“SUPERMAJORITY” OF NYC COUNCIL CALLS ON GOVERNOR CUOMO, MAYOR DE BLASIO TO DELAY TAX PAYMENTS TO HELP BUSINESSES COPE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS, “SOCIAL DISTANCING”

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“SUPERMAJORITY” OF NYC COUNCIL CALLS ON GOVERNOR CUOMO, MAYOR DE BLASIO TO DELAY TAX PAYMENTS TO HELP BUSINESSES COPE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS, “SOCIAL DISTANCING” Request comes as Mayor de Blasio is Expected to Sign an Executive Order Limiting Restaurants, Bars, Cafés to Take-out and Delivery; Order will Completely Close Other Venues such as Theaters, Nightclubs and Concert Halls New York, NY – Amid the coronavirus pandemic and its devastating impact on local businesses, 38 members of the New York City Council have called on Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to delay payments of a specific set of taxes to help struggling small businesses. The members call attention to the impact that the pandemic is having on locally owned businesses, “In addition to the potential loss of life, the coronavirus crisis has impacted our city in ways that we are just now starting to comprehend. As advised by health officials, New Yorkers are “social distancing” themselves and avoiding gatherings in an effort to remain healthy and help contain the virus. This is good. Unfortunately, this is also having a tremendously negative impact on retail businesses and restaurants that depend on customer traffic to stay open and pay their employees. In some cases, businesses are reporting a drop-in sales that is as high as 50%.” Specifically, the supermajority of the Council called on the two leaders to “temporarily delay the payments of specific state and municipal business taxes without penalties until our retail sector has had a chance to weather this unpredictable crisis. Specifically, in the next few months a slate of taxes will be due: business taxes on March 16th, sales taxes on March 20th and June 20th, payrolls taxes on April 30th and real estate taxes (including commercial rent tax and BID assessments) on July 1st.” The request is being made as Mayor de Blasio is expected to sign an Executive Order which will further limit restaurants to take-out and delivery orders and completely close other venues such as theaters, nightclubs and concert halls.