YAMA Updates on Coronavirus
Dear Merchant:
The coronavirus has presented our communities with unprecedented challenges, and YAMA is here to help you to get through these difficult times. Please be advised that the City stands with small businesses, as you are on the frontline of emergency personnel providing services to your neighbors. Therefore, we want to share with you the available resources the city provides to ensure continuing your business.
On March 22nd, 2020, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced he signed the “New York State on PAUSE” executive order, a 10-point policy to assure uniform safety for everyone. It includes a new directive that all non-essential businesses statewide must close in-office personnel functions effective as of 8PM Sunday, March 22. Guidance on essential services under the executive order could be found here.
Here Are the Essential places that remain open:
● Grocery stores
● Pharmacies
● Bodegas
● Restaurants for takeout and delivery only
● Mechanics
● Bike Repair
● Laundromat
● Parks
You can go out if necessary, do not linger and stay 6 feet apart from your customers.
New York State on ‘PAUSE’ is Extended through April 29, 2020
Wear a Face Covering
· A face covering is a well-secured paper or cloth that covers your nose and mouth. Wear a face covering whenever you leave home. Dust masks, bandanas, and scarves can be used for a face covering. Do NOT use health care worker masks.
· Continue to stay home as much as possible and practice social distancing.
· Download new NYC Department of Health FAQ on face coverings (being translated into multiple languages) at nyc.gov/coronavirus
· View this guidance in multiple languages on MOIA’s Twitter.
Financial Assistance Resources for Small Businesses
Relief is available for small businesses and employees impacted by COVID-19:
- Businesses with fewer than 100 employees, who have seen sales decrease by 25% or more, will be eligible for the NYC Small Business Continuity Fund, which will provide zero-interest loans of up to $75,000 to help mitigate losses in profit.
- The Employee Retention Grant Program is available to NYC businesses with one to four employees that can demonstrate at least a 25% decrease in revenue as a result of COVID-19. Eligible businesses will receive a grant covering up to 40% of their payroll for two months. Businesses can access up to $27,000.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
- Small business owners in New York are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
- The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program.
- Loan is designed for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll
- Small Business Administration two-year loans
- View an FAQ on the Paycheck Protection Program in multiple languages.
Here is a short video summarizing all available Small Business financial assistance. Credit: www.defyinsurance.com
Childcare for Grocery Workers
The City is offering free childcare for the children of grocery store workers, with at least two sites in every school district. Childcare will be offered Monday-Friday, from 7:30am-6:00pm. The centers will provide children with three daily hot meals, remote learning time with their teachers, activities like art, music, and physical education, and social and emotional support.
Grocery workers who are New York City residents and would like to enroll in one of these centers need to complete an REC Enrollment Form which we will email you after the call. The form needs to be completed for every child, and the worker will then receive an email confirming your child’s center assignment.
The regional enrichment centers enrollment form is below:
https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5518161/REC-Enrollment-Form
More information on regional enrichment centers is below:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/regional-enrichment-centers
Resources for best practices for Business prevention of spreading COVID-19
Here is some information to help your business combat the spread of germs and tips to address changing behavior Good Practices for Business Preparedness
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE HUB
During this pandemic, we have to look out for each other. Thanks to MoneOn.org they have built a centralized database of resources to help us get through this crisis. Search this database today to find a resource that might help you or a loved one, or suggest a resource to be featured on this site.
Suggestions for Encouraging Social Distancing in Your Store
The following are examples of actions grocery stores have taken to maintain social distancing. These are only examples, and are not requirements.
- Post signage on front doors of the store indicating how many people the store is allowing in at one time.
- Post signage indicating people should wait in line outside the store if the store is at capacity.
- Manage a line outside the store with tape demarcating 6 foot intervals; have an employee manage the number of people entering the store by the entry.
- Add tape to the ground every 6 feet in a checkout line.
- Place signs in produce area encouraging people to not touch and put back produce.
- Limit the number of people who are shopping at one time.
- Only using every other checkout station.
- Have aisles be one-way in stores where practicable to maximize spacing between customers.
- Install Plexiglas shields to separate employees from customers at checkout lines.
- Discontinue all self-serve foods.
- Sanitize credit card machines (including pen) regularly and consistently.
