Gloria Dulan-Wilson Blog/ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS: GUEST POST: FROM THE DESK OF BROOKLYN BORO PRESIDENT ERIC ADAMS

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

Volume VII | July • 23 • 2020

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Friends,

While New York City has entered Phase IV re-opening, COVID-19 is still among us. We have come a long way in fighting this virus and it is because of our determination, common purpose, and love for our city.

My office will continue to update you on new developments and resources on Thursdays as the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our communities and economy. Please continue to wear face masks when in public if social distancing is not possible. If you do not have access to a mask, watch and share our video on how to make one yourself.

-Eric

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS IN THE NEWS

Eyewitness News - ABC 7 - Black Lives Matter vandalism: 'It's heartbreaking': 6 incidents of BLM murals vandalized in NYC
CBS Evening News - Chicago police chief pleads for an end to violence following shooting outside funeral
WCBS 880 - Brooklyn President Adams Wants NYPD To Confirm There's No 'Slowdown' By Officials
Kings County Politics - Brooklyn Lawmakers on the Move July 21, 2020
ABC 7 - Up Close: Criminal injustice during BLM movement, mail-in ballots

COVID-19 RELATED WORKSHOPS

Wellness Wednesdays

Join the Office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for an online web series to address health care questions. Click the image above to RSVP.

UPDATES AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION

As of 1:00 PM on Thursday, July 23rd, there are 219,489 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City and 61,009 confirmed cases in Brooklyn. As of 1:00 PM on Thursday, July 23rd, there were 18,839 confirmed deaths citywide, with an additional 4,624 probable deaths, including 5,599 confirmed deaths, and 1,623 additional probable deaths in Brooklyn.

EDUCATION

Brooklyn Museum's "Youth Tours: Art at Two" offers virtual programming for children ages five through 10. Click here for more information .
NYC H2O has an online portal for all ages to explore and learn about New York City's Water System.
Digital Girl, Inc. has an online learning portal with summer offerings. Click here to register.
"Let's Learn NYC!", the new educational public television program produced by the WNET Group in partnership with the New York City Department of Education (DOE), features lessons for children in 3K through second grade that will supplement remote learning. More information can be found here.
Women.NYC, which is powered by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), released a downloadable guide for free and low-cost tech courses in New York City.
Generation Citizen has provided free online resources to stay educated during the pandemic.

