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    Mayor Signs Executive Order for Small Business Violations Reform

    Civil Penalties  •  Citywide

    Mayor Eric Adams with the signed “Small Business Forward” Executive Order. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

    The executive order requires agencies to evaluate their most common summonses issued. On January 4, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams signed the “Small Business Forward” Executive Order to help small businesses face fewer fines and penalties as they continue to recover from the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The executive order requests that agencies like the Department of Buildings, Fire Department, Department of Consumer Worker and Protection, Department of Sanitation, Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene examine their business regulations to reduce fine schedules, allow cure periods, or provide warnings for first time violations.  (read more…)

    Tags : COVID-19 Recovery, Department of Small Business Services, Executive Order, small businesses
    Date:01/07/2022
    Category : Mayor
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    Open Storefronts Program Extended Through September 2021

    COVID-19 Response  •  Citywide

    Diagram of what could be allowed through the Open Storefront Program. Image Credit: Mayor’s Office

    The program provides expanded space for businesses to safely operate during the pandemic. On December 29, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Open Storefronts Program would be extended through September 30, 2021. The Open Storefronts Program allows storefront businesses to use a portion of the sidewalk to display merchandise, complete transactions, sell goods and provide queuing areas to provide businesses with more space to expand and safely operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will also be expanded to allow businesses to sell prepackaged food on sidewalks and allow restaurants to use sidewalks for take-out orders. 

    (read more…)

    Tags : COVID-19, Department of Small Business Services, Open Storefronts program
    Date:01/12/2021
    Category : Mayor
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    Mayor de Blasio Launches BE NYC to Grow Black Businesses

    Business Support  •  Citywide

    The BE NYC Cabinet meets to help develop solutions to support the City’s Black-owned businesses. Image Credit: BE NYC/Small Business Services

    On August 19, 2020, Mayor de Blasio announced BE NYC, a new initiative that will increase the number of Black-owned businesses in high-growth industries Citywide. Additionally, the Department of Small Business Services has released the landmark Black entrepreneurship report and launched four new programs for Black business owners. (read more…)

    Tags : BE NYC, Black Businesses, Department of Small Business Services
    Date:09/02/2020
    Category : Mayor
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    New York City Council Approves Two Bills Limiting Third-Party Delivery Service Fees

    COVID-19  •  Citywide

    Council Member Mark Gjonaj speaking at the May 13, 2020 virtual Stated Meeting Image Credit: City Council Livestream

    Council Bills intended to support the restaurant industry and small business. On May 13, 2020 the New York City Council voted to approve two bills intended to restrict the amount of fees third-party delivery services can charge restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic and restaurant closures. Intro 1898-A, which essentially prevents fees to restaurants when no actual transaction results, was approved with 47 votes in the affirmative and three votes in the negative. Intro 1908-B, which restricts third-party food delivery service fees to a maximum 15 percent per order, was approved by a vote of 46 votes in the affirmative and 4 votes in the negative.

    (read more…)

    Tags : Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Council Member Francisco Moya, Council Member Mark Gjonaj, COVID-19, COVID-19 Relief Bills, Department of Small Business Services, Doordash, Grubhub, Seamless, Third-Party Delivery Services, Uber Eats
    Date:05/19/2020
    Category : City Council
    (2) Comment

    Council Committee Holds Hearing on COVID-19 Relief Bills

    COVID-19  •  Citywide

    Council Member Mark Gjonaj at the Joint Committee Hearing Image Credit: City Council

    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 commercial tenants, commercial tenant harassment and fees for sidewalk café licenses. Each bill is discussed in further detail below:

    (read more…)

    Tags : commercial real estate, COVID-19, COVID-19 Relief Bills, Department of Small Business Services, sidewalk cafe, Small Business, Small Business Administration
    Date:05/07/2020
    Category : City Council
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    Developers Must Set Aside Affordable Retail Space in City-Funded Developments

    Small Businesses  •  Citywide

    Council Member Rafael Espinal Jr./Image Credit: John McCarten and New York City Council

    The law will help provide more opportunities for small businesses to remain in the City. On February 23, 2020, Introduction 1408-B was enacted into Local Law 35 of 2020. Introduction 1408-B requires developers to set aside affordable retail space for non-chain retailers within large City-funded affordable housing developments. The requirement will apply to certain affordable housing developments of at least 750,000 square feet that receive $15 million or more in City funds. The law, sponsored by Council Member Rafael Espinal, Jr., was proposed in response to the challenges local retailers face to remain in the City such as the recent increases in retail space rent and competition from chain stores.

    (read more…)

    Tags : Council Member Mark Gjonaj, Council Member Rafael Espinal Jr, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Department of Small Business Services, Introduction 1408-B, small businesses
    Date:03/04/2020
    Category : City Council
    (2) Comment
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