Scott Stringer says it’s time to take a sledgehammer to the city’s bureaucracy to help small businesses.The city comptroller is calling for dozens of changes at city agencies to help business owners better navigate the system, the result of a year-long review by Stringer’s so-called Red Tape Commission. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report.

Since last summer, Ann Benedetto says her clothing store has been suffering. The scaffolding that shrouds her building makes it difficult to attract customers and may snuff out her business entirely.

"I’m just sitting here waiting for the scaffolding to come down, and there’s nothing that the government has in place to help me, to help make my business survive," Benedetto said.

It’s a common problem for small businesses, but City Comptroller Scott Stringer says requiring unused scaffolding to come down could help.

"The red tape in this city is huge," Stringer said.

It’s one of 60 recommendations in a new report, the product of Stringer’s Red Tape Commission that spent more a year holding hearings and surveying hundreds of small business owners, 30 percent of whom said it took them six months or longer to get the city approvals needed to open their doors. 13 percent said it took at least a year. 57 percent said city agencies fail to communicate expectations.

"We want to take a sledgehammer to that bureaucracy," Stringer said.

Such is the city bureaucracy that an entire cottage industry of so-called expeditors has taken root. These fixers for hire are licensed by the Department of Buildings and are supposed to expedite the permitting process. But while almost 40 percent of business owners surveyed had hired an expeditor, most did not find them helpful or effective.

"If a business owner can’t easily him or herself navigate a city agency, then we’re doing something wrong," Stringer said.

Instead, Stringer suggests a system of small business advocates in each city agency. His wide-ranging report also recommends the city establish clear timelines for permit approvals; improve services for non-English-speaking business owners; split the buildings department into two separate agencies, one for permitting and one for inspections; and make better use of online document filing and other technology.

"Right now, UPS can track your package. But a small business owner can’t go online and track their permit application," Stringer said.

Some recommendations would require legislation. Others will simply require a buy-in from City Hall.