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New York Re-Imagined, Reopens in a Coronavirus World

Indian-Americans invent a new reality in a changing city

Masked and socially distanced, I was on my daily walk in the streets of quarantined Manhattan. I came across a surreal scene – outside Bombay Chowk, a neighborhood Indian restaurant, there were tables and chairs laid out for dinner right next to the parking meter on the narrow sidewalk.

A masked waitstaff eagerly waved a menu at me – something unimaginable a month back in the stricken city. A few days later the restaurant graduated to more outdoor tables right on the road, with music and enticing aromas – and many diners.  Assis Goes, the chef-owner of Bombay Chowk has been doing a lot of deliveries during the quarantine but  is finding people are coming in for his eclectic regional dishes including his Goanese specialties.

Yes, like exotic summer birds, tables and chairs have sprouted all over New York as restaurants have been given permission by the city to open outdoor spaces while indoor dining is still prohibited. There is a festive air in this sad city.

America still leads the world in coronavirus figures – 3.05 million infections and 133, 000 deaths but New York which had once been the epicenter of the pandemic in the US has managed to flatten the curve. From a high of 770 deaths in a day, the city has come to single digits while COVID-19 is raging in over 33 states in the country.

Indeed it has been the state’s policy of enforcing masks and social distancing along with phased re-openings which has brought New York to this place of recovery and renewal, and it’s a testament to the spunk and determination of New Yorkers that the curve has not only been flattened but bent.  To pay tribute to this diehard spirit, the landmarks in New York State from Niagara Falls to Grand Central Terminal were recently lit up in blue and gold.

“New Yorkers did the impossible – we went from the worst infection rate in the United States to the best infection rate in the United States,” says NY Governor Andrew Cuomo. “I like to say that we crossed the mountain. That curve was purely a function of what we did. If we change what we’re doing, you’re going to change the trajectory of the virus. You know an outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere – that’s the new mentality we have to have.”

New York City had shut down in March with the NY on Pause executive order and phased beginnings have slowly started the city humming again. The subway system remains closed at night to get a thorough disinfection to ferry workers in the morning.

The mood is cautious yet optimistic with an eye on virus statistics and testings. On June 6^th, NY State conducted 56735 tests – only 588 or 1.04 % were positive.  Social distancing and masks are mandatory in New York and most people do observe the rules.

Restaurants and restaurateurs are re-inventing themselves in their comebacks. Surhi Sahni has changed Tagmo, her sweets business, into a home delivery business of succulent regional cuisine with innovative menus. A woman-owned business, she employs immigrant women and also donates meals to healthcare workers and needy populations.

Since currently restaurants can only operate outdoors, many have created creative spaces on the sidewalks and designated streets. The Open Restaurants and Open Streets projects have allowed all restaurants to offer diners al fresco dining.  Anita Trehan who owns Chaiwali in Harlem,  has created a sidewalk café and in her back garden she has used plants, dividers and lights to create a lush ambiance. Since groceries are the need of the moment, she has created a new business – a retail section with spices, chai mixes, snacks and masks, and market bags.

“This has brought out a lot of creativity in  New Yorkers, and while times are tough for us all, we love the opportunity for us to keep serving day in and day out,” says Arun Mirchandani, co-owner of The Drunken Munkey, a  popular eatery and bar on the Upper East Side.“We pray that in a post-Covid world, NYC continues to have a Parisian feel with all our outdoor cafés. Meanwhile, we’re glad to be a part of this great city where our guests are  loving a new found way of dining.”

As schools and many work places remain closed, work from home is still a reality for most people unless they are essential workers or medical professionals.

New York, which was the center of the Coronavirus pandemic, is slowly re-opening in what Governor Cuomo calls ‘New York smart” ways. Several Indian-Americans have been enlisted in this re-birth of New York. Siddharth Mukherjee, assistant professor at Columbia University as well as a physician and author; and Satish K. Tripathi, president of SUNY Buffalo, were named among the 15 members of the Commission which is being chaired by former CEO and executive chairman of Google and founder of Schmidt Futures Eric Schmidt

The New York Forward Reopening Advisory Board will help guide the state’s reopening strategy. It includes over 100 business, community and civic leaders from industries across the state including Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga,  Chair of advisory firm Tandon Capital Associates Chandrika Tandon and President and CEO of Hotel Association of New York City Vijay Dandapani

The resurgence of New York back to its glory as the center of the business and arts world will entail many steps. Just this year the US Open is going to be held in Queens August 31 to September 13. It will be held without fans but will be broadcast from Queens for audiences.

Art lovers are also looking forward to the re-opening of New York’s world class museums and its iconic Broadway shows. With many talents brainstorming to solve these complex issues, New Yorkers and travelers alike can look forward to a resurgence of New York as an enriching place.

With unemployment at a record high, especially for women, Asian-American and immigrant-owned businesses, there are outreach events and webinars in many languages at nyc.gov/business

The city has created various ways to help the affected population:  One of the initiatives is Grab-and-go Meal Hubs will continue to operate through the summer to solve food insecurity during the COVD-19 crisis, and this includes vegetarian and halal options.  Another program is the Emergency Older Adult Food Access Program which provides and delivers freshly culturally-appropriate meals to older adults.

In New York, antibody tests are free for all City residents and open to those who have not had COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID-19 diagnostic test within the past two weeks.

Another recent law that assists immigrants is the Tenant Safe Harbor Act by which tenants cannot be evicted for unpaid rent if they have suffered financial hardship during the time of COVID-19.

.“As our city begins to recover from this challenging time, we want all immigrant New Yorkers to trust that they can seek the care they need without fear of immigration consequences, to be empowered by knowledge about their right to get support, and to know that their City has their back,” says Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Many health and social services—including COVID-19 testing and care, emergency Medicaid, food assistance, tenant protection, and free legal help—are available to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, ability to pay, or employment status. Indeed, in spite of so many ups and downs, New York remains the ultimate city for immigrants, a sanctuary city. A resource guide for immigrant communities is downloadable in several languages including Urdu and Bengali at nyc.gov/immigrants/coronavirus.

“Lady Liberty will always stand as a beacon to welcome the world—in the ultimate city of immigrants, we’ll never give up the fight for freedom, equality, and opportunity for everyone” says de Blasio. “No matter where you come from, no matter what language you speak, no matter your religion, you’re welcome in New York City.”

(This article appeared in my weekly column ‘India in America’ in CNBCTV18.com)

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