U.S. Reps Call For Compassionate Companion Volunteer Program
U.S. Reps. Max Rose (South Brooklyn, Staten Island), Yvette Clarke (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Park Slope), Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Bushwick, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Dumbo, East New York, East Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Gowanus, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Williamsburg, Queens, Lower Manhattan), and 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 congressional members called to hospital leaders urging the creation of new Compassionate Companion Volunteer Programs to help connect patients with loved ones and provide companionship for those without family members available while hospitalized.
“These Compassionate Companions programs will identify individuals who can aid in non-medical, quality-of-life activities to ease a patient’s and their family’s loneliness due to separation,” wrote the 15 Members of Congress in a letter led by Rose to the Healthcare Association of New York State and the Greater New York Hospitals Association.
“Companions can assist patients to connect with loved ones via phone calls or video chats and provide direct support in times of need. If patients have difficulty communicating, volunteers can help keep families informed, and support staff with strengthening cultural competency and overcoming language barriers between the patient and staff.”
Also joining Rose in this effort, which follows on similar calls made by members of the New York State Assembly and Senate, and the New York City Council, are fellow U.S. Reps. Adriano Espaillat, Sean Patrick Maloney, Carolyn B. Maloney, Grace Meng, Kathleen Rice, Eliot L. Engel, Gregory W. Meeks, Paul D. Tonko, Jerrold Nadler, Nita M. Lowey, and Thomas R. Suozzi.
Treyger to Hold Event Cheering Sanitizers
City Councilman Mark Treyger (Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend) and SEIU 32BJ Vice President Shirley Aldebol today will deliver remarks and cheer for 32BJ members who work on the frontlines keeping these centers sanitized and available for use.
The event will take place with a caravan of cars with colorful signs passing through public schools, meal distribution sites and essential resource centers in Brooklyn to show support for 32BJ SEIU cleaners and maintenance staff.
The event is slated for 10 a.m., today, May 7 at Abraham Lincoln High School, 2800 Ocean Pkwy in Coney Island and then at P.S. 254, 1801 Ave. Y in Sheepshead Bay.
Colton Delivers Food to Coney Island Hospital
Assemblyman William Colton (Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) together with the United Progressive Democratic Club, President Nino Magali, accompanied by the owner of the Ciao Pizza and Pasta, delivered hot food to the Coney Island Hospital on May 6, 2020.
“Thank you to Angelo, the owner of Ciao Pizzeria and Pasta at Bay Parkway and 71 Street in Brooklyn for your generosity. You have repeatedly made hot meals donations to our hero police and firefighters and to our health care heroes in the Coney Island Hospital.
“Thank you United Progressive Democratic Club President Nino Magali and my Communications Director for arranging another Thank you to our neighborhood heroes. This act of kindness is showing that we are New Yorkers and we are strong, stronger than ever. The stronger we are the quicker we will be able to beat the invisible enemy that had attacked our country. Be safe, God bless America and us all”, Colton said.
Cornegy to Deliver Meals to Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center Health Workers
City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) today will partner with Nick’s Lobster House to deliver box lunch meals to health workers at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center.
Cornegy has recovered from his own battle with COVID-19 and personally wants to support all those frontline workers battling this crisis.
“The challenges COVID-19 poses require mobilizing in support of the health care workers who serve us all. These workers are on the front line of this battle against a virus that has already caused so much anguish in our shared communities. That’s why the support of longstanding community-minded businesses like Nick’s Lobster House is so important. None of us are facing this terrible virus in isolation,” said Cornegy.
“As a community, joining together, and pitching in where and how we can – we help broaden the shoulders that bear this heavy burden. I have no doubt that by pulling together, looking out for one another, and providing assistance where we can – we will get through this deeply challenging time,” he added.
The delivery is slated for 12 noon, today, May 7 on Winthrop Street between Schenectady & 49th Street (around the corner from the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center main entrance, 585 Schenectady Avenue in East Flatbush.
Warren To Join Lander, Cumbo in Virtual Town Hall
U.S. Sen. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) will join City Council Members Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Gowanus) and Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn) among other council members today for a virtual Townhall on Rights for Essential Workers.
The town hall comes as the city council is considering a package of legislation that would expand paid sick days to gig workers, provide just cause protections against unfair firings, and pay premiums for essential workers.
The “NYC Essential Workers Bill of Rights” package was inspired by a national proposal put forth by Warren and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).
The digital town hall is slated for 1 p.m., today, May 7 and will take place via Zoom and live-streamed on Facebook. A recording will be available. Register here.
Myrie’s Townhall is on Employment Issues
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) next town hall is happening tomorrow at 5:00 and it’s focusing on employment issues. Submit questions here.
Other updates:
Cases:
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The statewide death toll now stands at 19,877, with 232 additional deaths over the past day. City & State reports that the day with the highest deaths was April 8th, with 799.
Presidential Primary:
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A federal judge ruled that the state Board of Elections must hold the presidential primary. The board is likely to appeal the decision. As a reminder, down ballot primaries are still on either way and you can request an absentee ballot here.
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A top aide to the governor said that we should expect a several-day delay in the results of some June 23 primary elections due to an expected influx of absentee ballots.
Executive Order:
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A new executive order will allow health care professionals from out of state to continue operating in New York during the pandemic.
Nursing Homes:
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This week, the state updated its count of COVID-19 related deaths at nursing homes and found that the crisis was worse than previously believed. The new count added about 1,600 people who are presumed to have died of the virus at nursing homes but who had not been diagnosed. In response to this news, the state has committed to ramping up coronavirus testing in the state’s nursing homes.
Billionaires:
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Mike Bloomberg is on contact tracing, Bill Gates is on education, and today, Cuomo announced that he is inviting a third billionaire into New York State government operations: Eric Schmidt of Google. Cuomo claimed Schmidt would help the state with telehealth, remote learning and broadband.
