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Tech:NYC Digest: October 28

Tech:NYC Digest: October 28

October 28, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

Wednesday, October 28, 2020As NYC’s reopening and recovery efforts continue, the digest focuses on the resources that help you make decisions about your businesses and your lives as New Yorkers.Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

The latest: Pfizer vaccine now TBD as CEO walks back prior release estimates; beginning Friday, NYC retail stores will be able to set up shop outdoors; we break down the three hottest political contests in the city; nearly 700,000 people downloaded COVID Alert NY since its launch this month, you should be one of them: download it here.

Confirmed Cases:

New York State: 500,677 (+2,031)
New York City: 260,547 (+837)
Statewide Fatalities: 25,773 (+15)
Daily NYC Infection Rate: 1.3 percent (no change)

General Updates:

The US reported a record 500,000 new coronavirus cases in the past week alone, as many states return to stricter lockdown measures. (New York Times) To put that in perspective: it took nearly three months for the first 500,000 cases to be tallied.
Relatedly: New York State surpassed 500,000 total confirmed COVID-19 cases today, becoming the fourth state to do so. (NBC New York) Texas, California, and Florida make up the top three states.
After dangling the possibility of releasing early vaccine results by the end of the month, the Pfizer CEO said clinical trials were moving more slowly than expected and they results won’t be ready until an unspecified later date. (New York Times)
The number of voters assigned to each of NYC’s 88 early voting sites varies by tens of thousands, with the most assigned site at nearly 120,000 voters and the lowest one at fewer than 10,000 voters. (Gothamist) Here’s an interactive map to show you where your site stands.
If you’re voting by mail, many states, including New York, are now recommending you drop off your ballot at a polling site instead of putting it in the mail. (BuzzFeed News) That advice seems confusing, since New Yorkers were able to request an absentee ballot up until yesterday. But to avoid any concerns with USPS delivery speed, dropping the ballot off or voting in-person is your best bet. (Pro tip: you can skip the line when you drop off a ballot.)
If you’re making election night plans, don't expect they’ll include final voting results — or even a declared winner. (New York Times) In New York, only unofficial results from in-person early and Election Day voting will be released on election night. Absentee ballots will be reported in the following days, depending on the county.
And here’s one very helpful piece you’ll want to click: the anxious person’s guide to the 2020 election. (New York Times)

One piece of exciting news: COVID Alert NY, the exposure notification app developed by Tech:NYC, has been downloaded close to 700,000 times in the first month. (Crain’s NY) If you haven’t already, download it here.

The latest results: We’re exactly one week away from Election Day, and if you’re like us, you’re feeling overwhelmed. How would you describe your emotional state right now?

Today’s poll: Many companies are establishing policies and workplace benefits to make it easier for their workers to vote. What are your work plans for Election Day?

*|SURVEY: My workplace provides the day off|*
*|SURVEY: My workplace provides a portion of the day off|*
*|SURVEY: My workplace provides some or all of the day off, but I still plan to work|*
*|SURVEY: My workplace does not provide the day off, but I plan to take it off|*
*|SURVEY: My workplace does not provide the day off, and I plan to work|*

Find the poll results from all previous editions of this newsletter here.

Election 2020:

While all eyes are on the presidential election, there are plenty of important local NYC races on the ballot as well. Though consistent with the last 20 years, very few of them are competitive. Here are a few exceptions to watch:

Congressman Max Rose (D): After defeating an incumbent Republican in 2018, Rep. Rose became the second Democrat to win this Staten Island congressional district in the last 30 years. The decorated veteran is running against Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R), who ran against Mayor de Blasio in 2019. Her campaign is tying the Congressman to the unpopular Mayor, liberal Democrats, and calls to defund the police. Rose’s campaign has since put out an ad distancing himself from the mayor. Another Rose victory would show the further waning of Republican Party influence in what was once a conservative stronghold in the city.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D): This South Brooklyn Senate district is socioeconomically and ideologically diverse, making it a prime locale for intense political contest. Gounardes’ challenger Vito Bruno (R) is making the race about a referendum on last year’s bail reform legislation and calls to defund the police. In 2018, Gounardes narrowly defeated an incumbent Republican State Senator by about 1,200 votes.

Assembly Candidate Brandon Patterson (D): This election is to replace Assemblywoman Malliotakis who is running for Congress. It’s the biggest tossup among the city’s Assembly races because the district is evenly split politically. Patterson is a close aide to Sen. Diane Savino, who chairs the Senate Technology Committee in Albany. His victory would strengthen Sen. Savino's reputation as an Albany power-broker.

Reopening:

Due to the overwhelming demand at polling sites, early voting hours have been expanded for this weekend. (New York Post) Poll sites will now be open 7am – 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and 7am – 4pm on Sunday.
It’s the Open Restaurants program, but for retail! A new Open Storefronts Program will allow businesses to move their retail to sidewalks and streets for the holiday shopping season. (Crain’s NY) The program starts Oct. 30 and will end on Dec. 31. It’s unclear what accommodations can be made for businesses located above ground level.
New York county and city governments will now be allowed to impose their own mask mandates in local school districts. (NY State of Politics) The decision to require masks in school buildings was previously left up to the schools districts themselves.