BP Adams Launches “Feed First Responders” with Locals
Borough President Eric Adams joined with local businesses, Pakistani American Youth Society (PAYS) and the Shorefront Coalition yesterday launched a drive to provide food for hospital personnel at Maimonides Medical Center.
As a way to say ‘thank you’ to first responders, local businesses and non-profits, the goal is to provide food for first responders in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The meals will be delivered to first responders serving in local hospitals, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to thank them as they work to contain the Coronavirus around the clock.
Jeffries Send Bipartisan Letter for Full Funding of MTA
U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Canarsie, East New York, East Flatbush, Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Brighton Beach, Coney Island) along with other representatives this weekend requested that the next aid package for COVID-19 include proper funding for the public service corporations which operate America’s transportation system.
“In the midst of this pandemic, our transit system must continue to operate so that healthcare workers, first responders, food industry employees, public servants and other essential workers can get to their jobs. It cannot be allowed to collapse,” wrote Jeffries
New York’s public transportation system, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is the largest in North America and carries more than 11 million passengers on an average weekday.
Representatives Call for Release of at Risk Inmates
U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries was joined by fellow Congressional members and City Councilmember Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Gowanus) in a virtual press conference yesterday calling on the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York to release at risk inmates from federal jails and halt new arrests for nonviolent charges.
The first inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Saturday night was arrested within the last week on a nonviolent charge. Elected officials, doctors, and advocates are calling for the U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Courts to commit to a collaborative process to identify and release at risk individuals who are older or have preexisting health conditions.
Over 570 people detained at the MDC in Brooklyn, one-third of the prison’s population, fall into the at risk category. An unknown number of additional inmates, likely as many as two hundred more, are at high risk and are detained at MCC Manhattan.
Bichotte Sends Updates on COVID-19
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) has been sending a fairly comprehensive COVID-19 e-newsletter.
“Health officials are working tirelessly to protect public health and contain this virus. And, as your representative in Albany, I am working to ensure that our state is putting the health and safety of our families first,” wrote Bichotte.
“Remember COVID-19 can affect any community and we must stand by one another during this time, not alienate, threaten or discriminate against others,” she wrote.
The newsletter included:
- NYS closure of all non-essential businesses started yesterday at 8 p.m..
- New York to conduct immediate trials for new drug therapy. The FDA is going to accelerate 10,000 doses of drug therapy to New York.
- Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order wherein four new hospital sites identified: SUNY Stonybrook; Westbury; Westchester Convention Center and Jacob Javits Convention Center- which will be used to house 4 field hospitals at 250 beds capacity each, giving an additional 1000 beds. Also, New York City submitted a plan within 24 hours to eliminate street density, especially in parks.
- In regards to medical supplies, New York State has had 6000 new ventilators purchased, 2 million N95 masks obtained by NYS; 1 million will be sent to NYC and 500,000 to Long Island. Additional ventilators are being gathered from all health facilities that are not using.
- MTA local bus riders ride free. New York City passengers will be able to ride free on local buses in an effort to protect bus drivers from contracting coronavirus. Passengers must enter through the rear door, except riders with mobile impairments who can enter through the front door.
