Arts revival called priority
Events planned for state sites; rapid tests called key tool
With roughly half of artists out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic and cities struggling with the lack of a lively culture scene, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday detailed plans to revive the industry as part of his multiday State of the State address.
Cuomo said a survey in September found 52 percent of actors, 55 percent of dancers and 27 percent of musicians were out of work, underscoring the devastation the sector has experienced with the extended shutdown of indoor venues.
In response, Cuomo announced the New York Arts Revival initiative, which is partnering with community organizations across the state to hold various pop-up events at state parks and other stateowned property.
“Cities, by definition, are centers of energy, entertainment and cuisine. Without that activity and attraction, cities lose much of their appeal,” he said. “We cannot wait until summer to turn the lights back on for arts and provide a living wage for artists.”
The governor pointed to the testing of Buffalo Bills fans at a recent National Football League playoff game by using rapid tests, and said that stands as a pathway to reopening the arts and entertainment sector.
Other priorities outlined by Cuomo include eliminating the budget deficit and recession; plotting a path for the state’s economic future; making New York a global leader in clean energy, accounting for longterm effects of COVID -19 and addressing systemic racism that he said was revealed by the pandemic.
To bring the economy back, New York is also working with the real estate sector to provide rapid COVID -19 testing to employees and tenants in commercial buildings while identifying vacant office space that could be converted into affordable, supportive housing, the governor said. The state will help pave the way for developers to more easily convert commercial space into residential housing, he said.
The need to ensure reliable and affordable broadband access also has risen as a top priority due to the pandemic, which revealed existing access inequalities. The governor acknowledged that remote work is here to stay, and ensuring access to reliable internet service is key to that employment.
Cuomo said broadband is available to 98 percent of New York families, but it is not affordable. Households on average pay more than $50 per month for broadband internet.
“I propose we pass a first in the nation mandate that internet service providers recognize their public responsibility and offer $15per-month high-speed internet service to all lowincome households,” he said during his second State of the State presentation.
Through partnerships with various groups, New York will pick up the cost of monthly internet access for school children who cannot afford the $15 per month charge during the pandemic. The governor’s Reimagine New York Commission, Schmidt Futures, and the Ford Foundations will launch a hardship fund to pay for internet subscriptions for students to ensure those who are unable to afford broadband do not fall behind in their education.
Cuomo said the Public Service Commission will also require adherence to universal “broadband disclosure,” explaining all charges associated with the service, like activation and equipment fees.
Lastly, he pledged to take action to encourage investment in access and the buildout of fiber optic across the state. Those efforts include launching a website listing affordable plans, and where consumers can report coverage gaps.
State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy dismissed Cuomo’s proposals, arguing that to rebuild the economy, government needs to get out of the way.
“It’s stunning that nearly a year after we have been battling this virus, the governor is only now talking about the importance of keeping our economy open and needing a plan to expand rapid testing. Making broadband affordable is great, but what good is affordability if we lack the infrastructure in so many underserved communities?” Langworthy said in a statement. “(Cuomo) has spent his tenure wasting billions on failed, corrupted vanity projects and playing national politics instead of doing the fundamental work that would make New York strong and competitive.”
Other systemic inequalities, including in health care and the criminal justice system, also will be analyzed as part of New York reopening the economy, Cuomo said. He has established the Reimagine New York Commission, which is tasked with not only providing a pathway to sustainable, in-demand jobs, but also examining issues of structural racism and inequality.
“The commission will draw a road map on how to get back to work in jobs that pay well in places where they will grow rather than disappear,” he said. “We want to grow an economy that is not just tall but wide, benefiting more New Yorkers.”
Richard Parson, co-chair of the commission’s Connectivity Working Group and chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation, applauded the governor’s plan to help address the more than 2 million New York households that do not have a broadband subscription.
“We must now build upon the foundation of New York’s broadband program to address remaining barriers in coverage, affordability, and digital inclusion,” he said.