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.

First, I want to share important new guidance from the Department of Finance. Late payment interest rates have been adjusted for homeowners impacted by COVID-19. The New York City Council recently passed legislation that reduces the late payment interest rate for property taxes due on July 1, 2020, for eligible property owners who have been impacted by COVID-19. The legislation reduces late payment interest from 3.25% to 0% from July 1 through September 30, 2020, for property owners who are billed quarterly and own property with an assessed value of $250,000 or less. Find out more by visiting the NYC DOF website.

I am excited to 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! See below for more details on these record financial victories for our community!

Have a wonderful week!

Thank you and stay well,

Council Member Paul Vallone
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$20 Million in Funding Improvements

Coming to Northeast Queens!

Previous Ribbon Cutting at MacNeil Park

On June 30, the New York City Council passed the City budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and I'm proud to announce that, in one of the most challenging budget years in recent memory due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, I was able to fight for and secure $20 million for improvements throughout Northeast Queens: nearly $5 million for upgrades at local schools and over $10 million for improvements to parks in the Council District. In seven years of fiscal budgets, I'm proud to have secured well over $120 million in funding for Northeast Queens!

Proud to announce that every school within the district will receive a minimum of $50,000 to fund important technology upgrades. In addition, $5 million and $3.4 million allocation will complete waterfront, esplanade and seawall repairs at MacNeil Park and pathway renovations at Joe Michael’s Mile (North), respectively. Scope meetings for these long awaited projects will be held with the Parks Department and local community leaders later this year!

A Portion of the Joe Michael's Mile Pathway

I am thrilled to share the news that these two Parks projects, long awaited and wished for, will soon see completion! These record financial victories for our Northeast Queens community are promises kept and will have positive impacts that will carry into future generations. I thank Speaker Corey Johnson for his partnership in seeing these capital improvements become a reality.

Earlier Phase Esplanade Restoration at MacNeil Park

A total of $1.6 million in funding was also allocated in partnership with City Council Speaker Corey Johnson for ecological restorations at College Point’s Powells Cove. This is one of 11 projects on this year’s Participatory Budgeting ballot that the Council Member fought to fund in this year’s budget, despite the citywide cancellation of this year’s voting cycle due to COVID-19.

Additional participatory budgeting projects funded in this year’s budget include a $674,00 classroom renovation at JHS 194, accomplished in partnership with Borough President Sharon Lee, and a $500,000 year-round Reading Garden at Auburndale Library in partnership with Speaker Johnson.

“The updates to the two rooms in our school is an exciting thing for our school, as it will provide additional updated classroom space for our students,” said Jennifer Miller, Principal of JHS 194. “Thank you to everyone who helped to develop and support this project, including Mr. Koe, our SLT and PTA, and Council Member Vallone.”

“Council Member Vallone’s $500,000 investment in the reading garden at our Auburndale branch demonstrates his commitment to reinforcing this library’s role as a vibrant neighborhood resource,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “We are deeply grateful for his support of our mission to transform lives and build strong communities through advancing lifelong learning opportunities.”

Supporting the safety and well being of our Northeast Queens families, principals, teachers, and students will always be a top priority, and this year’s budget once again reflects just that, with millions in funding secured to make improvements to our schools, parks, and libraries that will be enjoyed for years to come. I was also happy to honor the hard, grassroots work of our Participatory Budgeting delegates by securing funding for 11 total projects proposed and submitted directly by the Northeast Queens community.

Queens Courier

Queens Post

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Bayside’s Bell Boulevard Expands Outdoor Dining!

Happy on Thursday to join Community Board 11's Joe Marziliano, Victor Dadras and Jack Fried, Senator Liu, Assemblyman Braunstein, and Bayside business owners and reps from Papazzio and Bourbon Street on Bell Boulevard to talk about the summertime Open Streets: Restaurants initiative! Thanks to Christine Silletti and the Bayside BID & the 111th Precinct's Community Affairs Unit for their partnership!

Bell Boulevard was selected as one of the first business corridors in the city to participate in the new “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 weekends by collaborating with a local partner (in this case the Bayside BID) to facilitate street closures.

Bell Boulevard, between 39th and 41st Avenues will be fully closed for restaurant use 5:30 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 10 pm. on Sundays.

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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ICYMI: 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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