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Dear Friends,

Last week, I was proud to join colleagues from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Department of City Planning, Department of Small Business Services, and Economic Development Corporation as Mayor Adams announced our appointments to his economic development team under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer. I am honored to be able to continue our critical work at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) to rebuild and grow our city’s creative economy, which is at the heart of New York City’s identity.

COVID-19 UPDATES

In the wake of quickly declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and more than 17 million doses of vaccines administered, earlier today Mayor Adams announced several changes to COVID-19 pandemic, including the suspension of the Key to NYC program and the removal of indoor mask mandates in city public schools for K-12 students.

• Key to NYC rules will be suspended. Indoor venues, including restaurants, fitness facilities, and entertainment spaces will no longer be 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.

• Masks will no longer be required on public school grounds for kindergarten to 12th grade students. While these public school children will be able to remove their masks, if they so choose, schools will continue to maintain strict COVID-19 protocols, including increased ventilation, a daily screener to ensure those with symptoms do not come to school, and test kit distribution. Masks will continue to be required for all settings with children under 5 years of age (where none of the population is yet eligible for the vaccine), including programs contracted by the New York City Department of Education with 3- and 4-year-old children as well as 3K and 4K classrooms in district schools.

All other COVID-19 mandates will remain in effect. Under the rules, employees will still be required to be vaccinated unless they have received a reasonable accommodation from their employer. For complete information, please visit www.nyc.gov/vaxtowork.

Additionally, Mayor Adams released a new color-coded system that tracks COVID-19 alerts and keeps the public apprised of the risks they face in New York City. This new system will better help New Yorkers understand the current level of COVID-19 risk and how they can best protect themselves and others based on the current risk. The system consists of four alert levels that outline precautions and recommended actions for individuals and government based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Burden Indicator.

COVID-19 Resources

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

Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan

New York State requires all employers to implement an Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan. Employers can find the regulation with requirements for the plan and anti-retaliation requirements and templates for the plans in English and Spanish on the NYS Department of Labor website (under Resources, near the bottom of the webpage). This plan is different than the Key to NYC implementation plan, so be sure to review the NYS DOL guidance carefully.

Travel

The NYC Department of Health recommends that everyone who is traveling should get tested before they leave New York City and before they return home.All travelers, domestic and international, should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements. More information about international travel requirements is available on the State Department’s website.

MOME UPDATES

I am pleased to welcome Samer Nasser as Executive Director of MOME’s newest division, the Press Credentials Office (PCO). Under Local Law 46 of 2021, press credentialing responsibilities, previously managed by the NYPD, transferred to MOME on January 20, 2022. Samer brings to the office over two decades of experience working in broadcast journalism, from ViacomCBS to Al Jazeera America, and Fox Business Network. More information about the PCO is available at nyc.gov/presscredentials.

Last week, Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer and I met with representatives from the film industry to discuss opportunities for growth and sustainability of this $82B economic engine. We’re delighted to see so many productions returning to set and thrilled to see our Made in NY shows getting the recognition they deserve during this year’s awards season.

Also last week, MOME and the Office of Nightlife hosted a Multi-Agency Town Call for Workers in arts, entertainment and nightlife industries. Representatives from the NY State Department of Labor, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), NYC Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT), NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), The Actors Fund, and the Freelancers Union discussed unemployment insurance, paid sick leave, free tax prep and financial counseling, freelance worker labor laws, tenant rights and resources, accessing the health insurance marketplace, public assistance benefits and more.

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.

• Applications for requests to City Council for FY2023 capital funding for non-city agencies are due March 24. Eligibility is restricted to not-for-profit, community-based social services providers.

• 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

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 here.

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.

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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