July 2020 - ciaooo!
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Month: July 2020

Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this article, we regret to inform you of the passing of Larry Pilatos on December 3, 2020. In addition, Johny’s Luncheonette has lost over 70% of their business due to Covid and is now struggling to pay rent. Please donate HERE to their Gofundme. We are also looking for volunteers who can help with photography and marketing to help get Johny’s up and running long term. Email us if you’d like to get involved at hello@ciaooomag.com – December 10, 2020

In the middle of the Flatiron district, a corporate block filled with restaurants offering “elevated” this and “high-end” that, stands a local, no-frills diner that you might miss if you’re an average New Yorker walking down the street. For those in-the-know, Johny’s Luncheonette is different from other overpriced, Manhattan diners. 

John Pilatos runs Johny’s Luncheonette, which he opened with his father, Larry Pilatos, in 1995. While similar diners failed to make ends meet heading into the new millennia, Pilatos kept the 10-seat diner open with an updated menu and determination to keep NYC luncheonette-style dining alive.

The Pilatos family was making their way in the restaurant business long before Johny’s opened its doors. John’s father moved to the United States from Greece in 1964 before opening G & P Luncheonette on 25th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Eventually, G & P permanently shut its doors when business slowed and landlords raised the rent. In a 1995 New York Times article, Larry Pilatos expressed his disgust for his landlord’s lack of leniency for his 28-year-old restaurant, “If I was a strong guy, I would’ve pushed him down and stomped his face,” said Larry.

After being pushed out, Larry went to work for his son, John, just up the block at Johny’s Pizza before the two decided to open a new place – Johny’s Luncheonette.

Johny (left), wife Desiree (center), and father Larry (right)

While Johny’s offers the classic diner fare – bacon and eggs, French toast, burgers, and deli sandwiches – the diner became known for their cholesterol-wrenching sandwiches like the ‘Curious George’ (comprised of three eggs, bacon, ham, French fries, and cheese on a hero). A  sandwich sent from the god of hangover cures.

The “Curious George”- Three fried eggs, bacon, ham, french fries, and cheese on a hero.

“Most [sandwiches] are named after my children,” said Pilatos about his unique sandwich names.  “One’s named after me – the ‘Sloppy Johny.’ ‘Dynamic Dez’ named after my wife. Customers are on there too, people who’ve eaten there throughout the years every day. I tell them, ‘One day I’m gonna name a sandwich after you,’ and they say, ‘Oh sure.’ And then I show them the menu.”

As for John Pilatos himself, he certainly takes after his father and is not afraid to tell customers when they’re out of line.

“Your review is underwhelming,” said John in response to some false claims made on Yelp. “You are rude and seem very hard to please. BTW thanks for the picture. Your breakfast looks great. Have a nice day!!”

You certainly don’t want to be at odds with him.

Despite Pilato’s rough exterior, he spoke openly during our phone call, unafraid to discuss the current privations all restaurant workers face. Johny’s Luncheonette survived through many other misfortunes – 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, and the recession. Despite the many challenges, Pilatos holds onto his bright outlook for the future. He describes himself as “New York tough.” 

“This is pure insanity,” said John, “but I’m staying positive and keeping busy! I have an open mind, I am tough and like Cuomo said, I am New York tough.”

“This is pure insanity,” said John, “but I’m staying positive and keeping busy! I have an open mind, I am tough and like Cuomo said, I am New York tough.”

We bonded over our restaurant experience. I likened Johny’s Luncheonette to the coffee shop I worked at throughout college. People flow in and out, but there are always a few customers who show their faces regularly. It was those people – the ones who leave you an extra tip, who have a regular order, who ask about your life, who smile and say thank you – that make the long hours worth it.

Johny and Desiree with Ty Pennington for Food Network’s American Diner Revival

Johny’s is set up to make anyone walking through the door feel like a part of the everyday crew. Bar seating opens right into the kitchen so customers can watch kitchen staff flip their pancakes and toast their sandwiches. Classic NYC – No frills. No funny business. Just the good stuff. Pilatos says money has never been the object when it came to Johny’s.

 “It’s a family restaurant – a lot of love towards food and our customers,” said John. “Without love, you could be the best cook in the world and run the best business in the world, but if you don’t love it, it won’t succeed. I never looked at it from a monetary standpoint. I wasn’t looking at it like I was gonna make a killing there. I wanna make a living, make people happy and make it affordable.”

Losing restaurants like Johny’s would mean losing the heart of NYC.

On an Instagram post of the empty restaurant, John wrote the caption, “As so many struggle to make ends meet, so many suffering from the effects and after-effects of this pandemic, I just want to say thank you for not giving up.”

John Pilatos is someone who’s lived and worked in New York City for over 25 years. He’s pushed through other hardships, and although the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, Pilatos seems sure Johny’s will prevail. Despite the seriousness of our conversation, he gave me hope for the restaurant industry’s future.

“I’m in a group chat with hundreds of restaurants – everyone’s expressing their anguish…Nobody can pay rent.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Johny’s had lines out the door during lunch hours. People from all over the country came in to get their pancakes and $1.50 coffee. The most common complaint on Yelp was the wait due to lack of seating. Now, Johny’s doors remain closed until dining resumes. 

