Governor’s Update

Governor announced the membership of his Reimagine Education Advisory Board.

• Board will be Chaired by SUNY Empire State President Jim Malatras.
• See full membership list here.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• The State will be discussing reopening construction and manufacturing for regions in Upstate New York on May 15.
• An extension to the window for victims to file cases under the Child Victims Act of an additional five months, until January 14, 2021.

Mayoral Update

Mayor de Blasio announced the memberships of the following Sector Advisory Councils.

• Non-Profit and Social Services
• Public Health and Healthcare
• Faith-based
• Construction and Real Estate
• Education
• Surface Transportation
• See press release with full membership lists here.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• A new Test and Trace Corps led by NYC H+H, charged with testing New Yorkers for infection, tracing all cases and contacts, and supporting and caring for cases and their contacts.
• The Trace Corps will coordinate with 1,000 public health workers to coordinate these efforts; Trace Corps have a goal of deploying 2,500 by June.
• The Trace Corps will provide hotel rooms for anyone requiring isolation and monitoring.
• Starting June 1, Salesforce will deploy a fully integrated call center and a customer relationship and case management system to support testing and tracing efforts.

NYC Budget Update

Citizens Budget Commission’s annual budget briefing with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Melanie Hartzog.

During the CBC briefing, Director Hartzog said,

• The current fiscal and economic challenges faced by the City include:
• Anticipated $8.7b Executive Budget gap in FY21
• $7.4b expected loss in tax revenue
• 831,000 unemployment claims from New Yorkers since March 14
• Potential $8.2b cut in State aid to localities
• OMB is focusing on aggressively saving, keeping reserves high, advocating for more in Federal stimulus funding, pushing against cuts to State aid, and remaining conservative in revenue forecasts.
• OMB forecasts a $200m loss in FY21 as a result of property tax delinquency.
• OMB is looking to avoid having to shrink the City’s workforce; First DM Dean Fuleihan is working with labor groups to evaluate staffing and come up with a workforce savings plan.
• OMB is not considering tax increases; long-term borrowing is a last-resort option.
• The City is prioritizing capital infrastructure projects, such as the East Coast Resiliency project; other projects, such as borough-based jails, certain school construction projects, and certain affordable housing projects, will be on hold.
• City will not make any cuts to fire houses.
• City is considering reducing ferry service.
• OMB estimates that revenue from tourism will not return to pre-COVID levels until FY23.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• An extension to the State’s eviction moratorium for an additional 60 days, until August 20.
• Ban on late and missed payment fees during the moratorium period.
• State will allow renters to use security deposits as payment with repayment over time.

Rent Guidelines Board (RGB)

RGB’s third public meeting.

• Preliminary vote to determine rent for NYC rent-regulated apartments and lofts: by a 5-4 majority vote, the RGB voted to pass a resolution to allow the following:
• 1 year apartment leases: rent freeze (0% increase)
• 2 year apartment leases: rent freeze (0% increase) for first year of the lease, and 1% increase for second year of the lease
• 1 year rent regulated lofts: rent freeze (0% increase)
• 2 year rent regulated lofts: rent freeze (0% increase) for first year of the lease, and 1% increase for second year of the lease
• Vacancy bonuses: 39% increase above maximum baseline rent
• Applies to leases executed between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021.
• Preliminary vote to determine rent for NYC hotel rooms, rooming houses, single room occupancy buildings, and lodging houses: by a 7-2 majority vote, the RGB voted to pass a resolution to allow the following:
• Residential class A apartment hotels: rent freeze (0% increase)
• Lodging houses: rent freeze (0% increase)
• Rooming houses/class B buildings containing fewer than 30 units: rent freeze (0% increase)
• Class B hotels: rent freeze (0% increase)
• Single room occupancy buildings: rent freeze (0% increase)
• Vacancy allowances: 0% increase above maximum baseline rent.
• Applies to leases executed between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021.
• RGB will hear public comment at two upcoming hearings: June 10 and June 11.
• Instructions for submitting recorded or written testimony can be found at the RGB’s website linked here.
• If Kasirer clients are interested in engaging, please reach out first to coordinate.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• NYC is launching its own antibody survey, in partnership with Bio Reference, to conduct another 140,000 tests.
• An expansion of tele-medication: a new free phone-a-clinician hotline: 1-844-NYC-4NYC.
• A COVID-19 Response Working Group, led by the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), to address the increase in incidents of domestic and gender-based violence.
• NYC is signing onto the C40 Principles for a Sustainable Recovery, which is a call for a sustainable recovery to the pandemic; see C40’s press release here.

Agency Update – Department of Buildings (DOB)

License/Registration renewal applications.

