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** Dear Neighbors,
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We are at a crossroads as a city: police brutality protests continue to be met with more brutality; the COVID19 pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future; and we are confronting a formidable budget and economic crisis. As a member of the Budget Negotiation Team, I believe that the city budget is a moral document which reflects our fundamental priorities. The Black Lives Matter movement has shown very clearly that we need to take a hard look at ourselves as a city and re-think our priorities.

We need a paradigm shift. It is long overdue that we ask ourselves, “What does safety actually mean? And what is needed to have safe neighborhoods?” Part of this is recognizing that many functions currently handled by the NYPD are better suited for City agencies. For example, rather than having NYPD school safety officers, a more meaningful support to students may be youth counselors and mental health professionals under the purview of the Departments of Education, Youth & Community Development, and Health.

In addition to supporting legislation ([link removed]) (including banning police use of the chokehold, codifying the right to video record police encounters, and establishing a public record of police misconduct), I am committed to defunding at least 1 billion dollars from the NYPD budget, and reallocating those funds in support of community needs and social services.

I overwhelmingly support Speaker Johnson and the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus' commitment to cut $1 billion from the NYPD budget ([link removed]) in fiscal year 2021. The stakes are too high, we need to reimagine these systems now. I will be bringing that spirit to the budget negotiation table.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH HELEN ROSENTHAL & SPEAKER COREY JOHNSON
Please join City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and me for an Upper West Side Community Conversation next Wednesday, June 17th at 7pm. We will discuss a wide range of COVID-19 related topics.

Please click here to register and submit your questions ([link removed]) . All questions must be submitted in advance. We will email log-in information to everyone who has registered on Wednesday afternoon. Click here ([link removed]) to download the flyer below.
TESTING & TRACING FOR ALL NEW YORKERS
Just a reminder that COVID-19 testing is now available for all New Yorkers. To find a testing site near you, type your address here ([link removed]) , or call 311.

The City has also launched a Test & Trace Corps, which will enable it to separate and care for those who test positive for the virus, and then rapidly track, assess, and quarantine anyone they came into contact with who may be infected.

Contact mapping, case monitoring and outreach to contacts have all begun. New Yorkers with positive results are now receiving calls. Anyone safely separated at home will be offered meal delivery, medication and essential services through a Resource Navigator. Anyone unable to safely separate at home will be offered a free hotel room.

ELECTION DAY: JUNE 23RD
Registered voters can request an absentee ballot for the June 23rd elections until Tuesday, June 16th.
* Request an absentee ballot here ([link removed]) .
* Look up your electoral district and other necessary information here ([link removed]) .
* FAQs about the June 23rd election and how to vote here ([link removed]) .
* Voters with questions can also call 866-VOTENYC.

Important tips for returning your ballot:
* Please fill out your absentee ballot using blue or black ink;
* Mail in your completed ballot by June 22nd to your county Board of Elections using the postage-paid envelope you received with the ballot; and
* Sign the back of the CLOSED envelope as instructed --- across the flap.

BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED
The cancellation of blood drives during the pandemic has significantly impacted supply levels. Please consider donating blood. New Yorkers can make an appointment by visiting nybc.org ([link removed]) or calling 800-933-2566.

RESOURCES FOR UPPER WEST SIDERS

My office is working with seniors, the disabled, the recently un (or under) employed, the food insecure, people with housing issues, and all those suffering the many consequences of this pandemic, to help in any way we can.

Please call (212) 873-0282, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible; email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) ; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com ([link removed]) . 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 this crisis.

Also, please visit the City's COVID-19 information portal:
nyc.gov/coronavirus ([link removed]) .

COOLING ASSISTANCE
* New York City's Human Resources Administration is providing a “Cooling Assistance” benefit, which helps eligible households buy and install an air conditioner or fan up to a cost of $800. Learn more and apply here ([link removed]) .
* NYCHA seniors & other vulnerable residents can receive a free AC unit and have it installed. Eligibility: NYCHA residents age 60+, and/or with a mobility impairment, and/or that are on life sustaining equipment, and do not have an air conditioner. Eligible NYCHA residents are receiving robocalls. Anyone who missed the robocalls please call (718) 707-7771.

FOOD BENEFIT FOR ALL NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
All NYC public school students, ages 3-21, regardless of income or immigration status will receive a special pandemic food benefit ($420). Payment will be issued automatically. No application or documentation required, and this does not affect eligibility for other benefits or public charge status. Parochial and charter school students are eligible if their school participates in the federal school lunch program. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE?
The Medicare Rights Center offers monthly virtual Medicare Minute short presentations on topics of interest for Medicare recipients and their caregivers. This Thursday, June 18th at 3:30 the topic is: What you need to know if you are a new to Medicare. Click here for more information and to register ([link removed]) .

RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
* NYC Business Restart Hotline: 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692) for any small business who needs help or is seeking guidance on Phase 1 of the reopening.
* Small business and non-profit employer guides available here ([link removed]) .
* Additional resources & guidance from NYC Small Business Services: nyc.gov/covid19biz ([link removed]) + Reopening Guide ([link removed]) + informational palm card ([link removed]) .
* The City is providing 2 million face coverings for small businesses and their employees. Find a distribution site here ([link removed]) .
* The Federal government is relaxing certain requirements related to the Paycheck Protection Program (including how much of the loan must be used for payroll costs). Learn more here ([link removed]) .
* The NY Forward Loan Fund is assisting businesses and organizations who have upfront safety expenses under the New York Forward Re-open Plan (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines). Available for businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, nonprofits, and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

HOTLINE FOR WORKING NEW YORKERS
Workers who call 311 will be connected to the NYC Dept of Consumer & Worker Protection for immediate assistance. Information on worker rights and guidance is also available online: nyc.gov/coronavirus ([link removed]) .

ON-LINE SERIES: COVID-19
The American Museum of Natural History is hosting a two-part online discussion series to explore the basic biology and social context of COVID-19, and what these mean for how we anticipate and mitigate the spread of the virus. Part 1 is this Wednesday, June 17th at noon.

The online discussion will be moderated by The New York Times science writer Apoorva Mandavilli, and will include AMNH curator and evolutionary biologist Nancy Simmons, public health and policy expert Joshua Sharfstein, and social epidemiologist Lisa Cooper.

To submit questions in advance of the program, email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
The web link to watch the series will be posted shortly on AMNH's Facebook page ([link removed]) .

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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