Quote of the Week

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others”

—Nelson Mandela

Did you know this legislation was signed into law by Governor Hochul?   

Chapter 386 of 2022 - The "diaper initiative affordability for parents and elderly remedy (DIAPER) act," effective date December 1, 2022, provides sales and use tax exemption at the state and local level for diapers intended for human use, whether for adults, children, non-disposable or disposable.  

Diapers are often a significant, if not the most considerable expense for  individuals caring for infants and seniors. While effective April 1, 2006, the state decided that adult and children's diapers (including disposable diapers) were exempt from the New York State's 4% sales tax, there are  multiple counties and jurisdictions which do not provide for a local exemption.

This legislation ensures that specifically, adult and children's diapers (including disposable diapers) are not subject to taxes by the counties or jurisdictions, and they follow the state exemption. 

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.

Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.

Free Summer Meals Available

Breakfast and lunch will continue beyond the instructional school year. Our Summer Meals Program is available throughout New York City to anyone ages 18 years old and under.

Designated public schools, community pool centers, parks, and food trucks will be open for service.

No registration, documentation, or ID is necessary to receive a free breakfast or lunch meal. 

How To Find Locations:

View the 2022 Summer Meals location listing (all sites, dates and times are subject to change).

Website: www.schools.nyc.gov/summermeals
Text: NYC Food to 304-304 (standard text messaging rates may apply)
Call: 311

Food Resources

-If you or someone you know qualifies, you may apply for SNAP (food stamps), Cash Assistance, and Medicaid renewal all at the same time here.

-To find the nearest food pantries and community kitchens, call the Emergency Food Hotline at 866-888-8777.

-WIC2Go is a mobile app for New York State WIC recipients. For more information on WIC support, please visit their site or call 844-540-3031.

-For seniors aged 60+ NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA)  provides home delivered meals. You can access them online or call 311 for support, you also can call 212-244-6469 to see if you qualify direct delivery.

-If you are not currently receiving any food benefit (such as Meals on Wheels or SNAP), are unable to get to a grocery store, and do not have anyone to help you, you may qualify for NYC Food Delivery Assistance.

-CityHarvest offers free food every other week across NYC, you can find a location near you here.

Heat Advisory for NYC: Until 8 PM on 7/24.

Heat indices of upper 90s to around 100 degrees expected. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

For more information visit: NYC.gov/beattheheat or www.weather.gov/okx.

The deadline to get a REAL ID is May 3, 2023 – after that, a standard license will no longer be accepted to board a plane or enter federal facilities.

With same-day and next-day appointments available at most DMV offices across the state, now is the best time to upgrade and avoid the last-minute rush.

For more information, see here.

Verizon expands customers' ability to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Verizon’s landline customers can now call the “988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline” using the new 988 abbreviated dialing code. Wireless customers can also send text messages to the 988 short code.

As part of this new feature:

• Wireless callers should dial 9-8-8 just as they dial any other three-digit code like 911 or 211. There are no airtime or other charges. 
  
• To reach the Lifeline via wireless text message, they should enter “988” as the recipient and initiate their conversation with the Lifeline, just as they send any other text message. There are no charges for 988 texts.
  
• Landline callers should dial 9-8-8, just as they dial any other three-digit code.*
• For voice calls, callers can press “1” to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, and “2” for Spanish language support. And the Lifeline’s current toll free number – 1-800-273-8255 – remains available. 

More information about 988 is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at: www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988

Search for your county to find COVID-19 guidance for your community

Resources to keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19.

For more information, see here.

COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline

NY Project Hope has launched New York’s COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline.

They can be reached at 1-844-863-9314.

For more information, visit their site here. 

Ever wanted to dispose of something, but wasn't sure about the proper way to do so?

Find and FOLLOW proper disposal info at on.nyc.gov/howtogetridof

Friday, 7.15, The SD 19 office held a Pop-Up Food Distribution and distributed nearly three hundred bags of pre-packaged food supplies during the Free Electronic Recycling Collection.

Constituents disposed of over one hundred pieces of electronics. The Campaign Against Hunger provided food.

Thank you to all the everyone who contributed to the event including our volunteers.

Friday, 7.15, Senator Persaud and staffer Sandy attended the Brooklyn Public Library's Older American Celebration Fair at the central library.

Many organizations participated and distributed resources and goodies to the many older adults who attended. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso presented a proclamation to the library in honor of the event.

There were other activities, including entertainment and refreshments.

