Mamdani’s Executive Order on Small Businesses

On Wednesday, Zoran Mamdani issued a new executive order aimed at easing the burden on small businesses. This directive tasks the deputy mayor for economic justice with reducing fines and streamlining regulations.

Julie Su, who previously served as acting labor secretary under President Biden, has been appointed to this newly established position. Su will spearhead an initiative over the next year to pinpoint excessive fees and cumbersome regulations across various city agencies, with the goal of submitting suggestions for improvement.

“You can’t tell the story of New York without our small businesses, but our city has long made it extremely difficult for these same businesses to open their doors and stay open,” Mamdani stated.

Over the next 45 days, seven city agencies will compile a comprehensive list of fees and penalties impacting small businesses. They will evaluate if any of these can be reduced.

The dedicated department has a timeline of 180 days to identify fines that are unnecessary and can be eliminated, either within 90 days due to city rules or by law.

Moreover, agencies like the FDNY, Department of Health, and Department of Sanitation will assess the feasibility of establishing an “amnesty and relief” program for small business owners within the year.

While Mamdani’s team has not disclosed specific criteria to define a small business for this program, he emphasized the aim of facilitating not just the opening but also the ongoing operation of these enterprises. “We want to make it easier for small businesses to not only open their doors, but to stay open,” he said during an event in Brooklyn.

It’s also worth noting that the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice holds the option to collaborate with additional agencies as part of this executive order.