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Dear John,
Before we head into our Stated recap, I want to take a minute to talk about the influx of asylum seekers who are arriving in our City. As of this week, we have seen over 6000 refugees arrive in New York City. The vast majority are being bused here from Texas by a callous governor who is more interested in scoring cheap political points than helping people. I was at Port Authority a week ago, helping city agencies and mutual aid organizations welcome asylum seekers. If you want to help out, please volunteer with our friends at the New York Immigration Coalition. Buses are arriving every day, we need help during the complex intake process to ensure every single person coming is guaranteed housing, medical care, legal services, and more.
Stated Recap
At the last Stated meeting, we had two major movements on the legislation front. The first, and I’m so proud to share this all with you, is that the Mayor signed my abortion rights legislation into law! Now Local Laws 75 and 76 passed with massive majorities and were quickly sent over to the Mayor’s desk for his signature. Alongside other transformative bills from Council Members Cabán and Rivera, New York City passed a suite of legislation to strengthen reproductive rights and ensure our state remains a refuge for anyone in this country seeking critical reproductive care.
The first of my two bills, Local Law 75, mandates the City conduct a public outreach campaign to let New Yorkers know about their rights to reproductive care in our City. Thankfully, we live in a proudly pro-choice City and state, but we have so many protections that most people don’t know about! Did you know you know, you not only have the right to an abortion in New York City, but you have the right to access a clinic without being impeded. Because of my new law, our City will begin reaching out to the millions of people who live here to let them know about their extensive reproductive rights. My other bill, Local Law 76, will create a new private right to action for anyone who obtains an abortion in our City but is then sued in their home state. With nine states already fully banning abortion and more introducing anti-choice legislation to criminalize and penalize people who seek healthcare elsewhere, this new law will provide legal cover to thousands of people who come to New York City.
I’m also proud to let you all know that last week, I introduced legislation to mandate up to eight days of paid sick leave for gig workers. Growing up, my father was one of the hardest working people I know, spending long hours on construction sites and unable to take a day off if he got sick. Like so many other immigrants, if he was sick and couldn’t work, our family’s finances were in jeopardy. But with this legislation, we begin to right that wrong.
This new bill will mandate Uber and Lyft drivers, nail tech workers, and so many more misclassified “independent contractors” get at least 56 hours of paid sick leave. This is not paid for by the City, but by the big corporations that profit off of working-class people. In addition, this bill will also apply to the New York City safe leave policy, meaning that working-class people can take time off to ensure they’re safe from domestic violence. In 2021, the City saw 100,000 domestic violence complaints, of which the majority came from immigrant women of color who are most likely to be gig workers. I am proud of this legislation and can’t wait to see it become law.
SUNY Downstate Clinics
A few weeks ago, community members alerted my office and our State representatives about the closing of the SUNY Downstate school-based health clinics. Even before COVID-19, these clinics have been a center for our neighbors to receive critical healthcare, from immediate first-aid to long-term mental health treatments. As our City continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and new emerging public health crises, it is shameful for SUNY to shut down these clinics without a clear plan for continuity of care. I, alongside Assembly Members and nine other City and State elected officials, have sent a letter to SUNY demanding answers and a plan to ensure we have a suitable partner to take over these clinics.
MPX
As of this week, our City surpassed 2,500 cases of MPX, which makes our City the global epicenter of this outbreak. The good news is that cases are slowing down, but it’s important that if you meet the City’s vaccination criteria, please sign up for your first dose. Also, if you have symptoms, please make sure to isolate and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
Now, our team attends weekly MPX briefings from the City, so I think it’s important to clear some things up. Almost all MPX cases in our City are among bisexual or gay men who have contracted it from extended intimate contact with someone with physical symptoms. That being said, anyone can contract MPX and it is not unique to the Queer community. We also know from other cities that MPX can spread through large respiratory droplets and contact with fabric that has touched open MPX sores, but it’s important to remember that MPX is not COVID-19. MPX does not spread as easily as COVID-19, and it is not mutating at the speed at which we have seen the coronavirus change and spread throughout our world. Additionally, unlike COVID-19, this current outbreak hasn’t led to a single recorded death (that being said, MPX is very painful, and we must take this outbreak seriously). There is still a lot we are learning about MPX, so some of our understanding may change, but it’s important to know the facts to stay safe and avoid spreading misinformation.
So, how can you stay safe? Exercise caution when attending events that might lead to you being in close physical contact with others. Get tested if you feel unwell and if you show physical symptoms, make sure to cover the legions with a bandage. As we know more, we promise we will share. You can also text “MONKEYPOX” to 692-692 to get up-to-date information from the City right to your cell.
Community Bulletin
- The state Office of Cannabis Management will start accepting applications for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses on August 25! Applicants are encouraged to start preparing their documentation for their applications before the portal opens, and the Office of Cannabis Management has published an interactive resource page to help.
- DFTA My Ride pilot is an on-demand transportation pilot for older adults (ages 60+) and people with disabilities (18+). If selected to participate, you receive a free on-demand car service, but there are limited spots available! To find out if you’re eligible to participate, call Aging Connect at 212-244-6469.
- 34 artists and community members will be displaying their work at the BWAC Gallery in Red Hook. Works include paintings, illustrations, pottery, photography, collage, print, and sculpture that will be displayed and available for purchase. Don’t miss the show when it opens on 9/10 and runs each weekend through 9/18. Also, artists will be present at the opening reception on Saturday, 9/10 from 3 to 6 pm!
- The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) just launched their new AAPI health hub! Created in coordination with CACF's community partners, this comprehensive new site contains translated guidance about COVID-19, health insurance, and healthcare rights in English AND 11 Asian languages. Access the hub to connect with health-focused, culturally responsive, and language-accessible AAPI community-based organizations in New York City, and access information on COVID-19 vaccines and treatment, health insurance options, and healthcare rights.
- Ready to read? The Windsor Terrace Library is hosting a plethora of upcoming events, including a Read and Rave Book discussion for bookworms, folktales from around the world, and outdoor toddler time.
- Have a housing or homeownership concern? The New York Mortgage coalition is here to help! With housing counselors and financial literacy programs, NYMC has your back.
- Do you want your child’s school to have free access to nearly 90 museums, botanical gardens, health and wellbeing toolkits and resources, Art venture newsletters, and more? Learn more about being a Cool Culture partner!
- The New York Historical Society Citizenship Project is hosting free civic classes both online and in person for green card holders, varying between 6-week and 10-week courses.
- Make sure you cast your vote! Early voting continues through this weekend and ends on Tuesday, August 23rd. Remember, State Senate and House of Representatives candidates are on the ballot this time around.
In Solidarity,
Shahana
P.S. There has been a lot of movement in the school funding fight, and we haven’t forgotten about it! We dedicated an education newsletter to delve into the recent court rulings and our office’s advocacy to ensure the $469 million is fully restored. Read up on the latest, and if you aren’t signed up for our education updates already, you can do so here. There will also be a hearing on a resolution demanding the Mayor restore the full funding, and you can sign up to testify in support here.
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