New York City businesses rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy are set to get a break on fees for items ranging from plumbing permits to fire alarm testing fees to boiler registrations.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday the city would waive various rebuilding fees for businesses that were operating on or before the Oct. 29 storm. They have to be in certain evacuation or business zones or in damaged buildings.
Meanwhile, city Public Advocate and mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio released a report showing the city's health and consumer affairs departments have sharply increased their inspections and fines of businesses in the last three years, particularly outside Manhattan.
He says those fines have risen by $50 million altogether.
Bloomberg told reporters "fines are easy to avoid" — by not violating regulations.
