Intro 621 Press Conference and Hearing

Prior to the 1:00 p.m. public hearing, The Neighborhood Retail Alliance will be holding a press conference to voice our opposition to Intro 621, a bill that would result in the proliferation of street vendors. Considering the already bleak small business environment in New York City, we are quite perplexed as to why the City Council currently feels the need to more than double the number of vendor permits and open up previously restricted streets. Now, in addition to hefty tax increases and agressive fining, neighborhood store owners would have to deal with a mushrooming of competitors who do not pay overhead, do not pay taxes, crowd sidewalks, and are generally not subject to the same fines and restrictions. Though vendors are hardworking and no legislation should persecute them neither should a law that aims to make the system fairer harm New York's 186,000 small businesses.

Our Hearing Testimony
Press Release