Yellow Precautionary Zone Expanded in Niagara County; New Yellow Precautionary Zones in Genesee and Oneida Counties
5,712 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide
1,040 Patients in the ICU; 572 Intubated
Statewide Positivity Rate is 5.66%
83 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced updated COVID-19 micro-cluster focus zones in New York State. Niagara County's Yellow Precautionary Zone will be expanded. New Yellow Precautionary Zones will be added for Batavia, Genesee County, and for Rome and Utica, Oneida County.
"There is no politics or rhetoric in the number of people going into the hospital, and the increase in hospitalizations could overwhelm some regions if nothing changes by January," Governor Cuomo said. "That's the trajectory we're looking at and trying to change. We're simultaneously increasing hospital capacity and, frankly, changing how hospitals operate. At the same time we have to slow the spread by doing what we know works - social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding gatherings. If we don't, we know what closes down a region. It's called a red zone. That's the situation we're trying to avoid."
On Friday, the NYS Dept. of Health outlined the new metrics including in the state's Winter Plan for when an area is eligible to enter a "Yellow Zone" micro-cluster area. The geographic area will be eligible to enter a Yellow Zone if it has a 3 percent positivity rate (7-day average) over the past 10 days and is in the top 10 percent in the state for hospital admissions per capita over the past week and is experiencing week-over-week growth in daily admissions. Based on this criteria, the following areas today are designated as Yellow Precautionary Zones:
Modifications to Current Micro-Cluster Focus Zones
Niagara County - Click Here for Map
The current Niagara micro cluster will be expanded to include other areas in the county that have had high positivity and increasing hospitalizations, meeting the metrics for yellow zone designation.
New Focus Zones
Genesee County - Click Here for Map
A new yellow precautionary zone will be established in Batavia, which meets the metrics for yellow zone designation and accounts for the majority of hospital admissions from the county over the past two weeks.
Oneida County - Click Here for Map
A new yellow precautionary zone will be established in the Rome and Utica areas, which account for the vast majority of hospital admissions from the county and meet the metrics for yellow zone designation.
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. Listen, I want to thank Joe Lhota and everyone at NYU Langone Health for this amazing moment we're about to share together, but, as you heard from Joe, also for the extraordinary role that NYU Langone Health played in helping make sure we all got to experience this moment and had a vaccine we could depend on. So, thank you, Joe -- to you and to all your colleagues.
Everyone, this is a beautiful moment, a powerful moment. You're going to see health care heroes getting this vaccine. You're going to see them being protected so they can serve all of us. You're going to see a needle go in the arm, but that's not the shot that's most important, what really matters is we're getting a shot of hope here in New York City and all over the country. We're getting a shot of hope. We now know that we will ultimately defeat the coronavirus. To do that, everyone needs to be involved. And so, our Health Department led by Dr. Dave Chokshi -- he’s going to be out there all over this city, making sure that people get this vaccine, that it is fast and it's effective. We get out there to every corner of New York City, that the distribution is equitable, and we want to especially focus on those 27 neighborhoods that bore the brunt of this crisis in communities of color.
So, what you're about to see is the biggest mobilization in the history of New York City. You're about to see the biggest vaccination effort ever in the hundreds of years this city has been here. And the amazing things that have happened in New York over the generations, this will be one for the ages. This will go into the history books, the greatest, fastest vaccination effort ever in the history of New York City, and it begins right here today. I feel we're all blessed to have this experience together. So, let's go and start – let's start rolling. Let's start getting people safe in this city.
New York City, Long Island, Southern Tier and Mid-Hudson Regions Could See Up to 12 Inches of Snow Beginning Wednesday and Continuing into Thursday
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed state agencies to prepare emergency response assets as a coastal storm system is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds and potential coastal flooding beginning Wednesday and continuing into Thursday. While the track of the storm is still developing, early forecasts and models show it has the potential to deliver up to 12 inches or more of snow and sleet across the New York City, Long Island, Southern Tier and the Mid-Hudson Regions. New Yorkers are advised to take precautions now for this impending storm, which could also bring blowing and drifting snow, travel delays, and potential power outages.
