Barney’s New York has just joined a growing list of big department stores that have closed their doors. It’s fairly simple to see why retail is facing some challenges. And anyone who takes a break from shopping online and leaves their apartment now and then can see the long line of empty storefronts lining the city’s streets. So, making a program like M/WBE work is more important than ever for entrepreneurs who have goods and services to offer the city. But even getting a sought-after city contract isn’t enough to guarantee your business can survive in a place as costly as New York. Our guests offer their thoughts on what the city needs to do to help protect women and minority owned businesses so that they can reach the level where they can bid on those city contracts, and survive for the long run.