Here is a letter written by a longtime Fifth Avenue merchant to other Fifth and Seventh Avenue merchants. This merchant is fed up with being 'bombarded by seemingly endless government agencies with inspections, fines and
audits."
I am trying to calm down after ranting to Councilman Yassky's office
about what is happening on Fifth Avenue. In the face of dwindling
customer counts and rising expenses, we are being bombarded by
seemingly endless government agencies with inspections, fines and
audits.
about what is happening on Fifth Avenue. In the face of dwindling
customer counts and rising expenses, we are being bombarded by
seemingly endless government agencies with inspections, fines and
audits.
Is it government's mission to put us out of
business instead of trying to help us stare down the worst recession since
the 1930's? Every statistic indicates that the single
greatest source of jobs is small businesses ! Our BID district
represents thousands of jobs which add to the economy.
business instead of trying to help us stare down the worst recession since
the 1930's? Every statistic indicates that the single
greatest source of jobs is small businesses ! Our BID district
represents thousands of jobs which add to the economy.
In the last two years, since the rats in KFC in the Village, the Dept.
of Health has been out of control. Multiple inspections, record breaking closings and fines we cannot
afford, all in the guise of protecting public health. Government is
hurting, not helping small business face economic
difficulties. The system is broken and as long as the DOH
is a profit center for the city, no one is interested in fixing
it.
of Health has been out of control. Multiple inspections, record breaking closings and fines we cannot
afford, all in the guise of protecting public health. Government is
hurting, not helping small business face economic
difficulties. The system is broken and as long as the DOH
is a profit center for the city, no one is interested in fixing
it.
The State Labor Dept charged onto Fifth Avenue hitting several
restaurants during business hours.
They corralled employees together and questioned them and in
other cases they actually followed waiters and bus persons around
asking them questions while they were trying to take care of customers.They
are requesting three years of records and the audits have not really
started, so we do not at this point know how financially damaging this will
be to our neighborhood businesses.
restaurants during business hours.
They corralled employees together and questioned them and in
other cases they actually followed waiters and bus persons around
asking them questions while they were trying to take care of customers.They
are requesting three years of records and the audits have not really
started, so we do not at this point know how financially damaging this will
be to our neighborhood businesses.
The last outrage (May 6, 2009) is that Sanitation Police,
the ones with guns, went into several stores and went through the
garbage that was behind the counter, not trash that was on the
streets, and issued fines for not recycling. As an American
citizen this seems a violation of several rights. When I called
and questioned DOS, they of course said THEY INDEED HAD THE RIGHT to do
this. I am not a lawyer, but I find it difficult to believe this
would hold up in court.
the ones with guns, went into several stores and went through the
garbage that was behind the counter, not trash that was on the
streets, and issued fines for not recycling. As an American
citizen this seems a violation of several rights. When I called
and questioned DOS, they of course said THEY INDEED HAD THE RIGHT to do
this. I am not a lawyer, but I find it difficult to believe this
would hold up in court.
The above does not include tickets from Consumer Affairs or Parking
Violations Tickets where agents use no discretion and make it almost
impossible for to take packages in and out of our stores in our
private vehicles and onerous to put sale items on the street as agents
walk around with tape measures.
Violations Tickets where agents use no discretion and make it almost
impossible for to take packages in and out of our stores in our
private vehicles and onerous to put sale items on the street as agents
walk around with tape measures.
Time to take my blood pressure medicine.
Hoping for better days
You know, restaurant owners get no sympathy from me when they are busted for minimum wage violations. The law is perfectly clear on this point. A business owner can calculate his costs for labor just as easily as the rent is laid out in his lease, but restaurant owners in Park Slope have decided to ignore the law and gorge themselves at the expense of the very workers who make their businesses successful. So, no tears from me. You should have paid the appropriate wage to begin with. Just be glad it was the Department of Labor and not the Attorney General who would have brought inspectors with handcuffs.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090618/SMALLBIZ/906189987
This is an article in Crain’s announcing a special commission(of which Council member Yassky is one of three members) to review and help small businesses on these NY City government related issues
some one was listening…BTW the State of Department of Labor is a State Agency. A city elected official contacting them is not listened to.