Search Results for: rt programs

NYC delays in-person learning at public schools again

Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza tour New Bridges Elementary in Brooklyn to observe the school’s PPE delivery and reopening preparations; Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

September 17, 2020

NYC delays in-person learning at public schools again

By Devin Gannon

New York City schools will no longer open in-person instruction for most students on Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday. Just four days before city school buildings were set to physically reopen for students, the mayor delayed in-person learning for the second time after complaints from school staff over safety and staffing. In-person instruction will now start in phases, with preschool students starting on Monday, K-8th grade students on September 29, and high school and some middle-school students on October 1.
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Policy

NY Botanical Garden and Douglaston reach deal on ground leases at Bronx affordable housing project

Courtesy of Douglaston Development

September 14, 2020

NY Botanical Garden and Douglaston reach deal on ground leases at Bronx affordable housing project

By Devin Gannon

Plans to bring hundreds of new affordable apartments for seniors and low-income families in the Bronx are moving forward. The New York Botanical Garden and Douglaston Development this week closed on two separate 99-year ground leases at 2856 Webster Avenue and 410 Bedford Park Boulevard, which will hold a two-building, 100 percent affordable development. Located just a block from the Botanical Garden, the project includes a new 12,000-square-foot Cherry Valley Marketplace store on the ground floor. The existing Cherry Valley grocery store, located at the site of the project, will remain open throughout construction.
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Affordable Housing

Sotheby’s hip hop auction includes Biggie Smalls’ crown from ‘King of New York’ photo & more gems

Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” leather jackets; Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s

September 11, 2020

Sotheby’s hip hop auction includes Biggie Smalls’ crown from ‘King of New York’ photo & more gems

By Devin Gannon

Next week, Sotheby's will host its first-ever hip hop auction with iconic memorabilia from the music movement that got its start in New York City. One of the biggest items of the auction, which will be held live on September 15, is the crown worn by Brooklyn-born Biggie Smalls during the 1997 "King of New York" photo shoot, the last portrait of the rapper before he was killed just days later. Another amazing item at the auction includes over 20 love letters penned by a 16-year-old Tupac Shakur to his high school sweetheart.
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Steiner Studios to open film and TV hub at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park

Credit: Synoesis

August 13, 2020

Steiner Studios to open film and TV hub at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park

By Devin Gannon

Steiner Studios will open a second film and television production facility in Brooklyn, city officials announced Thursday. The city's Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment selected Steiner to open a 500,000-square-foot production space at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park, as part of the Made in New York Campus, currently being transformed into a garment manufacturing and media production hub. The studio has operated a facility across 50 acres at the Brooklyn Navy Yard since 2004, one of the largest production spaces outside of Hollywood.
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New Developments

Since March, thousands of small businesses in NYC have closed for good

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

August 4, 2020

Since March, thousands of small businesses in NYC have closed for good

By Devin Gannon

New York City small businesses are barely hanging on. More than 2,800 have closed permanently since March 1, the New York Times reported. And when the pandemic eventually subsides, as many as one-third of the city's 230,000 small businesses may not reopen, according to a report from the Partnership for New York City. Despite the city reaching the final and fourth phase of reopening, the distribution of millions of dollars in aid, and creative measures to help shops survive, thousands of businesses remain at risk.
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Policy

NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty

August 3, 2020

NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

By Dana Schulz

Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty On Friday, Mayor de Blasio announced that an additional 15 locations would be closing to traffic and opening their streets for outdoor dining through a combination of the city's Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs. This brings the total to 62 participating streets. Some of the latest include 13 blocks along Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, another stretch in Chinatown, Koreatown, a few in Noho/Soho, and five blocks along Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights. Since restaurants were first able to open for outdoor dining when phase two began on June 22, more than 9,500 have signed on to participate.
The full list of open streets