"Forecasts are calling for this season's first major snowstorm in the Hudson Valley and points south, so it's once again time for New Yorkers to find their shovels," Governor Cuomo said. "On the state side, all of our agencies have readied their emergency response assets, are coordinating with local governments and will help ensure utilities are prepared to address any possible power outages. As the exact forecast becomes clearer over the next 24 hours, New Yorkers should not only monitor their local weather reports for updates, but start preparing their homes, their families and themselves for heavy snow as well."
The National Weather Service has already issued several Winter Storm Watches ahead of the storm. To view the complete listing of as well as access the latest forecasts as they continue to develop, visit the National Weather Service website.
Agency Preparations
Department of Transportation
The State Department of Transportation is prepared to respond with the following assets.
Thruway Authority
The Thruway Authority has 676 operators and supervisors ready to deploy 244 large snowplows, 94 medium snowplows, 11 tow plows and 61 loaders across the state with more than 123,000 tons of road salt on hand. Variable Message Signs, Highway Advisory Radio and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway.
The Thruway Authority is also encouraging motorists to download its mobile app which is available for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway here.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Park Police and park personnel are on alert and closely monitoring weather conditions and impacts. Response equipment is being fueled, tested and prepared for storm response use. Park visitors should check parks.ny.gov or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings and closings.
Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, Emergency Management staff, and regional staff are on alert and monitoring the developing situation and actively patrolling areas and infrastructure likely to be impacted by severe weather. All available assets are positioned to assist with any emergency response.
Department of Public Service
New York's utilities have approximately 5,500 workers available to engage in damage assessment, response and restoration efforts across New York State. Department of Public Service staff will track the utilities' work throughout the storm event and will ensure the utilities shift the appropriate staffing to the regions anticipated to experience the greatest impact.
State Police
State Police are prepared to deploy additional Troopers as needed to affected areas. All State Police specialized vehicles, including four-wheel drive vehicles, snowmobiles, and Utility Task Vehicles are staged and ready for immediate response. All Troop emergency power and communications equipment has been tested.
Port Authority
The Port Authority urges motorists to use caution during the storm; speed restrictions may be in effect at the bridges as well as along roadways to and from the crossings. Travelers through the Port Authority's airports, bus terminal and bus station are encouraged to reach out to carriers and airlines directly for the latest information on delays, cancelations or re-bookings. For the latest information about Port Authority facilities, please check social media, sign up for PA alerts or download one of the PA mobile apps.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Metropolitan Transportation Authority personnel are hard at work to ensure safe, reliable service continues throughout the storm and aftermath. MTA employees will be poised to spread salt and clear platforms and stairs of snow and ice, keep signals, switches, third rail operating, remove any downed trees that may fall across tracks, and attend to any weather-related challenges during the storm. Customers are urged to check mta.info for the latest service updates before traveling, and to use extreme caution while navigating the system, especially on outdoor platforms and stairs. Customers should also sign up for real-time service alerts via text or email. These alerts are also available via the MTA's apps: MYmta, Metro-North Train Time and Long Island Rail Road Train Time.
Safety Tips
Power Outages
To prepare for potential power outages, New Yorkers should:
Safe Travel
The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.
It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.
Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted.
Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:
It's important to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.
Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted.
For a complete list of weather terms and what to do before, during and after a power outage, visit the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services website.
“In the new year, we will have an opportunity to transform the tax lien sale from a process that tears down neighborhoods to one that builds them up,” said Attorney General James. “With a few key changes to the way we approach tax liens, we are able to create a system that keeps homeowners in their homes, and stabilizes neighborhoods, all while continuing to allow the city to collect tax revenue. For the benefit of all New Yorkers, I urge Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Council to enact real, lasting reform to the tax lien sale.”
