RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: CITY LAUNCHES “CURTAINS UP NYC,” FREE PROGRAM TO CONNECT LIVE PERFORMANCE VENUES TO FEDERAL RELIEF

 

City providing suite of free services including instructional webinars and one-on-one counseling

 Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Anne del Castillo, and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris today announced the launch of Curtains Up NYC, a program to provide application assistance to live-performance venues, organizations and workers applying for federal relief.

The federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVO), also known as Save Our Stages, includes $15 billion for grants of up to $10 million to qualified live venue operators and promoters, performing arts organizations, theatrical producers, talent representatives, movie theater operators, and non-profit museums with auditoriums.

 

Curtains Up NYC will provide webinars three times a week that will review the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant program and the application process. Trained counselors will also be available for virtual, one-on-one sessions. Services are free and will begin this Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

 

“New York City’s live performance venues, theaters, and night clubs are the best in the world, and they’ve been hit hard by this pandemic. Their city will help them fight for every federal dollar they deserve to get back on their feet and better than ever,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I urge every venue to take advantage of these resources, and I can’t wait to take in a performance as soon as we defeat COVID-19 once and for all.”

 

“The creative industries are what make New York City a global capital. The arts and entertainment sector, which has been hardest hit hard by the pandemic, is critical to the city’s recovery,” said Anne del Castillo, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “We are pleased to partner with NYC Department of Small Business Services to launch Curtains Up NYC to help our theaters and venues secure this much needed federal financial assistance in order for them to survive until they are able to safely reopen.”

 

"The pandemic has caused our cultural venues and creative spaces to face financial loss, economic hardship, and difficult business decisions in an attempt to stay afloat. The SVO Grants will provide targeted financial relief for these businesses," said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. "We are proud to partner with MOME and bring the technical support needed for the application process to ensure New Yorkers get their fair share of this critical federal relief."

 

SVO Grants are available equal to 45% of the applicant’s gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. For more information on SVO eligibility and the Curtains Up NYC program, visit nyc.gov/CurtainsUpNYC or nyc.gov/sbs.

 

Please note: Shuttered Venues Operators Grant applications are not yet open, but anyone considering applying is urged to begin preparing as soon as possible.

 

Nathalia Fernandez - Why I Love The Bronx

 

Dear Friend,

In case you haven't noticed, I LOVE THE BRONX. I have dedicated my entire career to make The Bronx a better place for all of us. I love this borough and I will do whatever it takes to make sure it comes back stronger than ever. Join me on zoom and let's share what makes The Bronx the best and why we love The Bronx!

I hope you can join me next week! You can sign up for the zoom here: https://bitly.com/NF21121

De Blasio Orders Review of City Homeless Shelter Providers

Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered a compliance review of all nonprofit homeless shelter providers in the city on Sunday, after the New York Times published numerous allegations of sexual assault against Victor Rivera, the prominent head of the Bronx Parent Housing Network (BPHN), one of the city's largest nonprofit shelter operators.

The Times' story detailed the accounts of ten women, including BPHN employees and shelter clients, who alleged that Rivera assaulted them or paid them unwanted attention. The article also laid out other allegations of impropriety, such as nepotism hires and doling out contracts to friends. Multiple reports about Rivera's alleged wrongdoing went unheeded, the Times found, even as the city continued to rely on his organization's services. 

"In light of this @NYTimes investigation, the City is hiring an outside auditing firm to review non-profit shelter providers to ensure true compliance," de Blasio said on Twitter on Sunday morning. He directed BPHN to conduct an independent investigation of the accusations against Rivera. He also said any sexual misconduct complaint to a city agency about a city-contracted nonprofit would have be investigated by an independent agency, rather than the nonprofit's own board.

327 Days and Counting

 

I still have 327 days left to go. What's that there is a problem in the Department of Homeless services?

