Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
The de Blasio administration will work with the City Council to review more than 75 violations.
By Forum Staff
The City is expanding relief for small businesses, including eliminating fines for first time violations and expanding the list of violations that will have cure periods, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.
According to de Blasio, fines subject to relief include select Department of Buildings, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Department of Sanitation, and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection violations. The administration indicated that it will work with the City Council to review more than 75 violations.
The Buildings and Transportation departments can implement their own rule changes, and will begin providing additional relief in the fall, de Blasio said.
“New York City is not New York City without our small businesses,” Hizzoner added. “We will not be a city that gives in to corporate takeover. Instead, we’ll fight for our mom-and-pops and do all we can to help them thrive.”
Examples of first time fines forgiven: failure to clean 18 inches from curb into the street ($100 penalty); excessive noise created by an air compressor ($560 penalty).
Examples of fines added to the cure list: scale used for weighed items at supermarket/bodega not clearly in sight of customer ($75 penalty); failure to disclose details about layaway plans ($260 penalty); failure to post clear price list at laundromats ($375 penalty).
“In order to protect public health and the environment we work with businesses every day to come into compliance with our rules and regulations,” said DEP Commissioner, and Howard Beach resident, Vincent Sapienza. “Expanding relief for small businesses makes sense and we applaud the mayor for extending this initiative.”
To ensure businesses are aware of these changes, City agencies will update their summonses to include clear and easy explanations for how to fix the violation. In partnership with these agencies, the Department of Small Business Services will also organize a canvassing effort across the city to spread the word.
“Our small businesses are the core of New York City’s economic engine, and it is no secret being a business owner is often an arduous task,” said Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside), chairman of the Committee on Economic Development. “In these difficult economic times, this much-needed relief for our mom and pop institutions will go a long way in helping our city’s business owners and their employees thrive and continue to serve their communities.”
According to the City, the de Blasio administration has cut small-business fines by more than 40 percent since 2014 and will cut an additional 10 percent by the time the mayor leaves office. The administration noted that it has put more than $100 million back in the pockets of small business owners, and the relief announced Thursday will raise the amount of money saved yearly from $20 million to $26 million.
Still, some say it’s not enough.
“Reducing fines and helping educate business owners on how to resolve or pay off penalties is a positive step forward but there is more to be done,” said State Sen. James Sanders, Jr. (D-South Ozone Park).