Photograph by Ximena Exhague, @ximena_exhague

July 30, 2020

Powerful photos show the COVID-19 crisis through the eyes of New Yorkers

By Devin Gannon

The Museum of the City of New York will reopen on Saturday with a stunning new outdoor installation. The first phase of the museum's New York Responds project includes a photo exhibit depicting life in New York City in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests that kicked off in May and continue today. On view starting August 1, the powerful photographs have been installed at the Upper East Side museum's terrace and balustrade.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

‘No end in sight’: How NYC is dealing with the growing hunger crisis

City Harvest driver Ramon Vargas, July 17, 2020, in New York. Photo by Jason DeCrow for City Harvest

July 30, 2020

‘No end in sight’: How NYC is dealing with the growing hunger crisis

By Devin Gannon

While the spread of the coronavirus in New York is waning, another crisis shows no signs of slowing. The number of people experiencing food insecurity in New York City continues to grow, with a projected increase of 38 percent this year compared to 2018. In response, nonprofits like City Harvest, the city's largest food rescue organization, have tremendously scaled up their operations to meet demand. The group has rescued more than 42 million pounds of food since March, a 92 percent increase from the same period last year.
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Policy

NYC pol calls for rent relief, permanent outdoor dining, and other small business-saving measures

Gem Spa in the East Village permanently closed in May; Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

July 27, 2020

NYC pol calls for rent relief, permanent outdoor dining, and other small business-saving measures

By Devin Gannon

Small businesses in New York City are struggling to stay afloat, especially those still unable to reopen because of the coronavirus pandemic. A survey from the Hospitality Alliance found that only 19 percent of city businesses paid June rent and only 26 percent of landlords waived rent. Council Member Keith Powers on Monday released a report detailing ways to save small businesses and prepare for a post-COVID-19 world by providing emergency rent relief using federal funds, waiving the commercial rent tax, making outdoor dining permanent, and other measures.
More here

Policy

Tastes of Brooklyn food festival will return on August 1 with 25 restaurants and bars

Photo of Jolie Bistro in Gowanus by CityRealty

July 24, 2020

Tastes of Brooklyn food festival will return on August 1 with 25 restaurants and bars

By Dana Schulz

Now more than ever it's important to support our local restaurants, bars, and bakeries and a fun event happening on Saturday, August 1 makes it super easy to do just that. Tastes of Brooklyn returns for its annual food festival with 25 participating establishments in Gowanus, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill. Tickets get you a select number of small dishes at drinks at your choice of restaurants, and proceeds will benefit Seeds in the Middle, a nonprofit creating sustainable farm stands and school-run healthy programs in Brooklyn's food deserts.
See who's participating

De Blasio adds ‘play streets’ to some car-free blocks, but cuts nearly 3 miles from the program

Photo courtesy of city’s Department of Transportation on Flickr

July 24, 2020

De Blasio adds ‘play streets’ to some car-free blocks, but cuts nearly 3 miles from the program

By Devin Gannon

While the city is adding just under two miles of open streets to its roster of car-free blocks, nearly three miles will be removed from the program. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday announced 1.72 miles of open streets across the five boroughs, as well as a new initiative called "Play Streets," which will offer families a number of contactless activities, sports, and arts and crafts on 12 streets currently closed to cars. However, the mayor failed to mention during the press briefing that 2.77 miles will be cut from the program and returned to normal vehicle traffic at "underused locations."
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Field of sunflowers exhibit takes over Four Freedoms Park to honor 100 years of women’s suffrage

Courtesy of FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

July 21, 2020

Field of sunflowers exhibit takes over Four Freedoms Park to honor 100 years of women’s suffrage

By Devin Gannon

A massive field of sunflowers has been installed at the monumental staircase at FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island. The park's new exhibit, which was created together with the New-York Historical Society and the League of Women Voters, comes ahead of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment's ratification and aims to symbolize the continued push for full equality today. The installation measures 12 feet by 100 feet and features text from the amendment, which was ratified on August 18, 1920: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
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Events & Things To Do

