Latest News For You!

News  |     |  

Tunes @ The Triangle is Back! Every Wednesday in October!

Our Tunes @ The Triangle series will return this October! Musicians will play every Wednesday in October from 4-6pm. And it’s FREE!

The 2023 Tunes Lineup:
10/4: Wayne Tucker
10/11: Kat Lewis
10/18: Trio Guataca W/ a Salsa Dance Lesson from Marlon @5pm.
10/25: Brooklyn Contra

We look forward to seeing you out there this fall!

Outdoor Dining Becomes Permanent – The NYC City Council has made outdoor dining a permanent program. You can read all about the new regulations right here.

Trash Must Be In A Container – Food-related businesses and businesses with 5 or more locations must put all of their trash in a container with a closed lid. It can not be put out in bags, as has been the custom.

The End of Utensils – Plastic utensils must now be specifically requested by customers for take-out and delivery orders. Businesses are not allowed to put them into orders as has been the custom. This is intended to reduce waste and will undoubtedly help businesses save money. It’s a win-win.

E-Bike Safety – Because of fires caused by E-Bike batteries, there will be new regulations for e-bikes going into effect. By September 16th all e-bikes will need to be UL2849-certified.

New regulations mandate:

  • E-bikes must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory in compliance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard 2849.
  • Electric scooters, and other electric mobility devices, must be certified in compliance with UL standard 2272.
  • Batteries must be certified in compliance with UL standard 2271.

Help spread the word to e-bike owners! It can literally save lives!

FIRST COURSE NYC – Restaurant Cook Job Training – In response to the ongoing shortage of qualified entry-level restaurant cooks, SBS continues to expand on First Course NYC, its industry-informed restaurant cook job training program, with at least four additional cohorts scheduled across 2023. The program delivers hands-on pre-employment training to qualified New Yorkers looking to start a culinary career, in partnership with full-service restaurants that hire successful students as full-time employees and continue their training.

If you operate a full-service restaurant in NYC and are interested in building a “bench” of entry-level kitchen talent, you can learn more here.

If you know someone who would benefit from this training they can learn how to apply here.

The Customized Training Program is a competitive, reimbursable grant that allows New York City businesses to train their staff.

With the right training, your business can: 

  • reduce employee turnover 
  • improve morale 
  • develop your employee’s skills 
  • improve your bottom line 
  • promote an efficient and productive workforce 
  • increase your competitiveness in the marketplace 

Your business will:  

  • be reimbursed for up to 60% of the training costs 
  • receive a trainee completion credit for every trainee that completes the proposed training

Earn $50 in a NYC Research Study From SBS and Blenderbox – If you are a restaurant owner operating in NYC, Blenderbox and SBS would love to talk with you! The City is currently working to improve their services and offerings for restaurant owners. Your experience is valuable and will help shape a better experience.

Blenderbox is offering $50.00 in exchange for 1 hour of your time. The session will be a private, 1:1 guided conversation (in person, phone or virtual) with a researcher from Blenderbox.

If you are interested in joining the study, please complete this form. If selected, someone from Blenderbox will contact you to schedule your session.

Citizens Air Complaint System – A program that permits private citizens to witness violations of the Administrative Code and to have summons issued for particular violations of the Noise Code.  These cases are prosecuted at the city’s Office of Administrative Tribunal and Hearings (OATH). Hundreds of these summonses have been issued to date and you should inform your members of possible violations being served in the community and how to avoid them.

  • The noise code authorizes a citizen to issue a summons for certain sections of the code.
  • This section of the code carries a first penalty of $440 and a default of $1750 for a first summons
  • There are approximately 5 very active citizens that issue these and there are hundreds of summonses from each of these citizens that are being heard at OATH.
  • The summonses are being given to many restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality venues.
  • A successful case at OATH yields a bounty for the summons issuer (25 % of the fine).


