RECOVERY AGENDA: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF OPEN STOREFRONTS PROGRAM

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the Open Storefronts program, which permits storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas, will be extended through September 30, 2021. The mayor announced the program will also allow businesses to sell pre-packaged food on sidewalks, and allow restaurants to use sidewalks for take-out orders.

 

This program is a part of an effort to make New York City the world’s capital for healthy outdoor living and to advance the Mayor’s recovery agenda, which is centered on public health and social justice.

 

“Open Storefronts has given business owners an easy way to maximize their space and keep customers safe as they shop. And by introducing restaurants into the program, we’re giving local eateries more ways than ever to keep their communities vibrant,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We remain committed to giving small businesses more chances to thrive, and we’re excited to give them more opportunities to participate in this program throughout the winter and warmer months.”

 

"There's no question our small businesses have taken a tremendous hit because of this pandemic and we will continue to find new and creative ways to help them," said Laura Anglin, Deputy Mayor for Operations . "Continuing and expanding Open Storefronts will not only give businesses valuable space outside of their building, but continues to transform the streetscape of this city for the better."

 

“The City is committed to finding innovative ways to support small businesses during this pandemic, especially those in our hardest hit neighborhoods,” said J. Philip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives. “The extension of the Open Storefronts program, combined with our efforts to urge New Yorkers to shop local, will help our small businesses come back stronger than ever.”

 

An eight-foot clear path of sidewalk from the curb must be maintained for Open Storefronts to operate. Retailers cannot use the space of adjacent businesses, and they must bring all furniture and goods indoors when closed. For existing Open Streets: Restaurants locations, the Open Storefronts program will also permit businesses to use the curb lane directly fronting their storefront to conduct business activities during operating hours. Businesses can visit www.nyc.gov/openstorefronts to review eligibility requirements and to complete a brief online application.

 

“The pandemic has caused the City to reimagine the way we use our public spaces to help our small business economy, while adhering to health and safety regulations,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of NYC Department of Small Business Services. “Extending the Open Storefronts program will help both retail and restaurant businesses stay resilient and provide a much-needed boost during these unprecedented times.”

 

"Open Storefronts is an essential part of the effort to help small businesses survive as the City continues its work to recover from the impacts of the COVID crisis, and we thank Mayor de Blasio for extending this initiative," said Margaret Forgione, Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. "We have seen how the ability to use a portion of the sidewalk as sales space has given merchants a much-needed boost, and we hope more store owners will take advantage of this program in the new year."

 

Governor Cuomo Announces 140,000 New Yorkers Have Received First Vaccine Dose and COVID-19 Idicators for DECEMBER 28, 2020

 

New York State Expects to Receive 259,000 Additional Doses this Week -- 139,400 from Pfizer and 119,600 from Moderna  

Priority Populations Expanding This Week to Include Urgent Care Center Employees, COVID-19 Vaccine Administrators and Residents of Office of Addiction Services and Supports Facilities

Vaccines Will Continue for High-Risk Hospital Workers, Federally Qualified Heath Center Employees, EMS, Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Workers, and Residents and Staff of Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and Office of Mental Health Facilities

7,559 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,222 Patients in the ICU; 717 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 8.33%

114 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 140,000 New Yorkers have received the first COVID-19 vaccine dose to date. New York expects to receive another 259,000 doses this week, with 139,400 coming from Pfizer and 119,600 coming from Moderna. The Governor also announced that the state is expanding the priority populations eligible to receive a vaccine to include urgent care center employees, individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff, and residents of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports' congregate facilities. Vaccines will continue to be distributed for high-risk hospital workers, federally qualified health center employees, EMS, coroners, medical examiners, funeral workers and residents and staff of Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and Office of Mental Health facilities. Next week, the state expects to expand this universe further with the addition of ambulatory care workers and public-facing public health workers.

