{"id":786,"date":"2025-07-23T12:33:37","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T16:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/shahana-hanif\/?p=786"},"modified":"2025-07-23T12:33:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T16:33:37","slug":"department-of-consumer-and-worker-protection-and-council-member-shahana-hanif-celebrate-the-start-of-business-education-days-in-brooklyn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/shahana-hanif\/2025\/07\/23\/department-of-consumer-and-worker-protection-and-council-member-shahana-hanif-celebrate-the-start-of-business-education-days-in-brooklyn\/","title":{"rendered":"DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND WORKER PROTECTION AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHAHANA HANIF CELEBRATE THE START OF BUSINESS EDUCATION DAYS IN BROOKLYN"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong> |\u00a0July 23, 2025\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n


NEW YORK, NY \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga and Council Member Shahana Hanif celebrated DCWP\u2019s annual series of Business Education Days with a walkthrough in Kensington, Brooklyn. Commissioner Mayuga, Council Member Hanif, and DCWP staff went door-to-door answering questions and informing small businesses about what they need to know to comply with the City\u2019s business laws, which cover consumer and workplace protection, licensing, financial counseling, and more. Each year, DCWP conducts Business Education Day events across the five boroughs. In 2024, DCWP visited more than 540 businesses during Business Education Days.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstanding the laws that apply to your business is key to operating responsibly and avoiding violations,\u201d said\u00a0DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga<\/strong>. \u201cOur business education helps ensure that our local small businesses are confident that they have the knowledge and resources necessary to follow our city\u2019s laws. Thank you to Council Member Hanif for partnering with us, and we look forward to reaching more businesses throughout the coming months.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBrooklyn is at its best when our beloved\u00a0small businesses are thriving,\u201d\u00a0said Council Member Shahana Hanif<\/strong>. \u201cWe need to make sure they have all of the information they need to comply with the essential laws that keep workers and customers safe. It was a pleasure to collaborate with DCWP on this Business Education Day in my home neighborhood of Kensington. I particularly loved getting the word out about the\u00a0Worker Bill of Rights, which was established pursuant to my bill,\u00a0Local Law 161<\/a>. It’s critical that\u00a0all workers know about the protections they have on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the event, local merchants and workers had an opportunity to meet with DCWP staff to learn about resources, including DCWP\u2019s\u00a0Workers\u2019 Bill of Rights<\/a>, which is an overview of important City, State, and federal laws that ensure you know your rights at work, like NYC\u2019s\u00a0Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law<\/a>. They also had the opportunity to learn more about\u00a0Financial Empowerment Centers<\/a>, which offer free one-on-one professional financial counseling to support business owners and workers.<\/p>\n

DCWP is committed to an education-first approach to helping businesses understand their obligations and responsibilities under the law. As part of this effort, DCWP offers all new brick-and-mortar retail businesses an opportunity to receive an educational, violation-free visit provided by a senior DCWP inspector through the\u00a0Visiting Inspector Program<\/a>\u00a0(VIP). New brick-and-mortar retail businesses in NYC can schedule a VIP visit by calling 311 or by going to\u00a0nyc.gov\/BusinessToolbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)\u2014formerly the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)\u2014protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City\u2019s communities. <\/em>For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at<\/em>nyc.gov\/dcwp<\/em><\/a> or on its social media sites, <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Facebook<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a>, and <\/em>YouTube<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Media Contacts:<\/strong>
Michael Lanza \/ Stephany Vasquez SanchezDepartment of Consumer and Worker Protection
(212) 436-0042
press@dcwp.nyc.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

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[See full release here<\/a>] <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong> |\u00a0July 23, 2025\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n


NEW YORK, NY \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga and Council Member Shahana Hanif celebrated DCWP\u2019s annual series of Business Education Days with a walkthrough in Kensington, Brooklyn. Commissioner Mayuga, Council Member Hanif, and DCWP staff went door-to-door answering questions and informing small businesses about what they need to know to comply with the City\u2019s business laws, which cover consumer and workplace protection, licensing, financial counseling, and more.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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