Information that may be of interest...
August 10, 2020
This information is provided by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association. We are sharing it as a service to our members. If this notice does not interest you, please disregard it. You can also find these weekly newsletters online in PDF (printable) format at www.murrayhillnyc.org in the News section, look for Weekly Eblasts 2020. Please share this email with a friend, neighbor or colleague. You can sign up for these emails at www.murrayhillnyc.org, scroll down the Also Happening column.
Coronavirus updates NYC's Reopening IMPORTANT: There is still no cure or vaccine for COVID-19.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19
• wear face coverings when in public • maintain distance • practice good hand hygiene • stay home if sick
All New Yorkers can get tested for covid-19. If you have been spending time with people outside your household, get tested! Sites run by New York State are free. coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacies and walk-in urgent care to find out if they do testing and if there will be charges.
See murrayhillnyc.org for additional COVID-19 information, including • Reopening • Neighborhood houses of worship, museums, educational and cultural institutions • Neighborhood restaurants, food & spirits that are open for delivery & pickup • Neighborhood retail, health care (including pets) & services that are open • And more
The eviction moratorium has been extended to September 4. The moratorium was first put in place in March to protect residential and commercial tenants facing financial hardship due to the pandemic. As long as we are in the middle of the pandemic, there will be no evictions. [Source: Gov. Cuomo]
Gov. Cuomo announced that New York State schools can reopen on September 10. August 7, 2020. The school-reopening decision is based on the coronavirus statistics for the state. Individual plans by district for reopening must be approved by the state, and individual districts can decide whether to reopen in-school learning. NYC's plan is currently incomplete. They have a week to complete the plan and must hold meetings with parents and teachers. The city has requested an extension. NYS Department of Health guidance governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Pre- K_to_Grade_12_Schools_MasterGuidence.pdf
The NYC School Construction Authority is actively looking for additional space to house education and childcare programs starting September. Sites must be no higher than four stories, contain rooms no less than 650 square feet, have dedicated entrances and bathrooms, be code compliant and be able to house programs serving children and teens. Submit sites that meet these requirements to [email protected] ASAP.
The Departments of Education and Youth & Community Development are seeking organizations to operate childcare services Human service agencies, afterschool providers, community center providers, childcare programs are needed to operate childcare for youth ages 3 and 4, and Learning Labs for K-8 students during weekdays when students are not receiving in-person instruction in a NYC Dept. of Education school or program. Read and respond to the Request for Information. passport.cityofnewyork.us/page.aspx/en/rfp/request_browse_public
Contest to find the most creative outside dining arrangements at Manhattan restaurants (deadline September 1) Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is launching a friendly competition to find the most creative outside dining arrangements at Manhattan restaurants. The contest is looking for beautiful or innovative set-ups. Send an email with photos of top contender(s) attached to [email protected] by September 1, with the subject line “Dining Contest.” Be sure to include the restaurant’s name and address in the email!
Storytellers contest—WomensActivism.NYC’s (deadline August 16) Learn more about the story writing contest at womensactivism.nyc. Share stories about inspirational women for a chance to win prizes of $150, $350 and $500. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePYfyJ1YHk04UiE_-BMHbWOTjm2UtGJCT- jvjSx2rj09jLOQ/viewform.
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Safety, Security, & Visiting Service Providers July 30, 2020, cooperator.com, by A.J. Sidransky Nannies, Dog Walkers, & Other Domestic Helpers Return. [Co-Op] Boards must walk a fine line in maintaining safe conditions within buildings, while at the same time not intruding on individual rights.
New York State invests in COVID supplies manufacturing NYS is supporting 12 New York companies that will begin producing COVID-related equipment and supplies to support our present and future needs. As a condition to receive the grants, each of the companies will make PPE available to the State of New York for our healthcare facilities when and if we need it. [Source: Gov. Cuomo's NYS Coronavirus Update 7/30/2020]
Heart damage lingers in COVID-19 patients, even after recovery July 28, 2020, nbcnews.com, by Erika Edwards "We are not done yet," one cardiologist said, urging continued precautions against the coronavirus.
State of emergency following Tropical Storm Isaias
8/5/2020 In the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared a disaster and state of emergency (Executive Order 206) This includes New York County, and provides local governments with additional clean-up and operational support from the State. The order is effective until September 4, 2020. Source: governor.ny.gov/news/no-206-declaring-disaster-counties-bronx-dutchess-kings-nassau-new- york-orange-putnam-queens.
Related: Blackout Hits Manhattan As Tropical Storm Isaias Outages Continue August 7, 2020, patch.com, by Matt Troutman Con Edison quickly restored power to customers on the Upper West Side, Harlem and the Upper East Side. The utility issued a statement saying it's investigating what caused three networks to lose power
3 starting at about 5:13 a.m...The relatively-quick restorations stand in contrast to roughly 50,000 Con Edison customers in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island who entered their fourth day without power. Outage map outagemap.coned.com/external/default.html.
We hope that you weathered Tropical Storm Isaias with no major difficulties. Be sure to report power outages to ConEd if you have them. Don’t assume they know about your outage. You can report and track outages online at coned.com/en/services-and-outages/report-track-service-issue/report- outage-status.
If street or park trees have been damaged or have fallen in your area, contact the NYC Parks Department to have them cleared at nycgovparks.org/services/forestry/damaged-fallen-trees. After they are cleared, you can request replacement street trees from the NYC Parks Department at nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/request. The form asks for the street address where the tree is to be located.
