PUBLIC ADVOCATE TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, ESSENTIAL WORKERS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

 

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams will introduce a legislative package today aimed at supporting small businesses in New York City struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic as well as essential workers on the frontlines. The legislation comes as New York City has implemented new restrictions in hotspot areas seeing COVID-19 spikes and the city faces the potential of a second wave of the virus.

The first bill, Intro 2125, would require the city to create guidelines for a safe reopening of New York City businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while allowing those businesses to operate and recover amid the economic crisis. Those guidelines would be constructed around federal, state, and local laws around reopening, as well as best practices for public health. Council Members Fernando Cabrera, Carlina Rivera, and Costa Constantindes co-sponsor the legislation.

Clear directions are essential as businesses attempt to reopen while preventing further spread or spikes in the number of positive cases which could trigger renewed lockdowns and closure. This need was made even more urgent as hotspots in Brooklyn and Queens led to greater closures of and restrictions on businesses within these areas. 

The second bill would require the Department of Small Business Services to report on the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. While it is broadly clear that there has been an extraordinarily devastating impact on small businesses in New York City over the last seven months, providing aid in a targeted and effective way requires specific information on the impact of the pandemic. Under this legislation, co-sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Gibson, the Department of Small Business would collect and report data on the amount of revenue lost from the virus, any jobs or positions eliminated, and permanent closures relative to business size, location, and type. Data would be collected via a broad survey effort.

"The current economic crisis is inextricable from the public health crisis, and we can only see meaningful economic recovery if the virus is significantly suppressed. As we have seen in recent weeks, safety is vital when considering any re-openings, and businesses need clear guidance on safety measures and standards." said Public Advocate Williams. "In order to provide the most good, we also need to direct specific aid to the those most in need - our small businesses, our essential workers - who are the backbone of our city"

New York City is home to about one million essential workers, many of whom have been treated as expendable and the majority of whom are women and people of more color. The Public Advocate introduced legislation today, co-sponsored by Council Member Helen Rosenthal, aimed at providing fair compensation and protections for these workers in this pandemic and in preparation for any future public health crisis. Under the bill, during a state of emergency or a public health emergency related to an outbreak of a communicable disease, any agency seeking an emergency procurement of a client services vendor is mandated to include a specification in its solicitation for the provision of hazard pay to the vendor's essential workers.

Public Advocate Williams also put forth a resolution with Council Member Justin Brannan calling on Congress to pass, and the President to sign, legislation creating the "Heroes Fund" to provide hazard pay to employees required to work on-site during COVID-19.

Upcoming Wave Hill Events: Virtual and Onsite!

 

The end of October is nearing and that means spooky season--enjoy it by learning about bats with bat conservationist and community scientist Danielle Gustafon. Then, join Family Art Project for Dias de Los Muertos on the conifer slope. (Shine only!) And as the foliage starts to change, we hope you can join us for our first fall foliage walk of the season. It's the perfect time to fall into Wave Hill! You can reserve your ticket here--advance registration is required.

Bats: Friends—not Fiends! (Virtual)

Thursday, October 29, 6-7:30PM

Bats and Halloween go hand in hand. But do bats deserve their spooky reputation? Bat conservationist and community scientist Danielle Gustafson dispels the many myths about bats and sheds light on the diversity and value of these misunderstood creatures, both locally and worldwide. And if you enjoy mangoes, bananas or tequila, you have bats to thank!

Find out how climate change and habitat destruction is threatening bat populations and how you can help. Connect to Bat Week (October 24–31), an international annual celebration designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation, and read more about it here. Space

is limited. Registration required,

online or at 718,549,3200 x251, and closes at 6PM on Wednesday, October 28. Registrants will receive a follow-up email with a secure and private link to the event the day before. If you have any questions about this program or have registration questions,

please contact us at 718.549.3200 x251 or information@wavehill.org

Family

Art Project: Dia de Los Muertos (Onsite)

Saturday, Sunday, October 31, November 1,10AM–1PM

Celebrate this special Mexican cultural holiday when the spirits of loved ones come home to visit. Learn the

traditional use of the four elements to adorn nicho boxes, small shadow boxes filled with meaning and purpose honoring a lost loved one. Decorate your box with objects and found natural materials, adding a photo of your dear one. Using branches and brush from

trees that have been felled during recent storms at Wave Hill, we will create an altar to honor the gifts these trees have given us during their lives. Shine only.

