TESTIMONY
Matt Bauer, New York City Bid Association on the Role of Business Improvement Districts in Addressing Commercial Vacancies and Supporting Local Businesses
1:35:14
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170 sec
Matt Bauer from the New York City Bid Association testifies about the efforts of the city's 76 business improvement districts (BIDs) to combat commercial vacancies.
- BIDs invest $145 million annually in private assessments to create conditions for retail corridors to thrive
- BIDs provide supplemental security, sanitation, streetscape improvements and marketing programs to support local businesses
- BIDs collaborate with city agencies like the Small Business Services to aid businesses with licenses, permits and regulations
- Factors like lack of office workers, transportation issues and infrastructure projects contribute to retail vacancies in some areas
- The association appreciates city initiatives like the vacancy database and efforts to curb fines on small businesses
Matt Bauer
1:35:14
Good good morning, Jeff.
1:35:15
Please take me off your list.
Oswald Feliz
1:35:19
Can you please turn your mic.
Matt Bauer
1:35:21
Oh, sorry.
1:35:21
And I am testifying on behalf of the New York City Bid Association, which represents all 76 of the city's business improvement districts.
1:35:29
Bids annually invested $145,000,000 in private assessment funds to create foundation necessary for retail carders to thrive.
1:35:37
On a daily basis bids are front frontline workers dedicated to combating commercial vacancies in our neighborhoods for providing a clean and safe shopping environment with our supplemental security and sanitation programs.
1:35:48
Our streetscape improvements including plantings and street furniture provide ongoing and highly visible stewardship in our areas.
1:35:55
Our marketing special event and publicity programs help build the customer bases of our member businesses, all with the direct purpose of helping our members capture users ring.
1:36:05
Moreover, our work with looks with self-service agencies, and city agencies aid many in need who are part of our communities.
1:36:14
We deeply appreciate the guidance, camaraderie, and meaningful support provided the wonderful team at SBS.
1:36:20
Their neighborhood development staff are here with us every step of the way and we constantly utilize our business support staff to aid our businesses in navigating licenses permits and understanding city regulations.
1:36:32
Our bids appreciate the positive steps that have already been taken by city government to better understand and address the concerns of brick and mortar businesses, including creating the vacancy database.
1:36:41
The 1 stop shop NYC Business Portable.
1:36:44
Portal EO2, which curbs burdens and fines and creation of the Small Business Advisory Commission, and the mayor's retail theft task force, both of which I have the honor of serving on.
1:36:55
We are pleased that many of our commercial corridors both in the CBD and throughout the boroughs are filling up again post pandemic with pedestrian numbers and sales figures rising.
1:37:04
We want to continue these positive trends while addressing persistent vacancies in some quarters.
1:37:10
Factors contributing to retail vacancy can vary upon the neighborhood.
1:37:13
For example, some corridors may depend upon office workers to be back and forth while others may be deeply affected by changes in transportation or ongoing infrastructure projects.
1:37:24
And quality adaptability of older buildings, staff, and growth competing commercial destinations, sap away from interest and other commercial retailer corridors at the expense of providing venting backflow protect this and creating gas connections to convert retail to food related to use are also frequently cited issues.
1:37:41
We just want to say again how important it is to keep our corridor safe, and we and the issues of unlicensed cannabis shops in our neighborhoods that are affecting things, businesses that don't wanna be near them.
1:37:52
And we just wanna just conclude by saying thanks to the many council members that serve on our boards or in our districts, and we just appreciate all that you do to support businesses in our communities.
1:38:03
Thanks so much.