Grants & loans
September 29 5pm application deadline Manhattan Arts Grants from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Application information lmcc.net/resources/manhattan-arts-grants
Apply now Citizens Committee for NYC Neighborhood Business Grants These grants of $5,000 - $10,000 support small businesses. Application information and eligibility tfaforms.com/4842203?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=23bdc41b-575b-4fc0-9503-91c4772a0367. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
NY Forward Loan Fund Loans for small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords. Application information connect2capital.com/partners/new-york-forward-loan-fund.
Lowe's-LISC partnership This next round of small business grants will open on August 31st, but you should sign-up for their notifications to ensure you are among the first to apply. They will offer grants of $20,000 to small business owners to help meet their most immediate needs. Eligible expenses include: paying rent and utilities; meeting payroll; paying outstanding debt to vendors; upgrading technology infrastructure; other immediate operational costs. Their focus is primarily on small businesses owned or led by minorities and women. Apply now.
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Facebook: This new grant program was just announced, but the application process has not yet opened. They plan to offer $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to Black-owned businesses in the US that have been hurt by the COVID crisis. Apply now.
NYC Engage: A Way to Participate in NYC Public Meetings
NYC Engage is where you can find information about how to participate in public meetings held remotely. Use NYC Engage to join hearings and meetings online or by phone while physical distancing. Stay tuned as additional remote meetings are added to the calendar. They welcome your comments as you use this new site and participate in civic engagement. Visit NYC Engage's home page www1.nyc.gov/site/nycengage to view more information, and their meeting calendar www1.nyc.gov/site/nycengage/events to learn about upcoming meetings.
Job opportunities
With the retirement of their beloved District Manager Wally Rubin, Community Board 5 is currently hiring. Please find, below, information about the job and instructions on how to apply. Feel free to share widely.
CB5 District Manager. Background: Community Board Five in Manhattan is an autonomous City agency serving the midtown Manhattan community. The area it serves stretches from 59th Street to 14th Street, between 8th Avenue and Lexington Avenue; at 26th Street, its border narrows to between 6th Avenue and Irving Place. As an independent, non-partisan organization, the Community Board, which is a 50-member, all volunteer Board, oversees the delivery of municipal services. It addresses complaints from residents and business owners and works closely with city agencies, as well as city, state and federal elected officials, to address concerns and find solutions. Meetings are open. Learn more about the position cb5.org/cb5m/announcements/job-opening-cb5-district- manager.
SBA is hiring
The U.S. Small Business Administration is hiring temporary employees to assist with disaster relief efforts during these unprecedented times. The positions include:
• Call Center Customer Service Representative • Document Preparation/Legal Review/Loan Closings • Loan Processing/Credit Analysis/Mortgage Underwriting
5 • Program Support
Apply today sba.gov/page/disaster-response-jobs-sba
Primary elections
Primary Election results posted 8/4/2020 vote.nyc/page/election-results-summary
President JOSEPH R. BIDEN
Democratic Representative in Congress (10th Congressional District) JERROLD L. NADLER
Democratic Representative in Congress (12th Congressional District) CAROLYN B. MALONEY
Democratic State Senator (27th Senatorial District) BRAD M. HOYLMAN
Democratic Member of the Assembly (73rd Assembly District) DAN QUART
Related: Federal judge finds NY disenfranchised voters for Post Office error August 4, 2020, cityandstateny.com, by Rebecca C. Lewis Thousands of previously invalidated ballots in New York City now must be counted.
Related: Board of Elections to Appeal Absentee Ballot Case August 4, 2020, nystateofpolitics.com, by Nick Reisman Top officials at the state Board of Elections on Tuesday announced they would appeal a federal judge's order to count absentee ballots in New York City that had been invalidated, in many cases due to the lack of a postmark. “Given the totality of the circumstances here, we understand the desire to protect the rights of voters,” said Elections Commissioner and Co-Chairman Douglas A. Kellner...“laws governing the canvassing of ballots were followed by all the local board of elections."
Related: Powerful NYC Democrat demands Board of Elections overhaul after ‘total collapse’ August 5, 2020, nypost.com, by Nolan Hicks and Bernadette Hogan A powerful Manhattan lawmaker revealed the embattled city Board of Elections blew off state regulators seeking reforms as she tore into the agency over the recent string of voting fiascos that left thousands uncertain if their ballots were tallied. “The failure of the NYC Board of Elections over the
6 last several elections has been appalling,” wrote Democratic state Senator Liz Krueger, chairwoman of the chamber’s all-important budget committee...By state law, the New York City Board of Elections is run by appointees from the Democratic and Republican parties in each borough. Under the setup, City Hall must pay the City BOE’s bills but has almost no say in its management. The arrangement means the patronage-laden Board has remained virtually immune to oversight and reform efforts, despite widespread complaints following a slew of scandals and bungled elections.
Census 2020 Month of Action!
