By Nelson A. King
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
said last week that it was convening
a task force of 10 small businesses
that represent different sectors
of the borough’s economy to understand
how COVID-19 is affecting them
and to determine what support and
information they need to navigate the
unique challenges related to the outbreak.
“The impacts of the virus will be
different for small businesses than for
large companies, and Brooklyn Chamber
officials realize reliable, real-time
information is needed in the face of
rapidly changing conditions on the
ground and in communities,” said
Samara Karasyk, chief policy officer
and event vice president, Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce.
“The Brooklyn Chamber will document
their experiences by facilitating
a twice-weekly call with the task force
members, asking the same six questions
related to business conditions
and challenges they are facing,” she
said.
Karasyk said the information collected
will be used to inform legislators
and policy makers about how small
businesses are being impacted.
“This is an unprecedented crisis,
and we don’t know when the situation
will turn around,” said Brooklyn
Chamber President and Chief Executive
Officer, Randy Peers.
“What we do know is that the
impact on small businesses as opposed
to large companies will be disproportionate,”
he added. “Neighborhood
retailers, restaurants and construction
firms, for example, can’t just shut their
doors and work from home.”
The 10 business sectors that comprise
the task force include: retail, restaurants,
hotels, bars, manufacturing,
construction, real estate, tech, cultural
institutions and the non-profit sector.
Recurring questions that will be
posed to the group include: What steps
have you taken to protect your business/
employees/customers in light
of COVID-19? How has your revenue
been impacted in the last few days?
How has your workforce been impacted?
What support does your business
need to continue operating? What has
been the most significant challenge
for your business in the last few days?
(and) What information do you need
to continue to better inform your business
operations?
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
also acknowledged the New
York City Department of Small Business
Services (SBS) for its quick implementation
of a no-interest loan program
targeting small businesses experiencing
hardship announced earlier
this week.
Caribbean Life, March 20-26, 2020 3
Jamaican Horace Bailey, owner of Ivan’s Barber and Beauty Salon, stands inside his business. Photo by Nelson A. King
Jamaican barber shop in Brooklyn
feels ‘the coronavirus squeeze’
By Nelson A. King
As many small businesses in the
United States are already adversely
affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic, many in Brooklyn have been
feeling “the squeeze,” including barber
shops, and hair and nail salons.
Some have been forced to close their
doors, while others, while remaining
open, have to contend with little or no
customers.
In order to get a better idea of how
the pandemic is affecting barber shops
in the epicenter of the Caribbean community
in Brooklyn, this reporter on
Tuesday afternoon/evening walked
along the still very busy section of
Church Avenue, between Linden Boulevard
and Rockaway Boulevard.
While many businesses are still thriving,
one Jamaican-owned barber shop
stood out, with no customer whatsoever
for over an hour, as the reporter waited
to get a better idea of how business was
progressing.
Horace Bailey, the Jamaican-born
owner of Ivan’s Barber and Beauty
Salon, 9513 Church Ave., near Linden
Boulevard, bemoaned the effects of the
pandemic on his business.
“Nothing is going on,” Bailey, who
hails from Jamaican parish of Clarendon,
alluding to lack or non-existent
customers, told Caribbean Life. “We’re
not seeing any customers.
“It’s very, very slow – not even a customer,”
he added. “The landlord needs
to so something (to either reduce or
put off paying the rent). You can’t get
money to pay, if you can’t get work.”
Bailey said his business began to
slow down about two weeks ago, but got
worse in recent days.
As he sat next to empty chairs,
Hubert Palmer, 70, another Jamaican,
said business was extremely slow.
“Right now, I can’t eat food, and I’m
still here,” said Palmer, a barber and
native of Troy, Trelawney, Jamaica. “I
have to pay rent, and it’s hard on me.”
As he played with his phone, barber
Noel Hedge, who hails from St. Mary’s,
Jamaica, said he has been struggling
to make ends meet since the COVID-19
pandemic hit.
“No work!” he exclaimed. “Since it
happened, barely nobody comes here.
And rent has to pay, bills have to pay.”
On Tuesday, as part of the Trump
administration’s efforts to combat the
coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and
to minimize economic disruption to
the nation’s 30 million small businesses,
the US Small Business Administration
(SBA) Administrator, Jovita Carranza,
issued revised criteria for states
or territories seeking an economic injury
declaration related to COVID-19).
But it remains uncertain how small
businesses, such as Ivan’s Barber and
Beauty Salon, will benefit from it.
Carranza said the relaxed criteria will
have two immediate impacts: “Faster,
Easier Qualification Process for States
Seeking SBA Disaster Assistance”; and
“Expanded, Statewide Access to SBA
Disaster Assistance Loans for Small
Businesses.”
Historically, the SBA has required
that any state or territory impacted by
disaster provide documentation certifying
that at least five small businesses
have suffered substantial economic
injury as a result of a disaster, with
at least one business located in each
declared county/parish.
Under the just-released, revised
criteria, states or territories are only
required to certify that at least five
small businesses within the state/territory
have suffered substantial economic
injury, regardless of where those businesses
are located.
SBA disaster assistance loans are
typically only available to small businesses
within counties identified as
disaster areas by a governor.
Under the revised criteria issued on
Tuesday, disaster assistance loans will
be available statewide following an economic
injury declaration.
“This will apply to current and future
disaster assistance declarations related
to coronavirus,” the SBA said.
Signage outside Ivan’s Barber and
Beauty SalonPhoto credit: Nelson
A. King Photo by Nelson A. King
COVID-19
Small Business
Task Force