100 days of School at Birch
From Councilman Mark Gjonaj
Bronx Chipotle Fundraiser for P.S. 105
BRONX TIMES R 34 EPORTER, MARCH 5-11, 2021 BTR
On Wednesday, February 24 at the new 2190 White Plains Road Chipotle, a fundraiser
was held for P.S. 105 Senator Abraham Bernstein Elementary School. Proceeds went
directly to the school’s Parent Association to purchase school supplies for the young
students. Digital fundraiser codes, like the one used for the P.S. 105 Senator Abraham
Bernstein Elementary fundraiser, can help raise even more money for other local causes
looking to increase fundraiser access digitally. For those interested in setting up a fundraiser,
visit: community.chipotle.com.
Birch Family Services Pelham Bay Early Childhood Center celebrated the 100 days of
school by reading 100 books. Children took part in the celebration both person and
remotely. Children in Room 5 “aged” themselves to 100 years old. Children in Room 8
counted and created 100. Children all over the school counted, sorted, and exercised
their way to 100. Parents also identifi ed 100 words their children have learned to say
this year at Pelham Bay ECC.
BY COUNCILMAN
MARK GJONAJ
I am excited to unveil
as chair of the NYC Council’s
Committee on Small
Business, that I am a
prime sponsor of perhaps
the most comprehensive,
citywide regulatory reform
legislation in recent
memory. This legislation,
introduced at last week’s
stated meeting and receiving
a hearing earlier this week, is two
parts: short-term and long-term relief.
In their current state, both bills
target 183 total violations from six city
agencies: Departments of Health, Sanitation,
Environmental Protection,
Buildings, Consumer Affairs and
Transportation. The violations targeted
include some of the most common
and costing violations affl icting
our small businesses. These include
violations of failure to include fi nal
selling prices, accidental sidewalk obstruction,
noise pollution and signage.
They do not however, and rightfully
so, target violations that threaten the
immediate health and safety of customers
and employees. To my knowledge,
this is the most comprehensive
attempt at regulatory reform in the
City Council’s history and is done in
the name of protecting our small business.
The two bills only differ in what
they afford to small business
with these fi nes, and
how. The short-term local
law, which would remain
in effect until the passage
of the long-term bill, would
entirely waive certain penalties
and allow for additional
cure periods or no
penalties for second and/or
third violations.The shortterm,
COVID-specifi c bill
would also apply relief retroactively—
meaning that the city will
be required to reimburse fi nes made
since March 12th, 2020.
The long-term bill, which lapses
the more immediate relief bill when
it passes, will waive or allow for cure
periods for select fi rst time violations
(and even some second time violations).
For all other second and additional
violations, penalty amounts
are adjusted to the lowest value of the
agency’s provided penalty range.
The ambition of this package is
unparalleled and both satisfi es demands
for COVID-19 relief, but also
has an eye towards the future, where
the city can stand behind and prop
up its small business stakeholders.
For more information about the status
of this legislation and what more
our offi ce has done for the city’s
small business, please contact me at
either (718) 931-1721 or at MGjonaj@
council.nyc.gov.
/community.chipotle.com
/council.nyc.gov