NYC DOT ANNOUNCES NEW EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS FOR CITY PARKING METERS

With COVID-19 concerns, drivers will have a new pay-as-you-go option via ParkMobile smartphone app 

Today, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a new effort to discourage cash payments at the City’s parking meters and encourage contactless parking payment by smartphone. The Pay-By-Cell option protects the safety of both DOT’s workforce and the public by reducing physical interactions with the City’s 14,000 meters.  

Two different apps are now available for download to pay for parking at 80,000 metered spots across New York City:

• ParkNYC: Launched in December 2016 and available for free download in the Apple Store or Google Play, ParkNYC allows account holders to pay for parking at any metered parking space on a new pay-as-you-go basis with no additional fees after loading an initial $25 wallet balance. The popular app was used for more than 22 million parking transactions last year.

• ParkMobile: To enhance the Pay-by-Cell program and encourage contactless transactions, DOT is now temporarily offering the option to use the nationwide ParkMobile app for single transactions, for a 15-cent per transaction fee. While meters will continue to accept coins and credit cards, we encourage all customers to consider their own safety and the safety of our workers — and opt for mobile payments. The app accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

 “DOT is asking all New Yorkers who can to switch to Pay-By-Cell, which will reduce the need for physical cash transactions at our 14,000 parking meters.  Contactless Pay-By-Cell reduces exposure risk for the public and our workforce,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Please help us reduce the need to physically service parking meters and collect, sanitize and securely store cash during this crisis.”

New York City’s parking meters remain in effect to encourage curb turnover, which supports deliveries and essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and medical providers.  The availability of parking meters also discourages double parking, which enhances safety.  Zone numbers on Muni-Meter decals and under parking signage will work in both apps. DOT encourages all New Yorkers who do not need to travel to stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and expresses its greatest thanks to its own employees — and all other essential workers — for their continued work keeping the city running safely. 

About ParkMobile:

ParkMobile, LLC is the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in North America, helping millions of people easily find, reserve, and pay for parking from their mobile devices. The company's technology is used in thousands of locations across the country, including 7 of the top 10 cities as well as college campuses, airports, and stadiums. People can use ParkMobile solutions to quickly pay for on-street and off-street parking without having to use a meter or kiosk.

No. 202.21: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

No. 202.21

E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to be continue;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of this Executive Order through May 19, 2020:

• The directive regarding solemnization of a marriage ceremony contained in Executive Order 202.20 shall be modified to expressly include any officiant, public or private, as able to perform or solemnize such marriage ceremony utilizing audio-video technology, as delineated in such directive.

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this nineteenth day of April in the year two thousand twenty.

BY THE GOVERNOR         

Secretary to the Governor

Appointees to Multi-state Council to Get People Back to Work and Restore the Economy

Appointees Include One Health Expert, One Economic Development Expert and Respective Chiefs of Staff from Each State

  New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker today announced their appointees to the multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work. The appointees include one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state.

The appointees from each state include:

New York

• Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor
• Robert Mujica, Director of NYS Division of the Budget
• Michael Dowling, President and CEO, Northwell Health

New Jersey

• George Helmy, Chief of Staff to the Governor
• Dr. Richard Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Jeh Johnson, former United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama

Connecticut

• Paul Mounds, Jr., Chief of Staff in the Office of the Governor
• Indra Nooyi, Co-chair of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
• Dr. Albert Ko, Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and department chair at the Yale School of Public Health

Pennsylvania

• Michael Brunelle, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor
• Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, Department of Health
• Secretary Dennis Davin, Department of Community and Economic Development

Delaware

• Sheila Grant, Chief of Staff, Office of Governor
• Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
• Kurt Foreman, President and CEO, Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Rhode Island

• David Ortiz, Chief of Staff to the Governor
• Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health
• Stefan Pryor, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary

Massachusetts

• Kristen Lepore, Chief of Staff
• Michael Kennealy, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• Lauren Peters, Undersecretary at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services

"We have been collaborating closely with our neighboring states to combat this pandemic through a uniform approach to social distancing and density reduction and it has been working well. Now it is time to start opening the valve slowly and carefully while watching the infection rate meter so we don't trigger a second wave of new infections," Governor Cuomo said. "This is not a light switch that we can just flick on and everything goes back to normal - we have to come up with a smart, consistent strategy to restart the systems we shut down and get people back to work, and to the extent possible we want to do that through a regional approach because we are a regional economy. New York is partnering with these five states to create a multi-state council that will come up with a framework based on science and data to gradually ease the stay at home restrictions and get our economy back up and running."

