Council moves toward biz rents regulation
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
businesses who have been in place for decades can suddenly
see large rent increases, and he said, “I do think
that this type of legislation would be helpful for sure.”
With the SBJSA being re-introduced last year after
decades, Hill said, and other bills aimed at addressing
small business issues, he said it’s a positive sign. “It’s
evidence that people are starting to see the importance
of small businesses as employers of people who live in
those neighborhoods, and for us being able to provide
support.”
Hill added that he’s optimistic that the issues are being
taken more seriously. “None of the bills are perfect,”
he said, “but I defi nitely think we’re moving in the right
direction.”
Chelsea church hosting
Carol Service on Dec. 15
COURTESY CHELSEA COMMUNITY CHURCH
Actor Michael James Leslie.
Brahms, Mendelssohn, and gospel pieces.
The Candelight Carol Service has been put on by
the Chelsea Community Church, as a nondenominational
congregation, every year since 1975.
Vacant spaces last year in the West Village.
still be paid to the landlord if another tenant doesn’t
move into the space.
A new bill was introduced in the Council in November
which would create commercial rent stabilization
for small businesses, similar to the system in place for
city residents. Under the bill, a seven-member board
would establish annual rent rates and adjustments for
the businesses.
When Speaker Johnson’s offi ce was asked about this
new bill, a spokesperson said, “The bill is going through
the legislative process.”
Hill said that TakeRoot Justice had limited involvement
with the bill’s prime sponsor, Council Member
Stephen Levin, about the legislation. Hill said that small
BY GABE HERMAN
St. Peter’s Church Chelsea will host the 45th
Annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sunday,
Dec. 15, featuring music and a reading
of the poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”
The event, at 6 p.m., is sponsored by Chelsea
Community Church, and will be at 346 W. 20
St., between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. The free
event will also include music by the choir, congregational
singing and Scripture readings.
The famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,”
better known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,”
was written by Clement Clarke Moore,
who founded the church and was the fi rst organist
in the sanctuary where the service will be.
The church dates back to 1831 and was built on
Moore’s Chelsea estate.
The poem will be read by actor and Chelsea resident
Michael James Leslie, whose credits include
Broadway performances in “Hair,” “The Wiz,”
and “Little Shop of Horrors.”
The choir will be accompanied by organ, bass
and percussion, and music will range from the
16th to 21st centuries, according to the church.
The performance will include works by Handl,
BY GABE HERMAN
It’s been over a year since the City Council held a
hearing on the Small Business Jobs Survival Act
(SBJSA), and while some advocates have expressed
frustration that the bill has still not passed, offi cials say
further work is being done to assess its impact, and new
legislation has been introduced aimed at protecting
small businesses.
The SBJSA would include giving commercial tenants
rights to a lease renewal and provide arbitration
in deciding rent increases. Speaker Corey Johnson has
said the bill has legal issues and is problematic because
it doesn’t distinguish between large and small businesses.
He has also said the bill would hurt mom and
pop shops who don’t have a lease, and which are largely
immigrant-owned.
When Johnson was recently asked for comment about
the bill, a spokesperson said, “Small businesses are the
backbone of our economy. They are what make New
York, New York. In August, we approved several proposals
to help businesses by providing much-needed
support and information. Currently, the city lacks the
data necessary to make informed policy decision and
the storefront database bill will tackle this issue heads
on. The Council is continuing to work on a number of
complex policy proposals, including the Small Business
Jobs Survival Act.”
The August actions from the Council included regular
collecting of information about storefront businesses,
including vacancy rates; creating online guides for small
business owners to help them understand rules and laws
that apply to them; and requiring training and education
to small businesses about issues like regulatory compliance,
effi ciency and marketing.
Johnson’s offi ce also pointed to a bill passed in September
that would strengthen commercial tenant harassment
laws. And Johnson has said he is working with
advocates and community groups, to try to move forward
on issues related to small business.
Julian Hill, supervising attorney at TakeRoot Justice,
which provides research and support to community
groups in the city, said that no single bill will solve all of
the small business issues.
“Could SBJSA have helped some of the clients I’ve
worked with? Absolutely,” Hill said, but he added that it
won’t necessarily be a solution in every scenario.
Hill said he supports collecting more data about the
retail vacancy issue in the city. He noted that back in the
1940s, when commercial rent stabilization was being
worked on, it was based on data and reports showing
the problem in the city.
“I think it is a good idea to have that information so
we can fi gure out what might be an ideal solution,” Hill
said.
Too much regulation is a problem that some small
businesses say they are facing, according to Hill. “I
do hear the concerns around the ways in which some
regulations are affecting small business clients I deal
with, and how that can create certain burdens,” he said,
which can include matters like permits and obtaining
certain licenses.
Hill said that commercial tenants in the city don’t have
the same protections as residents, and there is often an
assumption that businesses have more knowledge about
law and policies, but there may be situations where a
small business owner doesn’t speak English, and may
sign a lease without understanding it.
“For commercial tenants, it’s like the Wild West,” Hill
said. He said he would like to have predatory provisions
in leases outlawed, such as a defi ciency provision, where
if a commercial tenants can’t pay the full lease and has
to leave the space early, the full terms of the lease must
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