Rose for COVID Relief to Youth Sports Leagues
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (South Brooklyn, Staten Island) is urging Congressional leadership to provide relief for youth sports and activities groups who are faced with economic uncertainty, as well as the working parents forced to make difficult decisions about their children’s education and development.
“Youth sports and activities are so essential to why Staten Island and South Brooklyn is the best place to raise a family,” Rose said. “But unfortunately due to fixed costs and cancelled seasons due to the pandemic, these organizations are hanging by a thread. My proposal allows parents to recoup costs and fees without putting these leagues and programs out of business.”
In order to provide relief to families and parents of children participating in youth activities, Rose proposes expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to include all fees and costs associated with youth sports and activities, even those that go beyond the current cap. Currently, families can claim up to $3,000 in dependent care expenses for one child. Depending on the family’s income, they get 20-35 percent of that expense amount in a tax credit.
Levin To Lead Virtual Story Time with BPL
Council Member Stephen Levin (D-Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg) will share the joy of reading with the library’s youngest patrons, reading Ten Little Fingers Ten Little Toesby Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury; and Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola.
“I’m thrilled to be able to share two of my favorite children’s stories not just with patrons of the Brooklyn Public Library, but virtually with people all over the globe. Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola and Ten Little Fingers Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury are books that I often read to my children,” said Levin. “I hope others will find as much joy in these books as we do! I want to particularly thank the Brooklyn Public Library and City’s First Readers for their extraordinary work putting together this extraordinary digital programming in such a short period of time.”
Levin is an enthusiastic supporter of libraries across the borough. With Council Member Antonio Reynoso, he launched City’s First Readers, a collaboration between public libraries and not-for-profit organizations. The goal of the program is to provide children literacy experiences in their homes and in their neighborhoods in schools, day care centers, and libraries.
Advocate Williams Speaks against Predatory Lending Practices
Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams spoke about the need to protect small businesses from predatory lending practices today at a remote New York City Council hearing by the Committees on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing and Small Business.
He highlighted the dire economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has a disproportionate impact on small business and could require them to seek expansive loans, and asked that the Council pass his resolution, Res. 1049, calling on the United States Congress and the New York State Legislature to pass legislation that prohibits the use of a confession of judgment in business loans. There is currently bipartisan federal legislation to this effect.
Confessions of judgment, Williams argued, have led to predatory practices by relinquishing the borrower’s “right to due process if the debt is unpaid and there is a dispute.” said Williams, “Whether a local restaurant or a retail store, the reality is that small business owners are vulnerable to this predatory practice. This is especially true in our current environment, as most businesses are closed, effectively stopping a steady stream of income. Businesses already have to make tough choices because of closures not foreseen months ago. Businesses that have signed loans with high-interest rates cannot afford to go under because of a missed payment.”
Persaud Statement on Utica Avenue Funeral Home
NYS Senator Roxanne Persaud (Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, and Starrett City) issued the following statement regarding the situation at an area funeral home located on Utica Avenue.
“This morning, at my District Office, I was informed by NYPD 63rd Precinct Sector D NCO Officers that a horrendous situation was occurring at an area funeral home located at 2037A Utica Ave. There were bodies of deceased individuals stored in two U-haul trucks and a car on the property. Also, a foul odor and fluids were coming from vehicles onto the street and sidewalk. My staff and I immediately contacted DOHMH, OEM, and the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs about this dilemma. They took action to rectify the situation.
“I am calling for a full investigation of this funeral home and holding the responsible persons accountable for their actions. Families have an expectation that the remains of their loved ones are handled in a respectful and dignified manner,” announced Persaud.