If you haven’t already done it, visit 2020census.gov to complete the census survey online. The deadline is September 30. All households should respond to the census for each of their addresses. Read below if you have more than one address. Attention Seasonal and Pied a Terre residents with apartments in Murray Hill! The census counts people where they live and sleep most of the time. If you are a seasonal resident, please respond to the 2020 Census for your seasonal home address and indicate that nobody lives there. This will minimize the need for a census taker to follow up. You can complete the form online or over the phone by calling 844-330-2020. Instructions for doing this online: 1. Visit my2020census.gov and tap Respond. 2. Tap Start Questionnaire. 3. Enter the Census ID for your address or tap "If you do not have a Census ID click here" 4. Select "A U.S. state or the District of Columbia" and tap Next. 5. Enter the address for your secondary property and follow the prompts to enter your name and address. 6. Enter “0” for the number of people living at this property 7. Tap Next, and when a message appears "On April 1, 2020, were you living or staying at
Upcoming events
Available to watch until August 11 at 5pm Dance performance: Feature Presentation: PlayBAC: Company SBB // Stefanie Batten Bland: A Place of Sun (2012) World Premiere Running time approx. 40 minutes. Performances from the Baryshnikov Arts Center Archive series studio performances. Watch the full video at bacnyc.org/explore (running time approximately 40 minutes).
August 10-16 Play with Play NYC An annual celebration of games. For the first time, this year’s Play NYC will be online and free to
7 attend, and feature over 70 games from developers in New York and around the world, as well as 50 talks, panels and demos.
August 11 10am Conversations from Bloomberg New Economy: Resurrecting the Consumer Economy As lockdowns end and restrictions on public gatherings begin to lift, how can the restaurants, retailers, and service providers that fuel the consumer economy survive? With social distancing measures in place in the absence of a vaccine for Covid-19, can the consumer economy survive on thinner margins than ever before? Featured Guests: Carlos Brito, CEO, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Sandra Campos, Former CEO, Diane von Furstenberg, Nick Molnar, Co-Founder and U.S. CEO, Afterpay, Tom Orlik, Chief Economist, Bloomberg Economics. Register at onlinexperiences.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&ShowUUID=12788AE0-9386- 46AD-8DB5-BBA7285BED21
August 11 12-1pm Virtual panel discussion: Bad Ballots and Lost Votes: The Path to Better Ballot Design Confusing ballot layouts and instructions harm all voters, but low-income voters, new voters, and elderly voters most of all. All too often, the loss of votes and rates of errors caused by poor design exceed candidates’ margins of victory, casting doubt on whether election outcomes always reflect voters’ intentions. What do these ballot defects look like? And how can election officials remedy them? New York University's Brennan Center election experts will discuss sound ballot design principles and how better processes for creating and testing ballots can prevent lost or erroneous votes. They will be joined by speakers Larry Norden, Director, Election Reform, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice, Victoria Bassetti, Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice, Alicia Yin Cheng, Graphic Designer and Author, This Is What Democracy Looked Like: A Visual History of the Printed Ballot, Moderator: Ilya Marritz, WNYC Senior Reporter; Co-Host of "Trump, Inc." This event is produced in partnership with New York University’s John Brademas Center and NYU Votes. Register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/5015964823133/WN_u-qQPMuoSXyuKQYcvcmFRg.
August 11 7pm NYPD "Build the Block" meeting on for the 13th Precinct (Kips Bay) Sector D. Location: 501 2nd Avenue (Chase Bank Space). You can bring your issues to discuss with the Neighborhood Policing Officers. Build the Block meetings are an opportunity to discuss with your Neighborhood Coordination Officers the public safety challenges that affect our neighborhood. Measures will be taken to ensure social distancing. For more information on this Build the Block meeting, view the meeting flyer cbsix.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BTB-aug-2020.png.
August 12 2-3pm Webinar: Introduction to the U.S. Census's American Community Survey
8 Discover the detailed social, demographic, economic, and housing statistics that the American Community Survey (ACS) provides for every community every year. You will learn about basics of the yearly estimates and datasets produced from the ACS, resources available on our website, and how to access ACS data products through a variety of tools. Dial-in: 888-790-3585, Participant Passcode: 5117145, Presenter: Caleb Hopler, American Community Survey Office, Webex Password (if required): acs, webex login census.webex.com/census/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed3bce6988797f1b3e2025512f7ca1404
August 12 6-7:30pm Webinar: Increase Traffic And Sales With Online Marketing Part three of four of the Digital Marketing Boot Camp Series. Whether you are trying to attract your first customer or your 10,000th customer generating more traffic to your online store is a crucial part of growing your business. Optimizing your site for conversions could mean more customers and more sales. During this workshop, you will learn high impact tactics for driving more traffic to your online store. Speaker Ryan Davy is a Web developer who co-founded XR Studio in 2005. RSVP at: ldceny.ecenterdirect.com/events/998070. You must RSVP in advance to receive the link to the event. Hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
August 12, August 27 6:30-8pm The Department of Education will be hosting virtual citywide Information sessions for students and families Get information on back to school guidance and to register for the information sessions at schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020.
August 13 6-7:30pm Webinar: A Guide To Selling Your Products And Services On Instagram The final session of the Digital Marketing Boot Camp Series. Businesses shouldn't be shy about selling on Instagram anymore. Recent Instagram statistics point to the fact that the platform is booming for brands right now. But Selling on Instagram isn't as simple as posting product photos and calling it a marketing day. If you want to turn your fans into followers you are going to need a strategy. In this guide, we break down the best practices of doing business on Instagram and how to get your products in front of eager shoppers. RSVP at ldceny.ecenterdirect.com/events/998071. This series is a webinar only. You must RSVP in advance to receive the link to the event. Hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Through August 16 The Rockefeller Center Flag Project With themes that celebrate love, unity, diversity, and designs that are as unique as they are vibrant, we're excited to fly your artwork from the flagpoles that surround at The Rink at Rockefeller Center.
