Throggs Neck BID

The City Council has approved two bills, sponsored by Bronx council members Mark Gjonaj and Vanessa Gibson, to help relieve restaurants and mom-and-pop stores by restructuring the penalty system that hits them with onerous fines.

The first bill would reduce or waive financial penalties for certain sanitation, health, transportation, consumer affairs, noise control and buildings violations. The bill would also allow small businesses to often fix a violation before paying a hefty fine, and for certain violations, they’ll face no fine on first offense. For instance, small business owners had to pay a fee if they didn’t properly label garbage bins. The new rules would allow them to correct the mistake instead.

The second bill would create an amnesty program that waives interest on penalties imposed by the Environmental Control Board, eliminates penalties for defaulting and offers significant discounts on base penalties for money paid during the amnesty period if judgement is paid during the established amnesty period. For judgments issued during the pandemic (on or after March 7, 2020), the person would receive a 75% discount on base penalties and interest would be waived. For judgments issued before that date, the person would receive a 25% discount and interest would be waived if they pay during the amnesty period. Default penalties would also be waived. This program would be created by the Commissioner of Finance and last 90 days with the option to extend at the order of the Commissioner.

COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

The State’s health guidance and New York Forward industry specific guidelines—including social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracing—are now optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and personal care services, among other commercial settings. 

Unvaccinated individuals continue to be responsible for wearing masks, in accordance with federal CDC guidance. Consistent with the State’s implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals.

The State’s COVID restrictions remain in effect for large-scale indoor event venues—now defined as indoor venues that hold more than 5,000 attendees. Consistent with the State’s implementation of the CDC guidelines, proof of vaccination can be used to eliminate social distancing and remove masks for fully vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status individuals who are over the age of four must continue to present proof of a recent negative diagnostic COVID-19 test result and wear masks within the venue. However, social distancing can be reduced or eliminated between tested attendees, allowing venues to reach 100 percent capacity in all sections.

With the removal of the State’s minimum standard for reopening, businesses are free to choose to lift all or some restrictions, continue to adhere to the State’s archived guidance, or implement other health precautions for their employees and patrons. Businesses are also authorized to require masks and six feet of social distancing for employees and patrons within their establishments, regardless of vaccination status. Any mask requirements that businesses choose to implement must adhere to applicable federal and state laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Throggs Neck BID will hold its First Annual Meeting on June 16 at 10am. Participation will be via Zoom. If you are interested in attending, please send your email address to throggsneckbid@gmail.com. PLEASE NOTE that only registered Throggs Neck BID members may vote.