July 2, 2020
Dear Constituents:
Welcome to Summer! Thank you for reading this week’s e-newsletter. You may have seen that we were not in your inbox for a few weeks. That is due to an information blackout period during elections.
Our nation is at a crossroads. We have had nearly three months of isolation away from our families and loved ones. Months of our communities supporting first responders who are fighting against COVID-19. Months of adjusting to a “new normal” of remote working, social distancing, and living in a state of pause have given us time to reflect on what is important in our lives and how we came together to overcome the Coronavirus.
Less than ten minutes on a Minneapolis street, much of what had brought neighbors together unraveled. The senseless death of Mr. George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis Police Officer and the consequent demonstrations from coast to coast have changed our public lives once again. We are angry because once again, a black person's life was taken by people who are in a position of power. A position to protect. A position of trust.
The murder of George Floyd has compelled millions of New Yorkers to express their outrage in varying degrees. The majority are peaceful vocal protests with minimal police incidents. Unfortunately, others led to rioting and looting in the guise of ‘protest.’
Honest dialogue is paramount to ending the social injustices that have plagued American society for centuries. Peaceful protesting and civil disobedience are First Amendment rights that are respected and facilitate real change. While our perspectives are wide and varied, the notion of what is right and what is wrong has unified people across the nation and the world.
On a happier note, Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2020. Although you had to have virtual graduation ceremonies and were not afforded the traditional ceremonies you expected, your accomplishments will forever be recognized. I am very proud of your hard work and perseverance during this pandemic.
Lastly, Census, Census, Census! I can’t overstate the importance of completing the census. To ensure that our communities receive their fair share of federal funding, we must have a complete and accurate population count. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete your invitation online, and there are no immigration questions asked. Please go to www.my2020census.gov and participate in Census 2020 if you have not already done so.
Sincerely,
NYS Senate
19th District
“WE ARE HERE TO SERVE, AND YOU DESERVE TO BE SERVED.”
About Us
The Office of Senator Roxanne J. 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.
IS 211 - Graduates, Best Wishes as you begin High School
While we are still socially distant and graduation ceremonies are canceled, I was excited to join Ms. Kutros, teacher at IS 211 - Class 817 to visit two of her graduating students, Gianna and Adonis. .
With flowers, balloons and lawn signs she was excited to see these students in person after nearly two months. Both students were accompanied by their mothers as they were presented their Class of 2020 signs.
In addition, I joined Principal James and her team as they presented other graduates with their graduation signs. Congratulations IS 211 Graduates. Please click HERE for a collage of pictures from this event.
Congratulations High School for Innovation in Advertising & Media Graduates
Assembly Member Jaime Williams and I had the pleasure to congratulate students from the High School for Innovation in Advertising and Media class of 2020 as they received their caps, gowns and awards.
Several students in attendance recently won a national podcast competition from National Public Radio (NPR) for their podcast entitled, "The Flossy Project: Climate Change and Environmental Racism"
Past podcasts the students created included topics on immigration, what it means to be masculine, and video games.
When these students attended last September's climate march, they wanted to interview participants. As they noticed the lack of other students of color during the march in Manhattan, the students "felt like we should talk about what we're seeing and what's going on from our point of view."
Questions developed and the podcasters wanted to ask, "which communities are most impacted by climate change?"
In "The Flossy Project," the students read from a 2018 Quartz article about a study funded by the federal government that determined Black communities faced higher levels of pollution and were more likely to live closer to industrial areas and landfills than their white peers.
Coupling this study with the students' experiences during Hurricane Sandy, NPR lauded their work and awarded them winners of the nationwide NPR Student Podcast Challenge.
I want to highlight this massive achievement from Jamar T., Brianna J., Jaheim B., Joshua B., Isaiah D., and Kamari M.
Behind them were facilitators, Xavier Cornejo and Mischael Cetoute, Guidance Counselor Lakisha David, and IAM Assistant Principal Jamie Weyerbacher.
This is an amazing achievement from our local Canarsie youth and I thank everyone involved for showcasing the talents of these students. You make your families and Brooklyn very proud.
Congratulations to all the graduating students of the High School for Innovation in Advertising and Media Class of 2020!
For more photos from the event, please click HERE.
Please click HERE for the link to the podcast so you can hear this amazing work.
IAM students receiving their caps & gowns
On June 30th, students returned to receive their yearbooks.
Pictured with Ms. Weyerbacher and Ms. David are, Ieszan M. and his mother Ms. McKinny.
