50 THE QUEENS COURIER • QUEENS BUSINESS • DECEMBER 14, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
queens business
Queens pol’s small businesses bill awaits Cuomo’s signature
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A Flushing-based lawmaker’s push to
provide certain small businesses with
fi nancial relief is still waiting for Governor
Andrew Cuomo’s approval.
Proposed by Assemblyman Ron Kim,
the bill would seek to alleviate the monetary
burden placed on small businesses,
including dry cleaners and nail salons,
that must undergo capital improvements
as required by federal, state and
local regulations. Th e legislation would
expand the existing Urban Development
Corporation Act to make certain business
owners eligible for grants and fl exible
fi nancing programs to provide relief.
Small business owners face increasingly
diffi cult economic and regulatory
environment, according to Kim, as well
as the burdens of complying with the
most recent mandates. Th e lawmaker’s
bill passed the state Assembly and Senate
in June 2017.
On Dec. 6, Public Advocate Letitia
James penned and delivered a letter to
Cuomo expressing her support for the
bill protecting small business owners, “the
bedrock of New York’s economy.”
“Additionally, the diverse demographics
of entrepreneurs, many of whom
are immigrants, make our communities
vibrant through these small businesses
in New York,” James added in the letter.
Th e governor has until Dec. 18 to
decide whether or not he will sign the bill
into law, according to Kim.
“It is essential that aft er years of economic
hardship and institutional neglect,
we acknowledge the vital role small businesses
play in our state’s economy,” Kim
said. “Working-class entrepreneurs represent
the heart of New York. I have done
all that I can to ensure this bill’s passage,
and now that it has been delivered to the
governor’s desk, I hope those who support
it will continue to do all they can to
persuade him of its importance.”
Certain small business leaders and representatives
have spoken out in favor
of the legislation. Michael Gao, president
of the Chinese American Nail Salon
Association, said the bill was “extremely
important.”
“Small businesses provide crucial services
and represent real opportunities for
working class people,” Gao said. “Th is bill
will help entrepreneurs meet their regulatory
responsibilities, including the latest
mandates and regulations, while staying
in business during diffi cult economic
times.”
Business owners in the nail salon industry
were recently given new state ventilation
regulations under Governor Cuomo,
Gao continued. Th e bill would help business
owners who can’t get access to credit
meet these requirements, he said.
“We have worked with Assemblyman
Kim for nearly a year now to advocate
for mom-and-pop dry cleaners who have
been aff ected by new, burdensome regulations,
and thanks to his eff orts Public
Advocate Letitia James has also given her
offi cial support for this measure,” said
Sang Suk Park, president of the Korean
American Dry Cleaners Association of
New York. “Th e Assembly member has
done his part in bringing us to this point,
now we as a community must do what we
can to seek the governor’s support.”
Photo via Pexels
Wishing all a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.
Here's what you need to know as you move into the New Year.
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