- Sanitize cart and basket handles between uses (by staff).
- Wherever possible, have employees wear gloves and face masks when interacting with customers and/or handling products.
Workers
You have the right to use safe and sick leave to care for yourself or anyone you consider family.
- For more information visit the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s website for information available in over 20 languages.
- Workers in NYC are covered by many labor and employment laws, regardless of immigration status.
- Hiring New Employees
For grocery owners/operators and other food industry businesses who need recruitment assistance, we just launched a new form that employers with recruitment needs can fill out to solicit SBS’s support: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07egzrmmtce177855e&oseq=&c=&ch=.
Other useful resources:
Manufacturers and suppliers of non-medical masks
Restaurant suppliers who could fill in stock shortage
Meat distributors with stock currently
Deep cleaning and sanitizing service for food retail
ALL EVICTIONS ARE SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY
On March 16, 2020, all evictions in New York were suspended indefinitely.
- Read the FAQ on the Eviction Moratorium in NYC by the Right to Counsel Coalition NYC and Housing Justice for All
Housing Court remains open for applications regarding illegal lockouts, post-eviction relief, serious repair orders, and serious code violations.
NYCHA’s Office of Impartial Hearings at 803 Atlantic is closed through April 17, 2020. All cases scheduled for conference or hearing during this period will be automatically rescheduled.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
The New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) has cancelled all in-person appointments. No negative case actions will be taken at this time.
HRA in encouraging people to do everything they can through ACCESS HRA or over the phone (718-557-1399).
HRA remains open, but has closed many center locations. For more information about how to access HRA services at this time, go to: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/important-information-about-covid-19-and-your-hra-benefits.page
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
People can file for unemployment insurance in New York State online or by phone at 888-209-8124. Instructions on how to file online are available here.
New York is implementing a filing system that spreads out filings over multiple days of the week, based on the first letter of a filer’s last name. The system is as follows:
- A – F : Monday
- G – N : Tuesday
- O – Z : Wednesday
- A – Z : Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Due to issues with their call center and website resulting from high volume, the NYS Department of Labor has said that they will backdate any claim for unemployment to the date that you became unemployed. New York State has also waived the seven-day waiting period for unemployment insurance for people who are out of work due to COVID-19 closures or quarantines.
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed on March 27, 2020, expands eligibility for unemployment benefits and the amount of benefits-eligible workers will receive.
For more information, see:
- FAQs about Unemployment Insurance
- How to Apply for Unemployment in New York Fact Sheet
- What You Need to Know About the CARES Act from NYS Dept. of Labor
- Video in Arabic that explains all the financial assistance for small businesses and for individuals who are impacted by COVID-19.
- Congresswoman Alexabdia Cortez (AOC) explains who/how to apply Unemployment benefits and explanation on Stimulus checks
Family Resources
NYC Food Delivery Assistance
- If you cannot leave your home to get food, do not have anyone who can bring you food, and you are not able to use private delivery options, you may be eligible to get meals delivered directly to your home.
- Go to NYC.gov/GetFood or call 311 and say “Get Food” for information.
Updates from the NYC Department of Education
- Spring Break: The NYC Department of Education will continue remote learning through Spring Recess, Thursday, April 9 through Friday, April 17, 2020.
- Regional Enrichment Centers provide education and childcare for the children of first responders, health care workers, and key transit employees in addition to essential workers at grocery stores, pharmacies, Staten Island Ferry and New York City Ferry, and the NYC Departments of Health, Environmental Protection, Parks and Probation in addition to the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA).
- The NYC Department of Education is lending 300,000 internet-ready Apple iPads to students in need of electronic devices to access remote learning.
- Families that want to request a device should fill out the Remote Learning Device Request form at coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices
Printed Activity Packets (Hard Copy)
- The NYC Department of Education is mailing activity packets to families with children in Pre-K to grade 5 who submitted the online request for an iPad.
- Parents can access material for all grades, for students who need specialized instruction, and for multilingual learning students on the Activities for Students section of the Department of Education website: schools.nyc.gov
You can reach YAMA for Business assistance during the following hours:
Monday- Friday
10 am -12 pm call: 347-938-8913
12 pm – 2 pm call: 202-725-32-84
2 pm – 4 pm call: 718-213-0030