Dear John,

I hadn’t seen my mom and dad (who live in St. Louis) since the pandemic began. We were supposed to be there for Passover, as we always are, but of course we had to cancel that trip. So my daughter Rosa and I drove out there to spend Rosh Hashanah together. We got rapid COVID-19 tests at the NYC Health + Hospitals clinic on Flatbush Avenue (you can make an appointment, or visit their wider network of walk-in clinics), and then headed out there on Thursday.

It was wonderful to see my parents. I’m happy to report that at age 77, they are doing well. They both teach mindfulness meditation, my mom to elementary school students (after a long career as a guidance counselor) and my dad to law students and social justice activists. They remain ridiculously doting and protective parents and grandparents. And of course the matzoh ball soup and gefilte fish -- and the challah that Rosa has become an expert baker of during the pandemic -- all taste better at their table. Even learning about the tragic and frightening loss of Ruth Bader Ginsberg just as we started Erev Rosh Hashanah Zoom services was a little easier with them around.

We drove to and from Missouri through Indiana and Kentucky -- states with higher COVID-19 rates -- so I’m in quarantine this week and next, following the New York State health guidance. (I’m already missing my morning runs in Prospect Park, but it was worth it to see them). It wasn’t surprising to me to see those states on the list, since there was noticeably less mask-wearing and social distancing. It made me appreciate the work we’ve done together -- through immense suffering and lost lives -- to build a culture, not enough, but largely, of respect for each other’s lives.

So when President Trump had the outrageous, cynical gall to declare NYC an “anarchist jurisdiction,” my first thought was: if you had any concern whatsoever for the health and safety of your people during a pandemic, you’d be focused on jurisdictions’ COVID-19 rates, and building the systems of support and solidarity that save lives. That’s a different world than the one we’re living in -- but the moral and political requirements remain very clear.

On coming back, though, I was distressed to learn about COVID-19 upticks in six neighborhoods across Brooklyn and Queens (Borough Park, Midwood, Flatbush, Williamsburg, Kew Gardens and Far Rockaway). We must not lose our vigilance, as fall arrives. We need to recommit to the practices we’ve adopted over the past few months, especially avoiding mask-less, indoor activities with groups of people, as much as we crave them.

On my way to get the rental car last Thursday, I took the subway into Manhattan -- and was pleased to encounter Jessie M, a New York City Transit employee (she’s a videographer) who has volunteered to cheerfully distribute masks and hand sanitizer on the subways. The spirit she brought to this work is 100% what we need right now -- though it still makes me angry that we haven’t chosen to hire up a diverse public health corps of people to do this most important work (as we called for back in the spring).

It’s still necessary: the policies of social support -- from a public health corps, to the expansion of child care, to rent-relief for businesses and tenants who are at risk of eviction, to support for excluded workers -- are the ones that would truly keep us all safe.

Our toxic politics, and the failures of leadership that we are seeing from the federal, state and city governments, make it oh-so-hard to get there. But it doesn’t take a drive halfway across the country to see. You can find it on a subway ride, or even just a walk down one of our forlorn commercial shopping strips, or in our extra-used parks. I’ll be missing those walks the next two weeks, but am really grateful for the visit with my folks, and for the clarity, as difficult as it is, about the way forward to keep each other safe.

Brad

In this email:
Updates and Resources
Upcoming Events

Updates and Resources

Latest Virus Data: Nationwide, this week we surpassed 200,000 recorded deaths from the virus, which has torn apart so many families. In NYC, there were 348 new cases identified yesterday. We have lost 23,780 people in NYC from the virus, and 245,495 total cases have been identified in the city. Currently, the 7-day rolling average percent of tests that came back positive citywide remains low, 1% as of yesterday, although there were upticks in 6 Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods.
Get Ready to Vote: Yesterday was National Voter Registration Day, if you haven't registered yet, you have until October 9. Visit voting.nyc for guidance on how to register. If you think you are registered, check your registration to make sure nothing has changed. Absentee ballots are starting to be mailed, you can request yours here.
Sign up to be a poll worker: The New York City Board of Elections is actively seeking poll workers for the upcoming election. You can earn up to $2,800 by working up to ten days during early voting and on Election Day, and a new state order ensures that working as a poll worker will not affect your unemployment benefits. To apply to be a poll worker, visit here.
Last Push for the Census: We have just 8 days left to make sure all New Yorkers are counted in the Census. If you have not yet, please complete the Census at my2020census.gov and tell your friends and family. New York stands to lose thousands of dollars and possibly congressional seats from a severe undercount.
Unemployment Benefits: The $300 a week in additional federal funding is supposed to start going to people receiving unemployment this week. Retroactive payments of $300 for the weeks ending August 2, August 9, and August 16 will be available to all UI recipients and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) recipients. The Department of Labor says that many recipients will need to submit additional certification, so keep an eye out for communications and follow instructions to get the benefits.
Commercial Evictions: The state order for a moratorium on commercial evictions was set to expire earlier this week but has been extending until October 20.
Get a Flu Shot: Getting the seasonal flu shot this year is more important than ever to protect each other. Flu shots are available at most drug stores or Health and Hospitals sites, more info here.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, September 24 at 2 PM: Justice in Action conversation series event on the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness in NYC. Register here.

Join me and JCC Social Justice Activist in Residence Ruth Messinger for a conversation with Eric Rosenbaum, president and CEO of Project Renewal, an organization working to end the cycle of homelessness.

Thursday, September 24, from 6 to 8 PM: Phonebank for the Census with NYC Census. Register here.

We have just 8 days left to complete the Census. NYC Census is calling neighborhoods in Brooklyn with low response rates on Thursday, sign up to join them to encourage fellow New Yorkers to fill out the Census.

Saturday & Sunday, September 26 & 27, from 10 to 4 PM: West Brooklyn Waterfront Mutual Aid Bake Sale Fundraiser at Books Are Magic (225 Smith Street).

All proceeds will go to the West Brooklyn Waterfront Mutual Aid’s work, straight back to the community in the form of grocery deliveries, produce deliveries and PPE/cleaning supplies.