NY Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that the Second Avenue Subway expansion project that would extend the Second Avenue line to 125th St in East Harlem has moved to the Engineering phase of the project timeline. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden in November provided $23 billion […]
Government
Masks Now Required at All Indoor Public Places in NY
NY Governor Kathy Hochul announced masks will be required to be worn starting Monday in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. This a major action to address the winter surge comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise statewide to be in alignment with the CDC’s recommendations for communities with substantial and high transmission. The […]
Mayor Imposes Vaccine Mandates for Private Employers, Children
NEW YORK — NY Mayor Bill DeBlasio is introducing some of the strict vaccine mandates in the nation that will affect private employers and also kids that want to attend public events in the city. The mayor announced major expansions to the “Key to NYC” program, the first-in-nation vaccination mandate for workers and customers at indoor […]
NYS Retirement Fund Returns 1.15% in Third Quarter
The New York State Common Retirement Fund’s (Fund) estimated return in the second quarter of the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021-22 was 1.15% for the three-month period ending Sept. 30, 2021, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. It ended the quarter with an estimated value of $267.8 billion. “Market volatility brought returns down […]
Overtime Soared in NYS Government During Pandemic
The total cost of overtime in 2020 at NY state government agencies reached an all-time high at more than $850 million, continuing an upward trend over the last decade and spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Total overtime hours of 19 million increased 3.9 percent […]
State to End Food Curfew, Allow Bar Seating in NYC
There’s good news for restaurants and bars. After a year of shutdowns due to coronavirus, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the midnight food and beverage service curfew will be lifted for outdoor dining areas beginning May 17 and for indoor dining areas beginning May 31. Governor Cuomo also announced that the 1 a.m. curfew for catered […]
NY Offices Can Fill Up to 75%
NY Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that spectator capacity at large-scale outdoor event venues, including professional and collegiate sports and live performing arts and entertainment, will increase from 20 to 33 percent beginning May 19. This increase will coincide with the previously announced increase in large-scale indoor event venue capacity. Social distancing, masks, health screenings and […]
NY Opens Up Vaccines to 30 and Over
Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced the expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in New York. Beginning Tuesday, all New Yorkers 30 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine. Beginning April 6, universal eligibility goes into effect and all New Yorkers 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive […]
NYC to Cancel Contracts With Trump Organization
NEW YORK — NY Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the City of New York is taking steps to terminate three Trump Organization agreements with the City after last week’s deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Administration will be notifying the Trump Organization that the City will begin the process to cancel its agreements […]
Cuomo Orders Bars, Gyms to Close at 10 Nightly
Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced new COVID-19 restrictions on bars, restaurants, gyms and residential gatherings in New York State. Effective this Friday at 10 p.m., bars, restaurants and gyms or fitness centers, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, will be required to close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. Restaurants will still […]