— IN THE PAST WEEK —

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.

To all those who are celebrating, Eid Mubarak! Wishing you peace, blessings and prosperity!

Have a wonderful week!

Thank you and stay well,

Council Member Paul Vallone
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Another Successful Drive-In Movie Night

at Bay Terrace!

It was a hot summer night for a drive-in screening of Frozen 2 at Bay Terrace on Wednesday! Great to see our Northeast Queens families out for a night of socially distanced fun. Thanks again to community partners Cord Meyer Development and Queens Chamber of Commerce.

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Children's Storytime with Queens Public Library!

I had a great morning reading the myth of Persephone, Greek goddess of harvest and vegetation, as part of Queens Library's Children's Storytime series on Thursday! Thanks for inviting me on to share a wonderful virtual half hour with our Queens families!

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Bills Passed at City Council Stated Meeting

This past Tuesday, the New York City Council met for a Stated Meeting, where I introduced a Resolution calling on Albany to change the renewal period from one year to two for the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE). In these difficult economic times, we must do our part to make sure families can make ends meet and stay safely in their homes.

I was also proud to co-sponsor legislation that was passed, including a bill requiring the Department of Cultural Affairs to publish information on COVID-19 reopening plans and resources for art and cultural institutions in New York City, and a bill requiring annual reporting of heat vulnerability and heat-related deaths in our City.

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Douglaston Plaza Selected to Expand Outdoor Dining!

On Friday, the Mayor announced that Douglaston Plaza was selected as one of 15 more citywide locations to have expanded weekend outdoor dining options, under an initiative that combines the popular Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs.

The expansion of the Open Restaurants program to include Douglaston Plaza in Northeast Queens is a great victory for our small businesses and our community! I thank the Douglaston LDC and Rebecca Gellos, Chris Campese, Victor Dadras and Ravi Thakur, who have been working hard to coordinate with my office and the Mayor's team to expand this successful program to Douglaston.

Let’s all celebrate by grabbing some coffee and enjoying dinner this week at our wonderful Douglaston Plaza!

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Parks Movie Nights Cancelled

Please note: Unfortunately the Parks Department will not be permitting events for the month of August. This means the following movie nights are sadly cancelled:

August 7th @ Crocheron Park - Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker
August 21st @ Bayside Fields - Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Open Seats on Queens Community Education Councils

Interested in being a voice for our NYC Schools?

The Queens Borough President's office is looking to fill six vacant positions on our Queens Community Education Councils (CECs). If interested, please fill out and submit the following app by August 7!

Application

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Animal Rescue in Need of Newspapers!

NOTE: The NY Animal Rescue is in URGENT need of clean newspaper to line their cages with! If you can help, please contact Sean Casey Animal Rescue, 153 E 3 Street BK, at (718) 436-5163.

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ICYMI: "Vallone secures $20 million in funding improvements for northeast Queens"

"During one of the most challenging city budget negotiations in memory due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Councilman Paul Vallone secured $20 million for improvements throughout his district in northeast Queens.

Vallone secured nearly $5 million for upgrades at local schools and more than $10 million for improvements to parks.

In his seven years of fiscal budgets, Vallone has now secured more than $120 million in funding for northeast Queens. Every school within his district will receive a minimum of $50,000 to fund important technology upgrades and $5 million and $3.4 million was allocated to complete waterfront, esplanade and seawall repairs at MacNeil Park in College Point and pathway renovations at Joe Michael’s Mile (North) in Bayside, respectively.

Scope meetings for these long-awaited projects will be held with the Parks Department and local community leaders later this year.

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

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

“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,” Vallone said. “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.”

Powells Cove Park was completed in 1999 but it suffered from inadequate maintenance even as usage increases dramatically each year.

“The people of College Point deserve better and we are grateful to Council member Vallone for securing these funds,” Coastal Preservation Network President Kathryn Cervino said. “We look forward to partnering on plans to improve flood-prone and worn out trails, thin the hazardous overgrowth, beautify entranceways and add trash cans to ease the rampant littering. This park is truly a gem in the rough.”

Queens Courier

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Bayside’s Bell Boulevard Expands Outdoor Dining!

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 6 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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Working Through the

Coronavirus Outbreak Together

PHASE 4 REOPENING

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The fourth phase of reopening includes schools, low-risk arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses, sports without fans and media production. Re-opening for indoor restaurant dining, indoor malls, gyms, malls, movie theaters and museums 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 4 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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New Guidance for COVID-19 Testing

Testing is widely available, and you can now get tested even if you are asymptomatic. Testing is free, quick, and easy, and you do not need insurance.

Find a full list of local testing sites here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you

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Food Pantry Assistance

Our local food pantries in College Point, Flushing and Whitestone are offering assistance to hundreds of families and need our help. Please donate if you are able and spread the word! Thank you CEC D25!

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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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Meal Delivery for Those in Need

NYC is assisting New Yorkers by delivering meals to those who cannot access food themselves: http://NYC.gov/GetFood or call 311.

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Grab and Go Meals for ALL

Starting Friday, April 3, 2020, three free meals are available daily for ALL New Yorkers in more than 400 Meal Hubs across the 5 boroughs.

Locations in Northeast Queens include Bayside High School, MS 158, PS 169 Bay Terrace and PS 107 Flushing.

To find a location near you visit http://schools.nyc.gov/freemeals
or text "NYC FOOD" to 877-877.

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— MORE NEWS —

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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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Complete the 2020 Census!

It's quick and easy. The 2020 Census questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to complete.
It's safe, secure, and confidential. Your information and privacy are protected.
Your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services.
Results from the 2020 Census will be used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and your political representation at all levels of government.

Visit My2020Census.gov to complete the census online today

— IMPORTANT RESOURCES —