Policy

May 20, 2020

Antibody testing shows coronavirus is still spreading in NYC’s minority communities

The coronavirus continues to spread in lower-income communities and communities of color in New York City, according to antibody test results released by the state on Wednesday. New York earlier this month partnered with Northwell Health and city churches to test residents of low-income neighborhoods, with 8,000 antibody tests conducted to date. According to preliminary data from those tests, 27 percent tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, compared to the city's overall antibody rate of 19.9 percent.
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Policy

MTA launches UV light pilot program to kill COVID-19 on NYC subways and buses

Demonstration of UV disinfection technology at Corona Maintenace Facility; Photo Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 20, 2020

MTA launches UV light pilot program to kill COVID-19 on NYC subways and buses

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will use ultraviolet light to remove the coronavirus from its subway and bus system, officials announced on Tuesday. For phase one of the $1 million pilot program, the agency will deploy 230 UV light lamps next week on some trains, buses, and MTA facilities. The devices will be used in cars during overnight station closures and at maintenance yards in Corona, Coney Island, Jamaica, and Pelham. If the first phase of the pilot proves successful, the program will expand to Long Island Railroad and Metro-North trains.
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Majority of NYC workers in hard-hit retail, restaurant industry live in low-income neighborhoods: report

Photo by Emilie Farris on Unsplash

May 20, 2020

Majority of NYC workers in hard-hit retail, restaurant industry live in low-income neighborhoods: report

By Devin Gannon

Nearly every industry in New York City taken a hit financially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But the businesses forced to close their doors, or switch to delivery only, because of the state's"pause" order, including restaurants, retail, hotels, and personal care services, have been especially affected by the current crisis. According to a new report from the think tank Center for an Urban Future, the workers from these hard-hit sectors, where layoffs have been most common, also live in the city's low-income neighborhoods. And while more than half of the jobs in these industries are located in Manhattan, 81 percent of the workers live in the outer boroughs.
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Policy

See the observation deck proposed for the Chrysler Building

Proposed east-west view; Rendering by Gensler/ RFR Realty, courtesy of Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 19, 2020

See the observation deck proposed for the Chrysler Building

By Devin Gannon

An observation deck will return to the Chrysler Building. During a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on Tuesday, Aby Rosen's RFR Realty, which bought the Art Deco landmark last year for $151 million, presented its proposal to revamp the skyscraper's 61st and 62nd floors to allow for public access. The Chrysler Building previously housed an observatory, which opened on the 71st floor in 1945 as the Celestial.
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NYC releases map with COVID deaths broken down by ZIP code

Screenshot of map courtesy of NYC Health Department

May 18, 2020

NYC releases map with COVID deaths broken down by ZIP code

By Devin Gannon

The city's health department on Monday released for the first time the coronavirus death rate by ZIP code. A table and interactive map reveal the death rate per 100,000 residents in each neighborhood, along with the number of confirmed cases, case counts, death counts, and the percent of people who tested positive. The new information confirms earlier data that found a disparity in deaths caused by the virus among people of color and those who live in low-income neighborhoods.
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Policy

NYC politicians call for outdoor restaurant seating on sidewalks, streets, and parking spots

Outdoor seating in the West Village, photo by cultivar413 via Flickr cc

May 18, 2020

NYC politicians call for outdoor restaurant seating on sidewalks, streets, and parking spots

By Dana Schulz

There's still a way to go before restaurants in New York City can fully reopen (they'll be in phase three of the plan), but the struggling industry is hoping that the city will help in the form of outdoor seating. As Eater first reported last month, restaurant owners are advocating for the Mayor to extend his current open streets from pedestrians to al fresco dining to allow for more social distancing. And now, local elected officials are joining the call, hoping that sidewalks, streets, and parking spots can be used for outdoor service starting this weekend. The call comes after crowds were spotted gathering on sidewalks and drinking since the city has allowed bars and restaurants to sell to-go drinks.
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MTA adds social distancing markers, considers reservation system for subway and bus

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 18, 2020

MTA adds social distancing markers, considers reservation system for subway and bus

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week launched a pilot program to keep commuters socially distanced on subway platforms. The transit authority installed markers on the floors of a few stations on the Upper East Side that encourage straphangers to remain six feet from others to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to new signage, mask requirements, and a vigorous disinfection plan that involves an overnight shutdown of service, the MTA is also considering creating a reservation system for seats on the city's subways and buses to limit crowds.
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New York launches interactive map to find COVID testing sites near you

A screenshot of the map taken on 5.17.20

May 17, 2020

New York launches interactive map to find COVID testing sites near you

By Dana Schulz

New York now has 700+ COVID testing sites across the state and is doing twice the amount of testing of the entire rest of the country. To make it easier for residents to get themselves tested, Governor Cuomo announced on Sunday the launch of a new interactive map that will show the testing sites closest to you. He also announced that the criteria to get tested has expanded to include those who would return to work in phase one.
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Policy

