Chair Thomas-Henry summarizes the four bills on today's agenda
Thomas-Henry walks through each bill: Intro 90 (Brewer) on commercial lease transparency, Intro 408 (Riley) on social media influencer matching, Intro 578 (Gutierrez) on IBZ Boundary Commission reform, and Intro 874 (Maloney) on a legacy business registry and preservation fund. She thanks staff and recognizes colleagues present.
Introduction 90 from Councilmember Brewer would require commercial landlords to disclose information regarding the building prior to collecting rent on the property.
It also sets up procedures for negotiating lease agreements between business owners and commercial landlords and creates a private right of action for business owners to sue their commercial landlords for noncompliance.
Councilmember Brewer's bill would help ensure that our small businesses could negotiate with their commercial landlords freely and without fear of losing their business in the process.
Introduction 408 from Councilmember Riley would help promote small businesses by establishing
a program to pair small business owners with local social media influencers to help market their business.
This bill would help ensure that our businesses are getting the promotional investment that they need to continue to operate in their communities.
Introduction 578 from Councilmember Gutierrez would reform our Industrial Business Zone Boundary Commission.
Her bill reforms the commission to make it less controlled by city agencies and more responsive to the community.
The bill also makes it harder to remove or shrink IBZs.
Councilmember Gutierrez's bill would help ensure that our manufacturing businesses can continue to thrive in this city.
And finally, Introduction 874 from Councilmember Maloney would establish a legacy business program.
This bill would allow longstanding small businesses with community ties in the neighborhood to apply for funding and other assistance to keep them open in operation.
Councilmember Maloney's bill would help preserve vital community landmarks and ensure that they remain open.
The legislation that we will hear today will help make our city more competitive by keeping our small businesses right here where they are.
I look forward to hearing testimony from the Department of Small Business Services and hearing their positions on these bills.
I similarly look forward to hearing from small businesses and advocates on today's legislation.
I want to thank Tyler Walls and Rebecca Barillo from
central staff for their hard work in putting this hearing together, as well as my own staff, Franklin Richards, Sierra Smith, Derek Slaughter, and everyone working in the background to help make this hearing possible.
I would like to mention that I am joined by my colleagues, Councilmember Brewer, Councilmember Maloney, Councilmember Santosuoso,
And Councilmember Murano.
At this time, I will now turn it over to Councilmember Brewer to provide opening remarks.