NEW YORK, NEW YORK—Today, City Council candidate Kim Moscaritolo released her small business policy plan, the most comprehensive plan on this issue in the 2021 District 5 race, along with testimonials of support from local small business owners. She also authored an op-ed on the plan in Gotham Gazette.
“I’m proud to release my plan to support and protect small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Moscaritolo. “As the founder of Yorkville Buy Local, I’ve been having conversations with local business owners for years about the support they need from the city to stay open. From direct relief, to addressing hindering costs, to greater oversight, I’m excited to say that this is the most comprehensive small business plan released in this race.”
“Businesses that were already operating on extremely thin margins have now lost most, or in some cases all, of their revenue, and have had to lay off thousands of workers. Many of these businesses in our district have closed permanently,” Moscaritolo wrote in her “Working Toward Small Business Recovery” plan.
Rooted in research of numerous cities’ policies and conversations with local business owners, Kim Moscaritolo’s plan includes direct relief to small businesses, including microbusiness assistance grants focused on minority-owned businesses; passing the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, temporarily eliminating the Commercial Rent Tax, and negotiating with real estate developers to address rising costs; greater oversight of food delivery apps to benefit local businesses; and improving communication between City Hall and businesses. The plan includes action at the city, state, and federal levels, and Moscaritolo believes Council Members should advocate for New York City at all levels of government for recovery.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of this city — not only do they employ thousands of workers, but they provide spaces for communities to come together. We need short-term solutions for businesses dealing with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 shutdowns, but we also need longer term solutions,” Moscaritolo wrote in her plan. “If we don’t address the root causes of their struggles, we’ll continue to see our beloved local businesses shutter.”
Moscaritolo launched local advocacy group Yorkville Buy Local in January 2019, which promotes and protects local businesses, after witnessing an increase in empty storefronts on the Upper East Side. However, the challenges facing small businesses have worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recession. Moscaritolo’s long-time advocacy for small business has earned her the support of small business owners throughout the district.
"[Moscaritolo’s] promotion of these businesses in small communities is unwavering and has really helped my business, as well as neighboring ones in our community on the Upper East Side,” said Nigel O'Callaghan, owner of coffee shop and wine bar Stella & Fly. “With her focus on advocacy for businesses similar to my own, she has, and always will have, my support."
“Kim cares deeply about our community, and responds quickly to our concerns,” shared Sara Patterson, owner of EarthworksNYC. “Her commitment to our local small businesses is evident to anyone who meets her. I know she'll bring that same commitment and passion to the City Council.”
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