Senator Roxanne Persaud

March 5, 2020

 

Dear Constituents: 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my weekly e-newsletter.  We received many calls  expressing gratitude for the information provided weekly.  

Sadly, this past week has been troubling in a number of ways.  First, the tragic deaths of two children in East New York have shaken our community.  Our hearts and prayers go out to their families during this deep time of grief and need.  Secondly, the ongoing Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is one that New York State is taking extremely seriously.  I have provided a link on my NYS Senate website, which can also be accessed here, and provides the most current information from the New York State Department of Health regarding the spread and transmission of this virus.  Additionally, the NYC Department of Health has a dedicated site that is also frequently updated which can be accessed here.  I urge the constituents of SD-19 to remain calm, regularly wash your hands, and if symptoms do occur, do not hesitate to receive appropriate medical assistance. 

We welcome your input toward the continued improvement of  the quality of life throughout the 19th Senatorial District.  Please continue to read the newsletter and share it with someone in the district; ask them to sign up.  Your collective efforts can help to engage the community: children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. Follow our progress via the e-newsletters, our Senate website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Continue to engage with us if there is legislation you would like to see introduced or if you have issues affecting yourself or the community at large. My staff and I will continue to increase  our partnerships with organizations and institutions to bring more resources to the district: City and State agencies, community organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions.  My team and I will continue to represent the district at events and meetings on various occasions.  

Sincerely,

Roxanne J. Persaud

NYS Senator

19th District

 

"We are here to serve, and you deserve to be served."


About Us

The Office of Senator Persaud proudly serves constituents in the communities of Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill and Starrett City. 

For more information, check the official website. To stay updated on events and meetings, frequent the Senate District 19 calendar. If assistance is needed, an upcoming event requires sharing or someone wishes to sign up for this newsletter, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our office can also be followed via Facebook or Twitter.

 

Around The District & Albany

 

Housing Resource Fair

After the strong constituent demand from last year’s event, on Saturday February 29, 2020, my office held its second ‘Housing Resource Fair.’ 

Despite the cold and windy weather, almost 100 residents across SD-19 took part in the services provided by the NYC Department of Finance, NHS Brooklyn, DEP, DSNY, the Brooklyn Public Library, and NYPD Community Affairs. 

Homeowners and tenants partook in filing various property tax bill exemption applications, helping to keep money in their pockets.

 

Underrepresented Teachers of Tomorrow Program

I am proud to announce that my Underrepresented Teachers Retention Bill (S.7647) was passed in the State Senate.  This legislation seeks to attract and retain underrepresented teachers within underrepresented schools across New York State.  This legislation will help retain these teachers by providing grants to schools for recruiting and providing financial incentives to underrepresented teachers. 

 

New Seatbelt Bill To Save Lives

This bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to require all adult passengers of motor vehicles to wear a seatbelt for the first time, including backseat passengers. The legislation passed will save New Yorkers’ lives. According to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost half of the 37,133 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017 were not wearing a seatbelt. 

 

Bag Waste Reduction Law

The Bag Waste Reduction Law took effect on March 1, 2020.  Retail customers will no longer be provided with “single use” plastic bags.  The Bag Waste Reduction Law authorizes New York City to adopt a five-cent paper carry-out bag reduction fee.  To avoid potential added fees at the checkout, you are encouraged to bring your own reusable bag. It’s important to note that this new fee does not apply to SNAP and WIC purchases.  For a full list of bag exemptions, please visit www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/50034.html or click here

 

Census 2020

Beginning this month, Census forms will be distributed to households across this State and Nation.  I cannot overstate the importance of your participation in the Census. Every ten years, each living person in the United States is required to be accounted for; this includes YOU!  The Census is extremely important because over $675 billion of your federal funds are allocated among the States which provides funding for our schools, hospitals, senior centers, public transportation, roads and bridges.  Even our representation in Washington, D.C. is in jeopardy as New York is currently set to lose up to two Congressional members due to lack of proper count.

Unfortunately, Brooklyn is one of the worst offenders in our lack of participation.  There is too much at stake to have this continue. Beginning this month, 95% of households will receive an invitation to participate in the Census, and 5% will have their invitation dropped off by a Census worker or be interviewed in person.  The Census Bureau is required by law to keep all personal information safe and confidential. Your responses to the census cannot be used against you by law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or to determine eligibility for government services.

 

 

Every household will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone.  For more information, please visit 2020census.gov.

Additionally, paid Census jobs are still available.  To apply to become a Census worker, please visit 2020census.gov/en/jobs.html.

If you or your family need help filling out the Census, my district office will serve as a Census 2020 Pop-up Site from March 12-31, 2020.  My staff will be more than happy to assist you in filing and answers questions you may have.

 

New York State Youth Leadership Recognition Awards

The Senate’s Youth Leadership Recognition Awards program honors juniors and seniors for their achievements in academics, athletics, arts and community service for the great work they do to benefit their communities.  If you know a successful student whose accomplishments make their school proud, I encourage you to nominate them for this award.  All entries must be sent electronically and can be made on my website, https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/roxanne-j-persaud or by clicking here.  The deadline for entries is April 3, 2020.

 

Child Support Assistance Program

 

 

 

Earth Day 2020

To celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2020, the New York State Senate is sponsoring a poster celebration for elementary schools.  The theme for this program is “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” Participating students (K-6) must submit electronically—in .jpeg or PDF format via my website, https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/roxanne-j-persaud –an original poem, one-page essay, or artwork.  All submissions will be published online, and participating students will receive a certificate from me.

 

For more upcoming events, click here.

