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NEW YORK REQUIRING QUARANTINE FOR SOME VISITORS FROM OUT OF STATE UPDATE: As of June 30, 2020, the states of California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee have been added to New York’s travel advisory and incoming travelers to New York are subject to a 14-day self-quarantine upon entry. New York State Governor…
CHILD DAY CARE PROGRAMS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR STATE ASSISTANCE Governor Cuomo announced that $65 million in federal CARES Act funding is available for child care providers throughout New York State. The goal is to provide incentives for closed day care centers to reopen, and for centers that are still open to increase their capacity. $20…
FIREWORKS IN 2020! UPDATE: Do not bring in fireworks from Pennsylvania! Late on Monday, June 29, 2020 Governor Cuomo announced that he was “directing the New York State Police to establish a temporary Fireworks Enforcement Detail to stop illegal fireworks being brought to New York from Pennsylvania. This is in response to a spike of…
WE’RE STILL HERE FOR YOU For the past three months, the firm has remained fully operational and continued to provide seamless, high quality legal services to our clients. This was possible due to the firm’s historical investment in technology and its dedication to helping our clients achieve their goals in any circumstances. Starting last week,…
MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT AND CORONAVIRUS With private sector employment falling by over 22% in the Hudson Valley region from this time last year, it is anticipated that there will be a substantial increase in applications for modification of child support. Here are some thoughts to bear in mind if you have experienced a reduction…
GAY RIGHTS ARE CIVIL RIGHTS (NY Times editorial headline 6/16/2020) On Monday, June 15, 2020, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision which extended workplace protections to millions of people across the United States. Justice Gorsuch, writing for a 6-3 majority, ruled that federal law prevents employers from firing workers for being lesbian, gay,…
All clients and visitors must complete a health questionnaire and submit to phq@jacobowitz.com prior to your required scheduled appointment. Click here for the questionnaire. CLIENT AND VISITOR POLICY 1. Appointments are required. 2. Visitors are limited to the waiting room, designated bathroom and conference rooms 1-3. Visitors will be asked to call our office…
VIRTUALLY REOPENING THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE If you must bring a lawsuit against a person, a business, or for some other legal relief, you need to go to court. The New York State legal system never completely closed although, from mid-March to mid-May, it did pause almost all activity. That has now changed. It is now…
OUTDOOR DRINKING IS BACK SUBJECT TO GUIDELINES The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) has announced that effective June 4, 2020, outdoor, on-premises service of alcoholic beverages and/or food may resume in those regions that attain Phase 2 of the NY Forward reopening plan, subject to the following guidelines. The guidance remains in force through July 3….
CONGRESS EXTENDS PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM Both houses of Congress have approved a bill making several material modifications to the popular Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The President is expected to sign the bill into law very shortly. The 8-week “covered period” during which PPP funds can be spent can now be extended, at the borrower’s…
THE PANDEMIC AND YOUR FINANCES Many of us have been financially impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. There has been a lack of income due to loss of jobs, company layoffs and non-essential businesses being closed. Rent and mortgages are due, monthly bills are stacking up, spending has increased, and credit cards have been maxed out….
THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AND PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION All aspects of the practice of law have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. From suspects who must appear in front of judges by video rather than in open court, to law-mandated board meetings that must now take place by Zoom, to the signing of Wills remotely rather…
PANDEMIC CHALLENGES FOR NONPROFITS Observers are predicting a challenging road ahead for many charitable nonprofits, especially those that rely on funding from state and local governments. Tax revenues are down and deficits are ballooning. It is widely expected that sooner or later, government funding of charitable nonprofits will be reduced or even eliminated. Private philanthropies…
CHANGES TO THE BANKRUPTCY CODE PROVIDES TIMELY RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES Small businesses are the driver behind the Hudson Valley economy, but many are struggling to survive during the current Covid-19 pandemic. A recent US Chamber of Commerce poll showed that half of small businesses only have enough cash on hand to survive for one…
SMALL BUSINESS THREATENED It has always been a challenge for the small business person to develop and operate the business of their dreams. Regulations, big box and on-line competition, demanding credit sources and long hours are the price entrepreneurs pay for independence. Now on top of those forces has come the Covid-19 plague and society’s…
RE-OPEN MID-HUDSON VALLEY DURING COVID-19 With the decline in COVID-19 infection rates throughout New York State, attention has turned to safely re‑opening the economy. Governor Cuomo has outlined his plan to re-open the ten regions of New York. Our region is the Mid-Hudson Valley, which includes Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties….
SUPPORTING THE NON-PROFITS SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY The Poughkeepsie Journal recently published a very sobering article on the economic challenges facing so many non-profits in our area. The economic contraction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , as well as the economic anxiety that we are all feeling, is resulting in a substantial decrease in funds available…
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING COVID-19 Domestic violence is always a concern, but with people isolated together during the Covid-19 crisis, facing financial difficulties and work-related stresses, there has been a marked uptick in reports of domestic violence. New York State Police have reported a 15% increase of domestic violence calls from this time last year. To…
EXECUTIVE ORDER 202.22 IMPACTS REAL PROPERTY TAXATION ASSESSMENT AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES Taxpayers and municipalities statewide should be aware of potential changes to real property tax assessment and grievance procedures for 2020 in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements. On April 20, 2020, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.22, which…
THINGS EMPLOYERS SHOULD CONSIDER IN DEALING WITH THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK On March 7, 2020, the State of New York declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus in the state[1]. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic[2] and on March…
