Chamber President & CEO Linda Baran Provides Testimony to NYC Council at Small Business Prelimary Budget Hearing
On May 23, Chamber President & CEO Linda Baran provided testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Small Business. The testimony covered the need for continued support of the Small Business Resource Network (SBRN), reducing fines, and focusing on solutions to help small businesses grow.
The full text of the testimony can be found below.
Chair Thomas-Henry and members of the Committee on Small Business, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
My name is Linda Baran, and I serve as the President and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Since 1895, the Chamber has been dedicated to supporting and advocating for Staten Island’s business community. As the largest business organization in the borough, we serve approximately 700 businesses, representing nearly 20,000 employees, with 90% of our members operating businesses with ten or fewer employees. While we are a membership association, our organization represents the interests of and serves more than 14,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors borough wide.
Small businesses are the backbone of Staten Island’s economy, but they are operating under real pressure. Inflation continues to drive up the cost of goods and operations, while at the same time making it harder for businesses to attract and retain customers. Rising rents, real estate taxes, insurance, utilities, and regulatory compliance are all compounding these challenges.
We are seeing significant turnover across commercial corridors, and we are concerned about increased vacancies. On Staten Island, this challenge is even more pronounced given our proximity to New Jersey, where municipalities are actively recruiting Staten Island businesses to relocate by offering incentives, lower costs, and a more predictable regulatory environment. This creates a real competitive disadvantage and underscores the need for New York City to better support and retain its small business community.
The City must make a clear and sustained commitment to investing in small businesses. These are the businesses that create local jobs, activate our commercial corridors, and support our neighborhoods. Investment should not only be discussed, it must be reflected in the budget and in policy decisions.
First, we strongly urge the Council to reinstate and expand funding for the Small Business Resource Network (SBRN) through the Five Borough Chamber Alliance Initiative. This five borough initiative led by the Chambers of Commerce in partnership with the City and private sector partners brings supports directly to small businesses across the City. This model works because it combines citywide resources with trusted, on the ground relationships. In the Fiscal 2027 Budget we request $2 million in total for this successful initiative.
Through the SBRN, more than 10,000 small businesses across New York City have received direct support, the majority of which are minority and women owned. In Staten Island alone, we have connected thousands of businesses to critical services including grants, financing, marketing, and operational support.
Chambers are able to reach businesses that are not always connected to government programs and provide tailored, one on one assistance that drives real results.
There continues to be strong demand for these services, and without reinstated and sustained funding, we risk losing one of the most effective tools the City has to support small businesses. This proven model should be a priority in this year’s budget.
The City Council’s longstanding Chamber on the Go Initiative is a great example of how Chambers can deliver quality services. The Staten Island Chamber requests a full restoration of Chamber on the Go funding in Fiscal 2027.
Second, the overall regulatory environment needs to better reflect the reality of small businesses. Most of our members have only a handful of employees. They do not have in-house legal or HR teams, yet they are expected to comply with an increasing number of laws, mandates, and reporting requirements. Policies must be scaled appropriately, with clear guidance, reasonable timelines, and thresholds that reflect business size.
While fines and fees are a concern, the larger issue is the volume and complexity of legislation being imposed on small businesses. Wage increases and new mandates, particularly when layered on top of rising operating costs, create significant strain. Each individual policy may be well intentioned, but the cumulative impact is what small businesses are feeling every day. A more balanced approach is needed to ensure businesses can continue to operate, hire, and grow.
That said, enforcement must also be addressed. We appreciate the intent behind Executive Order 11 and the shift toward reducing unnecessary fines. That progress should continue. We strongly support expanded cure periods and an education first approach. We would also encourage the City to consider a small business fine amnesty program to help businesses resolve outstanding violations and move forward.
Recent examples highlight the problem. Local Law 152, which requires gas line inspections, has resulted in thousands of Staten Island properties being cited, many of which were simply unaware of the requirement or unclear on compliance timelines. At the same time, small businesses are still receiving summonses for minor issues, like a sidewalk sign. These situations point to the need for better communication, better outreach, and a more practical approach to enforcement.
Third, the City should focus on solutions that help businesses grow. That means expanding resources and incentives rather than relying on penalties. We recommend that the Department of Small Business Services take a more proactive role in developing new programs, including grants, targeted tax incentives, and cost reduction initiatives. The City should also look at what is working in other jurisdictions and bring those models here.
These resources should not only flow through City agencies. Chambers, BIDs, and local business organizations are often best positioned to reach business owners directly, especially in immigrant and diverse communities. Additional investment is needed to address language barriers through translation services, multilingual outreach, and culturally relevant programming so all business owners can access available support.
Finally, storefront turnover and vacancy must be addressed. These are not just real estate issues, they reflect the cost of doing business and the challenge of attracting customers. Reducing barriers, improving affordability, and supporting small business tenants must be part of the City’s strategy.
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce looks forward to continuing to work with the Council to support small businesses. We ask that you make them a clear priority in this year’s budget and in future policy decisions.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I welcome any questions.