Photo Courtesy of the Aronov Campaign
“If we truly care about preserving the strength of our economy and workforce here in New York, we must begin with the lifeblood of our communities and immediately enact comprehensive guidance and relief for our small businesses,” said City Council Candidate David Aronov.
By Forum Staff
Small business owners on Tuesday rallied on the steps of Borough Hall demanding economic relief as they continue to experience economic devastation wrought by ongoing COVID-19 restaurant guidance and regulations.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Small businesses can barely make it on 100 percent capacity with labor, food cost, rent, and utilities. Can you imagine how we are all doing with 25 percent capacity for dining? It’s a recipe for disaster,” said Spiro Gatanas, owner of DinerBar and Tower Diner in Rego Park.
City Council Candidate David Aronov added, “Our small businesses have been hurt, and we have to ensure they get the support they need to continue to be open and succeed. As the backbone of our city’s economy, the lack of investment into our small businesses now will cost us in the long run. Council District 29 is no stranger to vacant storefronts. Just take a walk on Austin Street in Forest Hills, Queens Boulevard in Rego Park, Lefferts Boulevard in Kew Gardens, or Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill.
“Small businesses in Queens have been left to decode an increasingly complex and convoluted system for themselves: from color-coded zones, to unfair business regulations, to over-the-top fining from State Liquor Authority and associated city and state agencies.I speak from personal experience on the pain and frustration small businesses have felt throughout these past months. My family has owned and operated a small business for over 25 years in Kew Gardens.
“We need leadership to offer fair guidance and relief to our businesses, not continuously add levels of dysfunction and confusion to the process. That’s why we’re calling on Mayor De Blasio and Governor Cuomo to enact the following: rent relief for small businesses, comprehensive protocol for indoor and outdoor dining, an expansion of the visiting inspector program to reduce fines and promote small business education, and a system of streamlined communication that involves feedback from small business owners.
“If we truly care about preserving the strength of our economy and workforce here in New York, we must begin with the lifeblood of our communities and immediately enact comprehensive guidance and relief for our small businesses.”
Small business owners echoed Aronov’s statement.
“The majority of my business was from 8 p.m.-4a.m. before the pandemic. Now with a 10 p.m. cutoff and with customers feeling unsafe being outside at night because of an unruly hotel in Kew Gardens, the business is struggling. We need real leadership now,” said Sabri Dani, owner of Dani’s House of Pizza in Kew Gardens.
“Seeing the demand for the store hours, we’re looking to stay open 24/7 from our current times of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. But as a new small business that is not receiving grants or loans or new small business assistance it is extremely difficult to create a financially sustainable business,” said Mohammad Islam, owner of Grocery Shoppe in Richmond Hill.
