Coronavirus

March 23, 2020

Brooklyn kids are hanging rainbow art in windows as part of a quarantine-style scavenger hunt

With school closed and playdates off-limits, New York City kids are staying connected with their friends in a creative and colorful way. Children in Brooklyn are drawing and painting pictures of rainbows and displaying them outside of their homes, creating a scavenger hunt perfect for one of the only quarantine-approved activities: a walk around the neighborhood.
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City Living

Work starts to turn Javits Center into a 1,000-bed temporary hospital

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo tours construction of temporary FEMA hospital at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on March 20, 2020. Photo courtesy of Governor Cuomo/Flickr.

March 23, 2020

Work starts to turn Javits Center into a 1,000-bed temporary hospital

By Devin Gannon

"Time matters, minutes count, and this is literally a matter of life and death," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference Sunday, during which he requested and subsequently received funding from the federal government to move ahead with the Army Corps of Engineers on erecting temporary hospitals at the Javits Center, Westchester County Center, SUNY Stony Brook, and SUNY Old Westbury. As of Monday morning, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in New York State was nearly 21,000, with more than 12,000 in New York City. Supplies and materials have already arrived at the Javits Center, and it's expected to be complete within a week to 10 days.
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Policy

Lawmakers, advocates demand rent freeze for New Yorkers affected by coronavirus

Photo by Paulo O on Flickr

March 23, 2020

Lawmakers, advocates demand rent freeze for New Yorkers affected by coronavirus

By Devin Gannon

Evictions have been halted. Mortgage payments have been suspended. What about rents? New York renters, elected officials, and tenant advocacy groups are calling for a temporary rent freeze to provide financial relief to both workers and businesses impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, who represents parts of Queens, will introduce a measure on Monday that would suspend rent payments for 90 days for tenants and small businesses, as the Daily News first reported.
More here

Policy

Governor Cuomo says NYC must develop an immediate plan to address density issues in parks

Photo of Central Park North on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Photo © Dana Schulz for 6sqft

March 22, 2020

Governor Cuomo says NYC must develop an immediate plan to address density issues in parks

By Dana Schulz

Within 24 hours from Sunday morning, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson must come up with a plan to address continued density issues in the city, especially in parks. "It has to be done quickly, and it's going to have to be dramatic action," said the Governor in a press conference, following a personal visit to the city on Saturday during which he observed a major lack of social distancing in places like Central Park and the Grand Army Plaza Farmer's Market.
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Electric moped service Revel offers free rides in Brooklyn and Queens for healthcare workers

Photo courtesy of Revel

March 20, 2020

Electric moped service Revel offers free rides in Brooklyn and Queens for healthcare workers

By Devin Gannon

Healthcare workers in Brooklyn and Queens will receive a free membership from the electric moped service Revel, the company announced Friday. Revel will also expand its service area to cover four major medical centers in those two boroughs, including Elmhurst Hospital, Maimonides Medical Center, NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center. The measure allows these critical workers to commute to work, instead of taking public transportation.
More here

Transit

15 NYC bookstores offering curbside pickup and delivery

Photo by Renee Fisher on Unsplash

March 19, 2020

15 NYC bookstores offering curbside pickup and delivery

By Devin Gannon

Need a distraction? New York City's local bookstores are here to help. While many are not open for browsing, bookstores across the city are offering curbside pickup and delivery options instead. Get lost in a book (and take a break from reality) by supporting your neighborhood's shop from the comfort and safety of your home. Ahead, find 15 of our favorite stores offering pick-up and delivery, as well as other virtual resources, like live-streamed book clubs and author events.
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City Living

‘The Rosie O’Donnell Show’ returns for one night to support The Actors Fund

Photo by Sudan Ouyang on Unsplash

March 19, 2020

‘The Rosie O’Donnell Show’ returns for one night to support The Actors Fund

By Dana Schulz

With all Broadway, Off-Broadway, and any type of performance suspended through at least April 12th, Broadway.com is bringing back The Rosie O'Donnell Show for one night to benefit The Actors Fund. When her show was on air from 1996 to 2002, O'Donnell was a strong advocate for performance arts and often showcased Broadway ensembles performing numbers from their shows. The one-night event will take place on Sunday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. and will be live-streamed on Broadway.com and Broadway.com's YouTube channel.
Find out who's performing

Events & Things To Do

1,000-bed hospital ship coming to New York Harbor

U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/Released

March 18, 2020

1,000-bed hospital ship coming to New York Harbor

By Dana Schulz

In a press conference on Wednesday, Governor Cuomo announced that he'd reached an agreement with the federal government for the USNS Comfort hospital ship to be dispatched to New York Harbor to help with the growing need for hospital beds, in particular ICU, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow in New York City and New York at large.
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Policy

