CM Miller Lauds Cuomo Decision to Give COVID-19 Death Benefits
City Council Member I. Daneek Miller (D-Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, St. Albans, Queens Village, Springfield Gardens) yesterday lauded Governor Cuomo’s announcement that the State will work with localities to provide death benefits for municipal workers that died from COVID-19.
“Nearly three hundred New York City municipal workers gave their lives to preserve our health, safety, and quality of life during this pandemic. Making their families whole is the least we can do for them after everything they have suffered. I thank Governor Cuomo for his commitment to providing COVID-19 death benefits in honor of these fallen heroes,” said Miller, chair of the Councils Civil Service and Labor Committee.
“The Committee on Civil Service and Labor stands ready to work with its government partners to ensure these families get the long-term financial and healthcare security they richly deserve in recognition of their loved ones’ commitment to excellence, and the value they consistently added to our city.”
Earlier this month, the Committee on Civil Service and Labor heard two related legislative items that Miller authored – one to provide health insurance coverage to families of municipal employees who died from COVID-19; and a resolution calling on the State to classify the deaths of all such employees as line-of-duty.
Meng Delivers PPE to Constituents
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park) announced yesterday that she distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) yesterday to constituents in Elmhurst and Glendale.
The Congresswoman teamed up with Community Board 4 to hand out 1000 face masks in front of Elmhurst’s St. James Episcopal Church at 84-07 Broadway.
She also worked with Community Board 5, the 104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol (G-COP), and Glendale Kiwanis to provide 1000 masks to residents of Glendale, distributing them at the Glendale Veterans Triangle located at Myrtle Avenue and Cooper Avenue. In addition, she delivered masks to nearby St. Pancras Church in Glendale.
“As we continue our efforts to combat COVID-19, it is vital that local residents have the PPE they need, and I was pleased to make these critical supplies available to constituents,” said Meng. “Having a face mask is essential and I encourage other houses of worship in my district to contact my office if they need access to masks.”
Since March, Meng has provided PPE throughout her district in Queens to help protect constituents and members of the public from the coronavirus. She and her team have personally delivered tens of thousands of pieces of much needed supplies to nursing homes, hospitals, first responders and NYPD precincts, local civic leaders, labor unions, non-profit organizations and houses of worship.
Moya, Adams Laud City’s Relief Legislation Helping Small Biz
City Council Members Francisco Moya (D-East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Flushing Meadows, LaGuardia Airport) and Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, South Ozone Park) yesterday applauded Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signing of seven pieces of legislation providing relief for tenants, commercial establishments, and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, Moya applauded the signing of Intro. 1898, which prohibits third-party food delivery services from charging restaurants a fee for telephone orders that do not result in an actual sale. The bill imposes penalties of up to $500 per violation, and the City can bring litigation seeking these penalties as well as restitution of illegally charged fees. The bill will take effect June 2, 2020, lasting until 90 days after the end of a declared emergency.
“Billion-dollar tech companies are bleeding New York City’s mom and pop restaurants dry. With New Yorkers stuck in lockdown, neighborhood restaurants simply can’t contend with both a relentless pandemic stifling business and exorbitant fees slurping up what few sales are coming in. Covid-19 didn’t create this problem but like so many other long standing issues, this crisis has deepened the inequity,” said Moya.
“Every day we hear of new restaurants who, facing little businesses and merciless fees from third-party food delivery apps, are left with no other option but to shut their doors permanently. This is a particular tragedy in immigrant communities like mine where restaurants are integral to our neighborhood’s character and a tether to our culture. By capping the fees third-party food apps can charge restaurants during declared states of emergency, we’re leveling the playing for mom and pop restaurants and billion-dollar tech companies that live off them. I thank Mayor de Blasio for supporting this legislation and for taking this step to help our locally-owned restaurants survive this pandemic,” he added.
Specifically, Adams Applauded the signing of Intro. 1914-A, which designates threatening a commercial tenant based on its status as a COVID-19 impacted business a form of harassment, effective immediately. This includes businesses that were subject to capacity restrictions, were forced to close, or business owners who contracted the virus.
“This legislation represents the City’s dedication to the many small businesses, impacted by COVID-19, that are the backbone of New York City’s economy,” said Adams. “Intro. 1914 will strengthen protections against commercial tenant harassment so that these businesses will have the opportunity to thrive in the future.”
Gianaris Latest Filing Shows Many Small Donor Contributions
Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris re-election campaign filed its latest financial disclosure report Friday and announced more than 2,500 donors in the filing had an average contribution of just $33.
Of all contributions received this period by Senator Gianaris, 98.5% were for less than $100.
“I appreciate the support of so many who believe in people-driven government fighting to level the playing field between powerful interests and everyday New Yorkers,” said Gianaris. “Together, we will keep fighting for a recovery that works for those who need it most by ensuring New York is served by a government that puts people first.”
Gianaris’ filing reported 2,560 contributions (of which 2,524 were for less than $100) raising a total of $84,855.41. The campaign has $491,908.03 remaining on hand for the final weeks of the primary.
