28 The Queens Courier • JANUARY 16, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com
28 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 16, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS WWW.QNS.COM
editorial
Winning the battle for small business
Th ey toasted; they cheered; they shook
hands and patted backs, celebrating the
salvation of a nearly 200-year-old bar in
Queens threatened with closure.
Victory fl owed through Neir’s Tavern
Friday night like taps full of beer aft er a
deal was reached to keep the endangered
business afl oat. Just a day earlier, news
spread that Neir’s was about to fold under
the crushing weight of higher rents.
Th e impending doom of such a grand
and historic institution shook many heads
around town — and shook city government
Photo by Dean Moses
More small businesses across New York City need the same kind of break that Neir’s Tavern just received.
Story: ‘Handshake’ deal will keep historic Neir’s Tavern
open for business in Woodhaven
Summary: The Queens Chamber of Commerce announced
Friday night a “handshake agreement” between Neir’s
Tavern owner Loycent Gordon and property owners, Ken
and Henry Shi, to keep the historic, 190-year-old business
open.
Reach: 6,822 (as of 1/13/20)
and business leaders into action. By
Friday night, a pact was reached to keep
the good times rolling at Neir’s. Mayor Bill
de Blasio even visited Neir’s to announce
the deal, reached with the help of the
Queens Chamber of Commerce and local
lawmakers, and clang glasses with the
faithful.
Indeed, it was a sweet victory. Th e bitter
reality, however, is that Neir’s Tavern
is but one business in a city where many
other small businesses are suff ering and
straining under the crippling weight of
high rents.
Th e majority of these stories go virtually
untold until it’s too late for them to
be saved. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to
be this way.
Th e City Council has a bill called the
Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which
seeks to help reduce rent costs by empowering
businesses with stability. It would
enable them to agree to long-term leases
which keep costs level, and ensure that
they have either a chance to succeed or
continue thriving.
Rent regulation for commercial space is
long overdue. Yet the Small Business Jobs
Survival Act is stalled at City Hall, the victim
THE QUEENS
sun
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
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VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
BOB BRENNAN
ZACHARY GEWELB
NIRMAL SINGH
JACOB KAYE
ANGELICA ACEVEDO, JENNA BAGCAL, KATRINA MEDOFF,
CARLOTTA MOHAMED, MAX PARROTT, BILL PARRY
CLIFF KASDEN, SAMANTHA SOHMER, ELIZABETH ALONI
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VICTORIA SCHNEPS-YUNIS
JOSHUA A. SCHNEPS
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of special interests, according to the
bill’s most ardent defenders.
Small businesses in New York City need
the same kind of break Neir’s Tavern just
received. Th e city’s Department of Small
Business Services notes that 98 percent of
the 220,000 businesses in New York City
have fewer than 100 employees; 89 percent
have fewer than 20 employees. Every
one of these businesses, and every one of
their employees, are critical to the vitality
and success of our economy.
It’s time for City Hall to get on board
with the Small Business Jobs Survival Act,
and clear the way for common-sense rent
regulations that will keep small businesses
thriving, and jobs secure, for years to
come.
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