Lander Calls for Gig Economy to Give Paid Sick Leave
Council Member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Gowanus) sent a letter today to gig economy companies calling on them to take immediate action to address the vulnerability of contract workers during the coronavirus outbreak, including providing paid sick leave to their workers during the crisis.
“Gig workers are on the frontlines of the health and economic risks of the coronavirus outbreak,” said Lander. “People who drive Ubers, deliver Seamless orders, shop for Instacart customers, or clean homes through Handy lack paid sick leave and employer-sponsored health insurance. As a result, they face an increased risk of contracting and spreading the virus. Companies that contract these workers have a public health responsibility at this moment to provide paid sick days, and to create a healthy work environment where workers and customers have the protections they need.”
The letter, addressed to the leadership of Uber, Lyft, GrubHub, Instacart, Doordash, Postmates, and Handy, calls on companies to provide paid sick leave to independent contractors, educate workers about the risks of the virus, provide cleaning materials, actively combat discrimination, and halt any rating systems that punish workers for leaving deliveries at the door rather than face-to-face.
Frontus to Host Anti-Asian Bigotry Meeting
Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus (D-Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach, Gravesend) will host a meeting with Chinese American leaders to address the spike in anti-Asian bigotry that has followed the coronavirus outbreak.
Representatives from Asian-American organizations and local business and community leaders will be invited to participate.
The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 13 at Frontus’ Coney Island district office, 2002 Mermaid Avenue in Brooklyn.
Rose Seeks Congressional Art Competition Entries from High School Students
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) is asking high school students who reside or attend school in New York’s 11th Congressional District to submit their original artwork for the 2020 Congressional Art Competition.
“The Congressional Art Competition is a chance to show the entire country what Staten Island and South Brooklyn are all about,” Rose said. “The first thing I want people to know about our district when they see us represented in the halls of the Capitol is the way we respect our public servants. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our teachers, firefighters, soldiers, cops, paramedics, and everyone else who devotes their time and lives to making Staten Island and South Brooklyn a better place. I look forward to seeing how our students will put their talents to work honoring the heroes amongst us.”
The theme of this year’s competition is “Salute to Public Servants”. Students are asked to submit their artwork by Monday, April 13, to the Congressman’s District Office at 265 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306.
Treyger To Announce Major Investments For High School
Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend) will be joined by teachers, parents, and students today to announce $1.9 million in capital funding secured by Treyger in the budget during fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020 for auditorium/gymnasium renovations to the school.
The school sustained heavy damage during Superstorm Sandy. This multi-million dollar investment will help further Liberation High School’s revitalization, enabling new scholastic and extracurricular opportunities that promote active learning.
The announcement is going to be at 1 p.m. today March, 6 at Liberation Diploma Plus High School Auditorium; 2865 West 19th Street in Coney Island.
Gounardes Grieves For Traffic Death of Another Bay Ridge Pedestrian
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes ((D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) yesterday grieved for yet another traffic-related death of a pedestrian in Bay Ridge
According to media and police reports, Frank Decolvenaere, 66, was walking his dog at about 7:30 p.m. last night on 101st Street outside Fort Hamilton Army Base, when he stepped into the crosswalk against the light and a 19-yar-old driving southbound on Fourth Avenue struck and killed him.
“I am deeply shaken by the death of a pedestrian who was walking his dog in a crosswalk on 4th Ave & 101st St in Bay Ridge. He was killed by a speeding driver,” said Gounardes.
”When are we going to WAKE UP, SLOW DOWN, and realize that we are literally killing each other to save a few minutes? Just last week I introduced new safe streets legislation to bring greater consequences for reckless drivers and change the culture of dangerous behavior behind the wheel. There’s so much we have to do — from street redesigns to passing new laws— and we have to act with urgency like lives depend on it. I am praying for the victim and his family.”
