Thomas-Henry questions DOT on small business fee burden and quarterly payments
Thomas-Henry argues quarterly payments would alleviate financial stress for small businesses, citing her tours of restaurants across the city where owners mention fees as a major burden. Craven acknowledges fees can be burdensome but says no restaurants have specifically requested quarterly payments, only advocates have.
Can we agree that oftentimes, especially for our small businesses, different fees can be cumbersome and burdensome, and this would alleviate some of that financial stress and obligation if we allow them to pay over a period of time versus up front?
So I'll agree with you.
Obviously, fees can definitely be burdensome for small businesses.
I think in this case, we actually haven't heard from any restaurants specifically requesting quarterly payments.
I've heard from the advocates, but not from any restaurants.
And we have found that restaurants are not very shy about asking us for things.
So if you are familiar with specific restaurants, we would certainly be interested in talking to you and getting more information.
So for the past two months, I've been doing tours of small businesses, predominantly restaurants across the city of New York.
And one of the main things they mention are the fees, specifically with outdoor dining cafes.
A couple of restaurants have actually...
Actually said that they've paid fees in the
I'm not going to say it's this same fee, but they've paid fees in the past, have not been able to open their sidewalk cafe and had never received those fees back.
So this really derives from, again, just common sense that it helps to pay overtime versus one time and also actually speaking to businesses to see what would be helpful.
And when I discuss this with those businesses.
They smile ear to ear and are super excited when I discuss it with businesses as well as community boards.
Because individuals who own businesses and individuals who know business owners recognize that we are in an affordability crisis, not just in housing, but across the board.
And our small businesses are getting hit very hard.
And this is just one measure we see as being able to take some of that financial burden off of them.
Thank you, Councilmember.
Do you have any more questions?
You good for now?
Councilmember Marti, do you have questions?
All right.