Saturday, 7.16, Senator Persaud partnered with Digital Girl Inc. to host "Digital Me," a workshop for children and parents from across the Senate district that taught the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety to explore the online world confidently. The two-hour-long workshop took place at the Middle School for Science and Medicine.

At the end of the interactive presentation, there were prizes for the winners who correctly answered the tech-related questions. The youth were also required to read and sign an internet safety pledge they took home. Staffer Jennifer Horsford worked with the staff of Digital Girl Inc, to create the pledge.

Special thanks to Digital Girl, Inc. and the team for the continued partnership, Principal Dennis Herring, Jr, for allowing the use of the school for this event, and the building manager and School Safety Officer.

Thanks to Kamla Millwood and Brenda Cox for their coverage of the event and to the SD-19 staff, Eileen, Christine & Sandy.

We are looking forward to offering additional tech workshops.

Saturday, 7.16, July 16 was A City Day of Water and staffer Sandy attended an Open House at Sebago Canoe Club in Canarsie, one of the many activities happening across the city. 

The day was filled with canoeing, kayaking, rowing and other activities in the Paerdegat Basin.

The Sebago Canoe Club located at 1400 Paerdegat Avenue in Canarsie - hosts 3 Open House events each summer that are free and open to everyone in the community.

Their next Open House is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 13th from 10am-2pm.

Everyone is encouraged to register and enjoy guided trips in kayaks, canoes and other crafts.

For more information visit: 

www.sebagocanoeclub.org/calendar-of-events/ or 718- 241-3683.

To learn more about A City Day of Water, visit:

https://waterfrontalliance.org/

Saturday, 7.16, Senator Persaud, staffer Sandy, and volunteer Kamla attended the Love Fellowship NY Street Evangelism Crusade, held at P.S. 66, 845 East 96th Street.

Free food, other refreshments, health resources, and giveaways were available to the community. Youth, including Law Enforcement Explorers from the NYPD 69th Pct, enjoyed activities and won prizes.

After the food and games were over, there was a praise and worship concert that filled the air with gospel music and praise dancing. Senator Persaud addressed the attendees, including pastors from various churches across Brooklyn supporting the event.

Thank you to Pastor Ronnie Leakey - Pastor of Love Fellowship NY, and his members for the invitation and warm welcome.

Sunday, 7.17, Senator Persaud spent time at the Shoot For the Stars Foundation Food Giveaway held at the Community Garden: 9299 Schenck Street. This event kicked off four days of the Pop Smoke series of events.

Staffer Jennifer and Senator distributed resource packets and Covid 19 Test kits.

Wednesday, 7.20, Senator Persaud participated in Pop Smoke Day, where she spoke with youth, organizers, and news reporters about the significance of young people coming together positively.

This event was part of the Pop Smoke Festival hosted by Shoot For The Stars Foundation, which is four days of events, including food & produce distribution, Youth discussion, and a Basketball Clinic, all free for the community.

Staffer Jevaughn attended the remainder of Pop Smoke Day held in Canarsie Park and distributed informational resources from the office.

Tuesday, 7.19, Staffer Jennifer represented Senator Persaud at the Boro Park Jewish Community Council's first Summer Legislative Barbeque and award ceremony.

Elected officials and key community stakeholders, including New York Attorney General Letitia "Tish" James and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, were in attendance.

Congratulations to all the honorees, and thanks to the Borough Park Jewish Community Council board members, staff, and volunteers for a successful event.

Congratulations to newly promoted Detective Ronette Benjamin of NYPD 63rd Pct Community Affairs. And to Inspector Rohan Griffith, Commanding Officer of the 75th Pct. They were both promoted on July 21. 

Visit Senator Persaud's Facebook page to see more photos from SD19 events. 

New York State Senate's 2022 Summer Reading Program!

Parents and guardians from across New York State are invited to enter their children's summer reading activity to receive a certificate from the Senator. 

The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2022.

For more information and to register, please see here.

REMINDER:

NYC cooling centers are open due to expected high temps and heat indices.

To find a cooling center near you visit: 

https://maps.nyc.gov/cooling-center/ or 311. For more information, visit: https://on.nyc.gov/3yMueNv

Visit fdnysmart.org for more summer safety tips. 

How to prepare for hurricane season 2022 and avoid storm-related scams.

For more information, see here.

Do you have federal student loans? Have you worked in public service (for a government agency, the military, or a non-profit organization)?

If so, find out whether you’re eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Limited Waiver, which expires on October 31, 2022.

Thousands of federal student loan borrowers have used the waiver to get closer to total loan forgiveness.

