Senate Resolution No. 5793

BY: Senator COMRIE

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
November 24, 2018, as Small Business Saturday in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, In New York, the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of
small businesses, minority- and women-owned businesses, and
entrepreneurs are vital to the prosperity and vibrancy of every
community across this great State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 24, 2018, as
Small Business Saturday in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of national Small Business Saturday; and

WHEREAS, Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday
held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest
shopping periods of the year; and

WHEREAS, First observed in the United States on November 27, 2010,
it is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big
box retail and e-commerce stores respectively; by contrast, Small
Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and
mortar businesses that are small and local; and

WHEREAS, The first event was sponsored by American Express, in
partnership with the non-profit National Trust for Historic
Preservation, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and Roslindale Village Main
Street; and

WHEREAS, American Express publicized the initiative using social
media, advertising, and public relations; many local politicians and
small business groups in the United States issued proclamations
concerning the campaign, which generated more than one million Facebook
"like" registrations and nearly 30,000 tweets; and

WHEREAS, As of 2017, there were over 29,600,000 small businesses in
the United States; these businesses constitute nearly 98% of firms
exporting goods, and generate 1,400,000 net new jobs; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses represent 99.9 percent of all businesses
with employees in the United States and employ nearly 48 percent of the
employees in the private sector; in addition, small businesses pay 41.1
percent of the total payroll of the employees in the private sector; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses in New York State exert a strong positive
influence on the political, economic, and social development of the
State, and the future welfare of the State depends on the continued
development of small businesses; and

WHEREAS, The members of this Legislative Body wish to proclaim their
recognition of small businesses as a crucial element in the economy of
New York State; now, therefore, be it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 24, 2018, as
Small Business Saturday in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.