 


 

 Local Advisories

 

2020 Alternate Side Parking & Street Cleaning Calendar

Guide to Accessible Transit on Buses & Subways

3 Murals Painted to Honor Slain Rapper Pop Smoke

Brooklyn Public Library to Offer Free College-Level Courses

NY Advocates want ban on all Flavored Tobacco

Fears and Changes to the Federal Flood Insurance Program

 


 

Consumer/Community Affairs

 

Free 2019 Income Tax Preparation

Tax Season is upon us.  Please take advantage of the following program if you fall within the income limits.

Disclaimer: Our office bears no responsibility for services offered.

Deed Fraud Running Rampant in Brooklyn

Sadly, Deed Fraud is a growing serious crime that occurs when a con artist files a phony deed with the City of New York which falsely states that your property has been transferred to someone else.  The con artist will often then try to sell your property to an unsuspecting buyer or take out a mortgage against your property. In order to protect yourself from Deed Fraud, you can register free of charge with the Department of Finance at www.nyc.gov/finance or the ACRIS (Automated City Register Information Site) at www.nyc.gov/acris.  Also, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has established an Action Center hotline at (718) 250-2340.  Phone lines are open between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. I encourage everyone to periodically review the City’s records to check the status of your property.

 

New York State Youth Leadership Recognition Awards

The Senate’s Youth Leadership Recognition Awards program honors juniors and seniors for their achievements in academics, athletics, arts and community service for the great work they doing to benefit their communities.  If you know a successful student whose accomplishments make their school proud, I encourage you to nominate them for this award. All entries must be sent electronically and can be made on my website, https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/roxanne-j-persaud .  The deadline for entries is April 3, 2020.

 

Immigrant New Yorkers - Know Your Rights with ICE

The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs has developed Know Your Rights Fact Sheets (in English, Spanish, Chinese) for immigrant families, especially those concerned about potential raids from the DHS or ICE. They also remind immigrant New Yorkers there are legal services available to them, that the City does not conduct federal immigration enforcement, that the NYPD does not ask about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses or other people who ask for help and that the has confidentiality protections in place for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, who are accessing important City services. If you are worried, please call the ActionNYC hotline at 1-800-354-0365 to receive free and safe immigration legal help.

 

Search for Unclaimed Funds in New York State

New York State is currently holding over $15 billion in unclaimed funds, and some of it may be yours. In 2019 alone, over $189 million in unclaimed funds have been returned. All it takes is a simple internet search to see if there are unclaimed funds in your name.


 

Career/School Opportunities

 

Coastal Habitat Heroes Program

The program runs from March 17 - June 1.  Students gain a new perspective of their urban environment by visiting a park in Jamaica Bay and learning about estuarine ecology and threats posed by marine debris.  Students spend their trip learning about the plants and animals found in Jamaica Bay by observing organisms caught in a beach seine net. Students also take an active role in stewarding the bay environment by participating in a shoreline cleanup while collecting data on the amount of trash they remove.  After discussing how and why trash arrives on NYC’s shorelines, students discuss ways they can protect their urban environment through their everyday actions. This program is presented by the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service in support of the Every Kid Outdoors Initiative.  Coastal Habitat Heros is a free program, and participating teachers are provided with a NYS-standards aligned pre and post-lesson to complement the field trip. After completion of their trip, students are eligible for a free pass for themselves and their families to National Park Sites across the country.

 

 

 

NYPD: Police Officer Exams

NYPD Police Cadet Corps are looking for applicants

Brooklyn Public Library: Adult Learning Program - Earn Your HSE (TASC/NEDP)

Cypress Hills LDC/DYCD: Free Job Training via the CHAMPION Network

U.S. Census 2020: Join the 202 Census Team!

NYC Department of Design and Construction Jobs

NYC Parks: Employment Opportunities with NYC Parks

CUNY Fatherhood Academy: FREE Program for Fathers Between Age 18 - 30

NYC Parks: Become a Steward, Volunteer Cleaning and Caring for Green Spaces in Brooklyn

Counseling In Schools: Brooklyn Collegiate Preparatory HS Internship Program

New York Drives - Earn Your Driver's License

Brooklyn Job Corps Center

 


Public Safety - NYPD

Find out more on the New York City Police Department Precincts in the district, including crime statistics so you are aware of the trends and able to identify changes to help us fight for a safer community.

61st Pct

63rd Pct

69th Pct

73rd Pct

75th Pct

PSA 1

PSA 2

Neighborhood Policing: Meet Your Neighborhood Coordination Officers and Attend a Meeting

The Neighborhood Policing program is a way for the community and police to get to know each other. Neighborhood Coordination Officers, or NCOs, are your local problem solvers. They spend all their working hours within the confines of their assigned sectors, actively engaging with local community members and residents. They get to know the neighborhood, its people, and its problems extremely well.

 

Citizens Police Academy

The NYPD is again offering the Citizens Police Academy program, established to provide members of the community with a background and understanding of policies and activities, as well as the structure and limit of police power. To apply for the 10-week program, contact your local police precinct.

Law Enforcement Explorers

Did you know that the NYPD has a Law Enforcement Explorers program designed to educate young men and women, ages 14-20, about law enforcement? Visit the official website for more information.

Auxiliary Police Officers

Did you know that the NYPD also has an auxiliary program for those ages 17+ looking to an up-close look at law enforcement, and possibly a stepping-stone to a career with the NYPD. It is also an opportunity to give back to the community. Visit the official website for more information.

Immigrant Outreach Unit

The mission of the Community Outreach Division's Immigrant Outreach Unit is to engage, inform and empower the immigrant communities who reside in New York City. Visit the official website for more information.

 

For a collage of pictures from my latest events click here.

 

 

 

Connect With Us:

Website - Calendar - Contact - Facebook - Twitter

Committees:

Albany Office:
409 Legislative Office Bldg
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2788
District Office:
1222 East 96th St
Brooklyn, NY 11236
718-649-7653
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