MAY 28, 2020 - #CANCELRENT TOWN HALL

The #CancelRent town hall featured owners of at-risk venues and elected officials discussing the urgent need to cancel rent.

Attendees included NY State Senator Brad Hoylman and NY State Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, who as a result introduced legislation to forgive most of small business’ commercial rent.

Also in attendance was NY State Assemblymember Robert Carroll, who discussed his work at JACK’s Alec Duffy’s suggestion to require insurers to pay out business interruption insurance to those impacted by COVID.

Also in attendance was NYC Council Member Jimmy van Bramer, who pitched the idea of including live performance in the Open Streets program, which the League developed into the LIT Performance Permit proposal.

JUNE-AUGUST 2020 - LIT PERFORMANCE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED FOR AGENCY REVIEW

The LIT Performance Permit proposal, developed from the conversation at the May #Cancelrent Town Hall, was submitted to the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. It was subsequently been reviewed by the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Street Activity Permit Office.

OCTOBER 2020 - LIT PERFORMANCE PROPOSAL BECOMES OPEN CULTURE BILL INTRODUCED BY CITY COUNCIL

Based on the conversations begun at the town hall, Councilmembers Jimmy Van Bramer and Laurie Cumbo drafted a pair of bills (Intro 2068 and Intro 2034) that would allow public performance for artists that self-certify to meeting COVID guidelines (“Open Culture”) and would create a mobile app for information on where public cultural programming can be accessed. The bills are currently slated for votes on October 15th.

JUNE 2020 - BLACKOUT FOR #BUDGETJUSTICE

In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, and dso many others, the League joined the larger movement to support #BlackLivesMatter by blacking out our website and focusing our advocacy efforts on #NYCBudgetJustice to defund the police and divert those funds to restorative community groups in black neighborhoods.

AUGUST - COMMERCIAL RENT BILL INTRODUCED BY HOYLMAN AND EPSTEIN

Following on from the May #Cancelrent Town Hall, Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein crafted legislation (S8865) releasing the renter from the majority of rent burden, and covering the landlord’s lost revenue with federal stimulus funds. Feedback from the League was incorporated into the bill, including protecting restricted grants from being diverted to rent payment.

DECEMBER 2020 - OPEN CULTURE LEGISLATION PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL

In December 2020, the Open Culture legislation (Intro 2068 and Intro 2034) passed through City Council.

COMMERCIAL RENT STABILIZATION TOWN HALL

The League co-convened a town hall on Commercial Rent Stabilization with Art Against Displacement, New York City Artists Coalition, New Art Dealers Alliance, and the Artist Studio Affordability Project.