Jodi-Juliana Powell

•

Nov 8, 2024, 5:35 PM

•

Updated

More Stories

02:36

Bridgeport business owner gives back by hiring fellow citizens who were formerly incarcerated

01:52

Hudson Valley bride out $1,500 after wedding videography company shuts down

02:02

City announces $128,000 in emergency funding for small businesses after Midwood fire

00:29

More than 350,000 iron-containing supplements recalled for lacking child‑resistant packaging

01:49

US-Iran ceasefire brings hope for cheaper gas, but no relief yet at the pump on Long Island

02:10

Brewing up a sense of community at URSA Roaster Gallery Cafe in Bridgeport

Small businesses are being hit with fines that range from $100 up to $2,000.

News 12 spoke with Bronx Council member Oswald Feliz who says fines this high can seriously impact businesses that are just trying to get by.

“Rather than paying $2,000, let’s say in a fine, I think the community would benefit more by No. 1: the city teaching them about different rules so they could better comply with the rules, but also them being able to use those funds to, you know, potentially think about expanding their business or adding more employees," said Council member Feliz.

This proposed legislation would require the Department of Small Business Services to help entrepreneurs learn through teaching, rather than being left to figure out how to handle fines themselves.

If passed, a system would be created to track what types of fines businesses are being hit with and how frequently.

Then, a program can be created to help business owners avoid these fines often given out by the Department of Health and Sanitation.

The council member tells News 12 hat if passed, this legislation will go into effect by early next year.