A VIEW FROM THE BENCH- PART 2

Phase 2 reopening in NYC. Outdoor dining allowed. Barbershops & hair salons have opened. Can’t wait until nail salon reopens. Good to see crowds entering DSW across the street from my bench. I will take a walk locally to see what else has reopened.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that NYC is on track to open on June 22, exactly two weeks from when we entered Phase 1. He noted that as many as 300,000 people will be returning to work during this next phase. While Phase 1 didn't affect most New Yorkers—only curbside pick-up at stores was allowed and manufacturing and construction jobs are back online—Phase 2 marks the return of many things New Yorkers love: outdoor dining, in-store shopping, getting our hair done, etc. Malls, indoor dining at restaurants, bars, large gatherings, gyms, movie theaters and places of public amusement (amusement parks, carnivals, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, family and children’s attractions) will still be off-limits until Phase 3.

Each business has guidance by the state that it must follow, including keeping occupancy in office buildings at 50 percent, doing daily health screenings of its employees, requiring everyone to wear masks or provide barriers if six feet cannot be maintained between people, putting up signs and distance markers, limiting in-person meetings and refraining from the communal sharing of food and drinks in larger areas.

The subway will remain closed overnight between the hours of 1 am and 5 am for cleaning. Crews will "remove the trash, clean spills and biohazards, spot-clean seats, floors, and other surfaces, and disinfect common touchpoints." Trains will be cleaned overnight at subway yards. I have not taken the subway since Phase 1 began. I have used the M104 bus to get to my medical appointments. Masks, gloves & social distancing seem to be in order on the buses.

It was just announced that NYC beaches will reopen for swimming on July 1^st. The weather has been great- 80-90 degrees with lots of sun and mainly low humidity. The city has come alive. I will not be going to any large gatherings inside for the next 6 months.

The 20^th Precinct of the NYPD (59-86 Street Hudson River to Central Park West) will hold its first meeting in 3 months of the civilian coordinators for community policing tonight at the old Boat Basin Café at 79^th St & the Hudson River. It is not being used anymore but outdoors with lots of social distancing. I am one of 2 volunteer coordinators for Sector C- (79^th- 86^th Streets).

Phase 3 just started. I finally was able to get a manicure after 3 months. Looking good. I am not ready to eat in a restaurant just yet. Maybe in the fall. 79^th Street repaved. Weather in the high 80’s- low 90s and very little rain. As I sit on the bench more people and cars are on the street. Still doing yoga once a week with Adrienne (15^th year). In the last 2 months, we have gone to Riverside Park and used benches around 80^th Street.

July 4^th weekend and my routine visit to my dentist (across the street from my house) for a cleaning reveals another cavity. Just what I wanted- a $4,000 bill and more implants. Happy almost 85^th birthday. The Wine Media Guild organization that I co-founded almost 20 years ago will help me celebrate 2 days before my actual birthday via Zoom.

I will be reporting on Sunday from the Hamptons at my family home where my brother & sister-in-law plus 2 of my 3 nephews and their 5 children will celebrate the big day. My oldest nephew John who runs the family retail and auction business lives in Puerto Rico and could not get a flight to NYC until next week.