— IN THE PAST WEEK —

Dear Neighbors,

I hope everyone continues to stay healthy and safe during these difficult times.

As we continue our work to stop the spread of COVID-19, please remember: by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, looking after our seniors and most vulnerable neighbors, and getting tested, we can continue to stay well.

Please find below the latest news and resources to stay informed.

Thank you and stay well,

Council Member Paul Vallone
_________________________________________________________________________

Election 2020: Vote!

Early voting hours have now concluded.

You can vote in person between 6AM and 9PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd. Find your voting site for Election Day voting here.

If you voted absentee, you can track your absentee ballot here.

_________________________________________________________________________

"NYC Council to weigh in on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict"

"The U.S. should help bring about a peaceful end to the deadly conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a Queens lawmaker said Thursday.

“Once again, Armenia, the homeland of my wife and family, finds itself under attack and fighting for their survival,” Councilman Paul Vallone said during a full Council meeting. “It’s my hope that an immediate, peaceful resolution can be reached to the heartbreaking violence, destruction and loss of life currently impacting the region of Artsakh.”

He was referencing heavy fighting that broke out last month between Armenian and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, which has claimed numerous lives."

Read Coverage at the Daily News and my full statement here

_________________________________________________________________________

Vallone Proposes Street Co-Naming in Honor of Late Whitestone Monsignor

Council Member Paul A. Vallone has submitted legislation to co-name the intersection of Clintonville Street and Locke Avenue in Whitestone, Queens as, “Msgr. John C Tosi Way.” Community Board 7 voted on and approved the co-naming at their Monday meeting and the bill is currently being reviewed by the Speaker’s office.

Monsignor John C. Tosi was a priest for over 45 years and a monsignor for 23 years in the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens. Sadly, Monsignor Tosi passed on May 23rd, 2020, after suffering from a coronary condition for the past several years. He was 73 years old.

“Monsignor Tosi was a man of deep faith and firm commitment to bettering each and every community he served throughout his lifetime,” said Council Member Paul Vallone. “His loss is felt profoundly throughout the Whitestone community and I’m proud to propose this street co-naming in his honor.”

“We have proposed and requested the street co-naming to honor Msgr. John C Tosi for all his dedication, not only to our Council, but to the elderly, the veterans and the children of St. Luke school in Whitestone,” said Enrico Urgo, Grand Knight of the Msgr. Francis Dillon Council #5872. “We felt, what better way to memorialize him than to have the street co-named in front of the very own rectory/church where he served for 15 years and touched the lives of many parishioners as well as community members. So now this is an opportunity to say thank you, not only from myself, but also from all the brother knights of the Msgr. Francis Dillon Council #5872 and all those in the St. Luke community.”

Read Coverage at:

Queens Chronicle

Queens Courier

_________________________________________________________________________

Supporting the RESTAURANTS Act

Our restaurants, cafes and eateries are the lifeblood of New York City and they need help from the federal government now. I thank Congresswoman Grace Meng for her leadership on the critical RESTAURANTS Act and the Queens Chamber of Commerce for their advocacy and support.
Pass the RESTAURANTS Act now!

_________________________________________________________________________

PPE Donation to St. Mary's Hospital

Proud on Monday to join Minsun Kim, Rep. Tom Suozzi, Assemblyman Ed Braunstein and Richard Lee in dropping off critical PPE to our friends at St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children in Bayside. Thanks to Minsun Kim & the Museum of Korean American Heritage for facilitating this important donation!

_________________________________________________________________________

Stopping the Spread of COVID-19

NEW: NYC is one of the first local jurisdictions in the country to put out COVID19 testing frequency recommendations. Find out how often you should be getting tested: https://on.nyc.gov/316jRUC

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

_________________________________________________________________________

Working Through the

Coronavirus Outbreak Together

PHASE 4 REOPENING

------------------

Indoor dining in NYC resumed at 25% capacity on Sept. 30. Reopening indoor dining in New York City with safety precautions is the right call and a major step that will boost the local economy and help our restaurant owners and the thousands of New Yorkers they employ get back on their feet while keeping diners safe.

Given the fact that surrounding counties are already offering indoor dining at up to 50% capacity, I urge the Governor to raise the threshold for our Queens and NYC restaurants as soon as it's safely possible.

_________________________________________________________________________

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.

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!

_________________________________________________________________________

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.

_________________________________________________________________________

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!

_________________________________________________________________________

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 stepped up and launched a fundraiser to help College Point residents who are in need of food.

Organizers write: "We have been going strong throughout the summer, helping to keep the food pantry alive at First Reformed Church in CP. Thanks to generous donations from the community, businesses, and city partners, we have been helping the community throughout these difficult Covid times...Our focus has now fully shifted from thanking workers, which was a wonderful initiative, to supporting the food pantry."

I was proud to contribute to this local effort. Please offer a helping hand if you are able!

Find more information on GoFundMe

_________________________________________________________________________

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.