Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

Upcoming Events, Legislative News,  Grant Opportunities, & More

(Friday) Extra, Extra Click here for this week's video: Call to Action: Contact your State representatives to express concerns over the Consumer & Small Business Protection Act (more in next section) Bronx Chamber member celebrations (MBD Community Housing and Throggs Neck BID) & 100 Hispanic Women panel at Chase Bank Upcoming Small Business Events: NYC SBS Expo on May 29 and Small Businesses, Big Connections hosted by the Bronx Chamber on May 30 (see below for complete Bronx Chamber and partner events listing)

CONSUMER AND SMALL BUSINESS PROTECTION ACT

Please read the following regarding a State bill that could significantly impact our small businesses -- S.795 (Comrie) / A.7138 (Weinstein), known as the Consumer and Small Business Protection Act As dedicated advocates for Bronx’s small business community, it is crucial that the Bronx Chamber, its members and extended network address the potential repercussions of this bill. This state legislation risks detrimental consequences to both consumers and businesses, particularly small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. The proposal seeks to amend the General Business Law (GBL) by introducing broad terms like "unfair" and "abusive" practices and by increasing statutory damages by nearly 2000%. Additionally, it mandates the awarding of attorney’s fees in litigation cases, which could lead to a dramatic rise in baseless lawsuits.   We believe that our state can protect consumers and support small businesses without compromising the health of our economy. Please reach out to your state legislators to express your concerns and opposition to this bill. It's essential we come together to ensure the health of our business community and local economy.

UPDATE ON CITY OF YES FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

On May 22, the City Council Zoning Subcommittee & Land Use Committee voted to approve of this citywide amendment to NYC’s Zoning Resolution, with modifications to the zoning proposals as well as non-zoning commitments from the City. You can find details on these modifications and non-zoning commitments here.   This vote marks an important step in advancing this critical initiative to update zoning for a 21st century economy. The Council’s modifications strike a thoughtful balance of public input while maintaining the purpose and intent of the proposal. We anticipate a full Council vote in early June. Let's make NYC a #CityofYes for Economic Opportunity. The plan will update old zoning rules to support small businesses, unlock jobs, fill vacant storefronts, and build a vibrant future for our city. More on City of Yes and ways to support can be found at: nyc.gov/YesEconomicOpportunity

BRONX CHAMBER SIGNATURE EVENT: GOLF OUTING

Don't Miss Out On This Exclusive Event The Joseph P. Kelleher Memorial Golf Tournament June 18, 2024 Bally's Golf Links at Ferry Point 500 Hutchinson River Parkway Bronx, NY 10465 Join us for a day of networking & friendly competition as we honor the memory of Bronx Chamber chairman Joe Kelleher and celebrate this year's honoree Mark Stagg of Stagg Group Development ---> CLICK HERE for more information about the Tournament and to register Sponsorship Opportunities are in high demand and going quickly! Contact Dolores@bronxchamber.org to secure yours. Sincere thanks to our sponsors to date (list in formation): DJ Ambulette Services, Monroe College, BronxCare Health System, Lettire Construction, Manhattan Parking Group, Simone Development Companies, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, Orange Bank & Trust Company, The Stagg Group, and A&A Maintenance Enterprise.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Bronx Construction Career & Training Resource Fair June 12 Beginning at 10:00am Bronx Borough Hall - The Rotunda 851 Grand Concourse Hosted by the Bronx Borough President's Office and NYC Department of Design and Construction Job seekers will meet employers, unions, and organizations with active opportunities. Register Here

Mayor Adams and CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez announced a nearly $12 million expansion towards the CUNY Inclusive Economy Initiative, which leverages CUNY campus resources to create college-to-career pipelines. Launched in 2022, this initiative has served over 3,000 students and built connections to more than 2,000 industry partners to date, with the expansion aiming to create career opportunities for 1,200 more CUNY students.

CHAMBER IN THE COMMUNITY

This week, the Bronx Chamber team was proud to attend a number of community events (pictured at left) including a 50-year anniversary celebration of our member MBD Community Housing, a Veterans event held on the campus of our member Hostos Community College, and the 45th Precinct Community Council annual breakfast. The Chamber also hosted a meet & greet with Congressional candidate George Latimer for our Chairman's Circle and Corporate members at Enzo's of Williamsbridge. President Lisa Sorin recorded a LEAP Into Business podcast at Lehman College and participated in a panel at the new Chase Bank on Fordham Road, Women In Business: Building Generational Wealth

MORE BRONX CHAMBER EVENTS

May 30: Small Businesses, Big Connections Less than a week away - get your tickets now! Pasquale's Rigoletto 2311 Arthur Ave. 6:00 - 8:00pm $25 Members / $30 Non-Members Learn best practices from our Member guest speaker Martha Lynn Laskie how to Become Impressive and effectively brand your small business, while enjoying delicious Italian light bites, drink specials, & more as we close out Small Business Month!

