The relief NYC’s mom-and-pops need
Not long ago, members of the New York City Council demonstrated their support for neighborhood retailers by approving a measure to reduce the city’s Commercial Rent Tax, a levy that shouldn’t exist in the first place. Lowering this arcane tax is good news for some 2,700 small-business owners in Manhattan.
Moreover, elected officials coming to the aid of independent neighborhood retailers is an encouraging sign to anyone who cares about quality of life in New York City. After all, individually owned and operated restaurants, bookstores, boutiques and bars give character to neighborhoods and richness to city living.
Owned by fellow citizens instead of faraway corporations, mom-and-pop stores contribute to a neighborhood’s identity and strengthen its civic fabric. And because they often make neighborhoods more appealing, independent retailers increase nearby property values and tax revenues. That city officials should support them is a no-brainer.
However, beyond “greedy landlords” for the demise of New York City neighborhood retail, members of the City Council should also look in the mirror.
Proposed solutions like commercial rent regulation focus the public’s attention on rising rents, but ask any small-business owner and they will tell you that making the rent is not their only challenge — complying with government-imposed rules and regulations, at a significant cost of time, treasure and stress, also takes its toll.
Let’s say you wanted to open a bookstore. That’s a “dry” retail use preferred by landlords and usually tolerated by residents above.
According to the city’s Department of Small Business Services, you would have to comply with rules and regulations from no less than 15 federal, state and city agencies just to sell books out of a storefront. City officials may seek to blame other branches of government for this insanity, but nine of those 15 agencies report to the mayor.
Plan to renovate your space? Hire a good expediter because getting the right permits, inspections and approvals from the city Department of Buildings is serious business.
Want to promote your bookstore at night? You’re going to need an Illuminated Sign Permit. blaming Time to visit the sign enforcement unit at the DOB.
How about the trash? The city won’t pick it up for you, but feel free to consult with the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Business Integrity Commission and the Department of Sanitation to learn the rules and find the right private carter.
What if you are one of those lunatics who dreams of opening a neighborhood bar or restaurant? In addition to those 15 government agencies monitoring the bookstore, you will need to deal with the State Liquor Authority, and you’ll get extra attention from the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the city Department of Environmental Protection.
The city’s Department of Transportation regulates bicycle delivery of food prepared on premises and, of course, the parking spot in front for your suppliers. If you’re counting on more than 75 customers in your restaurant to pay that egregious rent, contact the Department of Buildings and the FDNY for your Place of Assembly Certificate of Operation.
Remember to save some wall space, since a typical NYC restaurant is required to post at least 21 notifications from eight federal, state and city agencies. Follow the instructions carefully because there are strict rules about where those postings go.
After your ribbon-cutting remain alert. Now enforcement kicks in. Enter the inspectors, paid to uncover violations, wield the threat of fines and summonses to enforce compliance, win at regulatory “gotcha” and, of course, generate revenue for the city.
At least, since you’ll be working long hours six or seven days a week and hardly ever take vacation, you should be around when they show up. Good luck.
If elected officials want to show support for mom-and-pop retail, how about a New Year’s resolution to form a Regulatory Review Commission — stacked with independent retailers — to streamline, update and coordinate this daunting mess of rules and regulations that overwhelm the intrepid entrepreneurs that make our New York City neighborhoods great?