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Chamber testifies before City Council to back extended hours and champion World Cup preparedness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY — April 28, 2026 — Today, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce CEO Jessica Walker delivered oral testimony before the New York City Council’s Committee on Economic Development. Representing 125,000 businesses across the city, Walker outlined the Chamber’s priorities to ensure local storefronts are positioned to benefit from the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with kickoff just six weeks away.

During the hearing, Walker expressed the Chamber's overarching support for the three bills currently under consideration, while urging the City to operate efficiently and collaboratively with existing private-sector initiatives.

Key highlights from Walker’s testimony include:

  • Preventing Duplication on Int. 808: Walker urged the City not to spend resources building a new business map. Instead, she directed the Council to livemap.nyc—a free, public, and equitable tool already built by the Chamber in partnership with Live XYZ. The map currently features every storefront in NYC with no sign-up required and no paid marketing advantages. “The City should integrate, not duplicate,” Walker noted.

  • Backing Extended Operating Hours: The Chamber announced its support for two vital state measures: Assemblymember Simone's HOST Act and Governor Hochul's 4 a.m. operating hours extension.

  • Urging Community Board Coordination: To ensure the 4 a.m. extension works in practice and not just on paper, Walker stressed the immediate need to coordinate with local Community Boards. Currently, many bars are bound by restrictive local stipulations that force them to close earlier than their state licenses allow.

  • Protecting Businesses Near Fan Zones: With the World Cup approaching rapidly, Walker called on the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to proactively educate small businesses located near official "fan zones" about FIFA's strict commercial restrictions. The Chamber emphasized that local deli and storefront owners must be informed about what they can advertise, sell, and say to avoid unexpected cease-and-desist orders.

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce continues to work closely with city and state leaders to ensure the upcoming international events serve as a powerful economic engine for small businesses across all five boroughs.

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