April 17, 2020
 

Governor’s Update

At the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Executive Order directing public and private labs to coordinate with DOH on diagnostic testing.
• Guidance from the DOH that nursing homes inform families of residents who test positive for COVID-19; Executive Order instituting civil penalties for noncompliance to follow.
• Cash spending controls to ensure the State has funding for Medicaid and COVID-costs.

 

State Agency Update: NYS DOH
New guidance requiring face coverings in certain public situations and settings.

• Individuals must wear face coverings when they are in a public area and are:
• within six feet of distance from other individuals; or
• in a situation or setting where they are unable to maintain six feet of distance from other individuals; or
• in a public or private transportation carrier or for-hire vehicle

 

Mayoral Update
During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• 10 new testing sites; 5 in communities most impacted; 5 in partnership with One Medical to focus on 1199SEUI and other essential workers (1 in every borough).
• Non-essential permitted events in May are cancelled; potential cancellation in June.
• Commendations for Delta for providing free flights, and Target for their $50,000 donation to the City’s epidemics fund.
• Open Society Foundation is donating $20m to create an Immigrant Emergency Relief Fund; $15m to the Fund for Public Schools.
• His opposition to Speaker Johnson’s widespread street closure legislation.

 

City Council Update
Pedestrian street legislation.

• City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Member Carlina Rivera are introducing legislation to require the City to open streets to pedestrians, despite the Mayor’s resistance.
• See Politico article here.

 

City Budget Update
FY21 Executive Budget proposes $400m in cuts that will impact nonprofits, including,

• $124m – summertime youth programming.
• $20m – City initiative to reimburse nonprofits for their indirect costs.
• $35m – reduced rates for DHS hotel beds.
• $15.5m – arts programming in middle and high schools.
• Reductions to arts and cultural initiatives, the fair futures program (foster-care youth), and the close to home program (juvenile justice.)
• See full savings plan here.

 

April 16, 2020
 

Governor’s Update
During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• NY on PAUSE extended to May 15.
• Executive Order requiring face coverings on public transportation; private transportation carriers and for-hire vehicles; and operators of public systems here.
• Face covering mandate applies to children age 2 and older.
• Calls for the private sector to “reimagine” the workplace given new normal.
• New York will be sending 100 ventilators to New Jersey.
• Total number of unemployment claims in NY is 1.2 million.
• State is working on a plan to provide face coverings for those who cannot afford them.

 

Mayoral Update
During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• Review of the $89.3 billion FY21 Executive Budget, which includes:
• $3.4 billion budget reduction compared to FY20.
• $7.4 billion projected reduction in tax revenue across FY20 and FY21.
• $2.7 billion in savings across FY20 and FY21.
• Full press release of budget announcement here.
• Free hotel rooms available for people who need to quarantine; 11,000 being prepared.
• City’s jail population is the lowest in 74 years.

 

April 15, 2020
 

Federal Update
Census

• U.S. Census Bureau is planning to further postpone its field operations to June 1.
• Trump officials asked Congress for a law to delay census data for voting districts, house seats.
• See NPR coverage here.

 

Governor’s Update
During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Executive Order requiring everyone to wear a mask or face covering when in public. Full EO here.
• Phased reopening plan.

 

Mayoral Update
During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• $170 million plan to keep the City fed during the crisis (full plan here), which includes:
• Plan to serve 10 million meals in April; 15 million in May.
• $50 million in an emergency food supply.
• 11,000 TLC-licensed drivers to deliver meals to the elderly, immunocompromised, vulnerable.
• Plans to preserve 800+ food pantries and soup kitchens.
• Partnering with the federal government to maximize SNAP.
• Customers in grocery stores are required to wear a face covering.
• Development of new emergency facilities have slowed, given decline in demand for beds.

 

City Council Update
City Council in session.

• Stated Meeting on Wednesday, April 22; no votes and it will be streamed.
• Kasirer will send a summary and inform clients of details once more information is released.

 

Agency Update: DOB

• New DOB guidance on essential construction, based on ESD’s guidance.
• Approvals for emergency and essential work will include a Certificate of Authorization required to post at the job site.
• Essential Construction Requests that now require a professional-certification audit:
• Work necessary to protect the safety of occupants
• Work in support of an Essential Business
• Work limited to a single worker
• Two appeals can be requested on a disapproved Essential Construction Request.
• Process to notify the Department electronically when work to make a site safe has concluded.
• See service notice here.