Get Your Tickets

June 6: An Evening of Scotch & Cigars The Bronx Havana Room 3604A East Tremont Ave. 6:00 - 8:00pm $25 Members / $30 Non-Members Join us at the sophisticated Bronx Havana Room on June 6th for an evening of scotch tasting, fine cigars, networking and industry updates. Act fast - space is limited and this event has sold out 2 years in a row!

Get Your Tickets

June 13: Karaoke Night! Sponsored by The University of Mount Saint Vincent The Bronx Beer Hall 2344 Arthur Avenue 6:00 - 8:00pm $25 Members / $30 Non-Members Join the Bronx Chamber's Young Professionals Committee for an evening of great food, questionable singing, & drink specials, brought to you with generous support from Bronx Chamber Member The University of Mount Saint Vincent, who will be sharing information about continuing education opportunities at UMSV, tailored for busy professionals.

Get Your Tickets

June 27: The Art of Networking Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education 928 Simpson Street 6:00 - 8:00pm $25 Members / $30 Non-Members Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for an evening of networking in Casita Maria's beautiful community Art Gallery, surrounded by the inspiring work of local artists. Don't miss this opportunity to cultivate your network and ignite your creative spirit!

GET YOUR TICKETS

MEMBER EVENTS

Bronx Chamber member Bronx Veterinary Center is moving to a new location and you’re invited to join in the festivities! Saturday, May 25 12:00 - 4:00pm 1640 Eastchester Road Bronx, NY 10461 Food trucks, face painting, dog training demos, available pets for adoption, and much more! Click HERE for details on Animal Care Centers of NYC mobile Pet Adoption

Support Bronx Chamber member VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired at their June 11 event, where our President Lisa Sorin will proudly serve as event auctioneer! 📣 Get your tickets here and help raise vital unrestricted funding for VISIONS' programs for the Blind and visually impaired in our borough!

Bronx Day: Celebration of Juneteenth June 15 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Visit the NY Botanical Garden for a Juneteenth celebration featuring music, dance performances, arts and crafts, food trucks, and more! Bronx Residents, Register HERE for complimentary tickets!

Bronx Chamber President's Circle member New York Power Authority & New York Transco invite you to learn about Propel NY Energy, an underground electric transmission solution proposed in the Bronx to bolster the system’s reliability and resiliency, and create pathways to deliver clean energy. Bronx Community Open Houses: June 8, 12, and 13 (in person and virtual options) Click HERE for full details on each Open House, and to register

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR GROWTH

With support from the Verizon Digital Inclusion program, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is offering a series of webinars aimed at helping small businesses maximize the potential of digital tools and literacy for business growth. All sessions are virtual Upcoming Dates and Times are as follows: Cybersecurity - How to Protect Your Business  Session 1: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Session 2: Wednesday, June 12, 2024 11:00 am to 12:00 pm To register for the next event on June 5, Click Here

OPEN + ONLINE Applications are still open for Bronx businesses to sign up for the popular Open + Online program through the NYC Small Business Resource Network! It's crucial that your small business has a strong online presence to compete in today's marketplace. The Open + Online program offers FREE website building, logo & branding design, or expert SEO (search engine optimization) consulting.  APPLY HERE

WEBSITE UPDATES: CITY & STATE LEGISLATION

If you haven't already: Check out the latest Bronx Chamber website updates for city and state legislation policy news impacting your business, plus events, resources and much more. To visit our website, Click Here

FUNDING, CERTIFICATION & OTHER RESOURCES

NYC Small Business Month Expo May 29 9:00am - 3:00pm Pier 36 NYC 299 South Street New York, NY 10002 Free resources and direct services that address the needs of small business owners of all stages, industries, and boroughs, all under one roof: Faster city permits and licenses Financing and legal assistance Contract with NYC through the M/WBE Borough Forum Free consultations, workshops, and networking  Click Here to Register

MWBE | SDVOB Procurement Conference June 5 8:30am - 3:00pm John Jay College of Criminal Justice 524 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019 Learn how to navigate procurement opportunities throughout CUNY and CUCF at this one-day event designed to help MWBEs & SDVOBs learn, grow, and network. Co-hosted by The City University of New York, City University Construction Fund, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Queens Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Women in Construction. Click Here To Register

Grant Readiness 101: Get Ready, Get Set June 18 (2 sessions) CUNY on the Concourse Unlike many private or local grant processes, applying for NY State grant funding can require several steps. This training is designed to help you understand the process, the statewide financial system (SFS), and the opportunities that come with State grant funding.   This presentation will cover:  Overall NYS Grant Process Different Types of Funding Opportunities (Three Rs: RFA/RFA/RFI) Steps to Prequalification (A MUST TO APPLY FOR ANY GRANT) Working with the NY State Financial System (SFS) How to Position Your Organization to Be Ready Register HERE

NYC Funds Finder NYC's Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and Next Street are offering a user-friendly platform, NYC Funds Finder, where small businesses can review funding options, including loans and grants, and request free 1-on-1 financing assistance from the SBS team.  NYC Funds Finder is a partnership between SBS and Next Street and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. Next Street Scale, the platform that powers NYC Funds Finder, was created to address the hurdles that small businesses, especially those run by women and minorities, face in accessing the resources required to grow their business and build wealth.

