Scott Galin

How much longer can this go on?

This has been a terrible 20 months, but, based on a multitude of conversations with decision-makers and what I’m seeing at street level, the tide seems to be turning in our favor. The delta variant certainly slowed the recovery, but we’re cautiously optimistic and hopeful that, by the end of first-quarter 2022, real-world conditions — socially and economically — will be materially better than at any point over the previous two years.

What does normal look like?

I think by and large people will revert to pre-pandemic patterns; I expect the new normal will look very much like the old normal, with some modest calibrations in personal and business lives.

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

I would spend even more time with family.

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

Appreciate with greater depth and magnitude not to take anything for granted.

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

Another, more aggressive variant.

Is now the time to buy or sell?

It’s a good time to buy, but the opportunities to acquire assets at an attractive price point and/or with moderate to high upside are more dependent than ever on asset class and location.

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?

I would lift it. The eviction moratorium never should have been put in place. Evicting tenants during the height of the pandemic would have been unconscionable. However, most residential and many commercial landlords are small business owners and simply cannot hold onto their assets indefinitely without relief. That is an economic impossibility. There are billions of dollars in state coffers that have not been allocated yet. They need to be released to make as many tenants and landlords as possible whole again.

Lightning round

Eric Adams or Curtis Sliwa?

Eric Adams.

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

Last month. Chicago and Miami.

What vax did you get?

Pfizer.

Your go-to takeout?

TAO, Nobu, Mezzaluna.

Where does your patience wear thinnest — evictions or anti-vaxxers?

I’m impatient by nature.