"There is no denying the facts and the fact is that social gatherings spread the virus if we are not smart. In a year where we've collectively felt out of control, we actually have the power to determine our own future because our actions will ultimately determine the spread," Governor Cuomo said. "We've have begun seeing increases in positivity across the nation throughout the past several days and New York has not been immune to that trend. While our experts work to determine whether this uptick is a statistical anomaly due to reduced testing over the holiday weekend, or if this is a result of pre-Christmas spread which is being evidenced now, we all know what we have to do in the meantime - wear a mask, socially distance and avoid gatherings. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and New York is leading the nation in distributing the vaccine to get us there, but as we approach the end of the holiday season, the rest of us must stay tough. Remember - if we act smart, than we can avoid shutdowns and win this war."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 124,866
• Total Positive - 10,407
• Percent Positive - 8.33%
• Patient Hospitalization - 7,559 (+376)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 904
• Hospital Counties - 55
• Number ICU - 1,222 (+35)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 717 (+30)
• Total Discharges - 100,008 (+425)
• Deaths - 114
• Total Deaths - 29,629

Attorney General James Opens Investigation into ParCare Over COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement in response to her office opening an investigation into ParCare Community Health Network’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in New York:

“My office is launching an investigation into ParCare over allegations that it wrongfully distributed and administered COVID-19 vaccines. In order for the vaccine to be most effective in protecting our communities, we must all follow the same distribution plan. We will not tolerate any attempts to circumvent that process.”

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Statement on Critical Housing Protections Legislation

 

The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act would alter judicial procedure to prevent evictions, foreclosures, and tax lien sales that would otherwise remove people from their homes during a pandemic.

 The New York State Assembly is taking up the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020, legislation which was introduced by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, said: “As policymakers, our top priority must be to ensure that human dignity and decency can be maintained – even during times of crisis. Housing is a human right, and I am proud of the protections that this critical legislation puts into place. Although we still have much work to be done to get through the pandemic, such as raising revenue through a tax on the wealthiest among us, this legislation will help thousands and thousands of New Yorkers stay in their homes and the impact of this cannot be understated.

 

“The pandemic has been difficult enough on New Yorkers without the added anxiety and uncertainty of losing your home, and this legislation makes sure everyone, including, seniors, families, and children – whether they are tenants or homeowners – aren’t put out on the street in the middle of winter during a pandemic. The Tenant Safe Harbor Law has already provided key protections against evictions for new rent arrears during the COVID-19 period, and this new legislation expands on that effort. I believe once this legislation is enacted into law, New York will have the strongest housing protections of anywhere in the nation.

 

“Thank you in particular to the leadership of Speaker Carl Heastie as well as my colleagues in the Assembly Majority who have been incredible participants in the crafting of this omnibus legislation. Thank you as well to my counterpart sponsor in the State Senate, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, as well as the new State Senate majority for their partnership. I am hopeful that this legislation will be passed and signed into law imminently so that New Yorkers can be protected as soon as possible.”

 

Bill Summary

 

The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act (A11181) addresses many concerns that have been raised over the past several months, and it builds on successes established in the Tenant Safe Harbor Law that was enacted over the summer.

 

• All ongoing eviction-related matters, residential foreclosure proceedings would be stayed (frozen) for 60 days. These proceedings could be further stayed until May 1, 2021 by submitting a standard hardship declaration form available to tenants, homeowners, and small landlords.

• It establishes a course of action for certain proceedings to continue where tenant may be causing a substantial safety hazard to others, which has been a significant source of contention with broader eviction moratorium proposals. Tenants would still be obligated to pay their debts and landlords can seek a money judgment through the civil courts even while the eviction stay is underway.

• It prohibits negative credit decisions to homeowners who receive a stay on a mortgage foreclosure, tax foreclosure, or tax lien sale, or if they are in arrears and file a hardship declaration.

• It extends the Senior Citizens’ Homeowner Exemption and Disabled Homeowner Exemption programs without requiring homeowners to actively recertify unless they may be entitled to a larger exemption, cutting red tape for some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

 

The bill text can be viewed here.

