Mayor Bill de Blasio is calling for a “massive federal relief program” to help city businesses a day after he closed schools and announced New Yorkers will no longer be able to dine in at restaurants and bars, or go to theaters or concerts to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Right now we need a national solution,” de Blasio said on MSNBC.
“This should be a reality where the United States is put on a war footing where the federal government mobilizes all the resources necessary.”De Blasio will sign an executive order putting the new bans into effect starting Tuesday, an unprecedented move in a city economy dependent on tourism and entertainment. Comptroller Scott Stringer estimates the coronavirus outbreak could deliver a $3.2 billion hit to the city's bottom line.
De Blasio said a coronavirus stimulus bill that U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer outlined over the weekend is a “helpful step,” but “nowhere near what is needed.” Both de Blasio and Schumer chastised Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for leaving Washington over the weekend and have called for him to pass the legislation “as is” on Monday.
“The city is doing grants and loans and things for small businesses, but that’s a small piece,” de Blasio said.
While the city has not moved to institute travel restrictions or curfews, de Blasio said those options aren’t off the table either.
“We are not closing down transportation, we are not closing down roads or bridges, we are not putting a curfew into effect or travel restrictions — today,” de Blasio said on NY1, adding he’s able to do so under the city’s state of emergency.
“At any point in this trajectory, we may change that depending on the facts.”