The Noise Code states:
it is a violation of the noise code for any person to operate or use or cause to be operated or used any sound reproduction device, for commercial or business advertising purposes or for the purpose of attracting attention to any performance, show, sale or display of merchandise ….:
 
(i) outside or in front of any building, place or premises or in or through any aperture of such building, place or premises, abutting on or adjacent to a public street, park or place…..
In sum, businesses are not permitted to play music or recordings outside of their premises and they are subject to violations of the code.

Employers Must Post EEOC’s New “Know Your Rights” Poster –
Employers with at least 15 employees are required to post the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s new mandatory “Know Your Rights” poster, which updates and replaces the previous “EEO is the Law” poster. The new poster must be placed in a conspicuous location in the workplace and the EEOC encourages employers with remote workers to post it electronically. Failure to comply with such posting requirements can lead to civil money penalties of $569 per violation. Download the flyer in English. Download the flyer in Spanish.
 
Childcare Business Tax Credit Incentives – To help NYC invest in an accessible, equitable, and high-quality childcare system, Mayor Adams championed two new tax relief opportunities to increase childcare seats. The first is a new property tax abatement for property owners who retrofit space to accommodate childcare centers. Property owners who create a childcare center or increase the number of seats at an existing childcare center may be eligible for a property tax abatement covering up to $225,000 of construction costs.  The second opportunity is a new NYC business income tax credit for businesses that provide free or subsidized infant/toddler care for their employees. Download flyers to spread the word here.

Salary Transparency Laws– On November 1, 2022, all New York City employers with four or more employees and employment agencies of all sizes must state the salary range or rate of pay when advertising a job, promotion or transfer opportunity. Download the factsheet from NYC Commission on Human Rights.

Cool Stuff to Check Out

Hiring Assistance for Businesses – No matter what your staffing needs are, SBS can help you hire the right employees at no cost. SBS can tap its pool of 100,000+ candidates to identify qualified individuals to meet your needs in industries, such as food services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, transportation, and warehousing. Read more and request recruitment services here.

SBS Launches NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST) – SBS has announced the creation of the NYC Business Express Service Team (BEST) initiative, designed to provide small businesses with one-on-one expert support and cut time spent navigating City government.
 
The dedicated NYC BEST team will serve as a single point of contact between City agencies and small businesses operating in the five boroughs. The initiative aims to save small businesses time and money by streamlining the many interactions required with City agencies and providing key advice to help business owners expedite permit and licensing processes and resolve or avoid fines and violations.

Resources from City and State

Concealed Carry Firearm Laws in New York City – In response to the Supreme Court ruling that deemed New York State’s “proper cause gun licensing” provision was in violation of the second Amendment, New York State legislature has passed a new provision of the law that went into effect on September 1, 2022. The legislation adds eligibility requirements in the concealed carry licensing process, including completed firearm training courses for applicants. It also restricts the carrying of concealed weapons in a specified list of “sensitive locations,” including Times Square. Additionally, under the legislation, licensees will not be allowed to bring a concealed weapon into a private establishment unless they have explicit permission from the property owner.
 
Signage will be posted around the borders of the Times Square sensitive location designating it as a “Gun Free Zone.” There are also optional signage templates available for property owners of private establishments to indicate whether concealed carry licensees can bring guns onto their premises.
 
For additional information about the new legislation, please visit: New York City Concealed Carry (nyc.gov)


Rat Academy Resources – Did you know that NYC Department of Health hosts periodic rat prevention trainings as part of Rat Academy? DOHMH has a number of resources to educate business owners and residents about rat prevention. Find brochures and posters in multiple languages here and find upcoming Rat Academy Trainings

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed Intro 56, legislation aimed at reducing fatal overdoses by providing free naloxone kits of NARCAN® to nightlife establishments in New York City to administer in the case of an opioid overdose. 

The safety and well-being of the nightlife community is a top priority for the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife. Because of this, they created the NARCAN® Behind Every Bar program with the NYC Health Department to provide venues, staff, and security with free, life-saving training and overdose rescue kits. 

While the fentanyl crisis is not an issue exclusive to nightlife, we know that venues are places where people can look out for and protect each other.

