ANHD’s new policy brief, “A Small Business Affordability Agenda for NYC”, outlines what the next mayoral administration can do to support small businesses – who play a crucial role in the fabric of our neighborhoods, and are deeply impacted by the affordability crisis.

We urge the new city administration to take steps to protect small businesses from the worsening affordability crisis, and to partner with community-based organizations who do deep, grassroots organizing in commercial corridors in order to do so.

To start, City Hall can:

• Create funding streams for CBOs to expand their community organizing work in commercial corridors: A portion of the proposed 20-million-dollar funding increase to the Business Express Service Teams (BEST) program should be directed toward the CBOs that these teams rely on to provide information about corridors and connect them to small businesses.
• Work with City Council to protect small businesses: In order to combat the threats of displacement to commercial tenants and street vendors, we need stronger laws aimed at stopping commercial landlord harassment, ending unfair commercial lease terms, and legalizing expanding safe street vending.
• Invest in public realm improvements: The city can do more to provide reliable sanitation, improve lighting, and partner with CBOs that can bring new life to public spaces.

To take a look at our more detailed recommendations, download the brief using the button above.

ANHD is grateful for support from Goldman Sachs Gives, provided through a grant recommended by Goldman Sachs for our small business work including this policy brief, educational materials, and merchant organizing in NYC neighborhoods.