Pandemic, protests keep life far from normal in NYC

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Aurora natives Payne, Whitney share perspectives

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  • Erin Whitney shares a nose bump through safety masks with her boyfriend, Asher Ben-Or Whitney works in real estate in New York City, where she said people are both leaving and moving in during this pandemic. Courtesy photo
    Erin Whitney shares a nose bump through safety masks with her boyfriend, Asher Ben-Or Whitney works in real estate in New York City, where she said people are both leaving and moving in during this pandemic. Courtesy photo
  • Erin Whitney shared a photo from her area of New York City, which she said was boarded up to prevent any damage from being done during recent protests. “Some businesses are boarded up, but they are painted with beautiful murals, so I would say we’ve had more community activism and no violence,” she said. Courtesy photo
    Erin Whitney shared a photo from her area of New York City, which she said was boarded up to prevent any damage from being done during recent protests. “Some businesses are boarded up, but they are painted with beautiful murals, so I would say we’ve had more community activism and no violence,” she said. Courtesy photo
  • Tereasa Payne and her husband, Simon Hutchings, have been confined mostly to their apartment in Harlem, Manhattan, since the COVID pandemic hit New York City in early March. Courtesy photo
    Tereasa Payne and her husband, Simon Hutchings, have been confined mostly to their apartment in Harlem, Manhattan, since the COVID pandemic hit New York City in early March. Courtesy photo
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Two months after sharing their perspectives from the epicenter of the initial COVID-19 outbreak, Aurora natives Tereasa Payne and Erin Whitney say life in New York City remains in a state of heightened alert.

“Erin and I have different experiences, like a lot of people here, and that is because of what we do,” Payne said during a three-way phone interview. “A lot of musicians have been sick and we’ve lost a lot of our friends and colleagues. It’s been a rough few months, so it’s not too hard for us to take it very seriously.”

Payne, a 1992 Aurora grad, lives with her husband, Simon Hutchings in Harlem, Manhattan, where she temporarily lost her job as a professional musician March 12 when the lights went dark on Broadway.

“Because of what I do as a musician, we’re not scheduled to open until Phase 4, which will be January at the earliest, but probably more like spring,” she said, noting that a Phase 1 opening for construction and businesses with curb-side pickup began June 8. “Our neighborhood is very largely black and that demographic has been hit very hard.”

Payne said she personally knows several people who have died from COVID or related complications, including some in her own building.

“Because we blow into our instruments to make music that is a high-risk environment for passing it along, so it’s hit our music community very hard,” she said. “Some of my music friends who have had it may never play again because their lungs may never be the same.”

Though confined to her Harlem apartment, other than daily walks with the dog, Payne said she and her husband feel blessed to be able to make a living, teaching lessons online while also providing music to home- or hospital-bound seniors through a Concerts in Motion organization.

“We are very lucky because most of our colleagues are on unemployment right now,” she said. “The New York Philharmonic just called their entire fall (schedule). They won’t work again until at least January so a lot of artists are out of work. People are leaving the city in droves, especially artists.”

Concerts in Motion provides Payne a platform, and an audience, to continue making music, which she said is a gift that keeps on giving.

“I think I’m one of the few musicians in the world who is making their living performing right now,” she said. “I’m really lucky to have that and it’s been an incredible experience. It is exhausting because people are in so much pain right now, but being able to share an hour of music with them is just wonderful. That’s what will keep me going.”

A different experience

Whitney, a 2002 graduate, has been living in the Big Apple for 10 years selling real estate. She now lives in Inwood, a less populated region of the city, which she confirms is a vastly different environment than lower Manhattan.

“I’ve had a different experience personally than Tereasa,” she said, noting that she has been working from home since March. “We try to be careful wearing masks, but I’ve known people who have had this as well.”

Whitney reported back in March that many of her young friends moved away from the city, some not sure if they would ever return.

“Because I work in real estate I can speak to the fact that initially there may have been people who sort of fastforwarded their decision about where to bring up their kids,” she said. “Raising a child in the city was already hard, but now with masks on a 2-year-old it’s even harder.

“We see some migration out of New York, but other people are investing and coming in so that’s been fascinating for me to see movement on both sides,” she continued, noting that historically low interest rates have filled the market with active buyers. “I had friends who left the city temporarily, but a lot of those are finding their way back as their jobs are opening back up.”

Both Payne and Whitney have battled some personal health issues in recent weeks, which means dealing with doctors at a time when access to health care is anything but normal.

“I came down with a kidney infection which got pretty bad, and my doctor said not to go to the hospital,” Payne said. “He worked with me online, but he didn’t want me to go anywhere near a hospital or clinic at a time that they were dealing with COVID patients.”

That situation has improved in recent weeks, she added, with notifications being sent out saying it is safe to visit clinics and hospitals again.

“I lost my sense of taste and smell several weeks ago, and to me that’s pretty indicative,” Whitney added. “My boyfriend tested positive for (COVID) antibodies, so while we don’t know what that means for us personally, we want to be careful as they do research for potential immunities. I have felt a little more comfortable personally while taking the precautions that I need to.”

Whitney has been working from home since early March, though she said she started to use public transportation and her office was opened on June 22.

“While my business is alive and functioning we’re having to learn new practices and there is some uncertainty coming back for all of us,” she said.

Peaceful protests

Complicating the local and national narrative on COVID safety protocol in recent weeks has been heightened tensions sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Payne and Whitney both reported large protests in their neighborhoods, though they have been peaceful in nature.

“I live in Harlem so you would think it would be pretty intense,” Payne said. “It’s certainly a heightened topic here but I think people were aware of it all the time. I have so many friends and neighbors who feel very strongly about it and I’m supportive of them. Everyone deserves respect, no matter what their profession, race or religion.”

“From what I’ve seen everybody has been very respectful and careful,” Whitney added. “I have not seen anything with any breach of conduct in terms of health. Some businesses are boarded up, but they are painted with beautiful murals, so I would say we’ve had more community activism and no violence.”

As she did in March, Payne concluded the interview with a plea to friends and family in her native Nebraska.

“I know a lot of people have such a different experience there because it’s a rural area, and I completely understand, but it’s still the same virus both places so I hope people will continue to be very careful,” she said. “Even if you are not afraid of it, other people are at risk.”

‘Because we blow into our instruments to make music that is a high-risk environment for passing it along, so it’s hit our music community very hard. Some of my music friends who have had it may never play again because their lungs may never be the same.’

Tereasa Payne