Morris Park Business Improvement District
Newsletter Year I, Issue 18, July 20, 2020

NY State COVID Rental Assistance for Households
Phase 4 - Limited Reopening Starting Today, July 20, 2020
Open Restaurants Safety Guidelines Updated
MPBID Supporting the Community with Food Donations
New Business Opening: City Stage Dance Academy
NY State COVID Rental Assistance Program for Households
NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo COVID Rental Assistance program opened for application on July 16, 2020. The program will assist households with income below 80% of area median; paying more than 30% income on rent before March 1, 2020; if they lost income between April 1-July 31, 2020. Eligible households can receive a one-time rental subsidy that covers the difference between their “rent burden” on March 1, 2020 and their “rent burden” for the months they are applying for assistance. Households may apply for one month or up to four months of assistance during this period. This one-time subsidy is paid directly to the resident’s landlord. Application is available until July 31, here
New York Forward Reopening Plan, limited Phase 4 from July 20 - no indoor dining!
New York City entered a limited Phase 4 of reopening on Monday, July 20. Zoos, botanical gardens, historic sites, and outdoor museums may resume limited outdoor operations. Gyms, malls, and spaces for indoor dining must remain closed . Restaurants and bars are still limited to only outdoor seating. Businesses must follow industry guidelines outlined by the Governor’s Office, including requirements for social distancing, communicating to employees, cleanliness and hygiene, and health screening.
Beautification on Morris Park Avenue
The difference a tree guard makes! Check before and after at 810 Morris Park Avenue, where the BID installed a new guard for the tree pit next to the BX21 bus stop, in front of New European Market, with flowers lovingly cared for by the 7th Day Adventist Church!
New Business Opening in Morris Park!
City Stage Dance Academy will be bringing the world of dance at 977 Morris Park Avenue! Registration open online for dance programs for all ages, August 3 - 28, at citystagedanceacademy.com
Safe Open Restaurants
  • SBS, DOT, and the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife updated the safety regulations on the Open Restaurants program. Find the most up-to-date information and application at nyc.gov/openrestaurants. Restaurant owners must comply with the following requirements for roadway seating, including the new retro-reflectivity requirement and other clarifications, or face revocation of permission to participate in the program. The below requirements are for the safety of diners, restaurant employees, and other street users. 
  • Create a protective barrier, such as planters or objects of similar size and weight, on all three sides of the seating perimeter that are in the roadway, to separate seating from the travel lane. Such barriers must be at least 18" in width and 30–36" in height (excluding plantings) on all three sides that are in the roadway, to preserve visibility for motorists and provide protection for patrons 
  • Place such barriers directly adjacent to each other (no gaps) and no more than 8' from the curb 
  • Ensure visibility of patrons and barriers at night by clearly marking all barriers with yellow high intensity retro-reflective tape or reflectors Download a new Open Restaurants brochure in multiple languages here.
NEW! ‘Three Strikes’ for violations  
  • Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced new regulations for bars and restaurants operating in New York City to ensure they are complying with state social distancing and face covering orders. As part of the 'Three Strikes and You're Closed' initiative, any establishment that receives three violations will be closed for business. Egregious violations can result in immediate loss of liquor license or closure before a third strike. Additionally, any establishment facing disciplinary charges by the State Liquor Authority will have its name and location posted publicly and updated on a weekly basis. If the state is alerted to similar noncompliance in other regions of the state, these restrictions will be extended to those areas immediately.
  • The Governor also announced that all restaurants and bars statewide will be subject to new requirements that they must discontinue walk-up alcohol service. Establishments may only serve alcohol to people who are ordering and eating food and that all service at bar tops must only be for seated patrons who are socially distanced by six feet or separated by physical barriers. Under current law, only establishments serving food are permitted to serve alcoholic beverages.
Federal PPP Loan Program Reopens for Applications until August 8th
The U.S. Congress passed an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program, which will keep the program open to applications until August 8th . Find more information here
Morris Park BID supporting the community!
Thanks to the generous spirit of Morris Park residents and their food donations during the height of the COVID epidemic, on July 15 we delivered 150 boxes of food and masks to the food pantry at 1812 White Plains Road, helping our neighbors in vulnerable circumstances. We are deeply thankful to our partners Loving the Bronx and Huntington Free Library, for generously sharing resources with us for the #VanNest and #MorrisPark communities! We are humbled and grateful!
New York Forward Loan Fund still open - for small businesses that lost rental income
The NYFLF is aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits, and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as regions and industries reopen. Learn more here
Events of interest for businesses and the community organized by Morris Park elected officials:
The MPBID received an additional batch of masks to support small businesses and their employees. Please contact us at ed.morrisparkbid@gmail.com for more information.
Morris Park and Van Nest Census tracts still BELOW the Bronx, NY State and national average Census2020 response rates. Please help the neighborhood get the resources it needs - fill the 2020Census HERE.
If you have difficulties procuring food for your family, the City of New York may provide food deliveries at your home. You may apply for this program by calling 311 or online at nyc.gov/getfood.

Morris Park BID celebrated in April 1 year of independent operation serving the Morris Park Avenue commercial corridor! Thank you all businesses, community members, Morris Park elected officials, CB11 and individuals supporting our work to keep Morris Park clean, green, safe and thriving!

Morris Park BID Team, June 6, 2020
Our district is among the most under-counted NYC districts! Did you know you can provide your informatIon safely, online, RIGHT NOW?
You can fill your Census 2020 questionnaire HERE. Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners, and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions. The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children.
The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, etc.
We encourage all businesses to actively use social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), to inform customers of operational updates.
Morris Park Business Improvement District
morrisparkbid.org
966 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY  US  10462
Morris Park Avenue News , Year I, Issue 18, July 20, 2020
Morris Park BID Newsletter.