New York City Businesses And Organizations Offer Support To Furloughed Federal Workers During Government Shutdown

During the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, New York City stepped up to support the 18,000 federal employees and numerous federal contract workers affected by the furlough. With none of these workers receiving paychecks since the week of January 7, 2019, businesses, cultural institutions, and organizations across the five boroughs offered a variety of freebies, discounts, and assistance programs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the resources available to furloughed federal workers in New York City during this challenging period.

Impact of the Government Shutdown on Federal Workers

The partial government shutdown, which lasted at least 35 days, created significant financial uncertainty for approximately 800,000 federal workers across the country. In New York City alone, over 900 furloughed workers applied for unemployment benefits, demonstrating the immediate economic impact of the shutdown. Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration compiled a list of resources and services available to affected federal workers, accessible through the city's 311 service or online resources.

The shutdown affected not only furloughed workers but also those required to work without pay. Food banks and assistance organizations reported increased strain as federal employees faced financial insecurity, particularly as the shutdown continued into what would typically be the holiday season.

Museum and Cultural Institution Offers

Museums and cultural institutions across New York City opened their doors to furloughed federal workers, offering free admission as a gesture of support during the difficult period.

The Museum at Eldridge Street provided complimentary admission to all federal employees currently on furlough, along with three guests. This offer extended to federal employees residing in all states and territories of the United States.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) with locations on Fifth Avenue, at The Breuer, and The Cloisters offered free admission to all federal employees and one guest each for the duration of the federal government shutdown. Notably, the special exhibition "Harry Potter: A History of Magic" was not included in this offer and required a separate timed ticket.

The Museum of the Moving Image, located in Astoria, also offered complimentary museum admission to furloughed employees upon presentation of valid identification.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) extended free admission to furloughed federal employees and one guest for the duration of the shutdown.

Food and Dining Assistance

Numerous restaurants and food establishments in New York City provided free meals or discounts to furloughed federal workers, helping address immediate food security concerns.

Sweet Chick, a restaurant owned by Nas, offered free chicken and waffles to federal employees impacted by the shutdown Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at all locations.

Brother Jimmy's BBQ provided free lunch to federal employees Wednesday through Friday at its Murray Hill or Eighth Avenue locations.

Sweetgreen, the salad chain, offered a free signature bowl to federal employees with their government ID on Saturday, January 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Roccos Tacos, located in Downtown Brooklyn, gave a one-time $20 credit to furloughed government employees after presentation of valid ID.

Bar 169 participated in the "Pay It Furloughed" initiative, offering a free beer to furloughed federal employees between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 24. The establishment also allowed non-furloughed individuals to fund beers for affected workers starting at $7.50 per beer.

Entertainment and Recreation Options

Several entertainment venues offered complimentary access to furloughed federal workers, providing opportunities for recreation during their time off work.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music's Rose Cinema in Fort Greene gave federal workers free movie tickets to the first screening of any film each day.

Madame Tussauds NY offered one free ticket to furloughed federal workers who presented a valid federal worker ID during the shutdown.

The Metropolitan Opera provided free tickets to people with government IDs through the end of January.

Stand Up NY, a comedy club at 78th Street and Broadway, gave federal workers a LaughPass membership for free for one year. This pass provided access to unlimited comedy shows at Stand Up and 30 other clubs around the country.

"Beautiful - The Carole King Musical" offered free admission for select Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday evening performances. Eligible federal employees needed to present valid ID at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre's box office on the day of the performance to claim tickets.

Accommodation Support

The Hotel Association of New York City played a significant role in supporting furloughed federal workers who needed to travel to the city for personal emergencies. The Association announced it would provide free hotel rooms to affected workers in such situations.

According to Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, "As a leading hospitality voice for New York City, we don't want to see anyone who needs to be here turned away because of financial hardships created by the government shutdown. Whether it's a family situation or a health issue that requires people to travel to the city, we will do what we can to provide accommodations on a limited basis to those in dire need."

Affected federal workers in personal emergency situations could apply for a free hotel stay by sending an email explaining their circumstances with the subject line "GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ROOM APPLICATION" to [email protected]. The Hotel Association of New York City represents 280 of the finest hotels in New York City, with nearly 80,000 rooms and more than 50,000 employees.

Health and Wellness Support

Brrrn, described as a "cool temperature fitness experience," provided one free class at its West 20th Street studio to federal employees affected by the shutdown. The business justified this offer by stating that "working without pay is so not cool."

Food Security Resources

As the shutdown continued, food security became an increasing concern for many furloughed federal workers and their families. The Food Bank for New York City created an interactive map that listed all soup kitchens, food pantries, SNAP centers, and other resources nearby to assist those in need.

The organization also hosted pop-up distributions across the city with food, vital products, and information specifically for federal workers affected by the shutdown.

The Food Bank's resources were particularly important given that over 750,000 federal workers had been furloughed nationwide, with hundreds of thousands of others required to work without pay. As the shutdown extended into what would typically be the holiday season, the need for food assistance became increasingly acute.

Community Response

New York City's response to the government shutdown demonstrated a strong community spirit, with businesses and organizations offering various forms of support to furloughed federal workers. This ranged from free meals and entertainment to essential accommodations and food assistance.

The "Pay It Furloughed" initiative, which included Bar 169's participation, represented a nationwide effort to support federal workers. On Thursday, January 24, communities across the country observed "Pay It Furloughed Day," a call for Americans to buy a beer for furloughed employees.

Additional support came through rallies and organized events, such as the rally planned in Lower Manhattan for federal employees and their supporters to advocate for ending the shutdown.

Application Process and Eligibility

Most offers required furloughed federal workers to present valid government identification to receive free or discounted services. Some establishments had specific time restrictions or limited the offers to certain days of the week.

For hotel accommodations through the Hotel Association of New York City, workers needed to demonstrate a personal emergency requiring travel to the city and apply via email with an explanation of their circumstances.

Food assistance through the Food Bank and other organizations typically did not require specific eligibility verification beyond demonstrating need, though some pop-up distributions may have prioritized federal workers.

Conclusion

During the record-length government shutdown, New York City's business community, cultural institutions, and organizations demonstrated remarkable generosity toward furloughed federal workers. The range of assistance—from museum admissions and free meals to hotel accommodations and food security resources—provided critical support to those facing financial uncertainty.

The various offers not only helped address immediate needs but also sent a message of appreciation to federal workers for their service. While these resources were temporary measures designed to address the specific circumstances of the shutdown, they highlighted the capacity of communities to come together in support of those affected by government actions.

For federal workers facing similar situations in the future, the response during this shutdown offers a model of community support and practical assistance that could be replicated in other cities across the country.

Sources

1. All of the Places in NYC Offering Perks to Furloughed Federal Employees
2. Here's Where NYC Federal Workers Can Get Govt Shutdown Deals
3. Hotel Association of NYC Offers Free Rooms to Furloughed Federal Workers for Emergencies
4. Hungry and Unpaid Workers Scramble for Free Food in New York City as Shutdown Drags On