COSTA CONSTANTINIDES CHAIR

COUNCILMEMBER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ND
22 DISTRICT, QUEENS
COMMITTEES
DISTRICT OFFICE
RESILIENCY AND WATERFRONTS
31-09 NEWTOWN AVENUE, SUITE 209
ASTORIA, NY 11102 SANITATION
TEL: (718) 274-4500 TECHNOLOGY

CITY HALL OFFICE THE COUNCIL

250 BROADWAY, SUITE 1778 OF
NEW YORK, NY 10007 THE CITY OF NEW YORK
COUNCIL.NYC.GOV/COSTA

March 19, 2020

Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin

U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Speaker Nancy Pelosi

U.S. House of Representatives
United States Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

U.S. Senate
United States Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Secretary Mnuchin, Speaker Pelosi, and Majority Leader McConnell,

I write to you regarding our rapidly unfolding national emergency. Although we have all
become familiar with the basic facts of the COVID-19 outbreak that has spread across the
globe, it is only within the last week that it has become apparent to virtually every
American just how much our lives will be impacted. Major financial institutions now
predict that our economy will soon enter a recession, and more than a few analysts are
projecting potential unemployment rates not seen since the Great Depression. In short
order, our economy has gone into free fall and if we are to save it, all options must be on
the table.

The examples of real world suffering are proliferating day by day. Multiple states have
seen tenfold increases in unemployment claims, and businesses from virtually all sectors
are in imminent danger of collapse. In my own neighborhood, small businesses that were
started by hard-working immigrants and have become regional institutions are
hemorrhaging workers and are likely going to have to close their doors permanently
within the next several weeks. These are businesses that have been painstakingly built
over many years, and to have them suddenly vanish from our community would be truly
devastating.
These businesses are not asking for a handout, moreover. They simply want business
interruption insurance to get them through until our society is able to return to normal.
Unfortunately, their insurance providers are likely unable to cover all business losses
incurred as the losses are so great that they may face insolvency themselves. The last
thing we need right now is to potentially bankrupt one industry to save another. It is clear,
therefore, that there is now only one entity that has the power to stanch the bleeding.

In the last several days, news reports have suggested that there are discussions going on
between your offices on what a rescue package for American businesses would look like.
I am distressed to see that the Trump Administration has placed far too much emphasis
on industries that, while significant parts of our economy, should not be our focus right
now. The fossil fuel industry, quite frankly, does not need a bailout, and neither do luxury
cruise lines that evade basic worker protections by offshoring their operations. It is our
local businesses, from Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon to Bareburger right here in
Queens, New York, that tie the fabric of our communities together, and they need to be
the focus. I urge you to target the next aid package to where it can do the most good for
the greatest number of communities as soon as possible, and guaranteeing our local
businesses full business interruption coverage is one of the best ways we can weather this
storm. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Costa Constantinides
New York City Council Member, 22nd District

Cc: Charles Schumer, U.S. Senate Minority Leader

Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senate
Carolyn Maloney, U.S. House of Representatives
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. House of Representatives