Senator Roxanne J. Persaud Establishes the Small Business Crime Prevention Services

March 11, 2020

===For Immediate Release===

Office:     Senator Roxanne J. Persaud (SD-19)

Contact:  Owen Johnson | ohrjohns@nysenate.gov | (718) 649-7653

Senator Roxanne J. Persaud (SD-19) Establishes the Small Business Crime Prevention Services

(Albany, NY) – On March 11, 2020, the New York State Senate passed S.7123, legislation sponsored by Senator Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, and Starrett City). The bill seeks to improve New York's business climate by providing for a program of crime prevention services and assistance tailored specifically for small businesses.  These would include: information on strategies, best practices, and programs offering training and assistance in prevention of crimes in and around the premises of small businesses or otherwise affecting small businesses; information on eligibility and applications for financial assistance for small business crime prevention services provided by the Urban Development Corporation; information on eligibility and applications for other programs of financial assistance for small business crime prevention offered by state or Federal agencies or local governments; information on protecting the assets of small businesses from crime, including risk reduction strategies and insurance availability; and information on responses to crime, including reporting of crimes, submitting insurance claims and crime victim assistance programs.

“Running a small business in the 21^st century is not as easy as it may have once been in the past,” said Senator Persaud. “While small-business owners focus on running their enterprise on a daily basis, it is easy for important improvements and upgrades to fall by the wayside. This bill will help proprietors access vital resources they may not have utilized prior, particularly when it comes to securing your business from becoming a victim of crime. I applaud the Senate Majority Conference for bringing this vital legislation up for a vote.”  Senator Persaud continued, “Small businesses are the economic engine of New York State.  When our local business are subjected to crimes on their premises or in their vicinity, whether it be robbery, vandalism, arson or check/credit card fraud, many small business owners are unable to compete with the crime-prevention strategies already implemented by larger ‘big-box’ companies; as a Member of the Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee, I have heard testimony and concerns from New Yorkers where various crimes against their businesses not only jeopardize their livelihood and quality of life, but in many cases lead to bankruptcy and neighborhood decay.” Senator Persaud added, “This legislation will help strengthen New York State’s overall business climate by providing for a cost-effective small business crime prevention services program to provide small businesses with the training, assistance, information and best practices to the benefit of the wider community.”