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Dear Friends,

While you might not know it by the weather this week, spring is in the air. This month’s return of St. Patrick’s Day Parades and the United Airlines NYC Half brought a new energy and sense of celebration throughout the five boroughs. New shows are opening on Broadway: Plaza Suite, Paradise Square, Take Me Out, and Birthday Candles, to name a few. And nightlife venues are seeing bigger crowds. NYC is back!

Earlier this month, Mayor Adams unveiled Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery. Blueprint outlines the mayor’s vision for the city’s economic recovery and the future of the city’s economy — all built on equity and inclusivity. The COVID-19 global pandemic devastated the city’s economy, but New York City is now on the cusp of an economic resurgence, and the mayor’s plan seizes on a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvigorate the city’s economy in the short and long terms. Blueprint specifically aims to accelerate the return to pre-pandemic employment levels, while simultaneously laying the foundation for the city’s economic future — addressing historic injustices and reimagining outdated ways of doing business.

New York City’s creative and cultural economy feature prominently in Blueprint, with plans that include strengthening and diversifying the film and television industry, making NYC a leading hub for digital game development, establishing a “Culture at Risk” response team to ensure that our arts groups and small businesses remain a valuable part of the fabric of our city, activating public spaces to support diverse programming, and streamlining business support for nightlife establishments. We look forward to partnering with industry and creative workers to reenergize the soul of our city – New York City’s creative economy.

COVID-19 UPDATES

New York City’s current COVID-19 Alert Level is low. Individuals should:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines: Get vaccinated and boosted.

• Consider wearing a face mask in public indoor settings where vaccine status is not known.

• Get tested.

• Stay home if sick or recently exposed.

The following summarizes the status of Vax to Work (the employer vaccine mandate), Key to NYC, and mask requirements in New York City:

• Performer exemption to “Vax to Work” expanded. With COVID-19 case counts remaining low and vaccination rates at record heights, New York City Mayor Eric Adams outlined the next step in the city’s economic recovery and COVID-19 response, with a measure that will support local businesses and arts and performance venues across the city. Signed and effective March 24, 2022, Executive Order 62 expands the performer exemption to the city’s private employer vaccine mandates, putting New York City-based performers on a level playing field with performers based outside of the city. For more information, please visit www.nyc.gov/vaxtowork.

• Key to NYC rules remain suspended. Indoor venues, including restaurants, fitness facilities, and entertainment spaces are not required to check for proof of vaccination before customers enter. Businesses previously covered by Key to NYC rules will still have the flexibility to require proof of vaccination or masking indoors if they choose.

• Businesses and employers may choose to require masks, and individuals may continue to wear masks if they wish. Masks are still required on public transit (including on busses and in the subway), in healthcare settings, nursing homes, and certain other locations.

COVID-19 UPDATES

The COVID-19 Citywide Information Portal offers the latest information on COVID-19, including testing, vaccines and boosters and other resources.

Booster Shots

On March 29, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it will allow certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to receive a second COVID-19 booster shot. In addition, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Testing

You can now make an appointment for a free rapid COVID-19 virus test at the NYC Health Department's COVID Express sites throughout the city. Test results are available within 24 hours or less of your visit. This means that most patients will receive their test results on the same day as their visit. All tests performed at these sites are PCR-based laboratory diagnostic tests, which are the most accurate type of test available.

OTHER CITY RESOURCES

• Workers who earn $72,000 or less can file with NYC Free Tax Prep. Learn more about Free Tax Prep at nyc.gov/taxprep.

• Eviction protections for NYC Tenants are still available. Up-to-date information and resources are available on NYC’s 311 portal and NYC Human Resources website for renters at risk of eviction or entering shelter.

• NYC homeowners at risk of being displaced from their communities can get help from the expanded Homeowner Help Desk. You can call 1-855-HOME-456 or stop by a Help Desk event. Support includes helping homeowners resolve housing challenges due to COVID-19, managing a home as a small landlord, understanding a home’s flood risk, and more.

• NYC Business Quick Start provides small businesses a sole point of contact to help navigate City regulations, guarantees a 48-hour response to all small business inquiries, and will cut processing time by 50 percent. The program is a collaboration between several key agencies including SBS, Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). For more information, visit the NYC Business Quick Start website or call 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692).

• WE NYC offers special resources for women-owned small businesses on the WE NYC website.

• MEND NYC is a collaboration between the Office of Nightlife and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings' Center for Creative Conflict Resolution (CCCR) that provides free mediation and conflict resolution services to address disputes between nightlife establishments and their neighbors.

• “Narcan Behind Every Bar” is a campaign by the Office of Nightlife in partnership with the NYC Department of Health to provide trainings for venue owners and workers to become certified opioid overdose responders and receive free overdose rescue kits which include free supplies of naloxone.

• Elevate Nightlife is a program of the Office of Nightlife, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health and Backline, to connect the nightlife community directly with mental health resources and services through free and confidential weekly mental health support group moderated by a Backline Care licensed therapists, every Monday at 4pm.

STATE ASSISTANCE

On March 18, 2022, Governor Hochul signed into law Senate Bill 7826/Assembly Bill 8707, which allows State Liquor Authority licensees that participate in the NYC Open Restaurant Program to extend their outdoor dining spaces to adjacent properties up to two doors down. The effective date of this law is July 6, 2021 (retroactive).

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management is hosting Cannabis Conversation webinars across the state to talk about the recent passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) and next steps for cannabis in New York. Find out how to attend the meetings of the Cannabis Control Board.

New York State continues to accept applications for the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program. The program provides $800 million for small businesses (including small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations), experiencing financial hardship from COVID-19. Flexible grants up to $50,000 can be used for operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, PPE, or other expenses incurred during the pandemic. Assistance is available at 877-721-0097.

New York State and City offer resources to help the Ukrainian people and their friends and allies here in New York. Ukrainians in the USA who are eligible for Temporary Protected Status can contact the NYS New Americans Hotline for free legal assistance at 1-800-566-7636 and find information about services to immigrants from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the New York State Office for New Americans. Allies can learn about how to donate to relief organizations on the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City’s webpage. And learn how to avoid and report charity scams involving aid to Ukraine on the Governor’s website.

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Borrowers may be eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. The SBA launched a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. Information about PPP loan forgiveness is available on SBA’s website.

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For the latest updates, sign up for MOME’s newsletter, follow our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or visit our website at www.nyc.gov/mome.

Stay safe and stay NYC strong,

Anne del Castillo, Commissioner

The City of New York

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

www.nyc.gov/mome

@NYCMOMECommish

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

nyc.gov/mome

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