TENAFLY, N.J.—Tenafly is a robust and thriving community—but for now, the scenario downtown appears dramatically different.
On March 13, looking at Washington Street, usually the busiest center of Tenafly, was like watching an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” Most stores, including the ever popular CVS, had little or no customers. There was also no street traffic and a noticeable lack of cars.
Further up the road, the Tenafly Public Library and the Senior Center are temporarily closed.
Similar scenes are been played out in every municipality in Bergen County, as people adhere to warnings and mandates issued by health and county municipal officials to contain the Coronavirus.
Christine Evron, President of the Tenafly Chamber of Commerce, said, “Everyone needs to keep in mind 80% of infections will result in minor or no symptoms, 14% will be able to stay at home & get well, 1% will die from the illness, 5% will survive if they can be cared for in [intensive care unit] beds (with oxygen and other assistance).
“By keeping away from each other, washing hands and not congregating in enormous groups to panic buy we can keep the number of critical but survivable infections below the number of ICU beds,” said Evron. “Once tests are widely available we will be able to quickly quarantine those who are not showing symptoms but are still infectious.”
The advice Evron gave Tenafly residents is, “If you want to come back to a downtown with your favorite stores, continue to order take out and get items like food and toys delivered to your car until there is a complete shutdown. Go to professional offices but don’t linger in the waiting room—wait until you are called in your car. Finally, I can’t believe I need to say this, but I’m getting reports from our business owners: ‘Don’t go out because you’ve been tested & it’s only the flu. Your flu is contagious and can critically weaken someone when they get the Corona virus.’”
Businesses hit a cash flow wall
“All small businesses across Bergen County and likely the rest of New Jersey have hit a cash flow wall and are in trouble,” Evron said.
As such she has been in constant communication with Vincent Vicari, the Regional Director of the Bergen County Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Vicari believes that to help small businesses in Tenafly, the federal government will provide a mix of tax incentives and payment reductions (tax/fees) that needs to be worked out at the Federal level.
More immediately, Vicari is working with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to get a small business loan program up and running, making loans up to $50,000 available. When Vicari obtains what is needed, he will be running webinars to help fill out the paperwork.
In addition to financial support, Evron has been conveying to New Jersey legislators that Tenafly’s businesses can handle a short shutdown, “But a protracted death by a 1,000 cancellations will kill our small businesses. New Jersey needs to stop the infection train and get a real testing effort going so new cases can be known and quickly isolated.”
At press time, New Jersey legislators are working on test kits and hopefully something will become available soon.
Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna injected a positive note into the Coronavirus situation.
“We are not alone, and there are dedicated, competent people working for us!” he assured residents.
Zinna recently gave an update on specific steps that the borough is taking to avoid the spread of the virus.
“This week we closed our senior center library, all recreational programs and we suspended our senior bus, all until April 1,” Zinna said.
“Further, we put all our non-uniformed employees, such as building and tax department personnel and certain DPW workers, on split shifts, with half of them working one week, half the other week. This creates time and distance between employees so that we can carry out essential service for residents,” he said.
On an upbeat note, Zinna mentioned, “We actually increased some services, such as a new outreach program to our senior citizens. In this program, every day, two employees are calling seniors to see if they need groceries or supplies, and they will deliver them on the senior bus. Employees are also available if seniors just want to have a friendly phone conversation.”
Zinna shared the advice that has been pronounced throughout the country, i.e., urging all residents to create time and distance between each other.
“This is not a pleasant thing, but it’s going to pass and we’ll get through it! We’re doing everything we can do to decrease the risk of spreading the virus.”
Evron reiterated the importance of this advice, and added, “Stay healthy, safe and support your local businesses!”