An empty countertop at Johny’s

Most NYC restaurants, along with restaurants across the country, struggled to make ends meet and had to take drastic measures to keep their doors open (at least for pick-up and delivery). Restaurants continue to close different locations, furlough and lay off staff, ask for customer donations, and apply for PPP loans.

“I’m in a group chat with hundreds of restaurants – everyone’s expressing their anguish. Everyone’s communicating,” said Pilatos. “Nobody can pay rent, just taking it day by day. Restaurateurs basically pay the highest amount of rent because we’re the only ones who can pay that much.”

On top of considering the short-term effects of re-opening, restaurant owners are forced to debate the long-term effects, such as a possible second COVID wave come winter. Opening at only a portion of their full capacity offers future challenges.

NYC restaurants continue to lose billions of dollars as COVID-19 keeps them from fully reopening. Restaurant owners like John Pilatos, along with all the other restaurants and small businesses in the city, are what keeps the city moving (and most importantly, keeps them fed). Pilatos represents one of many NYC restaurant owners whose businesses may never fully recover from the pandemic. Before I hung up the phone, Pilatos made it clear that he is prepared for battle and hopeful for what the future holds. When people ask me why I moved to NYC, the main answer is the drive. Everyone in the city has at least two jobs and is working their butts off to meet their goals. But in times like these, everyone is just trying to make ends meet. Speaking with him offered the taste of NYC that I miss – the people who work hard every day to make the city what it is – a city that will fight like hell just to get back to work.

How You Can Support

Donate to Johny’s GoFundMe

Follow Johny’s on Instagram: @johnysluncheonette

Follow Johny’s on Twitter: @sloppyjohny

Johny’s Luncheonette Facebook

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Madeline Clough

After growing up and graduating in Iowa, Maddie lives like a true New Yorker (a.k.a. eating bodega sandwiches and avoiding Times Square). She currently resides in Washington Heights with her roommate and the cat that lives in the laundry room of her apartment building. Maddie splits her time in NYC between coffee and alcohol - she would love to join you for either.

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This article is a full breakdown of what these payments are and how they will affect you, what actionable steps you can take, and what to expect for the future – regardless of whether you’re unemployed or not. Like the Coronavirus, the passage of the second Stimulus Package (Democratic driven HEROES or Republican-led HEALS  Act ) will drastically affect each and every one of our lives, regardless of class, color, or the number of Instagram followers. This post was crafted with our friends at ExtendPUA.org. Let’s get to it, shall we?

Today, the $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) officially expired for millions of Americans. You can read our full breakdown here. Join us on Tuesday, August 4th for a virtual CALL PARTY where we call our senators and #jamthelines. If we all call – they have to listen! More info HERE.

This additional payment was sent out on top of regular unemployment insurance to qualifying Americans. When this package was created in March, the supplement was meant to:

  • Allow workers to pay rent, bills, & expenses
  • Buy groceries 
  • Prevent the economy from collapsing entirely into the dumpster fire that has been the year 2020 (but more on that later). 
PS – Check out our article about how NYC literally WAS a dumpster fire during the 1960s!

Before we dive in, you should know about the three different stimulus packages that surround this $600 pandemic unemployment. We will break these down later on in the article. 

  • CARES ACT – First Stimulus Package passed by the government that included the first $1200 Stimulus Check plus funds and loans for businesses.
  • HEROES ACT – Second Stimulus Package Proposed by the Democratic Party. This was passed by the House of Representatives and was waiting for review by the Senate (more info below).
  • HEALS ACT – Second Stimulus Package proposed by the Republicans and led by Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell in response to the HEROES Act (more info below).

In May, with no vaccine in sight, rising unemployment and COVID cases rising by the day, the House of Representatives immediately went to work, crafting a second stimulus package called the “HEROES ACT”.

This called for: 

  • The FPUC $600 extended to January 2021.
  • The PUA (Unemployment Insurance coverage for self-employed, gig workers, and other people that are not normally eligible for UI) extended through March 2021.
  • A second round of stimulus payments, but this time with more for dependents, adult dependents, and immigrants included.
  • Student loan forgiveness extended through September 2021.
  • Rental assistance and a ban on evictions for nonpayment for a year following its enactment date.
  • Mortgage relief – a homeowner assistance fund meant to prevent mortgage defaults and property foreclosures.
  • Debt collection freeze – a moratorium on debt collections during the Pandemic and 120 days thereafter.
  • Extension of the Payment Protection Program (PPP) to all nonprofits and increased program flexibility.
  • 100% Cobra subsidies through January 2021.
  • An additional $10 million added to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and direct funding for cities and state arts programs.

*stats provided by @ExtendPUA

Here’s the rundown on the Heroes Act

The HEROES ACT was passed by the House of Representatives on May 15, two and a half months ago. But, for every bill to be passed, it must be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

Republicans in the Senate however, disliked the HEROES Act because they say it spends too much and provides services to people who don’t deserve it, claiming the economy is in “recovery mode.” 