Webinar For Venue Operators & Staff Members

Nightlife and hospitality venue operators, security guards and staff members interested in becoming a certified overdose responder can watch the virtual Overdose Prevention and Response Training webinar hosted last week on October 14. This webinar can teach you how to become a certified opioid overdose responder and how to receive overdose rescue kits with naloxone–a medication that can help SAVE A LIFE by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose mailed to your venue.
Watch the (October 11) Webinar

OutSmart NYC: Sexual Violence Prevention & Bystander Intervention Training

OutSmart NYC is a collective of industry professionals and activists organizing to help prevent sexual violence in bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. This organization offers free sexual violence prevention and bystander intervention training, trauma 101 and responding to disclosures of violence for nightlife industry professionals and venues to become leaders in preventing violence in community spaces in order to have the best possible night out! Click HERE to request a staff training. 

Training: NYS Alcohol Training Awareness Program

The Office of Nightlife recommends all nightlife staff who serve alcoholic beverages participate in an Alcohol Training Awareness Program (ATAP), such as TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures). ATAP training is an effective way to prevent underage sales and over-service. Providing proof that venue staff has participated in these training can also help reduce penalties if the NYS Liquor Authority (NYSLA) charges a venue with a violation. Click HERE to learn more. 
ELEVATE Nightlife Mental Health & Wellness

Work one-on-one with a Backline Case Manager to create a mental health and wellness plan specifically catered to your needs, location, and financial resources with a list of referrals to therapists and organizations that understand the music and nightlife industry as well as access to free mental health support groups that cater to workers in the nightlife and music industry. 

The ELEVATE Nightlife Mental Health initiative was created by the NYC Office of Nightlife in partnership with Backline Care, a non-profit that connects industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources. 
 
New Business Express Service from LPC – The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is excited to announce its Business Express Service, which will serve as a one-stop shop for business owners in landmark buildings making it easier for owners to get their permits. LPC will offer pre-application consultation and focused application review to support businesses located in storefronts and other street-level commercial spaces in the City’s designated buildings and historic districts.
 
You can view LPC’s website here.

NYC Accelerator

NYC Accelerator is a city-backed program to help control costs, meet local law compliance, boost building performance, increase energy savings, and reduce carbon emissions across NYC buildings. This program is here to provide free technical guidance to help the market transform how our buildings operate and are built. The NYC Accelerator team identifies building upgrade projects to help meet emissions limits established under the Climate Mobilization Act. The NYC Accelerator also provides no-cost building operator trainings and supports green workforce development. For more info, click HERE. 

Health Inspections have started for the restaurant industry – BE PREPARED!
NYC Small Business Services is offering EDUCATIONAL visits by their advocates to help you comply with your upcoming DoHMH Health Inspection. The advocate will walk through your establishment, like a health inspector, and point out all the issues that need to be resolved, give advice and there will opportunities for you to ask questions. FREE of course! If you are interested, email info@northflatbushbid.nyc with the required info below, and we’ll get an advocate to contact you.

  • Name of Restaurant/Bar/Cafe/Food Establishment 
  •  Contact person first and last name, email and cell number 
  •  Business Address 
  •  9 digit EIN number 
  •  Number of employees 
  •  What type of food, ie Italian, Coffee…..

Click HERE to go to the DoH inspection page and learn what to expect when you are inspected!

Illegal Dumping Reward Program 

It is illegal to dispose of home and/or business garbage in a public trash bin — this includes our Big Bellies and corner bins in our district. If waste is coming from a vehicle, fines for the owner of the vehicle range from $1,500 to $20,000. In instances where the owner and the operator are different, the maximum fine can go up to $40,000. DSNY has a reward program where individuals who report on illegal dumping can earn up to 50% of the amount collected as a reward. Click HERE to read more. Individuals disposing of home and/ or business garbage in public trash bins can also be fined if the waste is NOT coming from a vehicle (this is called “improper disposal,” and is also illegal).