Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your family enjoyed a joyous holiday season! First and foremost, I hope you are safe and well. With the arrival of a vaccine and an end to the pandemic in sight, it is my hope that, in this new year, we continue to stand together as neighbors as we look out for each other and pray for healing and peace.

As always, I thank you for the privilege of being your Council Member. Please have a healthy, happy and safe 2021!

Thank you and stay well,

Council Member Paul Vallone
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Statement on Incoming Douglaston Shelter

On December 23rd, our joint offices received notification by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) that a homeless shelter would be established and opened at 243-02 Northern Blvd. in late 2021. After voicing our collective concerns with DHS, on Tuesday we received confirmation of a revised plan for the location: a 75-bed, senior women’s-only shelter.

While we believe this is a better outcome for the community at large, we are still disappointed to see DHS adopt policies where key decisions are made without ever engaging local stakeholders and community members. In the coming months, an open dialogue and our continued coordination will ensure that DHS listens and properly responds to any and all of the community's needs and concerns during all stages of the process.

As additional information is shared with us, we will share it with the community.

Signed,

Senator John Liu

Assemblyman Edward Braunstein

Council Member Paul A. Vallone

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Op-Ed: PCCC leads national effort to include co-ops in the PPP Program

BY GEOFFREY MAZEL, ESQ.

"On Dec. 27, 2020, President Donald Trump finally signed a coronavirus stimulus relief bill. This bill includes relief for a wide range of Americans, including $600 direct relief checks for qualified people; relief for the airline industry and restaurant industry; extension of supplemental unemployment benefits; and may other provisions. The legislation is over 5,000 pages in length.

Tucked away in this legislation is much-needed relief for cooperative housing corporations. This legislation specifically makes co-ops eligible for forgivable loans under the Payment Protection Program. The inclusion of co-ops in this legislation was the result of a long, hard battle, led by a Queens-based organization, the President’s Co-op & Condo Council (“PCCC”). The PCCC is a residential cooperative advocacy organization. While they have vast experience on local issues with the New York City Council and New York State Legislature, they had to reach out to a national network of organizations to push for this legislation.

...

However, on April 2, 2020, the tens of thousands of co-op residents in our area and the 1.5 million co-op residents in this country were devastated to learn that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an Interim Final Rule stating that the Payroll Protection Program excluded “passive entities,” which would include residential cooperative corporations. This ruling unfairly carved residential co-ops out of this critical relief program. The PCCC took immediate action to right this tremendous injustice.

At that time, the PCCC spearheaded a national coalition of co-op advocates, including elected officials and sister co-op organizations. The feedback was immediate and effective. On April 22, 2020, Northeast Queens Councilman Paul Vallone introduced a resolution calling on Congress and President Trump to expand the CARES Act and Payroll Protection Program to include considerations for residential cooperatives and condominiums, allowing them to access critical PPP loans processed by the U.S. Small Business Administration." Read the full op-ed at QNS

This is a resounding win for our many Queens co-ops and condos! Proud to advocate alongside Congressman Tom Suozzi and Congresswoman Grace Meng and to work with the President’s Co-op & Condo Council to see this relief finally become reality!

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ICYMI: Queens Nurse is First American to Receive COVID Vaccine!

"A nurse in Queens became the first person in the nation Monday morning to receive the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine, in an extraordinary moment of hope after a devastating year.

After more than nine months of battling the coronavirus and tirelessly working to save lives, high-risk physicians and nurses directly treating patients infected with the virus will be the first outside of clinical trials to get the Pfizer vaccine, which arrived in the state this morning.

Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Glen Oaks, rolled up her sleeve and received the shot on live television.

'It didn’t feel any different from taking any other vaccine,' Lindsay said."

Read the full article at NY1

Once again, Queens is leading the way! A truly historic moment for our city and nation.

While the end of the pandemic may finally be in sight, it is still important in the coming weeks we continue to:

1- Wear a mask
2- Practice social distancing
3 -Get tested for COVID19!

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Grab and Go Meals for ALL

Even when school buildings are closed, free meals are still available at NYC Schools Meal Hubs!

To find a location near you visit http://schools.nyc.gov/freemeals
or text "NYC FOOD" to 877-877.

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Stopping the Spread of COVID-19

Getting tested for COVID-19 or antibodies? Here is the difference between the two tests:

Virus tests tell you if you have COVID-19 and are currently sick.
Antibody tests tell you if you had COVID-19 at some point in the past.

Learn more about testing here

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

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New: Open Storefronts

The Open Storefronts program has been extended through 9/30/2021!

A strong economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic means continuous creativity with our open spaces and giving our business owners every resource they need to survive and thrive. The Open Storefronts program will accomplish just that and give New Yorkers a unique way to shop local and shop safe throughout this holiday season.

Learn more and check your eligibility here!

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Working Through the

Coronavirus Outbreak Together

PHASE 4 REOPENING

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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.

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 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

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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.