Dear Neighbors,

As we prepare for a second winter storm in as many weeks, I would like to wish you and your families well. Please stay warm and stay safe.

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
_________________________________________________________________________

Council Member Vallone Calls for Indoor Dining Expansion

Photo Credit: Dean Moses

This week, Council Member Vallone allong with 17 of his colleagues signed onto a letter urging the Governor to expand indoor dining capacity as the city is beset by frequent snowfall and outdoor dining is becoming less feisable. The letter, written by Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, reads as follows:

"The fact of the matter is 25% capacity for indoor dining is simply not enough for restaurants to survive and we are facing a different reality than we were in September when outdoor dining was thriving. As we send this letter today, temperatures in the city are falling below freezing levels
with severe winter weather forecasted over the next several days. How can the restaurants in our district survive on outdoor dining alone during these treacherous winter conditions? Aside from the declining winter weather, many of the restaurants in our districts throughout the five boroughs have reported an approximate 60-80 percent decline in outdoor dining over the past few weeks."

Council Member Vallone will continue to fight for ways for small businesses in our community to do business and survive during this pandemic.

_________________________________________________________________________

ICYMI: Senior Medical Transport Program Returns to District 19

Photo taken in 2019

Council Member Paul A. Vallone is proud to announce that the Free Senior Transportation Program is back up and running as of last week thanks to a $90,000 funding allocation. An additional $50,000 was allocated in partnership with Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Member Robert Holden, bringing the total allotment to $140,000. Queens seniors living in Council Member Vallone’s district are eligible for the program, as well as seniors in Council Member Holden’s section of Queens. Rides are offered to areas within the five boroughs and western Nassau County. The program will continue until all funding runs out.

In order to schedule a ride to an essential medical or vaccination appointment, eligible Queens seniors should call the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center at 718-224-7888 between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon and leave their name and phone number in a voicemail to schedule their next-day rides. The Selfhelp team will return their call and arrange the ride. If their appointment is on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday, seniors will need to call the prior Friday. All those who use the service will need to complete a basic application with demographic information and an emergency contact and provide their destination.