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Dear Friends,

As I initially prepared to send this out, I suddenly heard shouts outside my window. After an historic election, the public is celebrating the culmination of our 244-years-old democratic process. Today we celebrate the nearly 160 million voters who turned out, the dedicated poll workers, the volunteers on the ground. They — you — mobilized in the midst of these challenging and unprecedented times, demonstrating the indefatigable strength of the human spirit. Congratulations to our nation and to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris!

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Earlier this week, New York State updated the COVID-19 Travel Advisory. The new guidelines apply to anyone travelling into New York State. This includes New Yorkers who have travelled to other states or countries, as well as people visiting New York. Travelers originating from the contiguous states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, as well as first responders and essential workers, are exempt from the quarantine requirement. Nonessential travel is strongly discouraged.

Travelers entering New York who have spent more than 24 hours out of state (except a contiguous state) must:

1. Complete the New York State Traveler Health Form upon entry into New York State; AND

2. Quarantine (remain in your home or the place you are staying except for emergencies or to seek medical care) for 14 days upon arrival OR test out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine by doing the following:

a. Take a COVID-19 test three days or fewer prior to arrival in New York State; AND

b. Take a second test on the fourth day of quarantine in New York; AND

c. Receive a negative test result for both tests.

• Only after receiving the second negative test result may the traveler leave quarantine.

Travelers entering New York who have spent less than 24 hours out of state (except a contiguous state) do not need to quarantine but must:

1. Complete the New York State Traveler Health Form upon entry into New York State; AND

2. Take a COVID-19 test four days after arrival in New York State.

• If the test result is positive, the traveler must fulfill the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

For more information, and for rules applicable to first responders and essential workers, visit the New York State website at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/ or call the New York State hotline at 888-364-3065.

MOME continues to work with our colleagues in government to do whatever we can to help the industries we serve and keep you informed about new developments in New York City’s reopening and recovery.

BUSINESS REOPENING

The Open Storefronts program began last week and runs until December 31. The program allows storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas. Businesses can visit www.nyc.gov/openstorefronts to review eligibility requirements and to complete a brief online application.

To accelerate the recovery of our small businesses, The NYC Small Business Resource Network offers free, personalized, one-on-one assistance for small business owners. The program is funded by The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, with support from the Partnership for New York City and the Partnership Fund and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in collaboration with Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and the Five Borough Chambers of Commerce. A team of dedicated Small Business Specialists will help small businesses navigate a range of challenges involving technology, real estate, legal and finance, new regulations, and more. Business owners can sign up for this service through the Chamber of Commerce in their borough.

The commercial eviction/foreclosure moratorium is now extended through January 1, 2021.

State COVID zone restrictions are still in effect in certain parts of Brooklyn and Queens. To find out where the zones are, and to see what restrictions apply to each zone, please visit www.nyc.gov/covidzone.

Remember to follow the core four—wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, stay home if you’re sick—and get tested! For more information on free testing, personal protective equipment and more, please visit the NYC Mayor's Office Coronavirus page.

MEDIA PRODUCTION

Current guidance for filming is available on the Film Permit website. Please be sure to check frequently for updates and review the guidelines and FAQ before submitting permit applications. If you have questions after reading these guidance documents, please call the Film Office at (212) 489-6710. Please keep in mind that the Film Office is still operating remotely so please allow additional time for Film Permit processing.

To assist productions with promoting safety protocols on set, the Film Office has produced a suite of graphics and posters available for download here.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Indoor dining remains at 25% occupancy. Establishments interested in providing comfort heating for their customers in outdoor dining areas now have three options:

• Electric radiant heaters will be allowed in sidewalk and roadway seating setups. For full guidance from the Department of Buildings, click here.

• Natural gas radiant heaters will be allowed on the sidewalk only. For full guidance from the Department of Buildings, click here. Natural gas radiant heaters must also comply with the Fire Code.

