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Tell State Leadership:
Small Businesses Need Rent Relief!

That's why we need to tell state leadership to include commercial rent relief in this year's budget! Without it, many small businesses will not survive.

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United for Small Business NYC (USBnyc) is a coalition of community organizations across New York City fighting to protect small businesses and non-residential tenants from the threat of displacement, with a focus on owner-operated, minority-run businesses that serve low-income and minority communities.

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Tell the legislative leadership and small business committee chairs we need commercial rent relief in this year's budget!

Subject: Fund Commercial Rent Relief in the Budget!

Message:

Small businesses and nonprofits are a crucial part of New York State’s economy and culture. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions ordered by New York State have wrought havoc on these essential sectors of our economy. After nearly a year of such restrictions and greatly reduced revenues, the inability to pay rent is the greatest existential threat for small businesses and nonprofits. I applaud the legislature for passing the COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Business Act, which gives businesses an immediate respite from eviction, third-party fees, and high unemployment rates. But without rent relief, many New York businesses will not survive. It’s already too late for thousands of businesses; the longer we wait, the more will be forced to close their doors permanently and the farther our neighborhoods will be from an equitable recovery At least 26% of all jobs in New York City alone are at firms with 20 or fewer employees. Statewide, businesses with fewer than 10 employees provide over 957,000 jobs, with total payroll close to $43 billion. New York State's nonprofit sector generates more than $86B annually, and small businesses generate over $950B in annual revenues for the state. When we lose small businesses, we lose jobs, revenue, and essential goods and services. I strongly support Senate Bill 3349/Assembly Bill 3190, which would create a path to recovery for small businesses and nonprofits based on sharing the burden of the crisis. Under this approach, a small business or small nonprofit with 25 or fewer full-time employees that has suffered a demonstrable loss in income resulting from state-mandated closures or state-imposed restrictions would affirm its losses to the state Department of Economic Development. Upon verification of their losses, the covered tenant would have the option to pay their landlords the lesser of 20% of their actual revenue OR one third of the contractual rent per month until 180 days after the COVID-19 emergency ends. During this period, the landlord would waive 20% of the contractual rent. An impacted landlord would be eligible to apply to ESD for reimbursement of lost income beyond the 20%. We ask that $500,000,000 of expected federal aid be used to establish a program providing relief to commercial tenants and landlords. For example, if the monthly contract rent is $10,000: ●	Tenant pays one third of rent ($3,333) OR 20% of actual income - whichever is less ●	Landlord waives 20% of rent ($2,000) ●	New York State establishes a relief fund to make up the difference - $8,000 minus whatever the tenant has paid This equitable and collaborative approach would help numerous businesses in my community. We urge you to pass this legislation as soon as possible and include funding for relief in the FY22 budget.

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Tell State Leadership:
Small Businesses Need Rent Relief!

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Tell State Leadership: Small Businesses Need Rent Relief!

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Tell State Leadership:
Small Businesses Need Rent Relief!