9 August 18 1-3:50pm 2020 Virtual Education NY Summit: Is it safe to reopen New York's schools? Join education leaders as they discuss guidelines for reopening, "blended" learning, the future of standardized tests and college admissions, and beyond. Speakers: Betty Rosa, Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents; New York State Senator Shelley Mayer; New York State Senator John C. Liu; New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky; William Murphy, Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education, NYS Education Department; and more. Panel Discussions: Public School Education in a Post Covid World, Higher Education Plans for New York. Register at cityandstateny.com/events/2020- virtual-education-ny-summit. Presented by City & State.
August 18 7pm Unfinished Work: Finish the Fight A virtual play, celebrating the unsung heroes of suffrage. They were tireless organizers. Tenacious fighters. And political geniuses. They were Black and Latinx. Indigenous and immigrant. Together, they won women the right to vote and laid the cornerstone for gender equality in the United States. Yet their stories have rarely been told. Until now. Premiere of this innovative new performance. Learn why their fight is far from over. Starring Harriett D. Foy as Mary McLeod Bethune, Zora Howard as Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Q'orianka Kilcher as Zitkála-Šá, Leah Lewis as Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, Chelsea Rendon as Jovita Idár. Written by Ming Peiffer. Directed by Whitney White. Based on “Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote” by Veronica Chambers and the Staff of The New York Times. Produced by The New York Times. Free. Register at timesevents.nytimes.com/finishthefight.
September 27 (deadline extended) The Murray Hill Scavenger Hunt You now have more time to explore our neighborhood's fascinating history and beautiful architecture. You’ll learn a lot and maybe win a prize! TAP HERE FOR A PDF OF THE SCAVENGER HUNT. TAP HERE FOR A WEBLINK TO THE SCAVENGER HUNT. To compete for the grand prize, take a photo of each of the items (22 photos in all) and either email your photos to [email protected], tag us on Instagram @murrayhillnyc or tag us on Facebook @MHNANYC. First prize winner - the entry with the highest number of correct items found (drawing in case of tie). First Prize: one-night stay at the Shelburne Hotel & Suites by Affinia. Second prize: $50 Gift Certificate to a local restaurant of your choice, All participants will receive a MHNA t-shirt, while supplies last. Please note that this is not a Google or Internet Hunt; images taken from the web will not be considered! Please wear a mask and practice social distancing. Responses must be submitted by September 27, 2020. This Scavenger Hunt Contest is organized by the Preservation & Design Committee of The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and Sponsored by The Shelburne Hotel & Suites by Affinia.
Ongoing "Get Tested" You can get tested for covid-19 any time. Testing sites: www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page For Murray Hill/Kips Bay
10 Bellevue (no appointment necessary, but be prepared to wait in long lines). Midtown New York Doctors Walk-In Urgent Care, 205 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016, 212-684- 4700. New York University Langone Tisch Hospital, 570 1st Ave, New York, NY 10016, 212-263-6906. NYU Langone-Manhattan, 550 First Avenue, Ground Floor, Manhattan, NY 10016, 646-987-3525. Pharmacies and your personal doctor also may do COVID-19 testing, but they may require a co-pay.
If your SNAP or Cash Assistance benefits expire on August 31 or later, you’ll need to recertify. It’s easy to do online with ACCESS HRA! Go to nyc.gov/accesshra or download the mobile app.
Canceled events
New York Bar Exam Postponed (September 9 and 10) July 16, 2020, nystateofpolitics.com, by Nick Reisman The state bar examination scheduled for September 9 and 10 has been canceled, the state Court of Appeals on Thursday announced...The New York State Bar Association, meanwhile, said it is working on making recommendations on how to proceed with the test in some form.
NYC’s Columbus Day Parade canceled due to coronavirus pandemic August 7, 2020, nypost.com, by Carl Campanile Organizers said the Oct. 12 parade celebrating Italian-American heritage will be canceled and replaced with virtual events...“The 2020 celebration will be different but delightful,” she said in the video message. [Foundation president Marian Parda] said former parade grand marshals and Italian- American entertainers will be featured in the virtual events.
Radio City "Christmas Spectacular" canceled for the first time in 87-year history August 4, 2020, cbsnews.com, by Sophie Lewis The Radio City "Christmas Spectacular," starring the iconic Rockettes, has been canceled for the first time in its nearly 100-year history due to the coronavirus pandemic…The "Christmas Spectacular" first made its debut in 1933.
11 Kudos to Murray Hill business reopenings!
El Pote Espagnol, 718 2nd Avenue (between 38th & 39th Street), 212-889-6680. Outdoor dining, takeout and delivery. Call for a reservation and to confirm hours.
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Bravest, 700 Second Avenue, 212-683-3766, outdoor dining, takeout, delivery.
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Libretto’s Pizzeria, 546 3rd Avenue, 212-213-6445, librettospizzany.com, delivery & takeout.
Sarge’s Delicatessen, 548 3rd Avenue, 212-679-0442, outdoor dining, takeout, delivery, sargesdeli.com.