PS 213 Student Summer Send-Off
While this school year has been anything but traditional, it was my pleasure to join PS 213 Principal Moise, staff, and the event sponsor to give the students a fun send-off as they begin their Summer. The students received lots of goodies to take home. For more photos from the PS 213 Summer Send-Off please click HERE.
NYPD News in SD-19
I want to congratulate two new Commanding Officers of NYPD Precincts in SD-19. Congratulations to Captain Robert Conwell upon becoming the Commanding Officer of the NYPD-69th Precinct. He takes over from Deputy Inspector Terrell Anderson, who is now the Commanding Officer of the NYPD-73rd Precinct.
Additionally, former Brooklyn North Chief Jeffrey Maddrey has become the new head of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau. Chief Judith Harrison has replaced Chief Maddrey as the incoming Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn North. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your service and keeping the residents of SD-19 and all Brooklyn safe.
Artists and Police Coming Together
Through the talents and leadership of Mr. Kenny Altidor, true partnerships between the residents and NYPD 69th Precinct have flourished. Mr. Altidor, volunteers, and Police Officers from the 69th Precinct are currently working together to create a mural that honors the late Mr. George Floyd. You can see the mural at the corner of E 80th St and Flatlands Ave.
Happy 244th Birthday America
On Saturday, July 4th, as we celebrate 244 years of independence from England, let us make sure we all have a safe celebration. The use of fireworks is dangerous and illegal.
As we celebrate, please remember that there are still injustices occurring in our communities, and we must come together to ensure opportunity, equality, and justice for all.
Please be mindful of maintaining social distancing at area events, family functions, and neighborhood gatherings.
SD-19 NYC Reopening Resource Guide
As New York State begins to reopen in phases, my staff has compiled a “Senate District 19 Reopening Guide” to help assist constituents on the what, where, when and how these processes will commence. To view this new guide, please click the banner below.
SENATE DISTRICT 19 NYC REOPENING GUIDE
Coronavirus Resource Guide
New York City has entered Phase 2 of Re-Opening, bringing along some semblance of normalcy and on July 1, beaches will reopen for swimming. Please continue to follow all safety guidelines and I encourage you to review and share information contained in the “Senate District 19 Coronavirus Resource Guide.” This information is a continuously updated resource guide that answers many questions and concerns during the Coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. Please click on the banner below for SD-19 specific information
SENATE DISTRICT 19 CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE GUIDE
COVID-19 & Antibody Testing
New York State is providing large-scale free testing for COVID-19. To determine if you are eligible to receive this free service, fill out the intake questionnaire and consent form found HERE. Once you complete the survey, you will receive a text or call from the Department of Health with information on test sites and available dates. For more information, call the New York State Department of Health hotline at 1-888-364-3065.
Mask & Sanitizer Distributions across SD-19
We are continuously fighting the COVID-19 battle, with areas of SD-19 being some of the hardest-hit in all of New York City. I have held PPE distribution events across our district and will continue to do so. Please look for our schedule of locations and dates so that you can receive your supply. As a reminder, I urge everyone to properly dispose of used masks and gloves in garbage bins. DO NOT LITTER! Do not throw used PPE on the sidewalks, streets, or outside stores. Improper disposal is a significant health concern that affects all of us. Please be mindful of the people who must clean up your garbage. Please click HERE to see my message about the proper disposal of PPE.
From Bergen Beach to Brownville, East New York to Sheepshead Bay and all communities in between, we have been tirelessly distributing facial masks and hand sanitizer at events across SD-19. Please click HERE to view a collage of various distributions across the district.
Food Distributions across SD-19
NYC has seen its highest levels of people needing food as Food insecurity has increased during this pandemic. Thankfully for the New York City’s grab-and-go program and food vendors donating groceries, my office has been able to facilitate food distributions across SD-19 to help those in need. Thank you to all the volunteers and community leaders who have helped bring this service to some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Look for our upcoming distribution sites. To see a collage of food distribution events, please click HERE.
Celebrating Haitian Heritage
May has been known as Haitian Heritage Month since 1998. We celebrated Haitian Heritage by emphasizing pride in Haitian history, culture, and the need to empower the Diaspora community. On May 30th, I joined members of the Haitian community for a “Celebration Drive” through communities in Brooklyn. Please click HERE for more photos from the great day.
Employment Opportunities
Department of Labor - Unemployment Claims
To file unemployment claims or to make complaints regarding working during this pandemic, please click HERE.