Since then, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Senate have been debating the passage of their own version of the stimulus package, called the HEALS ACT, which is drastically different from the HEROES ACT.

Here’s the rundown on the Heals Act

The Republican led HEALS Act is a bit more complicated:

Instead of the $600 PUC, the amount would be reduced to $200. Once that runs out in October, the $200 will be converted into a wordy math problem reminiscent of AP Calculus where your benefits would then be calculated based on 70% of your previous wage earnings. 

While that sounds livable, for those on the bottom end of the income scale, according to ExtendPUA.org, “this does not provide the federal minimum wage, let alone a basic income of $15 per hour.”

Additionally, there would be a cap of $500 inclusive of your regular state unemployment. 

  • For the next 10 weeks, the FPUC will be cut to $200 from $600
  • During those 10 weeks, states are to transition their incredibly old and fussy systems to this new plan of 70% of income. Unlikely. 
  • If a state does not want to transition or can’t, they can stay at the $200 level for another 8 weeks. This means people would be at the $200 benefit for 18 weeks. It leaves only 4 weeks of the 70% benefit before it would be set to expire on December 31.

There would be a drastically reduced rate for individuals and no additional extensions for SNAP, essential and frontline workers, or state and local governments to improve their unemployment sites and more.

“The Democrats dislike the HEALS Act because it further plunges large groups of people into financial turmoil, adds billions for new weapons and jets, guts essential healthcare relief for front-line workers and provides no additional funding for individual states”

Provided by ExtendPUA.org

On August 7th, the Senate breaks for a month-long recess.

Stephanie Freed, a Production Electrician and Lighting Designer, and Grant Mcdonald, a Video Director for Concerts, Theatre, and Live Events, both saw their industry shut down overnight. Within weeks, Stephanie and Grant decided to take action and start ExtendPUA.org, a grassroots movement dedicated to educating and inspiring people to call for legislation to extend FPUC and expand PUA. 

Since launching in early July, the organization has been featured by TeenVogue, NYTimes, Deadline, and the Washington Post for their call to, well – literally call, House-Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell and demand an extension.

We spoke to Stephanie and Grant to hear their full story on ExtendPUA and what needs to be done next. 

“The live entertainment industry is at a standstill. Our work is all about people being in the same room, shoulder to shoulder, having an experience together.  So when the coronavirus happened, all work was cancelled and it is likely to remain cancelled well into 2021, or however long it takes for people to be safe and comfortable at large events again”

30 million people are currently unemployed in the US. In New York alone, that number is close to 1.5 million people. In June, 300,000 new jobs were added but even with the growth of new jobs, it’s not enough to bridge the gap between the working and not working. It’s not enough to just ”get a job”, when there are 4x as many unemployed people than there are new jobs. 

What is ExtendPUA.org and why did you start it? 

We started ExtendPUA.org because our social media was plastered with people passing around petitions for the $600 payment and hashtag/photo campaigns that weren’t linked to larger calls to action. We couldn’t find a singular, consolidated resource that contained information and tools to take action. So we made one.  

We aim to empower and mobilize the unemployed and their allies to take bold, informed actions to extend and expand the FPUC and PUA. We offer tools, talking points, and information to make it easy.

We also acknowledge that while our industry is hit particularly hard, it is an industry with visibility and we wanted to make sure, as we all fought for our own needs, we also fought for all of the people without access to the microphone.  

What’s the $600 Pandemic Unemployment Compensation? 

It *should* benefit everyone unemployed living in this country, but it currently benefits those approved for state unemployment insurance (which was expanded to include gig workers and self-employed individuals by PUA, which is good!). The $600 is currently being collected by about 26 million people.  

However, it does exclude immigrants, students with no prior work history, and is more difficult to access for hybrid “gig” workers with mixed incomes from freelance 1099’s and standard W2’s. It is also disproportionately inaccessible to BIPOC communities (BIPOC and FPUC).

The people receiving the $600 are spending it on rent, utilities, health insurance, medicine, and groceries. This means people don’t suffer AND the economy keeps functioning. Here is more information on the $600 and the economy.

OK, so I get that ending the $600 will suck. But what do you suggest needs to change?

We demand that Senators pass COVID relief legislation that: 

  • extends the full $600 until the pandemic is over
  • expands the PUA to those excluded (immigrants, families with undocumented family members, college students without w2’s, etc)
  • supports state agencies to pay out backlogged claims 
  • provides hazard pay and protections for frontline & essential workers
  • provides live entertainment industry relief, healthcare relief, rent and mortgage relief, and long term small business and venue support

What will happen if the $600 isn’t extended?

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that extending the $600/wk FPUC payments through the middle of 2021 would provide an average quarterly boost to the GDP of 3.7% and employment of 5.1 million workers. They also said that “cutting off a policy that helps households maintain spending is a terrible idea, both for these households’ welfare and for macroeconomic stabilization.”

People across the US are putting the $600 benefit money back into the economy by paying rent, providing for their families, and buying food and supplies. Without that money being spent, the economy will inevitably hit new lows.

If the $600 isn’t extended, we will both likely lose our apartments and have to weigh if or when we’ll be able to return to NYC. And we’re the ones on the good side of things.

