New York, NY – New York City is unleashing its latest financial hell on cash-strapped business owners, desperately stepping up fines and announcing a flurry of new fees to raise funds.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In order not to hike taxes with its latest budget, the Bloomberg administration budget office is projected to raise almost $900 million in fees and fines, with most of that coming from recession-weary city businesses struggling to bounce back from three years of pain.
For Anthony Fasolino, a family member who helps run the kitchen at Yolanda’s restaurant near Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, the weather is as costly as imported cheese.
Yolanda’s, a popular 51-year-old, third-generation Italian eatery on 140th Street, said it was recently hit with a bill for some $600 from the Department of Environmental Protection. The reason? Rainwater in its parking lot was flowing away from the building into city sewers.
That’s on top of other questionable city charges that eat up an estimated 15 to 20 percent of Yolanda’s revenue — including a $200 charge because of a missing ceiling light cover. “It’s a joke,” said Fasolino.
Meanwhile, Fasolino noted how Yolanda’s works hard to maintain its “A” designation, the top grade for cleanliness awarded under the New York City Health Department system launched last summer.
It’s another pain in the side, he says. “The officials come back for an inspection every two months, and it is costing us hundreds and as much as $2,000 each visit,” he said. “They have to find something wrong with the place. If they don’t, their supervisor will come out and then give you a ticket of some kind.
“Local government sees small business as one thing and one thing only,” said Charles Hugh Smith, an economics writer, “a captive source of extra revenue via higher licensing fees, junk fees, permits, surcharges, etc. Local government thinks small business is captive, but the local politicians are forgetting every small business owner has an option: It’s called closing down, and opting out of the rat race of higher taxes and costs.
in our apartment building i changed a shower body as it was old,the wall was opened to fix a leak. we didn’t get a permit .we got a $5000 fine .
That’s what happens when you all don’t stand up for smokers and their 600% tax, they come after small business, and ur next
New Yorkers:
It was you who voted Bloomberg in for an unprecedented third term. You must now live with the consequences of your actions.
The city is much better off with these fines since without them, businesses would simply ignore the rules. The strict enforcement of all these rules have made New York cleaner and safer and such a wonderful place to live. If a business cannot afford to maintain these high standards, than they shouldn’t be in business.
For all of you who doubted bloombergs actions and believed that he doubled the parking tickets “ONLY” for the good of the people and raised cigarette taxes “ONLY” for the good of the people and doubled and tripled water fees property taxes “ONLY” for the good of the people unfortunately you’ll learn the hard way that he’s putting you out of buissness “only” for the good of the people. Just like any other liberal dictator that he is. bottom line for all of you who didn’t vote in last elections and that minority who did vote and voted for king bloomberg all these are well deserved
The problem is that when Bllomberg leaves office we will still have all of the laws which he passed that penalize us. The next mayor we elect should have to promise to get rid of these burdensome fines and tickets.
You New York Jews put Bloomberg back in office because you all wor$hip the almight $$$. Bloomberg and his $$ hypnotized you all and you gave him the bat he’s now using to beat you up. You are getting what you deserve for ignoring the term limit.
Blumberg & Co. can do with us what he want and there is no one stopping him!