Consumer Alerts
Hurricane Season and COVID-19
The Federal Trade Commission made a consumer alert making June 1 the official start of hurricane season. They noted that now is a great time to make a plan to deal with weather emergencies, especially because this year, we have the added concern of the COVID-19 pandemic. The consumer alert also includes what you need to know if you have to go to a shelter. (Hint: it involves packing hand sanitizer and masks.) For further information, please click HERE.
Peer to Peer (P2P) Payment Scams
The State Employee Federal Credit Union (SEFCU) has provided information regarding scams involving Peer to Peer (P2P) payments.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments are transactions between two parties using individual banking accounts or debit/credit cards. Some examples are POPMoney, PayPal®, Venmo®, Zelle®, Apple Pay®, and Google Pay®. While these are convenient ways to pay friends or relatives, fraudsters sometimes pose as financial institutions in order to obtain login credentials. Once they gain access to your account, they can use P2P services to transfer money out of your account.
How Does it Work?
- Fraudsters text fake account alerts which look like they are coming from a financial institution, warning of suspicious debit card activity. (As a reminder, SEFCU will never send you an unsolicited message requesting personal information and if you do receive one you shouldn’t respond.)
- Fraudsters then call individuals mimicking the financial institution’s phone number. They claim that the purpose of the call is to verify suspicious activity on your account.
- To verify identity, the fraudster says that a passcode will be sent via text message and that this passcode must be provided over the phone.
- The fraudsters then use the passcode to log into accounts and use the P2P feature to transfer funds out of your account.
The best way to avoid P2P fraud is to ignore unsolicited text messages and emails. You should be especially suspicious of a request to confirm any personal information or passcodes. If you can't be sure the person who called you is who they claim, hang up. Call SEFCU or any institution you deal with using a phone number you know to be correct. Never use a phone number or email link found in unsolicited communications.
COVID Tracing Call Scams
Thousands of New Yorkers have been receiving calls from the City’s COVID-19 Tracing Team. Please be aware that while this is an extremely important service tracers are providing, unfortunately scammers are also taking advantage. Please review this flyer from the Federal Trade Commission to make yourselves aware of distinguishing between legitimate and fraudulent calls. Proper COVID-19 Tracer calls will either say “NYC Test + Trace” on caller ID or come from a 212 area code.
Phase 2 Re-Opening
New York City entered the 2nd phase towards reopening our non-essential businesses throughout the five boroughs. This officially opens outdoor dining, salons & barber shops, car dealerships, commercial building management, offices (including my district office starting Monday June 29th!), playgrounds, and houses of worship for up to 25% of congregants.
Please visit, HERE to see the complete listings of Phase 2 industry openings.
Each reopening business is also required to adopt a New York Forward Safety Plan. While this plan does not need State agency approval, it must be kept on premises for Department of Health inspections. The NY Forward Safety Plan template can be found HERE for download.
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NEW Relief for Small Businesses: Applications Open
NY Forward has launched a new economic recovery loan program for supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan. To learn more and to apply please click HERE.
NYC Open Restaurants Program & Guidelines
The NYC Department of Transportation has allowed restaurants to implement a temporary outdoor setting plan that complies with social distancing during COVID-19 recovery. Community organizations, BIDs, and groups of food establishments interested in offering seating on an Open Street must submit an Open Streets application which can be found HERE. Open Streets seating is planned for nights and weekends beginning in July. For further information about this program, please click HERE.
Open Streets Program
Pedestrians and cyclists will be happy to know that Mayor Bill de Blasio has added another 22 miles to New York City’s nation-leading Open Streets program, bringing the city-wide total to 67 miles – two-thirds of the way to the 100-mile goal laid out in late April. The new Open Streets, which are located primarily in neighborhoods hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis, include nine miles of temporary protected bike lanes. The Administration is also prioritizing neighborhoods that are high on the Heat Vulnerability Index plans to make the summer “Cool Streets” hydrant spray-cap program part of the Open Streets initiative.
The areas included in SD-19 are:
Brownsville - Blake Avenue from Rockaway Avenue to Powell Street
Livonia Avenue from Mother Gaston Boulevard to Powell Street
Sheepshead Bay - Bragg Street from Avenue V to Avenue Y
East New York - Stanley Avenue from Vermont Avenue to Van Siclen Avenue
Stanley Avenue from Schenck Avenue to Ashford Street
Under Open Streets, pedestrians and cyclists are free to use the roadbed of each street. No through traffic is permitted, with remaining vehicle traffic limited to local deliveries, pick-ups/drop-offs, necessary city service, utility, and emergency vehicles only. Such drivers are alerted to be hyper-vigilant and to drive at 5 MPH along these routes. Open streets hours will be from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM but may vary slightly depending on staff availability.