• DOB will no longer accept license or registration renewal applications in person or through the mail.
• Applications must be submitted online at DOB NOW.
• Welder license renewals should be submitted at DOB NOW: Licensing.
• Reminder: DOB has automatically extended all licenses/registrations that expire between April 17, 2020 and the end of the New York State state of emergency.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Michael Dowling of Northwell Health will be leading NYS’s efforts to organize a more centralized public health system.
• Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, will be leading the State’s efforts to rethink NYS’s health and education systems and chair a new 15-member blue-ribbon commission.
• More detailed data on COVID-19 patients based on a DOH survey representing 113 State hospitals which found that the majority of patients were not working, not traveling, living downstate, of minority racial background, older in age, and non-essential employees.
• State is considering deploying the National Guard to help conduct a fair and safe election.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• Six of ten Sector Advisory Councils:
• Small Business Advisory Council, led by DM Vicki Been and DM Phil Thompson
• Large Business Advisory Council, led by DM Vicki Been
• Labor and Workforce Development Advisory Council, led by First DM Dean Fuleihan and DM Phil Thompson
• Arts, Culture and Tourism Advisory Council, led by DM Vicki Been
• Faith-based Organization Advisory Council, led by DM Phil Thompson
• Construction and Real Estate Advisory Council, led by DM Laura Anglin and DM Vicki Been
• Full membership for Labor and Workforce, Large Business, Small Business, and Arts, Culture, and Entertainment was announced after the press conference; see press release here.
• 2 additional miles will open as part of the City’s Open Streets plan; see breakdown here.
• Potential layoffs for essential workers if the Federal government does not provide more funding for New York City; see Politico coverage here.
• 24-hour subway service will return once the pandemic is over.

NYC Budget Update

Property tax relief for NYC landlords.

• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stated that it is unlikely there will be substantial property tax relief this July.
• Director Hartzog said OMB will consider reducing delinquency fees, which are expected to be as high as 18% on property tax payments.
• See Crain’s article here.

City Council Update

Two articles regarding the impact of the Council’s essential workers bills.

• Daily News op-ed on the impact of these bills on small businesses, here.
• Politico article on the impact of these bills on nonprofits, here.

Agency Update – Department of Buildings (DOB)

DOB is now accepting applications online for Place of Assembly Certificates.

• Place of Assembly Certificates of Operation should be submitted through the DOB NOW site.
• Temporary Place of Assembly applications will remain suspended for the duration of the state of emergency.
• Additional information on the Place of Assembly application process can be found here.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• A Partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to convene experts and develop a blueprint to reimagine education in the aftermath of the crisis.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• NYC will offer antibody tests to 140,000 health care workers and first responders.
• DOH-MH has issued a new health alert regarding recent cases of multi-system inflammatory syndrome detected in children.
• 311 has shorter wait times and higher capacity, training 285 new call-takers and opening 4 new call centers.
• Cost-saving measures, such as freezing pay for City workers, are contingent on federal funding.

City Council Update

Council Hearing: Committee on Civil Service and Labor

• Committee hearing to discuss three bills related to the City’s essential workers:
• Intro 1918: to require large employers (100+ employees) to pay premiums to essential non-salaried workers
• Intro 1923: to prohibit the firing of essential workers without just cause.
• Intro 1926: to amend “employee” in the Earned Safe and Time Act to extend benefits to include independent contractors.
• From public testimony:
• Opponents of bills: Partnership for NYC; NYS Messenger and Courier Association; Homecare Providers Association; Manhattan Chamber of Commerce; Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Queens Chamber of Commerce; Third Avenue BID – Bronx; Downtown Brooklyn Partnership; NYS Association of Healthcare Providers; Greater NY Hospital Association; Food Industry Alliance; Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants (ROAR); Human Services Council; Coalition for Behavioral Health.
• Supporters of bills: CWA 118; Uniformed EMTs for FDNY; Amalgamated Transit Union 1056; Make the Road NY; CWA District 1; 32BJ SEIU; National Employment Law Project (NELP); Community Service Society; NY Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• The State will be divided into Regions, and Regions will be permitted to reopen under the following conditions:
• 14 days of decline in total hospitalizations and deaths on a three-day rolling average.
• Regions with few COVID-19 cases cannot exceed 15 new total cases or 5 new deaths on a three-day rolling average.
• Fewer than 2 new COVID-19 patients admitted per 100,000 residents per day.
• Hospitals need to have 30% of their hospital and ICU beds available; 90 days of PPE in stock.
• Testing capacity to conduct 30 tests for every 1,000 residents per month.
• 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 residents.
• Four phases of industry reopening, with priority given to industries with greater economic impact:
• Phase 1 will include construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; and select retail that can offer curbside pickup.
• Phase 2 will include professional services; finance and insurance; retail; administrative support; and real estate/rental leasing.
• Phase 3 will include restaurants and food services; and hotels and accommodations.
• Phase 4 will include arts, entertainment and recreation; and education.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• The City will be distributing 7.5 million face coverings free of charge at NYCHA, DOE Grab & Go meal sites, public parks, Mitchell-Lama buildings, and grocery stores.
• City will be providing iPads to students with disabilities in non-public schools.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• DOH will require every hospital to aggregate a 90-day supply of PPE in the event of another surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations.
• NY, NJ, CT, PA, DE, RI, MA will form a consortium to improve the region’s purchasing power for PPE, ventilators, and other equipment, to bring the market prices down for equipment.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• An expansion to the GetFood Delivery Assistance Program and meal delivery operations; increasing staff by 300 providers, expanding the program’s commercial kitchen capacity, and seeking providers to provide 1,000 meals per day.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• New York will be distributing 7 million masks to vulnerable populations across New York State, including to nursing homes and NYCHA buildings.

MTA’s alternative service program, which will expand the MTA’s bus service between 1:00AM and 5:00AM to give travelers a similar commute while subways are closed for cleaning.