[BwayDems] Fwd: Important Hearing this Friday on Storefront Business BIll of Rights

[Pat Almonrode]

Forwarded as part of our commitment to keep our members informed about
neighborhood events.

Pat Almonrode

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: UWS SOS <uwssos at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 15, 2021 at 4:57 PM
Subject: Important Hearing this Friday on Storefront Business BIll of Rights
To:


Dear Friends,

It's been a long time--18 months--since Upper West Side Save Our Stores has
sent any communiques, so first we want to express our hope that you, your
family, friends and colleagues are well.

Despite our silence, we haven't been quietly sitting by.  In fact, we have
been in touch with legislators on some key issues and initiatives.  An
email about that will come later. Right now, I wanted to let you know of
some key legislation that will be brought up at *a hearing before the City
Council's Small Business Committee this Friday, regarding The Storefront
Business Bill of Rights. (This bill is fourth on an agenda that begins at
10am.) *UWS SOS will be submitting testimony.

We know this is last minute; we only heard about it yesterday. *But if you
want to have your voice heard, this is your chance. Testimony is being
taken online or by zoom.* The more retailers, organizations and residents
who speak up for small businesses, the more likely the committee will move
the bill forward so it gets a full hearing in front of the City
Council--and hopefully, gets passed ASAP.

*To testify (by zoom, or written testimony), click
here: https://council.nyc.gov/testify/
<https://council.nyc.gov/testify/?fbclid=IwAR0rhku0U_mYgXNc8fXUBn0Xbib1qkWhPrV8FNZSy7oxLKQWIBDBomOPkT8>*

*ABOUT THE BILL: The Storefront Business Bill of Rights (Int 2299-2021)* is
aimed at making lease agreements for commercial storefronts more
transparent and establish basic protections. "For any tenancy of more than
one year, the bill would require a written lease for storefront premises.
In addition, the bill provides for lease renewal procedures and the option
to extend the lease in certain cases for up to one year with not more than
a ten percent rent increase. The bill would further require an owner to
provide a tenant with relevant information about the storefront premises to
be leased. The bill would permit a court to impose civil penalties and
award damages, equitable relief, attorneys’ fees and court costs for
failure to comply with these requirements. The Commissioner of Small
Business Services would oversee administration of the bill’s lease
requirements and would also be required to make available online model
commercial leases for storefront premises, as well as translations of such
leases in other languages."

For full text of the legislation: The New York City Council - File #: Int
2299-2021 (nyc.gov)
<https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4927212&GUID=5C2CE90E-C034-4210-B894-6C5B1313A650&Options=&Search=>


If you have any questions about the legislation, please reach out to
Madhuri Shukla at Council Member Helen Rosenthal’s office (646)265-4928,
mshukla at council.nyc.gov; or Daniel Alam at Borough President Gale Brewer’s
office, (646)761-7491 or dalam at manhattanbp.nyc.gov


Beth Krieger
UWS SOS president
Email: uwssos at gmail.com
Website: www.uwssos.org

Follow us on
Twitter: @uwssos
Facebook: uwssaveourstores
Instagram: @uwssos
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