Answers to Main Streets Small Business Questionnaire

 Several questions began with a case in Ball Square where it took two years to open the coffee shop. 

  I received a gorgeous tote bag at the pre-opening of #Pound and spoke to the owner who described the investment of $150,000+ in opening the store.  The owner described commuting from Malden but opening in Ball Square despite the difficulty because "We believe in Somerville." Several years ago, as I joined the Human Rights Commission, we launched a project to recruit immigrant-owned businesses to send in a commercial for their store--an initiative that may have new life thanks to the quorum of 11-members now reached. With that in the back of my mind, and to answer this questionnaire, I spoke with an immigrant/woman-owned business owner, whose account follows.

"Empecamos en Junio, abrir en Enero. Siete meses. Nos consequimos muy rapido porque fue Covid." The immigrant-owned cafe owner explained that during the Pandemic City Hall was closed. In their case, opening in a new construction, the process took seven months.

The owner is bi-lingual and switched into English: "It depends on the situation. If opened in place already a restaurant before it's faster. The building already zoned for restaurant. Doesn't need a certificate of occupancy. If want to remodel all the electric and plumbing because an architect and engineer need to sign and City Hall building department need to approve." The City Serve Certificate. Health Department, Inspectional Services, food plan, todo el equipment, el edificio, todo los detalles de constructiones, lavar the sinks. (All the equipment, the building, all the construction details, down to the sinks.) If everything meets standards, dos or cuatro meses, two to four months. Building insurance, workers compensation insurance--without which can't do anything. Licensing Commission in City Hall--Fire Department has to inspect and approve. Once starting the application with City Hall, it triggers the others.

"The architects and engineers take a long time and they charge for their services. Building Inspections Department is expensive and takes a long time.  City Hall and Health Department have good communication. Donna at the Health Department and Angela are good at answering messages. Once completed, easier to renew. The Licensing Commission requires a letter mailed to all the abutters in the area--that can be an expense that is waste, mailing certified letters--$300 letters came back--somebody has to sign. More than half came back because undelivered. Two have a license for a speaker to have ambient music in the coffee shop--for entertainment--that was an instance of unnecessary. Made getting the license take more time. It only makes sense if have live music and alcohol. It was a requisite waived during the pandemic, but later enforced."

For those interested in starting a business, see the Somerville website for business, open Citizen Serve, create a log-in and password. Depending on type of restaurant, there are different requirements, but you can start the other applications with Health Department and Licensing Commission--those are the most important.

My informant's co-owner, an asylee who was learning English, could not handle the paperwork. The Licensing Department has a Spanish Speaker and while Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA) has interpretation availability, de-siloing is crucial. For someone who is not able to navigate in English, this kind of availability to overcome language barrier becomes essential for immigrant-owned businesses to open.

 

Please describe a specific way you will “support small business” if you are elected to the position you are seeking.

My fun goal is simple. A winter foodie crawl. That said, I have to add that amending the vacant storefront ordinance is a priority for the near term. According to the rhetoric, we have a creative city, connecting and fostering growth. But there's a disconnect with reality.

The protection against displacement is fundamental to a commercial tenant bill of rights, which I will help draft following as a template California Senate Bill no. 1103.

Small business development is a top priority for any Robin Hood, but in addition, I envision using my role to help by securing affordable commercial space. I will work to create a permanent commercial tenant assistance program. As well as "creating an entity to help find and manage spaces for businesses rent at lower prices," one of the long-term goals described in the Small Enterprise Displacement Committee report you helped create. 

Those establishing a small business have no permanent entity in the city to support their search. Those trying to expand need networks of locavestors in order to summon capital equity. If elected, I want government to give concessions to promote the good of historically marginalized communities. Since wealth disparity is maintained by both legal and extralegal norms, to be clear, I do not consent to or support the establishment of business that solely depends on elite clientele or practices of business that cannot prove in substance they contribute to making Somerville a Welcoming City. Minority-owned and women-owned business compete to be able to do business in our community. I would say to any potential or current small business owner--the City is here for you.

A time was, passion alone mattered. Push and pull and get the job done --and an At-Large Councilor could throw weight around. But the need for procedural equity has changed the role of City Councilor. Powerbrokers? Not so much. But look what's working. Communities  producing local economies are getting traction. Community-driven planning efforts like Union Square Neighborhood association winning a community benefits agreement. But, juxtaposed with foodie crawls led by Somerville Main Streets--geographically doing business in Somerville is a contest with forces of development and localized efforts are making disparate, but not commensurably equitable impact. Blink, and the vacant store there is re-occupied. But over there, in East Somerville two people have died in a vacant business.

 For many of us, the pandemic made us appreciate our local small business and that window of attention was well seized upon to make honest evaluation of what needs to happen. Your leadership is changing the course of history at a time we so desperately need hope.  I admire and want to learn how Somerville's business community is redressing a history of disparate impact and participating in social equity. While some small business owners frame my role as leverage, emphasizing property rights and privileges, we have such magnate squares, and some have long borne a disproportionate share of the unwanted externalities of urban life. You know what I'm talking about. How can I help you in the contest zones? Use value, pleasure, beauty, spaces of encounter, consumption thought of as a privileged place, a place itself consumed.

Doing business in the publicness of public space, it can get ugly. I will step in to help nudge along the process for the permits you need--it shouldn't take 11 months for the awning extension. When you have scarce capacity for bureaucratic, administrative hurtles, I'll be there. I'll admit I'm prejudiced, so I think we've gone in the right direction in terms of insulating government processes. If it was up to me, I think there needs to be a buy-in criterion when we're talking commercial rights. Because the question for me is, which of you cares most about the neighborhood?

In sum, as candidate for at-large (www.ElectSpicer.com) I will help in doing the heavy-lifting of thinking through long-term challenges. Count me as your partner addressing the structural root of inequalities in our City and amplifying integral practices of care. I am confident of how small business entrepreneurship makes Somerville thrive. The intersection of local markets and community development is absolutely a force of good, proven to help people flourish and fulfill their own needs.

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