 

April 14, 2020
 

Governor’s Update
During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Doubts that NYC will be able to produce 100,000 tests per week; calls on the federal government to step in.
• State will be able to conduct 2,000 tests per day beginning next week.

 

Mayoral Update
During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• “Made in New York” – to produce face shields, surgical gowns, and test kits; local contractors plan to produce 50,000 per week.
• EDC will purchase 50,000 coronavirus test kits per week from a company in Carmel, Indiana.
• 8 firms in NYC producing face shields; currently producing 240,000 per week, goal of 620,000.
• 5 firms in NYC producing surgical gowns; currently producing 30,000 per week; goal of 250,000.
• Street closure programs would not work in NYC.
• NYCDOE is working on contingency plans to support students in the summer given the cut to the Summer Youth Employment Program.
• Intends to create a plan to expand Vision Zero, limit automobile transportation, improve public transit, to prepare for fight against global warming post-COVID.

 

April 13, 2020
 

Governor’s Update
From a conference call between Governor’s from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island:

• Each State will convene a working group represented by one public health official, one economic official, and the Governor’s chief of staff.
• Group will share data, intel, and policies to draft re-entry plans.
• Several hours after the call, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed onto the working group.
• See Politico coverage here.

 

Governor’s Update
During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• The worst is over, as the situation is improving; precautions should continue.
• State will return to normalcy in 12 to 18 months, once a vaccine is available.
• Regional reopening plans will be designed by public health and economic experts.
• Reopening the economy based on caseload is an option, but regional coordination is preferred.

 

Mayoral Update
During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• Launching a tenant helpline.
• Calls on the State to extend eviction moratorium by 60 days, allow tenants to defer rent and pay over 12 months.

 

Mayoral Update
On NY1’s Monday with the Mayor, the Mayor said,

• Over 50% of New Yorkers will likely have had COVID-19 by end of the crisis.
• No reports of clusters in public housing; prioritizing consistent cleaning and sanitizing.
• NYCHA will not evict any residents unable to pay rent.
• NYC DOE will need to focus on mental health services for students experiencing trauma Endorsement of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

 

City Budget Update

• NY lawmakers not on board with the idea of de Blasio borrowing for budget.
• See Daily News coverage here.

 

Agency Update: MTA

• MTA capital projects are at risk of not moving forward, due to low ridership and financial concerns.
• MTA will move forward with priority projects, but aspirational projects will depend on factors such as the sale of municipal bonds, congestion pricing, and the State’s future tax revenue.
• Coverage from Crain’s New York Business here.

 

April 12, 2020
 

Governor’s Update
During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Executive Order directing employers to provide masks to essential workers; State will provide for public employees.
• Executive Order to expand who can conduct antibody tests to bring testing to scale.
• Calls for $500 billion in aid to States from the federal government in conjunction with Chair of the National Governors Association Gov Larry Hogan; also for a repeal of the SALT provision that eliminated most State and local tax deductions.

 

Mayoral Update
During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• Expansion of testing centers in predominately African American communities: East New York; Morrisania; Harlem; Jamaica; Clifton.
• City workers are required to wear face coverings when interacting with the public.
• H+H is hiring 500 non-clinical staff; openings for patient transport, clerical, cleaning.
• Calls for the Federal government to provide testing kits for 110,000 individuals.
• Commendation to public-private partnerships, such as with T-Mobile who provided LTE internet and data for new devices, enabling remote learning.
• Plans to distribute 50,000 more iPads to students before the end of April to reach the City’s ultimate goal of 300,000; City already distributed 175,000.

 

April 11, 2020
 

Governor’s Update
During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Hospitalizations appear to have reached an apex.
• State’s focus includes: expanding testing capacity; next federal stimulus bill; providing pro-bono legal services for New Yorkers in financial hardship, such as SBA loans and housing.
• Decision to reopen schools will be in coordination with the Tri-State area; no timeline for reopening schools yet, despite de Blasio’s announcement to keep schools closed.

 

Mayoral Update
During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• 6,000 single adult homeless New Yorkers will be provided shelter in hotels by April 20.
• NYC public schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.
• 5-point plan for education: (1) school supplies; (2) resources for parents; (3) creative programming; (4) on-time graduation; (5) plans to reopen schools in September.
• Concerns over the status of food pantries as unemployment rises.
• Calls upon the State to grant waivers for the 180-day requirement to all NYC schools.