New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered his seventh State of the City address today, Jan. 17, from the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Indoor Pool and Ice Rink Complex.

In addition to plans for public education, modifying the City Charter, and public safety issues, the mayor promised relief for small businesses caught in red tape issues.

“Since small businesses are the backbone of our city’s economy, supporting them now is more essential than ever,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

He touted the launch of a Business Express Web site, which will make it easier for business owners to determine what permits and licenses they need from various agencies, and the Department of Consumer Affairs will also begin offering online applications and renewals for those permits and licenses.

“The growth of our small business community has been fueled by our population growth – and together, they’re adding new urgency to the need for modern infrastructure,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

In addition, the mayor vowed to:

• Continue to lobby for the PlaNYC agenda and to implement its 127 initiatives so that the City is able to meet the challenges of the future;
• Continue to work with their partners at the state level, in the council and across agencies to implement congestion pricing to help us improve mass transit and relieve congestion which, costs the New York City region $13 billion a year;
• Begin construction on Brooklyn Bridge Park – part of what the city envisions as a unified waterfront Harbor District;
• Continue on the redevelopment plans for Coney Island, which the city says will preserve the character of the area and return it to its former glory.

Click here to read the press release.
Click here to read the text of the mayor's speech.
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(Pictured above) Mayor Michael Bloomberg.