In the ever-changing landscape of consumer behavior, small businesses in New York City face formidable challenges. One hurdle is archaic zoning laws that hinder the agility and survival of local entrepreneurs, Streetsense managing director of public nonprofit solutions Larisa Ortiz wrote in a recent op-ed in City Limits. The city’s zoning laws, for instance, do not allow some small businesses to adjust to consumer interests. Consider a bike shop that would like to offer bike repair or a bakery that could grow beyond 750 square feet If not for the zoning size cap on commercial strips. In the op-ed, Ortiz advocates for the passage of the New York City Department of City Planning’s City of Yes for Economic Opportunity proposal, a trio of initiatives aimed at bolstering business activity, building more housing and navigating the city toward carbon neutrality.