Here’s What NYC Gets From Stimulus Deal, Besides $600 Checks

NEW YORK CITY — A large slice of a $900 billion coronavirus relief deal will go toward struggling New York City workers and institutions, but many argue that piece of pie for the Big Apple isn’t so sweet.

The House and Senate voted to approve the deal Monday and it awaits a signature by President Donald Trump.

But it looks likely the pandemic relief bill will pass, along with $600 stimulus checks that will go toward most New Yorkers and Americans.

Sen. Chuck Schumer touted the bill to his New York constituents, pointing out the state will receive more than $50 billion in aid.

“This marks the second biggest relief bill in the nation’s history—second to the CARES Act—and it delivers aid that is urgently needed by the unemployed, by renters at risk of losing their homes, by small business owners worried about going out of business, by people seeking vaccination, by schools that spent money to keep kids safe, by families struggling to make ends meet and so much more,” Schumer said in a statement. “Clearly, there is more to be done –this is not a stimulus—this is a SURVIVAL bill, and we will fight for more relief under President Biden, because this crisis is not over.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed that the bill leaves more to be done. He has spent months warning of pending mass city layoffs if New York City doesn’t receive $5 billion in aid.

On Monday, he called the deal months late, billions short and criticized it for leaving out direct aid to local governments.

“There's so much missing you can't call it a stimulus,” he said. “A stimulus would actually stimulate the economy, help us move forward, help us recover. This doesn't do it. This barely helps us to tread water and from the point of view of New York City, and I know New York State's in the same boat, if we don't get substantial help, we cannot provide the services our people need.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo likewise bemoaned the lack of direct aid to the state. But he also praised Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for making the best out of an “impossible” situation — namely, a Republican party dead set against helping states directly.

But despite de Blasio’s and Cuomo’s qualms — not to mention those from groups like the restaurant industry’s NYC Hospitality Alliance — they acknowledged it still provides much-needed help for New Yorkers.

Here are some highlights:

MTA funding

MTA is poised to receive $4.2 billion in aid from the deal.

Transit officials for months have pressed for relief in order to avert a 40 percent service cut, 9,000 layoffs and other draconian cuts. The deal falls short of the $12 billion MTA officials requested, but they said it would keep the trains and buses running smoothly for another year.

“This crucial funding will allow us to get through 2021 without devastating service cuts and layoffs of over 9,000 colleagues,” said Patrick Foye, MTA’s chairman and CEO, in a statement. “To be clear, we are still facing an $8 billion deficit in the years ahead, but this is a promising first step that will help protect the local, state and national economies in the short term.”

Broadway’s ‘Save Our Stages’

New York and the city are expected to get the lion’s share of $15 billion nationally set aside for Broadway, comedy halls, music venues, other live entertainment, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions.

The “Save Our Stages” relief comes as Broadway is expected to remain dark until May 2021.

"We are grateful for this bipartisan agreement which will provide immediate relief across our industry and a lifeline to the future," said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, which represents theater owners and producers.

Unemployment, rental assistance and more

It’s not exactly “cancel rent” but New York City dwellers unable to pony up rent or makes ends meet because of the pandemic can expect help.

The deal includes a $251 million rental assistance allocation for the city. It also reinstates a popular $300 per week payment on top of state and federal unemployment.

Self-employed New Yorkers, gig workers and other New Yorkers in “non-traditional” employment can receive more help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, according to a release. The deal extends the program and lengthens the number of weeks from 39 to 50. It also provides 24 additional weeks of federally-funded unemployment insurance benefits to New Yorkers who have ran out regular state benefits.

The bill also will provide $20 billion to New York for another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans.