Public Advocate and mayoral candidate, Bill de Blasio released today a report that shows the that over the past decade - and especially over the past three years under the Bloomberg/Quinn administration - small businesses across the City have been hammered by inspections, violations and fines from the Dept of Consumer Affairs and the Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The report, Borough Bias: How the Bloomberg Administration Drains Outer Borough Businesses, takes a comprehensive look at fine-related data de Blasio secured through a lawsuit against City agencies.
Promoting the report via twitter with the hashtag: #boroughbias, the report shows that the outer boroughs are getting hit hardest of all, and are paying far more than their fair share. Over the past three years, the report says, DCA inspections were up 66%, violations up 153% and revenue from these fines are up 102%. A hurdle for most local restaurants to overcome is the new Heath Department regulations and excessive penalties. Over the past three years, the reports shows, DOHMH inspections went up 55% to over 98,000 visits, violations issued are up 73% and revenue from fines jumped 90%.
The outer borough businesses pay more in fines because of frequent inspections. Bronx businesses pay 7% more Consumer Affairs fines than the citywide average. Businesses in Brooklyn pay 5% more and Queens and Staten Island pay 4% more and 2% more respectively.
“The farther you get from City Hall, the more likely your business is to get inspected and fined. That’s no way to balance a budget and it’s no way to spur hiring in the boroughs that need it most,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “These fines are a $50 million hidden tax that was levied on small businesses without warning or debate. The Mayor can’t keep burdening outer borough neighborhoods with frivolous fines to balance the City’s books.”
Mr. de Blasio is looking to take on the fight for outer boroughs' small businesses over the next few months, in hope to kill two birds at once: Mayor Bloomberg and Christine Quinn's biased outer borough approach that has taken a toll on so many of NYC's residents and small businesses.
Read the Full de Blasio Report:
Mr. de Blasio is looking to take on the fight for outer boroughs' small businesses over the next few months, in hope to kill two birds at once: Mayor Bloomberg and Christine Quinn's biased outer borough approach that has taken a toll on so many of NYC's residents and small businesses.
Read the Full de Blasio Report:
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