Thank you for writing about this small business / general strike conundrum. In greenpoint I witnessed the same, lots of local businesses trying to see how they could participate in the strike while also deeply struggling. Some spots donating “10%” which made me laugh because I imagined it being roughly $5. I really feel the better and more important thing we should all be doing, and I did, is canceling Amazon prime, Hulu, etc. Itwas my birthday on the strike which also sent me into a lot of confusion of how to properly “act.” But I didn’t feel bad buying a coffee from a local spot.
Fantastic framing of restaurants as culture-war theaters. The online/offline mutation is spot-on becasue when solidarity gets performatively documented on Instagram stories, the actual goal shifts from economic pressure to social signaling. A bodega posting 25% wine donations isn't mobilizing capital, its threading an impossibel needle to appease algorithmic visibility without tanking rent. That gap is where movements fracture.
I also appreciated the comments on small businesses and their digital platforms. As a small business owner I lost a lot of sleep last week trying to figure out how to navigate this call, what to say to my staff, and how to protect our immigrant friends and loved ones.
Thank you for writing about this small business / general strike conundrum. In greenpoint I witnessed the same, lots of local businesses trying to see how they could participate in the strike while also deeply struggling. Some spots donating “10%” which made me laugh because I imagined it being roughly $5. I really feel the better and more important thing we should all be doing, and I did, is canceling Amazon prime, Hulu, etc. Itwas my birthday on the strike which also sent me into a lot of confusion of how to properly “act.” But I didn’t feel bad buying a coffee from a local spot.
Happy belated! Yeah maybe I’m not quite radical enough yet but I just am not sure making these small businesses struggle more was…that helpful??
Agreed! I was obviously happy to cancel subscriptions but the idea that I couldn’t go to a diner and tip out my waiter felt absurd
Fantastic framing of restaurants as culture-war theaters. The online/offline mutation is spot-on becasue when solidarity gets performatively documented on Instagram stories, the actual goal shifts from economic pressure to social signaling. A bodega posting 25% wine donations isn't mobilizing capital, its threading an impossibel needle to appease algorithmic visibility without tanking rent. That gap is where movements fracture.
Yes! Yes! Wow you said it way pithier than I tried to articulate lol
I also appreciated the comments on small businesses and their digital platforms. As a small business owner I lost a lot of sleep last week trying to figure out how to navigate this call, what to say to my staff, and how to protect our immigrant friends and loved ones.
I guess I'm too offline cause for a second I was so confused about why would ray donovan host a women's only sleepaway camp lol