For more information, see here.

Tenants of NYC:

Did you know that you can get free 1-on-1 help and guidance on housing-related issues, which may include referral to free legal services?

Call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline to get connected to a PEU Specialist!

Senior Debate Presents: Game Night 1 at Brooklyn Public Library

Brain-games, speech challenges and more fun debate activities to develop and sharpen your skills are in store for you at Central Library, Grand Army Plaza Branch’s Dweck Auditorium!

Friday, Aug.19th at 5:30pm

There will be snacks, giveaways, and prizes...…plus information about the Fall 2022 Senior Debate Series!

For more information and to register see here.

Summer Nights at Brooklyn Children's Museum

Many family-friendly activities are happening at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Join for after-hours play on Saturday, July 23, their first late-night of the summer!

Enjoy the Museum and check out their newest installation, Jurassic Mini-Golf, a 9-hole rooftop golf course featuring animatronic dinosaurs.

View their website for all information.

BCM Members are invited to golf for FREE throughout the entire day.

Learn more about the perks of membership at BCM.

Get tickets here.

The New York State Liberty Medal is the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed by a Member of the New York State Senate upon a resident of New York State. Liberty Medals are adopted by resolution and remain on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s office.  For more information, click here.

The NYS Senate Commendation Award recognizes exceptional people who
have made a lasting contribution to their community.  For more information, click here.

The NYS Senate Empire Award recognizes excellence in business in Senate District 19. For more information, click here.

DFTA Launches Silver Stars Program

In the Department for the Aging's continued efforts to fight ageism and give older adults the opportunity to continue contributing to the workforce, we launched a new program called Silver Stars.

Designed for retired civil servants who want to continue working, this program is an opportunity for them to be hired by a City agency where they can earn up to $35,000 working part-time, while continuing to receive benefits from the City's pension system.

To learn more about this opportunity, you can visit the Older Adult Employment page on our website, email SilverStars@aging.nyc.gov, or call Aging Connect at 212-Aging-NYC (212-244-6469).

The New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) Request for Proposal (RFP)

The New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) is pleased to announce the availability of funds dedicated to the implementation of Suicide Prevention Programs for Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and LGBTQI+ New York Youth and Young Adults.

The RFP was developed in response to rising rates of suicide attempts among at-risk populations of youth and young adults in recent years. In addition to providing culturally relevant Suicide Prevention interventions for these focus populations, community agencies will be required to partner with a behavioral health provider to facilitate access to treatment services for individuals who need them. 

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit agencies or tribal organizations located in New York State. Additionally, eligible applicants must have demonstrated expertise in working with underserved populations and missions that include providing outreach and support to one or more of the focus populations in this RFP, preferably with a Suicide Prevention focus. 

Agencies interested in responding to this Request for Proposal must submit a Letter of Intent to Bid to the NYSOMH Issuing Officer by August 31, 2022. 

 The Request for Proposal (RFP) can be accessed on the NYSOMH website under Procurement Opportunities at https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/ 

 All applications must be completed and submitted through the Grants Gateway at https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/

REGISTER NOW: BRIDGE TO CLOUD, ESOL, HSE OR JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES!

Get your GED, gain Job Skills, earn Industry-Certified Credentials, get Job Placement Assistance, College Access, and English Language Skills.

All Training programs are FREE and offer *Student Stipends.

For more information, see here.

For more information, see here.

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS

Please see link below for Civil Service exams currently available:

For list see here.

Excelsior Scholarship Application is Now Available!

The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students.

For the 2022-23 academic year, families who earned $125,000 or less in the tax year 2020 are eligible to apply.

The 2022-23 Excelsior Scholarship application is open May 24 - August 31

For more information, see here.

See here.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION HERE

The Safe in the City Grant from the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, led by the Office of Neighborhood Safety, offers funding opportunities from $1,500-$10,000 to support community-based actions that will make neighborhoods safer.

For more information, see here.

Looking for a job? New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is hiring for many seasonal and full-time positions!

Summer work is also available if you’re looking for opportunities like:

Summer camp counselors
Playground associates
Swim instructors
Movie night crews + more

Find the full list of jobs at: https://on.nyc.gov/2TrWggq

Community Resources

Click the button under each graphic for more information.

Senator Persaud would like to hear from you! Press the button to leave any and all inquiries/suggestions you may have. 

As your State Senator in the 19th Senatorial District: 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, click the logos below for Senator Persaud's official website, Facebook or Twitter.