April News + COVID-19 Update #5: $2 Trillion Relief Package, 550 New Beds, PPEs, SHSAT, New H.S. Library, and First Friday Online
Dear Neighbor,
The beginning of March feels like a lifetime ago, before the “new normal” we are all now living. Thank you to every New Yorker who is staying home, to those working in essential roles, and to everyone making huge sacrifices as we work together to flatten the curve to save those most at risk from COVID-19. Although we won’t be returning to our regular routines in time for the upcoming holidays, I want to wish everyone a Happy Passover, Easter, and Ramadan.
As of today, we have 113,000 cases and 1,895 deaths nationwide, 52,318 cases and 728 deaths in New York State, 29,777 cases and 517 deaths in New York City.
Senator Chuck Schumer led the Senate in passing a $2 trillion relief package that was signed into law yesterday that includes direct $1,200 payments, improved unemployment benefits, funding for the MTA, medical supplies for New York, and loans for small businesses. Learn how it applies to you.
To combat the pandemic, we've supported efforts to open 550 beds in the district for the surge, and we have connected with countless people near and far offering to donate, manufacture, or source personal protective equipment to the city and state's healthcare systems. We've provided laptops to students to learn from home and worked with internet service providers to provide free broadband to students who don't already have it. New York state remains under the Governor’s “PAUSE” directive.
I wrote an op-ed in Crain's with economist Teresa Ghilarducci outlining the 5 things we can do to save small businesses. I also wrote an open thank you letter in LaborPress to the teachers, healthcare workers, cleaners, MTA workers, police officers, EMTs, utility workers, restaurant workers and delivery workers who have been keeping this City running during this time.
This month I proposed new legislation aimed at increasing access to NYC’s specialized high schools and we announced the opening of two French dual language pre-kingedergarten classes following our collective advocacy.
One tradition I would still like to honor is my office’s monthly First Friday meetings. I am inviting residents to join me for a First Friday on video or tele-conference on April 3rd at 8:00am using Zoom.
How have you been holding up? Is there anything I can do to help? Let me know.
Sincerely,
Ben Kallos
Council Member, District 5
CORONAVIRUS
- $2 Trillion Relief Package: How It Applies to You
- 550 New Beds for Treating Coronavirus
- Arrival of Navy Medical Ship to Ease NYC Hospital Surge
- Securing Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers
- New York State on PAUSE
- Senior Centers Closed with Volunteer Opportunities
- Keeping Nonprofits Open During Pandemic
YOUTH & EDUCATION
- Laptops Purchased With My Funding Used for Remote Learning
- Free Broadband for All Public Students (Who Don’t Have It)
- Free Zoom Video/Tele-Conference for Public Schools
- Remote Learning for K-12 Students
- Food Pickups for NYC Students
- Legislation to Increase Diversity and Access to Specialized High Schools
- Cutting the Ribbon on $212,000 Library Upgrade for Eleanor Roosevelt High School
- Won French Dual Language Pre-Kindergarten for Upper East Side
- Healthy Happy Meals Taking Effect
- “A Taste of Wagner” Silent Auction and Dinner
- Sign the Petition for Universal 3K
EVENTS
TRANSPORTATION
- Citi Bikes Coming to Roosevelt Island
- Street Closures
- Revel Scooters Offer Free Rides to Medical Workers
- Alternate Side Parking Suspended
- Ride-Share, Pools, and Shared Access-a-Ride Trips Limited
- How Drivers Can Stay Safe During COVID-19
- International Travel: Return Home If Abroad
HOUSING
- New Affordable Housing Units Now Available on 86th Street
- Tenants’ Rights During COVID-19 Pandemic
- Legal Assistance for Tenants in HUD-subsidized Housing
- Mortgage Relief
JOBS, SMALL BUSINESS & VOLUNTEERING
- Crain’s Op-Ed: “Five Steps to Save Small Business During the Pandemic”
- Op-Ed for LaborPress: “Thank Our Workers”
- No Wait for Unemployment
- Resources for Small Businesses
- Recruiting Licensed Drivers for COVID-19 Relief
- The Hebrew Free Loan Society to Help Small Business Hurt by COVID-19
- Serving Up Justice: 32BJ Rallies for Fast Food Workers
TECHNOLOGY
FOOD
- Operation “5-Borough Food Drive” Citywide Initiative
- Combating Food Insecurity with GetFoodNYC
- Urban Outreach Center NYC Opens Food Pantry
- ASPCA Commits $5 Mill in COVID-19 Relief Initiative to Help Pet Owners
COMMUNITY
- Accessible Entrance for John Finley Walk Completed
- Remembering Dave Rosenstein
- SOMOS Albany 2020 Conference
VIRTUAL EVENTS
RESOURCES
- COVID-19 Relief Funds
- Hotlines for your COVID-19 Questions
- Taking Care of Your Mental Health
- New Yorkers with Disabilities
- Medicare Rights is here to help!
- NYPL Connect: Access Tools from home
- How to Donate Much Needed Blood Safely
- Museum of Jewish Heritage Shares Resources Online
- New York Academy of Medicine Resources Online
- Child Mind Institute: Support and Resources
OFFICE UPDATE