Adams declares Black Businesses Matter
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Borough President,
Eric Adams on Friday
joined business owner of color,
advocates and elected leaders
in calling for a halt on on what
they describe as “overly punitive
enforcement” on Black and
Brown businesses by the New
York City Police Department
(NYPD), the New York State
Liquor Authority (SLA) and
other city and state entities.
Adams said the business
owners present offered testimonies
of their experiences,
“which have involved exorbitant
fines, required changes to
a business’s method of operation
(e.g. shorter hours), and
even revocation of a business’s
liquor license.”
In addition, under the recent
Phase Two re-opening amid
the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic, the borough president
said businesses can be
penalized and have their liquor
licenses revoked if they fail to
comply with social distancing
guidelines.
“Amid an economic recession,
these penalties can be
financially ruinous to business
owners, many of whom
have taken a major hit to their
respective bottom lines due to
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,”
Caribbean L 6 ife, July 10-16, 2020
he said, calling for a
moratorium on violations and
for a comprehensive review to
be done of all pending SLA violations
“to ensure they are not
being issued in a racially-biased
manner.”
Adams and the business
owners also called for NYPD
Commissioner Shea to sit down
with local business owners who
have experienced these issues
in order to hear their concerns
and change the way certain
violations are enforced
Council Member Fernando
Cabrera, The Black Institute,
and Black and Brown business
owners from across the city
joined Adams in calling for a
halt on over-enforcement, particularly
of businesses in rapidly
gentrifying areas, “to ensure
these vulnerable businesses
can remain financially viable
during and after the COVID-19
pandemic.”
“It’s clear from the heartbreaking
testimonials of business
owners, particularly those
in rapidly gentrifying areas,
that there is a troubling pattern
of unfair over-enforcement on
Black and Brown businesses,
from issuing summonses for
minor infractions to levying
ruinous fines,” Adams said.
“This needs to stop. Black and
Brown business owners are
already suffering from the economic
devastation of COVID-
19, and they need our help.
“I am calling for an immediate
moratorium on the issuance
of summonses and violations
except in egregious circumstances,
and for the New
York Attorney General’s office
to immediately conduct an
investigation into whether this
enforcement is being applied
in a racially-discriminatory
manner,” he added. “I thank
Council Member Cabrera and
these business owners for joining
me, and for sharing their
stories.”
Bertha Lewis, founder and
president of The Black Institute,
said that “one of the most
important steps in addressing
the institutional racism within
the New York City Police
Department is to end once and
for all the constant summonsing
and harassment of minority
businesses, particularly of
Black businesses.
“The Black Institute has
been sounding the alarm on
behalf of minority businesses
for over 10 years now and,
during that time, thousands
have been allowed to die quiet
deaths,” she said. “The NYPD
along with Cuomo’s Liquor
Authority have been targeting
minority nightlife for decades,
and this pattern has continued
during the pandemic.
Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams.
Associated Press / Seth Wenig
Get your child up to date
on routine vaccinations now,
Call your child’s doctor today to make an appointment.
If you need to fi nd a doctor, call 311.
Your child may be eligible for free medical care,
regardless of your immigration status.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Oxiris Barbot, MD
Commissioner
not later.
Vaccines are safe, essential, and they protect your
child from illness and underlying health conditions.
DG NYC DOH 30_200627_Childhood-Vaccination_CNG-Publications_8.75x5.6.indd 1 6/28/20 20:45