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“Small businesses really could use a point person at City Hall
to help them through the process,” Richardson told The Center
Square. “If they're denied a permit or a license, understanding
the reason is important so that they can go and fix that as
quickly as possible. Those are some of the things that could be
done.”
Richardson’s never-ending crusade to make life easier for his
constituents comes as Mayor Brandon Johnson recently launched
his Cut Red Tape initiative. Some hope the initiative cut
bureaucracy, creating transparency and granting more access to
critical resources.
All told, more than 30 chambers of commerce, business
organizations and lawmakers have publicly thrown their support
behind the reform efforts, with Richardson being among those who
have been hard at work supporting the cause for at least the
last year.
“Some of the things that policymakers can do now is to make
changes to zoning so small businesses don't need to spend
unreasonable amounts of time and money trying to open or to grow
their businesses,” he said. “Things that could be looked at are
eliminating antiquated and unnecessary special use permits. Time
is money for small businesses and simply waiting for too long to
get a permit or a license can really drain a small business of
its cash flow.”
With a growing number of small businesses across the city now
struggling with higher costs related to inflation, tariffs,
labor and health care, Richardson said stabilizing the industry
stands to benefit the masses.
“It fosters economic development; it fosters neighborhood
revitalization,” he said. “Those businesses can go out and hire
people from the community. People looking for jobs win, and
workforce development improves neighborhood revitalization. The
more successful and robust small businesses you have on a
commercial corridor or in a neighborhood, the more foot traffic
you're generating, the more tax revenue you're generating.”
Overseen by the city’s Department of Business Affairs and
Consumer Protection, Cut Red Tape comes on the heels of the
city’s spring 2024 plan to streamline residential and commercial
development.
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