4 THE QUEENS COURIER • MARСH 26, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
сoronavirus
REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
The Manhattan skyline is seen behind the
Calvary Cemetery as the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) outbreak continues in the Queens
borough of New York City, U.S., March 20,
2020.
U.S. may convert
thousands of
New York hotel,
college rooms
into care units
BY IDREES ALI
AND PHIL STEWART
Reuters
Th e U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is
looking at converting more than 10,000
New York rooms, potentially in hotels
and college dorms, into medical care
units to help address the fast-spreading
coronavirus, the commanding general
of the Army Corps said on Friday.
Th e pandemic has upended life in
much of the United States, shuttering
schools and businesses, prompting
millions to work from home, forcing
many out of jobs and sharply curtailing
travel.
Lieutenant General Todd Semonite
told reporters at the Pentagon that the
Army Corps was looking at converting
the rooms and other large spaces into
intensive care unit-type facilities and
it would need to happen within weeks,
not months.
“We’re talking about over 10,000 that
we are looking at right now,” Semonite
said, adding that a decision would
be made by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
Earlier this week, the White House
said it was in talks with the Pentagon
about how the military can be deployed
to deal with the coronavirus, including
setting up fi eld hospitals in states with
a surge in cases.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
has called for the Army Corps to
increase hospital capacity. Th e Army
Corps of Engineers is made up of
37,000 soldiers and civilians providing
engineering services in more than 130
countries, its website says.
Small businesses impacted by coronavirus
can apply for disaster loans
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Small businesses in New York City that
have suff ered economic losses due to the
coronavirus pandemic can now apply for
disaster loans provided through the U.S.
Small Business Administration (SBA).
SBA’s ability to provide these loans is
based on a measure that Congresswoman
Grace Meng and Reps. Nydia Velazquez
(D-NY) and Judy Chu (D-CA) helped
pass into law. Th e provision was part of
the recently enacted coronavirus spending
package that allocated $8.3 billion in
federal funds to address the outbreak.
Th e loans became available in New York
aft er the SBA approved New York state’s
disaster declaration on March 19. Small
businesses in all counties throughout New
York can begin applying for the Economic
Injury Disaster Loans.
Meng, a member of the House
Appropriations Committee, the panel
responsible for funding all federal agencies
and programs, said she’s thankful that
establishments in Queens and across New
York can now access the fi nancial resources
that they desperately need.
Photo via Getty Images
Coronavirus pandemic will ravage New York City's
economy, cause up to $6 billion in losses: Stringer
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com
@QNS
Job losses and business shutdowns
related to the coronavirus pandemic will
blow giant holes in New York
City’s budgets, according
to City Comptroller Scott
Stringer.
Depending on how long
the outbreak persists in
New York City, the projected
revenue losses
could reach $6
billion by the end
of June, Stringer
said. Previously,
the comptroller
had estimated
$3.2 billion in
lost revenue
— but that
was before
the rash of
layoffs and
lost business
citywide over
the past week,
as social distancing
measures
and emergency
closure
orders took
hold.
“Th e COVID-19 pandemic is already
putting enormous fi nancial strain on our
city’s workers as millions of New Yorkers
grapple with the uncertainty of their next
paycheck, paying rent and taking care of
their families. At the same time, the massive
slowdown of our city’s economy is
going to result in substantial losses of the
tax revenue that keep this city running,”
said Stringer.
Th e dreadful economic forecast is
largely based on an anticipated
“very sharp decline” in business
at hotels, restaurants,
retail and cultural institutions.
Th ese businesses
have either
severely curtailed
or closed altogether
due to emergency
regulations
imposed to combat
the rapid spread of
coronavirus.
In the best-case
scenario, Stringer
said, economic
losses for New
York City’s government
would be in the
range of about
$4.8 billion if the
outbreak is abated
in May. Th e worst-case scenario, in which
the pandemic lasts until June, would cost
the city $6 billion.
Th e pandemic’s costs will not only
impact the current Fiscal Year 2020 but
the next budget as well, Stringer said. Th e
new fi scal year arrives for New York City
on July 1, and the City Council and mayor
have until June 30 to hammer out a new
spending plan.
Stringer expects the coronavirus pandemic
will cause budget shortfalls of up
to $1.5 billion for the current fi scal year,
and up to $4.8 billion for Fiscal Year 2021.
Before the outbreak, the city had anticipated
a $2.7 billion budget surplus which
it had planned to use for the next fi scal
year. Stringer says the city can use the surplus
and other savings to close the current
budget gap, but that would force the city
to fi nd ways to close an even larger defi cit
next fi scal year.
Th e comptroller called upon city government
to enact a “Program to Eliminate
the Gap” (PEG) to fi nd areas where budget
reductions could be made.
Stringer also urged the federal government
to step in and provide economic
relief for New Yorkers and businesses
in dire need. Th is includes direct cash
assistance for families, small business and
nonprofi t loans, expanded unemployment
insurance, paid sick leave and fi nancial
support for state and city governments.
Photo by Susan Watts/Offi ce of New York City Comptroller
City Comptroller Scott Stringer
“Small businesses play an integral role
in our economy and throughout our communities.
Our government must continue
to be there for them during this diffi -
cult and uncertain period, and I urge all
impacted businesses to take advantage
of this critical assistance,” Meng said. “As
Congress works on a third relief package
for families, I will continue to advocate for
and support policies that help small businesses
during this time of need.”
Th e SBA’s loan program provides working
capital loans of up to $2 million to
help overcome the temporary loss of revenue.
Th ose that receive a loan can use the
funds to pay fi xed debts, payroll, accounts
payable or other bills that cannot be paid
because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Once a borrower submits an application,
they enter a waiting period to be
approved, which will depend on the volume
of applications submitted. Th e typical
timeline for approval is two to three
weeks and disbursement can take up to
fi ve business days. Borrowers are assigned
individual loan offi cers for servicing of
the loan.
Small businesses seeking SBA disaster
loan relief are fi rst encouraged to contact
a representative from the New York Small
Business Development Center (SBDC).
Th ere are over 22 campus-based centers and
outreach offi ces across New York to assist
clients with the loan application.
For businesses located in Queens, email
Queens College SBDC at sbdc@qc.cuny.
edu; LaGuardia Community College
SBDC at sbdc@lagcc.cuny.edu; or York
College SBDC at sbdc@york.cuny.edu.
Entrepreneurs can also apply for disaster
assistance, by going to www.disasterloan.
sba.gov/ela. For additional information,
borrowers should contact the SBA
Disaster Assistance customer service center
by calling 1-800-659-2955 or emailing
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Th ose that require immediate assistance
from Congresswoman Meng’s
offi ce, can call 718-358-MENG or email
at NY06casework@mail.house.gov.
link
link
link
link
link
/ela
/ela
/ela
link
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
/ela
link
link
link
link
link
link
link
