DWCP Commissioner Tours 82nd Street

BY VICKY FERREIRA

CHAMBER OUTREACH ASSOCIATE

Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Lorelei Salas last month visited businesses in the 82nd Street BID in Jackson Heights, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19.

The group visited boutiques, bakeries, jewelry stores, and restaurants, many of which are struggling to reopen. It was organized in conjunction with the BID and Queens Chamber of Commerce.

Salas was joined by senior community relations director David Raja, director of Community Affairs Tanjila Rahman, and other staff members on a walking tour of the busy retail corridor to educate business owners and employees about their rights and responsibilities during the city’s reopening, as well make them aware of guidelines and available resources.

The visit was part of the department’s Business Education Day, a community outreach event to assist merchants who might be unfamiliar with city regulations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For example, a retail shop must post signs and put tape or other markers on the floor to ensure six feet of distance between customers and require face coverings at all times. Salas also noted that retail shops must display a price list and information on the store’s refund policies.

To contact the DCWP hotline, call (212) 436-0381 with questions about reopening, health and safety guidelines for the workplace.