In a unanimous vote, the New York City Council today selected newly elected Councilmember Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., representing the 36th district of Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant, as chair of the Committee on Small Business.
As chair, Cornegy will introduce and oversee legislation concerning the city's regulation and assistance of traditional small businesses and those in emerging industries, as well as overseeing the many municipal decisions impacting business improvement districts and industrial and business zones.
"In my inauguration speech, I emphasized my commitment to tackling the disproportionate unemployment and underemployment that plagues central Brooklyn," said Cornegy. "Supporting small businesses is key to achieving these goals and improving the plight of working class New Yorkers, not just in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, but in every neighborhood across the five boroughs.
"I'm extremely excited that Maria Torres-Springer, an experienced and forward-thinking leader, will lead the Department of Small Business Services in implementing its new agenda. Working together, we will succeed in reducing regulatory burdens and increasing access to capital and other resources to ensure that our small businesses, business improvement districts and merchant associations thrive."
Council Member Cornegy selection was advanced by the City Council's Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
"I am grateful for Speaker Mark-Viverito's vote of confidence," said Cornegy. "She understands that the selection of committee chairs is key to ensuring that the Council's important work of legislating, budgeting and providing oversight to city agencies is accomplished with rigor."
