Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Carl Hum and Staten Island Chamber of Commerce President Linda Baran, representing all five boroughwide chambers of commerce, testified before the Public Safety Committee of the New York City Council on June 29, 2009, regarding the so-called "Bandit Barrier" initiative that would mandate bullet-resistant barriers and necessary security inside bank buildings. Following is their testimony:
Good morning, Chairman Vallone and distinguished members of the Committee on Public Safety.
My name is Carl Hum, I am the president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. I am joined by Linda Baran of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Lenny Caro of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Jack Friedman of the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Nancy Ploeger of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce could not be here today but have given permission to associate their Chambers with our testimony this morning. Together, we represent the Five-Borough Chambers, representing business communities in the five boroughs and boast a combined membership of over 5,000 dues-paying Members.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify before the Committee on Intro. No. 960-A. We appreciate and applaud the Committee’s continuous efforts to make our City safer and to institute business practices to promote security for the well-being of employees and customers.
On its face, Intro. No. 960-A would seem to do such. However, as well-intentioned as the bill may be, Intro. No. 960-A does little to promote security, and rather represents a potential floodgate to government intrusion upon business practices that should be left to the discretion of that community.
Government’s installation of certain business practices should only be required and made mandatory when preferred outcomes that benefit the public are produced. To be sure, preventing bank robberies and promoting the general public safety are worthy and laudable goals. However, it is worth highlighting that 90% of the bank branches across the five boroughs already have some form of bandit barriers. Yet, despite this high rate of bandit barrier installation, robberies – although declining in frequency from this year compared to last – were still not prevented. With these facts in mind, one would have to conclude the installation of bandit barriers to the remaining 10% would do little to nothing to prevent further robberies. Perhaps, what would prevent future bank robberies is the required presence of uniformed security guards and lengthier sentences for those convicted of bank robberies.
For the reasons stated we believe Intro. No. 960-A amounts to nothing more than unnecessary government intrusion upon our banking community’s business practices. Bills like Intro. No 960-A are well-intentioned but carry the unintended consequence of adding operational burdens to our business community which is already challenged by the myriad of rules, regulations and taxes imposed by government.
At this particularly sensitive time for our business community, we must make sure we do all we can to ensure the business environment encourages growth and expansion. As you know, New York City is considered one of the most challenging regions to do business. We hear that from our Members all the time. In fact, a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of New York State ranks our region almost dead last – 49 out of 50 states – for its business-friendliness. Initiatives such as Intro. No. 960-A would only burnish our City’s image as business-unfriendly. Accordingly, we respectfully voice the five Chambers of Commerce’s opposition to Intro. No. 960-A.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to testify today and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.