Velázquez Praises Passage of Moving Forward Act
Last Thursday, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) released a statement after the passage of H.R. 2, the “Moving Forward Act”.
The bill includes provisions to invest a combined $1.5 trillion in modern, sustainable infrastructure. Most notably, it includes a $70 investment for NYCHA and other public housing programs.
“I’m pleased the ‘Moving Forward Act’ recognizes that public housing must be part of the infrastructure equation,” said Velázquez. “The funds in this bill will help NYCHA make badly needed upgrades like fixing boilers, replacing leaky windows and getting elevators functioning.”
Among its other provisions are $500 billion to fix crumbling roads and bridges, $25 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and $70 billion towards the development of renewable energy.
“Our nation is long overdue for these investments and this bill moves our nation in the right direction,” said Velázquez. “From housing to education to transportation, I was proud to vote for this bill and look forward to seeing its enactment.”
Brewer Presents BLM Mural Near City Hall
Last Friday, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) officially kicked off a 600-foot Black Lives Matter in Lower Manhattan.
The mural, which stretches from the Manhattan Municipal Building to Foley Square, was conceived by a partnership between Brewer and Black Lives Matter of Greater NY. The artists, who were chosen with support from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art Program, spent three straight days and 180 gallons of paint designing hte mural.
“I chose this location to paint a Black Lives Matter mural because of the history of downtown Manhattan, a site of resistance to slavery and Jim Crow, of gathering places, houses of worship, and workplaces, steps from the African Burial Ground, and in front of institutions in our justice system–from the police to prosecutors to courts,” said Brewer. “Tomorrow we observe the 4th of July. As we bring down symbols of eras of bigotry and oppression all over the country, let us put forth symbols that truly speak to America’s promise of freedom, equality and liberation. Let us set down a marker for our current goals and mark this era for future generations.”
Maloney, Warren, Markey Release Findings from Survey of COVID-19 in Assisted Living
Last Thursday, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) released the findings from their investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak in assisted living facilities.
The survey covered the nation’s 11 largest assisted living operators. Its findings were, in a word, grim; it revealed high fatality rates among residents who contracted the virus, insufficient sick leave for employees, and lack of adequate testing protocol. According to the survey, more than 30 percent of COVID-19 patients in those facilities died.
The survey also found that these facilities routinely failed to report cases and fatalities to the federal government.
“The coronavirus pandemic has made painfully clear that the federal government must do more to protect residents of assisted living facilities,” said Maloney. “Our investigation has revealed that at the most basic level we need more transparency into the crisis playing out in these facilities-and that these facilities need more federal support to access the testing and PPE they need to keep residents safe. I thank Senator Warren and Senator Markey for their partnership on this effort, and am pleased to join them in introducing commonsense legislation to bring more transparency and accountability to assisted living facilities.”
Stringer, Nonprofit New York Spotlight Nonprofit Sector’s Contributions to NYC Economy
Last Thursday, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) and Nonprofit New York released a report documenting the nonprofit sector’s impact on the City economy.
According to the report, nonprofits account for 18 percent of New York’s private workforce and 5 percent of all businesses. The industry generates $77 billion – nearly 10 percent of the City’s GDP – each year. Collectively, they pay nearly $42 billion in wages, and their workforces are largely composed of people of color.
For these reasons, said Stringer, we cannot exclude them from our conversation about post-COVID economic recovery.
“The nonprofit sector cannot be sidelined during conversations about the city’s economic health and stability,” said Stringer. “Our nonprofits provide essential cultural, educational, health and social services to millions of New Yorkers. While tough budgetary decisions must be made in this crisis, we cannot nickel and dime the very same nonprofits we will rely on to support our most vulnerable communities and we cannot afford to lose the jobs and revenue that the sector contributes. Any plan for New York City relief and recovery must prioritize our nonprofits who are the essential fabric of our social safety net.”
De Blasio Announces $80 Million in Funding to Rebuild 70 Mulberry St.
Last Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced $80 million in funding to rebuild the site at 70 Mulberry St., and a three-month visioning process to gather community input about the site’s future.
The City will evaluate its options to preserve the existing site, and gather community input on the rebuilding process. To date, the de Blasio Administration has already spoken extensively with the local community board, building tenants and the public on the matter.
“In January, Chinatown lost the beating heart of its community: 70 Mulberry Street,” said de Blasio. “We’re working hand-in-hand with the community to preserve this building’s rich history and bring it back to life again.”
