Dear Neighbors,

I hope everyone continues to stay healthy and safe during these difficult times. Please find below the latest news and resources to stay informed.

This week, I want to provide a recap of the last few weeks and include my testimony from this week's FY21 Budget negotiations and City Council Stated Meeting.

This past week reflected a very painful deficit from a continuing pandemic and financial collapse, as well as a worldwide call for overdue social justice that overtook this city as well as our nation. Every NYC agency was forced to make significant cuts to their previous annual budgets. Advocates from every side swarmed City Hall with demands, including the dismantling and defunding of our entire police force. However, leadership demands fairness for all, especially the voices of those who fight to be heard. As someone who fully understands this grounding principle and the need for public safety, this budget did not come easy. I fought, as I always have, for every officer that goes to work not knowing if they will return to their family and still wears their uniform proudly, keeping us safe, even during the hardest of times. In the end, the call to dismantle our police force, led by certain other Members, did not occur. I fought to make sure that every employed officer still has their job, we will see a graduating Academy class later this year, and our city will rise to the edict that policy change must happen now.

The emotional anguish felt by all after the murder of George Floyd fundamentally changed how we look at policing. Many of us had to look deep within ourselves to admit progress must be made and the time was undeniably now. The last two Stated Meetings of the City Council addressed needed and historic policy changes regarding policing in our city. Debates were held and we heard from New Yorkers, protesters, and advocates from all sides. Compromises led to historic policy changes, including banning chokeholds, increasing officer accountability, and further transparency, transforming how we police in New York City. As I learned from my father, the greatest of all Council Members, there is a time to listen and to always, always do the right thing. As I stated at previous hearings, leadership by its very nature means leading all. Tough decisions were made. These conversations were heartfelt, shaped by our individual experiences and allowed each of us to listen and learn, something that is missing in today's politics. For that, I am forever grateful to my fellow Council Members, who shared their personal and emotional stories for all to listen and learn.

My statement from this week’s vote on the budget can be viewed here and by playing from the 2:36:00 mark.

In the coming weeks, I will share the tremendous victories we secured for Northeast Queens in this year's budget. Long time wishes and projects, forgotten and discarded, will now be completed and fulfilled. Of the proposed capital projects from our Participatory Budgeting process, which was unfortunately cut short and cancelled due to the pandemic, we still managed to fund a record 11 projects! These include funds to create a new dream playground for PS 184, restore the ecology at Powells Cove Park, develop a reading garden at Auburndale Library, add NYPD security cameras to our busiest intersections, and more. We also secured funding for two major Parks projects in Bayside and College Point - details to come! These record financial victories for our communities are promises kept and legacies that will carry into future generations.

Finally, I want to wish every one of us a blessed, safe, and happy 4th of July!

Thank you and stay well,

Council Member Paul Vallone
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Happy Independence Day!

While it was with a heavy heart I announced that our Sixth Annual Independence Day Fireworks Show and Celebration at Fort Totten on June 25 was cancelled, I look forward to bringing the community together in celebration with a bigger and better celebration in 2021! In the meantime, please enjoy the below scenes from last year's festivities!

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Bayside’s Bell Boulevard Expands Outdoor Dining Starting This Weekend!

Photo by Dean Moses/QNS

I am happy to announce in partnership with the Bayside Village BID that Bell Boulevard has been selected as one of the first business corridors to participate in the new citywide “Open Streets: Restaurants” program, which combines the Open Streets and Open Restaurants initiatives. The new program allows expanded seating options for restaurants on select corridors throughout the five boroughs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays by collaborating with a local partner (in this case the Bayside BID) to facilitate street closures.

The Bayside Village BID will be managing two connected streets in Bayside as part of the program: Bell Boulevard, between 39th and 41st Avenues; and 41st Ave, between Bell Boulevard and 214th Place. These streets will be fully closed for restaurant use on Friday evenings, 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 10 pm. on Sundays.

