New York City Protests, Violence and Fires

phase one of the reentry into regular living

For the next week, most New York City residents will be required to be at home, or at least out of public spaces, by 8 p.m. This nightly, citywide curfew will be in place through the morning of June 8.

Under the emergency executive order issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday, anyone not performing or traveling to or from essential work will be required to be inside every night from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. This curfew is three hours earlier than the 11 p.m. deadline set on June 1 — and about 20 minutes before sunset.

Additionally, car travel in Manhattan will be banned below 96th Street during curfew hours, except for local residents, essential workers, buses and truck deliveries.

So does this mean you’re trapped inside, all night? Well, not exactly.

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Q: Did you say the curfew is before sunset?

A: Yes! The sun was due to set at 8:22 p.m. on June 2, the first night of the extended-hours curfew — the second night of curfew over all — and is due to set progressively one minute later each night.(The summer solstice, the longest day of the year, is June 20.)

Q: To whom, exactly, does the curfew apply?

A: In a nutshell: Unless you absolutely need to be outside for work or for medical reasons, the curfew applies to you.

The people exempt from the curfew are the ones you would expect: police and peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical workers and technicians, anyone seeking medical treatment or supplies, and anyone performing or traveling to or from essential work, like food delivery, transit and health care. Those who are homeless are also exempt.

Q: I have a dog. Should I, um, set up a pad in my home?

A: Thankfully, no. According to city guidelines, you can take your pets outside to relieve themselves, “but only in the immediate vicinity of your residence.”

Q: Can I get food delivered?

A: Yes. Food delivery is considered essential work. (You might want to tip well if you’re able to, as we are still facing the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic.)

Q: My grocery store is still open 24 hours a day. Can I make a quick snack run?

A: Technically, no. The order bars anyone who is “not performing essential work from being in public” during curfew hours.

Q: Can I take a walk around my block?

A: Technically, no. The guidelines from the city are clear: Unless you are performing or traveling to essential work, you should not be in public.

Are the odds low you’ll catch attention from the police if you’re out for a stroll? Yes. But would that stroll still be a violation? Also yes.

Q: Is CitiBike operating? What about Revel?

A: No and no. Both the bike and moped services will be suspended during curfew hours. This could be a hiccup for essential workers who rely on these methods of transport.

Q: What about my backyard or patio?

A: That should be fine. The curfew guidelines focus on public spaces, and the outdoor areas attached to your home are presumably not public spaces.

Q: I’m an essential worker. Will public transit be running? Can I make a snack run during work?

A: Yes and yes. Transportation services, including bus, rail, subway, are still considered essential, so you should be able to take any of them during curfew hours. The city is not allowing for-hire vehicles, like Ubers and Lyfts, to operate from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., though yellow and green taxis can operate for essential workers.

(Remember that the subway is still not running between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. For more information about reduced subway service and how to get around it, click here.)

The city has also carved out exemptions for essential workers who want to grab food during their shift, so feel free to pop into whichever bodega you’d like.

The next thing they knew, fully equipped riot police came at them. Whacking clubs drawn!

Mayor Bill de Blasio lifted the citywide curfew he had ordered last week after a spree of looting and other violence.
And he pledged for the first time to cut the city’s police funding and redirect some of the money to social services.

On Sunday, the eve of New York City’s first phase of re-opening after more than two months of lockdown due to the
coronavirus, the marches were largely jubilant, with the police taking a more passive role with protesters.

As of 7 p.m. on Sunday, there were no reports of major confrontations or mass arrests.

And he pledged for the first time to cut the city's police funding and redirect some of the money to social services.