The Throggs Neck BID, in coordination with Senator Biaggi, will give away free COVID masks and home test kits on WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2, beginning at 5:30 pm, in front of the BID office.
Author: Frank V
On Monday, January 24th the New York City law took effect requiring food service establishments to provide “toilet facility” access to food delivery workers who work for third-party delivery companies.
- The term “toilet facility” means a toilet facility on the premises of a food service establishment that is a dedicated facility for its patrons or that is a dedicated facility for its employees to the extent such establishment does not have a dedicated facility for its patrons.
- The only exception to this requirement is where accessing the toilet facility would require a food delivery worker to walk through such establishment’s kitchen, food preparation or storage area or utensil washing area to access such facility OR where accessing the toilet facility would create an obvious health and safety risk to the food delivery worker or to the establishment.
BID Welcomes “The Living Room”
The Throggs Neck BID welcomes THE LIVING ROOM, at 2883 Dill Place. A great place for events, meetings, and c-oworking. An OPEN HOUSE will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 29–30, from 10am–3pm.
COVID-19 Bronx Testing
Locations Schedule 1/20 to 1/23
Below is a listing of Bronx Mobile Testing Sites: Rapid and PCR
available
Bufano Park (Intersection of Waterbury/Bradford), Bronx, NY 10461
Thursday–Sunday, 9am-6pm
Rapid Antigen Testing Available Here (2 years old and above)
1825 Eastchester Rd (Corner of Sakett Ave/Tenbrock Ave), Bronx, NY
10461
Thursday–Sunday, 9am-6pm
Rapid Antigen Testing Available Here (2 years old and above)
Owen Dolen Square (Intersection Lane Ave/Westchester Ave), Bronx, NY
10461
Thursday–Sunday, 9am-6pm
Rapid Antigen Testing Available Here (2 years old and above)
Jacobi 1400 Pelham Pkwy S, Bronx, NY 10461
Thursday, 9am-6pm, Friday, 8am-3pm
PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing Available Here (4 years old and above)
CO-OP City, 177 Dreiser Loop, Bronx NY 10475
Thursday–Sunday, 8am–7pm
PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing Available Here (4 years old and above)
St Frances de Chantal, 190 Hollywood Ave, Bronx, NY 10465
Thursday, Jan. 20: 8am-6pm
PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing Available Here (4 years old and above)
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order #44 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Order here: https://special.usps.com/testkits
Penalties Under Review
Mayor Adams has signed the “Small Business Forward” Executive Order to reform existing business regulations, with the goal of ensuring local businesses face fewer needless fines and penalties.
The Executive Order builds upon Local Law 80 and calls on the Department of Buildings, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Sanitation, Fire Department, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to review business regulations with the goal of reducing fine schedules and allowing for cure periods or warnings for first-time violations.
Within three months, each Agency will identify the 25 violations that are responsible for the greatest number of summonses and fines issued to small businesses and submit the following:
Recommendations for which violations should be reformed via a) elimination, b) fine schedules scaled back, c) allowance of a First Time Warning, and/or d) allowance for a Cure Period for first-time violations.
If no reform action is recommended for a violation, provide an explanation as to why the status quo should be maintained (e.g. serious health or safety risk)
Identify the necessary actions for reform (e.g. rule-making, City legislation, State legislation, etc.)
All enforcement agencies should immediately review and update their violation tracking systems, inspection procedures and trainings, and the language on their summons tickets in order to ensure that they are prepared to introduce cure periods and first-time warnings for violations in compliance with this EO.
The establishment of an Inter-Agency Working Group – which includes each enforcement agency and to be chaired by a Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development and the SBS Commissioner – to review Agency submissions and oversee the ensuing business regulatory reform process.
COVID Testing
The BID has arranged for another COVID testing Day. On Saturday, January 15, at 3955 East Tremont Avenue, testing services will be available from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Free Masks and sanitizers will be distributed.
The Throggs Neck BID arranged for COVID testing on January 6, on the corner of Lamport and East Tremont Avenue. Trace and tracking services were provided, as well. Numerous masks were provided for free.
The BID was concerned over the long lines at local private testing sites, and the lack of official city “pop-up” sites within the Throggs Neck community.
Photo: BID Director Bob Jaen with NYC Health and Hospitals testing and tracing staff
Due to the overwhelming response, the application for the NYC Small Business Resilience Grant has been paused. Businesses should check covidresilience.nyc https://covidresilience.nyc/ or updates if additional funding becomes available.
Businesses that already began applications should complete their application as soon as possible.
If applicants have questions about how to complete their application, they should review the application guide or contact the call center at 888-959-6471.
For assistance with the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program and other business financing options, visit nyc.gov/financingassistance to request a one-on-one consultation with a representative from one of our NYC Business Solutions Centers.
Thanks to the efforts of Throggs Neck BID Director Bob Jaen, a pop-up COVID test center will be coming to the Throggs Neck area next week. Watch this space for details.
More COVID Rules
REMINDER!
Indoor Dining, Indoor Fitness, and Indoor Entertainment and Certain Meeting Spaces Children: Starting December 14, children ages 5 to 11 are required to have proof of vaccination for the public indoor activities described here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines-keytonyc.page They must show they have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Children ages 5-11 only need a single dose up until January 28, 2022. Beginning January 29, 2022, 5-11 year olds will need to show proof of a full regimen of a COVID-19 vaccine, just like individuals who are 12 and older. People 12 and older: Starting December 27, people 12 and older participating in indoor activities will be required to show proof they have received two vaccine doses, except for those who have received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If your business is covered by this requirement, you are required to check the vaccination status of all staff and customers 5 and older. You may not permit entry to anyone 5 and older who has not received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless an exception in the Executive Order for Key to NYC or the Frequently Asked Questions document applies. You can allow customers to use the bathroom or for another reason that will take a small amount of time (for example, less than 10 minutes). Businesses that do not comply with this policy will be subject to fines. To implement this policy: NEW: Fill out the Affirmation of Compliance With Key to NYC Worker Vaccination Requirements certificate and post it in a public place. Place the Vaccination Required Poster for Businesses (PDF) in a place that is clearly visible to people before they enter your business Become familiar with the accepted proofs of vaccination listed here. Develop a written implementation plan that will be available for inspection. This should include how you will check the vaccination status of staff and customers before they enter — or immediately after they enter — your business. Help your staff get vaccinated: Consider hanging posters about the COVID-19 vaccines in break rooms and provide information about where to get vaccinated. If you are a small business and have questions about this policy, call the SBS hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692). |
All Other Private Sector Businesses Starting December 27, employers must ensure that all workers who enter the workplace or come into contact with the public during the course of their work beyond a quick and limited purpose show proof of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination. Workers will have up to 45 days to produce proof of a second dose in a two-dose vaccination series. Those who have not provided proof of at least one dose or applied for a reasonable accommodation on religious or medical grounds by the deadline must be excluded from the workplace. Additional information about the new vaccination requirement for private sector businesses can be found at nyc.gov/vaxtowork starting on Wednesday, December 15. |
Indoor Face Covering Guidance On December 10, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced masks are required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. This major action to address the winter surge comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise statewide and is in alignment with the CDC’s recommendations for communities with substantial and high transmission. The State Health Commissioner issued a determination solidifying the requirement. You can read the State Health Commissioner’s December 10, 2021 Determination Letter. More details can be found in the State’s FAQs. https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/frequently-asked-questions-proof-full-vaccination-or-mask-requirement-businesses-and-venues If you have any questions, please call the SBS hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC. |