M/WBE Certification Unlocking Opportunities The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with NYC SBS to help guide you through the application process of getting certified as a Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE). This certification program, offered by NYC Small Business Services, is a critical initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in government contracting and procurement processes. The program seeks to create opportunities for businesses owned and operated by minority individuals and women, ensuring they have fair access to government contracts and economic opportunities, opens your business up to increased opportunities from New York City agencies, free advertising in the NYC Online Directory of Certified Businesses, mentorship programs and workshops, networking events, and more. The City has committed to awarding $16 billion in contracts to M/WBE certified organizations over the next decade--don’t miss out! Are you eligible? (Qualification checklist below) Business is legally authorized to transact business in New York City Business has been in operation for at least one year Business is more than 51% minority and/or woman owned If you are interested in applying, or for more information on M/WBE certification, contact Chanel Perez at Programs@bronxchamber.org

For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly!

MAYORS ADAMS, BIPARTISAN COALITION OF 40 OTHER MAYORS RENEW CALL FOR WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR IMMIGRANTS

 

Letter Comes as U.S. Senate is Considering Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Follows Extensive Mayoral Advocacy for Expanded Work Authorization 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson today led a coalition of 40 Cities for Action (C4A) mayors and county executives in calling for over 2 million work authorizations for both recent arrivals and longstanding undocumented immigrants, in the absence of long-awaited comprehensive reform by Congress. The bipartisan letter to the Biden-Harris administration can be viewed online.

“New York City is living proof that ‘The American Dream Works’ — our city wouldn’t be the greatest city in the world without generations of immigrants who have rolled up their sleeves and worked to shape this city,” said Mayor Adams. “But we know that the only way to make the American Dream work is if we let people work, because work is the foundation of that dream. In the absence of any long-overdue comprehensive reform by Congress, expanded work authorization for immigrants is a win-win-win: it allows immigrants to do what they came to this country to do and provide for their families, it prevents exploitation of workers, and it relieves some of the financial and logistical burden that shelter systems across the country have been under.”

“Chicago and Illinois are home to 320,000 undocumented Mexicans and Guatemalans, and 40,000 undocumented Haitians, Jamaicans, and Nigerians, and despite their lack of work authorization, they greatly contribute to our economies and neighborhoods,” said Mayor Johnson. “We continue to urge the federal government to use every tool at its disposal to support undocumented residents and new arrivals by giving people the ability to work, support their families, and contribute to our communities.” 

Extending work authorization to both newly arrived and longstanding immigrants would be an economic benefit to the entire nation. Authorized work leads to higher wages and reduced exploitation, enhancing workplace safety and dignity. By extending work authorizations, the Biden-Harris administration can take a significant step towards supporting these valuable community members who contribute extensively to the U.S. workforce and economy. This initiative is supported by more than 80 members of Congress; the American Business Immigration Coalition’s more than 300 employers, CEOs, and associations; as well as labor organizations like UNITE HERE, the Teamsters, and United Auto Workers.

Since this asylum seeker humanitarian crisis began, New York City has taken fast and urgent action — opening more than 200 emergency shelters to provide a roof over the heads of migrants. The city has also stood up navigation centers to connect asylum seekers with critical resources; enrolled tens of thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms; and launched the Asylum Application Help Center, which has already helped submit more than 50,000 applications for asylum, work authorization, and temporary protected status. Last August, Mayor Adams hosted “The American Dream Works” — a rally with hundreds of asylum seekers, union members, business leaders, and elected officials calling for expanded work authorization for asylum seekers. Last year, the city released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the city will continue to manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and state partners.

Justice Department Sues Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry

 

Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s Exclusionary Conduct and Dominance Across the Live Concert Ecosystem Harms Fans, Innovation, Artists, and Venues

The Justice Department, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation-Ticketmaster) for monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry. The lawsuit, which includes a request for structural relief, seeks to restore competition in the live concert industry, provide better choices at lower prices for fans, and open venue doors for working musicians and other performance artists.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster unlawfully exercises its monopoly power in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. As a result of its conduct, music fans in the United States are deprived of ticketing innovation and forced to use outdated technology while paying more for tickets than fans in other countries. At the same time, Live Nation-Ticketmaster exercises its power over performers, venues, and independent promoters in ways that harm competition. Live Nation-Ticketmaster also imposes barriers to competition that limit the entry and expansion of its rivals.

