• When the COVID crisis began, Long Island Spirits (who you may remember from our Member Summit this past year) shifted operations quickly to do what they do best- produce alcohol-based products and serve their community. They are now supplying their 192-proof hand sanitizer to essential workers all over Long Island and NYC. Learn more: https://www.lispirits.com/ ​

• The Office of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) began accepting applications following the authorization of additional funds.
• The US Treasury issued an interim final rule for seasonal employers in regard to the Payroll Protection Program. https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Interim-Final-Rule-on-Additional-Criterion-for-Seasonal-Employers.pdf
• The National Restaurant Association has submitted comments to the SBA on the Payroll Protection Program Association urging changes to the eight-week loan period clock to give restaurants the flexibility to slowly ramp-up and re-open; revise loan forgiveness restrictions to match industry realities and adjust the 75/25 requirements for payroll forgiveness; restore the ten year loan repayment as Congress intended in the law’s text; and, provide clarification about the de minimis exemption authority for loan forgiveness, among other key changes. Click here to read the Association’s letter.

• Today, Governor Cuomo re-iterated that NYS on PAUSE will remain in effect until May 15^th and will most likely be extended in various regions around the State that are continuing to experience high infection rates. The planned stay at home order will continue while the State evaluates re-opening the economy regionally. He stated you can make the case to un-pause certain regions, but the approach needs to be smart.  

• New York City plans to open 40 miles of streets to pedestrians, with a set goal of expanding to 100 miles in the future. The move includes expanding some sidewalks with barriers set up in the street, which will provide additional open space to New Yorkers while maintaining social distancing.

• Calls – NYSRA will be hosting the following Zoom calls this week. Here are the links to register:
• Long Island Operators Meeting | Tuesday 1 p.m. - Register Here
• Caterers Council Meeting | Wednesday 11 a.m. - Register Here
• Westchester Region Operators Meeting | Wednesday 2 p.m. - Register Here
• Rochester Operators Meeting | Thursday 10 a.m. - Register Here
• Greater Capital Region Operators Meeting | Thursday 1 p.m. - Register Here
• NYC Restaurant Operators Meeting | Friday 1 p.m. - Register Here

• Webinars
• Today, Melissa Fleischut was a panelist for the restaurant industry webinar run by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Melissa shared her expertise on the current struggles of restaurants in New York, efforts underway to support them at the Federal, State, and City levels, and predictions for restaurant operations moving forward. 

• Melissa Fleischut was interviewed by WOR NYC this morning at 7:55 am.
• She was on Fox 5 last night, here is the clip from last night: https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/28609b5f-814e-437b-8bbe-d1e97e900130?token=5141447f-98c6-4630-ba16-86f79f2a5f20
• Today NYSRA answered press calls from WNBC -News 4 NY, CBS NY, NY Post, Wall Street Journal, WKBW in Buffalo and Agence France Presse New York Bureau Chief.