Printer Friendly Format

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 190-03
July 14, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION SUSPENDING PENALTIES LEVIED AGAINST AWNING VIOLATIONS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law

“The next bill before me is Introductory Number 305-A, sponsored by Council Members Monserrate, Weprin, Liu, Sanders, Clark, Addabbo, Comrie, Foster, Jackson, Jennings, Lopez, Martinez, Rivera, Stewart, Brewer, Gennaro, Gioia, DeBlasio, Reyna, Gonzalez, Provenzano, Yassky, Recchia, Avella, and Lanza.

“Intro. 305-A provides relief to small business owners who are not in compliance with the arcane provisions of the Zoning Resolution governing the City’s awnings.  The regulations have remained largely unchanged since 1962, when shopkeepers rarely hung awnings.  Today, awnings dot the City’s streetscape and serve to attract customers to small businesses, the backbone of the City’s economy.  Few awnings, however, are in compliance with City regulations. 

“It is time to bring these out-of-date and overly restrictive zoning regulations into the 21st Century.  I have directed the Department of City Planning to examine the issue and develop new regulations that reflect a balance between the advertising needs of small businesses and the aesthetic concerns of the local communities.  I am confident that the result will be a common sense approach that will allow small businesses to flourish, while dramatically improving compliance without creating a visually cluttered streetscape.

“In the meantime, immediate action is required.  Intro. 305-A provides small businesses with needed relief by imposing a six-month moratorium on penalties levied against awnings violations.  Regulations governing the public safety of awnings, of course, will continue to be enforced.  The moratorium is good public policy, particularly in light of the sluggish national economy.  Out-of-date regulations should not put corner stores and bodegas out-of-business.”





CONTACT:

Edward Skyler / Jonathan Werbell   (212) 788-2958


More Resources
Watch bill signing in 56k or 300k