Political Action Center

Stay tuned! We will need your advocacy help this fall.

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to fostering a robust and dynamic economic environment for all businesses in New York City. In 2025, our focus remains on addressing the critical challenges faced by our business community while championing policies that promote growth, innovation, and regional competitiveness.

SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

New York City’s small businesses—a vital part of the local economy—were both the businesses hit hardest by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the drivers of NYC’s economic recovery. Defined by the Chamber as businesses employing fewer than 50 workers, small businesses are incredibly important to New York City’s economy, making up about 94% of all private firms in the city. Ranging from corner retail locations to professional consulting firms, small businesses help power New York City’s economy. They contribute to our city’s dynamism, giving our neighborhoods their unique and diverse cultural identities. They provide income to approximately 1 million workers, and together generate $250 billion in direct economic impact.

Unfortunately, these businesses face many challenges in New York such as high state and local taxes, burdensome employer mandates, high operational costs, difficulty securing capital, and public safety concerns. The Chamber has a history of conducting outreach to these businesses and providing training and technical assistance to help them thrive. The Chamber has also been a strong voice and advocate on their behalf.

Specific policies we support include:

• Opposition to Tariffs: We strongly oppose the imposition of tariffs on imported goods. Tariffs increase costs for businesses and consumers, disrupt global supply chains, reduce the competitiveness of New York businesses in international markets, and ultimately stifle economic growth. We advocate for free and fair trade policies that benefit our local economy.
• Funding for Technical Assistance Programs: Continued and expanded funding to support technical assistance programs for small businesses, such as the Small Business Resource Network operated by the Five Borough Chamber Alliance (including the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce).
• Storefront Vitality Initiatives: Projects and initiatives that decrease storefront vacancy and increase foot traffic in Manhattan’s commercial corridors, including incentives for new businesses and support for existing ones.
• Commercial Rent Tax Relief: Comprehensive relief from the Commercial Rent Tax which disproportionately impacts businesses south of 96th Street in Manhattan.
• Economic Impact Statements: Requiring the city to produce Economic Impact Statements on businesses to assess the broad implications of city legislation before passage, ensuring policies are business-friendly.
• Streamlined Regulations and Permitting: Advocating for the simplification of city and state regulations and permitting processes to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and operational costs for small businesses.
• Digital Transformation Support: Programs and resources to help small businesses adopt new technologies, enhance e-commerce capabilities, and improve cybersecurity defenses, ensuring they can compete in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
• Workforce Development and Talent Access: Initiatives to connect small businesses with skilled talent, including partnerships with vocational schools and community colleges, and support for employee training and upskilling programs.

REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS

New York State has experienced significant out-migration, losing almost 2 million residents since 2010, leading all 50 states in exodus rates. Manhattan, in particular, led all counties in the nation in population loss during the Covid pandemic. Very importantly, New York’s once robust and powerful 45-seat Congressional delegation now stands at a mere 26 seats, and has been falling after every census since 1950. Playing a large role in this out-migration is the high cost of living, inadequate public education options in many areas, and quality of life concerns around public safety, traffic congestion and long commutes, sanitation, and the threat of reduced municipal services and/or higher taxes because of budget constraints.

New York must actively strengthen its competitive environment to attract and retain top talent—many of whom can work remotely from any locale they desire—and the businesses that want to be where the best talent can be found.

Specific policies we support include:

• Affordable Housing Initiatives: Developing and implementing strategies to increase the availability of affordable housing across the city, which is crucial for retaining and attracting a diverse workforce.
• Public Safety and Quality of Life Improvements: Advocating for enhanced public safety measures, improved sanitation services, and initiatives that address quality of life concerns to create a more attractive and secure environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Affordable Childcare Options: Availability of more affordable childcare options. The Chamber supports the Better Child Care NYC platform of policy reforms.
• Infrastructure Modernization: Significant investment in modernizing New York’s transportation infrastructure (MTA, roads, bridges), broadband access, and energy grids to improve efficiency, reduce commutes, and attract businesses.
• Innovation Ecosystem Development: Policies that foster a vibrant innovation ecosystem, including incentives for tech hubs, incubators, and research & development, to position New York as a leader in emerging industries.
• Sustainable Urban Development: Promoting policies that encourage environmentally friendly development, expand green spaces, and build resilient infrastructure, enhancing the quality of life and attracting talent committed to sustainability.
• Comprehensive Tax Reform: A thorough review and reform of state and local tax structures to reduce the overall tax burden on businesses and residents, making New York a more attractive place to live and work.

“Wins” so far in 2025

• Significant changes to the state’s discovery reform laws which were allowing a growing numbers of defendants to walk on technicalities
• Significant improvements to the FAIR Business Practices Act before passage
• Passage of the Midtown South Mixed-Use Rezoning Plan
• Secured a $1.5 million line item in the city budget to fund small business outreach and technical assistance throughout the five boroughs

Support

• Specific exemptions from the federal tariffs in order to shield small businesses and prevent an economic recession
• Ensuring at least one of the new downstate casino licenses goes to a bidder in Manhattan to maximize economic benefits
• Easing restrictions on short-term rentals in one- and two-family homes (such as Airbnb) to ensure there are affordable accommodations available to the tourists we are trying to attract (New York City Council Int. 1107)

The Chamber's Public Policy Committee is a subcommittee of the Board of Directors. It guides the Chamber's policy focus and strategy with input from its industry councils and member surveys. The Committee Chair is George Lence, President of Nicholas Lence Communications. The Committee Vice-Chair is Rosina Rubin, Chief Financial Officer of Attitude New York. The Chamber's CEO Jessica Walker is the Chamber's chief spokesperson and lobbyist.