FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 23, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Phase 4 reopening brings back cultural institutions
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
editorial@qns.com
@robbpoz
Th e start of phase four of New York
City’s reopening during the COVID-19
pandemic began July 20 — but it’s anything
but a full phase as outlined under
state standards.
Film production has been permitted to
resume, restoring a critical component of
the city’s economy. Outdoor art galleries
and light entertainment venues also
reopened, welcoming those looking to
enjoy a summer day out rather than being
cooped up at home.
Professional sports also resumed in
New York City, but without any spectators
in attendance. Th at’s just in time for the
start of an abbreviated 2020 Major League
Baseball season this week, with the Yankees
and Mets beginning play on July 23-24.
However, there are other businesses
or institutions in New York City, eligible
to reopen under the state’s phase four
reopening criteria, that will remain closed
indefi nitely as the fourth phase begins.
Malls, movie theaters and indoor museums
were not permitted to open Monday.
Concerns remain about whether the
buildings’ air conditioning units are adding
to the spread of COVID-19 by recirculating
the air inside – a critical problem
that has surfaced in other states now
experiencing spikes of the disease.
Indoor dining was scheduled to resume
during the phase three reopening, and
that remains off -limits as New York City
entered phase four Monday. Outdoor dining
continues across the city, and Mayor
Bill de Blasio announced Friday an expansion
of the Open Streets program to allow
businesses to set up and/or expand their
sidewalk cafés.
When these businesses will be permitted
to return depends on the city’s continued
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any signifi cant spike in cases across
the city fi gures to cause further delays.
In the meantime, here’s what you can
expect from businesses and institutions
reopening during phase four:
Film production
Movies, along with television and
streaming programs, may once again be
produced on indoor and outdoor sets
across New York City. State guidelines
mandate that no production have more
than 50 percent of the maximum capacity
on indoor sets at one time.
For each production, only the essential
cast and crew should be on set; a limited
number of background actors may be
on site. Producers are also forbidden from
hosting open calls for roles; they must
schedule appointments with their artists.
At all times, production crews must
practice social distancing and proper
hygiene protocols to keep crew and cast
separated from each other and help avoid
infection.
Outdoor entertainment
Phase four permits the reopening of
what the state describes as “low-risk
outdoor arts and entertainment.” Th is
includes places such as botanical gardens,
zoos, nature parks, historic sites and outdoor
museums.
Th e criteria clears the way for the
reopening of institutions such as the
Central Park, Queens, Bronx and Prospect
Park zoos, which are scheduled to reopen
on July 23. Th e New York and Brooklyn
Botanical Gardens will also be allowed
to reopen.
Restrictions on the reopening locations
included total capacity of patrons and staff
not to exceed 33 percent of the facility’s
maximum capacity. Indoor areas should
be open on a limited basis only for guests
to make payments or use the restroom.
Group tours are forbidden except for
members of the same family or household.
Any high-risk and/or interactive
exhibits will remain closed, as will children’s
recreational areas.
Guests will need to reserve specifi ed
visit times and should be encouraged to
pay in advance or use a touchless payment
system at the facility. No paper maps or
articles will be provided; each institution
is advised to make digital maps available
for download.
Phase 4 is the last of the phases under
the state’s Forward New York reopening
program. It’s also critical to the return of
schools in September.
Higher education facilities are also
included in the state’s Phase 4 reopening,
but these facilities did not yet reopen their
campuses in New York City as of Monday.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced
Monday that schools would be permitted
to reopen in any region that’s in Phase 4
and has an overall infection rate of 5% or
less. Aft er Aug. 1, schools would be closed
in any region where the infection rate is
9% or higher.
De Blasio previously announced that
New York City public schools would likely
adopt a “blended model” for the 2020-
21 school year beginning in September.
Students would attend class at their
schools on a part-time basis, no more
than three days a week, with remote
learning at home fi lling the gaps.
Challenger wins Jax Hgts Assembly primary
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
aacevedo@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Progressive fi rst-time challenger Jessica
González-Rojas has won the highly contested
race for Assembly District 34,
beating six-term incumbent Michael
DenDekker as well as three other candidates,
on Friday, July 17.
Aft er a day of absentee ballot counting
for the district, which encompasses
Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and
parts of Woodside and Corona, a source
told QNS González-Rojas won with about
42 percent of the total vote. Results have
not yet been certifi ed by the Board of
Elections.
However, DenDekker took to Twitter to
concede the race.
“Congratulations Jessica Gonzalez-
Rojas … on your victory in the
Democratic Primary for the 34th AD,” he
wrote. “I wish you all the best as you represent
our community in Albany!”
González-Rojas,a longtime Jackson
Heights resident and former executive
director of the National Latina Institute for
Reproductive Health, held
an early lead in the crowded
race since Election
Day. Other candidates
includedUber
driver and transit
organizer Joy
Chowdhury, former
Manhattan
p r o s e c u -
tor Nuala
O’Dohe r t y -
N a r a n j o
and Angel
Cruz. But
she wasn’t
ready to
d e c l a r e
v i c t o -
ry until all
the absentee
ballots were
counted.
On Friday,
G o n z á l e z -
Rojas told QNS,
“It’s all settling
in.”
“I’m very excited and grateful,”
she said. “I’m deeply humbled to
have earned the confi dence of the
community. I had a bold agenda,
and it speaks to what community
and people are yearning for
in the state. My goal is to create
systemic change.”
González-Rojas ran on a
platform that includedimmigrant
benefits,
LGBTQ+ rights andhealth
care for all. She
also presented a number
of plans, such as a
Green New Northern
Boulevard to make
the dangerous twoway
highway safer
and greener.
The former
adjunct professor
for
CUNY City
C o l l e g e
and NYU
Wa g n e r
School of
Public Service is also a vocal supporter of
the Cancel Rent movement and Excluded
Workers Fund, as a result of the toll the
virus has taken on immigrant communities
and in particular her district.
In addition to a strong community
backing, she received endorsements from
progressive leaders including Jackson
Heights Councilman Daniel Dromm,
former Queens district attorney candidate
Tiff any Cabán, the Working Families
Party and Make the Road Action.
For the general election in November,
González-Rojas will face opposition from
William Marquez, who is running on the
Republican Party line.
In the meantime, González-Rojas said
she will continue to participate in the
Black Lives Matter protests and actions, as
well as volunteer in food pantries, as the
District 34 community continues to experience
an increase in food insecurity due
to the pandemic.
“I look forward to hosting something as
a show of gratitude when possible … it’s
such a diffi cult time, but I want to thank
everyone for their support. It means so
much to me.”
REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Jennifer Lopez is shown in this photo fi lming a movie scene in New York back in 2009. Movie
production will be permitted to resume July 20, in New York City Phase 4 of reopening.
/WWW.QNS.COM
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