FAB Biz Blast – Feb 2020

SPREAD THE SMALL BIZ LOVE!

Show some ❤️to your favorite fellow FAB FULTON businesses this month by shouting them out on social media! Use this special hashtag: #SmallBizFABLove when posting to Instagram or Twitter about other local businesses you support, and we’ll help to amp it up. And if you get called out with kudos on a post, pay it forward with a retweet or re-post! Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way!

ONE MONTH ‘TIL THE PLASTIC BAG BAN!

The Plastic Bag Waste Reduction Act goes into effect on March 1, and prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags by retailers in New York state. There is also a local NYC law that authorizes a five-cent fee on paper carryout bags.

To prep your customers for the big change, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has made available a number of free outreach materials, like informational posters and tip strips to print and distribute. You can find them here, along with answers to frequently asked questions about the ban: http://bit.ly/DECPlasticBagBan

GET A JUMP ON SPRING CLEANING WITH GRAFFITI-FREE NYC

It’s not all art… in 2019, the FAB FULTON maintenance crew removed 2,125 incidents of graffiti in our corridor!

Now heading into its’ 21st year, Graffiti-Free NYC (GFNYC) is a joint effort between the Mayor’s office, the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). The “Forever Graffiti-Free” program provides no-cost graffiti removal for affected commercial, residential, and industrial properties throughout New York City.

The FAB FULTON crew works with GFNYC all the time on removal, but you can dial 311 to report an instance of graffiti, or file a claim here: http://bit.ly/GraffitiFreeNYC

THE CASHLESS BAN IS NO MORE IN NYC

As a result of legislation passed by the New York City Council just last month, the city’s restaurants and other retail establishments will no longer be allowed to reject cash payments. It was widely felt that cashless businesses requiring credit cards and electronic payments like Apple Pay discriminate against poor people who may not have bank accounts or credit cards — as well as minors. The legislation also prohibits businesses from charging cash-paying customers a higher price than those using credit.

Mayor De Blasio backed the bill, and is expected to sign it into law this year. Businesses that violate the law would face fines up to $1,000 for the first offense.

(From a New York Post report: http://bit.ly/CashlessBan)

ABOUT FAB FULTON
The Fulton Area Business Alliance (FAB FULTON) is a non-profit organization that advocates for and collaborates with small businesses and property owners along Fulton Street in Brooklyn’s neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill to maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming community while securing resources and partnerships for initiatives that enhance and promote the district.

This post contains links to the articles and information referenced in our latest FAB BIZ BLAST email communication. You can subscribe to future newsletters; sign up here for the FAB FULTON BIZ BLAST to get the latest information and resources for FAB FULTON Businesses!