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic CORONAVIRUSHEALTHPUBLIC SAFETY - FEBRUARY 7, 2021

 

7,649 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide; Lowest Hospitalization Since Christmas Day

1,459 Patients in the ICU; 979 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.00%; Lowest One-Day Positivity Since November 27

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity Rate is 4.50%; Lowest 7-Day Average Since December 2

143 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's no accident that our positivity and hospitalizations are continuing to decline, this is happening because of the dedication and discipline shown by New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "While we are encouraged by these declining numbers, we must remain vigilant. Today, I urge New Yorkers to enjoy the Superbowl but be smart and don't do anything to undo our progress: wear a mask, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 250,892
• Total Positive - 10,025
• Percent Positive - 4.00%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 4.50%
• Patient Hospitalization - 7,649 (-155)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -327
• Patients Newly Admitted - 878
• Hospital Counties - 57
• Number ICU - 1,459 (-22)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 979 (-16)
• Total Discharges - 132,905 (+893)
• Deaths - 143
• Total Deaths - 36,224

Governor Cuomo Announces Over 2.1 Million Vaccine Doses Administered

 

As of 11AM today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 87% of the Total First Doses Received from Federal Government

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker; Dashboard Now Includes Demographic Data

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state has administered over 2,136,209 vaccine doses through the state's vaccination program. The total week 8 federal allocation of vaccine delivery to providers will be complete today. As of 11AM today, New York's health care distribution sites have received 1,874,975 first doses and already administered 87 percent 1,627,191 first dose vaccinations and 76 percent of first and second doses. Delivery of the week 9 allocation from the federal government begins mid-week.

"Our singular focus right now is getting vaccines into arms and the daily numbers continue to demonstrate we are doing that job quickly and effectively, as we have administered over 2.1 million doses so far," Governor Cuomo said. "We have the operational capacity to do much more and the only limiting factor is lack of supply. But I am hopeful because we now have a partner in the White House who is working to increase supply to states, and we will continue to work hand in glove with them to get every single New Yorker vaccinated as fast as possible."

Approximately 7 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by more than 20 percent over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

Coalition to Save Brust Park 11th City Council Forum

 

The coalition to save Brust Park was formed to save a small open space that is threatened by a developer who is planning to build a large building right next to Brust Park, in what was an empty lot on Dash Place in Community Board 8. 

The coalition decided to hear what the candidates for the 11th City Council seat had to say about the matter by hosting a forum Saturday night. Candidates on the ballot for the March 23rd special election are Eric Dinowitz, Jessica Haller, Mino Lori, Dan Padernacht, Kevin Pazzmino, and Carlton Berkley (who was not in attendance). Also included in the forum were the two candidates who withdrew from the special election saying they are running in the June Primary. 

After introductions and opening speeches the questions to the candidates began. Most of the questions were related to the local community board and its powers against developers. Here is where the candidates were separated into those who know policy, and those who didn't. Dan Padernacht having been on Community Board 8 for twelve years and Chair of the board for three of those years explained the process, and how the community board works with developers to meet the needs of the community. There have been times when Community Board 8 has been able to get an unwanted development stopped, but he admitted it is a hard process sometimes because developers don't always want to change their plans since according to city zoning rules there are set guidelines on what can be built. Eric Dinowitz, also a member of Community Board 8, echoed much of what Padernacht said being on the board for only a few years. Jessica Haller said that the community board doesn't work hard enough, and there should be term limits for board members. Candidate Haller was corrected when it was brought out that term limits for community board members was passed along with Rank Choice Voting, to which she replied "I must have missed that". Mino Lori changed the subject to say that more affordable housing needs to be built, and stayed silent on most other policy questions. Kevin Pazzmino answered that housing should meet the needs of the community.

The chat room seemed to be very active as candidates and others were exchanging comments. Candidates Jessica Haller and Kevin Pazzmino got into a debate on which mode of transportation should be used to move seniors to their destinations. Pazzmino wanted to use cabs, whereas Jessica Haller (an environmentalist) said the taxis would add to the air pollution, and seniors should use the buses already in the area. Pazzmino countered by saying they could be hybrid or electric cabs. Jessica Haller said public schools should have salad bars, and when in the chat a comment from a former Parents Association President of RKA said that was tried years ago and failed, Haller replied "then you did not do a good enough job".

The highlight of the night had to be when Marcos Sierra who dropped out of the special election opened his speech slamming Riverdale saying the past council members have come from there, and Riverdale gets while other parts of the council district don't get. He also said that since the 11th council district is a majority minority district that a minority should be elected as the next council member. Mr. Sierra made a similar statement to one person that an older white male should not be running in a cis majority minority district, which Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said was racially charged. Since Mr. Sierra is the Male District Leader from the 80th Assembly District that person has made a complaint to State Senator Jamaal Bailey the Bronx Democratic Party Chair to remove Mr. Sierra as the Male District Leader, which Senator Bailey refuses to do even after a Brooklyn district leader was removed for saying things about China and Chinese food. 

328 Days and Counting

 

Don't forget I till have 328 days left in office.