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** Dear Neighbors,
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I hope you and your families are well and staying home, if possible. During this incredibly difficult time for our city, I want to wish all who will be celebrating tonight and later this week -- a Happy Pesach and Easter.

We are keeping all who are suffering from COVID-19, and all who are working on the front-lines, in our thoughts.

COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY

As always, just a reminder to check our website ([link removed]) regularly. We update it on a daily basis with information about public benefits, non-profit resources, and health facts Upper West Siders need to get through the next few weeks.

Recent updates of note include:

1.) The NYC Dept of Health recommends that all New Yorkers wear a face covering when outside of their home to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

2.) The NYS Dept of Labor (DOL) is working to address ongoing crashes of the State Unemployment Insurance program as quickly as possible. DOL has partnered with Google to develop a new web interface which will allow many more New Yorkers to apply for benefits on-line, and the website is supposed to be ready by the end of this week. At the same time, DOL has hired hundreds of new staff to field calls.

Remember -- your unemployment benefits will extend back to the first day you became unemployed, not the day you were successfully able to apply. Those not traditionally eligible for unemployment insurance --such as self-employed and gig workers-- may now qualify for the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Learn more here about NYS unemployment benefits and how to apply ([link removed]) .

3.) NYC schools are serving 3 free meals per day to all New Yorkers at 400+ Meal Hubs. Open Monday–Friday, 7:30am – 11:30am for families and children; and 11:39am – 1:30pm for adults. No registration, ID, documentation required. All 3 meals can be picked up at the same time, & caregivers can pick up meals for their children. Click here for locations ([link removed]) .

Upper West Side “Meal Hub” locations:
* High School for Law, Advocacy & Community Justice, 122 Amsterdam Ave (65th-66th);
* J.H.S. 54 Booker T. Washington, 103 W. 107th St;
* P.S. 9 Sarah Anderson, 100 W. 84th St; and
* P.S. 163 Alfred E. Smith, 163 W. 97th St.

4.) For seniors who would like to connect with others -- Caring Calls will match you with vetted adult volunteers for weekly phone calls. To register, call DOROT at 212-769-2850 or email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . Learn more here ([link removed]) .

5.) All child care centers – with the exception of emergency child services operated or authorized by the NYC Dept of Education – have been closed. Programs may reopen when NYC public schools reopen, unless the Health Commissioner authorizes an earlier reopening date. Failure to comply with this order may result in civil penalties or other enforcement.

6.) Eligible senior citizens and people with disabilities can enroll in the NYC Dept of Finance’s rent freeze (SCRIE/DRIE) and homeowner tax exemption programs (SCHE/DHE/VHE/CHE). Hotline: 929-252-7242 (Tuesday – Saturday, 10:30am-6:30pm). Click here to learn more ([link removed]) .

For information about how these programs have been affected by COVID-19, click here ([link removed]) . Additional tips:
* SCRIE and DRIE applications can be mailed to the address on the application, or can be submitted on-line. Learn more here ([link removed]) .
* Eligible homeowners can apply on-line for a property tax exemption ([link removed]) .

7.) NYCHA residents may qualify for a rent reduction if the following conditions are met: gross (pre-tax) household income has dropped by 5 percent or more for at least two months; and current rent is more than 30 percent of net household income. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

Learn more here ([link removed]) about how NYCHA is responding to COVID-19.

8.) The New York Women's Chamber of Commerce is assisting small businesses who are applying for Federal stimulus loan/grant programs ([link removed]) and other COVID-19 emergency relief. Please contact the Chamber at (212) 491-9640 or email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

9.) Spring break in the NYC public schools (April 9th-17th) is cancelled and remote learning will continue during this period. Educators and students who wish to observe April 9th and 10th for religious reasons may do so but these days will not be considered “days off."

10.) Governor Cuomo has announced an agreement with New York's largest student loan servicers to provide relief for borrowers experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. The student loan relief plan includes: 90 days of deferred monthly payments; waived late fees; no negative reporting to credit agencies; and more. Click here to learn more ([link removed]) .

11.) ASPCA is giving out free food and supplies to pet owners, available by appointment only. Pet owners should call the ASPCA Pet Food Distribution Helpline at (800) 738-9437 for more information and to request an appointment. Dog and cat supplies only. Distribution is subject to eligibility and availability. Valid photo I.D. is required. Read the City's COVID-19 FAQs for pet owners ([link removed]) .

12.) There are many ways to donate or volunteer to support NYC's fight against COVID-19. Click here to learn more ([link removed]) !

We are so proud of our long-time intern and friend, Zach Dupiton, who is helping to supply meals to health care workers in our area and appeared in a recent ABC news story ([link removed]) . Zach's employer ([link removed]) and many other NYC restaurants ([link removed]) are mobilizing to feed our heroic healthcare workers.

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Other items of interest to our community:
* PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COUNTED. Households across the country have received mailed invitations, asking them to complete the 2020 U.S. Census. Every household has the option of responding online, by phone, or by mail. Your response is essential. Learn more here. ([link removed])
* The New York State Democratic primary has been postponed to June 23rd. Learn about absentee voting here ([link removed]) .
* Alternate Side Parking regulations are suspended citywide until April 14th.

As always, please stay home to every extent possible for the safety of everyone. You can review NYC Dept of Health guidelines here ([link removed]) .


Please stay well and share some kindness with yourself and the people around you.

Warmly,
P.S. Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, or have them subscribe to my e-blasts here ([link removed]) . Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter ([link removed]) , Facebook ([link removed]) , and/or Instagram ([link removed]) .

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