Restrictions Threaten South Brooklyn Businesses

Jacqueline Polyvyanya, owner of Studio J, a fashion boutique in Sheepshead Bay, has changed the way she works ever since her community received an orange zone label on October 8th. Studio J now only lets one client into the store at a time. Both employees and customers MUST wear masks at all times, put on hand sanitizer, and stay six feet apart. “We were forced to be careful because you the inspectors are walking around everywhere,” she explained. “We have been trying to promote our clothes on our website, and we were able to get some government benefits so we can pay rent.”

Business owners like Polyvyana in South Brooklyn complain that they are being ripped apart because of new government restrictions. Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill De Blasio put protocols in place in multiple areas in South Brooklyn in response to an increase in coronavirus cases in areas such as Borough Park, Midwood and Sheepshead Bay. Inspectors who stop by businesses enforce the restrictions using red, orange, and yellow labels going from most (red) to least (yellow) restrictions. It’s gotten so bad that businesses have been already shut down leading to outrage and protests.

Many residents in the restricted areas don’t know what’s going on. Though the governor has re-opened businesses and schools in parts of South Brooklyn which had initially been shut down, the lack of consistency has created extra stress. What’s more, several of the outbreaks occurred in Jewish communities where residents held large religious holidays at the end of September. Those who live in these areas are pushing back against the restrictions pointing to discrimination based on their religion.

“The restrictions created chaos,” said Olya Kondray, who lives in Midwood. “It is not right to penalize everybody because some people couldn’t follow rules. What De Blasio has done to these areas is terrible.”

Some business owners say their communities feel like police states. On Wednesday, October 21st, an inspector walked into Infinity Cutz, a Barber shop in Sheepshead Bay, an orange zone. The manager, Roman Davidov, informed all his clients to wait outside and form a line six feet apart from each other. The inspector asked questions about how they are operating amid the recent restriction. “As long as we comply with the rules, we should be fine,” said Davidov, who is doing his best to keep his business steady. “We know how to adjust.”

Residents in these “hot zones” look forward to calmer days. “This needs to go back to normal,” said Irina Nayshlos, who lives in Sheepshead Bay. “Or else you will see a lot of people go out of business and lose their jobs.”