Election Day

TUE, NOVEMBER 3

Wave Hill is open on Election Day. We encourage you to vote, and then plan a stress-free visit to the gardens.

Admission to the grounds will be free all day.

Fall

Foliage Walk (Onsite)

Wednesday, November 4,

1–2PM

Enjoy colorful foliage and late-blooming flowers at their seasonal peak, set against the scenic backdrop of the

Hudson River and Palisades. Registration required,

online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Space is limited. Repeats

Saturday, November 7. If you have any questions about this program or have registration questions,

please contact us at 718.549.3200 x251 or information@wavehill.org.

Meet the Artist: Zac Skinner in conversation with Eileen Jeng Lynch (Virtual)

Thursday, November 5, 2-3PM

Sunroom Project Space artist Zac Skinner joins Curator of Visual Arts Eileen Jeng Lynch to talk about Skinner’s exhibition Ecocide Drifter. Skinner’s installation of paintings and sculptures explores ecological history, the Anthropocene and a dystopic future—consequences of land and water pollution, industry, capitalism, and other threats that have caused the displacement of vulnerable individuals and entire ecosystems. As an artist, geo-engineer, and backyard tinkerer, Skinner creates an immersive installation of invented makeshift structures, such as a nomadic hut, that resembles a temporary refugee camp in a post-industrial landscape due to climate change.

This program will be streamed live on Facebook and on this page.

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS: Special restricted hours as New York City recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic: 10AM–5:30PM, Wednesdays–Sunday.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

Congressman Adriano Espaillat - Now Accepting Applications to U.S. Military Service Academies

 

Representative Adriano Espaillat announced open applications for incoming district high school seniors to attend the U.S. Service Academies.

“I encourage all eligible high school seniors in my district to submit applications to be considered for placement to attend any of the U.S. Service Academies to have an opportunity to serve our country,” said Rep. Espaillat.

Members of Congress can nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. To request a Military Academy Nomination, please complete the form at https://espaillat.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations for consideration.

The deadline to submit applications is Friday, October 30, 2020.

Gene De Francis Travels the 80th Assembly District Talking to the People of the 80th A.D. in his Quest to Win the Assembly Seat

 

Last week after picking up support from a major West Bronx Democratic Club (The Northwest Bronx Democrats) Gene De Francis has kicked his campaign into high gear criss-crossing the 80th Assembly District, while his opponent concentrates on her campaign for Bronx Borough President next year.

Assembly candidate Gene De Francis is visiting every part of the 80th Assembly District which is split by the Bronx River Parkway. He is visiting schools, housing developments, parks, stores, and almost everywhere a candidate can garner votes from. 

We caught up with assembly candidate Gene De Francis last week at Loreto Park, and Wednesday this week at the Pelham Parkway Houses. Residents were well receptive to candidate Gene De Francis talking about the many problems of the Pelham Parkway housing complex. Be it leaks, cracked floors, no heat in the winter, no hot water, vermin infestations, odors in various parts of buildings or just plain the lack of maintenance. Tenant after tenant had a story to tell candidate Gene De Francis. 

Above - 80th A.D. candidate Gene De Francis talks with a woman who wanted to be known as BX Bklyn girl 102762, about the problems in her building and the complex as a whole.

Below - 80th A.D. candidate Gene De Francis talks to another woman at the Pelham Parkway Houses who did not want to be in the photo.

At Loreto Park 80th A.D. candidate Gene De Francis talks to this woman who is obviously an essential worker. 

RECOVERY AGENDA: NEW YORK CITY RELEASES WINTER OUTDOOR DINING GUIDANCE

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) today to release thorough guidance for city restaurants planning to stay open and serve customers outdoors with heating devices this fall and winter. The announcement furthers New York City’s efforts, laid out in the Mayor’s recovery agenda, to become the world’s capital for healthy outdoor living.

 

In September, Mayor de Blasio announced the City’s popular Open Restaurants program will be extended year-round and made permanent. The program, which has enrolled more than 10,500 establishments since its inception in June, has allowed New Yorkers to enjoy meals in safe, healthy outdoor environments. All restaurants must abide by state restrictions on operating in COVID hotspots. Business owners should consult www.NYC.Gov/CovidZone for more information.

 

“These guidelines are designed to keep diners, employees, and pedestrians safe and healthy – and we look forward to giving New Yorkers more chances than ever to enjoy the outdoors year-round,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Restaurants make New York City the greatest city in the world, and we’re proud to support their continued recovery from this crisis.”

