Conference highlights the struggles of local merchants
Merchants and elected officials held a conference outside Galaxy Comics, 6823 Fifth Ave., to talk about what can be done to save local businesses.
According to State Senator Andrew Gounardes, 74 percent of the city’s small businesses say the number one obstacle they face is paying rent.
Certain commercial evictions will be able to move forward beginning Aug. 20, while the executive order protecting other businesses from commercial evictions expires on Sept. 4. While the Tenant Safe Harbor Act protects residential tenants with a COVID hardship from being evicted, no similar ongoing protections exist for small businesses.