Bell Boulevard will kick off the program this Saturday, July 4th, and expanded seating will last until Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7). An emergency clear lane will be maintained down the middle of the street to make sure that these streets remain safe and passable for emergency vehicles.

"I'm thrilled to share the news that Bayside's Bell Boulevard was selected to participate in the Open Streets: Restaurants initiative, which gives restaurant owners the power to expand their operations on the weekends and offer more diners food service in the open air, giving New Yorkers a safe way to enjoy a meal out while supporting their favorite local eateries," said Council Member Paul Vallone, who also chairs the Committee on Economic Development. "I thank the Bayside BID for their partnership and welcome this economic boon for our local restaurants, whose success will be a critical part of a strong economic recovery for New York City!"

Read Coverage:

Queens Courier

Patch

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Northeast Queens councilman urges water board to halt interest and late fees during COVID-19 recovery

"Councilman Paul Vallone introduced a resolution during Tuesday’s Stated Meeting of the City Council calling on the New York City Water Board to not impose penalties or interest on water and sewer bills in an effort to give families needed relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, water customers are billed for both the water they use and the sewage they generate, and the annual rate for late payment charges is 7 percent.

According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), many residential customers are deferring bill payments because of the economic hardship during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and since March 16, water and sewage bill payments are 12 percent lower than during the same time period in the last fiscal year.

...

“While New York State on PAUSE was established to save the lives of many New Yorkers, it has also created financial hardship for many families across the five boroughs,” Vallone said. “Forgiving penalties at a time when New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet is a simple way to provide much-needed financial relief during these challenging times.”

Read More at the Queens Courier

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Working Through the

Coronavirus Outbreak Together

PHASE 3 REOPENING

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The third phase of reopening includes non-hair-related personal care services, including: tattoo and piercing facilities, appearance enhancement practitioners, massage therapy, spas, cosmetology, nail specialty, UV and non-UV tanning, or waxing. Indoor restaurant dining will be delayed. All businesses that are reopening are doing so with social distancing and hygiene guidelines.

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Open Restaurants Program

The City has announced guidance for the Open Restaurants program, which allows qualifying restaurants and bars to expand outdoor seating on sidewalks, curb lanes, backyards, patios, plazas, and Open Streets as New York City begins Phase 2 of reopening.

The Open Restaurants initiative will give restaurant owners the power to expand and offer food service in the open air, keeping diners safe and offering New Yorkers a way to enjoy a meal while supporting their local small business, whose success will be a critical part of a strong economic recovery.

Read more and apply here!

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Free Face Coverings for Small Businesses

and their Employees

The City of New York will distribute 2 million face coverings citywide to small businesses and their employees as we move toward reopening the local economy. To get these resources to you and your employees, the NYC Department of Small Business Services and NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection are working with business-serving partner organizations throughout the five boroughs.

If you are a small business looking to secure free face coverings for your employees, visit this City website to find a distribution partner located near you. You should contact partner organizations in advance, most organizations have varying hours for pick up.

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Petition: Restore Public Waterfront

Access to Tallman Island

"For many years, residents of College Point and beyond had public access to parkland adjacent to the west side of the Tallman Island Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in College Point (127-01 Powell's Cove Blvd.), and to an adjoining waterfront path that wrapped around the treatment plant and out to a pier ... About 15 years ago, all public access to the park and pier was closed off due to new construction projects at the facility.

This spring, the DEP announced a new project to upgrade the bulkhead, pathway, lighting, and bulkhead at the 30-acre facility. No public access to the park or path is included in this new plan. ... We will soon make a site visit with DEP and officials, and we ask that you sign on to this petition to let our officials know how strongly you feel that public access should be restored. All of us deserve to again enjoy the park and the waterfront path, and the ability to walk on at least part of the pier."

See more information at the petition below.

Sign the Petition!

