Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
“The old exemption put our sports teams at a self-imposed competitive disadvantage and was unfair to New York performers. Now, with the city in a low-risk environment, we can keep protecting each other, as we continue to move in the right direction and deliver an equitable and inclusive economic recovery,” Mayor Adams said.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday outlined the next step in the City’s economic recovery and COVID-19 response, with a new measure that will support local businesses and arts and performance venues across the city.
Signed and effective Thursday, Executive Order 62 expands the performer exemption to the city’s private employer vaccine mandates, putting City-based performers on a level playing field with performers based outside of the city. The new order will help kick-start the full spectrum of the city’s nightlife economy, which, pre-pandemic, employed nearly 300,000 New Yorkers and generated over $35 billion in economic impact.
“Today we take another step in our city’s economic recovery — leveling the playing field for New Yorkers and supporting local businesses and performance venues across the city,” Adams said Thursday at Citi Field in Flushing. “By expanding an existing exemption, we are simply making sure the rules apply equally to everyone who is a performer, regardless of where they are from. The old exemption put our sports teams at a self-imposed competitive disadvantage and was unfair to New York performers. Now, with the city in a low-risk environment, we can keep protecting each other, as we continue to move in the right direction and deliver an equitable and inclusive economic recovery.”
Before Thursday, the city’s preexisting private employer vaccine rules generally allowed performers who live outside the five boroughs and athletes who play for visiting teams to perform or play in New York City, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. This double standard hurt the city’s economy and put New York sports teams at a self-imposed competitive disadvantage. Thursday’s announcement expands those rules to also cover City-based performers and professional athletes — helping to kickstart the city’s economic recovery by supporting live entertainment and performance venues as well as nearby local businesses.
The latest step in the city’s economic recovery and COVID-19 response, Thursday’s executive order follows the mayor’s statement this week on mask requirements for two- to four-year-olds and his decision earlier this month to remove the mask mandate in public schools for K-12 students and suspend aspects of the Key to NYC program.
“Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen and all of us at the Mets are proud to partner with the mayor and his team as part of New York City’s continued reopening and economic recovery,” said Sandy Alderson, president, New York Mets. “We look forward to welcoming fans back to Citi Field, and for Mets players to have the opportunity — for the first time in three years — to play a full season before the greatest fans in the world.”
“We appreciate the way the mayor approached this decision with deliberation, understanding, and reliance on the science,” said Randy Levine, president, New York Yankees. “He was open to the needs of New York businesses and is today delivering for millions of New Yorkers. We thank him for his decision.”
City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin Kim said, “This executive order is another major step toward normalcy and, along with it, an opportunity once again for our small businesses to grow and thrive.”
