AGENCY TESTIMONY
Response to proposed small business legislation
0:19:13
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3 min
Commissioner Gross addresses three proposed bills related to small business challenges, providing SBS's perspective on each.
- Discusses Intro 449 (commercial landlord watch list), noting potential limitations due to insufficient data
- Addresses Intro 1082 (study on small business costs), explaining difficulties in implementation due to varied business factors
- Responds to Intro 1132 (analysis of violations by geography), expressing willingness to deploy outreach staff but noting capacity limitations for annual studies
Dynishal Gross
0:19:13
We know that there are 3 bills of interest for today's hearing that seek to address small business challenges.
0:19:23
Intro 449 calls for the creation of a commercial landlord watch list based on tenant harassment cases, building violations, evictions, and SBS commissioner discretion.
0:19:38
However, our analysis of commercial tenant harassment cases filed under the existing, law, identified fewer than 30 cases that have been heard by New York Supreme Court, of of which only a small number have resulted in a finding of harassment, as alleged by the plaintiffs the tenant plaintiffs in the case.
0:20:02
This indicates that there may be insufficient data to support the creation of an annual watch list.
0:20:08
We looked at a period going back to 2016.
0:20:12
Additionally, building violations, may be difficult to interpret as business owners or property owners
UNKNOWN
0:20:21
may
Dynishal Gross
0:20:21
be at fault for these types of violations.
0:20:24
Additionally, as a nonregulatory and non enforcement agency, the proposed bill conflicts with some of our primary strategies and ongoing programs and initiatives, including welcome further welcome further conversation with the bill sponsors to find other ways of addressing commercial tenant harassment.
0:20:55
Intro 1082 calls for a study of the cost associated with opening and maintaining a small business.
0:21:02
Our department is committed to reducing small business cost by helping entrepreneurs navigate the city's regulatory landscape, managing start up expenses, identifying potential savings through programs like the NYC Best Team, the Commercial Lease Assistance Program, the My City Business Portal, our Business Incentives Estimator, and our financing assistance programs.
0:21:27
Nonetheless, the requirements of the bill would be difficult to accomplish as the cost for small business creation vary significantly for business owners depending on their business type, business location, market conditions, and other case specific factors.
0:21:43
We're happy to have further conversations with council member Narcisse to improve our relevant services.
0:21:50
Intro 1132 calls for an annual analysis of violations issued against small businesses by geography and targeted outreach based on any dis disparities.
0:22:02
While we're currently unable to connect collect excuse me, conduct such annual studies without increased staffing and technology capacity, We are happy to deploy our business outreach staff to any neighborhoods of interest to the city council, separate from our promotional efforts in all neighborhoods, and to remain focused on the goals of this bill.