Sep 21, 2020
On Friday, we were devastated to learn that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had passed away. Justice Ginsburg was a daughter of Brooklyn and her life was a testament to the true meaning of New York Tough — accomplishment, tenacity, conviction, all coupled with respect, grace and dignity.
As an advocate, litigator, professor and judge, Justice Ginsburg was a singular force for justice throughout her extraordinary career, particularly in her relentless fight for gender equality. New York will honor her life and legacy with a statue in Brooklyn. This statue will serve as a physical reminder of Justice Ginsburg's monumental contributions to American jurisprudence and as an inspiration to us all.
Here's what else you need to know tonight:
1. The total number of hospitalizations remains low. Yesterday, there were 468 total hospitalizations. Of the 58,319 tests reported yesterday, 573, or 0.98 percent, were positive. Sadly, we lost one New Yorker to the virus.
2. The moratorium on commercial evictions is extended until October 20th. I signed an Executive Order that extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants.
3. MoMA PS1 is now reopened with strict safety protocols in place. The Queens contemporary arts venue joins the many arts and cultural institutions reopening their doors to guests. When visiting museums and other institutions, patrons must respect safety protocols, including wearing a mask and respecting social distancing as much as possible.
4. The Rochester Fringe Festival has gone virtual this year. New York State's largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival features 170+ online productions and runs through Saturday, September 26.
Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as pink dolphins, have been sighted in greater numbers in Hong Kong's waters after the ferry service was suspended due to COVID. The threatened species have been in decline, so conservationists have been encouraged by their resurgence in the Pearl River Delta.
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