Maloney, Nadler Encourage All Those with 9/11-Related Illness to Get Vaccines
Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) and Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn) encouraged all New Yorkers with 9/11-related illnesses to get COVID-19 vaccines.
On that same day, all New Yorkers with chronic illnesses caused by the fallout from 9/11 became eligible for the vaccine.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is key to our city and nation’s recovery from this crisis,” said Maloney. “Today, 9/11 responders and survivors with 9/11-related medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19 are eligible to receive the vaccine. I encourage them to do so as it is safe, effective, and saves lives. The 9/11 community lives with pre-existing conditions because they were exposed to the toxins in the air at and around Ground Zero after our government told them it was safe. We made a promise to ‘Never Forget’ all the lives lost and the sacrifices made by these heroes. Making sure those with 9/11-related illnesses can get the vaccine is fulfilling that promise.”
“The 9/11 first responders and survivors whose heroism inspired millions of Americans continue to live with medical conditions from exposure to toxins in and around Ground Zero,” said Nadler. “Many of these pre-existing conditions have resulted in vulnerable respiratory systems and compromised immune systems—for so many 9/11 heroes, a COVID-19 diagnosis means a death sentence. That’s why it’s vital that they have access to the COVID-19 vaccine: in many cases, lives depend on it,” said Congressman Nadler. “I’m glad to see that vaccination eligibility has been expanded so that our 9/11 heroes are now included.”
Jackson Calls for Social Service Reform in Wake of A-Train Stabbings
State Senator Robert Jackson (D-Washington Heights, Inwood) posted a Twitter thread in response to a series of stabbings on the NYC subway that killed two and injured two others.
Over the weekend, Rigoberto Lopez, 21, viciously attacked four subway riders, all of whom are believed to be homeless. Lopez openly confessed to each of the stabbings yesterday.
“The stabbings along the (A) train on Friday & Saturday are a terrible tragedy,” said Jackson. “They expose our ongoing failures to address the twin concerns of people experiencing homelessness and those who struggle with mental illness.In the memory of Claudine Roberts and the other New Yorker who lost his life, and out of recognition of the shortcomings of our social services to care for Rigoberto Lopez and the other two people he allegedly stabbed, we must do better.
“To do better, we have to go all the way upstream of this tragedy, to its sources. We can’t be content with 500 extra cops in response to the stabbings; we have to put in place teams of mental health first responders who can put someone on a path to getting the help they need. And we can’t settle for better security protocols at shelters; we have to fully fund social housing that includes permanently affordable apartments, as well as supportive housing for those who need a higher level of services to live dignified lives. And we can’t just fix the revolving door of inpatient psychiatric units; we need to guarantee wrap-around mental and physical healthcare for all, especially children, so early interventions can meet our students where they are and truly support them in their struggles.
“We have to provide the funding and the resources to ensure a tragedy like this can never happen again.”
Brewer to Sponsor Another COVID Self-Testing Popup Site
Today, the office of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) will be sponsoring another COVID-19 self-testing popup site at the Word Up Community Bookshop.
This is the second popup site her office has sponsored this month; the second one took place exactly a week ago Just like last week’s popup site, this one will have Brewer’s staff supplying self-swab kits to attendees, collecting the swabs on-site, and sending them to the lab for analysis. Attendees will receive their results via email within 48 hours.
The event will take place today from 12-4 p.m. at the Word Up Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Ave.