 

A11181 Summary:

BILL NO	A11181
SAME AS	SAME AS S09114
SPONSOR	Rules (Dinowitz)
COSPNSR	Cymbrowitz, Heastie, Reyes, Richardson, Epstein, Gottfried, Lentol, Weinstein, Nolan, Abbate, Glick, Aubry, Cahill, Perry, Ortiz, Colton, Ramos, Benedetto, Jaffee, Rosenthal L, DenDekker, Thiele, Bronson, Rodriguez, Simotas, Weprin, Quart, Kim, Mosley, Davila, Pichardo, Blake, Seawright, Simon, Hyndman, Carroll, De La Rosa, Niou, Vanel, Taylor, Cruz, Darling, Fernandez, Anderson, Burgos, Jacobson, Barnwell, Bichotte, Frontus, Walker, Zebrowski, Barron, Clark, Rivera, Meeks

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We do not see two current Bronx Assembly members Assemblywoman Joiner, or Arroyo, but we see the name Burgos who has not taken office yet.

Governor Cuomo Announces He Will Sign Legislation and Issue Executive Order Extending Residential Eviction Moratorium

 

Governor Cuomo: "We want to make sure that homeowners are protected, that it doesn't affect their credit rating, there's no mortgage foreclosure, the Legislature convenes today, and we have an agreement with them on a housing moratorium bill. We want to get to May 1 and we'll see what happens by May but we want to protect tenants."

Cuomo: "We're also going to be extending the housing eviction moratorium by executive order."

 We're also going to be extending the housing eviction moratorium by executive order. We are working with the Legislature. The Legislature is going to reconvene this week. We've been working with them on a piece of legislation that will also extend the eviction moratorium. We want to make sure that homeowners are protected, that it doesn't affect their credit rating, there's no mortgage foreclosure, the Legislature convenes today, and we have an agreement with them on a housing moratorium bill. We want to get to May 1 and we'll see what happens by May but we want to protect tenants. We want to make it simple. We don't want people evicted. We don't want them to have to go to court to fight the eviction. But we want to make sure they're not committing fraud either so they will make representations that will be legally enforceable. And again, we have an agreement and as soon as that bill is passed I'll sign it.

Mayor de Blasio Issues Emergency Executive Order Number 170

 

EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 170

December 28, 2020

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York to address the threat that COVID-19 poses to the health and welfare of New York residents and visitors; and 

WHEREAS, Emergency Executive Order No. 98, issued March l 2, 2020 and extended most recently by Emergency Executive Order No. 165, issued December 3, 2020, contains a declaration of a state of emergency in the City of New York due to the threat posed by COVID-19 to the health and welfare of City residents, and such declaration remains in effect; and 

WHEREAS, this Order is given because of the propensity of the virus to spread person-to person and also because the actions taken to prevent such spread have led to property loss and damage; and 

WHEREAS, measures taken to combat the spread of COVID-19 may prevent individuals, businesses and other entities from meeting legally imposed deadlines for the filing of certain documents or for the completion of other required actions; and 

WHEREAS, this Order is given in order to ensure that the Governor's orders are enforced; NOW, 

THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me by the laws of the State of New York and the City of New York, including but not limited to the New York Executive Law, the New York City Charter and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and the common law authority to protect the public in the event of an emergency

Section 1. I hereby direct that sections 1, 2 and 3 of Emergency Executive Order No. 169, dated December 23, 2020, are extended for five (5) days. 

§ 2. This Order incorporates any and all relevant provisions of Governor Executive Order No. 202 and subsequent orders issued by the Governor of New York State to address the State of Emergency declared in that Order pursuant to his powers under section 29-a of the Executive Law. 

§ 3. I hereby direct the Fire Department of the City of New York, the New York City Police Department, the Department of Buildings, the Sheriff, and other agencies as needed to immediately enforce the directives set forth in this Order in accordance with their lawful enforcement authorities, including but not limited to Administrative Code sections 15-227(a), 28- 105.10.1, and 28-201.1, and section 107.6 of the New York City Fire Code. Violations of the directives set forth in this Order may be issued as if they were violations under the New York City Health Code, title 24 Rules of the City of New York sections 3 .07 and 3.11, and may be enforced as such by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or any other agency named in this section. 

§ 4. This Emergency Executive Order shall take effect immediately, and shall remain in effect for five (5) days unless it is terminated or modified at an earlier date. 

