Council Committee Holds Hearing on COVID-19 Relief Bills

Committee hearing calls into question the amount of loans and protections for small businesses during COVID outbreak. On April 29, 2020, the City Council’s Committee on Small Business and Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing held a joint public hearing on the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses in New York City.  Of the thirteen proposed bills, three were specifically labeled as part of a COVID-19 Relief Package. The bills address personal liability for … <Read More>


Deli fined $16,600 for e-cig display

Deli displayed e-cigarette products after City served summons. On May 6, 2019, during a routine inspection, an officer from the Department of Consumer Affairs* served a summons charging violations of City electronic cigarette laws on Tottenville Gourmet Deli & Smoke Shop located at 7507 Amboy Road, Staten Island. The officer saw e-cigarette products on display in a glass case with prices. The Deli did not have a license as an Electronic Cigarette Retail Dealer.


Cigar Seller Fined $2,000, Loses License

161 Stationery Inc., a prior violator, sold a single cigar for a price below City-required minimum. On October 21, 2017, Awad Ahmad, N., an employee of 161 Stationery Inc., located at 90 East 161st Street in the Bronx, was on the phone and helping other customers when an inspector from the Department of Consumer Affairs entered the store. The inspector placed $2.00 on the counter to purchase a cigar, and Awad Ahmad, N. sold … <Read More>


Pedicab Operator Fined $750

Unlicensed owner left pedicab in the “No Standing” area of Central Park. Shakhboz Muzafforov left his pedicab unattended in front of the Loeb Boat House at East 73rd Street in Central Park at 12:22 p.m. on May 16, 2017.  A Parks officer served Muzafforov a summons for unlawfully leaving a pedicab in a prohibited location.  Later that day at 2:05 p.m., a Parks officer asked Muzafforov for his license and upon review of the … <Read More>


Homeowner’s Cash Award Remanded

Homeowner claimed home improvement contractor did incompetent work. Favors and Company Inc., a home improvement contractor, and Edmina Lee, a homeowner, entered into a series of home improvement contracts to make repairs for her two properties located at 112-28 199th Street and at 186-21 Hilburn Avenue, Queens. Work related to the 199th Street property occurred between April 28, 2014 and May 23, 2014. Work related to the Hilburn Avenue property occurred between May 15, … <Read More>


Sidewalk Cafes: What it Takes to Dine on the Streets of New York

Operating a sidewalk café requires a public review process and approval from the city. Summer is here and many restaurants open sidewalk cafés to give people a breath of fresh air while enjoying a meal. To operate a sidewalk café, the business must have a food service establishment permit and each year the business must pay consent fees, which are essentially a “lease” for use of the sidewalk space.