The city’s largest window manufacturer is planning to expand to the suburbs because it’s too costly to open another operation in New York City, its owners said Tuesday.
The decision by Crystal Windows and Doors of College Point to scout for sites and create new jobs in Westchester or other suburbs comes as Mayor de Blasio pushes a series of new benefits for workers here, including a higher minimum wage and mandated paid sick-leave benefits.
“There are so many things that make it difficult to run a business in New York City. It’s very expensive,” said Thomas Chen, founder and president of the 380-employee company that makes glass windows and doors for homes, high- rises and commercial buildings.
“Minimum wage and sick paid leave are big issues,” added Chen, a native of Taiwan who founded his business in 1990 and transformed it into the largest window manufacturer in the city.
He said he pays his entry-level workers $10 to $12 per hour, but any boost in the minimum wage would put pressure on his company to boost those wages.
“We’ll have to pay more to our employees, too,” he said.
Chen said he worries that any new wage and benefit mandates will get piled on top of onerous industrial property taxes, sky-high truck tolls and utility bills.
“We’re going to locate our new facility in Westchester County or somewhere close to New York City. It’s too costly to expand in New York City,” Chen said.
His son, Steve Chen, chief operating officer of Crystal Windows, suggested the administration focus on what’s happening to businesses such as his.
“The city should be talking to some of the small and medium businesses about the ‘tale of two cities,’ ” a reference to de Blasio’s campaign pledge to fight inequality between the rich and poor.
Asked about City Hall’s push to increase wages, Steve Chen said, “It definitely doesn’t make our job of running a business easier. It’s driving up costs. The concern is over how much farther the city will go to make it more difficult for manufacturers to operate.”
Crystal provides benefits, including a 401(k) and earned-leave time. The government, Steve Chen said, should butt out.
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said de Blasio is a godsend for exporting jobs to his county.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that the mayor of New York City would be a key part of my economic-development team,” said Astorino, a Republican who will likely run for governor.
“We’re telling New York City businesses that they are welcome in Westchester.”