New York State Sen. John Lew (inset, blue shirt) attended a press conference on Main Street in Flushing on Friday, along with representatives from the Flushing BID, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses.
Photo credit: Athena Dawson
New York State Senator John Lew (D-16) held a press conference in Flushing today to announce a series of new laws being passed to better protect small businesses from retail theft.
Speaking in front of the US1 Supermarket at 39-12 Main Street, Mr. Liu, along with local business owners and community leaders, highlighted four new measures designed to support local business owners.
The new law includes a tax credit program for small businesses that invest in security measures, combined larceny charges for habitual theft, criminal charges for selling stolen property, and felony charges for assaulting a store employee.
This tax credit program provides up to $6,000 in tax credits to small businesses with 50 or fewer employees who make security-related purchases such as cameras, locks, and other crime deterrent equipment. Businesses with 25 or more employees who spend more than $6,000 on security measures are also eligible for the tax credit. In addition, businesses with fewer than 25 employees are eligible if they spend more than $4,000 on equipment.
Liu announced that for one year, prosecutors have been able to consolidate multiple petit larceny retail theft charges into a felony grand larceny charge. In addition, anyone who attacks or injures a worker will be charged with a felony. Mr. Liu said the new policy will deter criminals who repeatedly steal from vulnerable small businesses. The final new measure would make it illegal for shoplifters to resell stolen goods.
“This will send a strong message to everyone that we are here to protect our retail workers,” Liu said. “We do not want retail theft to continue and victimize too many community members, including small business owners and the general public.”
Liu was joined by Dian Yu, executive director of the Flushing Business Improvement District (BID). Yu said the law took a long time to pass because communities are rebuilding from the pandemic. “Thanks to this legislation, we can finally begin to recover and regrow our businesses,” Yu said.
Mr. Liu made his position of protecting small and medium-sized business owners clear to the surrounding community. “Our small business owners continue to provide goods and services to everyone in our community, but they also have had to contend with persistent retail theft,” said Liu. said. “It's time to do something about it.”