Many others are telling the same story of packing up and leaving the city that they love, but they’re also dealing with debt, healthcare bills, or expenses from caring for loved ones through all of this, and inaccessibility to the very lifeline that we had access to until now. 

Explain (like I’m 5) what would an ideal situation look like?

Plainly, an ideal situation would be our “for the People” government acting like they care about the People. 

They must put politics aside and look at the numbers today versus when they passed the first stimulus when they all agreed that a stimulus was desperately needed. 

They must recognize that today, the country is in worse shape with higher infection and death rates, then pass relief that both continue the existing programs that are working and keeping the country afloat, and retroactively include those who weren’t included in the first bill. 

But like you’re 5?

The government needs to be fair and care about the People.

What can I do?

You have to do more than sign a petition and share a meme. If you can share a photo, you can write your Senator.  To learn more, visit us at our site ExtendPUA.org. 

We have resources for you to write, call, or tweet your Senators, reach out to the local press, attend or plan an event, share your story, and text voters in swing states. There’s something for everyone. 

The people we are interacting with every day in this work are just like you and they are calling their Senators every day and planning events (virtual and in person) in their states for the first time and crushing it. 

The site can answer any question you may have about all of this. There are talking points, answers to the common arguments (like “get a job”) and more information on acronyms and legislation. We just started all of this a month ago. This is life or death for people, we have to do something about it.

You Can Support by:

Follow and share @ExtendPUA on FB/IG/Twitter. We post new actions and events daily.  We also update followers on new legislation and tweet sassy things at McConnell. Spread the word to others and tell them to take action too. 

Join us on Tuesday, August 4th for a virtual CALL PARTY where we call our senators and #jamthelines. If we all call – they have to listen! More info HERE.

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ciaooo! is an NYC based editorial site, newsletter, and events company. We're the local's guide to conquering NYC. Follow us on Instagram @ciaooomag for the latest. Nice to see you here!

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Whether you kick it old school and order from the butcher or wait on those mile-long lines at Trader Joe’s, one thing is for certain- the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we view grocery shopping. 

As New Yorkers, this has been difficult.  In a city where getting an avocado, a can of red bull, and a box of pasta at 3 AM on a Wednesday from your local corner store is no longer an option, we’ve had to rethink not only how we buy but how we see food supply. In a city of endless street produce vendors and farmers’ markets, New Yorkers are desperately missing the options they had before. 

David Pham and Jason Curescu have tackled this problem with their brainchild, Farms That Are Delivering. When they realized their food subscription box was purchasing meat from outside the United States, they looked for a better way to shop local. After all, a supply of Ramen and non-perishable foods weren’t going to cut it for their quarantine diet. 

David Pham(L) and Jason Curescu (R)

Curescu came across a local NY farm that was delivering and, after having some of the best meat they’d ever tasted, ­­­Pham realized how many others must be in the same boat. Suddenly, they had a problem to solve. How could they help others easily find fresh food during a pandemic? For David Pham, the coder behind it all, and Jason Curescu, the marketing brains, the answer was to create a database of farms nationwide offering pickup and delivery. They launched within a week and less than a month later the database grew from 25 to 495 farms across the country.

Users can search based on several options including grass-finished, pasture-raised, hydroponically grown and certified halal. It’s no wonder they’ve connected over 32,000 people to farms eager for customers. Curescu and Pham shine when talking about their passion project, especially when it comes to the amount of research they put into curating the database, going through farming methods and butchering procedures. Pham mentions how coming across certified Halal and Kosher farms made him tear up. It was the realization that so many people are unrepresented and have issues finding high quality meats and goods; that many with dietary restrictions and special nutritional needs often have to compromise on their food purchases and how they shop.  The fact that the database can connect the public with much needed, often hard to find, services speaks volumes to the backbone of what Curescu and Pham had set out to do.

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In one of the most global cities in the world, Farms That Are Delivering highlights the importance of supporting the local community. If we haven’t convinced you, maybe their mission statement will.

“We are just focused on helping people, that’s what it’s all about. It is about helping people who need help finding meat and produce while simultaneously helping farmers find customers so they don’t have to throw away their food and so that they can continue to survive this very tough time.” 

This unfortunate pandemic has brought much suffering, but it’s actions taken by people like Jason Curescu and David Pham that that give us a little more hope in humanity.

Follow Farms That Are Delivering on Instagram: @farmsthataredelivering

Mary Zouvelos

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Here’s our all-encompassing guide to all the things you need to know about as a local New Yorker dealing with the Coronavirus. From unemployment benefits to renters’ rights to mental health – we’ve compiled everything.

We spent hours and hours talking to experts, sifting through local and national news sites, and finally, listening to your questions via Instagram to compile this guide. We get it – there’s a ton of info out there, much of which is confusing or hard to understand and we’ve broken it down into simple, easy to use info here.

Before we get started, follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter for the most up to date information.

