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NYC cancels parades, street fairs through the end of September
City Hall put the kibosh on the summer parade and street fair season Thursday, extending the Big Apple’s coronavirus closure of major public gatherings until at least Sept. 30.
“As New York has begun its reopening process, accessible open spaces are more important than ever,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement released late Thursday.
“While it pains me to call off some of the city’s beloved events, our focus now must be the prioritization of city space for public use and the continuation of social distancing.”
That includes big parades like the West Indian American Day Carnival in Brooklyn Labor Day weekend, the Dominican Day Parade in midtown Manhattan and the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy.
Officials will not issue any permits for events that could interfere with the city’s ‘Open Streets’ or ‘Open Restaurants’ programs, which closed off streets to automobile traffic to give New Yorkers more space to socially distance and eateries and bars space to expand their outdoor seating.
Additionally, Hizzoner said that his administration will also deny all permits for events in parks that would “unreasonably diminish public use”, street fairs, events larger than one block or for gatherings that require a sound system.
City Hall will refund or defer fees paid in connection with a denied permit.
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