TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mike Haber, Director of Community and Economic Development Program at Brooklyn Legal Services Corp A, on Small Business Legal Support
2:25:28
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129 sec
Mike Haber testifies on behalf of Brooklyn Legal Services Corp A, seeking funding for their Community and Economic Development Program and advocating for the continuation of SBS's Commercial Lease Assistance program. He emphasizes the importance of legal support for small businesses and nonprofits across New York City. Additional points include:
• The program helps small businesses that cannot afford court costs and attorneys for litigation. • Without legal representation, landlords may take advantage of long-time tenants by increasing rents. • Haber suggests options to increase small business support and litigation court capacity, including allowing CLA Council to appear in court on a trial or pilot basis.
Mike Haber
2:25:28
Good afternoon.
2:25:29
My name is Mike Hayburn.
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I'm the director of the Community And Economic Development Program at Brooklyn Legal Services Corp A or Brooklyn A.
2:25:35
Brooklyn A is seeking funding for our community and economic development program, which provides legal support for small businesses and nonprofits across the Five boroughs.
2:25:43
I'm calling for a continuation of SBS's commercial lease assistance program.
2:25:47
Partnering with SBS to provide services through the CLA program has allowed us to shift our focus to commercialize assistance to small businesses over the last 6 years.
2:25:56
Last fiscal year, our small business programs serve small businesses on 1334 matters.
2:26:01
We provided assistance to businesses in every council district in New York City in FY22 and all but 1 and FY 23.
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Each and every one of these neighborhood businesses plays a crucial role as part of their communities.
2:26:13
Despite our successes with the CLA program, we have some ideas for how to improve it.
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1st and foremost, continued funding of the program with immediate issuance of a negotiated acquisition extension agreement to ensure continuity of services and timely issuance of an RFP for a new contract cycle.
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2nd, while we appreciate all the efforts that SBS has undertaken to assist with our outreach efforts, Brooklyn A is a legal services provider and not a marketing firm, and we believe CLA program needs additional assistance from the city to support our outreach efforts.
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With additional investment in and management of the marketing of the CLA program from SBS, could dramatically increase our services to small businesses across the city, making more business owners aware of these critical services.
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Thirdly, many small businesses are struggling with landlord lawsuits.
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That have come about because they fell behind in paying their rents sometimes by just a few $1000.
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The CLA program does not allow us to litigate on behalf of our clients even though most small businesses cannot afford to pay for court costs and attorneys for litigation.
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Brookline has seen repeatedly that if landlords are aware that attorneys cannot appear in court on behalf of small business clients.
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They amend that they may amend long time tenants and jackup rents.
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Causing damages to to small businesses across the city.
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Several options would allow for an increase in small business support and litigation court capacity.
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Stay on a trial or pilot basis, including allowing CLA Council to appear in
Randy Peers
2:27:32
the report, which
Mike Haber
2:27:33
is a great or for a limited portion of certain agreements.
2:27:36
Thank you for your time.