Mass Vaccination Sites

All New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first served basis. In addition, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments for eligible New Yorkers. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling (877) 829-4692.

 

COVID-19 Testing Sites

For a full list of COVID-19 testing sites, text “COVID TEST” to 855-48 or go to:

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/get-tested/covid-19-testing.page.

 

Reopening New York City

There have been numerous recent changes to COVID restrictions in NYC, as follows:

 

New York City Subways

New York City’s 24-hour subway service resumed on May 17. Mask use remains mandatory.

 

Restaurants and Bars

Indoor dining in New York City is currently at 75 percent capacity. The midnight curfew has been lifted for outdoor dining and was lifted on May 31 for indoor dining.  The 1 a.m. curfew for catered events (w/ proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test result) was lifted on May 17, and the curfew for all catered events was lifted on May 31.

 

Social Gatherings

The outdoor limit on social gatherings was increased to 5,000 on May 10, and the indoor limit was increased to 250 on May 19.

 

Residential Gatherings

The outdoor limit was removed, and indoor limit was increased to 50 on May 19.

 

Large-Scale Venues

Indoor capacity at large scale venues was increased to 30% on May 19. Outdoor venues are now only limited by the space available for patrons to maintain the required social distance of six feet

 

Resources

Restaurant operators should refer to http://nyc.gov/restaurantopening for guidance on reopening safely and legally. All business owners can go to http://nyc.gov/covid19biz or call the SBS Reopening Hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692) for assistance in understanding and implementing reopening regulations.

 

NYC Restaurant Week

Every year, NYCgo hosts NYC Restaurant Week, a citywide campaign which aims to promote NYC’s local eateries. The campaign is now bigger and more flexible than ever, with indoor and outdoor dining, takeout and delivery options, plus an all-new pricing structure designed to showcase the breadth of restaurants across the five boroughs. Restauranteurs interested in participating in NYC Restaurant Week can find more information here: https://business.nycgo.com/nyc-restaurant-week-sign-up/. Registration must be completed by June 11. If you have any questions, please contact nycrestweek@nycgo.com.

 

Bronx Community Relief Effort Updates

Applications for grant funding from the Bronx Community Relief Effort are currently closed but the next round of applications will open soon. Head to their website to sign up for updates, or periodically check https://thebronx.org/ to see when the application window reopens.

 

New York Forward Loan Fund

The New York Forward Loan Fund is continuing to accept applications to assist those impacted by COVID-19. This program will target small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of income or rental income. If approved, these loans will need to be paid back over a five-year term with interest. To apply and for more info, go to https://www.connect2capital.com/partners/new-york-forward-loan-fund/.

 

SBA 7(a) and SBA Community Advantage Loans

The SBA 7(a) loan program makes funding from $50,000 to $5 million possible for startups and growing businesses in any qualified industry. The SBA 7(a) rates fluctuate, and the rate is determined by your financing needs. The SBA Community Advantage loan program, which provides loans of up to $250,000, is a unique type of 7(a) loan designed to provide additional support for businesses operating in underserved areas. For more information, visit: https://pursuitlending.com/business-loans/products/sba-7a-community-advantage/

 

SmartLoan

The SmartLoan provides fast, small business loans with flexible terms. Through this program, you can access up to $100,000 in funding at a fixed interest rate with affordable monthly payments. You can apply online for the SmartLoan and be funded in as soon as five business days. For more information, go to: https://pursuitlending.com/business-loans/products/smartloan/

 

The Small Business Resource Network

The Resource Network is a newly established team of 22 dedicated Small Business Specialists embedded within the City’s five Chambers of Commerce to help small businesses navigate a range of challenges including technology, real estate, legal and accounting services, procurement opportunities, marketing, and sources of loans and grants. Help with navigating the complex new regulatory environment established to contain the pandemic is also available. Business owners can access these resources by contacting a Recovery Specialist in their borough via: https://www.nycsmallbusinessresourcenetwork.org/.

 

Summer Friday Events

Join the Jerome Gun Hill BID for its summer event series. Events will be held at the corner of Jerome Avenue and East Mosholu Parkway North under Mosholu Parkway #4 subway station. Friday, June 11, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., dance with the Afro-Latineers and grab a free book from Norwood Community Library. Friday, June 18, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., play a giant match with giant board games. Friday, June 25, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., make art with the Uni project and grab a book from Norwood Community Library.