Amidst massive ridership declines, MTA seeks $4B+ in federal aid

Photo credit: Billie Grace Ward via Flickr

March 18, 2020

Amidst massive ridership declines, MTA seeks $4B+ in federal aid

By Dana Schulz

Facing a 60 percent decline in subway ridership and a 90 percent decline on commuter rails, the already-cash-strapped MTA is seeking more than $4 billion in federal aid, according to a letter the agency sent yesterday to the New York Congressional Delegation. "Assuming ridership trends this week continue for six months," they wrote, the anticipated revenue losses to the MTA are $3.7 billion, along with $300 million in annualized COVID-19 expenses.
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As NYC suspends land use and rezoning actions, some officials want to also ban construction

Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash

March 17, 2020

As NYC suspends land use and rezoning actions, some officials want to also ban construction

By Devin Gannon

All city land use and rezoning processes have been temporarily suspended as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. In an executive order, the mayor directed procedures "applicable to the city planning and land use processes" to freeze for the duration of New York's state of emergency.
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NYC bars and restaurants can now sell to-go cocktails

By Devin Gannon

To stop the spread of coronavirus, New York officials on Monday closed all restaurants and bars, with the exception of takeout and delivery services. The new rules, as mandated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Liquor Authority, allow businesses to sell to-go alcoholic beverages, including wine and liquor for the first time, as long as it is with a food purchase. This change in liquor laws will continue until April 15 but could be extended.
Details here

How grocery stores are adapting amidst coronavirus: Product limits, senior shopping times, reduced hours

Photo by Boris Dunand on Unsplash

March 17, 2020

How grocery stores are adapting amidst coronavirus: Product limits, senior shopping times, reduced hours

By Dana Schulz

By now, we've all seen the lines wrapping around the block to get into Trader Joe's or the crazed shoppers buying 100 rolls of toilet paper. And all of this panic shopping and stockpiling, coupled with the state's new guidelines on businesses, has caused grocery stores in the region to adjust their hours and practices. From reduced hours to elderly-only shopping times to purchase limits, this is how businesses like Trader Joe's, Fairway, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and some more local spots are coping amidst the coronavirus health crisis.
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City Living

Photo by Nick Normal on Flickr

March 16, 2020

New York freezes evictions statewide indefinitely amid coronavirus pandemic

By Devin Gannon

Eviction proceedings have been halted until further notice in response to the coronavirus pandemic, New York officials announced Sunday. Effective Monday at 5 p.m., all proceedings and pending eviction orders will be suspended across the state, according to a memo written by New York's Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks.
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Policy

How the coronavirus is affecting New York City real estate

Image courtesy of 6sqft.

March 16, 2020

How the coronavirus is affecting New York City real estate

By Michelle Cohen

FaceTime video tours, virtual open houses, and plunging interest rates; the real estate business in New York City in the time of COVID-19 isn’t business as usual. But as impactful and uncertain as the global pandemic is, it may not be bad for business. An important and unique attribute of this particular crisis, though, is uncertainty. There are new developments each day, and new answers–for public health and welfare, of course, but also for businesses affected by the virus.
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What you need to know about NYC’s school closures

Photo via Pixabay

March 16, 2020

What you need to know about NYC’s school closures

By Devin Gannon

All New York City public schools will be closed for at least four weeks in response to the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday. "This is a decision that I have taken with no joy whatsoever, with a lot of pain, honestly, because it's something I could not in a million years have imagined having to do," the mayor said. Starting Monday, the city's nearly 1,800 schools will be closed until April 20 at the earliest. The city, which is the largest public school system in the country with 1.1 million students, has pledged to provide grab-and-go meals to students, open enrichment centers to serve children of first responders and healthcare workers, and supply 300,000 iPads to students without access to devices.
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New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut impose tri-state set of coronavirus rules

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

March 16, 2020

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut impose tri-state set of coronavirus rules

By Dana Schulz

The only region in the country so far to come together in such a coordinated way in the lack of federal uniformity, Governor Murphy of New Jersey, Governor Cuomo of New York, and Governor Lamont of Connecticut announced on a conference call this morning an overarching set of rules to "flatten the curve" of the coronavirus spread. This includes no gatherings of 50 or more people, no dine-in at restaurants and bars, and the closing of movie theaters, casinos, and gyms. Any non-essential travel between 8pm and 5am every day is also strongly discouraged.
More details available here

Amid coronavirus fears, subway ridership falls 20% while Citi Bike sees a 70% increase

Photo credit: Billie Grace Ward via Flickr

March 13, 2020

Amid coronavirus fears, subway ridership falls 20% while Citi Bike sees a 70% increase

By Alexandra Alexa

In the face of growing coronavirus concerns, many New Yorkers are avoiding public transportation and heeding advice to walk or bike whenever possible. As the Daily News reported, ridership on Wednesday was down nearly 20 percent on subways and 15 percent on buses compared to March 2019. A similar comparison on Thursday morning showed Metro-North ridership was down by 48 percent and Long Island Rail Road ridership down 31 percent. According to the New York Times, the number of cyclists crossing the East River bridges has doubled since the beginning of March and Citi Bike has seen a 70 percent increase in trips so far this month.
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48-year-old Chinatown restaurant Jing Fong temporarily shuts down

