CUNY TV's The Stoler Report

Hoping that the years-long effort to rezone the Gowanus is coming to fruition, guests describe their commitment to the Gowanus Canal, and their views of the location as the focus of development in Kings County, creating market rate units, affordable to low-income and working-class families, mixed use commercial, industrial space, schools, spurring business and job growth.

Sports betting, in New Jersey, a thriving billion dollar business, is the third largest business of its kind, on the globe!! To date, 30 states, including New York, allow sports betting. New Jersey's tax rates of 8% to 15% are discussed as reasonable compared with New York's extraordinary 51% on transactions. Guests discuss Esports , brick & mortar casinos, gambling habits and the industry's role in addressing responsible gambling.

The sale of medical and recreational cannabis is legal in New Jersey. Considering legal cannabis as a social equity business, an opportunity for ownership and employment for low income entrepreneurs, guests discuss the challenges to all who may be interested in this enterprise: licensing, communities - welcoming and not welcoming - the trade to their communities, the extraordinary difficulty in banking, and cumbersome tax structures.

Guests discuss New Jersey's Gold Coast and the housing boom in Hoboken and Jersey City, continuing in Journal Square and the Cliffs. While demand is high, supply of residential properties is low, especially of Affordable Housing as municipalities are slow to approve new projects. Building support of Affordable Housing in volume is limited to the highly competitive and limited supply of federal tax credits. Greater support is needed. Senior housing, malls, walkable-downtown development is reviewed.

The Garment Center - convenient to transportation - is working its way westward, from 42nd Street to about 34th Street - attracting tenants to the area's magnificent Art Deco and steel and glass buildings, to the popular Bryant Park, and to relative bargain rents. The area is trending upward; on a modified basis, people are returning to work, amenities are being enlarged and improved.

Despite the challenges associated with multi family real estate, a regulated business in New York, guests are positive about New York "coming back strong," and in investing in this interesting asset class. Developers discuss an extension or new 421a program, vital to New York's future, Independent, Assisted Living and Senior Housing. All support the conversion of hotels to rentals - acknowledging that it was "easier said than done!"

Celebrating a new year, a new administration, guests anticipate a good year for residential development, citing capital available for public/private partnerships to develop affordable housing. Guests discuss the tax credit issue of the successful Affordable New York Program-421a, land acquisition and pros and cons of areas considered for development: Harlem, Coney Island, Gowanus, East New York and more.

Business leaders: a realtor, bankers and a tax expert, consider "where we're going in 2022!" Bankers see another good year in financial services, but are a bit uneasy with acquisitions and real estate investments. Guests discuss the increase in bank mergers, tax legislation, the future of 1031s, interest rates and inflation. Careers and opportunities in banking, accounting and finance are explored.

Considering the future - a new year, new administration - guests foresee an aggressive continuation of bank mergers as opportunities to extend their footprint in the market. Bankers discuss the effects of LIBOR, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac and interest rates, rent stabilized, multi-family buildings, cannabis shops, and vacancies and downward rents in New York's high rent areas.

Consulting guests and his Crystal Ball, Michael Stoler determines that "retail is booming." Food and beverage wellness concepts, wellness brands and services are coming to New York, some to integrated commercial space with food halls, fitness establishments and more. As business improves, foreign investors, new brands are looking to return or enter NYC's markets. SoHo, Broadway, brick & mortar businesses, repurposing malls and shopping centers - all discussed.