Updated 07/26/2012 10:24 PM
Public Advocate Files Suit Against City Over Small Business Fines
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Public advocate Bill de Blasio is taking the Bloomberg administration to court to get access to records about fines the city has issued against small businesses.
De Blasio said city revenue from fines has nearly doubled over the past decade to $850 million, placing a crushing burden on small businesses.
He asked six city agencies for data on fines back in May and says he's so far received nothing, a failure that he said violates the city charter.
"We filed this lawsuit today because we had no other choice, because we've experienced months of stonewalling by the Bloomberg administration," de Blasio said. "And we've experienced years of unfair actions towards our small business community."
It's the first time de Blasio, a likely candidate for mayor next year, has sued the Bloomberg administration.
The mayor's office said it will provide the data soon and notes that fines issued to drivers, not small businesses, account for most of the increase in revenue.