Small businesses in NYC face steep challenges, as there are few protections preventing them from being priced out.

New York City, United States – Ronny Jaramillo and Dana Morrissey own and operate a handful of small restaurants across south and central Brooklyn – among them Chela, a Mexican restaurant, and Bar Chuzo, a “Latin bistro and cocktail bar”. But in recent years, they have faced mounting hurdles amid surging rents and floods.

They are watching the mayoral election closely because they feel New York City is becoming a harder environment for small businesses like theirs.

“New York City is a city that sells the American dream. But right now, it does not feel that way. I don’t feel like New York City is welcoming business owners, [or] protecting businesses to grow, and to employ more people. I don’t think that’s the environment right now,” Jaramillo told Al Jazeera.

Early voting has already begun in New York City, and small business owners are paying close attention to Zohran Mamdani, the city’s likely next mayor, and how his policies might address the growing challenges facing them.

Mamdani’s relationship with the city’s business community is complex. His proposals for small businesses aim to ease financial strain by cutting fines and fees, but many still face steep rents, limited relief, and climate-related risks that routinely disrupt operations.

Much of the interest in Mamdani’s candidacy stems from his focus on affordability. His campaign prioritises a rent freeze for rent-stabilised apartments and expanding housing development to ease the city’s shortage, for instance.

But on the commercial side, businesses continue to face steep challenges, as there are few protections preventing them from being priced out, and neith