File #: Res 0620-2004    Version: * Name: Sales tax exemption week, November 22-28, 2004
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Finance
On agenda: 10/13/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the State Legislature to immediately introduce and adopt, and the Governor to sign, legislation which would provide an additional sales tax exemption week on all clothing and footwear costing up to $110 per item from November 22, 2004 to November 28, 2004, for the area of Manhattan bounded by 30th Street in the south, 36th Street in the north, Park Avenue in the East and Tenth Avenue in the west.
Sponsors: Gifford Miller, Christine C. Quinn, David I. Weprin, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Tony Avella, Gale A. Brewer, Yvette D. Clarke, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Alan J. Gerson, Robert Jackson, Allan W. Jennings, Jr., John C. Liu, Michael C. Nelson, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook
Council Member Sponsors: 16
Attachments: 1. Hearing Transcript, 2. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 10/27/04
Res. No. 620
 
 
Resolution calling upon the State Legislature to immediately introduce and adopt, and the Governor to sign, legislation which would provide an additional sales tax exemption week on all clothing and footwear costing up to $110 per item from November 22, 2004 to November 28, 2004, for the area of Manhattan bounded by 30th Street in the south, 36th Street in the north, Park Avenue in the East and Tenth Avenue in the west.
 
 
By the Speaker (Council Member Miller) and Council Members Quinn, Weprin, Addabbo, Avella, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Gerson, Jackson, Jennings, Liu, Nelson, Rivera, Sanders and Seabrook
 
       Whereas, From August 30 to September 2, 2004, businesses in the Madison Square Garden area faced unprecedented security and transportation disruptions as a result of the Republican National Convention; and
Whereas, The enhanced security and surveillance measures imposed on the City's transportation infrastructure forced some businesses to close altogether and led many employees to stay outside of the city during the convention week.  
      Whereas, The Republican National Convention security plan caused unavoidable disruption by closing off streets to city residents and tourists alike, and caused many consumers to avoid one of the largest shopping districts in the City during the week of the convention which was also the City's scheduled sales-tax-free week; and
Whereas, The neighborhood that played host to the convention contains a world famous department store, a major shopping mall, and over 480 retail businesses and restaurants; and
Whereas the $86 million in economic costs due to convention related disruptions were disproportionably concentrated in the retailing businesses immediately adjacent to the Convention; and
Whereas, In response to reports indicating that many Boston businesses in the vicinity of the Democratic Convention reported lagging sales during that event, Boston encouraged the provision of incentives to spur spending in its downtown area; and   
Whereas, Previous sales tax-free weeks have been extremely successful in increasing sales within New York City; and
Whereas, The businesses in the neighborhood that played host to the Republican Convention should not have to suffer the double burden of lost business as a result of security measures and disruptions relating to the convention, and the inability to fully participate in their share of increased sales resulting from the scheduled fall sales tax free week; now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the State Legislature to immediately introduce and adopt, and the Governor to sign, legislation which would provide an additional sales tax exemption week on all clothing and footwear costing up to $110 per item from November 22, 2004 to November 28, 2004, for the area of Manhattan bounded by 30th Street in the south, 36th Street in the north, Park Avenue in the East and Tenth Avenue in the west.