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Wokuni, 327 Lexington Avenue, 212-447-1212, [email protected], wokuninyc.com, Fish Market is open daily, 11:30am-8pm to provide fresh sashimi, light appetizer & grilled fish to go. Outdoor dining - no reservation, first come first served.
Murray Hill in the news
Customers Who Refused Masks Assault Trader Joe’s Workers, Send One to the Hospital July 28, 2020, vice.com, by Lauren Kaori Gurley
Preservation & urban planning
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Buildings to Receive Energy Efficiency Ratings July 28, 2020, cooperator.com, by Cooperator Staff DOB [Department of Buildings], EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] Team Up to Issue 'Grades' from A to F. According to a recent notice from New York City-based firm RAND Engineering & Architecture DPC, following the precedent set at New York City's restaurants, building owners will now have letter grades posted outside their entrances as well. However, unlike the restaurant grading system, which is based on the findings of Health Department inspectors regarding cleanliness, food storage, and other hygiene-related standards, the new building grades will reflect each structure’s energy efficiency profile.
Reimagine New York Please take a moment to fill out this survey and let Gov. Cuomo know how we can Reimagine New York and build back better.
National League of Cities (NLC)'s 'Cities Are Essential' campaign Cities are essential to America’s economic recovery. Communities will use federal aid and support to facilitate a reopening of the national economy. Local governments are calling for at least $500 billion in direct federal funding to protect families, municipal workers and America’s economic future. If you would like to support this cause, sign the petition covid19.nlc.org/cities-are-essential.legis
LPC Launches Recovery Initiative June 24, 2020, Contact: [email protected], 917-386-8544 LPC launches new processes to support business recovery and make it easier to apply for permits necessary to reopen businesses…As part of the initiative, LPC has created a new, dedicated recovery team, hotline and expedited permit process to serve the needs of restaurants and retail establishments. The initiative supports New York City’s reopening and recovery. The new application form www1.nyc.gov/assets/lpc/downloads/pdf/LPC-Business-Recovery-Application.pdf. Learn more at nyc.gov/landmarks by tapping Applications. Flyer.
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Fifty-Five Years of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) On April 19, 1965, Mayor Wagner signed the Landmarks Law. Celebrate with a tour through the LPC's work over the past 55 years! View timeline and milestones storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/981732666b194d63ab291a64b9543080.
Changes in the neighborhood
One Vanderbilt’s Spire Reinstalled Atop Midtown East July 27, 2020, newyorkyimby.com, by Michael Young [T]he top half of One Vanderbilt‘s 100-foot-tall architectural spire was finally replaced at the pinnacle of the 77-story Midtown East supertall. The spire was first put in place when the 1,401-foot-tall skyscraper topped out on September 18, 2019, but was disassembled in mid-December to make it easier for the construction crane to swing about...Probably the most anticipated aspect of One Vanderbilt is The Summit indoor-outdoor observatory that will stand 1,000 feet above the city. Slated to open in October 2021, the observatory is designed by Snohetta and will be managed by SL Green. Amenities for the building’s commercial tenants include meeting rooms, a lounge, and an outdoor
17 terrace. The building is also slated to feature an 11,000-square-foot restaurant from Daniel Boulud. Photo by Michael Young
Rockefeller Center’s Top Of The Rock Observation Deck Reopens To The Public August 7, 2020, newyorkyimby.com, by Sebastian Morris [T]he famous Top of the Rock observation deck reopened to the public after temporarily closing in March 2020. Located atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown the historic observatory offers 360-degree views of New York City, including some of the best vistas of the Empire State Building...The facility is now open seven days a week, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pre-purchased tickets will be required in order to reduce the number of visitors at any given time. As part of a limited-time offer, all essential workers will receive free admission for themselves and one guest during Essential Workers Weekend from August 14-16. As an added “thank you” to essential workers, Top of the Rock will offer free scoops of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream throughout Essential Workers Weekend...Top of the Rock incorporates more than 9,500 square feet of outdoor decks and offers more open-air viewing space than any other observation deck in New York City. [Telephone 212-698-2000, or online contact form topoftherocknyc.com/contact/general-info.]
Photo of the Farley Post Office by Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times. And just across 34th Street…
Facebook Bets Big on Future of N.Y.C., and Offices, With New Lease August 3, 2020, nytimes.com, by Matthew Haag
18 Despite the pandemic, the social media giant leased all the office space in the former main post office at Penn Station in Midtown. The Farley building, where Facebook has leased all the office space, was once the main post office building in Manhattan.
Work Appears To Stall For Possible KPF-Designed Residential Tower At 316 Fifth Avenue, In Koreatown May 31, 2020, newyorkyimby.com, by Michael Young
Traffic, travel and transportation
August Maintenance Work Planned for 4/5/6 Subway Lines Starting Monday, August 10 through August 31, the MTA will be working nights and weekends to replace old track switches near 14 St-Union Sq. While they're working to make service more reliable, there will be weeknight and weekend service changes on the 4/5/6 lines.
Bike lane is now safer on FDR Service Road A Community Board 6 member reached out about a granite divider that was blocking the bikeway near the Water Club. The divider created an obstruction that forced cyclists to merge with car traffic on the FDR Drive Service Road, which created a very dangerous condition for bikers and drivers alike. CB6 worked with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to ensure that the granite divider was moved back to its original place and serving its original purpose: separating bicycle traffic from car traffic on the FDR Drive Service Road. Cyclists now don't have to worry about sharing the road with car traffic, making this stretch of bikeway safer! CB6 is here to help. If you need help with a
19 service request issue, please email [email protected], call 212-319-3750, or fill out our Get Help form cbsix.org/get-help. Photo of the service road near the Water Club, courtesy of CB6.
