Legislator Seth Koslow, Nassau Democrats, push legislation to reduce "unfair" licensing fees

At All American Cleaners in Bellmore Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow, with fellow Democratic colleagues Delia DeRiggi-Whitton and Olena Nicks, unveiled legislation filed on May 22 aimed at reducing business licensing fees across Nassau County.

"The fees that people are paying in Nassau County are multiple times higher than Suffolk County, and it's just not fair," Koslow, the Democratic candidate for county executive, said at a May 22 news conference. "These small businesses drive our economy, and they have to pay $650 a year just to get their license, when in Suffolk County they're paying $110."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Nassau is home to over 200,000 small businesses, which employ the majority of Nassau's workforce.

The proposed legislation targets over 30 categories of business licenses, including dry cleaners, locksmiths, dog groomers, second-hand gem dealers, appliance replacement services, and more.

When asked why there was a difference between license fees in Suffolk and Nassau, Koslow laid responsibility at the the feet of County Executive Bruce Blakeman, saying "Blakeman just keeps raising fees to pay for all his celebrations and his photo ops, and he's not really worried about taking care of the people here that drive our business."

"I unfortunately don't anticipate it'll get much traction because of Bruce Blakeman and the Republican majority," the legislator added about proposed ordinance. "But this is one of those things that is important to our community, and we should do on a bipartisan level."

DeRiggi-Whitton echoed Koslow's sentiment.

"Many of these fees came in under the Mangano administration," she said. "And many of them at that point we thought were completely ridiculous, and our caucus voted against them. However, the Republican majority passed them"

"They are arduous," she said, referring to the licensing fees. "They are something that would make someone decide whether or not they want to come to Nassau County, and that's the last thing we need."

Marc Tolchinsky, owner of  All-American Cleaners, was asked about the impact the current licensing fees have on businesses ability to stay afloat, and the difference that these fees cuts would make.

"We've already been hurt so badly by Covid and the working from home, so all these things that they're coming up now with, it impacts us," he said. "You know, we're running on less revenue, less volume, and anything will help."

County Executive Bruce Blakeman disputed that he or Republican legislators were responsible for the fees in a statement to the Herald. 

"These fees were sustained and supported by a Democrat administration with acquiescence from Democrat legislators," his statement read.  "I am happy to cut the fees provided Democrats come up with matching cuts to spending."