Governors Island will reopen on July 15 with limited capacity

Photo by Kreg Holt

July 8, 2020

Governors Island will reopen on July 15 with limited capacity

By Devin Gannon

Summer is not totally canceled in New York City. Governors Island will officially reopen to the public next week for passive activities only and with a new reservation system for ferries. The Trust for Governors Island announced on Wednesday a system that lets visitors reserve tickets for ferry trips to the 172-acre site for the first time ever, as a way to allow for social distancing. Originally planned to open for the season in May, the Trust had postponed its opening in April because of the coronavirus.
Get the details

City Living

The Strand will open on the Upper West Side this month

Photo of the Strand’s new UWS storefront, taken by 6sqft on July 7, 2020

July 7, 2020

The Strand will open on the Upper West Side this month

By Dana Schulz

After a long and dramatic saga, the Upper West Side's Book Culture closed for good in February, but a new beloved book store is opening up in the storefront. The Strand announced earlier this year that third-generation owner Nancy Bass Wyden signed a lease for the space, which will be renamed The Strand at Columbus Avenue. And Gothamist received confirmation from the owner that it'll be opening this month.
Get the scoop

City Living

Brooklyn-based company repurposes shipping containers for pop-up COVID-19 testing labs

A prototype of D-Tec 1 clinic courtesy of SG Blocks

June 26, 2020

Brooklyn-based company repurposes shipping containers for pop-up COVID-19 testing labs

By Devin Gannon

As the country enters the fourth month of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts and officials say the best way to keep the virus under control is expansive diagnostic testing. Harvard research group Global Health Institute says states should greatly ramp up testing to contain the spread of COVID-19, to at least 900,000 tests per day; currently, the U.S. is testing about 500,000 people per day. Paul Galvin realized his company, SG Blocks, which repurposes shipping containers for a variety of uses, could meet this crisis head-on. The Brooklyn-based construction organization has designed a new product line of medical pop-up clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities that are affordable, eco-friendly, and can be constructed just about anywhere.
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NYC will legalize e-bikes and e-scooters

Photo by Thomas Loizeau on Unsplash

June 26, 2020

NYC will legalize e-bikes and e-scooters

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council voted on Thursday to legalize electric bikes and scooters citywide and create a pilot program that would bring a shared e-scooter program to neighborhoods underserved by public transit. State lawmakers approved the legalization of e-bikes and e-scooters statewide in April, leaving the decision to local officials on how to regulate the vehicles.
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New Jersey will open indoor dining and outdoor amusement parks ahead of July 4th weekend

Photo of the Seaside Heights boardwalk by SurFeRGiRL30 via Flickr cc

June 23, 2020

New Jersey will open indoor dining and outdoor amusement parks ahead of July 4th weekend

By Dana Schulz

Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey will allow indoor dining and casinos to begin operating at 25-percent capacity on July 2. Today, he said on Twitter that outdoor amusement parks, including rides on the boardwalk, and outdoor water parks, can open on this date with 50-percent capacity. Playgrounds can reopen with no limitations. The governor's decision comes after he allowed beaches to open ahead of Memorial Day Weekend and restaurants to open for outdoor dining on June 15, but some are concerned about taking the next step prior to the busy July 4 weekend.
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Policy

New Jersey sues Asbury Park for ignoring state order on indoor dining

Photo Acroterion via Wikimedia Commons

June 12, 2020

New Jersey sues Asbury Park for ignoring state order on indoor dining

By Devin Gannon

Earlier this week, a beach town in New Jersey said it would allow indoor dining at some businesses next week, defying a recent executive order from Gov. Phil Murphy. The Asbury Park City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution to allow bars and restaurants to open their dining rooms at 25 percent capacity starting Monday. Earlier this month, Murphy signed an order that would allow for limited outdoor dining at restaurants starting June 15, but he said "we're not there yet," when it comes to indoor dining. In response, the governor announced today that the state would be suing Asbury to prevent this from happening.
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Food & Dining