Map of Open Streets Bicycle Utopia NYC has an interactive map that highlights Open Streets, Open Restaurants, bicycling information and arts and culture opportunities. bicycleutopia.io
Coronavirus pandemic puts NYC’s struggling taxi industry on brink of ruin, data show July 29, 2020, nydailynews.com, by Clayton Guse Coronavirus pandemic puts NYC’s struggling taxi industry on brink of ruin, data show...Uber, Lyft and other app-based car services also hurt — but their drivers’ losses weren’t as steep. Nearly 50,000 app- based drivers stopped working between February and June, which helped driver pay remain stable...The pandemic has forced nearly 9,000 yellow taxi drivers off the streets since March, giving them little income to pay off their piling bills.
Schools, children & youth programs
The NYC Department of Education (DOE) website is updated daily at schools.nyc.gov.
NY schools can reopen, Cuomo says. Now the ball is in de Blasio’s court August 7, 2020, ny.chalkbeat.org, by Reema Amin and Christina Veiga
Schools reopening The City’s Dept. of Education has set up a Return to School 2020 page schools.nyc.gov/school-year- 20-21/return-to-school-2020 with the latest updates on reopening public schools and specifics on hybrid learning and the first day of school. Chancellor Carranza also released a letter schools.nyc.gov/about-us/news/chancellor-s-message-for-families for NYC school families.
Related: NYC reveals how it will handle coronavirus cases at schools once buildings reopen July 30, 2020, ny.chalkbeat.org, by Reema Amin and Christina Veiga New York City’s contact-tracing program will assist with school cases, officials announced…New York City schools could remain open if a student or teacher tests positive for coronavirus in the fall, but their specific classrooms will be closed, the education department revealed Thursday.
20 School information and resources from Council Member Keith Powers Recording of Council Member Powers's Department of Education (DOE) Town Hall facebook.com/100000163552100/videos/3697362866945795 Return-to-School Guide schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020 School Health and Safety Guide schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020/health- and-safety
N.Y. lawmakers call on Cuomo to use federal funds for struggling child care centers August 6, 2020, nydailynews.com, by Denis Slattery New York lawmakers are calling on Gov. Cuomo to utilize untapped federal funds to help child care providers stretched thin amid the coronavirus crisis. Legislators sent a letter to the governor this week outlining a $79 million plan, that mostly relies on money already allocated by Congress, to assist daycare centers across the state.
The education department distributed 321K iPads to NYC students for remote learning. Now principals have to get them back. July 29, 2020, ny.chalkbeat.org, by Reema Amin When school buildings closed down in the spring, the education department’s central office raced to purchase and deliver hundreds of thousands of iPads with built-in internet access…some 321,500 internet-enabled iPads reached students’ hands, officials said. Now the job of collecting all of those devices and redistributing them will be up to individual...The iPads handed out last school year follow the student. For example, a fifth grader who received a device in the spring will return that device to their new middle school instead of their former elementary school.
(opinion) Keep Schools Closed and Pay Parents to Be Full-Time Caregivers July 31, 2020, slate.com, by Rebecca Onion As parents plot increasingly byzantine care arrangements for children whose schools and day cares decide to stay closed this fall—pod? Home school? Part school, part pod? Leverage a neighborhood teenager?—their stress mounts over the prospect of having to mix work, child care, and education. A lot of their problems would be solved if the government would financially enable more parents to be their kids’ caregivers and teachers, just for the duration.
Housing, homelessness & affordability With N.Y. eviction ban set to lift, residents of 14,000 city households at risk of eviction August 4, 2020, nydailynews.com, by Noah Goldberg The 14,000 households referred to in the data are cases in which warrants of eviction were issued...The city sent mailers to the homes of tenants determined to be at risk, making them aware of their right to counsel in housing court...New Yorkers unable to pay rent due to the pandemic would not be subject to eviction because of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act passed in Albany, which prohibits
21 courts from evicting residential tenants for nonpayment of rent if they experienced financial hardship during the outbreak...Girouard also cited $100 million in rental assistance for struggling New Yorkers, letting renters use security deposits to pay for rent, doing away with late fees and extending the ban on commercial evictions through Aug. 20 for anyone struggling to pay because of COVID-19.
Homeless People Sheltering From the Street Secure City Pledge to Fund Hotel Stays August 6, 2020, thecity.nyc, by Claudia Irizarry Aponte The “Homeless Can’t Stay Home” crowdfunding campaign has raised $46,000 and has placed 25 [homeless] people in hotel rooms...Now the group has secured a promise from the city...to pay their hotel bills going forward. While details are still being hammered out, the homeless New Yorkers and their supporters are pushing for the free rooms to be extended to others in need.
Budget & taxes
As State Withholds Contract Payments, Substance Use Treatment Providers Worry About Rising Overdoses, Disease Outbreaks July 31, 2020, gothamgazette.com, by Samar Khurshid [B]udget officials have for months been withholding payments for state contracts to manage cash flows. Among the victims of that fiscal approach are substance use treatment providers who are being forced to cut already-limited services and consider staff layoffs and furloughs.
