New York – Speaker Corey Johnson, Council Member Antonio Reynoso, and Council Members announced the Council will introduce legislation requiring opening up spaces throughout the five boroughs for outdoor dining amid the COVID-19 pandemic. NYC Hospitality Alliance, NYS Latino Restaurants, Bars, & Lounges Association and restaurant owners joined the Council in a press conference announcing the legislation.

The legislation will require the City to identify open spaces (including sidewalks, streets, and plazas) where restaurants and bars can follow social distancing measures and safely serve customers outside.

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New York – New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Members representing neighborhoods with city beaches released guidelines and recommendations for the city to open beaches safely this summer. The guiding principle is to allow New Yorkers access to city beaches while providing for proper social distancing, both at the destination and on the way to and from beaches.  

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New York – Speaker Corey Johnson and the New York City Council Women’s Caucus are joining with women from across the city in demanding an apology from SBA President Ed Mullins for his use of derogatory and misogynistic language in referring to Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. The use of such language is offensive, inappropriate, and demeaning, and its implications are serious.

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New York – Speaker Corey Johnson and the New York City Council Women’s Caucus are joining with women from across the city in demanding an apology from SBA President Ed Mullins for his use of derogatory and misogynistic language in referring to Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. The use of such language is offensive, inappropriate, and demeaning, and its implications are serious.

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New York – Speaker Corey Johnson, Council Member Peter Koo and Flushing Chinese Business Association (FCBA) today announced FCBA donated 200,000 KN95 face masks and 2,000 infrared thermometers to the New York City Emergency Management Department (OEM). This donation has been delivered to the warehouse of OEM in Brooklyn today and will increase the City’s supply amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

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The Council will also vote to protect residential tenants against COVID-19 related harassment

City Hall – The New York City Council on Wednesday will vote on legislation to protect small businesses impacted by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. This package of five bills is designed to help small businesses survive the fiscal impacts of the loss of business and limited food service due to efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

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New York, NY – NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson released the below statement in response to the de Blasio administration’s plan to have NYC Health + Hospitals run the City’s contract tracing initiative. Contract tracing has for years been one of the core functions of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

“This plan raises a lot of alarm bells.

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New York, NY – Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Member Francisco Moya released the below statements in response to the de Blasio Administration’s initiative to increase funds to pay for final resting arrangements for low-income COVID-19 victims. The Administration has expanded eligibility to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. Speaker Johnson and Council Member Moya had last month called for an emergency fund for low-income New Yorkers who couldn’t afford final arrangement costs, and for the fund to be open to all.

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New York, NY – “It is time for Samaritan’s Purse to leave New York City. This group, which is led by the notoriously bigoted, hate-spewing Franklin Graham, came at a time when our city couldn’t in good conscience turn away any offer of help. That time has passed. Their continued presence here is an affront to our values of inclusion, and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community. 

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Over seven miles in all five boroughs; Streets will be open each day to pedestrians and cyclists — with limited vehicle traffic — from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Monday

NEW YORK—In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Speaker Corey Johnson and Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the first group of streets that would be opened to pedestrians and cyclists every day starting next week, when spring temperatures are forecasted to arrive. The streets, spanning over seven miles and reaching all five boroughs, are part of the Open Streets initiative designed to provide greater social distancing among New Yorkers.

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