Kasirer Summary of COVID-19 Updates, May 16 – May 22

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference he announced,

• The State is launching a $100+ million New York Forward Loan Fund to support small businesses that did not receive federal COVID-19 assistance.
• The loan will focus on small businesses, primarily MWBE’s, with 20 or fewer employees and less than $3 million in gross revenues.
• For more information, see here.
• Construction staging will be permitted on Long Island and the Mid-Hudson; both regions can reopen next week if deaths continue to decrease and tracing capacity increases.
• A new pilot program with 52 independent pharmacies to conduct 7,000 tests per week, bringing the testing site total to 750 across the State.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference he announced,

• The City will begin tracking health indicators using three new thresholds to begin reopening, instead of daily fluctuations. These thresholds are include:
• Fewer than 200 hospital admissions of suspected COVID-19 cases
• Fewer than 375 H+H critical care (ICU) patients
• Less than 15% of NYC residents tested positive
• The opening of 13 more miles of streets, bringing the total of open streets to 45

Real Estate Update

Rent collection declines, especially from commercial tenants.

• NYTimes article here points out the important role rent revenue plays in enabling landlords to pay property taxes that fund essential City services.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• The sales tax filing deadline is extended from May 19 to June 22.
• Relevant Crain’s article with more information here.
• Summer School activities will be conducted remotely Statewide.
• The State will issue guidelines to schools and colleges for a number of scenarios by June; schools are required to submit their contingency plans to the State for approval by July.
• Rockland County is eligible for elective and ambulatory care, as of May 21.

State Legislative Update

State legislature likely to consider housing and eviction proposals next week.

• If the State Senate and State Assembly go back into session next week, they are likely to consider proposals related to residential housing and eviction issues.
• There are concerns that the no-eviction Executive Order standards requiring proof of COVID-related job loss or proof of collecting unemployment benefits are standards that portions of the population cannot meet and will therefore need to be loosened.
• They may be considering proposals to allow flexibility on lease terms for commercial spaces for commercial tenants that have closed and are unable to reopen.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• “Feeding New York” has served 32 million total meals across all City programs.
• “Summer All Out” – an NYPD operation where officers go out to neighborhoods and work at the grassroots level; the City will deploy 300 officers across 10 commands.
• The Staten Island Ferry will be increasing service to every 30-minutes during rush hours.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation will be giving the City a $21 million grant to help pay for the costs associated with restarting service and cleaning.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Religious gatherings of 10 people or fewer will be permitted Statewide starting on May 21.
• Strict social distancing measures must be enforced.
• All participants must wear a mask.
• Drive-in and parking lot services will also be permitted.
• Preliminary test results from the State’s latest antibody test, which tested ~8,000 New Yorkers in low-income communities, indicated 27% positive, compared to NYC’s positive rate of 19.9%.
• A new partnership with SOMOS to establish 28 testing sites at churches and community-based providers, and expansion of testing from 8 to 40 public housing developments

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• An expansion of 3,000 tests per day for nursing homes and a commitment to provide relief staff for nursing homes experiencing staffing shortages
• The City is implementing 10 “Outbreak Response” teams to support the State with oversight over nursing homes, using DOHMH expertise regarding infection control, PPE management, and resident and staff retesting.
• Low participation in census completion (49%)

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Capital Region has met the reopening criteria and will be permitted to reopen on May 20.
• Nassau County is eligible to resume elective surgery and ambulatory care.
• The State will allow ceremonies for Memorial Day with 10 people or fewer, and stated that vehicle parades will be allowed.
• GNYHA and HANYS are implementing a 2-week pilot program in 16 hospitals across the state to allow increased visitations for family members and loved ones.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• The City’s plans for summer learning:
• For students with disabilities (on 12-month learning plans), summer learning will take place from July 1 to August 13; estimated 27,700 students.
• For students in Grades 3 through 8, summer learning will take place from July 13 through August 18; estimated 67,000 students.
• For students in Grades 9 through 12, summer learning will take place from July 13 through August 21; estimated 83,000 students.
• See more details of the plan here.
• His calls on the State legislature to advance legislation authorizing line-of-duty benefits for municipal employees who have died of COVID-19.
• Magalie “Maggie” Austin will serve as Senior Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Western New York has met the reopening criteria and will be permitted to reopen on May 19.
• His encouragement of major New York sports teams to plan for safe reopening without fans
• Judges and staff will be returning to courthouses in 30 Upstate counties.
• Two experts will advise the State on the progress of regional reopening:
• Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
• Dr. Samir Bhatt, Senior Lecturer in Geostatistics at Imperial College London.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• “Made in NYC” test kits will be used at the City’s community testing sites.
• 140,000+ antibody tests to be conducted for healthcare workers and first responders.
• Alternate Side Parking (ASP) resumes from May 18 to May 23; ASP will suspend again from May 24 through June 7.

City Budget Update

Independent Budget Office report was released, which projected:

• $9.5 billion revenue shortfall through the end FY21
• Total sales for 2020 to be $65b, $35b less than projections pre-COVID
• $1.4b more in necessary savings to balance the FY21 budget
• A $6b deficit in FY22
• No net job gains until 2022
• Full IBO report here.
• Politico Pro coverage here.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• The State is now conducting 40,000 in-state diagnostic tests per day.
• The State expanded its diagnostic testing criteria to include any individual returning to work in phase one of reopening.
• A new partnership with CVS to conduct over 50 tests per day at more than 60 pharmacies Statewide.
• The Mental Health Coalition is working on a campaign called the #HowAreYouReallyChallenge, to encourage people to share their feelings and thoughts on COVID-19.

Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference, he announced,

• A new partnership with CityMD to expand diagnostic testing to 123 sites across the City
• New plans for the City’s Test and Trace Corps – to hire 200 to 300 resource navigators by June 1 to facilitate support and recommend locations for isolation
• The City will not be reopening beaches by Memorial Day.

Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference, he announced,

• Horse racing tracks can reopen on June 1, without spectators or fans.
• Elective surgeries in Westchester and Suffolk counties can resume.