op ed BTR letters & comments
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR MARCH 20-26, 2020 13
Special hours
for vulnerable
statements
Open letter from the 5
Borough Chamber Alliance
BY LISA SORIN, BRONX
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PRESIDENT AND OTHERS
The Five-Borough Chamber
Alliance includes the
Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan,
Staten Island, and
Queens Chambers of Commerce,
and represents most
of the 200,0000 small businesses
throughout New York
City. 85% of our membership
consists of companies with
ten or fewer employees; however,
collectively these companies
account for the majority
of the New York City’s
employment.
The COVID-19 virus represents
an unprecedented
crisis that will have lasting
economic impacts the likes of
which cannot be fully quantifi
ed at this time.
This said, what we do
know is that small businesses
throughout the boroughs
will face a disproportionate
impact as a result of
the crisis.
For example, restaurants,
retailers, construction fi rms
and small manufacturers do
not have the means to close
and operate remotely.
Depending on the duration
of the crisis, many businesses
will face diffi cult decisions
that will include laying
off employees, suspending
hours of operation, and possibly
closing indefi nitely.
This crisis has the potential
of signifi cantly disrupting
the small ecosystem that
has fueled New York City’s
economy and supported our
neighborhoods for generations.
Given this reality, the
Five-Borough Chamber Alliance
strongly recommends
that the City and State take
the following proactive actions
immediately to support
the many small businesses
throughout New York City:
1) Suspend the NYS sales
tax for an initial period of
six months; Reduce the NYS
business income tax by half
for 2020
2) Repeal New York City’s
Commercial Rent Tax on
small businesses; Table indefi
nitely, any legislation
related to a commercial vacancy
tax or commercial rent
control
3) Suspend the plastic bag
ban to maximize convenience
and fl exibility for consumers
and retailers
4) Repeal the city’s Fair
Workweek Law which imposes
worker scheduling
mandates on retailers and
restaurants
5) Expand the city’s proposed
no-interest loan program
to include any small
business (less than 100 employees)
that has experienced
a quarterly decline in
revenue, and increase the
maximum loan amount to up
to $250,000; Create a targeted
no-obligation grant program
for businesses that are required
close as a result of
COVID-19
6) Create a fund to support
small businesses that undertake
‘deep cleanings’ as a result
of a confi rmed employee
COVID-19 infection
7) Waive the March 30th
sidewalk café consent fees
and eliminate its 18% annual
interest rate imposed on fees
when restaurants opt to pay
in multiple installments
8) Place a moratorium on
non-health related business
violations and fi nes
9) The City Council should
expedite passage of Int. 1908-
2020, which will cap excessive
third-party delivery fees
by companies like Grubhub/
Seamless at 10%.
10) Convene a state and
city task force of small business
and business associations,
government agencies,
and legislators, to examine
and reassess various conditions
and recommendations
on an ongoing basis to
remain responsive to rapid
evolving nature of the crisis
as it relates to small enterprises
We recognize that the
situation on the ground is
fl uid, and the conditions are
changing day-by-day. We offer
these recommendations
as immediate steps to demonstrate
unwavering support
for the small business community.
As Chambers of Commerce
we stand ready to
serve as the eyes, ears and
voice of this community, and
we pledge to work with all
stakeholders to ensure that
reasonable solutions are implemented
on the ground.
Dear editor,
Following the mayor’s
speech declaring a State Of
Emergency for the city on
Thursday March 12, and ‘advice’
from other offi cials to
stock up on certain groceries
and otc medications, supermarkets
and pharmacies
were crammed with panic
buyers clearing the shelves.
These offi cials also stressed
seniors and those in vulnerable
health situations should do
the stocking up. After attempting
to buy some of these essentials
for my ‘vulnerable‘ self,
I found lines 25 people deep,
parking lots full, and very few
essentials left on the shelves.
Did any of these offi cials
consider how this vulnerable
population was going to be
able to get their hands on these
products? Probably not. Maybe
signing an order to have one or
two hours in the morning designated
for seniors and others
in that population for access
to supermarkets and pharmacies
may work. Consideration
should be given prior to making
broad statements to a city
already in a fear frenzy. Those
More Mental
Health Services
Dear editor,
Astor Services for Children
and Families joins hundreds
of organizations from across
New York State in asking our
elected offi cials to fulfi ll the
promises made to youth and
families by maintaining the
state’s planned investment
into children’s behavioral
health services.
Astor serves more than
10,000 children annually
through a range of mental
health and early childhood
programs in the Hudson Valley
and the Bronx. As an organization
that has been
providing services to our communities’
vulnerable children
for over 65 years, we uniquely
understand the challenges
they face, especially when it
comes to the crisis in access to
mental health services.
Over a year ago, the
state’s planned expansion
of children’s mental health
services began and included
new Medicaid coverage for
life-saving mental health
care services to improve access
for more children in
need. However, that plan
is crumbling under the’cut
Medicaid’ clamor.
At the heart of the stalled
expansion is the state’s unwillingness
to implement the
Governor’s 2011 Children’s
Medicaid Redesign Plan. Suicides
are spiking and are now
a leading cause of death for
children ages 15-19. More than
half of children with a diagnosed
mental health condition
do not receive the treatment
they need.
As the need for expanded
mental health services grows,
providers like Astor are struggling
to keep existing programs
operating, much less
start up new services due to
lack of funding. Astor knows
the new, expanded services
will strengthen families and
entire communities — when
we get the support to deliver
them properly.
Yvette Bairan, CEO
Astor Services for Children
& Families
James McGuirk, PhD,
President
The Children’s
Foundation at Astor
who have the most need are at
risk of not having at all.
Joe DeSimone
This week’s As Stated concerns
several items revolving
around the Coronavirus pandemic.
Statement from New York
Yankees manager of Communications
and Media Relations
about one of its a minor leaguers
testing positive for the coronavirus....
“We can confi rm
that a second minor league
player from our Player Development
complex has tested
positive for the COVID-19 virus.
While under self-quarantine,
the player reported
fatigue and an elevated body
temperature to Yankees medical
personnel. The test was administered
on Sunday, and the
player returned to self-quarantine
following the positive
results. We can also report
that within the past 48 hours
his symptoms have dissipated.
We will continue to follow all
protocols and recommendations
established by local and
federal public health experts
and Major League Baseball.”
Statement from State Senator
Gustavo Rivera on the
coronavirus..... On Thursday,
March 12, I implemented extraordinary
measures to ensure
the health and wellbeing
of my constituents and staff
alike.
From now until the foreseeable
future, our offi ce will
be closed to visitors. However,
with my staff, we will continually
update you on our work as
well as provide you constituent
services remotely.
Councilman Fernando
Cabrera will report price gouging
to Attorney General..... “It
has been brought to my attention
that the high prices being
charged at many retail outlets
for hand sanitizer, disinfectant
wipes and inhalers are
the result of price gouging by
distributors, from which retailers
must source supplies.
“I’m asking anyone who
encounters this to contact my
chief of staff, Greg Faulkner
at (917) 575-5859 immediately.
I will report these distributors
to the NY Attorney General
and the NYC Department of
Consumer Affairs.”
Councilman Fernando
Cabrera issued the following
statement on the personal
impact of COVID-1..... “I have
received news that my son
has been diagnosed with
COVID-19, along with at least
one member of my church. All
are under quarantine. In my
role as a pastor, I am moving
my church services to an online
platform to protect members
and visitors. I am sharing
my personal experience
with COVID-19 to help convey
the seriousness of transmission
and to urge everyone to
take all recommended precautions.
We must do all we can
to protect ourselves and others.”
COUNCILMAN FERNANDO CABRERA