Ronn Torossian on Hurricane Sandy: Big Government vs. Small Government

I am a born and bred New Yorker and have lived nearly my entire life in this great city. I love New York — and raise my kids here today in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of the Upper West Side.: : I have never seen New York City in such devastation, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy — there is not a single NY’er who hasn’t had some aspect of their life affected by this catastrophe.

What the media is largely still not reporting is the immense impact this hurricane will have upon businesses in New York.: : I’d venture that less than 25 percent of businesses were open this week in New York — and for a week employees who haven’t had electricity in their homes have been paid.: : Bills are due — even though by and large the US Postal Service (and even Fed-ex) hasn’t delivered checks. There are tremendous economic implications in NYC to this hurricane which haven’t yet been spoken about.

Such little help exists for businesses — which are the lifeline of this country’s economy.The city’s Department of Small Business Services is giving out $10,000 loans.: : It’s laughable for a business in Idaho to do much with $10K — let alone in NYC.: : That doesn’t cover rent here for a deli owner, let alone a business with employees who can’t get into their office. It’s not an amount of money which will go far. The city’s Economic Development Corp. has approximately 40,000 square feet of space available for business owners — which in NYC fits perhaps 200 people (my: PR firm: alone occupies 35,000 square feet and is a small business).: : That’s not a lot in this great city which has thousands of offices still closed.

There’s no government help in sight for business. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy it should be clearer than ever before that anyone who cares about business should favor limited government. This administration favors big government — and we have had 4 years of it and now in the business capital of America there’s no help in sight from government.

Obama speaks of “spreading wealth around” — and that’s with his “big government” in place.: : : Perhaps a secretary of business with government bureaucracy is a better way than business owners depending on themselves as they get back to work and make their businesses succeed.

I believe in the greatness of American entrepreneurs — and not in big government.

Ronn Torossian: is CEO of 5WPR, a New York PR agency.: : Ronn Torossian: is author of “For Immediate Release”, a leading PR book.

Share this!

Enjoy reading? Share it with your friends!