QUESTION
What assistance can the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) provide regarding illegal street vendors in areas with high vacancy rates?
0:39:35
·
80 sec
The SBS chief of staff explains that the vacancy rate in Council Member Zhuang's district is lower than borough and city averages at 9%.
- The SBS views street vendors as the city's smallest entrepreneurs
- The SBS aims to help illegal street vendors become legal
- The SBS seeks creative opportunities for street vendors to grow their businesses legally
- This may involve helping street vendors fill vacant storefronts
- The SBS offers business services like financing and legal assistance to all New Yorkers
- The SBS can engage with vendors in Zhuang's area to transition them into legitimacy
Susan Zhuang
0:39:35
Because according the data you can provide today, the sunset park area has a high vacancy rate, 20%, but in my district in Sunset Park Area.
0:39:49
I see business everywhere.
0:39:52
They have illegal strain vendors everywhere.
0:39:55
Is there anything you guys to help about those illegal vendors.
Tian Weinberg
0:40:01
So actually, you know, we do have a vacancy rate for your district.
0:40:07
We're seeing it at about 9%.
0:40:09
So that's in comparison.
0:40:10
And again, they're not exactly apples to apples.
Erik Bottcher
0:40:13
Mhmm.
Tian Weinberg
0:40:14
And that is lower than the burrow wide average, and it's lower than the city wide average.
0:40:19
So we are encouraged by that.
0:40:22
In terms of street vendors, SBS, you know, we're really focused.
0:40:28
We see street vendors as the city's smallest entrepreneurs.
0:40:31
And we really wanna focus on helping them become legal and finding creative opportunities to grow their business in legal ways.
0:40:40
That sometimes may help fill storefronts.
0:40:44
So we have a range of business services from financing and legal assistance dot All New Yorkers are eligible for, and we can certainly engage with the vendors in your area and work with our enforcement partners necessary.
