This hearing is now called to Councilmember.

Oh, good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to the New York City Council vote for the Committee on Small Business.

At this time, I'd like to remind everyone to please silence all devices.

Chair, we are ready to begin.

This hearing is now called to order.

Good morning, everyone.

I am Councilmember Chanel Thomas Henry, Chair of the Committee on Small Business.

Thank you to my colleagues.

Councilmember Maloney, Councilmember Salam, Councilmember Felice, Councilmember Brooks Powers, and Councilmember Morano.

And Councilmember Hanif on Zoom.

Today we are voting on two pieces of legislation.

Proposed introduction 553A from Councilmember Felice and proposed introduction 910A from Councilmember Stevens.

Proposed introduction 553A would establish a small retail business security system to provide financial assistance to owners of small retail businesses that would reduce the cost of purchasing and installing security system technology.

This city depends on its small businesses.

They serve as unofficial safe spaces or community centers.

They become part of our routines, they are comfort in our lives.

So when this critical space, when these critical spaces are subjected to violence and theft, that is not only a disruption to the business and its owner, but to the surrounding community.

Councilmember Felice's bill would create an opportunity for businesses to equip their spaces with security features that empower and protect their workplaces.

Proposed introduction 910A resolves a looming concern for New York City small businesses.

In 2009, the council passed local law 75, which required security grills outside certain businesses to have 70% visibility.

Although the intention of the original bill sought to address graffiti concerns, this bill's implementation delay to July 1st, 2026, and subsequent lack of outreach by city agencies resulted in businesses across the city being completely surprised by the upcoming deadline.

Businesses have dealt with so much over the past six years, and local law 75 would have put numerous businesses out of compliance or forced a business to quickly replace their grill, adding significant unplanned costs.

We've heard these concerns, and therefore introduction 910A would repeal the requirement originally set out in local law 75 of 2009.

That as of July 1st, 2026, all security grills installed in group B or M buildings, permit visibility of at least 70% of the area covered by the grill.

I want to thank Tyler Walls, Rebecca Barilla, and Austin Malone from Central Staff for their support, as well as my own staff, Franklin Richards, Sierra Smith, and Derek Slaughter, and everyone working in the background to help make this hearing possible.

At this time, I will now turn it over to Councilmember Felice for some words.

Thank you so much, Chair.

So thankful that we are finally voting for the Small Business Protection Act.

Small businesses are the heart of our economy.

Small business owners work hard to support their family and to support their community.

They create local jobs and they make communities vibrant.

We must protect them from the public safety threats that can hurt their ability to operate.

We must ensure that they have the tools to deter conduct that could harm their workers and their business.

Thankful that we're finally voting for the Small Business Protection Act, which will help ensure the city can provide them with direct assistance.

Help them cover costs related to security technology, including cameras, plexiglass for bodegas, and more.

Small businesses work hard, and this will ensure that we're helping protect their hard work.

We're also sending a very clear message that when it comes to the safety issues that they've consistently raised, our city is listening.

Uh thank you and I encourage everyone to support this bill.

Thank you so much, Chair.

Thank you, Councilmember Felice.

I will now call on the clerk to call the roll.

And also, we have been joined by Councilmember Santos Woso on Zoom.

Matthew DeStefano, committee clerk, committee on small business.

All items are coupled.

Chair Thomas Henry.

Aye.

Brooks Powers.

I vote aye.

Hanif.

Aye.

Salam.

I vote aye.

Maloney.

Aye.

Santos Soso.

I vote no on 553 and yes on 910.

Thank you.

Morano.

Aye, and uh congratulations to the sponsors of both bills and chair, thank you for your advocacy and leadership, uh, particularly on the issue of the gates.

By vote of seven in the affirmative, zero in a negative and no abstentions.

The bills have been adopted with the exception of intro 553A, which was adopted by a vote of six in the affirmative, but one negative, no abstentions.

Thank you.

This meeting is now adjourned.

Oh no, I'm sorry, apologies.

Thank you.

This meeting is now adjourned.