HEALTH

Free tele-support group services are available with Lighthouse Guild Family Service Network. For young adults with vision loss, click here. For adults with vision loss, click here. For all questions, call (212) 769-7833.
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have resumed limited visitations this week, on the basis that they have not had a case of COVID-19 for at least 28 days.
Free antibody testing is now available at NYC Health + Hospitals Gotham Community Health Centers across the city. Testing is available by appointment until tomorrow, Friday, July 24th and is free for all city residents over the age of 18. Testing is available from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM in Brooklyn at PS 12 Dr. Jacqueline Peek-Davis School, located at 430 Howard Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233. To schedule an appointment call 1(888) 279-0967 or visit the website here.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has partnered with select CVS and Walgreens pharmacies to make FREE naloxone kits available to any individual who requests one. Click here for a list of participating pharmacies across the five boroughs.
COVID-19 testing has been made available to all New Yorkers. COVID-19 testing sites are available in your area with new ones being added on an ongoing basis. To find the one nearest you, visit the state website [New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website], the City's website [New York City's COVID-19 Information Portal], or type "COVID testing near me" in Google Maps.
Crisis Text Line has support resources and counselors available for free 24/7 for frontline and essential workers. Text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to be connected, or visit www.crisistextline.org.
Mayor de Blasio announced an emergency financial relief program for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to provide funding for immediate safety, economic, and housing needs currently exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Helpful resources that are currently available include the agency website, the "NYC HOPE" resource directory, and the Resources for Survivors During COVID-19 page.
If you need mental health support, the New York Emotional Support Hotline is (844) 863-9314.
The New York Peace Institute has online resources to mitigate stress with tools such as meditation.
New York Road Runners has an online portal to keep you "Active at Home ." They also have an online resource, NYRR Striders at Home, which offers exercises and activities for our senior community.
Use telemedicine services BEFORE going to the doctor's office, urgent care, or the ER. Thanks to our advocacy and Governor Cuomo's leadership, co-pays for telemedicine consultations have been eliminated due to COVID-19. Call (800) 633-4227 or your doctor for more information if you are on Medicaid. Whether you utilize Medicaid, private insurance, or are a self-payer, options are offered across many specialty areas. Urgent care telemedicine is available with New York-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, or NYU Langone. Mental health telemedicine is available with Columbia Doctors. Diabetes telemedicine help is available with NYC Health + Hospitals. If you know other services, email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.
The City has created a new, online portal that will allow New Yorkers to self-report COVID-19 data, helping the City to communicate with affected members of the public and assist in the identification of areas that may require an enhanced response. By going online or calling 311, New Yorkers can quickly input information about themselves and legal guardians can add information for children or adults in their care. New Yorkers can update their status at any time through the portal or by calling 311. The portal is available in 11 languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. It is not intended as a mechanism for providing medical advice or treatment and should not be relied upon as a method to obtain medical care or emergency service. Personal information will be stored securely and only accessible to City employees protecting public health. It will not be accessible by ICE or used for law enforcement or any other purpose.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Distribution sites for small businesses looking to obtain face coverings, are open. Visit nyc.gov/business for more information across the boroughs.
Thew New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has published plain language industry guides as a tool for small businesses to adhere to the latest mandatory guidance and to share best practices. Visit nyc.gov/business for more information on the guides.
The Public Service Commission approved an increased bill-credit program for low-income Con Edison customers to ensure that they can access air conditioning during the hot summer months.
Unemployed New Yorkers can access support at the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)'s new website, NYSBA.org/legalhelp, which was set up to provide resources for filing an unemployment claim. If needed, NYSBA will match people with a pro bono attorney.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has launched the Bring Back Brooklyn Fund to support small businesses that have been shut out of other COVID-19-related loan programs, with 65 percent earmarked for minority and/or women-owned business enterprises (MWBE). The Bring Back Brooklyn Fund will offer no-interest recovery loans between $500 and $30,000. You can contribute to the effort here.
The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) launched the NY COVID-19 Legal Resource Hotline to help New York City residents impacted by COVID-19 get answers to their legal questions on issues including unemployment benefits, employee rights, housing, public benefits, consumer debt, advance planning, stimulus payments, and special education issues. Call (929) 356-9582 Monday-Friday 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM to leave a message with your name and contact information or visit nylag.org/hotline for more information.
Tax Day has been pushed back to Wednesday, July 15th. The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is now providing virtual and assisted self-prep free tax prep services. New Yorkers who earned $64,000 or less in 2019 are eligible for Virtual Free Tax Preparation with a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) certified preparer. New Yorkers who earned $69,000 or less in 2019 are eligible for free Assisted Self-Preparation; filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection. Services are currently offered in English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Arabic, with others to come.
DCWP's Office of Financial Empowerment has transitioned all financial counseling and coaching programs to offer services remotely. Book an appointment here.

FOOD PANTRY/FOOD ASSISTANCE

Governor Cuomo announced that all restaurants and bars statewide will be subject to new requirements that they must only serve alcohol to people who are ordering and eating food and that all service at bar tops must only be for seated patrons who are socially distanced by six feet or separated by physical barriers. Under current law, only establishments that serve food are permitted to serve alcoholic beverages.
Indoor dining is suspended until further notice.
Mayor de Blasio combined the Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs. Locations can be found here.
All students who would have received a free or reduced-price meal at school are now eligible for additional food assistance through Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT). This includes undocumented students, students whose private schools participate in the National School Lunch Program, and students in districts that implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). New York City families will receive an additional $5.70 for every day school has been closed to purchase foods available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
School sites are open for grab-and-go meals this week, from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, outside of main entrances of every school building. The program is now open to anyone who wants food, no questions asked. Go to schools.nyc.gov, or text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877-877 for lists of where meals are being served.
New Yorkers can use their SNAP benefits to order online.
The City has streamlined the home delivery of meals to seniors and is working to support our food pantries, which are critical partners in these efforts. In the interim, you can find a list of key resources at nyc.gov/GetFood or by calling 311 and saying "Get Food."
Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has partnered with Share Meals, Hunger Free America, BetaNYC, and Plentiful to compile a listing and guide on food resources available to New Yorkers.