Cuomo dismisses calls to raise taxes on New York's wealthiest residents July 29, 2020, buffalonews.com, by Tom Precious
Government, executive orders, legislation, rules, policies (including pending)
8/5/2020 Gov. Cuomo became the Chair of the National Governors Association The bipartisan organization includes all of America's governors and jointly focuses on issues uniquely faced by state government. The agenda for the coming year is simple: the NGA will focus on America's Recovery and Revival in the face of this devastating pandemic.
Oxiris Barbot resigns as NYC health commissioner August 4, 2020, cityandstateny.com, by Jeff Coltin
22 Oxiris Barbot, the health commissioner who helped lead New York City’s coronavirus response while tussling with Mayor Bill de Blasio, resigned on Tuesday morning...Tensions between City Hall and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene became public in May...Barbot felt like the mayor wasn’t listening to health experts, and de Blasio eventually seemed to align himself more with the city’s public hospital system while sidelining the health department.
Related: 5 things to know about Dave Chokshi, NYC’s new health commissioner August 4, 2020, cityandstateny.com, by Jeff Coltin Dave Chokshi was named as the new commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Tuesday...[He] will help lead the city’s ongoing efforts to keep New Yorkers safe from the coronavirus...the pressure is still on city health officials to help guide the continued reopening while avoiding another surge in cases...De Blasio has appeared to be favoring the city’s public hospital system, New York City Health + Hospitals, over the city’s health department throughout the pandemic. That was shown most clearly when he assigned the coronavirus contact tracing program to Health + Hospitals over the health department, which has a long history of contract tracing experience.
New York OKs liquor-infused ice cream August 3, 2020, nydailynews.com, by Denis Slattery
Pending city legislation
Council Member Keith Powers introduced legislation with Borough President Gale Brewer and Council Member Margaret Chin to help small businesses:
• temporarily repeal the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT), which charges businesses in Manhattan a 3.9% tax on rents. • provide our small businesses with extra money to invest in their business at a critical time.
He also authored a letter to Mayor de Blasio requesting that the administration provide relief to small businesses for fines or fees that are hurting their businesses during this period with low revenues.
Related: Council Member Keith Powers report: Open for Business: Saving our small businesses post-COVID It will be essential to ensure business owners from all industries have a seat at the table and are represented on the city and state’s reopening advisory councils. Businesses will need financial help more than anything else. This will include filling revenue gaps with public stimulus dollars, but also temporarily removing unfair costs, like the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT) in Manhattan and regulatory hurdles. The eviction moratorium and other covid-related measures to support business should be extended and expanded, in addition to targeted employment assistance for workers who are not eligible for unemployment insurance. Sign to support: mailchi.mp/council/support-outdoor-dining-and-small-business-relief
Pending federal legislation 23
Protecting Nonprofits from the Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act (S. 4209), sponsored by Tim Scott (R-S.C.), was passed in the House of Representatives by unanimous consent on Thursday, a week after the Senate issued similar approval. congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4209 (current status: awaiting President's signature)
Hero's Act, sponsored by Carolyn Maloney, is meant to provide support for essential workers and local governments, extend the extra $600 in unemployment compensation that is expiring on July 31, extend unemployment compensation. (current status: Pending in the federal Senate)
Congresswoman Maloney chaired an Oversight Committee hearing to examine U.S. cybersecurity preparedness and the bipartisan H.R. 7331, the National Cyber Director Act, which would create the position of a National Cyber Director to lead national-level coordination of cyber strategy and policy. A challenge as complex and pervasive as cybersecurity requires that our government be strategic, organized, and ready. We need a streamlined approach with a dedicated director in charge. [Source: email from Rep. Carolyn Maloney 7/17/2020]
Reports
Report: New York’s Economy and Finances in the COVID-19 Era August 5, 2020, Office of the New York State Comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli
Report: The NYC Hospitality Alliance July 2020 Rent Report The NYC Hospitality Alliance, a nonprofit trade organization representing the hospitality industry in New York City surveyed 471 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and event venues in NYC about their rent obligations during COVID-19. Key findings: 83% of respondents did not pay their full July rent. Of the 28.6% of landlords that waived rent during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 1/3 waived more than half the rent. 90% of respondents did not renegotiate their lease due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report: Open for Business: Saving Our Small Businesses Post-COVID Issued by Council Member Keith Powers, July 2020
Sign the petition mailchi.mp/council/support-outdoor-dining-and-small-business-relief
Report: Household Debt and Credit Report (Q2 2020) Federal Reserve Bank of New York Center for Microeconomic Data Total Household Debt Declines for the First Time Since 2014. Reflecting the sharp decline in overall consumer spending due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related social distancing orders, credit card
24 balances fell by $76 billion, the steepest decline in the history of the data…“Protections afforded to American consumers through the CARES Act have prevented large-scale delinquency from appearing on credit reports and damaging future credit access” said Joelle Scally, Administrator of the Center for Microeconomic Data at the New York Fed. “However, these temporary relief measures may also mask the very real financial challenges that Americans may be experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic slowdown.”
Report: The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates Last Updated: July 17, 2020, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Report: Recovery For All: A Vision for New York City’s Equitable Economic Recovery July 2020, Issued by the New York City Employment and Training Coalition Recommendations: Education & Training Ecosystem for the Displaced Workforce & Marginalized Communities, Rebuilding through Public Works & Direct Public Employment Relief Programs for Individuals & Hard-Hit Communities, Recovery for Local Small Businesses & Nonprofits and Support for New Business Development.