NYC Evictions, Renters Rights & Help If You Can’t Pay Your Rent

As fears swelled over the deadline of the Eviction Moratorium, Gov Cuomo passed the Tenant Harbor Act which prevents ANYONE from being evicted due to non-payment of rent due to COVID-19 until at least August 20th. The act reads:

“Prior to the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, a tenant who was unable to pay rent during the COVID-19 crisis could be evicted for non-payment as soon as the moratorium ended. Now, because of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, a court can never use unpaid rent that accrued during the COVID-19 period as the basis for a non-payment eviction of a financially burdened tenant; however, a court could impose a money judgment. “

This also prevents renters from being charged late fees and allowing them to use their security deposit as payment.

What Should I Do If I Can’t Pay Rent? (Yo Jeff Bezos, What’s Your Venmo tho)

Covid Rental Assistance is a new initiative that came into play on July 16th, 2020, and is ONLY avail until July 31st. There is only a TWO WEEK window to apply for up to 4 months of rent coverage so make sure to apply now. The details are as follows:

  • Must be a renter with a primary residence in New York State.
  • Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, household income (including unemployment benefits) must be below 80 percent of the Area Median Income, adjusted for household size. Applicants can find the Area Median Income for their county, based on household size, on HCR’s website here.
  • Before March 1, 2020 and at the time of application, the household must have been “rent burdened,” which is defined as paying more than 30 percent of gross monthly income towards rent.
  • Applicants must have lost income during any period between April 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020.

When Mom Can’t Answer Your Questions…It’s Time to Talk to the Legal Experts

First off: Did you know that EVERYBODY has the right to counsel? You can obtain a free lawyer or guidance through the Office of Criminal Justice (OCJ). OCJ legal services are free and you do not have to be an existing HRA client to apply. Louder for those in the back: Legal services are available regardless of immigration status.

What If I’m Undocumented?

A surprising advocate in these tough times? The Catholic Church. The Catholic Charities of NY have been doing God’s work (Pun intended. Get it?) and committed to offering up FREE resources for helping renters with eviction, especially within non-English speaking, immigrant, and refugee communities.

They help in many ways: negotiate with landlords, work with legal services, offer budget management skills, and limited financial assistance. Visit the site HERE for a list of free resources. Check the site for ways to get funding as well.

Unfortunately, NYS hasn’t done ANYTHING to help the undocumented. There was a $20 million fund by Open Sources Foundation that was meant to be dispersed across non-profits helping the undocumented. To escape ICE, the donation and groups that have received the funds have been shrouded in mystery and spread via word of mouth.

Documented NY reports:

Documented has been able to independently determine seven groups that distributed the OSF funds. They are African Communities Together, Alianza Ecuatoriana, La Colmena, the Laundry Worker Center, the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Make the Road New York, and The Street Vendor Project. WNYC also previously reported that Chhaya is among the groups.

Housing Justice for All – is a non-profit coalition fighting to #cancelrent. You can visit their site for a list of free resources, and to sign a petition to end rent for all. Learn how to get your building together for a rent strike/

Check back here for updates as we find out more.

What if I own property though?

First off, good for you! It’s wild to own property in NYC, and if you do – you’re already doing better than me. In any case – there are some protections for you — visit HERE for more information. The NYS declares:

The Department of Financial Services has issued a new directive to New York State mortgage servicers to provide 90-day mortgage relief to mortgage borrowers impacted by the novel coronavirus.

The directive includes:

  • Waiving mortgage payments based on financial hardship;
  • No negative reporting to credit bureaus;
  • Grace period for loan modification;
  • No late payment fees or online payment fees; and
  • Postponing or suspending foreclosures.

What Should I Do Once Unemployment Runs Out in July?

Via the NYS Dept of Labor

So there’s a little bit of confusion out there. It even took us a few hours to navigate the topic of unemployment running out. First, let’s talk about the different types of unemployment benefits out there. Traditional UI (Unemployment Insurance) and then PUA, PUC, AND PEUC – defined below by NYS.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – Extended eligibility for individuals who have traditionally been ineligible for UI benefits (e.g., self-employed workers, independent contractors, and farmers). They can have put to 46 weeks of benefits.

Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) – An additional $600 per week, on top of regular benefits, to all UI recipients through July 31, 2020

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – An additional 13 weeks of UI benefits, beyond the regular 26 weeks already provided, for a total of 39 weeks of coverage.

As of press time – the $600 Pandemic Unemployment Compensation is ending the week of July 26, 2020. However, traditional unemployment insurance is not. The NYS is now offering EXTENDED BENEFITS once your regular benefits and 13 weeks of PEUC ($600) are done for an extra 20 weeks, set to expire in December 2020.

While this will most likely not cover rent, and the disappearance of the $600 a week will be a huge punch in New Yorkers faces, there will be some light cushioning. The NYS claims below:

New Yorkers who are receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits are eligible for up to 59 weeks of benefits. (This includes 26 weeks of regular benefits, 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and up to 20 weeks of Extended Benefits (EB).) 

Keep reading to find out when the second stimulus check is supposed to come out.

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What If I’m Self Employed, an Independent Contractor, Gig Economy Worker, or a Farmer?

