Dear Constituents,

Thank you for taking the time to tune into this week’s newsletter as we provide updates for our wonderful district. It is my hope that you will share this information with your neighbors and friends. As always, we welcome your input in all our affairs, as we are here to serve you. 

- Senator Roxanne J. Persaud

Quote of the Week

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." 

-Mahatma Ghandi

SYEP Applications are due tomorrow, April 23rd!

The application period for the 2021 NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is open!!  SYEP is a lottery-based program for young people age 14-24.  Applications are due TOMORROW Friday, April 23, 2021. 

Learn more and access the application here.

Financial literacy month is a time designed for consumers to focus on their financial behaviors and remedy financially crippling circumstances. Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to check credit reports whenever possible with the following plan in mind:

Order your free credit report. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228. Until the end of the pandemic, everyone in the U.S. can get a free credit report each week from all three national credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

Read the reports carefully. Do you recognize the accounts? Do they list credit applications? Did you apply for credit at those places?

Spot mistakes. Fix anything that looks wrong (read more about how). But if it looks like someone else is using your credit, go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a recovery plan.

Spot a credit repair scam. If a credit repair company asks for money up front, or tells you not to contact the credit bureaus yourself, that’s probably a scammer. 

Sexual assault is any form of sexual contact made without consent. This can include rape or coercion. For more information on awareness and becoming an advocate, visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Should you or someone you know be a victim of sexual assault, please contact 800-656-HOPE (4673).

Senator Persaud sponsored Senate Reso. J.581  proclaiming April 2021, as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the State of New York. 

According to the National Safety Council, though traffic has dropped significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our roads have only gotten more dangerous. On a typical day, more than 700 people are still injured in distracted driving crashes. Talking on a cell phone – even hands-free – or texting or programming an in-vehicle infotainment system diverts your attention away from driving. Remember, It Can Wait! To further understand this issue and support awareness, visit the National Safety Council site.

#DistractedDrivingAwareness
#SD19
#roadsafety
#ItCanWait

April Resolutions

Senator Persaud has partnered with NYC Test and Trace to encourage constituents to sign up to receive a Covid-19 vaccine. Pictured above is Test and Trace staff working from outside of district office. Feel free to contact Senator Persaud's district office for more information.

On Earth Day, April 22, 2021, Staff Member Jennifer Viechweg-Horsford represented Senator Persaud in partnership with MTA for a mask day distribution. 

Greens & Things BKLYN gets fresh, nutritious, and affordable produce to where it’s needed most.  If you’re in Brooklyn, stop by Collective Fare (69 Belmont Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212) on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to pick up some nutritious goodies for your household. Click here to reserve a bag!

Interested in becoming a NYPD officer?

The application period for NYPD Police Officer exams open April 7, 2021 until April 27, 2021. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a police officer, visit the NYPD website for more information on the job requirements, exam prep materials, and the hiring process.

Social Security Online Services

Take a look at a page from the Social Security Star Regional Newsletter below regarding Social Security Online services. More of this newsletter can be accessed here. For more information, reach out to your local social security office by clicking here. 

Beware of IRS Imposter Scams

To all College students and staff, be on alert for IRS imposter emails being sent to ".edu" email addresses. The IRS does not initially contact anyone via email. For information by the Federal Trade Commission, click here. Please share this information with others and be cautious about the information you share online. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Buses in NYC

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on April 6, 2021 the launching of COVID-19 Vaccine mobile sites, administering various vaccines.  The first bus is aimed toward helping restaurant workers and delivery people obtain a vaccine. By emailing vaccbus@roarnewyork.org or calling 833-ROAR-NYC, those who are eligible can set their appointments for their vaccine.

In addition, the city will expand its walk-up appointment pilot for New Yorkers over the age of 75 at City-run sites. Click here for site specific information. 

Brooklyn Locations & Vaccines Distributed: 
1.Bushwick Educational Campus- Moderna
2.Canarsie High School- Moderna
3.Brooklyn Army Terminal- Moderna
4.Starrett City - Spring Creek Towers- Pfizer
5.Teachers Preparatory High School- Pfizer
6.Flatbush YMCA- Pfizer
7.City Point- Moderna
8.Coney Island YMCA- Moderna

Vaccination Sites in Senate District 19

Two churches in Senate District 19 are administering vaccines. To schedule an appointment online, click here. To schedule an appointment via phone, call 877-VAX-4NYC and mention the site of your preference.

Church of God: Wednesday-Thursday 5:30PM-9:30PM & Saturday-Sunday 9AM-5:30PM

St. Paul Community Baptist Church: Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM & Closed Sat-Sun

COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline

NY Project Hope has launched a New York’s COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline. They can be reached at 1-844-863-9314.

For more information, visit their site here. 

NYC Pools and Beaches Opening 

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the City’s outdoor pools and eight public beaches will open on time for the season. Beaches will open on Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 29, 2021, and outdoor pools across the city will open the day after the last day of school on Saturday, June 26, 2021. Openings will follow heath guidance on COVID and safety protocols. For more information on pools and beaches this summer, visit nyc.gov/parks or call 311.

Community Resources

Community Conversations, Workshops & Town Halls

Senator Persaud continues to host timely informational workshops and townhall discussions on various topics of importance to constituents. If you haven't had a chance to participate or watch on Facebook Live, the archived recordings are still available as a resource to you. Simply click on the topic name in bold below.

COVID-19 Vaccine, Saturday, 01/23/2021, sponsored in conjunction with NYC DOHMH and NYC Test & Trace.

Rank Choice Voting, Saturday, 02/27/2021, sponsored in conjunction with Rank the Vote NYC. 

Citizens NYC Grant Information Session, Monday, 03/15/2021, featuring Citizens Committee for New York City. Click here for Citizens NYC All-In Neighborhood Grants Application.

Tenant’s Rights, Tuesday, 03/16/2021, sponsored in conjunction with Brooklyn Legal Services Corp. A. 

Backwater Valves for Homeowners, Monday, 03/22/2021, sponsored in conjunction with Center for NYC Neighborhoods and NHS Brooklyn. 

Financial Literacy, Thursday, 03/18/2021, sponsored in conjunction with Center for the Women of New York. 

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.