 

Participants in the Open Restaurants program interested in providing comfort heating for their customers in outdoor dining areas have three options:

 

• Electric radiant heaters will be allowed in sidewalk and roadway seating setups. For full guidance from the Department of Buildings, click here.

• Natural gas radiant heaters will be allowed on the sidewalk only. For full guidance from the Department of Buildings, click here. Natural gas radiant heaters must also comply with the Fire Code.
• Portable heaters fueled by propane will be allowed on the sidewalk only. Propane heating will be regulated by the Fire Department, with requirements for safe handling, use and storage. For full guidance from the Fire Department, click here.

 

Food service establishments with private outdoor dining spaces may use heating devices subject to the applicable guidance from FDNY and/or DOB.

 

Each agency has focused on streamlining the permitting processes to make installing these outdoor heating options as easy as possible for businesses, while ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols.

 

“The Department will work closely with our fellow agencies to ensure that outdoor dining can continue to operate safely for business owners, employees, and customers,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro.

 

"New Yorkers are resilient and adaptable, and city government should be as well," said Department of Buildings Commissioner Melanie La Rocca. "Streamlining the outdoor heating requirements will help our friends and neighbors weather this crisis. We are offering clear guidance to restaurant owners so they know what they need to do to safely keep outdoor dining open now that summer has come to a close."

 

“Just as evenings grow more brisk, we are happy to provide restaurants with the proper guidance on outdoor heating to keep their customers warm,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “We thank our colleagues at FDNY and the Buildings Department, who are assuring that above all, Open Restaurants continue to operate safely during the colder months.  We ask that the thousands of participating restaurants carefully comply with the new rules.”

 

The pandemic has reinforced the direct connection between public health, our economy, and social justice. As we look towards the future, a healthy recovery must include reimagining how the City uses its open spaces. In the 19th century, following the outbreak of Cholera, the City began a period of open space creation that brought us Central Park and other beloved open spaces. COVID-19 has again caused us to prioritize open space in order to promote New Yorkers’ health and economic wellbeing.

Governor Cuomo Appoints Commission to Oversee Creation of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Statue

 

Commission Includes Diverse Array of Late Justice Ginsburg's Family, Friends, Esteemed Colleagues, And Other Leaders 

Statue to Memorialize Renowned Jurist in Her Birthplace of Brooklyn  

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today appointed 23 members to a new commission that will oversee the creation of a statue honoring the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The commission includes members of Justice Ginsburg's family, close friends, esteemed colleagues, and other leaders. The commission will provide recommendations to the Governor regarding the artist, design, location and installation of the memorial statue.  

"Last month I announced New York State will honor the life and legacy of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a statue in her native Brooklyn. Now I'm releasing a list of the 19 members that we have appointed to the commission who will oversee the creation of the statue. Justice Ginsburg will forever stand as a singular figure in history, unmatched in her pursuit of justice and equality under the law for all Americans. Only the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg was a tireless champion for women's rights and throughout her lifetime brilliantly navigated a complex landscape of gender-based discrimination to ultimately ascend to the highest court in the land. She leveraged that position to fiercely advocate for equal rights and ensure those who followed in her footsteps would face fewer obstacles along the way," Governor Cuomo said. "Ruth Bader Ginsburg embodied a set of ideals often missing in today's civic dialogue - she showed us reason, empathy and hope. Her legacy as a jurist, professor, lawyer and scholar will endure for generations and we are honored to erect a permanent statue in memory of Justice Ginsburg. Lord knows she deserves it."

The commission comprised of 18 members and 5 honorary members appointed by the Governor includes: 

• Jane Ginsburg, Daughter to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Clara Spera, Granddaughter to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Mimi Ginsburg, Granddaughter to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Constance Beaty, Artist and Portraitist for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg  
• Irin Carmon, Senior Correspondent at New York Magazine and Co-Author of "Notorious RGB: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg."
• Jodie Cohen, Principal of James Madison High School
• Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign
• Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO, National Women's Law Center
• Subash Iyer, Special Counsel for Ethics, Risk and Compliance at MTA and Former Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Judge Robert A. Katzmann, United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Shana Knizhnik, Staff Attorney at The Legal Aid Society and Co-Author of "Notorious RGB: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg."
• Susana Torruella Leval, Director Emerita of El Museo del Barrio
• Gillian Metzger, Harlan Fiske Stone Professor of Constitutional Law at Columbia University and Former Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Trevor Morrison, Dean of NYU School of Law and Former Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Sonia Ossorio, President of NOW New York
• Anne Pasternak, Director of the Brooklyn Museum
• William Savitt, Partner, Litigation Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Former Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Nina Totenberg, Legal Affairs Correspondent at NPR