Food Assistance Programs
Are you or someone you know is in need of food assistance but cannot leave their home or cannot afford the costs?
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The Department of Education is providing three free meals daily (including vegetarian, kosher and halal options) at over 500 locations across NYC to every New Yorker who needs them. Click HERE to find a Meal Hub near you. No ID is required and each person can pick up 3 meals at a time (adults can pick up meals for their children).
The City of New York has provided over 1,000,000 food assistance deliveries to New Yorkers during the COVID-19 crisis to those who cannot access food themselves; however, they must meet the following criteria:
1) No members of the household can go out and get food because they are at increased medical risk or homebound
2) No neighbors or family members can go out and get food for you
3) Do not receive meal assistance from other providers (incl. Meals on Wheels or God's Love We Deliver); and
4) You are unable to afford meal delivery or grocery delivery
For more information and to apply, please visit HERE.
Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens in SD-19
Please click HERE for a list of food pantries and soup kitchens in our district.
Debt-Collection Suspension
NYS Attorney General Letitia James’ office is helping to provide people or businesses impacted by COVID-19 that owe (non-medical and non-student) debts to the State of New York. Please click HERE to be considered for debt relief, including relief from collection activity, interest accrual, and the assessment of collection fees by completing the “COVID-19 Application for Suspension of Debt Collection Activity.”
Sanitation & Transportation
L-Train Cleaning Schedule
L Line - Weeknight Planned Service Change
Jun 30 - Jul 3, Tue to Fri, 12:01 AM to 1 AM
L trains will run every 20 minutes because of structural improvements.
Reminder: The subway will be closed each night between 1 AM and 5 AM while trains and stations are cleaned and disinfected.
New Street Cleaning Schedule
From NotifyNYC:
Effective immediately, there will no longer be twice-weekly street cleanings. Beginning Monday, 6/29, the City will resume ASP regulations for one week. Going forward, streets that have multiple ASP days will be cleaned on the day that is later in the week, through Labor Day. For example, a street with ASP regulations posted on Tuesday and Friday will now be cleaned on Friday only. Daily sweeping regulations in metered areas will not change, and DSNY will continue cleaning streets with posted No Standing, No Stopping and No Parking regulations as needed.
The City will enforce these amended regulations on a week-by-week basis and will assess conditions throughout the summer. The City will determine whether to extend, or modify the new regulations over the course of the summer.
For more information and updates, visit http://on.nyc.gov/2Ho9W4J or contact 3-1-1 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY 212-504-4115).
Health & Wellness
Interim Guidance for Dentistry
This Interim Guidance for Dentistry during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Dentistry”) was created to provide dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) with precautions to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 as dentistry facilities re-open or continue to operate for elective and emergency procedures. This guidance applies to all dental care, including emergency and non-emergency/elective care.
To review the guidance, please check here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/DentistryMasterGuidance.pdf
Mental Health & Domestic Violence Resources
You do not have to feel alone. If you are experiencing stress or feel anxious, please contact the New York State COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline. Thousands of mental health professionals are available to help us during this pandemic.
Census 2020
Census forms have been 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.
Please click HERE for my very important message regarding the 2020 Census.
Unfortunately, Brooklyn is the worst offender in our lack of participation not only in NYC but the entire USA. There is too much at stake to have this continue. Since March, 95% of households have received an invitation to participate in the Census, and 5% have had their invitation dropped off by a Census worker to 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. Visit my2020census.gov to respond online. To respond by phone, call 1-844-330-2020
Public Safety
FDNY
Even though FDNY CPR classes are currently postponed, watch this #FDNYSmart video to gain an overall awareness of hands-only CPR, and to learn how #CPRSavesLives.
Visit www.fdnysmart.org/connect to watch the full presentation. Use these safety tips when performing Hands Only CPR, and remember that early recognition and action improve chances of survival and recovery for victims of cardiac arrest.
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.
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Social Services, CHAIR
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Banks, MEMBER
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Children and Families, MEMBER
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Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business, MEMBER
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Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction & Overdose Prevention, MEMBER
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Labor, MEMBER
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Legislative Women’s Caucus, MEMBER
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Transportation, MEMBER
