The Briefly for April 21, 2020 – The "Mayor de Blasio Wants You to Snitch" Edition
Today - Low: 36˚ High: 62˚
Possible light rain in the afternoon.
A pilot program to bring on-site health services and expanded COVID-19 testing to residents of NYCHA will roll out this week, according to Governor Cuomo. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft) The country’s most expensive sushi restaurant now has a takeout option to match. Masa is selling an $800 box of sushi or sashimi every Friday. It will feed four people and you have to assemble it yourself. (Ryan Sutton for Eater) Mayor de Blasio wants you to snitch on your fellow New Yorkers for not socially distancing. "I'm sorry this is not snitching." -Mayor de Blasio. On a serious note, report people or plaes that are promoting something that is creating an unsafe condition. (Christian Murray for Queens Post) The mayor may not have the authority to close the schools or make rulings over the subways, but he does have the ability to cancel public events and Mayor de Blasio has canceled all public events in June. (Erin Durkin for Politico) The New York City LGBTQ Pride March: Canceled. (Matt Tracy for Gay City News) Shakespeare in the Park: Canceled. (Michael Paulson for NY Times) The Brooklyn Half Marathon: Canceled. (Kevin Duggan for Brooklyn Paper) BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival: Canceled. Is this going to be a year without festivals in NYC? (Bill Pearis for BrooklynVegan) Coney Island Mermaid Parade: Postponed. (Amanda Hatfield for BrooklynVegan) The federal government's $350 billion funding for small businesses ran out last week, calling attention to larger businesses that received checks, like Shake Shack's $10 million. Shake Shack announced it would be giving that $10 million back after public outrage was pointed in their direction. (Zachary Warmbrodt for Politico) Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, described as the third-best steakhouse in every second-tier city in America, has 150 locations, $86 million in cash reserves, and also received a forgivable $20 million loan from the federal government, making sure businesses who need those loans will never get them. (Chris Crowley for Grub Street) How do you demolish a 52-story building in Manhattan? Very slowly. 270 Park Avenue's 707-foot-tall building is being demolished to make way for a massive 1,425-foot-tall building. (Michael Young for New York YIMBY) The NYC Human Rights Commission is launching a team to respond to COVID-19 discrimination and harassment, as reports of racism against Asians surge in the city. (Sydney Pereira for Gothamist) The NYPD's statistics are being criticized because a new hate crime category titled "Other Corona" hides the increase in biased-based attacked on the Asian community in New York. Multiple groups have stepped up to collect reports of harassment and racist incidents. (Ese Olumhense, Rachel Holliday Smith, Ann Choi and Christine Chung for The City) It's the size of a football and for $20, it can full of a mixed drink and yours with a straw. A refill is only $15. (EV Grieve) The city opened five new COVID-19 "walk-in" test centers that will prioritize patients older than 65 with preexisting medical conditions who live in areas of the city that have been disproportionately affected by the spread of coronavirus. "Walk in" is in quotes because it's not a drive-through test center. You still need an appointment to get a test. (Brendan Krisel for Patch) Imagine the indignity of the choices that the 1% have to make in these very trying times. They have to choose between quarantining with their household staff or, get this, doing their own chores. (Dennis Lynch for The Real Deal) Are you real for virtual dating? (Alyson Krueger for NY Times) Where to get Indian delivery and takeout. (Hannah Albertine for The Infatuation) If your neighbor tests positive for COVID-19, does your landlord have to tell you? There's nothing that legally compels them to. (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist) “I don’t think the New York that we left will be back for some years.”- Gregg Bishop, commissioner of the city’s small businesses agency. Thank you for your optimism Gregg. (J. David Goodman for NY Times) The Times looks at New Yorkers self-isolating in studio apartments, including a couple paying $2,300 for a 237 square foot studio apartment. (Penelope Green for NY Times) Welcome to New York Sabrina Ionesco, the first overall pick in the WNBA draft, who will be playing for the Liberty. (Norman Oder for Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report) Food critic Ryan Sutton's 15 favorite takeout and delivery options (Ryan Sutton for Eater) Thanks to reader Xan for today's featured photo of "Invisible Man: A Memorial to Ralph Ellison".