If you are an independent contractor, self-employed, gig economy worker, or farmer, you will NOT be allowed to apply for EXTENDED BENEFITS, but you have 46 weeks of coverage until Dec 2020 through PUA. You can file through a separate link HERE without needing to be approved by traditional UI. Make sure to file before July 26 to get the PUA.

When Will We Get a Second Stimulus Bill?

The 1,800 page, $3 Trillion dollar stimulus package, HEROES ACT was approved by the House of Representatives on May 15th. The Act would offer up $600 PUA extensions and UI benefits until 2021. It’s yet to be passed by the Senate, which Republicans are still debating over. Our fingers are crossed they’ll make a decision soon because the Senate’s August recess runs from August 10 – September 7th, meaning it won’t get picked up until September. In terms of the likelihood of the passage being passed?

NBC reports:

The bill will now head to the Senate, where it is unlikely to gain much traction among the Republican-controlled chamber. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. called the bill “an unserious product from an unserious majority.” President Donald Trump this week said the bill is “DOA.”

No word yet… until then folks, hold steady.

Mental Health…Cause Everyone is Stressed Out

It’s normal. You may be anxious about the future. Having trouble sleeping? Or maybe just lonely? Regardless, we have all been going through a global pandemic and whirlwind of change – you may be going through emotions that you didn’t even realize. You can sign up for FREE online mental health services. The NYS website declares:

As of March 26, more than 8,600 mental health professionals, including individuals from other states, have signed up to provide free online mental health services. New Yorkers can call the state’s hotline at 1-844-863-9314 to schedule a free appointment.

More Things To Know

  • Major utilities will suspend service shutoffs to households during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • *APPLY* NYC HRA ASSISTANCE – Apply for an ACCESS HRA account where you can qualify for food stamps, health insurance, MTA fare reduction, and possibly emergency cash
  • Federal Student Loan interest has been waived for the time being until September.
  • The New York State of Health and the New York State Department of Financial Services have announced a special open enrollment period for uninsured New Yorkers that has been extended to August 15th. Visit the site to apply (more details below).
  • Low-income families without the internet can have access to FREE service for 60 days for K-12 or college students via Charter Communications AT&T and Verizon.
  • All public schools will have FREE “grab and go” meals for children from 7:30AM – 1:30PM, every weekday, regardless if that child attends the school or not.
  • Beginning Thursday, March 19th, all Stop & Shop locations will open early between 6:00am-7:30am only to customers 60 and older.

Looking to do something hands-on within your community?

Volunteer to pick up groceries, get medicine, and do other tasks for elderly and high-risk neighbors via Invisiblehandsdeliver.com , through NYC UNITED AGAINST CORONA VIRUS or simply asking your neighbors.

Do you want to donate $$$ to the cause?

Support Restaurants /small businesses by ordering takeout and delivery if they are open. You can also purchase a gift card from them to use at a future time, if they do not have a gift card option, you can set up a gift card option for them via HelpMainStreet for free. 100% of proceeds go to the business owners. Also support some of our favorite charities:

Just do this…Foster a Pet!!!

Animal Care Centers of NYC is always looking for volunteers to foster their pets!! There are so many adorable animals that need a home at any given time. As of now, sign- ups are temporarily closed thanks to so many amazing fosterers, but you can sign up HERE to be notified when applications open back up.

Here are a few funds & resources for Freelancers/Restaurant Workers etc.

*RESOURCE* Covid-19 and Freelance Resource Center – This is an aggregated list of FREE resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines.

*DONATE* NYC Low Income Freelancer and Artist Relief Fund

*DONATE* Restaurant Workers Community Foundation – The RCWF Board of Directors has approved directing funds raised during this crisis to be allocated in the following ways:

  • 50% FOR DIRECT RELIEF TO INDIVIDUAL RESTAURANT WORKERS
  • 25% FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING RESTAURANT WORKERS IN CRISIS
  • 25% FOR ZERO-INTEREST LOANS FOR RESTAURANTS TO GET BACK UP AND RUNNING

*DONATE OR APPLY * USBG Bartender Emergency Assistance Program – This fund is for bartenders or any bar staff affected by strenuous circumstances, anyone in the 50 states can apply and you do NOT need to be a member to apply for funds. Share this with any of your bar friends!

*APPLY* The Nighlife Department of NYC – The of Nightlife is gathering information on lost income from COVID-19-related business closures and event cancellations in bars, live music venues, nightclubs, lounges, restaurants, and other social and cultural spaces. If you are a worker, performer, contractor, or business owner in New York City nightlife, please provide details for your canceled shifts, gigs, events, and other lost business income, revenue, or work opportunities so that we can share details with city-wide policy makers about the impacts of these closures.

HEALTH

The New York State of Health and the New York State Department of Financial Services have announced a special open enrollment period for uninsured New Yorkers. Visit the site to apply.

  • ALL New Yorkers (including undocumented residents) can get FREE testing for the Coronavirus as well as Telehealth visits.

Before going out, most hospitals have their own telehealth department where you can see a doctor for a virtual appointment. Co-payments for telehealth visits will be waived for all insurances. You will have to check with your insurance if it is waived automatically or reimbursed.

