2 FEBRUARY 18, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
City Council passes small business relief bill
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
With many small business
owners across Queens and
throughout New York City
struggling to keep their doors open
and their workers employed during the
COVID-19 pandemic, additional operating
costs have proven to be a hindrance.
Councilman Robert Holden’s Small
Business Relief bill, passed unanimously
by the City Council on Thursday, Feb.
11, will provide much-needed relief by
extending the moratorium penalties
related to business’ outdoor signage and
waiting permit fees.
“Everyone is talking a lot about helping
small businesses these days, but this bill
will actually help them in a real, quantifi
able way that helps them save some
money,” Holden said. “Small businesses
are the lifeblood of our local economy,
but they’ve been hemorrhaging throughout
this pandemic. Our government has
to be more nurturing, not adversarial. It
has long been too diffi cult to run a business
in New York City, but it has become
almost impossible.”
Holden’s measure expands and
amends Local Law 28 of 2019. Prior to
Local Law 28, small businesses were
being hit with fi nes of up to $20,000 for
sign and awning violations. The legislation
extends the expired two-year
moratorium on sign fee violations for
two additional years.
“Small businesses are made of people,
started by someone who stakes their
life’s savings or takes a chance by taking
out a loan.” Holden said. “Many of the
owners and employees of small establishments
are immigrants, working hard
for their piece of the American Dream.
The proprietors and employees of Mom
and Pop storefronts in my district and
all over New York struggle to feed their
families, pay for their children’s education,
braces and clothing. This law will
set aside a little more money for those
families’ needs.”
It also extends the temporary Department
of Buildings assistance program
for two additional years, which assists
business owners in legalizing their signs.
For the fi rst time, 100% of permit fees will
be waived.
“Over 1,000 Queens businesses have
closed since the pandemic began, and
those that have survived are hanging
on by the skin of their teeth, struggling
to make payroll and keep the lights on,”
Queens Chamber of Commerce Tom
Grech said. “Fines for minor violations
and permit fees are an unnecessary burden
and the last thing business owners
should be worrying about right now.”
Racquel Olivares, the executive director
of the Woodhaven business improvement
district, called Holden’s bill a “light
at the end of the tunnel” that will provide
relief for small businesses fi ghting too
many obstacles to stay open.
“Our small businesses are not ready
to deal with these issues at this moment,”
Olivares said. “Businesses have been
struggling to understand the next steps
to legalize or replace their awnings, and
this bill will allow them to have more
assistance, and time, to deal with the
process.”
Mitigating fi nes, waiving permit fees
and providing support so local businesses
across the city can comply with
regulations will help restaurants, bars
and other small businesses impacted by
the pandemic, Holden said.
The City Council passed Councilman Robert Holden’s (r.) legislation that
will provide relief to small businesses struggling to stay open during the
COVID economic tailspin. Photo courtesy of Holden’s offi ce
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