The future for strip malls
“Outdoor shopping centers — especially those anchored by supermarkets — have shown to be resilient before and during the pandemic,” the Albany Business Journal writes. The Albany region has a vacancy rate in strips malls of 7.3%, lower than the national average of 10.5%. These numbers are just one percent or so changed from 2019. Outdoor shopping centers look strong because of little recent construction and because the major chains that anchor them have a mixed business model focused both on brick-and-mortar and online shopping, the story says.
Stefanik blames Biden
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik on Thursday called President Joe Biden unfit to serve in the wake of the terrorist attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan, the Post-Star is reporting. The attack killed 13 U.S. service members and wounded or killed many more. The attack came at the airport gate where thousands have been waiting to board planes out of the country and avoid Taliban rule. On Thursday, Stefanik said the president “has blood on his hands” and said his “weak and incompetent leadership” led to the crisis unfolding in the country, the story says.
Rich and Famous at the Track
The Times-Union is running a photo slideshow of the luminaries who have shown up at the track this season and past. Among them: entertainer Josh Groban, snowboarder Shawn White, boxer Joe Frazier, TV foodie Bobby Flay, and singer David Cassidy.
AdkAction and the fair food pricing
A program from AdkAction will subsidize the cost of locally produced food in the North Country, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise is reporting. People in the Fair Food Pricing program can receive 30% off or more at participating vendors. Eligibility for the program is based on United Way limited income guidelines. The idea of the program is to drop the price of local, natural food to levels that people of limited means can afford. Grants from New York State Health Foundation, Adirondack Foundation and the Cloudsplitter Foundation and other donors pay for the program.