New Jersey set to open hair salons, in-store retail, and outdoor dining this month

Photo of Asbury Park commercial district by Acroterion via Wikimedia Commons

June 2, 2020

New Jersey set to open hair salons, in-store retail, and outdoor dining this month

By Dana Schulz

In his press conference yesterday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that his state was looking to enter stage two of its reopening on Monday, June 15. On this date, outdoor dining and limited in-store retail would begin, with hair salons and barbershops following on the 22nd and youth summer programs in early July. This second stage would also phase in museums and libraries, as well as limited capacity at gyms and in-person government services such as motor vehicles.
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Policy

Lottery opens for income-restricted units in Brooklyn’s historic Weeksville, from $2,245/month

Rendering courtesy of S. Wieder Architect

June 1, 2020

Lottery opens for income-restricted units in Brooklyn’s historic Weeksville, from $2,245/month

By Devin Gannon

A lottery launched on Monday for 16 middle-income apartments in Crown Heights' historic Weeksville neighborhood. The Brooklyn community was once home to the second largest free black community in the country. Located at 1515 Park Place, the new building sits between Buffalo Avenue and Rochester Avenue, just around the corner from the Weeksville Heritage Center. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, including $2,245/month one-bedrooms and $2,710/month two-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

The Brooklyn Museum transforms into a pop-up food bank this week

Photo by Howard Brier on Flickr

June 1, 2020

The Brooklyn Museum transforms into a pop-up food bank this week

By Devin Gannon

Starting on Monday, the Brooklyn Museum is temporarily transforming its parking lot into a weekly food bank. The institution announced last week a partnership with The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH), a Bed-Stuy based nonprofit that has served about one million meals to New Yorkers in need during the coronavirus pandemic. The museum has been closed since March 13.
More here

Events & Things To Do

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.
Resources this way

Policy

Queens lawmaker wants to create second tier of ‘essential workers’

Photo by Thomas Loizeau on Unsplash

April 23, 2020

Queens lawmaker wants to create second tier of ‘essential workers’

By Devin Gannon

A Queens lawmaker introduced legislation this month to broaden the definition of "essential worker" to include a second tier of employees, including child care providers, educators, food delivery workers, and more. The bill sponsored by State Sen. Jessica Ramos creates of a new category of workers considered essential during a state of emergency in order to provide assistance and benefits to those on the frontlines of the current health crisis.
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Policy

NYC’s $20M fund will provide emergency relief to immigrant workers and their families

Photo by Colton Duke on Unsplash

April 17, 2020

NYC’s $20M fund will provide emergency relief to immigrant workers and their families

By Dana Schulz

Federal stimulus checks started hitting bank accounts this week, but to qualify for the IRS' Economic Impact Payments one must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien and have a social security number. This omits about 7.6 million undocumented immigrant workers across the country, roughly 4.3 million of whom pay taxes using a taxpayer identification number, as CNN and Market Watch reported. Here in the city, however, Mayor de Blasio has announced the New York City COVID-19 Immigrant Emergency Relief program, a $20 million fund that will "reach 20,000 immigrant workers and their families with direct, one-time emergency relief." The program is funded by George Soros' Open Society Foundations.
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NYC releases $170M plan to feed New Yorkers throughout coronavirus crisis

Mayor Bill de Blasio visits The Campaign Against Hunger food pantry in Brooklyn. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

April 16, 2020

NYC releases $170M plan to feed New Yorkers throughout coronavirus crisis

By Devin Gannon

With schools closed, seniors and vulnerable populations unable to leave their homes, and unemployment growing, many New Yorkers are facing unprecedented food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Bill de Blasio this week released a $170 million plan to boost existing food delivery systems and secure the city's food supply. "Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you need food, we're here for you, and there should be no shame," de Blasio said during a press briefing on Wednesday. "I want to emphasize this. There's no one's fault that we're dealing with this horrible crisis. Anyone needs food? We're here for you."
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Policy

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