"Vallone Secures Funding for Cleaner Streets in Northeast Queens"

In response to substantial cuts to the Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) operating budget in this year's challenging citywide budget, Council Member Paul A. Vallone has secured and designated $71,000 through the New York City Council’s Clean Up NYC Initiative to fund additional garbage pickups in both QE7 and 11, which cover neighborhoods in Northeast Queens including Auburndale, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck and Whitestone.

With this allocation, QE7 will see an additional trash bin pickup service on Sundays, while QE11 will see pickups on one additional weekday, for 30 weeks. These increased services began on Sunday, August 23, and are in addition to each garage’s regularly scheduled pickups, which were scaled back due to agency-wide cuts.

Facing the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and a $9 billion budget shortfall, every city agency was forced to implement cuts this past June. As a result, the Department of Sanitation was forced to eliminate $106 million from their operating budget and subsequently reduce their level of services. Vallone secured this funding allocation to offset the funding gap in Northeast Queens and ensure cleaner streets in our neighborhoods.

“As we continue to face the ongoing impact of COVID-19, public health remains top priority, and this allocation will serve to keep our streets clean and our neighborhoods safe,” said Council Member Paul Vallone. “Increased trash bin pickups, particularly around our busy commercial corridors, will help ensure safety and sustained quality of life for all those living, commuting, and doing business in Northeast Queens.”

"CB 11 is being hit hard by budget cuts across our agencies and all City Services as a result of the tax revenue lost during the pandemic,” said Joseph Marziliano, District Manager of Community Board 11. “We are so thankful to see Councilman Vallone taking the initiative to step in and keep up the quality of life and sanitation we have come to enjoy in Northeast Queens."

Read Coverage:

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NYC Parks Will Resume Permitting for Outdoor Youth Sports

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday announced that NYC Parks can resume permitting its athletic fields across the city for outdoor youth sports. Supportive of children’s physical and mental health, lower and moderate-risk youth play on permitted fields will resume Tuesday, September 15.

City athletic fields have been opened for first come, first served, socially distanced play throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Now, youth sports leagues will be issued permits for organized outdoor play. Permitted sports will include baseball, softball and soccer. Indoor sports, including swimming, will not be permitted. Leagues must enforce social distancing regulations.

"After months of staying indoors and collectively limiting outdoor activity to successfully help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our City, it is welcome news that outdoor youth sports will return to our NYC Parks athletic fields this September," said Council Member Paul Vallone. "Smart, socially distanced outdoor play will support the health and well-being of our children while bringing an important sense of normalcy and community to our neighborhoods and families this fall."

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Governor Cuomo Signs Legislations Allowing All New Yokers to Vote By Mail this Fall

The Board of Elections has provided a fully online application as well as email, paper mail, fax, and phone options. The information and links to access them can be found below:

Online Application

PDF/Paper Applications can be found here in 5 languages

Email Application to [email protected]

Fax application to 212-487-5349

Mail Application to your local borough office

Call 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692)

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Back to School Resources for DOE Families

Health & Safety: http://on.nyc.gov/33tskDl

Choosing Remote Instruction for Fall: http://on.nyc.gov/2XwapYT

Teaching & Learning: http://on.nyc.gov/2XuRw8x

School Schedules: http://on.nyc.gov/3kiIeqi

Key messages: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/news/chancellor-s-message-for-families

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ICYMI: "NYC Ferry to Extend Astoria Route to Serve East 90th Street in Upper Manhattan"

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced the extension of NYC Ferry’s Astoria route to serve the East 90th Street landing in Upper Manhattan.

The new connection, which will officially launch Saturday, August 22nd, comes at no additional operating or capital expense and will not change travel time to or from existing landings on the Astoria Route. After launching, the newly extended Astoria Route will now terminate at East 90th Street and Pier 11.

“Our city’s waterways are a unique resource that provide opportunities to expand the transportation options available to New Yorkers,” said Council Member Paul A. Vallone, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development. “I applaud this additional connection within NYC Ferry and look forward to further expansions into the northern Queens waterfront."

Read More at NYCEDC

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Free COVID-19 Testing

Make sure you get a FREE COVID-19 test before you spend time with vulnerable New Yorkers.

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.

⦿ Text 'COVID TEST' to 855-48 to find the closest testing location or visit nyc.gov/COVIDtest

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Douglaston Plaza Selected to Expand Outdoor Dining!

Earlier this month, 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 at our wonderful Douglaston Plaza!

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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 into the fall. 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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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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