Meredith Marshall

How much longer can this go on?

The past 18 months have taught us to expect the unexpected. We’re living in a new normal, and we must assume we’ll be operating within this state for the foreseeable future.

What does normal look like?

The ability to adapt to the protocols that we’ve learned over the course of the last year and a half to keep us safe has become the biggest indication of what our new normal looks like.  These protocols will likely continue in the months and potentially years to come. The way we move through our everyday lives is different and we must expect the unexpected and adjust our behavior quickly and accordingly.

If you could go back in time to March of 2020, what’s the first thing you would do?

Quite frankly, I don’t think there is anything I would do differently. My family and I went into the pandemic fully stocked up on items needed and felt as well-prepared as we could be. We enjoyed the uninterrupted time together.

What do you do now that you never did before 2020?

I’m making the time to stay better connected with family, friends and loved ones. Since the onset of the pandemic, I’ve found myself reaching out and making a more conscious effort to remember birthdays, staying better connected with friends, and reconnecting with those I had lost touch with over the years. I even reached out to my old little league coach not too long ago and he remembered my game-winning bunt!

What’s the biggest threat to the return to normal?

I believe the biggest threat to the return to normal is misinformation. We’re 19-plus months into this pandemic and privy to multiple forms of real-time data regarding the efficacy of the vaccines as well as the measures that need to be taken to ensure our safety (social distancing, mask-wearing, etc.). We should be in a better place. Unfortunately, there are many bad actors and misinformation preventing this return to normal from happening.

Is now the time to buy or sell?

That depends in large part on what it is you’re attempting to buy or sell. I don’t think we’ll ever return to the same pre-pandemic model of buying and selling. The pandemic presented a black swan event that no one was prepared for, and, through it, certain markets and businesses accelerated their opportunities and growth, while others faced myriad challenges.

The business lifecycle is always everchanging and is more fluid now coming out of the pandemic than ever before, so, in large part, it depends on the asset and market you’re trying to buy or sell within. Many factors need to be taken into consideration.

Suddenly, there’s a big change to the New York state constitution and you’re now named the 58th governor of the Empire State — what do you do about the eviction moratorium?

End it, but make sure that folks won’t be harmed or put out on the street by distributing funds correctly and efficiently to those residents and families with the greatest need. Additionally, the city’s small landlord population, which has been heavily impacted throughout the pandemic, should be made a priority in this distribution as well. A large percentage of rental assistance funds have yet to be disseminated, and the time is now to do so.

Lightning round

Eric Adams or Curtis Sliwa? 

Eric Adams.

Last time you got on an airplane, what was your destination?

Atlanta for Labor Day weekend.

What vax did you get? 

Moderna.

Your go-to takeout?

On a rotation: Pasta, Caribbean food, Chinese, Mexican.