NYC offering stimulus money to artists, taxi drivers and the homeless

New York City will spend some of the nearly $6 billion it received in COVID-19 recovery funds from the Biden administration to provide financial assistance for artists, taxi drivers and the homeless, as well as to support ongoing vaccination efforts.

The city last week outlined how it will use the aid from the American Rescue Plan Act. Some 1,800 local artists across varied disciplines who have suffered financially during the pandemic will receive $5,000 checks. The so-called New York City Artist Corps grants will be fully distributed by October, according to the recovery plan report.  The plan also includes $65 million in relief for the Big Apple's struggling taxicab industry, which faces stiff competition from rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber, and is comprised mostly of immigrants and people of color. The aid will help taxi medallion owners pay off debt and get back on the road "so more taxis are available to the riding public," according to the plan.