“We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”

“This announcement reflects the latest efforts by the Justice Department to combat corporate misconduct,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Our fight against corporate wrongdoing includes an intense focus on anticompetitive conduct — which disadvantages consumers, workers, and businesses of all kinds. Today’s complaint alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster have engaged in anticompetitive conduct to cement their dominance of the live concert market and act as the gatekeeper for an entire industry. Today’s action is a step forward in making this era of live music more accessible for the fans, the artists, and the industry that supports them.”

“The Department is committed to competition throughout the economy, including in live music,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “As our complaint alleges, Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopolizes the markets for concerts and other live events at the expense of fans, venues, and artists across the country. The Department is proud to bring this case to restore competition to this industry.”

“The live music industry in America is broken because Live Nation-Ticketmaster has an illegal monopoly,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Our antitrust lawsuit seeks to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s monopoly and restore competition for the benefit of fans and artists.”

According to the complaint, Live Nation-Ticketmaster has unlawfully maintained monopolies in several concert promotions and primary ticketing markets and engaged in other exclusionary conduct affecting live concert venues, including arenas and amphitheaters. The complaint further alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s exclusionary practices fortify and protect what it refers to as its “flywheel.” The flywheel is Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s self-reinforcing business model that captures fees and revenue from concert fans and sponsorship, uses that revenue to lock up artists to exclusive promotion deals, and then uses its powerful cache of live content to sign venues into long term exclusive ticketing deals, thereby starting the cycle all over again. Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s anticompetitive conduct creates even more barriers for rivals to compete on the merits. Specifically, Live Nation-Ticketmaster engaged in a variety of tactics to eliminate competition and monopolize markets:

• Relationship with Oak View Group: Live Nation-Ticketmaster exploits its longtime relationship with Oak View Group, a potential competitor-turned-partner that has described itself as a “hammer” and “protect[or]” for Live Nation. In recent years, Oak View Group has avoided bidding against Live Nation for artist talent and influenced venues to sign exclusive agreements with Ticketmaster. For example, Live Nation has scolded Oak View Group multiple times for trying to compete. In one instance, Live Nation asked, “who would be so stupid to . . . play into [an artist agent’s] arms,” and on another occasion, Live Nation stated, “let’s make sure we don’t let [the artist agency] now start playing us off.”
• Retaliating Against Potential Entrants: Live Nation-Ticketmaster successfully threatened financial retaliation against a firm unless it stopped one of its subsidiaries from competing to gain a foothold in the U.S. concert promotions market.
• Threatening and Retaliating Against Venues that Work with Rivals: Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s power in concert promotions means that every live concert venue knows choosing another promoter or ticketer comes with a risk of drawing an adverse reaction from Live Nation-Ticketmaster that would result in losing concerts, revenue, and fans.
• Locking Out Competition with Exclusionary Contracts: Live Nation-Ticketmaster locks concert venues into long-term exclusive contracts so that venues cannot consider or choose rival ticketers or switch to better or more cost-effective ticketing technology. These contracts allow Live Nation-Ticketmaster to reduce competitive pressure to improve its own ticketing technology and customer service.
• Blocking Venues from Using Multiple Ticketers: Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s conduct and exclusive contracts prevent new and different promotions and ticketing competitors and business models from emerging. They block venues from being able to use multiple ticketers, who would compete by offering the best mix of prices, fees, quality, and innovation to fans.
• Restricting Artists’ Access to Venues: Live Nation-Ticketmaster has increasingly gained control of key venues, including amphitheaters, through acquisitions, partnerships, and agreements. Live Nation-Ticketmaster restricts artists’ use of those venues unless those artists also agree to use their promotion services.
• Acquiring Competitors and Competitive Threats: Live Nation-Ticketmaster strategically acquired a number of smaller and regional promoters that it had internally identified as threats. This has undermined competition and impacted artist compensation.

Live Nation Entertainment Inc. is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. It describes itself as the “largest live entertainment company in the world,” the “largest producer of live music concerts in the world,” and “the world’s leading live entertainment ticketing sales and marketing company.” Live Nation also owns or controls more than 265 concert venues in North America, including more than 60 of the top 100 amphitheaters in the United States. It generates over $22 billion globally in annual revenue from three business segments: concerts (e.g., promotions, venue management, and music festival production), ticketing (e.g., Ticketmaster business), and sponsorship and advertising.

Ticketmaster LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Live Nation. It is a Virginia limited liability company with headquarters in Beverly Hills. Ticketmaster sells concert tickets to fans when those tickets first go on sale and operates resale platforms that enable purchasers to resell those tickets at a later time. Ticketmaster is by far the largest concert ticketing company in the United States, multiple times the size of its closest competitor.