A Flushing lawmaker is calling on state leadership to use part of the 2017 budget to help small businesses.
Assemblyman Ron Kim held a press conference Thursday to urge Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to earmark $50 million to revive a business subsidy program. Kim says the money would help small business owners deal with new environmental regulations set to take effect in 2020. For example, nail salons will be required to install new ventilation systems and dry cleaners will have to buy new sprinkler systems.
Without help, Kim says the new rules could cost businesses a combined total of $230 million.
“These are people's livelihoods,” Kim said. “These people are putting - just like my parents when they came to this country - they're putting their blood, sweat and tears every single day to their small business seven days a week. They, themselves, are their workers.”
Heastie's office did not respond to NY1's request for comment.