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Dear Friends,

Sunday, July 26th marked the 30th Anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities across all areas of life. To honor the occasion, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) is proud to partner with ReelAbilities to present a series of virtual summer screenings. Our colleagues at the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities have posted a list of anniversary events as well as a virtual exhibit about New York City’s Disability Rights Movement. Our work to advance a more inclusive and accessible industry continues.

New York City is now in Phase 4 of reopening.

MEDIA PRODUCTION

The Film Office is currently accepting applications for Phase 4 production activity. The latest Commissioner’s Directive No. 9 includes updated guidance for Phase 4 film permitting. Directive No. 9, along with a plain language explanation and FAQ are now available on the Film Permit website. Please check the website for updates frequently and review the guidelines and FAQ before submitting permit applications. The Film Office is operating remotely, so please allow additional time for Film Permit processing.

All production activity, whether it requires a Film Permit or not, must comply with New York Forward Industry Guidance. Media production activities involve a variety of operations (such as scouting, set construction, and hair and makeup), and owners/managers of media production businesses should comply with relevant industry-specific State Department of Health guidance where applicable. See the State Department of Health’s Interim Guidance for Media Production During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency for more information.

OUTDOOR DINING

There are now nearly 9,000 establishments participating in New York City’s Open Restaurants program which has been extended until the end of October. New Yorkers can dine in safe, socially distant outdoor spaces, from sidewalks to curb lanes to Open Streets. Selected corridors will be operational on Friday from 5-11pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 11pm.

To assist businesses participating in outdoor dining, the Office of Nightlife, in collaboration with the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), and NYC Health Department (DOHMH) has produced ”What to Expect When You’re Inspected” and a “Multi-agency Reopening Toolkit for Restaurants and Bars.” The guides are available for download at www.nyc.gov/nightlife, along with posters and social media graphics for the It’s Up to You, New York and to Take Out, Don’t Hang Out public awareness campaigns. Information about Restaurant Reopening is also available at nyc.gov/restaurantreopening or by calling the SBS hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC.

SBS also has compiled a list of event production companies that rent or sell the equipment needed to safely transition to outdoor dining while complying with safety and accessibility regulations. Using this list, restaurants can contact several vendors directly to compare prices and find the best deal available.

RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES

Information and guidelines for businesses reopening in Phase 4 are available at NYC.gov/nycbusiness. The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is hosting Small Business Resource Fairs to provide information about requirements and guidelines to re-opening, safety plans, financial assistance, regulatory changes, employee support, licensing, inspections, and more. They also have a small business hotline—888-SBS-4NYC or 888-727-4692—to answer questions about the latest guidelines and regulations.

Under the State’s New York Forward plan, each business must develop a written Safety Plan for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Businesses may fill out this template or develop their own Safety Plan, which must be conspicuously posted on site and made available to the New York State Department of Health or New York City health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) offers information about reopening requirements and health and safety guidelines for the workplace, including FAQs for NYC Workers and an update about workplace laws for employers and employees to stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition, they have set up a Worker Protection Hotline at 311 or 1-212-436-0381 for questions about reopening or to report an employer that is not following reopening requirements.

DCWP and SBS also are working with business-serving partner organizations throughout the five boroughs to distribute free face coverings citywide to small businesses and their employees. If you are a small business looking to secure free face coverings for your employees, information is available here.

The NYC PPE + Reopening Supplies Marketplace provides a one-stop-shop for easy-to-access suppliers of (i) face masks and coverings, (ii) face shields, (iii) gloves, (iv) cleaning and disinfectant products, (v) physical barriers and portable furniture, and (vi) other supplies needed for re-opening. It represents both local and national suppliers and manufacturers to provide a wide range of order minimums.

A reminder that all New Yorkers are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 even if they do not have symptoms or are unsure if they were exposed. By getting tested, you are helping to keep your loved ones and your fellow New Yorkers safe. COVID-19 tests are free and confidential. New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a call from the Test & Trace Corps to make sure that they receive care and can safely separate to prevent the spread. To learn more about the Test & Trace program and find a testing site near you, visit www.testandtrace.nyc.

In response to increased rates of COVID-19 transmission in certain states within the United States, New York State has joined with New Jersey and Connecticut in jointly issuing a COVID-19 Travel Advisory for anyone returning from travel to states that have a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. Travelers from 34 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival to New York. The State Department of Health issued an emergency health order mandating that travelers from designated high infection states provide local authorities with contact information upon entering New York to help enforce quarantining. The order will be enforced at every airport in New York State. Violators can face a $2,000 fine and a hearing before a judge for noncompliance.

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If you haven’t already, check out our Virtual NYC Curator Collections, launched in partnership with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and NYC & Company. The collection features a series of virtual experiences of New York City attractions, cultural institutions and entertainment venues handpicked by some of the City’s leading cultural influencers. Curators include Thelma Golden (The Studio Museum in Harlem), David Hatkoff (NewFest), Erika Elliott (Summerstage), Gina Duncan (BAM Cinema) and Andrea Bayer (Metropolitan Museum of Art); with Esther McGowan (Visual AIDS), Eric Sanderson (Wildlife Conservation Society), Suzanne Nossel (PEN America), Kamilah Forbes (Apollo Theater) and more to come.

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.

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns or for support.

Stay safe,

Anne del Castillo

Commissioner

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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