I am a small business owner in New York City, struggling to keep my business afloat amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic downturn has hit us hard, and despite receiving an SBA loan, it's become increasingly difficult to meet the repayment obligations. The anxiety this situation is causing is unbearable.

New York City has been one of the hardest-hit cities in America by the pandemic. According to data from NYC Health, as of November 2021, there have been over 1 million confirmed cases and more than 33 thousand deaths due to COVID-19 in NYC alone (source: NYC Health). This has led to a significant slowdown in business operations citywide.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) loans were intended as a lifeline for businesses like mine during these challenging times. However, with no clear end in sight for this crisis and businesses still not operating at full capacity due to ongoing restrictions and consumer caution, repaying these loans seems impossible.

We are calling on our elected officials and relevant authorities to consider forgiving these SBA loans or at least restructuring them under more manageable terms that reflect our current reality. We believe this would provide much-needed relief for small businesses across New York City who are struggling just like me.

Please sign this petition if you believe that small businesses deserve support through loan forgiveness during these unprecedented times. Your signature can make all the difference.