As mom and pop boutiques, old family restaurants and neighborhood staples seem to be disappearing on the Upper West Side, a look at the businsesses that are moving in can be telling. Clothing stores and shops selling all kinds of merchandise are being replaced, when they are replaced, by nail and hair salons, eyebrow threaders and spas. That’s a testament to the impact of the internet. No matter how easy and efficient Amazon may be, that delivery drone won’t cut your hair or give you a mani-pedi. And there’s probably not a lot anyone can do about growth of online shopping. So, how can the city help protect business owners from the other obstacles to success, like landlords hoping a big chain store might move in, or a developer may want to buy their property? There are a few controversial plans in the air. Mayor De Blasio has floated the idea of a vacancy tax for storefronts that stay empty for too long. There’s the re-birth of the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which would force landlords to hand out longer leases, and go to arbitration over disputes, and, possibly, commercial rent control. While those plans have their supporters, there is also pretty strong opposition, and not just from landlords. Gale Brewer and Jessica Walker talk about those possible plans, and if there is any way to keep shops open in one of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods.