Andrew Yang Policy on AMERICAN MALL ACT

[Sherman A1]

Malls used to be a hub for socialization and commerce in many American communities. They were where families would go shopping for school supplies before grabbing dinner and catching a movie. Teens would have their first jobs working retail there, and spend their Friday nights with friends. A local mall was an economic boon.

As e-commerce takes over a larger share of the retail market, many malls are closing down – 300 malls will close in the next 4 years and hundreds more will struggle, the windows shuttered, the doors locked, the building abandoned. This sends a negative signal that the economy of the area is suffering. It also attracts criminal elements, who can squat in and vandalize these empty buildings without much interest from local law enforcement.

These giant spaces need to be revitalized in order to spur investment in the local economy and combat the sub/urban blight associated with the closing of a mall.

"We need to do all we can to find productive uses for the hundreds of American malls that are going to close in the next four years. Offices, churches, indoor recreation spaces, anything we can do to keep these spaces vital and positive is an enormous win for the surrounding community. We should provide incentives and funds to help more developers reinvent these buildings and spaces. I've been in one giant office that used to be a mall and it was great, with tons of parking."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/american-mall-act/

[TheFarseer]

1. They almost

Turned the mall in my hometown into a ups distribution center, but apparently they didn’t want the whole space and the deal fell through. They just kicked out the last tenant because how can you have a mall with literally one tenant? Not sure what the plan is now.

[Sherman A1]

5. One close to me will likely be knocked down

But another that was designed as an outlet mall will be turned into an amateur sports complex so that will be a good thing.

[lostnfound]

2. Good issue to focus on

Make it a “commons”
Schools
Convert to residences
Community center

Like rails to trails, this is an obsolete resource that cries out for innovative uses

[RicROC]

3. church

With the local churches consolidating, a friend of mine suggested that an underused mall should be used as one gathering place of these combined congregation. With all the window display areas, there were be plenty of room for each of the former parishes to display its history.

Parking is ample. Malls are inherently wheel-chair friendly. While a large worship area would essential for many liturgies, there are also areas for side and small chapels.

[Sherman A1]

4. Seems like a good idea

There will not be a one size fits all solution to this problem and some of them will need to or end up being bulldozed, but those that can be repurposed into other uses will be a benefit to their communities.

[Voltaire2]

6. Most of these spaces are shit and should

be bull-dozed back to open spaces.

[Honeycombe8]

7. I agree. nt

[dalton99a]

8. I have asked Andrew Yang to add:

1. BAN NOISY LEAF BLOWERS

2. BAN UNRELIABLE CVT TRANSMISSIONS

3. BAN USELESS STUPID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES