PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lindsey Vigoda, New York Director of Small Business Majority
2:07:41
ยท
128 sec
Lindsey Vigoda, New York Director of Small Business Majority, testified in support of Intro 1132, which aims to provide transparency and guidance to small businesses regarding regulations and fines. She emphasized the challenges small businesses face in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and the need for more support to help them remain compliant and thrive.
- Small businesses, especially those with fewer than 10 employees, struggle to track and comply with constantly changing regulations.
- Unexpected penalties due to non-compliance affect small businesses' bottom lines and slow down business growth.
- The proposed legislation (Intro 1132) is seen as a crucial step in providing small businesses with the tools they need to avoid fines and succeed.
Lindsey Vigoda
2:07:41
Thank you, chair and members of the committee.
2:07:43
My name is Lindsay Begoda, and I'm the New York director of Small Business Majority, a national small business organization with offices many places, but especially here right in New York City.
2:07:54
We empower our diverse entrepreneurs to build a thriving and equitable economy.
2:08:00
I'm happy to be here today in support of intro 11 32.
2:08:05
This is a crucial step to support small businesses across the city with tools they need to thrive by providing transparency, guidance, and ultimately a game plan for small business outreach to avoid these fines.
2:08:18
Right now, city small businesses across New York City are struggling to navigate a confusing, burdensome, and seemingly ever changing landscape of regulations.
2:08:28
This often makes it difficult for well intentioned local businesses to be in compliance, resulting in unexpected penalties that affect their, bottom lines.
2:08:38
This ultimately slows business down, which is harmful to our entire community.
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Most business owners in our network have fewer than 10 employees, if they have employees at all.
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Their expertise is in their product or their service, not in tracking compliance issues.
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And what I've seen in my career as a small business advocate is that small businesses don't often have the legal or human resource systems to help track these constantly changing landscapes of mandatory rules and regulations.
2:09:07
This leaves well intentioned entrepreneurs at risk of being misinformed and subject to fines that affect the and may that affect their ability to maintain and grow their business.
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This city thrives on diverse and local small businesses.
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They are the heart of each borough and the character of each neighborhood.
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Running a business is already difficult enough, and we need to create a community and a system that allows them to remain compliant and thrive.
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So we must create more transparency so we, as advocates, and you as local officials, can can understand how fines are being implemented and how we can work together to support our entrepreneurs.
2:09:45
Small Business Majority is very excited to be here and work with you all.
2:09:48
Thank you.