The Small Biz Agenda has five critical components designed to ensure that business owners are heard in the policy-making process.
1. Town-hall meetings
Every elected official in New York City (in both the city and state government) should immediately go on a “listening tour” to hear directly from small business owners about their issues and concerns. They do not feel heard or supported by government right now. This disconnect must change.
2. Small Business Advisory Board
The city must create the Small Business Advisory Board that was recommended in the mayor’s 2015 Small Business First report. Comprised of city personnel, elected officials and small business owners and their representatives, it was supposed to act as a sounding board for potential new initiatives and ensure that the impact of legislation on business owners is a formal consideration in the legislative process. This input is needed now more than ever.
3. Economic impact statements
The City Council must implement a formal system to understand the economic implications of policy proposals before they are voted upon. The Council’s Finance Division should generate economic impact statements to ensure that trained economists are able to provide robust data-driven analysis before any law is adopted. And the State Legislature should also do more in this vein.
4. Temporary moratorium on costly legislation
Until the above items are implemented, the city should impose a temporary moratorium on legislation that would add costs or burdens to small- and medium-sized businesses. These businesses are still absorbing several mandates that have been imposed over the last few years, including a higher minimum wage, paid sick leave and paid family leave, among others. Many are getting crushed under the weight of these mandates. Now is not the time to pile on more without first understanding the cumulative impact that these business owners are already facing.
5. Reduce the cost of doing business in New York
The city must work to bring down the cost of doing business in New York. There are numerous reports out there with good ideas that have not been fully explored, including recommendations from Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, the Center for an Urban Future and a report on retail diversity released by former Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito just days before she left the Council.