Save our cherished performance spaces

Our cherished performance spaces are in a dire position. Forced to remain closed, these cultural anchors need an average of $350,000 to make it through the next 5 months. 82% of New York's legendary music venues have not been able to negotiate rent relief from their landlords, and of those that have, most have negotiated rent deferrals, not reductions. As you are well aware, New York State has been allocated $5.1 billion dollars in Corona Virus Relief Funds which will need to be earmarked by the end of the year or the State must return the funds. As of writing this, over 4 billion of the funds have not been allocated.  A 2% allocation of these funds would ensure the survival of New York's cultural identity. You insist that these spaces stay closed but they still have to pay their bills. These aren't large corporations that have the resources to weather this pandemic.These are independent businesses and the lifeblood of New York. Also, I want to see performance spaces in NY open up safely and efficiently. Together, we can reignite culture and get our artists back on stages, our employees back to work, and our neighborhoods back in action. The State must communicate directly with the venues in New York to develop a reopening strategy that makes sense. Issuing regulations without the industry's input is reckless and has caused undue burden on the already devastated cultural scene.  We all want a thriving and healthy New York. Save these spaces so they can help save New York.  Please make contact with the New York Independent Venue Association nyiva.org #cuomowegottatalk

First sent on September 23, 2020 by Justin