New York City Council has just announced with very short notice that the Small Business Committee hearing on Intro 1796 for Commercial Rent Stabilization will be next Friday September 17th at 10am! Advocates have been fighting for this hearing for nearly two years.

 

This legislation will be incredibly important for a just recovery for NYC's small business community. There are theater spaces who made it through the worst of the pandemic, only to have to close due to a major rent increase. Unlimited increases on rent are allowed now because commercial rents are not regulated in NYC. You can help change that!  

 

By regulating the percentage that landlords are allowed to increase rents for smaller commercial spaces, we will fight the displacement of small venues from our neighborhoods and gradually level the playing field, making commercial leases more accessible to small businesses over time. More basics on the bill here.

 

The hearing will be in person at City Hall. Can we count on your support on or before next Friday? Any of these would be HUGE!

• Testify at the in-person hearing on 9/17 at 10am (Language interpretation available - just come! Masks required to enter the building.). Send us a note if you want help preparing or a template - info@litny.org.
• Submit written testimony by email by 9/19 (Template available upon request - email us at info@litny.org)
• Record a short video sharing your small business story to be amplified on social media 
• Call/email/tweet at your councilmember urging them to sign on or thanking them if they already did (Sample scripts and representative look up tool here)