ANHD 2016 Building the Community Development Movement
Council Small Business Report Includes Key Provisions of USBNYC Platform
The Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD) and United for Small Business NYC (USBNYC) applaud City Council on the release of their 2017 report, Planning for Retail Diversity: Supporting NYC’s Neighborhood Businesses. The report provides a timely and broad analysis of issues faced by independent retailers across the five boroughs and offers a robust template of policy solutions and recommendations to address these problems. It is the first time the Administration has provided a detailed platform to address the crisis of retail displacement in New York City, an ongoing issue that impacts small businesses and commercial corridors citywide.
USBNYC is pleased that Council supports several of the Coalition’s platform priorities and recommendations, including:
- The development of a commercial development fund,
- The designation of meaningful enforcement responsibilities to the Department of Small Business Services (SBS),
- An increase in access to small business data,
- And the implementation of a count of vacant commercial properties as part of citywide Community Development Needs Assessments.
We hope that in 2018, Council takes the necessary steps to implement these recommendations through enforceable and robust legislation.
The displacement of neighborhood institutions not only threatens New York’s identity, but it also eliminates jobs, community spaces, and affordable resources in low- and moderate-income communities of color. As the city’s small businesses disappear at an alarming rate, it is vital to implement robust protections to ensure their survival, and in turn ensure the vitality and vibrancy of New York’s neighborhoods. We look forward to working with the Council to implement these recommendations and stem the continuing loss of small businesses in our communities.
Lena Afridi, ANHD’s Policy Coordinator for Economic Development