Adams Calls on Mayor to Place Hold on Property Tax Payments
Borough President Eric Adams called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to extend the city’s quarterly property tax deadline which comes on the heels of Adams’ previous calls to the administration to put in place a moratorium on rent, mortgage and utility payments for residential and commercial properties in the wake of the economic crisis caused by Coronavirus pandemic in New York City.
“This crisis is hitting everyday New Yorkers hard and we must take extraordinary measures to provide economic relief to residents to ensure we can weather these dual crises – the city’s health and the city’s economic health,” said Adams. “Every day we are waking up faced with hard decisions to make – but this is not one of them. This is simple: extend the city’s quarterly property tax deadline to June 1st. It would be a cruel April Fool’s Day joke to ask struggling New Yorkers to meet this looming deadline in the face of such uncertainty.”
The City’s quarterly property tax deadline is scheduled for April 1, 2020 and is instituted traditionally to ensure New York City maintains a balanced budget. According to the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC), in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), the City’s property tax would generate nearly $30 billion, or 32% of all revenues. Moving the deadline to June 1, 2020 would ensure that the revenue would still be collected during FY20, but would provide a financial cushion to renters and property owners who are continuing to navigate this crisis.
Stringer Releases Profile of Frontline Workers
NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer yesterday released a comprehensive demographic profile of New York City’s essential frontline workers in public transit, health care, child care, grocery, pharmacy, sanitation, janitorial, utility, and delivery industries who are helping battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As our City faces the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19, frontline workers are putting their safety on the line to keep our city running — nurses, janitors, grocery clerks, child care staff, EMS workers, bus and truck drivers and so many more. And yet, these same essential workers whom we trust with our health, our nourishment, our loved ones, and our lives are too often ignored, underpaid, and overworked,”
“To get through this crisis and beyond, they need and deserve accessible healthcare and childcare, safe and reliable transit, financial stability and pathways to citizenship and naturalization. These New Yorkers are risking their own health and that of their families by putting their lives on the frontlines of this fight every single day — and we need to have their backs,” said Stringer.
Deutsch on Shopping Amidst Corona
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest) wants to remind everyone what the recommendations are for safe shopping during this crisis.
“With only the most essential services still open here in New York, it is vitally important that we stay home as much as possible. For seniors and vulnerable populations in particular, it is extremely discouraged to go outside. If you absolutely must leave the house to pick up groceries or other essentials, please abide by these guidelines,” wrote Duetsch.
“Practice social distancing at all times, don’t use your time in the supermarket to socialize, cough and sneeze in your elbow, make an effort to prepare a shopping list before going to the store, if it seems crowded come back at a later time, please make an effort to pay by credit and if you are feeling sick stay at home.”
Colton Demands Meter Suspension Now
Assemblyman William Colton (Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) together with the United Progressive Democratic President Nino Magali demanded that Mayor De Blasio suspend meter rules.
“People were ordered to stay home. Parking is at a premium in NYC. Now, that many stay home for their safety, parking is scarce. So this becomes an issue, 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 taken, to increase social distancing and to slow the spread of Coronavirus is futile. If people still need to go out to feed meters or to move their cars to find parking spots makes no purpose of the Governor’s executive order,” Colton stated.
Treyger Calls for High School Regents Exams to be Canceled
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend) yesterday called for the state to suspend all high school regents exams.
“Students are already experiencing enough anxiety and trauma adapting to new school curricula and protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic. I joined forces with Advocates for Children calling on New York State to cancel these testing requirements to graduate high school. Teachers did not have time to complete the curriculum and there’s absolutely no time for review. Students and teachers are all experiencing enough anxiety and should not be further burdened with unnecessary testing requirements,” said Treyger, chair of the council Education Committee.
“Last week, the state suspended most standardized tests for the remainder of the school year, and most of the country has already moved away from high school exit exams. Only 13 states mandate an examination to graduate high school. This year and beyond, New York State needs to end the Regents examinations, and focus on the safety and health of our students,” he added.
