Deputy mayor for economic justice orchestrates systematic regulatory relief effort
Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su assumes leadership of a sweeping regulatory relief initiative ordered by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, directing seven city agencies to conduct an unprecedented audit of all fines and penalties small businesses must navigate. The executive order, signed Wednesday, establishes clear timelines for identifying and eliminating onerous business regulations across the Buildings, Consumer and Worker Protection, Environmental Protection, Fire, Health and Mental Hygiene, Sanitation and Transportation departments. Su, previously serving as acting U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Joe Biden, praised the initiative as reflecting a fundamental shift in city government priorities. “The small business owners who give this city its identity and vibrancy have too rarely been considered in the backrooms where decisions are made. Not on our watch,” Su stated. “Mayor Mamdani was elected to City Hall not solely because his campaign offered solutions for the countless New Yorkers tired of rents being raised, childcare costs soaring year after year, and public transit failing those who rely upon it. He was elected because he spoke to the small business owners of this city as partners.”
Timeline for Regulatory Relief
The executive order establishes a rigorous timeline. Within 45 days, all seven agencies must compile a comprehensive inventory of fees and civil penalties. Within 90 days, they must identify unnecessary fees that can be eliminated through rulemaking. Within 180 days, the administration will identify penalties requiring legislative action. By the one-year mark, Su’s team must deliver a report on the feasibility of an amnesty and relief program for business owners, potentially offering forgiveness or reduction of past penalties. Small businesses in New York navigate a complex web of more than 6,000 regulations and roughly 250 business-related licenses and permits. The hidden costs accumulate: fees for frozen dessert permits, inspection-related penalties, environmental compliance, sanitation violations, and transportation-related fines. Industry advocates say these costs disproportionately harm immigrant entrepreneurs and communities of color.
Business Coalition Response
The Five Borough Jobs Campaign, representing chambers of commerce across all five boroughs, praised the move while calling for clearer goals. Tom Grech, president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce and FBJC co-chair, acknowledged progress but urged the administration to set specific numerical targets. “Every Mayor over the past few decades has committed to doing an inventory of fines,” Grech said. “What makes this different is that this administration has set firm timelines and designated a cabinet-level official to oversee implementation.” Grech noted that industry groups have been advocating for a “small business director” or “mom-and-pop czar” to serve as a direct liaison to the mayor.
Departure From Economic Development Focus
Su’s appointment represents a significant philosophical shift in City Hall’s approach. Unlike previous administrations, Mamdani chose not to appoint a traditional deputy mayor for economic development, a role in place since at least the Koch administration. Instead, the new administration prioritizes economic justice as its primary framework for business engagement. “The question arises: What about economic growth?” said Kathy Wylde, head of the Partnership for New York City business advocacy group. “The private sector takes care of economic growth and job creation. They need a supportive government, not an adversarial one.” Some business leaders expressed concern that the shift signals antagonism toward corporate interests. However, the Mamdani administration insists its focus remains on creating conditions for all businesses to thrive. For more information on small business resources and regulatory compliance, see the Small Business Administration guidance and NYC Department of Small Business Services.
