Saturday, March 5, 2022

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

Legislative Updates, New Grants, Events and Much More
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(Friday) Extra, Extra
Click here for this week's video, covering:

  • Updates on city & state mandates and other COVID regulations
  • Liquor sales
  • Upcoming event highlights
  • and more!
New York City and State COVID Updates
NYS Governor Kathy Hochul lifted the State's mask mandate for schools on March 2, citing strong vaccination rates, declining trends in new COVID cases, and updated guidance from the CDC.
  
NYC Mayor Eric Adams also officially announced today, March 4 that Key To NYC vaccine requirements and the mask mandate for the City's public school children will be lifted on Monday, March 7, as long as there are no sudden surges in COVID cases (masks will still be required for public school students younger than the vaccine-eligible age of 5 in NYC, however).

This means that restaurants, fitness centers, and other indoor entertainment venues will no longer be required to ask patrons and customers for proof of vaccination (however, private businesses and organizations may choose to continue requesting mask wearing and/or proof of vaccination at their indoor premises). Vaccination requirements and attestation for their employees remain in effect at this time. NYC's public employee vaccine requirement is also expected to remain in place, and masks continue to be required on mass transit.

"We will make proper public health decisions to keep our city safe. We will pivot if we see a reason to change any policies... COVID changes, it shifts, it modifies. We must be open to do the same," Mayor Adams said. "And if we see a rise in cases or hospitalizations, we're going to come back. It's imperative we know this battle is still on."
Hospitality Industry Updates from NYC Hospitality Alliance
The NYC Hospitality Alliance played an instrumental role in passing the recently-enacted Temporary liquor license law and is fighting hard in support of Governor Kathy Hochul's proposal to reinstate “Drinks To Go,” the popular policy that allows restaurants and bars to sell wine and cocktails for takeout and delivery.
 
The Governor announced that as part of her executive budget, she is seeking to double the workforce of the State Liquor Authority that is responsible for processing liquor license applications. The Bronx Chamber and the Alliance applaud the Governor's commitment to directing more resources to SLA to help improve the agency's processing times for liquor license applications.
 
The SLA also recently issued a new ruling that that interprets the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law in a way that will allow beer and wine to be consumed in movie theaters pursuant to a beer and wine license.  

 CLICK HERE to view the Governor's full March 2, 2022 press conference

Grant Opportunities
 NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo 47/WNJU and the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation’s Project Innovation grant challenge is returning for a fifth consecutive year. $315,000 in grants are available in this year’s Tri-State grant challenge. Applications accepted starting today through March 25.

Apply For The American Small Business Growth Program
With Wells Fargo’s support, 700 small business owners will get access to the complete SLAP Program – with a value of $4,000 each! While all are welcome to attend the SLAP Bootcamps, only 700 US-based small business owners will get the comprehensive 13 months of support that comes with being enrolled in SLAP.
Don't Miss Our Upcoming Events!
Wed. March 16 6:00 - 8:00pm
St. Patrick's Day Networking Mixer

Jimmy Ryan's
3005 Middletown Road
Bronx, NY 10461

Member Tickets: $20 Future Members: $25



Join the Bronx Chamber and the financial experts at TD Bank for the next workshop in our free BXCC How to Get Bankable Series:
 Establishing and Fixing Business Credit

Tuesday, March 15
9:00 - 10:00am

Register HERE
FREE NYC Small Business Services Webinars
Improve Your Business With QuickBooks
3-Part Series: March 7, 8, & 9
Learn the key features & benefits of QuickBooks accounting software, to help you keep track of daily
transactions, as well as develop financial reports such as Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow Statements during this FREE 3-part workshop.
You will learn how to:
• Set up your chart of accounts
• Record purchases, bills & accounts payable
• Record your sales, receive payments, make deposits
• Create reports to understand business performance
El 9 de marzo a las 10:00am
El Departamento de Servicios para Pequeños Negocios (NYC Department of Small Business Services) lo invita a un taller sobre la certificación M/WBE (Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise) de la ciudad de Nueva York – una certificación para negocios cuyos dueños son mujeres o forman parte de un grupo minoría.

