Stringer Calls for Full Funding of ICR Initiative
Yesterday, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) sent a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), calling on him to fully fund the Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) initiative.
The ICR initiative helps nonprofits in New York cover human resources, rent, utilities and other costs that City contracts don’t cover. Its $54 million annual budget was cut by $20 million for both FY 2020 and FY 2021. Without that funding, nonprofits will struggle to stay afloat at a time when we need them more than ever.
“Nonprofit organizations are anchors of our neighborhoods and have been a lifeline these past few months, providing emergency food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, and wellness calls for seniors,” said Stringer. “This summer, with extremely limited notice, nonprofits leapt into action and implemented a modified version of SYEP to provide our City’s young people with meaningful summer employment. These types of critical programs and services are at risk if nonprofits are shortchanged on funding for their indirect costs – funding that was established at agreed upon rates in the Fiscal Year 2020 and 2021 budgets, but that has now been slashed by $20 million per year.”
Read the full letter here.
De Blasio Announces Launch of Tenant Resource Portal
Yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced the launch of the citywide Tenant Resource Portal to help tenants avoid eviction.
The Portal, launched through the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT), is the city’s first online resource to help tenants access free resources to prevent eviction and keep themselves housed. It features an “eviction prevention tool” to help renters navigate those resources.
“The City is doing everything in our power to support vulnerable families as they deal with a public health and economic crisis,” said de Blasio. “With the launch of the Tenant Resource Portal, we are unveiling the first, City-hosted platform where tenants at risk of eviction can go to find a unified directory of all the housing-related resources they may need.”
Schumer Criticizes Trump’s Executive Orders
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D) released a statement yesterday highlighting the deficiencies in President Donald Trump’s (R) recent string of Executive Orders.
Trump’s Executive Orders seek to cut but extend unemployment benefits, suspend payroll taxes and fund federal eviction relief. Schumer’s primary grievance is that they fail to address some of the nation’s most pressing issues; the orders make no attempt to support COVID-19 testing or tracing, or provide schools with the funds they need to reopen safely this fall. They also exclude funds to carry out the 2020 Census, keep local post offices open and provide food assistance.
“Yesterday’s executive orders can be summed up in three words: unworkable, weak and narrow,” said Schumer. “Among several deficiencies, these orders totally leave out money for our schools to reopen safely, money for state and local governments that’s needed to fight fires, pick up the garbage or employ teachers. Even more worrisome, the president’s actions exclude COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment, which is at the heart of solving the pandemic crisis in the first place. That is why I am calling on President Trump and the GOP to meet democrats in the middle –like we have done in the prior bills—and come up with an agreement that will actually help us get through this crisis.”
Brewer Wants to Hear New Yorkers’ Favorite Outdoor Dining Sites
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) sent out a tweet yesterday, encouraging her followers to send her their favorite outdoor dining spots.
Since the pandemic arrived in New York, restaurants have had to shift to outdoor dining to mitigate the spread of the virus. The purpose of the new initiative is to shine the spotlight on restaurants who have successfully adapted to the City’s pandemic-era guidelines.
“Does your favorite restaurant have charming outdoor seating?” wrote Brewer. “Outdoor dining has expanded & it has livened streets with unique outdoor dining set-ups.”
To nominate your favorite dining site, email a picture of it to info@manhattanbp.nyc.gov by Tuesday, Sep. 1.
