3 ms·

Why is a tax break the mechanism you suggest?

• imgabe 4y ago
  Because it's a service the business is performing for the public and they should be compensated for it. It also makes it easier to opt out and reduces the regulatory burden, which benefits small business. McDonald's and Starbucks etc. will have no problem figuring out how to qualify for the tax break and jump through the hoops to get it. Then the city gets hundreds of new public bathrooms that they don't have to maintain for minimal cost. A small mom and pop bodega or flower shop or whatever that barely makes a profit might decide it's not worth it. If it's a requirement, that business just ceases to exist and the city is deprived of it. If it's optional, they can still operate, and the city doesn't end up a homogeneous wasteland of corporate brands. They just don't get a tax break, but if they're not making much money, they probably aren't paying much tax anyway.