Every year, the New York City Department of Finance (DOF) holds a tax lien sale, through which the tax liens on properties for unpaid property taxes and water bills are sold off in an auction. The terms imposed by the tax lien sale on New Yorkers are dramatic: mandatory five percent surcharges, legal fees, and a nine or 18 percent interest rate that compounds daily. These additional fees can quickly turn a relatively small tax lien into an overwhelming financial burden, eventually pushing homeowners into foreclosure. By utilizing community land trusts and land banks instead of an auction, residents can remain in their homes and properties will be permanently secured as community assets.
New York City’s authorizing legislation to hold the tax lien sale expires December 31, and it requires action from the New York City Council to reauthorize any tax liens sales after that date.
On August 31, 2020, Attorney General James and a group of 57 local, state, and federal officials urged the delay of the city’s annual tax and water lien sale. In a letter, the group called for the removal of more than 4,700 Class 1 Properties, or residential buildings with three or fewer units, from the tax lien sale. On September 4, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order temporarily halting the lien sale through the end of 2020.
Attorney General James has long advocated for reforms to the lien sale program to address some of its gravest housing injustices, and continues those calls today, including:
EDITOR'S NOTE:
It is now 30 days since we wanted to ask Mayor Bill de Blasio if there was any link to election day where people were on long lines outside and inside poll sites next to each other, with up to fifty people inside a poll site, and the rise in COVID-19 indicators that began rising two weeks after election day.
Why won't we be called on by your moderator when they have called on other reporters two, three four, and even five times in the past 30 days? What are you afraid that I will ask you Mayor de Blasio?
Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everyone. What a beautiful day in New York City today, what an amazing day, the day we have been waiting for, the day we dreamed of. A lot of people didn't know if this day would come. A lot of people doubted, but this day is here. The vaccine is here in New York City. The vaccine will be given out from this day forward. From this day forward, the vaccine will be distributed, and we will turn the tide on the coronavirus. This is a day to celebrate, and what a fitting beginning to the day that our health care heroes were in the spotlight, the folks who saw us through this whole crisis. What a good day that they're getting the respect they deserve for all they've done for us. So, the first person to get the shot here in New York City, the first person vaccinated, critical care nurse, Sandra Lindsay. And Sandra, boy, I was so impressed, Sandra didn't even flinch during that shot. But here she is, someone who has been protecting people in Queens, the epicenter of the crisis saving lives. How fitting that she was the first to get the vaccination. Well administered by Dr. Michelle Chester, Long Island Jewish Hospital in Queens, part of the Northwell system. And everyone, everyone in our health care system, we salute you. All our health care heroes, we thank you. We're going to protect you so you can protect all of us. So, what an amazing day and the vaccine is here, and it will be distributed starting today. You're going to start to see more and more people get it. Remember it starts to be effective even from the first vaccination and fully affected with the second.
So, we now begin, today, the largest vaccination effort in the history of New York City today is a historic day for many reasons. In New York City history, this will be remembered as the day where the largest mobilization ever was undertaken to protect the people of this city, the largest vaccination effort in our history. Now we're going to use every tool at our disposal. Our Vaccine Command Center will lead the way, every single City agency, every City employee will be a part of this to make sure that all New Yorkers are served. This is going to be a huge undertaking, but nowhere is there the ability and the strength and the know-how more than New York City to get something like this done. And particularly at our Health Department that has led the way over decades, generations, in doing vaccination on a large scale to protect the people of the city. Here to tell you more about it, our Health Commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi –
Commissioner Dave Chokshi, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. We've said before that the cavalry is on the way. Good news, of course. But we must acknowledge that it is a slow and steady march. To start, let me try to break down the coming days based on what we know and what we don't yet know. So, here's what we know about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. First, leading scientists have confirmed that it is a very good vaccine in terms of safety and ability to protect against COVID-19 illness. I, myself, have poured over the studies, including what was released last week. Second, the first New York City bound vaccine shipments departed from Kalamazoo, Michigan yesterday in special cartons, held at minus 70 degrees. They will travel via UPS and FedEx, both by truck and by plane. Third, Pfizer equipped the coolers with GPS enabled thermal sensors so the temperature can be monitored, and the vaccines tracked, to ensure they are received safely. If there are any problems with the shipments, Pfizer will notify us immediately. Fourth, our first vaccines are arriving today at five hospitals. That means that vaccines will become vaccinations today in New York City. Subsequent shipments are expected at 37 hospitals on Tuesday, and two more hospitals on Wednesday. Fifth, hospitals are ready and waiting for the vaccine. And after the initial vaccinations, the data will be reported to our citywide immunization registry within 24 hours of administration so we can securely keep track of who is getting the vaccine. Now, beyond the logistics, let me just take a moment to acknowledge what a remarkable and poignant milestone in our fight against COVID-19.
