Zohran Kwame Mamdani, candidate for Mayor of New York City, visited two Harlem barbershops — Just Smile and Moustapha — alongside Assemblymembers Jordan Wright, Al Taylor, and Manny De Los Santos, to highlight the urgent need to reduce the bureaucratic burden on small businesses.
Currently, opening a barbershop in New York City requires filling out 24 separate forms and navigating seven different agencies. Mamdani called this process “absurd” and outlined his comprehensive Small Business Plan to cut through the red tape.
“My plan will cut fines and fees in half, speed up permits, increase funding for one-on-one small business support, and create a ‘Mom & Pop Czar’ within government dedicated to eliminating inter-agency bureaucracy,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani emphasized that his vision for the city centers on both strengthening working-class families and supporting local businesses:
“Expanding public goods to lower costs and improve quality of life for working people can and must go hand in hand with allowing small businesses to thrive. That’s exactly what I’ll do as Mayor.”
The initiative reflects Mamdani’s commitment to making New York a city where entrepreneurs can succeed without being held back by excessive red tape, while ensuring that working-class communities benefit from a thriving, accessible economy.
