Andrew Cuomo

May 7, 2020

Cuomo extends New York eviction freeze through August 20, bans late fees

The moratorium on residential and commercial evictions will be extended statewide by 60 days until August 20, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday. Additional rent relief measures include a ban on fees for late-payments and allowing renters to use security deposits as payment. "I don't want to see people and their children being evicted at this time, through no fault of their own," the governor said during a press briefing.
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What you need to know about the May 1 rent strike

Photo by Avi Werde on Unsplash

April 30, 2020

What you need to know about the May 1 rent strike

By Devin Gannon

With more than a million New Yorkers out of work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many tenants will struggle to pay rent on Friday. Hoping to pressure Gov. Andrew Cuomo to cancel rent for the duration of the health crisis, a coalition of housing advocates is leading a statewide rent strike on May 1, with thousands of renters already pledging to skip payments. But landlords, who argue rental income pays for the growing costs of building maintenance, are fighting for relief themselves.
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New York City lovebirds can get married online starting next week

Photo by Emma Bauso from Pexels

April 29, 2020

New York City lovebirds can get married online starting next week

By Dana Schulz

"We need moments of joy now more than ever, and we won’t let a pandemic get in the way of true love," said Mayor Bill de Blasio in his announcement that New Yorkers will be able to obtain marriage licenses online from the City Clerk by the end of next week. Called Project Cupid, the initiative is helmed by the Mayor and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. It comes after Governor Cuomo signed an executive order on April 18th that allows bureau clerks to perform wedding ceremonies virtually.
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Here are the real estate leaders tapped for Cuomo’s NY reopening advisory board

Photo by Mike Groll for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

April 29, 2020

Here are the real estate leaders tapped for Cuomo’s NY reopening advisory board

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced the creation of an advisory board of business professionals and community leaders to guide the state's reopening strategy. The 100-person "New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board" includes members from a mix of industries, including a number of real estate leaders and developers. The board is part of a 12-point plan to reopen the state on a region-by-region basis.
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Policy

Here’s what New York’s phased reopening will look like

Photo by Garin Chadwick on Unsplash

April 27, 2020

Here’s what New York’s phased reopening will look like

By Dana Schulz

"Let's start to put some meat on the bones" said Governor Cuomo yesterday in his press conference, referring to a reopening plan. After first reminding New Yorkers that the CDC recommends the state and regional hospitalization rate be in decline for 14 days before any action is taken, he laid out the phased reopening. The first phase brings back construction and manufacturing, while the second phase starts to reintroduce a wider net of businesses based on their risk and how essential they are. The plan will pay special attention to "summer activities" like beaches, and the governor also talked about bringing back sports without audiences.
More details here

Policy

The L train ‘slowdown’ is over! Regular subway service resumes today

Photo: Trent Reeves/MTA Construction & Development, via Flickr cc. L Project Tunnel Rehabilitation Work, taken on March 16, 2019.

April 27, 2020

The L train ‘slowdown’ is over! Regular subway service resumes today

By Dana Schulz

"Ahead of schedule" and "under budget" are not phrases commonly associated with the MTA, but the agency pulled it out when it came to the L train tunnel project. Originally planned as a major shutdown by the city, the project was downgraded to a partial "slowdown" in January 2019 after Governor Cuomo convened his own panel of engineers. And after work began last April, causing only reduced service on nights and weekends, the governor announced yesterday that L train service will resume on both tracks during overnights and weekends starting today. He also said that the project finished three months ahead of schedule and $100 million under budget.
Take a virtual first ride!

Transit

Mike Bloomberg donates $10.5M to develop New York region’s contact tracing program

Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

April 22, 2020

Mike Bloomberg donates $10.5M to develop New York region’s contact tracing program

By Dana Schulz

After receiving positive news last night from the White House in regards to federal support for testing, Governor Cuomo today revealed new details on the contact-tracing-isolation program that the state will begin implementing immediately in conjunction with increased testing. Former NYC Mayor and billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg has volunteered to help develop this program, which will operate across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Bloomberg Philanthropies has also made a financial contribution of $10.5 million.
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Policy

Photo of Donald Trump via Wikimedia Commons; Photo of Governor Andrew Cuomo via Wikimedia Commons

April 22, 2020

Following meeting with Trump, Cuomo says New York will double COVID testing capacity

