NYC unveils new vax mandate poster for businesses
BY BEN BRACHFELD
New York City is stepping up
outreach efforts to businesses
affected by the forthcoming
proof-of-vaccination mandate, with Mayor
Bill de Blasio unveiling on Aug. 31 a new
poster for affected shops to hang on their
storefront meant to convey the fact that the
vaccine is now required.
“One of the things we heard from restaurant
owners is they wanted a simple message
that they could put up at the entrance
to a restaurant so everyone understands the
rules,” de Blasio said at his Aug. 31 daily
press briefi ng, while holding up a copy of
the new poster. “And they understand it’s
a city rule, it’s not something made up by
each restaurant. It’s universal now.”
The policy, known as the Key to NYC,
mandates that all facilities offering indoor
dining (including restaurants, bars, nightclubs,
and cafes), indoor fi tness, or indoor
entertainment (including movie theaters,
performance venues, and museums) to
require proof of vaccination for both staff
and customers.
The policy technically went into effect
on Aug. 17, but enforcement does not
begin until Sept. 13. That’s to ensure
The city will be providing informational posters to local businesses about the
Key to NYC vaccine mandate program.
there is enough time for the thousands of
businesses affected to adjust to the new
normal, and make preparations, the mayor
and other offi cials have said.
Come Sept. 13, businesses found to be
violating the vaccine mandate could face
fi nes of $1,000 for the fi rst offense, $2,000
REUTERS/CAITLIN OCHS
for a second offense, and $5,000 for each
additional offense.
The straightforward poster communicates
in large letters that “New York
City requiresyou to be vaccinated against
COVID-19 to enter this business,” notes that
those 12 years old or above must show proof
of vaccination, and then provides resources
to fi nd out where to get a vaccine. The poster
references the fact that the vaccine is free.
Hizzoner said that he believes the poster
may encourage people to get the jab upon
seeing that they will not be able to go to their
favorite grub spot or see a movie otherwise,
possibly even going to get the shot before
returning.
“We’ve done a lot of research. We know
the vast majority of unvaccinated people are
actually willing to get vaccinated, they just
haven’t done it yet,” de Blasio said.
The poster is available in English and 13
other languages, including Spanish, Chinese,
Russian, French, Creole, and Arabic. The
city has also put out a poster with advice for
business owners on how to implement the
mandate, including by familiarizing oneself
with acceptable proofs of vaccination, which
include a CDC card, the NYC COVID Safe
app, or the Excelsior Pass, and having a written
implementation plan.
The city is also encouraging business
owners to report fake vaccine cards, even
setting up tiplines at 833-VAX-SCAM or
stopvaxfraud@health.ny.gov. The mayor
noted that those creating phony inoculation
records could face prison time.
State leaders reach deal to extend eviction protections
BY KEVIN DUGGAN
Governor Kathy Hochul and state
legislative leaders reached an
agreement to extend New York’s
eviction moratorium until Jan. 15, 2022,
and lawmakers convened at the Capitol
in Albany on Sept. 1 for an extraordinary
session to approve the continuation of the
program.
“Under my watch, here in the State of
New York, you’re not going to exacerbate
what is already a crisis in terms of the
homelessness problem,” Hochul told reporters
in the State Capitol in Albany on
Tuesday night. “We are not going to allow
people who — through no fault of their
own — lost income, not able to pay, and
facing eviction.”
The additional 4 1/2 month timeframe
comes as New York’s COVID-era tenant
protections were largely undone by two
U.S. Supreme Court rulings in recent
weeks and as the state’s moratorium expired
on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
The nation’s highest court sided with
landlord groups and took aim at the socalled
hardship declaration, which allows
tenants to avoid eviction if they say they
struggled economically due to the pandemic,
a decision Hochul denounced as
“heartless.”
The governor said the new law will address
these legal challenges.
“We’ll be making sure that there’s
due process provisions that the Supreme
Court said were originally lacking in the
New York law,” she said. “We’ll make it as
airtight as we can.”
The landlord group Rent Stabilization
Association previously said they plan to sue
FILE PHOTO/TODD MAISEL
if the state extends the moratorium.
State leaders want to expand the
safety net for those that qualify for rental
and landlord support, according to the
governor.
New York has received $2.7 billion
in mostly federal funds through the COVID
19 Emergency Rental Assistance
Program (ERAP), but has distributed a
mere $203 million to applicants since the
program launched on June 1.
“Anyone who applies for and qualifi es for
the ERAP program… automatically, when
you apply, there can be no eviction process
commenced for a solid year,” Hochul noted.
“You are protected the day you fi le that
information.”
Hochul will also bring two nominees for
the state’s Cannabis Control Board before
state lawmakers for confi rmation, part of
a fi ve-member board charged with creating
the framework for licensing marijuana
businesses, which she said will get the ball
rolling on legal recreational weed sales in
the Empire State.
Other state appointments, such as those
of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s
leadership which is dominated by “acting”
and “interim” roles, will have to wait
until the start of next year, Hochul said.
The special session will additionally include
a proposal by the governor to tweak
the state’s open meetings law so remote
public meetings can continue temporarily,
due to the ongoing resurgence of
COVID-19 infections driven by the Delta
variant.
To apply for state rent relief, you can
visitwww.nysrenthelp.otda.ny.govor call
the state’s hotline at (844) 691–7368.
12 September 2, 2021 Schneps Media
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/visitwww.nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov
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