And now here are a few things that remain unknown. First, we don't yet know whether the Pfizer vaccine works for children under the age of 16. The FDA authorization was for ages 16 and up. Second, this week, the Moderna vaccine is expected to get a similar FDA review as the Pfizer vaccine did. We don't know the detailed results yet, but depending on them, the FDA's emergency authorization could come as soon as Friday. Third, we don't know our overall allotment of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for New York City over the coming months. But we have been told to plan for approximately 465,000 doses over weeks one, two, and three. Throughout the process, we will be communicating with hospitals to answer questions and share updated guidance. We will also be monitoring incoming data, preparing subsequent orders, and working with community partners to spread facts and foresight.
While help is on the way, I'd like to add one thing. We remain in a state of emergency. If your house is on fire, you don't stay among the flames waiting for the fire department to arrive. You take the steps needed to stay safe. So, until every last ember is extinguished, we're asking you to stay safe by masking up, staying home if you feel ill, keeping your distance, washing your hands, and getting tested. We are still in this together. And the core four precautions are what will keep you, your friends, and your family healthy. When it's my turn, I look forward to rolling up my sleeves to receive the vaccine. Until then I'm taking heart in the fact that my hospital colleagues are getting one more layer of protection and I'll keep taking the steps that I can to protect them as well as others, particularly those who are at greatest risk. Thank you.
Mayor: Thank you so much, Dr. Chokshi. And yes, our hospitals have been preparing for this day. The folks who protect all of us have been getting ready. Nowhere has that been more true than in our public hospitals and clinics, Health + Hospitals, we depend on so much in this city. And Health + Hospitals hospitals were bearing the brunt of this crisis during that time when we were the epicenter. They were going through some of the toughest realities. So, they know, they are battle veterans. They know how important it is to distribute this vaccine and get it right. Here to tell you about all the efforts being made in our public hospital system, CEO of Health + Hospitals, Dr. Mitch Katz.
President and CEO Mitchell Katz, NYC Health + Hospitals: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for your continued support of the public hospital system. Without you, I think several years ago, when Health + Hospitals was so close to financial ruin, there would be no Health + Hospitals system. But you saved it, and I think it's proven what a great investment that is, and it’s really risen to the occasion. I want people to understand how difficult it is to be a doctor or a nurse in the midst of a pandemic. You’re wearing all of your gear but you're still worried, is this infection going to come home with me, am I going to get sick, am I going to bring this infection home to my children, to my spouse? And then, all of a sudden, you're intubating a fellow nurse – your charge nurse, the nurse who kept you safe. You're intubating a fellow doctor. You work beside her for all the weeks of the pandemic, what a horrible, horrible thing. And I'm so pleased that everyone recognizes that the health care workers should be at the top of the list. They've done their job. They're continuing to do their job. They need to be protected. They need to be kept healthy so that they do not go out sick, but can be there for all of us if we should need their help at hospitalization. And we're very proud of Health + Hospitals being able to receive the vaccine, we've been preparing for it. We will be focusing in the first weeks on those people who are at the highest risk of being exposed to COVID in the hospital. Those are people who are working with patients who have a breathing tube. That breathing tube causes more virus to be in the air. Because of that, we want the nurses, the ICU nurses, the respiratory therapists, the anesthesiologist, the emergency room doctors, we want them to be vaccinated first. We look forward to with the Mayor and Dr. Chokshi to being part of the broader effort after we've done the health care workers to do the broad population of New York City.
