Brewer to Moderate Town Hall on Feeding NYC During Pandemic
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) will be moderating a town hall today on how to help food-insecure New Yorkers during the pandemic.
At the meeting “Feeding New York During COVID-19”, Brewer will be joined by food czar Kathryn Garcia, food journalist Mark Bittman, World Central Kitchen CEO Nate Mook and Grow NYC executive director Marcel Van Ooyen. The panelists will discuss how to sustain supply chains and ensure that every New Yorker gets fed.
The event will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. at neighbors.columbia.edu/FeedingNYC.
Hoylman Announces Bill to Collect Data on COVID’s Impact on LGBTQ Community
Last Friday, State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown) announced legislation to require the State to collect data on the sexual orientation and gender identity of COVID-19 patients.
Hoylman argues that, statistically, LGBTQ people are more likely to be in at-risk groups. Compared to straight and cisgender adults, LGBTQ adults are significantly more likely to live in poverty, be homeless, and lack health insurance.
“The coronavirus doesn’t discriminate—but too often, our nation’s broken healthcare system does,” said Hoylman. “We can’t allow the LGBTQ community to become an afterthought in New York’s pandemic response. To truly help LGBTQ New Yorkers during this unprecedented crisis, we’re going to need data to capture the extent of its impact. That’s why I’m proud to sponsor new legislation to ensure New York tracks and measures data on how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting the LGBTQ community.”
Maxine Waters Endorses Maloney for Congress
Last Friday, Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) announced her endorsement of U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) for re-election.
In her endorsement, Waters called Maloney a “a tireless advocate on behalf of women, working families, and children”. She cited, among other things, Maloney’s efforts to protest Apartheid as a councilwoman, and her advocacy for small businesses as a member of the House Financial Services Committee.
“I am deeply, profoundly honored by Congresswoman Waters’ endorsement,” said Maloney. “Her leadership on Financial Services has allowed us to pass bills that truly help people, and her willingness to stand up to the Trump administration’s abuses has smoothed the path for our investigations into his financial dealings, particularly when it comes to our investigation into his taxes. As a colleague on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, we’re working together to ensure that taxpayer dollars go where they’re supposed to – to the people and small businesses who are the lifeblood of our country’s economy – not to President Trump’s cronies.”
Williams Reacts to Inclusion of Cure Violence Groups in COVID-19 Response
Last Friday, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (D) made a statement at a public health hearing, following news that Cure Violence groups will be involved in the City’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Cure Violence, founded in 2000, is a public health program that aims to curb the spread of violence by treating high risk individuals and stopping the problem at its source – the same methods we use for disease control. The organization will be helping to disseminate information and distribute PPE, among other tasks.
Williams commended Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) for agreeing to work with the organization, but wished he had done so sooner.
“For many weeks our office has led the call, one I’m glad many other integral voices were critical in pushing, for the city to move away from a law-enforcement centered response and to employ a grassroots, community-driven approach to sharing information and resources while encouraging social distancing- specifically by utilizing the existing Cure Violence Model,” said Williams. “That the Mayor finally agreed to work with these groups is welcome, but we would already be seeing public health benefits if the administration had heeded our initial calls, a hesitation which is a characteristic of much of the administration’s response to this pandemic.”
Stringer, Nadler, Benjamin, Rosenthal to Host Town Hall on COVID-19 Response
Tonight, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D); U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn); State Senator Brian Benjamin (D-Harlem, East Harlem, Upper West Side); and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-Hell’s Kitchen, Upper West Side) will be hosting a town hall meeting on New York’s COVID-19 response.
The lawmakers will discuss how officials at every level of government are responding to the pandemic, and the resources they’ve made available. Attendees will get the chance to speak out about any issues they’ve experienced.
The event will take place tonight at 7 p.m. on Zoom. To RSVP, go to virtualtownhall.eventbrite.com or call 212-669-4466.