Honorary Members

• Honorable Hillary Clinton, Former United States Secretary of State
• Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York
• Letitia James, Attorney General of New York State
• Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
• Gloria Steinem, Feminist Activist and Co-Founder of Ms. Magazine

Governor Cuomo Announces State Will Withhold Funds for Localities and Schools in COVID-19 Cluster Zones That Fail to Enforce Public Health Law

 

Sends Letter Warning Local Governments in Cluster Zones That They Will Lose State Funding If They Fail to Enforce Gathering Limit and School Closure Rules

Sends Separate Letter Warning Public and Private Schools in Cluster Zones That They Will Lose State Funding If They Do Not Comply with Closure and Testing Rules

Positive Testing Rate in Hot Spot Areas is 6.29 Percent; New York State Positivity Without Red Zone Focus Areas Included is 0.95 Percent

7 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 634 Establishments; Observes 2 Establishments Not in Compliance

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State will withhold funds for localities and schools in COVID-19 cluster zones that fail to enforce public health laws. The New York State Department of Health will send a letter warning local governments in cluster zones that they will lose state funding if they fail to enforce state limits on gatherings and the closure of schools. The letter will be sent to New York City, Orange County, Rockland County, the Town of Ramapo and the Village of Spring Valley.

Governor Cuomo also announced that DOH will send an additional letter warning public and private schools in cluster zones that they will lose state funding if they do not comply with state requirements on closure and testing.

"We know that public and private schools in the red zones are supposed to be closed. We know that there were violations where yeshivas were operating. We know there were violations where religious gatherings were happening that exceeded the guidelines. This is especially a problem in Brooklyn and Orange and Rockland Counties," Governor Cuomo said. "Number one, we are sending a notification to local governments saying they must enforce public health law under Section 16. If the local government does not effectively enforce the law, we will withhold funds. We're also sending a letter to all schools in the red zones saying to them that they must be closed. If they violate the Section 16 order, we will withhold funding from the schools. This is a last and final warning."

In "Red Zone" focus areas included as part of the Governor's Cluster Action Initiative, the positivity rate for test results reported yesterday is 6.29 percent - up from the 4.13 percent the day before. The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of state's population, yet had 15.6 percent of all positive cases reported yesterday to New York State. 

Within the "Red Zone" focus areas, 3,053 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 192 positives or a 6.29 percent positivity rate. In the remainder of the state, not counting these "Red Zone" focus areas, 108,691 test results were reported, yielding 1,040 positives or a 0.95 percent positivity rate. The state's overall positivity rate is 1.10 percent with focus areas included. The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of the state population yet had 15.6 percent of all positive test results reported to the state yesterday, and 12.2 percent of all positive case results reported to the state this current week.

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 634 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 2 establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

• Nassau - 2

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization - 938 (+15)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 146
• Hospital Counties - 39
• Number ICU - 201 (+20)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 100 (+10)
• Total Discharges - 77,870 (+115)
• Deaths - 7
• Total Deaths - 25,605

An Update from State Comptroller DiNapoli: NY's Economy & Finances in the COVID-19 Era

New York State Ranks Second Nationally in Jobs Lost

While all states have lost employment since the COVID-19 pandemic struck earlier this year, New York surpasses almost every other in both number and percentage of job losses. From February through August 2020, the Empire State ranks second to Hawaii in percentage of employment decline and second only to California in the total number (see map below). During that same period, unemployment in the State rose from 3.7 percent to 12.5 percent, based on preliminary estimates. 

Employment in New York increased from May through August. However, those gains, over 686,000 jobs, represented only 35 percent of the record-breaking loss of 1.9 million in March and April. As the Office of the State Comptroller has reported previously, New York’s job losses are concentrated in lower-paid sectors of the economy.

The employment impact on New York and other indicators, including figures on overall economic activity, continue to support the case for significant additional federal aid in response to the pandemic and the associated recession.

For more current highlights on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the State’s finances and economy, visit our web page. Additional topics this week include:

• New York State's GDP Declined by 36 Percent in the 2nd Quarter of 2020
• Small Businesses Continue to Experience Economic Hardships
• New York State's Budget

The State Comptroller's office is committed to keeping New Yorkers regularly updated on the State's economy and finances.