Community Alerts

Community Alerts 2.1.22

Feb 1, 2022

Permanent Open Restaurant City Council Hearing 2.8.22

The City Council has advised it will be holding its hearing on Open Restaurants on Tuesday, February 8 at 10:00am. The Council will be taking up the zoning elements and legislative elements which broadly authorize the program to become permanent. This will be a virtual hearing jointly held by the zoning and franchises subcommittee and the consumer affairs committee. While it is not formally posted yet, the portal for land use hearings is here - https://council.nyc.gov/land-use/ and has instructions on how to participate. The Council has until Friday, February 18 to pass the zoning components of the proposal, and given a new Council and a short deadline, it is important that council members hear from the public. Click here for information on the Open Restaurants program.

Get Tested, Vaccinated & Boosted for COVID-19

COVID-19 is still a major concern for individual and public health. It is important to stay safe, get tested, and get vaccinated or boosted if you're eligible. People 5 and older are eligible for vaccination and vaccine booster shots are now authorized for everyone 12 and older who is fully vaccinated. Click here to find a COVID-19 testing site and here for a COVID-19 vaccination site.

Free COVID Antiviral Pills to Be Available

The City has begun free home delivery -- as long as there is a prescription -- of oral antiviral pills Paxlovid (made by Pfizer), and Molnupiravir (by Merck), via Alto Pharmacy, a medication provider which has partnered with the City. Since supplies of the new drugs are extremely limited, deliveries will be prioritized to those who test positive and considered to be at higher risk for COVID. If you’ve tested positive and believe you're otherwise qualified, visit Virtual ExpressCare for a phone or video visit, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) and press 9. Learn more here.

Alternate Side Parking Suspended Through 2.5.22

Alternate Side Parking (street cleaning) regulations will be suspended through Saturday, February 5 for snow operations. Meters will remain in effect. Click here to download the NYCASP calendar.

New York Mask Mandate Extended

Governor Hochul has announced that New York State will extend its indoor mask mandate to Thursday, February 10. Please note that the mask mandate in public schools will continue to stay in place after February 10. Click here to learn more.

Reduced COVID-19 Isolation Period for Public School Students

Following CDC guidance, the isolation period for K-12 students with a positive COVID-19 test result has been shortened to five days from ten days. Children can return from isolation on Day 6 if they have no symptoms or their symptoms are improving, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Students returning from isolation on Day 6 must wear a well-fitting mask such as a KN95, KF94, or a cloth mask over a disposable surgical mask on Days 6–10. Learn more here.

Apply to Be a Member of the SBS F&B Small Business Roundtable

The NYC Department of Small Business Services' Food & Beverage Small Business Roundtable provides a collaborative forum for F&B small business owners to express business challenges and discuss insights and solutions. If you are interested in becoming a Roundtable member, fill out a brief questionnaire here.

Apply to the NYS Restaurant Resiliency Program

The NYS Restaurant Resiliency Program is providing restaurants the opportunity to partner with regional food banks to provide meals to food insecure New Yorkers. Restaurants will be compensated for food costs, meal preparation/labor costs, delivery of prepared meals up to the amount set by the US General Services Administration for per diem meals for NYC. Click here to apply before the program ends on Thursday, March 31.

Complete the Food & Beverage Industry Partnership Team Survey

The Food & Beverage Partnership Team at the NYC Department of Small Business Services is here to present your ideas, problems, and solutions to City Hall to make it easier to do business in NYC. If you own or operate a food service establishment, please complete this survey. All responses are anonymous.

RFPs for the Operation of Cafés

The Battery Conservancy ("TBC”) is issuing, as of the date of this notice, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the operation of a café in the New Amsterdam Pavilion in Peter Minuit Plaza at The Battery, Manhattan. There will be a recommended remote proposer meeting on Wednesday, February 9 at 11:00am. Join the meeting here (Meeting number: 82754316825; Password: 393348). Click here to view the RFP.

Additionally, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation is issuing a non-significant RFP for the operation and maintenance of a café at Dag Hammarskjold Park, Manhattan. There will be a recommended remote proposer meeting on Monday, February 7 at 12:00pm. Find and download the RFP here. For more information or to request to receive a copy of the RFP by mail, contact Phylicia Murray, Project Manager, at (212) 360-3407 or at Phylicia.Murray@parks.nyc.gov.

Apply for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard Online

For the first time ever, seniors and people with qualifying disabilities can apply online for a Reduced-Fare MetroCard. Click here to apply.

LIRR and Metro-North to Offer New 20-Trip Tickets and 10% Discount of Monthly Tickets

Under the new MTA Fare-Capping Pilot Program, which will go into effect on Tuesday, March 1, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad will offer promotional fares and provide ticketing options more closely aligned with the evolving needs of those with flexible work schedules. Riders will be able to purchase a new 20-trip ticket through eTix, which will offer 20% off the comparable 20 peak one-way fares. Monthly tickets will be discounted by an additional 10%. And ‘City Ticket', which offers a reduced, flat fare for travel within New York City on weekends, will be extended to all weekday off-peak trains at a fare of $5. Learn more here.