  • MOUNTSINAI.ORG  ($25)
  • NY PRESBYTERIAN ($49)
  • NYU LANGONE VIRTUAL URGENT CARE ($126)
  • SAMIAID ($59)

PRESCRIPTIONS

Most insurances including Medicaid now covers a 90-day supply for most prescription medications and will allow early refills due to quarantine or outbreak. Check with your health insurance company.

Stay tuned by following us on Instagram or signing up for our newsletter. We’ll continue to update this article. Hope you are staying safe!

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Chau Mui

Chau is the original New York City stoop kid who cut her teeth hanging out in Union Square, ate soup dumplings in Chinatown and explored this great city by train, foot and everything in between.

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While Americans took to the streets to protest the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other black men and women over the Summer, brands and companies across the world scrambled to “stand in solidarity” online and through social media. But, what does it really mean?

Check out some resources from our Coronavirus series:

After reading the same thing over and over again you start to question, what does standing in solidarity mean? Does it mean reposting a black square? Donating to Black-led organizations? Taking the time to educate yourself and reflect on how you can do better?  After a while, “stand in solidarity” begins to sound like a version of newspeak, written by a corporate drone. 

For some (very few), the reaction has been positive. For others, the response has been met with a lot of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” style side-eye. If the news cycle over the past few weeks has taught us anything, you can’t just say some words online and sweep your company’s questionable practices under the rug. 

Employees and consumers are on a quest to root out inequality and racism in every industry, weighing public statements against concrete action. 

Let’s quickly look at two very very different online responses. On the one hand, we have Ben and Jerry’s, a Vermont based ice cream company that began with two guys slinging ice cream out of a renovated gas station. On the other hand, we have the NFL, a $2.86 billion dollar organization, the wealthiest professional sports league in terms of revenue.

Just Deserts

In early June, Ben and Jerry’s released a statement to put all other statements to shame.

They said what many of us have been thinking in bright bold type, WE MUST DISMANTLE WHITE SUPREMACY. And from there you have 400+ words of pure poetry. Their statement was thoughtful, honest, and outraged. And more than any other brand I’d seen, they had a 4 step plan and concrete steps towards combating racism in the United States. 

Many quickly committed to the brand for life, after all, $5 is nothing when consuming a pint of Half Baked in the name of justice. 

The rest of the world could have used Ben and Jerry’s copywriter. They continued to post relevant and educational content in the weeks to come. It wasn’t just one post and done, they continued to show their support over the past few weeks. 

Who knew Ben & Jerry’s would become the educational powerhouse we needed during these dark times?

Who knew Ben & Jerry’s would become the educational powerhouse we needed during these dark times? From explaining reparations to our broken criminal justice system to a call to invest in community services – they are committed to education and using their platform to effect change. Founders, Ben Cohen, and Jerry Greenfield have been vocal about social justice and reform for decades, from protesting injustice to charitable donations to the ice cream flavors themselves (Pecan Resist is a particular favorite of mine).

Though Ben & Jerry’s was bought by Unilever in 2000, a conglomerate with a problematic history, the company itself has continued to support its founders’ legacy by speaking out, educating, and supporting social justice causes (while producing ice cream with the perfect crunch to cream ratio).

* Editors Note: [Via NY TIMES: When first purchased, Unilever agreed to commit a percentage of Ben & Jerry’s profits to a foundation, agreed not to reduce jobs or alter the way the ice cream was made. They also committed to contributing $5 million to the foundation, establishing a $5 million fund to help minority- owner businesses and to distribute $5 million to employees that year]. 

The Hypocritical Oath behind “Stand in Solidarity”

Now, let’s look at the NFL in contrast. It was only 4 years ago that they banned Colin Kaepernick for peacefully protesting the murder of black men and women in his country by taking a knee during the national anthem. Did the NFL think that our country as a whole has experienced some sort of short-term memory loss? They posted the following message on Twitter in early June.

Writer/Director Ava DuVerney was quick to point out the hypocrisy on Twitter.

“This is a lie,” she said. “Your actions show who you are. You’ve done nothing but the exact opposite of what you describe here. Keep Mr. Floyd’s name out of your mouth. Shame on you + the ‘consultants’ of this travesty of an organization.” Ava DuVernay is the champion we all need and is exactly the kind of woman I want on my side in a fight.

A few days later, after some well-deserved backlash, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a video that resembled a coerced ransom video (grainy quality, dead eyes, and a basement straight out of a Raymour and Flannigan catalog)

A few days later, after some well-deserved backlash, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a video that resembled a coerced ransom video (grainy quality, dead eyes, and a basement straight out of a Raymour and Flannigan catalog). He condemned racism and the systematic oppression of Black people, robotically admitting that the league was wrong in its earlier response to peaceful protesting. It reeked of posturing. 

Am I being harsh? Probably. Is it justified? Absolutely. And plenty of others agree, including NFL star Michael Bennett, a player who has spent the past few years pushing the NFL to do better. In an interview with the Daily Beast, Bennett calls out the hypocrisy, likening it to a slap in the face. 

