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“Don’t Fine Us Help Us” New York City’s consumer-protection regulations are harming already-reeling small businesses.
New York
Covid-19
In July, a mom-and-pop shop in New York’s SoHo got its costliest customer ever: an inspector from the city’s consumer protection agency, the Department of Consumer Affairs. She browsed the aisles of Thompson Chemists, a small pharmacy that’s been in business for 27 years. Jolie Alony, the store’s co-owner along with her husband Gary, took no notice of the visitor until she flashed her badge. “I want to know how many thermometers you have,” the inspector demanded, then began looking at her disinfecting wipes, soon counting all 57 of both items in her stock. The letter came a few days later. The DCA was accusing the Alonys of price-gouging during a pandemic. The fine: $28,500 for 57 violations.