Queens Gazette

LIC Update: November 03, 2021 – Tulips in Fall, Volunteer Opps, Marathon


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LIC Update: November 03, 2021
Featured Updates
Reminder: Queens Tech Night Returns Tonight! (400+ RSVPs)
Queens Tech Night returns to LIC tonight. Our team will be on hand to answer any questions you have about LICP. Hope to see you there!
Catch the NYC Marathon in LIC – Nov 7
The TCS New York City Marathon returns for its 50th race featuring champion runners from around the world. Two miles of the race take place in Queens and LIC continues to be a great location to watch the participants and cheer them on before they cross the Ed Kotch Queensboro Bridge. Check us out on Instagram at @LICQNS later this week to find out more on how LIC is supporting marathoners. More from the official event site here.
LIC High School Alum Runs the First and (Soon) 50th NYC Marathon
Larry Trachtenberg is the only runner who ran the first New York City Marathon who is also racing this year’s landmark 50th event. Trachtenberg was one of 127 athletes to participate in the first race in 1970 when he was a rising senior at Long Island City High School. Learn more about his inspiring story here, as profiled by the New York Times’ Talya Minsberg.
Unlock Your Inner Horticulturalist with These Volunteer Opportunities!
LIC Bulbfest with HPPC –
Nov 6
LICP Member Hunters Point Parks Conservancy (HPPC) host its 7th Annual LIC Bulbfest this Saturday, October 6 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The organization expects to plant 16,000 bulbs in Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South Park. The tulips are set to bloom next spring. Register for a timeslot here. Check in at the Hunters Point South Park entrance at Center Blvd. & 51st Ave.
Tulip Planting Day with LICP – Nov 11
LICP will plant 15,000 tulips bulbs in 90 tree pits across the streets of the LIC Business Improvement District. Want to give us a hand? The volunteer day takes place Thursday, November 11, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sign up here or contact Angel Hart, Senior Manager of BID Operations, at ahart@licpartnership.org.
Plastic Straw Ban in Effect
As of November 1, New York City food service establishments may no longer provide single-use plastic beverage straws that are not compostable, except upon request. Additionally, food service establishments may no longer provide single-use beverage splash sticks or stirrers made of plastic. Find out more about the city’s new mandates here.
Reuse and Upcycling Event at Culture Lab LIC – Nov 6
Join donateNYC and partners at the 2021 NYCxReuse: Kids Edition. The Kids Reuse Fair, hosted in collaboration with LICP Member Culture Lab LIC, brings together a variety of donateNYC partners for a family-friendly afternoon of creative reuse, crafting, swapping, donating and more. donateNYC is a program of the New York City Department of Sanitation that helps New Yorkers give and get second-hand items. This event is free and open to the public. Sign up here.
BISNOW LIC Event Showcases Growth in Queens
BISNOW, the world’s leading B2B platform serving the commercial real estate industry, hosted its Queens & Long Island City Boom: Why the Outer Boroughs are White Hot Markets Now conference last week at The Woodworks building on 44th Road. The event brought out scores from LIC’s business and real estate community and highlighted emerging opportunities in the borough. Read more on what was discussed here.
LIC Businesses Shine at Queens Building Awards
Several LIC-area businesses were honored last week at the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Building Recognition Awards Cocktail Celebration. The event highlighted excellence in the construction and design of building projects in the borough. Taking place at the famed TWA Hotel, the 29 honorees included Innolabs, Skyline Tower, 30-82 Crescent Street and The Woodworks, among others. See more images of the night here.
Support 70 Local Businesses with the LIC Gift Card
The holidays are almost here and what better way to support LIC and keep your dollars local than with the LIC Community Gift Card. More than 70 businesses — ranging from restaurants to salons — have signed up for the e-gift card program, including many of LIC’s well-known establishments. Learn more here.
Thanks to our recent gift card business sign-ons – Rockaway Brewing Company, Sweetleaf Coffee & Cocktail Bar (Center Blvd) and Takumen.
LIC in the News
Impacted By Hurricane Ida? Help is Available
Many businesses are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Ida, especially in Western Queens which was particularly hard-hit. Here are a number of resources if you were affected:
LIC Partnership/BID Assistance
Have you seen damage — especially if looks dangerous — along LIC’s major thoroughfares? If so, please send an email to Dana Leventhal, our BID Operations and Retail Support Manager, at dleventhal@licpartnership.org. Inclusion of pictures and/or videos of damage is helpful so that we can quickly assess the problem and connect you with the appropriate services.
311
Call 311 for Assistance with flooding, tree removal and fallen trees on city property.
NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS has released guidance for local businesses and organizations claiming post-storm insurance assistance and encourages the following steps:
  • Immediately contact your insurance company or broker/agent.
  • Carefully read your insurance policy to understand what losses are covered.
  • Take photographs or a video of the damaged areas and assets to help with your claim.
  • Don’t remove any damaged property until the insurance adjuster has assessed the damage and made an official report.
  • Make only those repairs necessary to prevent any further damage; if you make permanent repairs unauthorized by the insurance company, they may not be covered.
  • Keep all receipts for repairs and temporary business expenses.
  • To help establish the value of your claim, prepare a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed property (item, quantity, date of purchase, cost at purchase, age, and estimated replacement cost), along with your pre-loss photographs.
  • Accompany the adjuster to point out damage during the inspection.
  • If the settlement offered by the insurance company seems unfair, contact the New York State Insurance Department by visiting www.dfs.ny.gov.
  • If the insurance company denies any part of your claim, get the denial in writing, and keep copies.
  • Always contact your insurance company and claims adjuster any time you find additional damage not previously reported.
Still have questions? Call the SBS hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692), or visit its website here.
COVID-19 Updates
Key to NYC: Conflict Resolution for Businesses. These resources will help you understand how to de-escalate potential conflict:
  • See short guide on resolution tips for businesses and workers here.
  • For training on conflict resolution, see here.
  • For information about mediation for an ongoing issue or conflict between a neighborhood resident and a business, go here.
  • To dispute a penalty, see here.
The NYC Vaccine Referral Bonus program incentivizes community- and faith-based organizations to encourage members of their neighborhoods to get vaccinated by awarding $100 for each person they refer who gets their first vaccine at a City-run site. When a person makes an appointment ahead of time or walks up, they can select the organization that referred them to get vaccinated. Once the person receives their first dose, the referral organization will be credited $100, up to a total of $20,000.For more information, see here.
The SBA announced changes to the COVID EIDL, effective on September 9:
  • Loan amount increased: The SBA increased the loan limit from $500,000 to $2 Million.
  • Extended Deferred Payment Period: Businesses do not have to make payment until 24 months after loan origination.
  • 30 Day Exclusivity period: The SBA will implement a 30-day period of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Loans of over $500,000 or more will start to be disbursed on October 8.
  • Use of funds has extended to include prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.
For more information, see here. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Osagie Afe at oafe@licpartnership.org
Photo of the Week
When an LIC bike lane becomes your fall fashion runway. We dig it.
#LICLocal on Instagram or Twitter to submit your photo of the week!

 

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