“While admissions of wrongdoing are all well and good, the NFL’s actions need to match their aspirations,” Bennett states. And that’s the crux of it really, how can you put any weight in words when companies cycle through the same bad behaviors. When their actions seem robotic.When they purchase the same stock image instead of looking at their own actions and corporate structure?

But, the NFL isn’t the only organization that tried to put on a good face while being called out for hypocrisy. 

From Blackface to Bon Appetit

One of the more talked about public showdowns was Bon Appetit vs the BIPOC employees they treated like trendy accessories. 

It all started when former Editor-in-Chief Adam Rappaport published a piece titled, “Food Has Always Been Political”, where he details his quest to find the intersection between food and politics, and the responsibility that a publication like Bon Appetit has now. He claimed that “…we at BA have been reckoning with our blind spots when it comes to race.” And with those words, he basically lit a firecracker in his own face. Photos surfaced of Rappaport in Brown face, food writers and BA employees called for his resignation, pointing out the systematic racism that runs through the company.

One report after another quickly came to light. Assistant editor Sogla El-Waylly (featured in Bon Appetit’s popular Test Kitchen video series) took to Instagram to say that BA only paid its white editors for video appearances and that her salary was lower than those with less experience than her.

Other food writers noted how empty his words were considering the Black women and women of color BA has exploited, the pay inequity at their organization, the suppression of content written from a BIPOC POV – often deemed “not newsworthy”. They recently released a statement, admitting that they had been, “complicit with a culture we don’t agree with and are committed to change.”  

BA is not the only organization that has oppressed its BIPOC staffers while touting diversity when it’s convenient and beneficial to them. Refinery 29 is guilty of the same and they’ve come under fire for their lack of diversity and racial discrimination.

Christene Barberich, co-founder and global editor-in-chief announced that she was stepping down to help “diversify their leadership”. Over the past few weeks, many women of color have come forward regarding their experience working at Refinery 29. Like Bon Appetit, the stories are familiar. Pay disparity, toxic culture, micro (and macro) aggressions, racial discrimination. So much for “stand in solidarity” huh?

From football players to media employees, the commonality behind all of these experiences only speaks to the fact that this is a widespread issue that is industry-wide, ingrained in our cultural DNA. 

This is What It Really Means to “Stand in Solidarity”

Historically, companies haven’t been held accountable or outwardly challenged on their practices. Complaints to HR have been collecting dust in an old file cabinet. Leadership has lacked diversity. While some companies have taken measures to incorporate socially conscious practices and diverse hiring (looking at you Ben & Jerry’s), some are taking the initiative to create change into their own hands. Nate Nichols, founder of Palette Group – a Brooklyn based creative and production house – recently launched the Allyship and Action Summit and Initiative.

The initiative serves as a call to action for the advertising industry, pushing them to take action and practice more inclusion. Their manifesto says it best, 

“Words have power. In light of current events, the advertising industry has written a lot that encourages more inclusive practices. Cute, but the executions needed work.”

They call for a pledge, a commitment to transparency, to hire BIPOC creators and leaders. With fireside talks with some of the top agencies in NYC, it’s a step towards encouraging diversity and accountability.

“We are speaking with a ton of agency and brand leaders who are ashamed of their numbers and their lack of action”, Nate says, “well, the weight of your shame weighs ounces, and the weight of our trauma weighs tons. We need to normalize the idea of transparency and accountability so shame isn’t a thing. Our mission is to help the industry, leaders, and organizations take steps towards an equitable industry – full stop.”

I don’t expect Ben and Jerry’s level of woke-ness overnight (they’ve been fighting the good fight for a long time), but more so than ever companies have a responsibility. They need to look inward. To question their ethics and morals and what they stand for. They need to diversify their staff and leadership. That means championing Black people and people of color and LGBTQ people through advertising, their publications, and their products. Companies need to expand their definition of what their consumers look like. Representation matters. Stand in solidarity is more than a phrase, it’s a consistent action done on a daily basis on a wide scale.

They need to examine how they’re using their vast resources and networks (NFL, I’m coming for you). Karen Francois, the founder of creative agency COIS, said it best. 

“It’s nice to see organizations speaking up and donating to bail funds, but I’d like to see money donated to start community farms in food deserts, sponsor finance and art programs for teens, parks, job training programs, programs that provide free child care in low-income communities, tech and new books for underserved schools, libraries, etc…

“I’d like to see companies actually have a voice on unfair legislation, using their lobby dollars to support the underprivileged.

“I hope companies see the real change possible beyond a PR worthy moment some (not all) of their social media have been thirsty for all pandemic.”

Individuals like Nate Nichols, Sogla El-Waylly, Karen Francois, and countless others are doing the hard work – holding their companies and their industry responsible, questioning everything, and pushing for real action to stand in solidarity. Voices like these are coming together in a powerful chorus to chant along with the protestors who are taking to the streets, “enough is enough”.

Kiran Josen

Kiran's a project manager by day and an aspiring writer at heart. She currently calls Astoria home, where she lives with, arguably, the best dog in the entire world. She loves Italian reds (sauce and wine), soup dumplings (Flushing if you please) and Mike's Hot Honey on everything (seriously, everything).

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