GENERAL

City employees can partake in virtual events online with Work Well NYC. Click here for their July/August calendar.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that large events requiring a City events permit will be canceled through Wednesday, September 30th. The City will not issue a permit for any event in a location that interferes with the Open Streets or Open Restaurants program.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) zoos and aquarium announced plans to reopen Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Zoo and New York Aquarium tomorrow, Friday, July 24th — along with the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo.
The New York City Parks Department (NYC Parks) will welcome swimmers at 15 of its 53 pools across the five boroughs beginning tomorrow, including Sunset Park Sunset Park's Sunset Pool and Bedford-Stuyvesant's Kosciusko Pool. Brownsville's Betsy Head pool will open on August 1st.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will only offer services in person by reservation for limited transactions that cannot be done online or by mail or drop box. You can make reservations at dmv.ny.gov/reservation.
New York City COVID-19 Response Maps are available online.
You can do your part to secure respect, money, and resources by filling out the 2020 Census. Please fill out the Census online and #MakeBrooklynCount.
Visit MutualAid.NYC for information on groups and individuals working on mutual aid in their communities, as well as if you need help or can help.
The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare announced the launch of the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline. Pet Hotline operators can be reached directly at (877) 204-8821, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.
Free and low-cost childcare options during the COVID-19 crisis are available through Workers Need Childcare, for parents and caregivers in New York City's essential workforce.
Worried about having to self-isolate in a dangerous home situation? Co-quarantined with an abuser? Please reach out and contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1 (800) 799-7233, TTY 1 (800) 787-3224, or chat online at thehotline.org.
For veterans and their families, the NYC Veterans Alliance has a list of resources on their website.
The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public library reopened 22 branches with Grab-and-Go services on Monday, July 13th.
If you see price gouging, report it to 1 (800) 697-1220, fill out the complaint form on the New York State Attorney General's website, or email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.

HOUSING

A statewide eviction moratorium is currently in effect, including residential and commercial properties as well as foreclosures, according to the Office of Court Administration. The eviction moratorium has been extended to Thursday, August 20th, and Governor Cuomo has also announced the State is banning late payments or fees for missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium, as well as allowing renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 to use their security deposit as payment and repay their security deposit over time.
Utilities have been ordered to not shut off service for gas, water, or electricity. Internet services will not be cut off during this time.
For New Yorkers requiring quarantine or isolation, NYC Health + Hospitals is offering free hotel rooms for up to 14 days if there is a need for a place to isolate. Call (844) NYC-4NYC (844-692-4692) and press "0".
NYCHA's journal has information about how they are responding to COVID-19. Information is available here about hardship reductions for NYCHA residents struggling to pay rent.
As per Mayor de Blasio, all tax lien sales will be postponed until September. Property owners who are facing hardships making their property tax payments can take advantage of several existing New York City Department of Finance (DOF) programs. These include exemption programs to lower the amount of taxes owed, standard payment plans, or a new Property Tax and Interest Deferral (PT AID) program, for those who qualify. DOF also provides a monthly property tax billing service to facilitate budgeting for property owners billed on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. More information on those programs can be found on the agency’s website.
National Grid customers should be aware of a phone scam demanding immediate bill payment and threatening service disconnection. Learn ways to protect yourself and your family here.

TRANSPORTATION

The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the installation of barriers across 4,800 local buses and 1,000 express buses to further enhance bus operator safety. Installation of a full-length vinyl curtain on express buses will start this week and is expected to be completed by mid-August.
Mayor de Blasio announced that the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)'s Staten Island Ferry will return to 30-minute service frequency during the morning (5:00 AM to 9:00 AM) and evening (3:30 PM to 7:30 PM) rush hours.
The Driver Resource Center launched by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) offers a wide range of services to all TLC-licensed drivers and medallion owner-drivers.
There is currently no subway service from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM to allow for cleaning and disinfecting of trains and stations. The "MTA Overnight" page provides details on the service changes.