There is no more trusted provider to the low-income communities of New York City than Health + Hospitals. We take care of over a million people a year – 400,000, choose us as their primary source of care. We are known in the immigrant communities as a safe place to be cared for, a place where you will not get crippling bills, a place where no one will report you, a place where if you're homeless and poor you'll be treated with dignity and respect. And we look forward to being part of that effort. And, Mr. Mayor, we agree – Dr. Chokshi and you – that until then, we'll all do our best to stay safe.
Mayor: Amen. Amen. Thank you so much, Dr. Katz, to you and your whole team for everything you're doing to protect us. Hey, everyone, look, we, in this city, we're going to show the world once again what New York City can do. We're going to be distributing this vaccine quickly and effectively. We're also going to be doing it equitably. We're going to be doing it fairly for the folks who need it the most, for the neighborhoods that need it. The most our command center is going to lead the way to make sure things keep moving and that things are done the right way. But, in the meantime, just as we get this amazing, good news, we are dealing with this second wave here in New York City. We are not done yet with the coronavirus. So, let's celebrate today. Let's be hopeful. It is a shot of hope. Let's be clear, it's not just a shot in the medical sense, it's a shot of hope. But we have to keep fighting this virus in the meantime. So, we remain vigilant. We're going to have a tough December, a tough January. You heard the doctor say continue to take those precautions so that we can move forward.
Now, one of the precautions the State of New York made a decision, and I agree with that decision, was to tighten up some of our restrictions. And, as of this morning, indoor dining is no longer in effect in New York City for the foreseeable future. Again, the more we fight back against the disease, the more the vaccine is distributed, that situation will change, and sooner rather than later, I believe. But those restrictions are in effect now. Indoor dining is not happening, but outdoor dining continues, takeout and delivery continue. Look, the folks who work in our restaurant industry, they've been through hell, let's be clear. I feel for every one of them, I feel for the folks who created a restaurant with their bare hands, had an idea, made it happen, employed people. I feel for hundreds or thousands or more New Yorkers working in the industry right now, and so many more that used to. We've got to bring this industry back. We've got to bring back the restaurants we love, but it's going to take time. In the meantime, we’ve got to stay safe, because this second wave is very, very real. So, we need to protect each other. We need people to be alive so they can next year feel what it's like to go back to eating indoors and celebrating our holidays with our families. We’ve got to protect people now. And if we're really going to have that recovery we deserve, we need that stimulus. Still, no clear direction coming from Washington, but we're going to keep fighting for a stimulus that actually allows the small businesses in New York City to recover, and the renters in New York City to recover, and the people of New York city to recover, and our economy to come back. That's what we'll keep fighting for. That's what we need. We need it now and we're going to need it when Joe Biden steps into the White House as our president.
Okay. Quick update – obviously, as we continue so much important work, one of the really bright spots has been our public schools. Our kids are safe. Our educators and staff are safe. Learning is going on right now in New York City – 878 schools opened in the course of last week. We are going to make sure that those schools remain safe, but we're also going to systematically move those schools to five-day-a-week education for as many kids as possible in as many schools as possible. Each school will be different, but we're going to keep you updated each week on how that progress is going. So, we're one week into it. And this week we'll have about 250 schools where kids will be going five days a week, either all kids or most kids, or, at minimum, the priority kids we've talked about – kids who live in shelter, kids who live in public housing, kids with special needs. So, five-day-a-week education, growing week by week in New York City. You're going to be seeing a lot more as we move forward. We'll keep you updated. But, really, credit to our educators, credit to the staff, everyone working so hard to make sure our kids get as many days in school as possible.