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College Point Residents Organize Fundraiser to Deliver Meals

As our City continues to battle the effects of COVID-19, Northeast Queens residents continue to organize and offer a helping hand. College Point residents Jennifer Shannon, Cathy Shannon, James & Kathryn Cervino, and Margaret Loughlin have launched a fundraiser to help take care of College Point essential workers who are on the frontlines of the Covid-19 crisis, as well as struggling residents who are in need of food.

Organizers write: "We are raising funds to provide lunch as a thank you to the staff of Waterview Nursing Home, Woodcrest Nursing Home and Cliffside Nursing Home (where 16 residents have died from Covid-19). Funds will also purchase food for College Point's only active food pantry, which is serving many more individuals as a result of Covid-19."

I was proud to contribute to this local effort. Please offer a helping hand if you are able!

Find more information on GoFundMe

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Please note the following City and State guidelines and determinations:

For the duration of the outbreak, the following precautions are strongly encouraged to keep you and your family healthy:

Wash your hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds every time, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Do not touch your face unless you recently washed your hands.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing. Do not use your hands.
When in public, practice social distancing of at least six feet from others.
If you are an older adult or have a chronic health conditions, avoid unnecessary gatherings.
Most importantly, #StaySafeStayHome!

We will continue to share the latest updates and resources with the community as they are reported to help ensure everyone stays informed. Follow our Facebook and Twitter for the latest.

Please sign up to get email updates from New York State on the evolving COVID-19 situation at https://now.ny.gov/page/s/coronavirus-updates.

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Northeast Queens Strong!

Our healthcare workers and first responders are working tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and Northeast Queens continues to find new and creative ways to rise and support our essential workers on the front lines fighting this pandemic every day.

Through their Food for the Fearless initiative, Mark Boccia and the team at Bayside's Bourbon Street Queens and OSP have raised nearly $80,000 and counting to provide hundreds of meals to healthcare workers at our New York hospitals and the many first responders stationed at our local precincts, firehouses, and Fort Totten.

Click here to learn more about this fundraiser

A local group has organized to help assemble over 2,800 critical face shields for healthcare workers at Elmhurst Hospital, Forest Hills Hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital, Brandywine Nursing Home in Little Neck, and several others. Organizer Dr. Emily Watkins writes: "Our volunteers continue to work tirelessly to build face shields. We are grateful to have some new volunteers joining our ranks this week. The situation seems to be improving in some places and some of the hospitals we’ve supplied now have enough face shields for all their staff."

Click here to learn more about Project Face Shield

A group of neighbors have created the "Meals for Visiting Healthcare Workers in Queens" initiative to provide meals to the many nurses, doctors, and paramedics from across the country staying at the Adria Hotel and Conference Center and Best Western on Northern Boulevard. Organizer Amy Herzog writes: "After 12 hour shifts on the front lines, these medical workers are exhausted and hungry. Please help us raise money to coordinate hot meals and other needed supplies."

Click here to learn more about this initiative

The "Help Our Healthcare Heroes" initiative has delivered meals to hundreds of medical staff throughout Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island. Organizer Karra Puccia writes: "Every dollar counts and we want to support these heroes when they leave their families to care for ours. Please share so we can continue helping them."

Click here to learn more

14-year-old Bay Terrace resident Jeremy Golub is leading an effort to deliver meals to Flushing Hospital Medical Center EMS. Well done!

THANK YOU to these local organizers and to our first responders, our healthcare workers, and all those on the front lines every day working hard to get our city through this pandemic. We will weather these uncertain times and come through stronger, together!

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New York State Issues Guidance on

COVID-19 Paid Leave Law

On March 18, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed into law Senate Bill S8091 to provide paid sick leave and job protection for workers during the COVID-19 crisis (“COVID-19 Leave”).

This leave is provided in the event that a worker, or their minor children, are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the State of New York, the Department of Health, local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19.

Find a comprehensive list of eligibility requirements and benefits here:

https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/new-york-paid-family-leave-covid-19-faqs

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