Aprendera sobre:
  • La certificación M/WBE
  • Como registrarse en el Portal de Información del Beneficiario (Payee Information Portal, PIP)
  • Como registrarse y eligir códigos de identificacion para servicios y productos (NIGP)
  • Como iniciar una solicitud para obtener la certificación MWBE

Bronx Chamber Foundation Signature Event
Women of Distinction Scholarship Awards Luncheon
Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope

Friday, March 25, 2022
11:30am - 2:00pm at Villa Barone Manor

Click HERE for Sponsorship Packages
Many thanks to our sponsors:
Con Edison, Ponce Bank, Verizon, The Monroe Foundation, Simone Development, New York Botanical Garden, Orange Bank & Trust Co., KZA Realty, Sandra Erickson Real Estate, Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy, and F&F Insurance (list to date)

For Tickets: foundation@bronxchamber.org

Now Hiring
The Bronx Chamber is now hiring two Fellows to add to our outreach team! Please check out the available one-year Fellowship positions, and share with qualified applicants!

  • Click HERE for Restaurant-Hospitality Fellowship Position
  • Click HERE for Business Outreach Fellowship Position
CUNY Internship To Employment Program

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 5, 2022

 Clinical research for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Wadsworth Laboratory

Hospital Admissions 7-Day Average Down 20% From Prior Week

Lowest Hospitalizations Since August 11

16 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday


 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.  

"As we continue to make progress with the pandemic across New York State, it's critical that we follow the smart steps that put us in this position in the first place," Governor Hochul said. "Vaccines and boosters work, and are our most powerful tool in beating back this virus. We will continue to encourage every New Yorker to get the vaccine, get the booster dose, and stay home if you feel sick."   

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

  • Test Results Reported - 154,544
  • Total Positive - 2,574
  • Percent Positive - 1.67%
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.60%
  • Patient Hospitalization - 1,541 (-90)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 172
  • Patients in ICU - 282 (+7)
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 150 (+9)
  • Total Discharges - 286,864 (+235)
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 16
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 54,819

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.

  • Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 69,418   

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.  

  • Total vaccine doses administered - 37,108,989
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 20,984
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 324,532
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.8%  
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.1%  
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%  
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 85.7%  
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 81.8%  
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 71.8%  
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.2%  
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.3%  
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.1%  
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.6%   

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:  

BOROUGH 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 

Thursday, March 3, 2022 

Friday, March 4, 2022 

Bronx 

0.79% 

0.71% 

0.87% 

Kings 

0.96% 

0.94% 

1.00% 

New York 

1.30% 

1.28% 

1.33% 

Queens 

1.16% 

1.07% 

1.04% 

Richmond 

1.29% 

1.26% 

1.26% 


Man Pleads Guilty To Shooting At A Woman In A Bronx Apartment Building Doorway


 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RAKIM BROWN, a/k/a “Rah,” pled guilty yesterday to firearms and narcotics offenses, including for his participation in a January 28, 2018 shooting at a woman in an apartment building vestibule in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx.  BROWN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “For years, Rakim Brown was a violent drug dealer who sold crack cocaine on the streets of the Bronx.  In order to protect his drug crew’s territory and reputation, Brown resorted to violence, including shooting at a woman associated with a rival drug crew in the vestibule of an apartment building in the Bronx.  Brown now faces significant prison time for his crimes and the harm he inflicted on the victim and his community at large.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings:

RAKIM BROWN, a/k/a “Rah,” was a member of a narcotics conspiracy that operated in and around 183rd Street and Davidson Avenue in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx.  BROWN and others sold crack cocaine throughout the neighborhood.  In 2017, a rivalry developed between BROWN’s drug crew and another drug crew when a member of the other drug crew shot and paralyzed BROWN’s brother.  In retaliation, on January 28, 2018, BROWN and others chased an associate of the rival drug crew until they cornered her in the vestibule of an apartment building.  BROWN then entered the vestibule, beat the victim, and shot at her multiple times.  The victim sustained multiple injuries to her face and legs.  

In connection with BROWN’s guilty plea, BROWN specifically admitted that he committed perjury at a pre-trial hearing before Judge Stein and that he possessed crack on particular occasions in 2016 and 2017 in connection with the narcotics trafficking conspiracy.

BROWN, 26, pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, and using and carrying a firearm, which was brandished and discharged, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a maximum sentence of life and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.  BROWN will be sentenced before Judge Stein on June 6, 2022.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and thanked the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the  

Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 2/28/22-3/4/22

 

Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Dear Community,

Happy Women’s History Month! This month and every month, we celebrate and honor women who have shaped and continue to shape our world for the better. Women have always led the way in the fight for justice and equality– whether it be in the women’s rights, labor, or civil rights movements– and it is imperative that we honor and recognize their contributions.