• Portable heaters fueled by propane will be allowed on the sidewalk only. Propane heating will be regulated by the Fire Department, with requirements for safe handling, use and storage. For full guidance from the Fire Department, click here.

Food service establishments with private outdoor dining spaces may use heating devices subject to the applicable guidance from FDNY and/or DOB.

The Office of Nightlife has partnered with the NYC Department of Small Business Services' Food and Beverage Industry Partnership to compile a Multi-Agency FAQ for Indoor and Outdoor Dining Guidelines and Regulations to supplement existing guidance from the Mayor's Office and multiple City agencies. In addition, the Office of Nightlife has made the following guides and informational materials available for download at www.nyc.gov/nightlife:

• ”What to Expect When You’re Inspected”

• It’s Up to You, New York social distancing guides and graphics

• Take Out, Don’t Hang Out posters

The Office of Nightlife has also partnered with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings' Center for Creative Conflict Resolution to provide free mediation and conflict resolution services to address a number of neighborhood disputes while ensuring that small businesses thrive. MEND NYC helps address issues that may include:

• Quality-of-life issues between residents and businesses

• Negotiation between commercial tenants and landlords

• Neighboring business to business misunderstandings

Design Corps: Small Business Reopening Network is an online directory where restaurants and venues can connect with licensed, trained designers and architects for free consulting and services to help improve their space and ensure compliance with outdoor dining requirements. For additional information on the Design Corps program please review the detailed guidelines.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

While there are still certain limitations on event permits through December 31, 2020, we continue to work with agency partners to support safe, creative arrangements for community celebrations, performances, and activations throughout the city. Frequently asked questions about outdoor events permitting can be found here.

Guidance for group music activities, including live performances and music recording, in New York City during the COVID-19 public health emergency is available on the MOME website. The music guidance synthesizes COVID-19-related safety requirements from numerous sources, including the New York State Department of Health, the Empire State Development Corporation, the State Liquor Authority, and other State and City laws. The guidance is presented in a plain-language format and includes links to information from other State and City government agencies.

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MOME continues to support and participate in a wide variety of events by and for our fellow New Yorkers in the creative economy.

• Virtual NYC Curator Collections features a new group of contributors: Christopher Y. Lew (Whitney Museum of American Art), Kristina Newman-Scott (BRIC), Eileen Jeng Lynch (Wave Hill), Hitomi Iwasaki (Queens Museum), Matthew López (Tony-nominated playwright, “The Inheritance”), David Rios (Children’s Museum of Manhattan), Solana Chehtman (The Shed) and Victoria Munro (Alice Austen House). The Virtual NYC curators act as expert guides, handpicking their favorite online experiences including live and recorded performances, digitized exhibitions, social media gatherings and virtual tours from museums, galleries, comedy clubs, theaters and other venues around the city.

• Wildlife Conservation Film Festival runs through November 8. Celebrating its 10th year in 2020, the festival features over 150 documentary films and daily Live Chats with international filmmakers, scientists and conservationists.

• DOC NYC will be online November 11-19. Now it’s in 11th year, America’s largest documentary festival will include 107 feature-length documentaries among over 200 films and dozens of events. More than half the features are directed or co-directed by women and a third by BIPOC directors. Available nationwide for the first time this year, the slate includes 23 world premieres, 12 North American premieres, seven US premieres, among more than 200 films and events.

• The 9th Annual Photoville Festival runs through November 29 with community and artist programming, plus photo exhibitions in public spaces throughout the city. This festival provides an accessible venue for photographers and audiences from every walk of life to engage with each other, and experience thought-provoking photography from across the globe – with free admission for all!

• Red Nation Film Festival runs through November 30. Now in its 25th year, the country’s largest Native American Film Festival is virtual this year. The festival is a showcase for new work by American Indian and Indigenous international independent filmmakers, bringing together decision makers and content creators with the goal of ensuring media representation of American Indian and Indigenous content to the world at large.

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 NYC strong,

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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