NYC axes new rule on roll-down gates for businesses after retailers already spent thousands

City lawmakers rolled back an obscure, decades-old law about storefront roll-down gates ahead of a looming enforcement deadline – but not before some retailers shelled out thousands of dollars in upgrades.The city scrambled to axe the measure ahead of a July 1 deadline, agreeing Tuesday to shelve the law, which would force businesses to install security gates that are least 70% transparent.The law was passed in 2009 as a supposed anti-graffiti effort, but owners questioned if the requirement went too far as the possibility of $1,250 in fines were set to become a reality.“Why make us change something we didn’t need to change?” fumed Gustavo Rodriguez, the manager of a Key Food grocery store on Gerard Avenue in the Bronx, which spent roughly $70,000 on semi-transparent roll-down grilles.“Someone from the city came by at the beginning of the year,” recalled Rodriguez, 41, and “we had to comply with the law.”The pause on the law comes after a bill in May pushed to exempt existing businesses with traditional grilles from the city’s crackdown.Abdul Abdullah, owner of Stadium Souvenirs across the street from Yankee Stadium, lamented he already had “very strong, durable” doors from the 80s, but still spent “a lot of money” on new gates ahead of the enforcement deadline.George Manesis, owner of Billy’s Sports bar on 161st Street, told The Post he dodged a bullet — and a $90,000 bill — by not getting the new gates, despite the city telling him to. “It’s phenomenal that it’s repealed,” said Sam Podemski, a worker at Phil’s Stationary in Midtown.“If I had to put new gates up, you’d bet I wouldn’t until a court ordered me to.”The City Council voted on Tuesday to repeal the little-known rule, and now will only require businesses to comply with the upgrade requirements when it has to replace a gate for other reasons.“Small businesses are the backbone of our community.

They deserve relief, not another bill they can’t pay,” ...