Addabbo, Hevesi Introduce Bill to Cover Testing Costs for Private, Religious, Nonpublic Schools
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth and parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside and The Rockaways), and State Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills, Rego Park, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill, Middle Village, Glendale, and Kew Gardens) introduced bills that if passed, would require New York state to cover COVID-19 testing costs for private, religious and nonpublic schools.
“Testing is a crucial component of keeping our schools open and keeping our students, teachers, and faculty safe during the pandemic. New York State did the right thing by making these tests mandatory, it must do the right thing again by not imposing an unfunded mandate on our religious, private and non-public schools,” said Hevesi.
Requiring COVD-19 testing in schools is an important piece in containing this virus and keeping our schools open and safe, they said. However, unlike their public counterparts, non- public and private institutions are being forced to cover the expense of this testing without reimbursement from the state. This unfunded mandate from the state puts an undue and unjust burden on many schools. This legislation would provide much needed financial relief, ensure that all schools are treated equally, and guarantee that necessary testing guidelines are followed.
“The numbers have shown that schools are actually some of the safest spots during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is vital for New York State to provide funding for our private, religious, and non-public schools to continue their testing practices,” said Addabbo, a member of the Senate Education Committee. “I am proud to sponsor this piece of legislation in the Senate to ensure that our non-public schools are fairly compensated — just like our public schools — for their efforts in helping to keep the students, teachers and faculty safe during these trying times.”
Vallone Co-Hosts Oversight Hearing on Workforce Development, Unemployment
City Council Member Paul Vallone, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development (D-Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Beechhurst, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck, Malba, Whitestone), is co-hosting an oversight hearing on workforce development and combating unemployment on Wednesday.
The hearing will be held jointly with the Committee on Small Business.
For more information on the oversight hearing, see the agenda.
The hearing will take place on Wednesday, December 8 at 10 a.m. It will be livestreamed in Virtual Room 4.
Moya Holds Hearing on Flushing Waterfront
City Councilmember Francisco Moya, Chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises (D-East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Corona in Queens, including Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Lefrak City and LaGuardia Airport), and the rest of the committee are holding a hearing on Wednesday.
The hearing is about the Flushing Waterfront rezoning. For more information see the agenda.
The remote hearing will be livestreamed in Virtual Room 1 on Wednesday, December 8 at 10:30 a.m.
Miller Hosts Virtual Community Financial Literacy Event
City Councilmember I. Daneek Miller (D-Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, St. Albans, Queens Village, and Springfield Gardens) is hosting a virtual community financial literacy event next week.
The event, which will be held on Zoom and Facebook live will feature presentations by Andrea Ogle, Esq., Fearonce La Lande, Esq., Seni Popat, Esq., and Vivia Joseph, Esq.
Participants are invited to join for a discussion on mortgages, foreclosures, bankruptcy, debtor-credit transactions, escrow funding, and more in the era of COVID-19.
The virtual event will take place on Wednesday, December 16 at 1 p.m.
Participants can join through Facebook Live, Zoom, or by calling in.
- To participate on Facebook Live, go to Miller’s Facebook page.
- To participate on Zoom use Meeting ID: 838 3553 6640 and Passcode: 208501.
- To dial in call: 1(646) 558-8656
