[[link removed]]Dear John,


New York has long had some of the most restrictive voting laws and lowest turnout in the country. In 2016, New York ranked as the state with the eighth worst voter turnout rate. But after 2018, when we elected a new slate of state legislators to Albany, that started to change.

We passed laws allowing for early voting, consolidated primary dates, modernized electronic poll-books, and a slew of other reforms. And made progress towards constitutional amendments to allow for mail in voting, automatic voter registration, and same day voter registration.

Now, despite the many anxieties that we all share about voting during a pandemic, the current conditions are actually forcing New York to catch up with other states on making voting easier and more accessible to all New Yorkers. Last week, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to allow anyone to request an absentee ballot due to vote by mail due to concerns about the coronavirus, and today signed executive orders aimed at easing the counting process.

Voters can start requesting absentee mail-in ballots right away online here [[link removed]] today or by calling 1-866-VOTE-NYC. Ballots will begin to be mailed out after September 18. Voters should check the box for “temporary illness,” which has been expanded to cover COVID-19 concerns, when completing the absentee ballot request.

Due to the historic voting reforms we passed last year New Yorkers will also have 10 full days to vote early in person this fall, starting on October 24. I voted early in June, and was pleased to find short lines and lots of hand sanitizer. For those who are comfortable going in person, voting early is a safe option that will reduce the strain on the postal service and on the Board of Elections ballot counters.

One more critical way to contribute to making voting easier and more accessible this fall is by signing up to be a poll worker. NYC is experiencing a shortage of poll workers due to COVID-19, as more than half of poll workers are older and more vulnerable to the virus. If you are able to take the time during the early voting week or on election day, sign up here [[link removed]] to become a paid poll worker.

Protecting our democracy this fall is going to take all of us. Thanks for everything you are doing.

Brad

Updates and Resources

*
Latest
Virus
Data:
There
were
279
new
cases
identified
yesterday,
and
12
more
New
Yorkers
died
from
the
virus.
We
have
lost
23,658
people
in
NYC
from
the
virus,
and
232,120
total
cases
have
been
identified
in
the
city.
Currently,
the
7-day
rolling
average
percent
of
tests
that
came
back
positive
citywide
remains
low,
0.8%
as
of
yesterday,
although
we
know
that
the
infection
rate
varies
widely
across
neighborhoods.


*
Outdoor
Learning
Plan:
Today,
the
Mayor
announced
that
schools
will
be
able
to
request
street
closures
and
park
permits
to
take
students
outside
for
lunch,
recreation
and
instruction,
heeding
our
calls
to
make
this
option
available
for
schools.
Principals
will
need
to
submit
requests
by
this
Friday
8/28
to
get
an
answer
by
next
Friday
9/4
but
will
be
able
to
request
space
on
a
rolling
basis.
Schools
in
neighborhoods
hardest
hit
by
COVID-19
and
without
existing
outdoor
space
will
be
prioritized.
I’m
glad
to
see
the
Department
of
Education
adopt
our
idea
to
strongly
encourage
PTAs
who
purchase
tents
or
gear
for
their
own
schools
to
contribute
an
equal
amount
for
schools
that
don’t
have
those
resources,
though
of
course,
for
our
schools
to
really
be
equitable,
far
more
resources
are
needed.


*
DOE
Childcare
Survey:
The
DOE
is
working
to
provide
the
child
care
they
promised
for
100,000
families
on
the
days
their
children
will
not
be
in
school.
There’s
a
survey
available
now
to
express
interest
in
the
program.
The
form
asks
if
you
are
a
teacher,
essential
worker
or
low-income
family,
who
are
likely
to
be
prioritized
in
the
program
as
it
scales
up.
Fill
out
the
survey
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Fill
out
the
Census:
Brooklyn
is
still
only
at
53%
response
rate,
and
we
have
just
a
few
weeks
left
to
catch
up.
Fill
out
your
Census
at
my2020census.gov
[[link removed]]
if
you
haven’t
already
and
remind
your
friends
and
neighbors.
We’ve
heard
reports
that
Census
enumerators
have
had
trouble
getting
access
to
buildings,
if
you
see
or
hear
of
that
happening
let
us
know
and
please,
let
them
in!
Making
sure
all
New
Yorkers
are
counted
is
critical
to
our
city’s
future
and
constitutionally
mandated!


*
Pandemic
EBT
Reminder:
All
New
York
public
school
families
should
receive
pandemic
EBT
to
replace
the
school
lunches
and
breakfasts
that
students
are
not
receiving
at
school.
If
you
already
have
EBT,
the
balance
should
show
up
in
your
account.
If
you
don’t,
a
card
will
be
mailed
to
you.
If
you
have
not
received
your
benefits,
call
the
Pandemic-EBT
helpline
at
1-833-452-0096.
If
you
want
to
share
your
pandemic
EBT
with
others,
read
our
guide
for
how
to
do
so
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Commercial
Evictions:
An
order
signed
by
the
Governor
halted
commercial
evictions
until
at
least
September
20.


*
Unemployment
Update:
New
York
is
applying
for
[[link removed]]
the
federal
unemployment
funds
proposed
by
President
Trump’s
executive
order,
now
that
the
requirement
for
the
states
to
pony
up
25%
of
the
money
has
been
dropped.
The
funds
should
enable
the
state
to
begin
distributing
an
extra
$300
per
week
to
people
receiving
unemployment.


*
Youth
Sports:
The
Parks
Department
has
said
they
will
not
issue
permits
for
organized
youth
sports
this
fall,
even
though
ball
fields
are
open
to
the
public.
I
joined
Congressman
Max
Rose,
State
Senator
Andrew
Gounardes,
and
Councilmember
Justin
Brannan
today
calling
on
the
City
to
change
coure
and
make
it
possible
for
kids
to
play
safely
this
fall.
Join
the
call
for
permits
for
organized
sports
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Masks
and
Hand
Sanitizer
Available:
Our
office
still
has
a
supply
of
masks
and
hand
sanitizer
for
businesses
and
nonprofits
who
need
them.
Email
[email protected]
[[email protected]]
and
we
can
arrange
a
pick
up
or
drop
off.


*
Repurposing
bags:
We
are
still
collecting
Fresh
Direct
and
other
reusable
bags
for
use
by
emergency
food
providers.
You
can
drop
bags
off
at
the
following
sites
and
times.

*
Park
Slope:
256
13th
St,
M-F,
9
AM
to
6
PM


*
Cobble
Hill:
359
Henry
St,
Mon-Wed,
9
AM
to
6
PM


*
Kensington:
3
Avenue
C,
Saturdays
at
4
PM




*
Homeowner
Assistance:
Neighbors
Helping
Neighbors
is
hosting
a
townhall
for
homeowners
who
are
feeling
mortgage
stress/difficulty
due
to
COVID-19.
FAC//NHN’s
Director
of
Homeownership
and
Foreclosure
Counseling
will
discuss
and
provide
resources
relating
to
mortgage
forbearance
programs,
mortgage
refinancing,
financial
assistance
programs
and
legal
resources
to
prevent
foreclosures.
Thursday,
August
27
6:30-8:30
PM.
Sign
up
here
[[link removed]]
.

456 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-499-1090
[email protected]

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