Contact: Colleen Roche or Dwight Williams (212) 788-2958
The first bill before me this afternoon, Introductory Number 806-A, was sponsored at my request by Speaker Vallone and Council Members Fisher, O'Donovan, White and Eristoff. The bill amends the Administrative Code of the City of New York in relation to the regulation of public wholesale markets.
It is no secret that organized crime has been heavily involved in wholesale food markets throughout the City. Other efforts by this Administration, such as the Fulton Fish Market legislation, Local Law 50 of 1995 which required registration of all businesses in the distribution area, have been successful in rooting out corruption and lowering costs to retailers and restaurants. More importantly, it was an essential step in regaining competition and ensuring the safe, efficient operation of the market. Similarly, Local Law 42 of 1996 created the Trade Waste Commission and a comprehensive regulatory scheme for the commercial waste removal industry. That legislation also rooted out organized crime, returned competition to the industry, and lowered costs.
This bill before me today seeks to further the same goal. Introductory number 806-A will require all businesses operating or seeking to operate within the Hunts Point Market, or any other public wholesale food market in the City, to register with the Department of Business Services (DBS) for licenses. All employees of the registered businesses will also be required to obtain photo identification cards.
DBS will have discretion to grant or deny licenses. Licenses may be denied to applicants who fail to provide truthful information in their applications, or are deemed unfit operators for the market business. Past convictions for racketeering or organized crime involvement will be weighed heavily in this determination. An added element of this legislation, which will also apply to the Fulton Fish Market, requires that union and trade association officials also register with DBS.
Any termination of employees of registered market businesses, unions or trade associations will ultimately remain with the Office of Collective Bargaining.
This legislation is a long overdue response to the problems in the City's wholesale food markets. These markets provide valuable jobs and services to the City. Hunts Point Market, which is the largest wholesale food market in the country, employs over 11,000 people and generates over $7 billion in annual sales. Regaining competition and fair market practices will encourage growth in the marketplaces, and no longer will honest businesspeople be driven away or forced to pay fees to racketeers.
Introductory number 806-A is the product of constructive collaboration among the City Council, the New York City Central Labor Council, and local law enforcement officials to address the crime and market obstructions which now exist.
I would like to thank Speaker Vallone, Councilmember Ken Fisher, and all the other Councilmembers who sponsored or supported this legislation, as well as the dedicated staff members at the Law Department and the Department of Investigation who helped with the passage of this legislation.
I will now turn to the sponsors of the bill, and then to any other elected officials who would like to speak.
There being no one else to be heard, and for the reasons previously stated, I will now sign the bill.