#CANCELRENT

As members of the United for Small Business NYC coalition, we call for the immediate freeze of commercial rents and mortgages for the duration of the COVID-19, including all phases of recovery.

Performance venues cannot earn revenue, but are still required to pay rents month after month.

Venues are already being lost — see our list of COVID-related closed venues.

Legislation:

• Senate Bill S3349 (Sponsor: Hoylman) / Assembly Bill A3190 (Sponsor: Epstein) - Partial rent forgiveness; renter would be responsible for the lower of: 20% of actual income or 33% of contractual rent. The landlord would be compensated for the remainder by the state, and the rent would be reduced by 20%.

Permanent Arts Worker Program

Unemployment in the arts in New York State remains at the same level as in 2020, having lost 66% of jobs from 2019. Even if the industry begins to reopen, employment will likely lag the reopening process

A program similar to the Works Progress Administration or the CETA NYC Cultural Council Foundation, which would employ arts workers and bring their talents to the public, would provide a critical lifeline to so many who are struggling to support themselves.

Programs:

• Senate Bill S1141A (Sponsor: Hoylman) / Assembly Bill A02409 (Sponsor: Fahy) - Creates the Works Progress Administration - Pandemic Response to commission live performance as well as other arts and infrastructure projects.

• $25M DCLA Arts Worker Program (Announced) will employ arts workers with $5,000 grants for public performance.

New York Health Act

We call for the passage of the New York Health Act, which would create a universal single-payer healthcare system for all of New York State.

Our current insurance patchwork of union, marketplace, Medicaid, and Medicare still leaves too many uninsured. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on this insurance system during a health crisis.

Removing the cost of healthcare entirely from workers and guaranteeing coverage is a key step to protecting the lives of performing arts workers and providing sustainability in their career.

Legislation:

• Senate Bill S4840 (Sponsor: Rivera) / Assembly Bill A4738 (Sponsor: Gottfried) - Creates a comprehensive single-payer healthcare system. (Passed in the Assembly)

Commercial Rent Stabilization

We call for the immediate passage of commercial rent stabilization, creating a Commercial Rent Guidelines Board to set reasonable limits on rent increases from year to year.

Out-of-control rent increases over the last decade have driven many performance and rehearsal venues out of business, and displaced others over-and-over again.

Legislation:

• Intro 1796 (Sponsor: Levin) - establishes a system of commercial rent registration and regulation through a seven-member Commercial Rent Guidelines Board.

OPEN CULTURE

Status: Initial Legislation Passed!

Open Culture legislation (Intro 2068 and Intro 2034) allows for artists to apply for $20 permits to perform outdoors in Open Streets or spaces approved by City Councilmembers. It also directs the City to create an app for audiences to find Open Culture performances.

Facing the possibility of a year or more until audiences can truly engage with performance indoors, this permit allows opportunities to maintain community and recover some needed revenue during this crisis.

Next Steps: We call for the expansion of Open Culture: to reduce barriers to access, increase public space available for the program (including supporting Intro 2087-2020), and to make this process permanent beyond 2021.

REOPENING GRANTS
AND GUIDANCE

We call upon the state to provide clear guidance as to the public health criteria used to make reopening decisions.

We also call upon the state and the city to provide grants to assist with reopening costs (including the costs of PPE and modifications to venues) and comprehensive guidelines.

We call upon Empire State Development Corporation to clarify that nonprofits can access to the $800M small business recovery funds allocated in the FY2021 budget.

We also call upon NYSCA to equitably distribute the $40M in nonprofit arts recovery funds allocated in the FY2021 budget, centering the needs of marginalized communities and removing the barriers to application.

For audiences to return, they will need confidence that theaters are safe. Theaters - who have been paying rent and unable to collect revenue - will face additional costs to reopen again.

February 23
#CancelRent Testimony (NYS)

LIT Hero and Director of Development at the Chain Theatre Christina Perry gave testimony at a joint budget hearing of the New York State Legislature. Christina called upon the state to recognize the urgent need to #cancelrent for theater venues and shared her own personal story.

February 25
The Show Can’t Go On Rally

The League joined with the Music Workers Alliance and the Invest In Our NY Coalition to call upon Governor Cuomo to #InvestInOurNY and support unemployed artists through a new WPA.

March 23
Meet the Candidates Forum

Candidates for Mayor, City Council, and a number of other citywide offices presented their stances on our platform as part of our endorsement process. Find out more — and watch the videos — here!

May 8
Arts Workers Rally

The League joined with a broad coalition of arts workers to call for equitable financial relief and systemic change at the Arts Workers Rally.