Sunday, February 21, 2021

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's NYC Moving Forward Week in Review - 2/19/2021

 

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Dear Friends,

I hope you and your families are doing well as we have been dealing 
with another snowy week, in the midst of a pandemic that has 
brought hardships and uncertainties for so many in our communities.

As Chair of NYC Council Small Business Committee, I am glad to 
see that indoor dining in New York City will be expanded to allow 
bars and restaurants to seat patrons at 35% capacity on February 
26th — marking a 10% increase since inside seating resumed on 
February 12th, still lower than neighboring Westchester and Long 
Island which are allowed to open at 50%.

The COVID-19 vaccines an important tool to help us get back to 
normalcy, is still facing a dysfunctional system, with not enough 
appointments and confusing to seniors and those who have no access 
to internet and technology. This week, the City announced a more 
unified scheduling website that can be accessed for vaccination 
appointments at vax4nyc.nyc.gov.

We are proud that this week we gave away over 5,500 food boxes to 
families and seniors in need in our District, we conducted two rapid 
testing sites to help stop the spread, as well as in partnership with 
Wildcats cleaned the snow from senior homes after this storm.

In the end, I wanted to share some important news, while public 
service has been the most humbling and rewarding experience in my 
life, it has also been the most challenging. Serving our community 
and neighborhoods in my current capacity as a NYC Council 
Member and previously as a NYS Assembly Member have been an 
honor and privilege. 
Although I have worked hard and much has been achieved, I have 
decided to finish out my term and not seek re-election in the City 
Council. 
Please read my full statement below.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office with any issues 
or concerns at 718-931-1721 or email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj
District 13, Bronx




NYC has launched the COVID-19 'Zone Finder' to determine if residents live in hot zones. The zone finder allows you to enter an address or intersection or click on the map to find out whether you are in a COVID-19 zone, and get informed about the proper precautions to take for specific activities. Click Here to access the COVID-19 Zone Finder. For updated statistics by ZIP code, please Click Here.
The COVID-19 vaccine is available to certain groups in NYC. The following groups have recently become eligible:
  • People ages 65 and older
  • Teachers and education workers
  • First responders
  • Public safety workers
  • Public transit workers
  • Adults with specific underlying conditions (see image below)
For more information, to make an appointment and for more eligibility requirements, Click Here.
NYC will provide transportation to seniors 65 years and over unable to travel for their vaccines including Access-a-Ride, Ambulette and Curb taxi service. Make an appointment by calling 877-VAX-4NYC or visiting https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ and you'll be directed to book the trips as eligible and appropriate.

The application for FY22 Non-city capital funding is available on Capgrants in the following Council link: https://council.nyc.gov/budget/fy2022-capital-funding-for-non-city-organizations/ 

The FY22 application deadline is Thursday, February 25 2021 if the project requests funding from Borough President in addition to City Council or Department of Cultural Affairs. If the project is only requesting funding from the City Council and DCA the deadline is Thursday, March 25 2021.
Our city will never be able to truly repay the debt that we owe front line workers who have sacrificed so much for us during the COVID-19 pandemic. At this week’s NYC Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations Hearing, Councilman Mark Gjonaj and colleagues discussed ways we can honor that sacrifice with a bill that would create a task force responsible to reviewing factors involved in creating a memorial for frontline workers that have lost their lives due to the virus.
We had successful Food Giveaways this week throughout our District from Cruger Avenue, Boston Road, Williamsbridge Road, NYCHA Pelham Parkway Houses to East Tremont Avenue, Bruckner Boulevard, NYCHA Throggs Neck Houses and City Island. We are proud to help our neighbors in need and in cooperation with partnering organizations we have held over 271 food giveaway events and given out over 87,000 food boxes since the start of the pandemic.
Team Gjonaj kicked off Valentine’s Day events in our District by giving away flowers and masks in partnership with the Throggs Neck BID on East Tremont Avenue and Morris Park Community Association on Morris Park Avenue!
Councilman Mark Gjonaj was proud to support free COVID-19 Rapid Testing for constituents in City Island in District 13. Among other measures, testing is still important to stop the spread!
Councilman Mark Gjonaj was glad that in partnership with Urban Upbound we kicked off Free In-Person Tax Preparation in District 13. To schedule a limited number of appointments please contact our office for location and times at 718-931-1721.
NYC Emergency Management was on scene following a gas explosion on Paulding Avenue in our District. While FDNY operations continued, they have reported six civilians injured and they have been transported to an area hospital. The NYPD and Con Edison were also on scene. Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted as we continue to monitor the situation.
On this 13th Anniversary of Kosova’s Independence, throwback to our celebration in NYC Council Chambers. As we congratulate and celebrate with everyone, may we never forget this nation’s plight and all those who fought for centuries and sacrificed their lives for Kosova’s freedom, independence and democracy. May this be the guiding light and a powerful driving force to move Kosova and its people forward.


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