By Dana Schulz

It was a question of friend or foe leading up to Governor Cuomo's meeting at the White House yesterday, but it looks like the governor, who has been referred to as the "Trump whisperer," came out of the chat with some concrete federal commitments when it comes to advancing coronavirus testing in the state. After the meeting, the governor announced a partnership with the federal government that will double the current daily testing capacity from 20,000 to 40,000, which includes both diagnostic and antibody tests. The state will manage the actual tests in its laboratories, but the federal government will be responsible for handling the international supply chain issues associated with testing that are out of the state's purview.
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Policy

Cuomo to expand COVID-19 testing at NYC public housing

Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City is one of the NYCHA developments to get testing services; Photo via Wikimedia

April 20, 2020

Cuomo to expand COVID-19 testing at NYC public housing

By Devin Gannon

A pilot program to bring on-site health services and expanded COVID-19 testing to residents of New York City's public housing will roll out this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. The news follows preliminary data released by the city and state earlier this month that shows minority and low-income communities are facing disproportionate rates of infection and death from the coronavirus. "People in public housing always seem to pay the highest prices," the governor said on Monday.
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Policy

All New Yorkers must wear masks in public spaces, Cuomo orders

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels

April 15, 2020

All New Yorkers must wear masks in public spaces, Cuomo orders

By Devin Gannon

All people must wear a mask or face-covering in public in situations where social distancing is not possible, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. As part of an executive order, New Yorkers must wear a mask or cloth covering over their nose and mouth to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This includes wearing face coverings in crowded areas like busy sidewalks and public transportation. The new order will go into effect on Friday, the governor said.
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Policy

New York lays out phased reopening blueprint, will begin state-wide antibody testing

By Dana Schulz

In his press conference today, Governor Cuomo gave the first concrete information about how the state will begin the process of reopening. A basic phased approach will take into account two factors: 1) How "essential" the business service or product is and 2) What the risk of "infection spread" of the business is. To get to that point, New York will begin state-wide antibody testing and tracing. Last week, the state Department of Health announced that it had developed its own such test and this week will begin 2,000 finger prick antibody tests per day. New York has also asked the FDA to expedite the process of a similar finger prick test that could test up to 100,000 New Yorkers a day.
More details ahead

De Blasio urges state to act on NYC rent relief proposals

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash

April 13, 2020

De Blasio urges state to act on NYC rent relief proposals

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday urged the state to act on a number of rent relief proposals amid the coronavirus pandemic, including a deferment of rents for tenants, the use of pre-paid security deposits in lieu of rent, and an extension of the current moratorium on evictions. The mayor has also called on the Rent Guidelines Board--the entity that determines yearly rent increases for the city's rent-stabilized units--to enact a rent freeze.
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Policy

Watch New York’s moving ‘How You Save A Life’ video

Photo by Thomas Jansen on Unsplash

April 10, 2020

Watch New York’s moving ‘How You Save A Life’ video

By Dana Schulz

"The statisticians when they did their curve did not know how New Yorkers would respond... they didn't know how unified New Yorkers can be and how responsible they can be and how caring they are and how they rally for one another... that's what they couldn't count in those models. They couldn't count the spirit of New Yorkers and the love of New Yorkers to step up and do the right thing," said Governor Cuomo in his press conference earlier today before revealing the state's powerful new "How You Save A Life" video. The moving montage, set to The Fray's "How to Save a Life," is a compilation of the photos real New Yorkers shared of themselves staying home.
Watch it here

City Living

A third of U.S. renters didn’t pay rent on time, report says

Photo by Anthony Formin on Unsplash

April 9, 2020

A third of U.S. renters didn’t pay rent on time, report says

By Devin Gannon

Just 69 percent of apartment renters in the United States paid rent during the first week of April, according to a new report released this week by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC). This a decrease of 12 percentage points compared to the percentage of households that paid rent last month. The data is one of the first looks at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic--which has put millions of Americans out of work-- on the housing market.
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J.Lo and A-Rod help Governor Cuomo launch ‘stay home’ social media campaign

Graphic courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus response campaign toolkit

April 8, 2020

J.Lo and A-Rod help Governor Cuomo launch ‘stay home’ social media campaign

By Devin Gannon

To reach more New Yorkers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday launched a multi-platform awareness campaign to encourage everyone to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic. With help from Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, the governor's new social media push asks New Yorkers to use the hashtag #IStayHomeFor and nominate friends to participate.
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Latino and black communities in NYC face disproportionate rates of death from coronavirus

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

April 8, 2020

Latino and black communities in NYC face disproportionate rates of death from coronavirus

By Devin Gannon

Early data released by New York City this week shows a disparity in deaths caused by coronavirus among people of color. Of those who have died from COVID-19, 34 percent were Hispanic and 28 percent were black, according to preliminary numbers from April 6. Those groups make up 29 percent and 22 percent of the city's population, respectively.
Details on the data

