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City lawmakers rolled back an obscure, decades-old law about storefront roll-down gates ahead of a looming enforcement deadline – but not before some retailers shelled out thousands of dollars in upgrades.
The city scrambled to axe the measure ahead of a July 1 deadline, agreeing Tuesday to shelve the law, which would force businesses to install security gates that are least 70% transparent.
The law was passed in 2009 as a supposed anti-graffiti effort, but owners questioned if the requirement went too far as the possibility of $1,250 in fines were set to become a reality.
“Why make us change something we didn’t need to change?” fumed Gustavo Rodriguez, the manager of a Key Food grocery store on Gerard Avenue in the Bronx, which spent roughly $70,000 on semi-transparent roll-down grilles.
“Someone from the city came by at the beginning of the year,” recalled Rodriguez, 41, and “we had to comply with the law.”
The pause on the law comes after a bill in May pushed to exempt existing businesses with traditional grilles from the city’s crackdown.
Abdul Abdullah, owner of Stadium Souvenirs across the street from Yankee Stadium, lamented he already had “very strong, durable” doors from the 80s, but still spent “a lot of money” on new gates ahead of the enforcement deadline.
George Manesis, owner of Billy’s Sports bar on 161st Street, told The Post he dodged a bullet — and a $90,000 bill — by not getting the new gates, despite the city telling him to.
“It’s phenomenal that it’s repealed,” said Sam Podemski, a worker at Phil’s Stationary in Midtown. “If I had to put new gates up, you’d bet I wouldn’t until a court ordered me to.”
The City Council voted on Tuesday to repeal the little-known rule, and now will only require businesses to comply with the upgrade requirements when it has to replace a gate for other reasons.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our community. They deserve relief, not another bill they can’t pay,” said City Council member Susan Zhuang, adding that the cost to businesses amounted to “$10,000 or more per store, at a moment when our shops can least afford it.”
Zhuang noted that the Department of Buildings will be reaching out to businesses about the changes “so owners aren’t blindsided again.”
“We appreciate the Council’s collaboration on this bill that supports NYC’s small business community,” the agency said in a statement, “and provides entrepreneurs with flexibility when deciding which security grille works best for their business.”
Still, Rodriguez argues his “old ones were better” at preventing break-ins, as the new gates are lighter and see-through, which could tempt would-be thieves.
There is “nothing we can really do,” he sighed when asked about the switch-up.
“Maybe we can get lawyers and try to fight it. Maybe the city can try to give some money back.”
A request for comment from the repeal bill’s sponsor, Councilwoman Althea Stevens wasn’t immediately returned.
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