The Briefly for April 27, 2020 – The "An Upward Failure of Epic Proportions" Edition
Today - Low: 43˚ High: 49˚
Overcast throughout the day.
All eligible voters will receive a postage-paid absentee ballot application to vote in the June 23 primary. (Alejandra O-Connell-Domenech for amNewYork Metro) Grocery stores have adjusted to pandemic life, but seemingly no grocery store has had to make the adjustments the Park Slope Coop has made. Transitioning from an all-volunteer workforce to paid workers and turning the people of Park Slope, whatever you think of them, into patient and understanding shoppers. (Terri Ciccone for Eater) One of the weekend's most talked-about pieces is an essay from Gabrielle Hamilton, owner and chef at Prune on 1st between 1st and 2nd Ave for twenty years, about closing her restaurant and wondering if there's a place in the city for it once the city returns. (Gabrielle Hamilton for The New York Times Magazine) The governor us looking ahead to when the state can start taking baby steps towards reopening. "Phase one of the reopening will involve construction and manufacturing activities, and within construction and manufacturing, those businesses that have a low risk. Phase two would be more of a business-by-business analysis using the matrix that we’ve discussed: How essential a service does that business provide and how risky is that business." There will be a two week period between phases where the effectiveness will be measured. (Mark Hallum for amNewYork Metro) The mayor announced two task forces and a series of advisory councils that will begin the talks about restarting the city's economy. In one of the most unbelievable examples of failing upwards, Chirlane McCray will be leading one of the task forces. McCray is the head of ThriveNYC, the mental health program which has spent $850 million of the city's money with very little to show for it. (Zack Fink for NY1) The current COVID-19 antibody tests are unreliable, according to the City Health Department's Division of Disease Control, and can not determine if you're immune to COVID-19. (Caroline Lewis, Sophia Chang, and Gwynne Hogan for Gothamist) Independent pharmacies will become COVID-19 test collection sites while the state expands testing to essential workers and expands capacity to 40,000 tests a day. (Matt Troutman for Patch) Over a century ago, the subways had their own baseball league. (Noah Sheidlower for Untapped New York) The Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City endorsed incumbent Yvette Clarke for Congress over anti-LGBTQ Chaim Deutsch during a five-hour virtual endorsement meeting ahead of the June 23 Democratic primary. (Matt Tracy for Gay City News) Six maps to help you discover the city from home. (Lillia Panych for Untapped New York) What happens when a roommate defects from NYC because COVID-19 is coming and rent is due? (Kate Mooney for Curbed) The best, and more importantly worst, frozen grocery foods. (Ryan Sutton for Eater) On March 1, NYC had one confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, research shows it was closer to 10,000. (Caroline Lewis for Gothamist) The first thing Time Out's staffers are going to do when life returns to "normal." Personally, I'm looking forward to going to my band's rehearsal space and playing my drums again. (Will Gleason for Time Out) The best secret menu items available for delivery. (Bao Ong for Time Out) AOC was the only Democrat to vote against the federal government's $484 billion relief package. (Christian Murray for Sunnyside Post) AOC's district is the epicenter of the fight against COVID-19 in a city that is already the epicenter of the fight against COVID-19. In an opinion piece, she lays out three policies that a stimulus must include, like $2,000 monthly payments as a first step. (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for amNewYork Metro) The special election for Queens borough president is canceled by executive order by Governor Cuomo. The winner was going to serve until the end of the year, which seems pointless at this point. Acting President Sharon Lee will remain president for the rest of the year. (Michael Dorgan for Sunnyside Post) The L train construction is complete and ahead of schedule. (John Del Signore for Gothamist) Remember when congestion pricing was going to happen and the money the state made from it was going to fix the subways? lol. (Yessenia Funes for Gizmodo) The Metropolitan Opera is continuing its free performances every night this week. (Adam Feldman for Time Out) New York Sports Club is reimbursing its members for fees during the pandemic, marking this the one time NYSC has done anything that appears to be remotely friendly to the city, even if it was forced by the state's attorney general. (Sophia Chang for Gothamist) RIP Richard Hake, beloved WNYC anchor. (Christopher Robbins for Gothamist) The lost wedding ring on the Upper West Side lost during the 7pm clap? It's been found! (Mike Mishkin for I Love the Upper West Side) The worst people in the city this weekend were the joggers without masks. Another good reason to never start running. (EV Grieve) Jane’s Walk NYC honors Jane Jacobs with a series of free neighborhood walking tours every year, with this year's offering to be a completely remote event during the first week of May. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft) The NYPD and the Department of Transportation are against opening streets for pedestrians and cyclists, adding to the complete lack of creativity from this administration when it comes to easing the pain of a multi-month quarantine for this city. According to former city officials and epidemiologists, it is something that is achievable. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist) A look at the city's roofs, which have become an oasis for those who have access to them. (Collier Sutter for Time Out) Eataly, "the world’s largest artisanal Italian food and beverage marketplace," received a Payroll Protection Program small business loan. Along with their loan, Eataly provided employees an option to receive a paycheck that covers only a portion of missed wages or continue on unemployment and resign. If they resign, they will be ineligible for unemployment. (Chris Crowley for Grub Street) Eataly gets its loan, but restaurants like the Lower East Side's LES Enfants de Bohème have not heard back about their application. With $15,000 in bills, while remaining closed, they could be among the half of the city's small restaurants that may not make it through the pandemic, according to Krishnendu Ray, chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University. (Rebeca Ibarra for Gothamist) Five weeks after New York City moved to remote learning, 19,000 students who requested devices still don’t have them. (Alex Zimmerman and Jessica Gould for Gothamist) Need a kitchen staple and don't want to fight the grocery store lines? Try a restaurant. The Times shines a light on places like Glou + Glick and M's Original in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, which are both buying items like eggs, sugar, flour, and hand soap wholesale to ease the stress of needing a single item. (Elspeth Velten for NY Times) Breaking down the Giants’ complete 2020 NFL Draft. (Joe Pantorno for amNewYork Metro) Breaking down the Jets’ complete 2020 NFL Draft. (Joe Pantorno for amNewYork Metro) Since the COVID-19 crisis began, approximately 35 percent of the city’s roughly one thousand food pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile pantries have closed, creating the shocking visuals from last weekend showing a line for food in Queens that was 20 blocks long. (George Joseph for Gothamist) If you're someone who has fallen in love with Governor Cuomo, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame is heeding your call. You can pre-order Governor Cuomo bobblehead and the money raised is going to the Million Mask Challenge and the Protect the Heroes fund. (Emily Davenport for amNewYork Metro) Have we gone too far? Gothamist is calling Governor Cuomo "the Don Draper of politics." (Jen Carlson for Gothamist) Maybe there's something to this Cuomo idolization, he's enjoying at 77% approval rating, with 90% support amongst Democrats, 73% with Independents, and 53% with Republicans. By comparison, the president's approval rating is at 43%. (Joseph Spector for Democrat & Chronicle) Eater's top picks, the Eater 38, have been updated for all the restaurants on the list remaining open. (Carla Vianna for Eater) Thanks to reader Arden for today's featured photo.