[[link removed]]Dear John,



I hope everyone enjoyed the disturbingly gorgeous weekend and spontaneous collective celebration. After everything New Yorkers have been through these last months (and last four years) we sure needed it.

Even as many of us are breathing a collective sigh of relief, we know that the next few months are going to be some of the hardest. The second wave of coronavirus infections is here, and we cannot let our guard down. Nearly all of our metrics to assess the spread of the virus have ticked up over worrying thresholds. The 7-day rolling average test positivity rate is over 2.26% citywide, and far higher in some hotspot neighborhoods. The average number of new cases is 779 today, and has been over the 550 average case threshold several times in the last few weeks. The city has restarted posting the 7-day positivity average by zip code [[link removed]] today, and in our district both Kensington/Windsor Terrace and Borough Park have high rates (2.05% and 3.34% respectively).

This is a test that we cannot afford to fail. None of us have forgotten those months last spring with sirens wailing constantly and refrigerated morgues outside hospitals in our neighborhoods. So many of us have lost someone special, or been sick ourselves. We know how dangerous the virus is, and how diligent we must be to protect our communities from it.

It is not easy. We are all weary of restrictions, lonely without our communities and normal activities, deeply anxious about jobs, businesses, and paying the rent. The weather is getting colder, it is harder to stay outdoors. The holidays are coming, and the loss of time with family and friends feels makes pandemic isolation even more painful.

With the coming leadership change at the federal level, we can look hopefully towards a far more effective and coordinated nationwide response to the virus. President-elect Biden has already announced a taskforce [[link removed]] on implementing his coronavirus plan, and plans to create a position to oversee and coordinate supply chains across states. A report today shows that vaccine development is promising [[link removed]] , and a better coordinated federal plan to get it to every community is something to be hopeful about.

Together with stronger action at the federal level to distribute PPE, scale up testing, and distribute a vaccine when it comes, and each of us doing our part to wear masks, keep distancing, and getting tested, we will get through this.

In the meantime, we do each have to do our part. Many of us have gotten too comfortable over the last few months, it's time to be vigilant again. I’ve said already that indoor dining is unwise, and I think it probably makes sense to avoid indoor gyms too. We are nearing the threshold of a 7-day average positivity rate of 3% when the Mayor has committed to close the schools, which would be a shame for the many students and families who are getting a lot out of being in person with their teachers and friends at school.

And it is important to keep in mind those who will be affected most by new tightened restrictions. For many seniors in our communities who have enjoyed being outside in parks during the warmer months, this winter may bring back the deep isolation of the spring. We are still welcoming volunteers to join the Neighbor Network [[link removed]] to call older adults to offer virtual companionship and connect people to needed services as increased isolation sets in.

There is no such thing as zero risk, but we all make choices every single day about what amount of risk is worth it to us. To make those choices wisely, we have to be clear-eyed about the calculation and value our collective well-being.

Brad

In this email:
Updates and Resources
Upcoming Events

Updates and Resources

*
Latest
Virus
Data:
In
NYC,
there
were
1393
new
cases
identified
yesterday.
We
have
lost
24,074
people
in
NYC
from
the
virus,
including
sadly
14
in
the
last
few
days,
and
275,944
total
cases
have
been
identified
in
the
city
since
the
start
of
the
pandemic.
The
citywide
7-day
rolling
average
of
positive
test
rates
is
2.26%.


*
Get
Tested:
Testing
is
widely
available
(and
free)
to
all
New
Yorkers.
You
can
make
an
appointment
to
get
a
rapid
test
[[link removed]]
(results
back
in
24
hours)
or
walk
in
to
a
testing
site
[[link removed]]
around
the
city.


*
Schools
Opt-In
Deadline
11/15:
Families
have
until
November
15
to
opt-in
to
in
person/blended
learning.
Fill
out
the
survey
here
[[link removed]]
if
you
want
to
change
your
learning
mode.
The
Mayor
and
Chancellor
have
said
this
is
the
only
opt-in
period
for
now
for
the
rest
of
this
school
year,
but
as
with
everything
else,
that
may
change.


*
Some
Red
Zone
Schools
Reopening:
Schools
that
were
recently
shifted
from
red
to
yellow
zones
will
be
allowed
to
reopen
beginning
this
Thursday,
including
P.S.
179
and
131
in
our
district.


*
New
Travel
Quarantine
Rules:
The
Governor’s
new
rules
[[link removed]]
require
travelers
to
quarantine
for
three
days
and
test
negative
on
the
fourth
in
order
to
leave
quarantine.
If
you
travel
to
a
neighboring
state
for
less
than
24
hours,
the
3-day
quarantine
is
not
required,
but
you
should
get
tested
on
the
fourth
day
back.


*
Call
Older
Neighbors:
As
the
cold
and
rising
virus
rates
send
more
of
us
inside,
many
older
New
Yorkers
once
again
are
isolated
and
in
need
of
both
companionship
and
services.
The
Neighbor
Network
will
connect
you
with
older
New
Yorkers
for
a
friendly
phone
visit
and
help
develop
long
term
relationships
to
add
joy
and
friendship
in
this
isolating
time.
Learn
more
and
sign
up
to
volunteer
here
[[link removed]]
.


*
Repurposing
Reusable
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


*
Carroll
Gardens:
71
3rd
Pl,
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





Upcoming Events

Tuesday, November 10 at 6:30 PM: Department of Education Spanish-Language Office Hours. Learn more and get call-in information here [[link removed]] .

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

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