Business leaders send letter of concern to de Blasio

The leaders of a number of businesses urged Mayor Bill de Blasio in a letter Thursday “to take immediate action” on public safety and other issues in New York City as part of dealing with the city’s longer-term economic concerns.

Among the more than 150 people on the letter were the heads of Citigroup, Macys, and the WNBA.

In the letter, the signers cited the city’s success in containing the virus, but said “there is widespread anxiety over public safety, cleanliness and other quality of life issues that are contributing to deteriorating conditions in commercial districts and neighborhoods across the five boroughs.”

They said people would be “slow to return unless their concerns about security and the livability” were dealt with.

The letter said restoring essential services was “a necessary precursor for solving the city’s longer term, complex, economic challenges.”

On Twitter, de Blasio said, “We’re grateful for our business community and are partnering to rebuild a fairer, better city.”