All right, let's go over today's indicators. Number one, daily number of people admitted to New York City hospitals for suspected COVID-19 – today's report is 185 patients. It’s under our threshold of 200, that's the good news, but it's still way too high and it's been a tough stretch lately, obviously. A new indicator that we have, the hospitalization rate per 100,000 people – 2.73 today. We want to get that under two. Second, we're going over every day now both the probable and confirmed cases of the coronavirus on a seven-day average. Today’s number, a very high number, 2,137. Again, we want to stay under 550. It's going to take us a long time to get back there, but we will. Number three, this is the percentage of New York City residents testing positive, seven-day rolling average – today's report, 5.5 percent. We want to get back under five and then keep going – lower, lower all the time – and the vaccine is going to be leading the way.
It is now 30 days and counting since I last tried to ask a question of Mayor Bill de Blasio during his daily virtual press conferences. So what is Mayor de Blasio afraid that I will ask him?
1 - Did this uptick in COVID-19 indicators begin about two weeks after election day where people were on lines next to each other outside and inside poll sites, where fifty or more people were inside poll sites at the same time?
2 - Will you Mayor de Blasio advocate to the governor to postpone all special elections to the June primary as was done early this year by the governor?
3 - If restaurants are shutdown to indoor eating Mayor de Blasio, how can you allow inside voting for the special elections, especially the one that started Saturday December 12th, and early voting runs through December 22nd when the special election is?
4 - You have said today that there may be a total shutdown in New York City Mayor de Blasio, will you shutdown the schools, and how can you allow for any special elections to happen then? Would you ask Governor Cuomo to postpone all special elections to the June primary?
5 - Why do reporters who are picked by the moderator get to ask two questions instead of you taking single questions from reporters as you did when your press conferences were not screened by a moderator who has called on the same reporters four or more times the past thirty days?
Below are only a few questions I have asked the mayor in the past during his live press conferences when they were live, and I was called on?
1 - In November of 2016 I asked the mayor why repairs were over five years behind, and residents of various NYCHA buildings were not getting the services they were suppose to get, and deserved? The mayor did not answer the question, he just blamed the state and federal government for not giving the city eighteen billion dollars (at that time) to fix up the NYCHA buildings. That figure is now close if not over fifty billion dollars.
2 - As a former parent leader all the way up to the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council, I have asked the mayor "why is it that Bronx public school students lag behind the other four boroughs in student achievement?" After six years in office the mayor said he was instituting "The Bronx Plan" where teachers would be paid more money to teach in lower performing schools in the Bronx. When I said that was tried and failed in District ten, the mayor said not like this. The Mayor's Bronx plan failed just like the previous one.
3 - When I asked Police Commissioner Shea early this year how much crime goes unreported, Commissioner Shea answered that there is no way to gauge just how much crime goes unreported, but he said "much crime goes unreported". Mayor de Blasio then turned to the police commissioner and said something to him.
So Mayor De Blasio, why do I not get called on to ask you a question as I did when there was no moderator, what are you afraid that I may ask you?
A rally was called for Sunday evening to show support for restaurant owners who will have to shudder their doors to indoor dining once again dur to rising COVID-19 indicators. The rally organized by Allerton International Merchants Association President Gene De Francis had Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Former Candidate for congress John Cummings, District Leader Irene Estrada, Community Board 11 members Joe Menta, Debra Kalikow, Bernadette Ferrara, and Veronica Castro as well as about forty other people.
Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Chair of the Small Business Committee said "The small business owner will bear the brunt of COVID-19, by being forced to shut inside dining. The small businesses will loose the holiday business". Councilman Gjonaj added that he will continue to fight this second ban on inside dining ion the courts. The ban on inside dining goes into effect Monday December 14th.
Above - Councilman Mark Gjonaj speaking at the rally about how there was only two day notice to store owners before the indoor dining ban went into effect.
Below - AIM President expresses his anger and frustrations over a power hungry governor, and the state representatives who have given the governor ultimate power without question.
Above - District Leader Irene Estrada with Rainbow Diner (on White Plains Road) worker Mary Riffa who says business is way off, and she is afraid she will be let go, or the diner may close leaving her with no job.
Below - Community Board 11 member Bernadette Ferrara voices her opinion against the indoor dining ban for NYC restaurant.
