New York, NY -- Today, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez re-introduced the Small Business Jobs Survival Act of which Rodriguez was a co-prime sponsor in the previous session. This bill would establish conditions and requirements for commercial lease renewal negotiations, including requirements for lease renewal terms, arbitration-triggering conditions, limits on security deposits, and prohibitions on landlord retaliation.

 

Small business tenants face many of the same challenges and are impacted by similar market forces as do residential tenants, yet fewer protections exist for them. The bill would create a fairer negotiation environment by establishing legal protections for commercial tenants, such as the right to renew their lease for 10 years for tenants in "good standing". It would also provide a process for binding arbitration or mediation in the lease renewal process with rent increases agreed upon by the landlord and the tenant. This would allow small businesses to remain open generating jobs for their local communities. Among other protections, should the landlord decide to reoccupy the space, the tenant must be notified 180 days prior to the termination of the lease.

 

"As the region with the highest number and concentration of small businesses, we have a responsibility to ensure they stay open," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are major employers. They're a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of our city and our immigrant communities. The pizzerias, the bodegas, the hardware stores, the Jewish bakeries, the Indian restaurants, among many others have all shaped the character and culture of New York City that must be protected. I look forward to working with Speaker Corey Johnson and my colleagues to strengthen our small businesses."

 

"New Yorkers who are concerned with the small business crisis and the plague of empty storefronts should cheer Council Member Rodriguez and the submission of this bill which will give needed rights to commercial tenants and protect the culture, vibrancy and economic opportunity of our neighborhoods. This bill which gives rights to commercial tenants in the lease negotiation process is the only real solution to solving the effects of High Rent Blight. We look forward to working with Council Member Rodriguez, Speaker Corey Johnson and the rest of the City Council to make sure this historic legislation passes," said David Eisenbach, Friends of SBJSA.

"We commend Council Member Rodriguez for his leadership in reintroducing this important legislation," said Rudy Fuertes, President of the National Supermarket Association. "This is important to small businesses especially supermarkets who face exorbitantly high rent.  We applaud Council Member Rodriguez for his advocacy and ask the rest of the City Council to make sure small businesses are protected with this legislation."