Issue 12: June 13 – June 19

June 19, 2020
Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference he announced,

  • Juneteenth will become an official School Holiday beginning in 2021.
  • The creation of a Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission, which will identify policy areas where discrimination continues to persist in the City
June 18, 2020
Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference he announced,

  • An Executive Order that violations of reopening rules and guidelines by restaurants or bars can result in the immediate loss of a liquor license and a shut down order.
  • An Executive Order that gives bars the responsibility over areas immediately outside of their locations to expand the enforcement areas of the State Liquor Authority (SLA).
  • Guidance to colleges and universities to allow some residential and face-to-face programming for the fall semester. See here.
Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference he announced,

  • Playgrounds will reopen on Monday in conjunction with other Phase 2 openings.
  • Five options available for outdoor dining:
    • Pilot program through Labor Day where where the curb adjacent to a restaurant can be used for Curb Lane Seating
    • Sidewalk Seating (through October)
    • Backyard and Patio Seating
    • Open Streets Seating for nights and weekends (beginning in July)
    • Plaza Seating through Business Improvement Districts and Civic associations
June 17, 2020
Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference he announced,

  • The State will make Juneteenth a State holiday next year.
  • New York City will begin Phase 2 on June 22.
  • Long Island will begin Phase 3 on June 24.
  • His daily briefings will cease as of Friday, and moving forward, will be conducted as needed.
State Legislation Update

State lawmakers have shown little support for legislation that would authorize New York City to borrow up to $7 billion to cover revenue gaps.

  • See Wall Street Journal article here.
Rent Guidelines Board Update

Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) held its final vote of 2020.

  • This vote determined allowable rent increases for rent-regulated apartments for leases beginning October 2020 through September 2021.
  • The Board approved the following:
    • Maximum rent increase for 1-year apartment leases: 0% (freeze)
    • Maximum rent increase for 2-year apartment leases: 0% (freeze) for first year and 1% for second year of lease
    • Maximum rent increase for 1-year loft leases: 0% (freeze)
    • Maximum rent increase for 2-year loft leases: 0% (freeze) for first year and 1% for second year of lease
    • Maximum increase for units that become decontrolled after September 30, 2020: 39% above maximum base rent
Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference he announced,

  • Two new NYPD policies related to police discipline:
    • Any case where there is substantial injury by a police officer, a police commissioner must make a decision within 48 hours on whether to modify duty or suspend the police officer, and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau must conduct an investigation in two weeks or less.
    • All trial decisions will be published going forward, effective immediately; the City will be working to launch an online database of all NYPD disciplinary records.
June 16, 2020
Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference he announced,

  • Hospitals and group homes may begin vistations on June 19.
  • The U.S. Open, running from August 31 to September 13, will be held in Queens without fans.
Mayoral Update

During the Mayor’s press conference he announced,

  • A new policy to require all body-worn camera video and audio recordings be released within 30 days when a police officer
    • Discharges a firearm that either hits or could hit someone
    • Discharges a taser in a way that results in severe injury or death
    • Uses force that results in severe injury or death
City Budget Update

Council Member Kallos released a plan to identify $15b in cuts and savings.

  • Cuts identified include certain real estate tax exemptions, recouping unspent COVID-19 funding, and cancelling City contracts with large private companies; nearly $1b of the savings could go to schools, social services and other causes that are facing steep cuts.
  • See full Daily News article here.
June 15, 2020
Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference he announced,

  • Phase 3 will now include allowing gatherings of up to 25 people.
  • Western New York will enter Phase 3 on June 16; Capital Region on June 17.
June 14, 2020
Governor’s Update

During the Governor’s press conference he announced,

  • The State has received 25,000 complaints of businesses in violation of the state’s reopening guidelines; a State Liquor Authority taskforce has dispatched inspectors to restaurants and bars to issue citations which can result in the loss of a business’s liquor license.
  • The State is extending the timeline to enroll in its health exchange to July 15, building upon its success in expanding health coverage.

Low-risk youth sports events, allowing two spectators per child athlete, will begin in Phase 3 on July 6.