Photo by josh s jackson via Flickr cc

March 13, 2020

48-year-old Chinatown restaurant Jing Fong temporarily shuts down

By Dana Schulz

NYC's largest Chinese restaurant, Jing Fong, has temporarily shut its doors at 20 Elizabeth Street amid the coronavirus health crisis. The situation is two-fold for the iconic dim sum restaurant; not only is business down 30 to 40 percent, according to the Post, but since the restaurant has 800 seats, they fall under Governor Cuomo's order that gatherings of 500 or more be shut down. The effect of the pandemic has been especially hard for restaurants in Manhattan's Chinatown, as well as those Chinatowns in Flushing and Sunset Park.
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Food & Dining

NYC’s coronavirus cancellations, closures, and precautions

Photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash

March 11, 2020

NYC’s coronavirus cancellations, closures, and precautions

By 6sqft

With city and state government closing schools until at least the end of April and shutting down restaurants and bars aside from takeout and delivery, NYC is in unprecedented times. 6sqft has begun compiling a list of closures, cancellations, and postponements, as well as information on how the subway, ride-share companies, and public entities like libraries are handling the outbreak and how refunds or credits are being issued. As the situation develops, we'll be updating this list to the best of our knowledge. This list was last updated at 2:30 pm on Thursday, March 26.
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Events & Things To Do

To offset Coronavirus-related dips in attendance, tickets for six Broadway hits will be only $50

Photo credit: Mihai Bojin via Flickr

March 10, 2020

To offset Coronavirus-related dips in attendance, tickets for six Broadway hits will be only $50

By Alexandra Alexa

As Coronavirus fears begin impacting Broadway attendance, producer Scott Rudin is slashing ticket prices to keep theatres full, Deadline reports. Starting this Thursday at noon, all remaining March tickets for Rudin's popular productions—To Kill a Mockingbird, West Side Story, The Lehman Trilogy, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and The Book of Mormon—will be available for only $50.
This could be the deal you've been waiting for

Events & Things To Do

New York City introduces text line for coronavirus updates

Photo by Alejandro Sotillet on Unsplash

March 9, 2020

New York City introduces text line for coronavirus updates

By Dana Schulz

At a press conference this afternoon, Mayor de Blasio informed New Yorkers that they can text COVID to 692 692 to receive updates on the coronavirus from the city. He also said that, as of now, the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade is scheduled to go on as planned on Tuesday, March 17th, as is the New York City Half Marathon this Sunday.
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Policy

New York State is producing its own hand sanitizer, starting at 100,000 gallons per week

Photo via Governor Cuomo/Flickr

March 9, 2020

New York State is producing its own hand sanitizer, starting at 100,000 gallons per week

By Dana Schulz

At a press conference this morning, Governor Cuomo announced that New York State is beginning to produce 100,000 gallons of its own hand sanitizer every week, with that amount expected to increase. Called New York Clean, the sanitizer was introduced to deal with the incredible price gouging on the product taking place on Amazon and Ebay. It has a higher alcohol content than Purell--75 percent versus 70 (the CDC recommends 60).
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Policy

With coronavirus cases expected to surge in NYC, de Blasio urges staggered commute times

Photo via WNYC/Flickr cc

March 9, 2020

With coronavirus cases expected to surge in NYC, de Blasio urges staggered commute times

By Dana Schulz

Photo via WNYC/Flickr cc The city thus far has said that public transportation will continue to operate normally (with increased cleaning measures, of course), but this weekend, after Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, Mayor de Blasio urged NYC residents to stagger their commute times to avoid rush hour. He also promoted biking or walking to work (despite the fact that the latter is not a feasible option for most), telecommuting, and avoiding crowded subway cars.
See what else the Mayor has to say

New York implements ‘cancel for any reason’ travel policies amid coronavirus outbreak

Photo by Philip Morris via Flickr cc

March 7, 2020

New York implements ‘cancel for any reason’ travel policies amid coronavirus outbreak

By Dana Schulz

The night before declaring a State of Emergency in New York State, Governor Cuomo announced that travel agents and travel insurers will offer "cancel for any reason" travel policies, joined by six global and national insurance companies. According to a press release, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) put in place this action "to provide reassurance to New York businesses and residents who are seeking to make plans that may involve travel to locations that are not currently under travel advisories due to COVID-19."
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Policy

How the NYC subway is preparing for coronavirus

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit, Flickr cc

March 3, 2020

How the NYC subway is preparing for coronavirus

By Michelle Cohen

After issuing their first response last Thursday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) issued an update today on the precautions the agency is taking in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), joining a coordinated effort by New York City and state to remain ahead of an epidemic whose impact could depend on how well communities and authorities respond to it. Now that there's been a confirmed case in Manhattan, as well as one in Westchester, the agency has taken additional measures to inform and protect its employees–and the eight million people who ride its subways, commuter trains and buses daily. The MTA will make sure that none of its trains, cars, or buses go more than 72 hours without undergoing sanitization.
More on how New York City is preparing for coronavirus below

Coronavirus

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