January 8, 2021 | Newsletter

Dear Nightlife Community,  

 

Happy New Year! 

On January 1, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams was sworn in as the 110th Mayor of the City of New York. As we transition to a new administration, please be assured that the Office of Nightlife (ONL) of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), along with the rest of City government, continues to do whatever we can to keep our arts, entertainment and nightlife communities informed about the new developments and available resources to support our community through these challenging times.

 

This week’s newsletter shares some positive developments including Mayor Adams’ announcement of the Small Business Forward Initiative and Governor Hochul’s plans for the return of to-go cocktails. There are also important updates regarding grants and resources.

 

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising in NYC and nationwide, largely due to the spread of the more contagious omicron variant. We know this has significantly impacted the nightlife community, and we thank all New Yorkers who are doing their part to get through this. Please review the NYC Health Department’s Winter COVID-19 Surge Guidance for New Yorkers issued this week for tips on staying safe. Visit the COVID-19 Citywide Information Portal for COVID-19 testing locations and vaccinefinder.nyc.gov to schedule your vaccine or booster!

 

Please continue to reach out with any questions, concerns, needs and ideas.

 

  

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment     

This week, Mayor Eric Adams announced the Small Business Forward initiative, directing the Fire Department and the Departments of Buildings, Consumer and Worker Protection, Environmental Protection, Health and Mental Hygiene, and Sanitation to evaluate and reform New York City regulations affecting small businesses. 

Identified as a need in the Office of Nightlife’s report last year, this initiative is an important step forward in our ongoing recovery. Please read the Mayor’s Executive Order No. 2 to learn more. As an additional step to support NYC’s small businesses, Mayor Adams joined many other mayors from around the country with a letter calling on Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

The Mayor also extended the Key to NYC Program, by issuing Emergency Executive Order No. 1. Under the Key to NYC Program, proof of vaccination is required for indoor dining, indoor fitness, and indoor entertainment and certain meeting spaces. Individuals 12 and older must show proof that they have received two (2) vaccine doses, except for those who have received one (1) dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Children ages 5 to 11 are required to show proof that they received at least one (1) dose of a vaccine. 

 

In her historic State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the State’s plans to permanently allow the sale of to-go cocktails by liquor licensed establishments. While there are legislative steps necessary for this change to take effect, we are optimistic that New Yorkers and businesses will soon be able to take advantage of this option once again.  

The Governor also announced the state’s billion-dollar plan to assist small businesses including tax credits, grants, and loans, which can be found on pages 113-115 of the 2022 State of the State book. The State plans to provide $100 million in tax relief for 195,000 small businesses through increasing a tax return adjustment to reduce small businesses’ gross business income. Last month, Governor Hochul also announced $100 million in rent supplements for struggling New Yorkers. We will continue to share more details about these initiatives as they become available. 

The State Liquor Authority (SLA) has also updated its website to include information about the eligibility standards for temporary retail permits in New York City, which are effective immediately. The SLA also revised the application for the temporary retail permit and the municipal notice form. Links to the new forms can be found on the SLA’s website.

A moratorium on COVID-related residential and commercial evictions for New York State is in effect until January 15, 2022. Under the law, all protections of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act for residential tenants who are suffering financial hardship as a result of the pandemic will remain in place, along with protections on commercial evictions. You can read the law on the New York State Senate’s website. 

Note: There are additional eviction protections available to NYC Tenants. Up-to-date information and resources are available on NYC’s 311 portal, at the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, and the NYC Human Resources website for renters at risk of eviction or entering shelter. 

On January 4, 2022, the New York State Department of Health issued interim guidance about shortened quarantine and isolation periods, following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. The NYS Department of Health notes that the CDC guidance is in flux; accordingly, the State expects to update its guidance. Updates will be posted on the NYS Department of Health website.

In response to the unprecedented surge of omicron cases and citywide testing demand, the NYC Test & Trace Corps has doubled the number of City-run test sites to over 200 fixed and mobile COVID-19 testing sites currently operating throughout New York City. For a complete, up to date list of City-run testing sites please visit nyc.gov/covidtest.

 

At-home testing for COVID-19 is available to all immunocompromised New Yorkers and those ages 65 and older. Appointments for at-home testing are available seven days a week, from 9am to 7pm. New Yorkers may schedule an appointment by calling 929-298-9400.

The Vaccine Command Center offers resources and information on how to access vaccines by appointment and at walk-up sites, mobile units, and at home. You can find your nearest COVID-19 vaccine site online or call 844-VAX-4NYC.   

 

COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available for all fully vaccinated people 16 and older. The NYC Department of Health recommends a booster shot for eligible individuals who received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.