Policy

To relieve NYC hospitals, USNS Comfort hospital ship becomes COVID center

Photo by Darren McGee for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

April 7, 2020

To relieve NYC hospitals, USNS Comfort hospital ship becomes COVID center

By Dana Schulz

When Governor Cuomo first announced that New York would be receiving hospital assistance in the form of the USNS Comfort naval hospital ship arriving in New York Harbor and the Javits Center being turned into a temporary FEMA hospital, health officials outlined those as overflow facilities. However, as the coronavirus caseload has increased, mainly in New York City, the need for more COVID-only beds has grown imminent. Therefore, last week, the governor announced that the Javits Center was becoming a 2,500-bed COVID-only facility, and yesterday he received approval from Donald Trump to also transition the Comfort "to serve as a relief valve for our stressed hospital system."
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Policy

Javits Center will now provide 2,500 COVID beds

Photo by Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, via Flickr cc

April 2, 2020

Javits Center will now provide 2,500 COVID beds

By Dana Schulz

When it first opened on Monday, the temporary hospital set up at the Javits Center was to serve as an overflow site, treating non-COVID patients to ease the burden on the city's hospitals. But as the severity of the situation has worsened throughout the week, Governor Cuomo asked President Trump for approval on using Javits' 2,500 beds solely for COVID-19 patients. He received the approval this evening.
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Policy

State says real estate industry is an essential business during shutdown

Photo © 6sqft

April 2, 2020

State says real estate industry is an essential business during shutdown

By Devin Gannon

Some real estate industry work is considered essential and can continue during the coronavirus outbreak, New York State announced on Wednesday. The reversal in policy, first spotted by the Real Deal, means real estate agents can now host in-person residential and commercial showings, as long as social distancing measures are taken (open houses are still prohibited). However, the Real Estate Board of New York quickly reached out to brokers and advised them against in-person showings.
More here

NYC officials propose allowing renters to use security deposit for April rent

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

March 31, 2020

NYC officials propose allowing renters to use security deposit for April rent

By Devin Gannon

Under a plan introduced by local officials, New York City renters struggling to pay next month's rent would be allowed to use their existing security deposits as payment. As the Daily News first reported, the proposal would let tenants opt into the rent relief program to transfer their pre-paid deposits to rent. The deposit would have to be replaced within 30 days or converted into a monthly installment plan, under the proposal.
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Policy

PHOTOS: USNS Comfort hospital ship arrives in NYC

Photo by Michael Appleton for the Mayoral Photography Office

March 30, 2020

PHOTOS: USNS Comfort hospital ship arrives in NYC

By Devin Gannon

The 1,000 hospital-bed Navy ship USNS Comfort arrived in New York City on Monday, sent by the federal government to alleviate the burden the city's hospitals are facing as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. With more than 1,200 medical personnel on deck, the floating hospital will serve non-COVID-19 patients to take the pressure off the city's hospitals, which are currently overwhelmed by a growing number of cases. Docked at Pier 90 in Hell's Kitchen, the ship expects to begin receiving patients in 24 hours after its arrival.
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Policy

Four more temporary hospital sites approved for NYC, will bring 4,000 additional beds

Photo of the Aqueduct Racetrack via Wikimedia

March 28, 2020

Four more temporary hospital sites approved for NYC, will bring 4,000 additional beds

By Devin Gannon

Facing a shortage of hospital beds, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced a plan to build four additional temporary hospitals in each New York City borough, adding 4,000 more beds. On Friday, he toured the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens' South Ozone Park, the Port Authority-owned Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, the CUNY College of Staten Island, and the New York Expo Center in Hunts Point in the Bronx. On Saturday, Cuomo said President Donald Trump had approved these sites, meaning work can begin immediately. These will be in addition to Manhattan's Javits Center, which opens tomorrow as a temporary 1,000-bed FEMA hospital.
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Policy

Inside the 1,000-bed temporary hospital at the Javits Center

Photo by Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, via Flickr cc

March 27, 2020

Inside the 1,000-bed temporary hospital at the Javits Center

By Dana Schulz

On Monday, Governor Cuomo announced that the Army Corps of Engineers began work to create a temporary hospital inside the Javits Center. And though he said the work would last a week to 10 days, today he held his daily press conference inside the completed 1,000-bed facility, which will officially open on Monday. After profusely thanking the men and women who worked tirelessly to construct this overflow hospital, the Governor said that he is joining all New Yorkers to "kick coronavirus' ass."
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Policy

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

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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Andrew Cuomo

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