Gritty highlights a different area of the city’s economy and social fabric as host Steve Kastenbaum celebrates the anonymous and famous heroes who keep New York’s magic alive during dark times. The veteran radio journalist explores the looming challenges through the personal stories of his fellow New Yorkers. New York Gritty will premiere on February 16th.

Categories: Business

Listen to the last episode:

New York Is a dense metropolis where people with too much and people who don't have enough live side by side. New Yorkers became hyper-aware of that disparity when the Coronavirus pandemic brought the city's economy to a halt. The problem was visible in every neighborhood. The Free Store Project founder Myles Smutney saw an obvious solution - New Yorkers with excess could help others meet their needs, and build community in the process. What started as an effort to address an immediate crisis lives on years later, and is addressing new challenges while expanding its reach.

You can learn more about the Free Store at www.thefreestoreproject.com