“Open Streets: Restaurants” Initiative Expands from Weekends to Weekdays

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sept. 16 the first weekday expansion of the “Open Streets: Restaurants” initiative. In the meantime, restaurant partner organizations have been organizing temporary street closures across the City to facilitate additional, weekday outdoor dining along select corridors. Earlier this month, the administration invited BIDs, community-based organizations, and groups of restaurants to submit applications to expand the existing “Open Streets: Restaurants” initiative that combines the existing “Open Streets” and “Open Restaurants” programs. Previously, car-free hours on streets had been limited to weekends. Expanded “Open Streets: Restaurants” locations in the Bronx which

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Sept. 18, Congress Member Adriano Espaillat, Senator Jamaal Bailey, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Council Member Andy Cohen joined Montefiore Health System for a community flu shot event at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. Congressman Adriano Espaillat received his shot on-site. Montefiore, Duane Reade and Walgreens are working together to keep Bronxites healthy this flu season by offering low to no-cost flu shots where community members live, work, and play. According to Montefiore Heath System, the following are the top concerns Bronx residents have shared about getting a seasonal flu (influenza) vaccination, as well as the facts on

By SÍLE MOLONEY

In late April, NBC New York reported that a doctor working at New York Presbyterian Allen Hospital in Inwood died by suicide after treating a number of COVID-19 patients. Her father, also a doctor, was quoted as saying at the time, “She was — in every way — in the trenches of this war, fighting the effects of this COVID virus that she contracted herself. She went home and stayed for a week and a half before she felt obligated to go back to the trenches and help, so that’s what she did.” According to several news reports,

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sept. 16 that the City will issue a week of furloughs for mayoral office employees. This action, in addition to savings from the adopted budget, will represent a 12% cut to the FY21 Mayor’s Office budget. “Dedicated public servants have worked tirelessly for our city and their fellow New Yorkers throughout this crisis,” said De Blasio. “This is a painful step, but it shows just how committed we are to responsible budgeting and leading the City through these challenging times. Today’s announcement makes it clear we need Albany to step

By DAVID GREENE

Representatives of the United Bodegas of America (UBA) will be granted a sit-down with NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and his top brass regarding a host of issues including recent robberies and assaults on bodega workers, as well as the dangers for shop workers enforcing the city’s mandated face mask rule. The meeting is expected to take place on Wednesday, September 16 at Police Plaza in Lower Manhattan. In a statement released on Tuesday, Sept. 15 announcing the sit-down, Radhames Rodriguez, the President of UBA, wrote, “It’s been an awful year for all of us in the bodega

By SÍLE MOLONEY

To reduce mosquito activity and the risk of West Nile virus, the Health Department will conduct an adulticide treatment in the Bronx. Trucks will spray pesticides in sections of the Bronx on Tuesday, September 15, between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning, weather permitting. In case of bad weather or equipment malfunctions, application will be delayed until Wednesday, September 16. The Health Department will use very low concentrations of DeltaGard® and/or Anvil®. The risks of pesticides applied by the Health Department for mosquito control are low to people and pets. Some people who are sensitive to spray

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Indoor dining is to recommence in New York City on Sept. 30, at 25 percent capacity. On Monday, Sept. 14, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio held a virtual hearing with interested parties from the hospitality sector and signed the extension of two bills in support of New York City restaurants. The first bill extends an existing ban on charging for unconfirmed phone orders until 90 days after restaurants are allowed to operate at a hundred percent capacity. The second extends an existing cap on fees that delivery apps can charge restaurants until 90 days after restaurants are

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announced on Sept. 14, the opening of the Department of Education COVID Response Situation Room—a multi-agency partnership between the Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health and Mental Health (DOHMH), and the Test & Trace Corps—to facilitate a rapid response to positive COVID-19 cases in public schools. The Situation Room provides a single point-of-contact between schools and agency partners responsible for performing both testing, contact tracing, and ensuring the appropriate interventions are being taken by school communities. “The Situation Room is the precise system we need

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has reiterated the Trump Administration’s commitment to minimize displacement and evictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in line with President Trump’s executive order, “Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners.” On Sept. 1, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19,” order. It took effect on Sept. 4, and declares a national moratorium on certain residential evictions for nonpayment of rent, as well as other fees or charges. In fact,