Adams to Join Local 100 and NYCHA Leaders Regarding COVID-19 Masks
Borough President Eric Adams today will join Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 at Flatbush Bus Depot to demand the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) provide protective masks to all essential personnel amid the outbreak of COVID-19.
Adams will also be joining NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) tenant leaders to distribute protective masks to residents amid the spread of coronavirus in Brooklyn and throughout the city.
The first meeting will address how bus operators are currently required to come into work, but their requests for personal protective equipment (PPE) have been consistently denied. The second meeting will address the concerns that many NYCHA residents, a quarter whom are 62 or older, have raised about their susceptibility to contracting the virus.
The first event is slated for 10:30 a.m. today Wednesday, March 25, at Flatbush Bus Depot, 4901 Fillmore Avenue.
The second meeting will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday March 25, at the Wyckoff Gardens Community Center – 272 Wyckoff Street in Brooklyn.
Bichotte Sends Coronavirus Update
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) released the following updates regarding the coronavirus.
Mayor de Blasio announces that:
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2,000 more ventilators are on its way to NYC.
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Initiates Program to Eliminate the Gap (PEG) that will require city agencies to cut spending amid a gloomy financial outlook for New York due to the virus.
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Alternate Side Parking Suspension extended until March 31st.
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Pregnant mothers giving birth are allowed to have their partner in the delivery room under the following conditions that they wear surgical masks, no symptoms of coronavirus, and must not have been tested positive for COVID-19.
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City Bike offering free 30 day membership to essential workers.
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Move to release from prison those over the age of 70 years old with pre-existing conditions and 300 city inmates. All are inmates convicted of misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.
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The U.S. Census Bureau deadline has been extended.
COVID-19 Update from Council Member Eugene
Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene (Prospect-Lefferts, Ditmas Park; parts of Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush) send a couple reminders and updates on COVID-19.
Medical Supplies:
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While the State of New York and New York City work to fulfill the immediate medical supply needs of our hospitals, if you are able to donate supplies, including masks and gowns that will protect doctors and nurses, email COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov or call 646-522-8477.
NYC Public Schools
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If you would like to receive a remote learning device from your local school, fill out this form and the schools will fulfill each request on a rolling basis until all needs are filled: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learn-at-home/ipad-distribution
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The Department of Education is also providing free meals to New York City students at locations across the city. To find a location near you, go to:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/free-meals
Public Parks
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In the coming days, New York City will make decisions on how to lessen the density of crowded spaces in our parks and public areas. It is important to respect and obey the guidelines issued by our state and city governments that will help prevent the continued spread of the novel coronavirus..
Treyger’s Devastated to Hear News on Principal’s Hospitalization
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend) yesterday responded with sadness to the news of Principal Ronda Phillips’s hospitalization for pneumonia, a Brooklyn principal who worked in the same building as another school leader who died from coronavirus, according to city officials.
“I’m devastated to learn that Principal Ronda Phillips of Kappa V. High School is in the Intensive Care Unit and wish her a safe recovery. She led Kappa V. High School in the same campus as Principal Dezman Romain led Brooklyn Democracy Academy. I continue to keep their families and communities in my thoughts and prayers.
“My message to NYC Health and Education Departments and City Hall: We need to resume tracking and reporting cases in our school communities, regardless of the fact that we have moved to remote learning. If we can do it for the NYPD, we can do it for the DOE.
“We need to move from schools’ voluntarily notifying their staff and families to mandatory notification. We owe our school communities more than boilerplate guidance that every New Yorker should act as though they have been exposed under widespread community transmission.
“That doesn’t reassure people who are concerned they may expose vulnerable and elderly family members. Mandatory reporting, tracking, and notification helps people to understand relative risk and practice responsible harm reduction for themselves and their families.”
Savino Urges People to Take Precaution Against Online Scammers
NYS Senator Diane Savino (D-Southern Brooklyn, Coney Island) sent out a warning yesterday to the public, urging people to be aware of scammers at this time of crises and to contact Con Ed or the National Grid if you are a customer out of work and pay your bills through monthly withdrawal.
“I just got off a conference call with Con Edison and National Grid regarding their policies in place during this crisis. Many scammers are trying to take advantage of frightened people. Please do not respond to phone scams alleging they represent the Utilities.
“Below are links to both Con Ed and National Grid. They are not checking meters at this time. If you have any concerns, you can always call the companies directly– and remember, never give the potential scammers who call you directly your personal information including your account numbers. In addition, if you are a paperless customer for any entity and pay your bills automatically by monthly withdrawal and find yourself out of work, please contact those companies to avoid facing fees or overdraft charges unnecessarily,” wrote Savino
Colton Calls for Suspension of Parking Meters and Alternate Side Parking
Assemblyman William Colton (Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) demanded that while alternate side parking is suspended until Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the city should also continue the suspension through the duration of the Coronavirus crisis in addition to suspending the muni-meters.
“For public health safety, the Governor ordered that only essential workers and businesses are exempt from the order. Therefore meter feeding must be suspended since it’s on commercial streets, and people were ordered to stay home. Parking is at a premium in NYC as is, now that many are urged to stay home for their safety parking has become scarce, so this becomes an issue for many to constantly going out to feed the meters.
“We are in a crisis. The city should not be worried about making money, peoples’ lives are at stake! The severe measures being taken to increase social distancing and to slow the spread of Coronavirus is futile if people need to keep going to feed meters or to move the car to find another parking spot,” Colton stated,” said Colton.
Persaud, Business Owners Donate Meals To District Police Precincts
State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) is helping to bring healthy and nourishing meals to police precincts throughout Senate District 19.
Last Friday, Persaud partnered with Nick’s Lobster House and Attorney Ben Pinczewski to buy lunch for the 63rd and 69th Police Precinct members. Meals were also provided to PSA-2 and the 75th Precinct by Chief Samsir, owner of Bakewell Restaurant.
Then on Monday, Persaud helped provide lunch from Nick’s Lobster House to PSA-1, 61st Precinct and 73rd Precinct members, thanking them for their service and helping to protect our community.
“We as a community can do our part to help during this Coronavirus outbreak in a major way. Many restaurants throughout District 19 remain open, just not for inside dining. I am asking constituents to help as much as possible to support local restaurants by ordering take-away,” said Persaud. “We can lessen the negative economic impact this coronavirus has on our communities when we work together and support each other during these troubling times.”
For more information about Senator Persaud and her efforts to keep her constituents safe and local small businesses thriving during these difficult times, please visit: https://www.nysenate.gov/