NYC will limit access to Central Park’s Sheep Meadow this weekend

Photo of Sheep Meadow on May 4, 2020 © 6sqft

May 15, 2020

NYC will limit access to Central Park’s Sheep Meadow this weekend

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday said police will limit access to parts of some parks, as well as deploy additional Parks Department officials to patrol city beaches this weekend, with temperatures expected to be in the 70s. The NYPD will restrict the number of people allowed to enter the Sheep Meadow lawn in Central Park to avoid overcrowding and curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. And police will again limit access to Piers 45 and 46 at Hudson River Park in the West Village and monitor crowds at Domino Park in Williamsburg for the second weekend in a row.
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Policy

New York joins New Jersey and Connecticut to open beaches for Memorial Day

Photo of Fire Island National Seashore by Pexels from Pixabay

May 15, 2020

New York joins New Jersey and Connecticut to open beaches for Memorial Day

By Dana Schulz

During his press conference on Friday, Governor Cuomo announced that he'd be joining New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware in opening state beaches by Friday, May 22, ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. The four states agreed that they will mandate no more than 50 percent capacity, prohibit group activities and social gatherings, enforce social distancing measures and mask adherence when needed, and keep concessions closed.
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Policy

Jersey Shore beaches will open for Memorial Day Weekend

Photo of Asbury Park, NJ via Wikimedia Commons

May 14, 2020

Jersey Shore beaches will open for Memorial Day Weekend

By Devin Gannon

Beaches and boardwalks of the Jersey Shore will open in time for Memorial Day, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Thursday. Effective May 22, all public and private beaches and lakeside areas can open in the state, but with capacity limits and social distancing measures in place.
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Policy

Connecticut will reopen restaurants, hair salons next week

Photo of West Hartford by Ragesoss on Wikimedia

May 14, 2020

Connecticut will reopen restaurants, hair salons next week

By Devin Gannon

Connecticut restaurants, offices, hair salons, museums, and retail stores can open next week as part of the state's first reopening phase--but expect things to look a little different. To be able to open on May 20, eligible businesses must follow strict rules, which include outdoor only service for restaurants and museums, capacity limits, facemask requirements, and restriction of social gatherings to five people. Connecticut's decision comes as New Jersey will start to open on Monday and some upstate regions of New York get ready to reopen this weekend.
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Policy

Photo of Jersey City by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay

May 13, 2020

New Jersey will start reopening on Monday

By Dana Schulz

In his press conference on Wednesday, Governor Phil Murphy announced that as of 6:00 am on Monday, May 18, New Jersey would begin its reopening process by allowing the restart of non-essential construction, non-essential retail stores to reopen for curbside pickup only, and drive-through and drive-in events to operate under social distancing guidelines. This is quite similar to what is allowed under New York's first phase of reopening, however, NJ's northern neighbor New York City is still not at that point. "The data we are seeing gives us confidence that we can begin the careful and responsible restart of our economy to get people back to work and to begin to set the stage for the steps to come," Murphy said.
More details here

Policy

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr

May 13, 2020

NYC opens 12 more miles of open streets

By Dana Schulz

This brings the total to nearly 21 miles since Mayor de Blasio first announced that he'd be opening up 40 miles of streets to pedestrians by the end of the month, with an ultimate goal of 100 miles throughout the current COVID crisis. In his press conference this morning, the mayor announced the third round of open streets totaling 11.7 miles would be opening tomorrow, along with 9.2 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of May. Some of the new open streets include those in Hudson Yards, the first on the Upper West Side and in Long Island City, and those adjacent to seven more parks in Brooklyn.
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A guide to food pantries and meal assistance in NYC

The Campaign Against Hunger food pantry in Brooklyn. Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 13, 2020

A guide to food pantries and meal assistance in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Before the coronavirus pandemic, 1.2 million residents in New York City faced food insecurity. Now, with hundreds of thousands out of work, the number of hungry New Yorkers could double. A Siena College poll released last month found 49 percent of New York City residents were concerned about being able to afford food during the crisis. While city and state policies have been introduced to get food to residents, local community groups, nonprofits, and senior centers have also stepped up in this time of crisis to provide free food to those in need. Ahead, learn where to find free food, how to get meals delivered, and how to apply to food assistance programs, as well as the many NYC organizations currently in need of volunteers and donations.
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Policy

NYC Council votes to temporarily cap restaurant delivery app fees

Photo by Patrick Connor Klopf on Unsplash

May 13, 2020

NYC Council votes to temporarily cap restaurant delivery app fees

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council on Wednesday passed legislation that temporarily caps the commission third-party delivery services are allowed to charge restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill sponsored by Council Member Francisco Moya restricts commission fees charged by apps like Grubhub and Uber Eats at 20 percent during any state of emergency and 90 days following. The legislation comes as the city's restaurants struggle to survive during COVID-19, with the state's "pause order" forcing businesses to rely on take-out and delivery orders.
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NYC ramps up COVID-19 contact tracing effort, will hire 2,500 tracers by June

Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 12, 2020

NYC ramps up COVID-19 contact tracing effort, will hire 2,500 tracers by June

By Devin Gannon

The city plans to hire about 2,500 contact tracers by next month in an effort to track and stop the spread of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday. The citywide effort involves finding close contacts of someone who tested positive for the virus, and then interviewing and testing them. According to the mayor, the city has received 7,000 applications for contact tracing positions and more than 500 are currently undergoing training.
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Policy

NYC to deploy 1,000+ additional ‘social-distancing ambassadors’ after racial disparity in summonses

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

May 11, 2020

NYC to deploy 1,000+ additional ‘social-distancing ambassadors’ after racial disparity in summonses

By Devin Gannon

Roughly 2,300 city employees will be dispatched across the five boroughs to enforce social distancing rules, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday. The so-called "social distancing ambassadors" will be stationed in public places to remind people to keep six feet from others and to hand out free face coverings. The mayor said New Yorkers have overwhelmingly done the right thing throughout the current health crisis, but reminders and enforcement are still needed. "We still need the ability to enforce these rules when needed and only when needed," de Blasio said during a press briefing.
Details here

Policy

NYC to limit capacity at Hudson River Park and Domino Park after crowd issues

A photo of Pier 45 from 2016; Photo by Paul Sableman on Flickr

May 8, 2020

NYC to limit capacity at Hudson River Park and Domino Park after crowd issues

By Devin Gannon

The city will limit the number of people allowed in Hudson River Park in Manhattan and Domino Park in Brooklyn to prevent overcrowding. "We know we had some parks last weekend that were more crowded than they should have been," Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press briefing on Friday. The news comes after a photo of a packed Christopher Street Pier, showing no visitors wearing masks, went viral last Saturday on Twitter.
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Policy

Cuomo extends New York eviction freeze through August 20, bans late fees

Photo by Anthony Fomin on Unsplash

May 7, 2020

Cuomo extends New York eviction freeze through August 20, bans late fees

By Devin Gannon

The moratorium on residential and commercial evictions will be extended statewide by 60 days until August 20, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday. Additional rent relief measures include a ban on fees for late-payments and allowing renters to use security deposits as payment. "I don't want to see people and their children being evicted at this time, through no fault of their own," the governor said during a press briefing.
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City to offer 140K free antibody tests to NYC residents

Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 7, 2020

City to offer 140K free antibody tests to NYC residents

By Devin Gannon

The city will offer 140,000 free antibody tests to "everyday New Yorkers" in the coming weeks to help understand the spread of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday. In partnership with BioReference Laboratories, the city will open initial testing sites in five neighborhoods with the goal of 1,000 tests per site per day. An additional 140,000 tests will also be available for the city's first responders and health care workers next week.
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Policy

See the immersive art museum proposed for a landmarked Lower Manhattan bank hall

Rendering of proposed exhibition space by Culturespaces/ Woods Bagot, courtesy of LPC

May 6, 2020

See the immersive art museum proposed for a landmarked Lower Manhattan bank hall

By Devin Gannon

An art center with immersive art exhibitions has been proposed for a landmarked former banking hall in Lower Manhattan. Culturespaces, a French museum operator, presented its plan to adapt the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank into a center of digital art to the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday. The design proposal from Woods Bagot Architects includes alterations to the landmarked interior to accommodate a ticketing area and necessary audiovisual equipment for the art center, as well as modifications to the exterior of the building.
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NYC is handing out 7.5 million free face coverings

Photo by Julian Wan on Unsplash

May 6, 2020

NYC is handing out 7.5 million free face coverings

By Devin Gannon

The city will distribute 7.5 million free face coverings to New Yorkers in parks, grocery stores, public housing, and near transit, ramping up an earlier effort launched last week. During a press briefing on Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said "wherever you turn, you're going to be offered a face covering," over the next few weeks. Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order requiring New Yorkers to wear a face mask or face-covering in public spaces where social distancing is not possible.
Find out where to get a free mask

Second set of NYC open streets launches tomorrow in collaboration with local BIDs

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT on Flickr

May 6, 2020

Second set of NYC open streets launches tomorrow in collaboration with local BIDs

By Dana Schulz

After finally getting on board with the idea of opening New York City streets to pedestrians, Mayor de Blasio closed the first wave of streets to cars earlier this week. This totaled 4.5 miles inside parks and 2.7 miles adjacent to parks; eventually, the city will open up to 100 miles of streets. The next group will open up tomorrow, which includes 1.5 miles in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx done in collaboration with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), as well as 0.4 miles in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Get the full list of streets

NYC subway shuts down for first time in history; see the COVID-19 disinfection plan in action

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

May 6, 2020

NYC subway shuts down for first time in history; see the COVID-19 disinfection plan in action

By Devin Gannon

For the first time in its 115-year history, the New York City subway system shut down overnight on Wednesday. The closure, which will occur daily from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., is part of a new plan to disinfect every car and station to stop the spread of the coronavirus and protect essential workers. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is increasing bus service to serve essential workers, adding 344 buses to the current 235 that run during that early morning time frame. For-hire car service will also be offered to employees who are unable to use the bus for their commutes.
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Policy

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