Mayor Bill de Blasio at a June 29 press briefing (Mayoral Photography Office)
July 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin
All large events requiring a city permit are cancelled through the end of September, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.
De Blasio defined large events as gatherings larger than one city block, and said they would all be cancelled through Sept. 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic. This ban also includes street fairs.
Organizers of events one city block or smaller can still apply for a permit from the city. They must outline their plan to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and detail cleaning measures with their permit application.
“As New York has begun its reopening process, accessible open spaces are more important than ever,” de Blasio said in a statement. “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.”
In addition, the city will deny permits to any event that interferes with its Open Streets and outdoor dining program, as well as events that takeover too much public park space.
The city will refund or defer all fees already paid for cancelled event permits.
Demonstrations and protests, religious events and press conferences are exempt.
The New York City Marathon, which was scheduled for November 1, has already been cancelled by the city and its organizer New York Road Runners (NYRR).
