Millions of jobless New Yorkers will gain access to an extra $300 in unemployment benefits for three weeks
New York’s Department of Labor has announced that an extra $300 in weekly federal pandemic unemployment benefits — an enhancement that Trump originally mandated in August — will start hitting bank accounts as soon as next week. It’s a short relief, however: The funds only cover New Yorkers who applied for unemployment benefits for the first three weeks in August. Over two million New Yorkers are eligible for up to $900 in total extra payments. The provision may be extended to cover more than three weeks after the initial round of funds is disbursed, according to the Department of Labor.
The added financial assistance comes nearly two months after the first round of extra pandemic unemployment benefits expired. Earlier this year, New Yorkers who lost their job due to the pandemic could qualify for both the state’s unemployment benefits — up to $504 per week — and the federal government’s extra $600 weekly payments.
The extra weekly payments are coming amid an economy that is still devastated from the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The national unemployment rate for the hospitality industry remains at nearly 20 percent, according to the Department of Labor’s latest statistics. On Thursday, a Republican-proposed stimulus bill failed to pass the Senate. Democrats argue that the bill doesn’t provide enough assistance.
In other news
— Crown Heights all-day cafe Hunky Dory is hosting a pop-up on Wednesday for chef Susan Kim’s latest venture, Doshi. Short for doshirak, which is a packed meal or a lunch box in Korean, Doshi will focus on Korean home-style cooking.
— Meet Jenny Olbrich, a chef who’s been delivering pizza dough throughout Brooklyn during the pandemic.
— The East Village outpost of popular ice cream chain Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices and Ice Cream is opening today. The shop, at 145 Avenue A, near Ninth Street, will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
— New York City Council members are looking to extend a pandemic-related provision that prevents landlords from going after commercial tenants’ personal funds if they’re unable to make rent. The current provision expires September 30.
— West Village pop-up restaurant Dame, which largely dishes out English fare like fish and chips, is hosting three NYC chefs this Sunday for a Filipino-New Mexican fusion feast. Eric See, Woldy Reyes, and Lani Halliday are creating dishes like Hatch green chile and sweet corn lumpia, coconut rice fried chicken sandwiches, and the fried dough sopaipillas, served here with lemongrass honey or garlic red chile sauce. The event will take place at 85 MacDougal Street between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. and proceeds from sales go to the Soapbox Presents, a performing arts space in Harlem amplifying the voices of people of color.
— Hard-core relate:
i am craving a very specific thing: mall panda express. i want to be alone inside a busy mall food court with a plastic tray and some fast-food stir fry over rice.
— G. Daniela Galarza (@gdanielagalarza) September 10, 2020