Webinar Recap: Deputy Mayor Vicki Been and New York City's Economic and Development Corporation President and CEO, James Patchett

Deputy Mayor Vicki Been and New York City's Economic and Development Corporation President and CEO, James Patchett, discuss how working collaboratively helped the city overcome the worst of the COVID-19 crisis and what lies ahead for the city’s reopening.

To reopen fairly and safely, Deputy Mayor Been is prioritizing:

• Keeping street life vibrant and safe by deploying social distancing ambassadors
• Developing alternate learning centers for students who cannot be accommodated in the public schools more than 2.5 days a week due to social distancing
• Expanding and preserving affordable housing to keep people in their homes, through new and existing programs including Home Base 

To build a robust COVID-19 response system, President Patchett is focused on:

• Convening the city’s bio tech cluster, hospitals and academic centers to scale COVID testing activity
• Developing joint purchase arrangements for locally produced personal protective equipment
• Working with the Partnership for New York City and borough chambers of commerce to organize relief and resource efforts for small business

How the city is helping to restart the economy:  

• Encouraging New Yorkers to support museums, theaters and other cultural institutions that are providing online experiences and outdoor activities, including public art displays along bus stops. Many organizations are offering gift cards for future visits. Outdoor destinations, including zoos, are expected to open July 26 as part of Phase 4.
• Working with the federal stimulus drafters to prioritize affordable housing programs and local reimbursement for COVID-related costs.

Been and Patchett stressed the need for New Yorkers to do their part to keep their neighbors safe by wearing masks. New Yorkers can call 311 and report if they see locations that are not abiding by these guidelines. Social distancing ambassadors are then deployed to these locations.

Join us on July 29th to hear from New York City's Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza and his team about classrooms of the future.