Morris Park Avenue News Morris Park Business Improvement District Newsletter Year I, Issue 20 , September 21, 2020 NYC Indoor Dining: to start on September 30, at 25% capacity Morris Park resiliency highlighted in The Wall Street Journal 2020Census in Morris Park and Van Nest New Businesses Opening: Cali Fresh and La Palma Restaurant

INDOOR DINING IN NYC STARTING SEPTEMBER 30 AT 25% CAPACITY Indoor Dining at 25% Capacity Allowed in NYC from September 30th – Restaurants will be allowed to reopen for indoor dining beginning on September 30th. They will be subject to rigorous inspection protocols and strict occupancy limits. Some requirements for restaurants include:  Serve customers at a maximum of 25% capacity  Conduct temperature checks at every front door  Collect Test & Trace data from at least one customer at each table  Close bar tops for seating  Offer COVID-19 protections like PPE for employees  Space tables six feet apart  If New York City hits 2% in COVID-19 positivity rates, the City will immediately reassess. We will continue distributing additional guidance, support, and information in the coming weeks.

Morris Park Avenue resiliency highlighted in The Wall Street Journal The Morris Park corridor was highlighted in The Wall Street Journal article "New York City Outer Boroughs See Foot Traffic—by Locals". The article presents foot traffic data that shows smaller neighborhood corridors are rebounding faster than Times Square and the Financial District, as people spend money closer to home. Two Morris Park businesses, Conti's Pastry Shoppe and Morris Park Inn and the MPBID were interviewed by the journalist. See the full article here.

“MEND NYC” Program for Hospitality Industry Mediation  OATH and the Office of Nightlife has launched MEND NYC, a program to provide mediation to New Yorkers and hospitality businesses across the city who are in disputes over quality-of-life issues. This is a free, innovative alternative that can bring lasting solutions to longstanding local issues that have been laid bare by the COVID-19 crisis, which has caused an increase in complaints to 311. Read the press release here, and please consider tapping into this new resource whenever it can be helpful with resolving any local disputes your hospitality businesses might be facing.

Additional Reopening Resources for All Businesses  SBS has launched a number of resources to help businesses prepare to reopen and begin operating safely and legally. Visit nyc.gov/covid19biz for current guidance and resources.  Business Reopening Hotline – Business owners and employers can now call 888-SBS-4NYC (727-4692) to ask questions or find assistance  Plain Language Industry Guides – Find clear guidelines about when and how to reopen your business, based on sector and industry.  Webinars – Sign up for webinars to help you navigate each phase of reopening. These webinars will review State guidelines and best practices for reopening across sectors, assistance available for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, and more.

New business welcome - Cali Fresh Market, 769 Morris Park Avenue! At 769 Morris Park Avenue corner with Wallace Avenue, we welcome a new neighborhood grocery "Cali Fresh Market", with a newly renovated interior and a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. We wish you the best of success and thank you for choosing to open on Morris Park Avenue!

Welcome to La Palma Restaurant at 900 Morris Park Avenue! We are thrilled to see the corner of Bronxdale Avenue and Morris Park Avenue now revitalized by the newly opened La Palma Restaurant, that installed beautiful outdoor seating on both sides of the building. Welcome at 900 Morris Park Avenue!

Four New Trash Receptacles Installed by the MPBID on Morris Park Avenue With the support of our colleagues from the NYC Department of Sanitation, the MPBID purchased and installed four new trash receptacles at Morris Park Avenue corners with Victor Street, Barnes Ave, Fowler Ave and Radcliff Ave (replacement of old basket, relocated at the corner of Morris Park Ave and Bogart Ave). We encourage all pedestrians to use our new trash receptacles! We also respectfully remind residents that trash cans on commercial corridors are not to be used for residential waste. Thank you NYC Sanitation!

2020Census Community Engagement Events by the Morris Park BID In order to increase Morris Park and Van Nest community engagement in the 2020Census process, the MPBID hosted and participated in multiple events including: September 8 and September 14 - hosting the BronxWorks 2020Census team at 966 Morris Park Ave September 16 - participating in the "Empowered Women for the Census" Caravan organized by the office of the NYC Public Advocate, with participation of Morris Park and Van Nest elected representatives including NY State Assembly Member Karines Reyes, NY State Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez, NY State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Bronx Borough Deputy President Marricka Scott-McFadden, and many other community leaders. September 19 - co-hosting the "End of Summer Census Party" in Loreto Park, together with the office of NY State Senator Alessandra Biaggi. The MPBID Executive Director Dr. Camelia Tepelus was honored to receive a 2020 NY Senate "Women of Distinction" recognition from Sen. Biaggi, and we all enjoyed a wonderful fall afternoon together in Loreto Park, with warm food from RethinkFoodNYC, BronxWorks and the 2020Census teams. We are also taking this opportunity to introduce Omesh Persaud (to the right in photo below), the 2nd full time MPBID employee starting September 21. Omesh will be the Program Manager of "Avenue NYC", a new 3 year grant-funded project supported by the NYC Department of Small Business Services in Morris Park. In the first year of the grant, the MPBID will conduct a comprehensive "Commercial District Needs Assessment" of the wider Morris Park neighborhood and commercial corridors including White Plains Rd, Bronxdale Ave and Williamsbridge Rd.

You can fill your Census 2020 questionnaire HERE. The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children.  Thank you all businesses, community members and Morris Park elected officials, supporting our work to keeping Morris Park clean, green, safe and thriving!

Morris Park Business Improvement District morrisparkbid.org 966 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY  US  10462 Morris Park Avenue News, Year I, Issue 20, September 21 , 2020 Morris Park BID Newsletter.

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