Assemblyman Charles D. Fall (D-Richmond) today took part in Mayor de Blasio’s daily zoom press conference that centered on the continuation of pandemic protections for citywide small business owners.

Upon the release of city budget cuts this June - due to the ramification of the pandemic - Assemblyman Fall reached out to the Mayor’s office and the Small Business Services Department and urged for the reallocation of funds to keep the Commercial Lease Assistance Program afloat. The Mayor and SBS Commissioner Jonel Doris complied and the program was reapportioned $1.5 million to assist on providing legal assistance to small businesses.

The Commercial Lease Assistance Program since launched.

• Has given free legal advice and has helped over 800 businesses.
• During COVID pandemic, approximately 200 businesses from marginalized communities have been assisted with services including:
  • Lease Renewals
  • Lease Reviews
  • Landlord Harassment
  • Lease Amendments
  • Lease Assignments
  • Lease Terminations
  • Services are available in ten different languages including: Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Korean, Arabic, Urdu, French, and Polish.
  • For assistance you may visit nyc.gov/business or call us at 888-SBS-4NYC

“I would like to thank Mayor de Blasio and the SBS Commissioner Jonel Doris for acknowledging my recommendation for securing funding for the Commercial Lease Assistance Program.

I am thrilled to see this program continue and look forward to working with the community partners so that all our citywide small businesses, especially those located on Victory Boulevard, Castleton Avenue, Manor Road, Bay Street, Forest Avenue and Port Richmond Avenue have the help they need to recover, grow and thrive during this time,” said Assemblyman Charles D. Fall.