On the first day of Women’s History Month, the New York State Senate reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and protecting survivors by passing a package of legislation aimed at strengthening protections against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. This package includes two of my bills, S812A and S738

My first bill, the Let Survivors Speak Act (S738), protects survivors from facing financial sanction for sharing their experiences of harassment and discrimination. The bill bars settlements of harassment and discrimination claims from including any terms or conditions requiring a plaintiff to pay liquidated damages for violating an NDA. This bill is a crucial step to protect survivors who choose to enter into settlement agreements, and remove any financial punishment for survivors who decide to speak out about their experiences. 

My second bill, S812A, establishes a toll free confidential hotline for complainants of workplace sexual harassment. Almost 75% of workplace sexual harassment goes unreported, often because employees don’t know who to go to or what their options are. By creating a free legal hotline, employees across the state – in a variety of workplaces and industries – can easily access confidential legal guidance through the Division of Human Rights, and quickly identify the best next steps to stop the harassment from continuing.

Visit here to learn more about other legislation included in this package.

I am extremely grateful to Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, my Legislative colleagues, and advocates for their support in moving this legislation forward and prioritizing this issue in the Legislature. These important bills will have a tremendous impact, allowing us to center and prioritize survivor justice to build a safer, harassment-free New York. 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

MAYOR ADAMS CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR BRONX FIRE VICTIMS

 

Meal Delivery Services to Continue for Families Displaced by Bronx Fire Staying at Shelter Hotels

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City today announced the continuation of meal delivery services to support those affected by the January 9th apartment fire in the Bronx. The delivery of culturally sensitive meals will continue through a partnership ​between the Mayor’s Fund and the NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association (NYSLRBLA). World Central Kitchen (WCK) generously provided food service in the immediate aftermath of the fire. After WCK shifted their focus to serving Ukrainian refugees in Europe, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson arranged for temporary food delivery via The Hoodspitality Group until the partnership with the Mayor's Fund and NYSLRBLA was established. Meal deliveries coordinated by NYSLRBLA begin today. 

“The fire in the Bronx was an unspeakable tragedy, and I made a promise that New York City would be there to help our neighbors through it,” said Mayor Adams. “I’m grateful for the partnership that the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and the NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association made to provide three meals a day to those families displaced by this devastating fire. Knowing that you don’t have to worry about where your next meal is going to come from can make your entire day, and these New Yorkers can trust that their city has their backs. New York stands ready to give impacted families all the support they need. I also want to thank Bronx Borough President Gibson for her partnership in helping coordinate meals in the interim. Bronx residents are lucky to have a fighter like her on their side.”

 

“We thank World Central Kitchen for supporting those affected by the tragic Bronx Fire and are so grateful to the NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association for stepping in so quickly to ensure continued services” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright, chair, Board of Directors, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “Our office is committed to working in partnership with communities to ensure our neighbors have their needs met as they continue to recover. I also want to acknowledge and thank Borough President Gibson for her tireless advocacy on behalf of her constituents.”

 

“It has been two months since the tragic five-alarm fire at Twin Parks North West Apartments, and our team, alongside our elected official partners and nonprofit organizations, has been working diligently to ensure the families continue to receive support,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “After immediately learning about the gap in food services to impacted families, my office partnered with The Hoodspitality Group to provide temporary food assistance to families in need, and we are excited to hear that, through this partnership between the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and the New York State Latino Restaurant Association, food services will continue for the families. I want to also, once again, thank our first responders, essential workers, community partners and elected officials for their commitment and partnerships. We will continue to work with the mayor’s office to ensure all of the impacted families are receiving resources and transparency throughout this process.”

 

“New Yorkers will not allow those affected by the January 9th Bronx apartment building fire to go hungry,” said Daniele Baierlein and JL Paniagua Valle, co-executive directors, Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. “The Mayor's Fund is proud to partner with the NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association to ensure that culturally appropriate meals are delivered daily to the individuals and families who continue to rebuild and recover from the tragedy. We are also grateful for World Central Kitchen for serving meals immediately after the fire and for many weeks afterwards.”

 

“We are privileged to partner with Mayor Adams in his continual relief efforts to support the grieving families of the Bronx Fire,” said Arelia Taveras, president, NYS Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association. “Our Latino restaurant owners will continue to support New York City and our local communities in times of adversity. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great city!”

 

Those impacted by the fire on January 9th face a variety of associated costs. The Mayor’s Fund proactively works ​with the City of New York to ensure relief services, such as meals, are provided to the families as they recover and rebuild. Locally based organizations, including the Gambian Youth Organization, are providing additional support to those in need.