 

Department of Sanitation Food Waste Fair

The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will be hosting its biannual Food Waste Fair from June 14 to 19. The goal of the Food Waste Fair is to connect everyday New Yorkers and small business owners with the resources they need to fight food waste at home and at work. DSNY has also created a Food Waste Toolkit which teaches people about various strategies for reducing food waste and highlights vendors that can help them achieve their food waste goals. Businesses with food waste solutions can apply to be featured in the Toolkit here: https://www.sanitationfoundation.org/toolkit. Check out the toolkit, apply to be featured and stop by the Food Waste Fair in June!

 

Free COVID-19 Decals!

Jerome Gun Hill BID is offering free COVID-19 decals to small business owners within MPC Corridors. To request decals, email jeromegunhillbid@gmail.com and include your name, business address, mailing address, business name, and email. Decals will be sent in the mail.

 

June Primary Elections 2021

June Primary Election Important Calendar Dates:

Friday, May 28: voter registration deadline

Saturday, June 12: early voting begins

Tuesday, June 15: absentee ballot request deadline

Sunday, June 20: early voting ends

Tuesday, June 22: Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Early voting for the election begins on June 12. There are 22 early voting sites throughout the Bronx. Visit https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/ to find your early voting and election day poll site, view a sample ballot, and check the hours and location of the poll site, before you participate in early voting.

 

All registered voters can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them if they wish to vote by mail by going to https://vote.nyc/page/absentee-voting-0. You can submit your ballot request online via https://nycabsentee.com/ or mail a paper request form to the New York City Board of Elections by June 15.

 

The deadline to mail or drop off your actual, completed, absentee ballot at any BOE office or at a poll site is June 22, Election Day. The completed ballot must be postmarked on this date.

 

Those voters in City Council Districts 11 and 15 who voted in the recent special elections on March 23 will be familiar with the new method of voting in New York City called ranked choice voting. For any voter who is not, note that New York City will use ranked choice voting in the upcoming primary elections on June 22, the first primary elections in the city to use this relatively new methodology.

 

Go to https://rankthevotenyc.org/, to learn more about ranked choice voting. For questions, contact the Bronx Board of Elections Office, located at 1780 Grand Concourse, 5 Fl, Bronx, NY 10457, Tel (718) 299-9017, Fax (718) 299-2140.

 

June 14 Bronx Public Hearing on Property Tax Reform

In 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson established an advisory commission to develop recommendations to make the City’s property tax system simpler, clearer, and fairer. City officials said they did so while ensuring there was no reduction in the revenue used to fund essential City services. In early 2020, the Commission released a preliminary report, which included ten initial recommendations for property tax reform.

 

The preliminary report also included a brief history of New York City’s property tax system, the current methods that the City’s Department of Finance uses to calculate property tax bills, and challenges with the existing tax system. Planned in-person hearings were postponed due to the pandemic.

 

The commission is now seeking input from the public on the initial ten recommendations at a Bronx virtual hearing via ZOOM, which will be held on June 14 at 6 p.m. Residents are urged to read the report, attend the hearing and make their voices heard. To testify, you must sign up on the Commission’s website no later than 24-hours in advance. All hearings will be broadcast to the NYC Council’s virtual hearing rooms, with a link on the Commission’s website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/propertytaxreform/index.page

 

The preliminary report can also be viewed on this website. Speakers may (but need not) submit their testimony ahead of time by emailing it to PropTaxInfo@propertytaxcommission.nyc.gov or by uploading it to the Commission’s website.

 

Amateur Sports

Outdoor competitive play for high-risk sports, as defined by New York State, can resume. This includes competitive team practices games, scrimmages, meets, matches and tournaments. Competitive play for low and moderate-risk sports, as defined by New York state, is also permitted. The Public-School Athletic League is phasing in strength and conditioning training. Competitions can be held.

 

Small Business Training

The NYC Department of Small Business Services is providing no-cost, online training to help business owners and employees in NYC. For more information, visit: https://www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/article/nyc-means-business-training-for-your-employees.