TRSA Confers with NYC Council on ‘Clean Act’

TRSA Vice Chair David Potack poses with New York City Council member Karen Koslowitz (29th District – Queens) following their meeting.

TRSA Vice Chairman David Potack and TRSA Vice President of Government Relations Kevin Schwalb were in New York City recently to address the significant negative impact that Council Bill 697, the Clean Act, would have on the industrial laundry industry.

On July 27, the TRSA delegation met with Council members Karen Koslowitz (29th District – Queens), Rory Lancman (24th District – Queens), Vincent Gentile (43rd District – Brooklyn) and Julissa Ferreras (21st District – Queens).

During the meetings, Schwalb and Potack (who is also vice president of sales & marketing for Unitex Textile Rental Services, Mt. Vernon, NY) reiterated TRSA’s opposition to the bill that would require commercial laundries to obtain a New York City License with the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). The license would require any commercial laundry that either operates in or delivers to the five Boroughs of New York City to pay a license fee. The bill also would require the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs to establish cleanliness standards for laundries to meet – a task that the DCA has said it’s incapable of doing.

In each meeting, the members of the Council said they appreciated the information and committed to help TRSA address this legislation.