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New York City Council
Establishing a support fund for small retail businesses affected by roadway construction
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff welcomes attendees to the New York City Council vote on small businesses. Staff asks everyone to silence electronic devices, warns that no one should approach the dais, and invites the Chair to begin.
Chair Shanel Thomas-Henry identifies herself and thanks colleagues Maloney, Santosuosso, Salaam, Morano, and Brooks-Powers for joining. She announces votes on Proposed Intro 799-A and Resolution 328, both sponsored by Councilmember Salaam, concerning support for small retail businesses affected by roadway construction and a state tax credit.
Thomas-Henry says roadway construction is common and can bring economic benefits, but it can also block access and keep customers away from businesses. She notes businesses already face high operating costs, pandemic recovery, and tariff impacts, so long-term city construction disruptions must be addressed.
Thomas-Henry describes how the New Jersey Economic Development Authority launched grants for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by Route 80 sinkhole construction closures. She presents it as a precedent for supporting businesses affected by major roadway work.
Intro 799-A would require the Department of Small Business Services to establish grants for BIDs and community-based organizations supporting small businesses near city construction projects. Qualifying projects must be DOT-permitted for at least 90 days, fully close a roadway or sidewalk, be city-performed, and be within one block of a commercial corridor; affected businesses must be within two blocks.
Grants could fund district marketing, public art, creative lighting, or direct reimbursement to small retail businesses in the affected area. Total grants to a BID or CBO would be capped at $100,000, with direct reimbursements up to $10,000 per business, based on the number of businesses and scope of services.
Resolution 328 calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation providing a tax credit to businesses negatively affected by infrastructure construction. Thomas-Henry says both bills address the temporary but significant access challenges caused by road and infrastructure work.
Thomas-Henry thanks Central Staff Tyler Walls and Rebecca Barilla, her own staff Franklin Richards, Sierra Smith, and Derek Slaughter, and others working behind the scenes. She then yields to Councilmember Salaam to speak about his bills.
Salaam thanks the Chair and committee and says Intro 799-A and Resolution 328 address what happens when long-term public construction closes streets around small businesses. He notes New York City has a record 183,000 small businesses, many dependent on foot traffic and visibility, and cites Minnesota research that independent non-chain businesses are most hurt by construction and changing traffic patterns.
Salaam says Intro 799-A creates an SBS grant program for BIDs and community organizations in commercial corridors affected by city construction that fully closes a roadway or sidewalk for at least 90 days. Qualifying projects can receive one grant up to $100,000 for marketing, wayfinding, and other services, while a reimbursement program offers up to $10,000 per small business.
Salaam says grantees would report to SBS, SBS would audit spending, and the program would run for three years. He notes that Intro 799-A covers city projects only.
Salaam says the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce reported that almost half of businesses between 68th and 95th Streets moved or closed within five years during the first phase of the Second Avenue subway due to declining revenue. He says that was state and MTA work, so the state needs to step up too.
Salaam says Resolution 328 calls on the State Legislature and Governor to provide a tax credit for businesses affected by infrastructure construction. He thanks chief of staff Wilma Brown, legislative director Mufasa Hussain, committee staff Tyler Isaiah Walls and Rebecca Barilla, SBS, and co-sponsors, and urges colleagues to vote yes on both items.
After Salaam urges a yes vote, Chair Thomas-Henry thanks him and calls on the clerk to call the roll. Clerk Matthew DiStefano announces a roll call vote on Proposed Intro 799-A and Resolution 328, noting both items are coupled.
Clerk DiStefano calls Chair Thomas-Henry, who votes aye on the coupled items. This begins the roll call vote.
Clerk calls Councilmember Brooks-Powers, who asks permission to explain her vote and is granted. She congratulates Salaam, says her construction-impacted district supports the bills, asks to be added as a co-sponsor of Resolution 328, and votes aye on all.
Clerk calls Councilmember Hanif, who asks about a vacancy, says she will sign up, and is acknowledged. She is recorded as participating in the roll call.
Clerk calls Councilmember Salaam, the sponsor of both items, who votes aye. His vote is recorded on the coupled items.
Clerk calls Councilmember Maloney, who asks permission to explain her vote and is granted. She congratulates Salaam, says her district borders the Second Avenue subway where roadway construction hurt small businesses, and expresses gratitude for the legislation.
Clerk calls Councilmember Santosuosso, who votes aye on the coupled items and congratulates the sponsor. Her vote is recorded.
Clerk calls Councilmember Morano, who votes aye and congratulates the sponsor. Clerk thanks the members after his vote.
Clerk DiStefano announces the vote: seven in the affirmative, zero in the negative, and no abstentions. Both coupled items, Proposed Intro 799-A and Resolution 328, are adopted.
Chair Thomas-Henry thanks the members and declares the meeting adjourned. The committee session ends.