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Q&A
Council Member Bottcher inquires about predatory ADA compliance lawsuits against small businesses
0:39:56
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161 sec
Council Member Erik Bottcher raises concerns about predatory lawsuits targeting small businesses for ADA violations, often resulting in quick cash settlements. Haris Khan from the Department of Small Business Services responds by outlining their efforts to address this issue, including the development of resources and tools to help businesses with accessibility compliance.
- The discussion highlights the challenge small businesses face in navigating complex ADA compliance requirements.
- SBS has created a business accessibility page on their My City Business site, which includes a free online screening tool for digital accessibility.
- The department is working in partnership with MOPD and CCHR to provide comprehensive information in multiple languages to assist businesses.
Erik Bottcher
0:39:56
Good afternoon.
0:40:00
There's a practice that's been happening in New York City around the country in which attorneys working with plaintiffs go to small businesses and perform what essentially amounts to a shakedown, like catching them on an ADA violation, sometimes a relatively minor ADA violation, and forcing them into quick cash settlements rather than actually going to court.
0:40:34
That's even when sometimes the infraction has already been fixed.
0:40:40
My dad, when he had his fly fishing shop, this is up in in Lake Placid, got a scary letter because his website wasn't ADA compliant, and he was able to work it out, but it was someone who was just finding websites and sending these.
0:41:01
At one point in our council district, we were hearing from quite a few businesses who were being approached in this way by attorneys over ADA violations, and it it seems to be a little bit less frequent than it used to be, but I was I wanted to know from you, is that the case?
0:41:26
And if so, what has changed?
0:41:30
Is this still a persistent issue?
Haris Khan
0:41:33
Thank you council member for raising and elevating this issue.
0:41:37
It's very concerning to us as the Department on Small Business Services.
0:41:40
We've had conversations and engagement with MOPD on this topic at a leadership level, at a staff level.
0:41:47
It really is one of the reasons that we refreshed and developed our business accessibility page on our My City Business site.
0:41:55
That page has had now hundreds of views since January.
0:41:58
And it includes a free online screening tool so businesses can make their digital websites accessible, particularly related to the issue that you've raised with your family's own business.
0:42:08
And it's one resource that we have now in our toolbox to help respond to businesses that are struggling to deal with this issue.
0:42:16
And so we really would like your assistance as well.
0:42:19
We make sure that when we're in neighborhoods, we have information on our My City Business portal and site in over 20 languages.
0:42:25
That page with business accessibility is in 11 languages, and the content there is developed not just by SPS but in partnership with MOPD and CCHR to make sure it reflects subject matter expertise.