FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARСH 19, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
oped letters & comments
AN OPEN LETTER FROM
THE FIVEBOROUGH
CHAMBER ALLIANCE
Th e 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.
Eighty-fi ve percent of our membership
consists of companies with 10 or fewer
employees; however, collectively these
companies account for the majority of
New York City’s employment.
Th e 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. Th is
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.
Th is 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 indefinitely,
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 30 sidewalk café
consent fees and eliminate its 18 percent
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) Th e City Council should expedite
passage of Int. 1908-2020, which will
cap excessive third-party delivery fees by
companies like Grubhub/Seamless at 10
percent.
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 the
rapidly 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 off er 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.
Lisa Sorin (Bronx Chamber), Randy
Peers (Brooklyn Chamber), Linda Baran
(Staten Island Chamber), Tom Grech
(Queens Chamber), Jessica Walker
(Manhattan Chamber)
HOW I’M STAYING SANE
WHILE STAYING HEALTHY
I’m feeling a mixture of overwhelm and
sadness. How about you? We’re surrounded
by fear, panic, a buying frenzy and yes,
possible infection as one of my neighbors
has tested positive for coronavirus (we live
in a New York City high-rise building).
Th e mayor is considering a lock-down,
we’re unsure for how long the children
will be out of school, and if, or how, most
of us will be working from home, and
what that means for those of us who are
technologically challenged.
Th ere’s a lot we can do besides
hand-washing, sanitizing and social
distancing. I’d like to share what have
become my top priorities for self-care in
an eff ort to stay healthy while maintaining
a sense of balance.
1) I’m staying connected to my body.
What am I feeling? Where am I feeling
it? Am I hungry or reaching for food out
of a need to check out, feel “safe”? Am I
restricting my food in an eff ort to feel in
control? It’s imperative that we stay aware,
even curious about how we’re self-soothing.
I know I need not fear what food will
do TO me but am embracing what it can
do FOR me.
To this point...
2) I’m stocking up on fresh and frozen
produce and proteins so I can continue
to make the empowered choices for MY
body that keep me balanced and thinking
clearly.
3) I’m engaged in a routine that includes
waking on time and turning in at a reasonable
hour. I’m getting out of my pajamas
and creating space for myself where I
can work and feel productive.
4) I’m staying connected. I’m using
FaceTime, social media outlets and reaching
out to friends, family and my sisterhood
of colleagues. Social distancing need
not lead to social isolation. For some of
us, this is a challenge … I urge you to rise
above it and reach out. (I’d love to hear
from you.)
5) I’m monitoring how much news I’m
watching — while I’m geeking out on all
of the science, I’m aware that much of
the news coverage is repetitive. I need
not expose my delicate nervous system to
such an information overload.
6) I’m enjoying my hobbies. I’m working
on needlepoint and have a few books
to dive into. I’m playing music, dancing
and singing like no one can see me (they
can’t). I’m going for walks and using my
resistant bands to help me feel connected
to my strength.
7) I’m washing my hands, staying
hydrated and taking my super immune
boosting supplements — vitamin C, zinc,
vitamins D3 and K2, anti-virals and my
gut healing regimen (good health starts in
the gut). Not sure what to take? Contact
me for my top recommendations that are
geared for your unique needs.
8) I’m managing stress. Deep conscious
breathing, movement, sleep, essential oils,
nutrient-dense meals and snacks help me
feel grounded. Living in fear only serves
to increase cortisol, the main stress hormone,
which will suppress our immune
systems. I encourage you to join me in
replacing fear with knowledge; practicing
gratitude for all that is blessed in our
lives; feel the feelings and acknowledge
that these are trying times; ask for and
extend support and a lending hand with
an open heart.
For the next two weeks I’m off ering
FREE 30-minute virtual calls to support
you as you navigate these uncertain
times. Go to https://calendly.com/mindy
7/30min to schedule yours.
Mindy Gorman-Plutzer, Functional
Nutrition and Eating Psychology
Coaching, thefreedompromise.com, 646-
726-4084
How New York City
Transit is handling
coronavirus
pandemic
BY SARAH
FEINBERG
I’ve always
known that
New York
City can rise
to any occasion,
and the
latest challenge
posed by the novel coronavirus
is no exception.
We are in the midst of a serious
public health crisis: colleges have
canceled classes, Broadway theaters
are shut down and states of emergency
have been declared by the
city and state because of COVID-
19. But somehow these are always
the moments when the city comes
together.
I want to be clear: for the millions
of New Yorkers who still need to get
around the city — the subways and
buses remain a safe and efficient
way to do so. State and local leaders
have urged people to telecommute
or walk and bike to work.
That’s good advice for many —
but I know it’s simply not possible
for everyone. After all, we serve
doctors, nurses and other medical
professionals, not to mention
government employees and first
responders.
We’ll continue to operate safe and
efficient service — getting people
home and to work, school and doctors’
appointments.
We wouldn’t be able to do this
without our tireless workforce —
the 51,000 men and women who
keep this city moving. I am so
grateful to them; they haven’t faltered
once through it all, balancing
new and intensified protocols
for disinfecting trains and buses,
while also adapting to a change in
leadership.
We’re sanitizing stations and frequent
touch points twice daily, with
our full fleet being disinfected on a
72-hour cycle.
The NYC transit system is truly
the lifeblood of this city. I’ve said
before that it is a small miracle the
way millions of people leave their
homes every day and take the subway
or bus. It’s times like these that
illustrate the importance of public
transportation in city life.
We’ll get through this together. I
took this job knowing that it would
be a challenge and if my first week
has taught me anything, it’s that
New Yorkers can handle anything.
Sarah Feinberg is the acting
president of MTA New York City
Transit.
EXERCISING IN ASTORIA PARK // PHOTO
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