Bill de Blasio, MAYOR

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Executive Order Withholding Pay Increases for All Statewide Elected Officials and Commissioners

 

Governor Cuomo: "It's no reflection on what these commissioners have done. They probably worked harder this past year and performed better than any commissioner in their position frankly in decades. There has been no test like this test for a government official. But I appreciate their sacrifice and their showing of solidarity for the people of this state during this difficult period and during this difficult financial period."

Cuomo: "I also want to thank the Lieutenant Governor and the Attorney General and the Comptroller for the same statement that they're making. They've all worked incredibly hard this year and this is another sign of their commitment and their public service so I thank them very much."

 Today I'm also signing an executive order to withhold pay increases for all State commissioners and statewide elected officials. This is the right thing to do I think. Obviously it's easy for me to propose something that's going to affect myself. This also affects all commissioners and statewide elected officials.

Dr. Zucker, for example, won't be getting a raise this year. It's no reflection on what these commissioners have done. They probably worked harder this past year and performed better than any commissioner in their position frankly in decades. There has been no test like this test for a government official. But I appreciate their sacrifice and their showing of solidarity for the people of this state during this difficult period and during this difficult financial period. I also want to thank the Lieutenant Governor and the Attorney General and the Comptroller for the same statement that they're making. They've all worked incredibly hard this year and this is another sign of their commitment and their public service so I thank them very much. 

 

Attorney General James Issues Alert to Protect New Yorkers from Coronavirus Vaccine Scams

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued an alert to warn New Yorkers about potential scams offering early access to a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. While New York has begun the process of vaccinating nursing home residents, nursing home staff who regularly interact with patients, and high-risk medical workers, the vaccine will not become widely available to the general public in New York for several more months. 

Consistent with federal guidelines, New York plans to offer vaccines next to long-term care residents and staff and other healthcare workers, then to certain essential workers, and finally to members of the general population, beginning with the people at highest risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms (such as those over 65 years old or with underlying health conditions like cancer or heart disease). New York has not yet announced a definitive timeline for distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine to any of these later groups.

“We must remain vigilant about potential scams and ensure New Yorkers know the latest information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, there is no government-authorized vaccine available to the general population in New York,” said Attorney General James. 

“Throughout this pandemic, scammers have found ways to victimize the public, with the vaccine distribution process being their latest method for fraud. My office remains committed to rooting out COVID-19 scams, and I encourage the public to report suspected illegal activity to my office.” 

The Office of Attorney General (OAG) continues to warn New Yorkers of anyone who calls, e-mails, or texts individuals offering access to a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, some individuals may seek to use online platforms with similar schemes. Scammers may impersonate public health officials from organizations such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO). They may also offer to ship a COVID-19 vaccine directly to homes, provide special access to vaccines or clinical trials, or sell special cold storage device for vaccines. 

Here are some tips to help New Yorkers avoid vaccine-related scams: 

• Be wary of anyone calling or emailing you with offers of a vaccine and do not give out your Social Security number, personal credit card, or bank account information. No one from a vaccine distributor, health care company, or private insurance company will ask for this information.  
• If you have health insurance, you should not need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine while the pandemic remains a public health emergency. If you don’t have health insurance, the provider may only charge an administration fee. However, in many instances, you likely will not be required to pay the administration fee.
• You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine or to get into a vaccine clinical trial.
• If you get an e-mail about a COVID-19 vaccine or clinical trial, check the sender’s email domain to make sure it matches the website of the organization sending the e-mail and be wary of clicking on any hyperlinks or providing any login or other personal information.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use so far. The Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine is authorized for use in individuals 16 years of age and older, while the Moderna vaccine is authorized for use in individuals 18 and older. If you have doubt about whether a vaccine or clinical trial is real, check with a licensed healthcare provider. For all up-to-date information pertaining to COVID-19 vaccine approval and distribution in New York, please visit: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov. Individuals may contact the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 888-364-3065 for all COVID-19 related questions.

The OAG continues to surveil and monitor the state for potential scams designed to exploit public concern related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scammers commonly exploit real public health concerns and use heightened public fear to prey on consumers and profit from frauds related to those health fears. If a consumer believes they have been the victim of an unlawful activity, they can report these incidents to the OAG.