Dear John
The Participatory Budgeting Expo is tonight at 7:30 p.m. It’s a great chance to learn about the projects on the ballot this year before you vote, from the budget delegates who did the hard work. Register here!. Meanwhile, PB voting is underway all week. You can vote here.
Hi, my name’s Rosa. Some of you might know me as Brad’s daughter. But the most important fact about me right now is that I’m getting vaccinated today!
I followed TurboVax religiously (thank you TurboVax!!) and made an appointment myself as soon as I possibly could, and got my vaccination today! Have you made your appointment yet? If not, do it! And if yes, let’s help some others. In celebration, my dad & I are signing up to do outreach with Neighbor Network to help seniors in harder-hit neighborhoods make appointments.
I’m not gonna lie. This year has been rough. 10 out of 10 would not recommend. Trying to do our senior year of high school mostly online, applying to college, missing my friends, loving so many people who have lost so much. Teens are experiencing big upticks in anxiety and depression. Emergency room visits for mental health have gone way up.
But I also know I’ve been really, really lucky -- being young, having no underlying conditions, living in a house with plenty of space, two parents who didn’t lose their jobs, and even just having less fear.
It hasn’t been easy to strike a balance between gratitude and grief. So I’m trying to focus on gratitude, and what I can actually do.
Going back to school in person over the past few weeks, for the first time since November, has really been a reminder of how much I love the classroom. And I’m already dreaming about my summer camp, where I’ll be working as a junior counselor.
I started providing peer support to other students in my school and helping stock a community fridge in our neighborhood -- and many of my friends have done even more than I have. In California teenagers volunteer to staff a mental health hotline to speak with their peers who are struggling.
I’m not totally clear on all the things we can and can’t do once vaccinated (my dad says that’s next week’s email). But something I want to be able to do later this spring is go to my high school graduation! I think the City should set up giant tents in parks around the city, so that high school seniors could have big, safe graduation celebrations outdoors. I hope the DOE will do it.
There’s so much we can do when we all get vaccinated. All my life, people have been saying “that’s really a shot in the arm!” as though it was something good. Before, I thought it was weird. Now, I know just what they meant.
So, what are you waiting for?
In solidarity,
Rosa
Covid-19 Updates and Resources
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Latest Virus Data: In NYC, 3,251 new COVID cases were reported April 5th, for a total of 864,732 cases since the start of the pandemic. We have lost 31,501 people in NYC from the virus, including sadly 51 reported on April 5th. The number of new cases and the positivity rate have been declining slightly for the past week, but the citywide 7-day rolling average of positive test rates is 5.9%. City data here.
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Vaccine Data: As of today, 2,873,565 vaccine doses have been delivered to New York City, and 2,405,191 have been administered (1,277,582 first doses, 733,896 second doses). For more information on vaccine eligibility, locations, and data, visit the NYC Vaccine Command Center’s Website. (And you can review our office’s Vaccine FAQ here).
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Beware of COVID Vaccine Scams: Please ignore any individual or organization claiming to be able to provide a vaccine in exchange for payment. No vaccine distributors will ask you for Social Security, credit card, or bank account information. The vaccine is completely free, regardless of whether you have health insurance. If you suspect any fraudulent activity relating to COVID-19, please call the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Action Center Hotline at 718-250-2340.
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Get Tested: Even with these new vaccines in circulation it is still so important to keep up our social distancing, wear masks, and get tested. For information about testing sites around the city, visit New York City’s Covid-19 testing website.
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Self Senior Sign up: If you are a senior or know a senior who would benefit from free friendly calls from the Neighbor Network during this isolating time, you can now sign up here by filling out this form or calling 914.572.5526.
Education Updates and Resources
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Second DOE opt-in period deadline has been extended to April 9: Visit the Learning Preference Survey (or call 311) to select blended learning for your child if your child is currently fully remote.
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Pre-K application deadline has been extended to April 19. You can apply online or by phone. Sign up for the pre-K admissions email list for updates, tips, and reminders.Throughout the admissions process, you'll use MySchools.nyc to learn about pre-K programs, apply, get your offer, and learn about waitlists. For more information visit the DOE pre-K website.
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3-K for All Districts: Starting this fall, DOE will expand 3-K programs across the city. In school districts in and around this part of Brooklyn (15, 13, 20) DOE will offer 3-K seats to as many families as possible. New programs for next school year will continue to be added to the 3-K application through May. You can sign up for the 3-K admissions email list to be notified as new 3-K programs are added. You can find out your school district by calling 311 or visiting schools.nyc.gov/Find-a-School. Then visit MySchools to create your MySchools account through which you can explore 3-K options, build your application, and apply online. The 3-K application deadline has been extended to May 28.
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Standardized Tests are Now Opt-In: Fully remote and in-person students both now have the option to participate in state exams in grades 3-8. Schools will conduct outreach to all families on whether you would like your student to participate in this year’s state exams. If a family does not notify their school that they wish to have their child sit for the exam they will not participate nor will they be penalized. Schools will have multiple days to administer the exams.
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Grade 3-8: ELA April 19th-29th
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Grade 3-8: Mathematics May 3rd-14th
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Grade 4 and 8: Science June 7th-11th
PB Updates
Other Updates and Resources
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Legal Services Hotline: NYC Financial Justice Hotline is a free legal hotline for low-income NYC residents. The hotline staffed in English and Spanish,provides free legal information, advice, and referrals on a wide range of financial justice issues--from discriminatory banking practices to predatory debt collection. You can find more information here.
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COJO Flatbush Tax Collection: They are offering free tax services for tax season. If you need assistance filing your taxes you can find more information and contact them here.
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Access Benefits Helpline through Legal Aid: Anyone having trouble with an application to apply for or recertify for HRA cash assistance, SNAP, or Medicaid benefits, can all the Legal Aid Society’s Access to Benefits Helpline at 888-663-6880 M-F 10am-3pm.
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We are redirecting our Fresh Direct Bag Program: After collecting and redistributing more than 50,000 bags, we are transitioning our Fresh Direct bag donation effort now that Fresh Direct has established its own program to connect bag donors with nearby food pantries. A couple of our partners, Masbia and People in Need, are now signed up for direct bag drop off through Fresh Direct’s program. Locations and times are below. You can find the complete list of partners here. Thank you to the many constituents who have continued to collect and donate their extra bags over the course of the pandemic. This has provided a much needed supply of durable bags to food providers, and helped reduce the number of these bags entering our waste stream. We hope you will continue to donate directly through this new program.
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