Report: Recovery Signs, New Lows: NYC Employment by Industry Since the Outbreak of Coronavirus July 2020, by Jonathan Bowles with Otto Moran, The Center for an Urban Future While the coronavirus pandemic has affected nearly every part of New York City's economy, new research and analysis shows that the toll has differed strikingly by industry.
Report: A Call for Action and Collaboration July 2020, Partnership for New York City Findings: Nationally and locally, both the health care system and government were poorly prepared for COVID-19 and have been in crisis response mode since New York's first case was identified on March 1. It will be far more difficult to restart and repair the economy than it was to shut it down. Going forward, governments will need to spend less and depend more on leveraging private financing and expertise. Recovery starts with ensuring that the health care system is prepared to deal with any recurrence and that a robust program of testing, tracing and monitoring is in place. This will require changes in funding and delivery of health and human services, and a commitment to data sharing and interoperability among health care providers. New York City has a wealth of tech savvy entrepreneurs and innovators who should be called upon to reinvent education, health and transit and to update the technological capacity of state and local government in order to meet the demands of a highly digitized, post-COVID-19 economy. The metropolitan region has chronically suffered from fragmentation of efforts and failure to aggregate its assets to tackle problems at meaningful scale. The Partnership for New York City builds partnerships between business and government to strengthen New York City. 14 global consultant firms contributed to the report, all work was done pro bono.
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Stories we’ve been following
Oldest US department store chain Lord & Taylor files for bankruptcy August 2, 2020, thehill.com, by Rebecca Klar The department store’s owner, Le Tote Inc., filed for Chapter 11 protection along with Lord & Taylor, according to the report. Le Tote bought the rights to Lord & Taylor last year… Lord & Taylor is the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy amid the pandemic, following announcements from J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, and Ascena Retail Group, the company behind Ann Taylor.
New York's June Unemployment Rate Hit 15.7% July 16, 2020, nystateofpolitics.com, by Nick Reisman City of Albany
Public service announcements
Call 311 to get information about the nearest cooling centers.
Help Prevent Electrical Fires with these #FDNYSmart Tips Learn about the most common causes of electrical fires, and how you can help prevent fires before they start, with these tips from Captain Michael Kozo of the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit. Watch the video youtu.be/AtR7OFcLhro (running time 5.55 minutes).
Scams There are an unprecedented number of coronavirus-related scams circulating. Stay abreast of the latest Coronavirus-related scams by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s webpage ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams. You can also subscribe to alerts.
Getting unordered seeds and stuff in the mail? August 7, 2020, consumer.ftc.gov, by Jennifer Leach, Associate Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC First, DON’T PLANT MYSTERY SEEDS. And don’t throw them away. Instead, follow the USDA’s advice on what to do. Did you order something and get seeds or other junk instead? If that’s you, dispute the charges for the thing you didn’t get...keep an eye on your online shopping accounts. If you spot
26 activity that isn’t yours, report it to the site right away, and think about changing your password for that site...Finally, if you got seeds or anything else in that mail that you didn’t order, you don’t have to pay for it. You also never have to return unordered merchandise...how much weirder 2020 can get? Let’s be careful out there.
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Our government representatives
When contacting your representative, be sure to state your address so that they know that you are a constituent. You can see the District maps and sign up for their emails on their websites.
Manhattan Community Board 5: www.cb5.org, 212-465-0907, [email protected]
Manhattan Community Board 6: cbsix.org, 212-319-3750, [email protected]
NYC Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, Council District 2: council.nyc.gov/carlina-rivera, 212-677-1077, [email protected]
NYC Council Speaker, Corey Johnson, Council District 3: council.nyc.gov/district-3, 212-564-7757, [email protected]
NYC Council Member Keith Powers, Council District 4: council.nyc.gov/keith-powers, 212-818-0580, [email protected]
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer: manhattanbp.nyc.gov, 212-669-8300, [email protected]
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, #GetHelp, The Office of the Public Advocate assists with complaints and inquiries involving government-related services and regulations. Telephone Hotline: 212-669-7250, email: [email protected]
Mayor Bill de Blasio: www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor, 311, online message: https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page
Landmarks Preservation Commission: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lpc/about/contact-us.page
NY State Senator Liz Krueger, 28th Senate District: www.nysenate.gov/senators/liz-krueger, 212- 490-9535, [email protected]
27 NY State Senator Brad Hoylman, 27th Senate District: https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/brad- hoylman, 212-633-8052, [email protected]
NY State Assembly Member Dan Quart, Assembly District 73, www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Dan- Quart, 212-605-0937, [email protected]
NY State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, Assembly District 74, www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Harvey-Epstein, 212-979-9696, [email protected]
NY Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried, Assembly District 75, www.nyassembly.gov/mem/Richard-N-Gottfried, 212-807-7900, [email protected]
U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney, New York's 12th Congressional District: https://maloney.house.gov, 212-860-0606, website contact form: https://maloney.house.gov/contact-carolyn/email-me
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer: www.schumer.senate.gov, 212-486-4430, website contact form: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: www.gillibrand.senate.gov, 212-688-6262, website contact form: www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/email-me
U.S. President Donald Trump: https://www.whitehouse.gov/people/donald-j-trump website contact form: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
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