Governor Phil Murphy said, "No one has given more thought or is more eager to restart our economy than I am, but if we don't get the sequencing right, we put more lives at risk. The only path to a sustainable economic recovery is through a strong healthcare recovery. Then, and only then, do we position ourselves to fully ignite our economy and get the residents of our state back to work while minimizing the danger of this disease. A coordinated, regional approach, informed by a multi-state council of experts, will help us avoid a major setback with potentially disastrous consequences. I look forward to the day when the facts on the ground allow us to ease our restrictions and move our regional economy forward."

Governor Ned Lamont said, "One thing that's undeniable is that this virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and healthcare systems. Working as a regional coalition to make the right decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our residents. We must solve these problems together."

Governor Tom Wolf said, "Our highest priority remains protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. While my administration continues to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don't undo all of our efforts. Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually restore our economy." 

Governor John Carney said, "We still have a situation in Delaware that is getting worse. Infections of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are rising. Delawareans should stay home. Don't go out in public unnecessarily. Don't visit Delaware unless you need to see a doctor, or care for a family member. You'll only increase everyone's risk. At the same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for moving our states out of this crisis, when that day comes. I'm grateful for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives. We'll get through this by working together."

Governor Gina Raimondo said, "States are taking the lead as we fight to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. I'm proud of the steps we've taken, and I'm constantly thinking about what it will take to safely reopen our economy. But we know that this virus does not recognize borders, and it's clear we need a strong, coordinated regional approach to avoid a second wave of this disease. I'm grateful to my fellow governors for their leadership during this crisis and I'm confident that this new partnership will support our efforts to get Rhode Islanders -- and all Americans -- back to work safely."

Governor Charlie Baker said, "The Baker-Polito Administration looks forward to participating in discussions with neighboring states and experts regarding the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts also remains focused on efforts to expand testing, ensure hospital capacity and provide the necessary PPE to those on the front lines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities."

No. 202.20: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

No. 202.20

E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws

Relating to the Disaster Emergency 

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and 

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to be continue;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency or if necessary to assist or aid in coping with such disaster, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through May 18, 2020 the following: 

• Section 13 of the Domestic Relations Law, to the extent necessary to permit those persons to whom marriage licenses were issued but shall expire within the period of time that New York State residents are to maintain distance between each other, to waive the 60 days required to obtain a marriage license during the period of time that there exists a declared emergency in New York State; and 

• Section 15 of the Domestic Relations Law, to the extent necessary to permit those persons who were unable to marry within the time frame issued on the marriage license, waive the fees necessary to obtain a second marriage license, if necessary, mirroring the original marriage license that was obtained during the period of time a declared emergency existed in New York State. 

IN ADDITION, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of this Executive Order through May 18, 2020: 

• Any issuance of a marriage license application, marriage license, or witnessing or solemnizing of the marriage ceremony, that is required under New York State law is authorized to be performed utilizing audio-video technology provided that the following conditions are met: The couple seeking the marriage services, must present valid photo ID to verify identity whenever required by law the during the video conference, not merely transmit it prior to or after; the video conference must allow for direct interaction between the couple and the town or city clerk, the witness or the person to solemnize the marriage (e.g. no pre-recorded videos of the person signing or engaged in the marriage ceremony); the couple must affirmatively represent that he or she is physically situated in the jurisdiction where the marriage is legally allowed to occur, within the State of New York; the couple must transmit by fax or electronic means a legible copy of the signed document directly to the town or city clerk, the witnesses, the person to solemnize the marriage on the same date it was signed; the town or city clerk, witness or person who solemnizes the marriage may sign the transmitted copy of the document and transmit the same back to the person responsible for the document by law; to the extent practicable, all parties will use their best efforts to ensure the document is transmitted in the most confidential manner and information will not be released to any third party not associated with the marriage license and marriage ceremony; and the electronic signed copy of the marriage license application or marriage license will become the official document for purposes of Domestic Relations Law. Local town and city clerks may provide guidance related to how marriage licensure applications and issuance will be implemented in their jurisdictions.

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this eighteenth day of April in the year two thousand twenty. 

BY THE GOVERNOR       

  

Secretary to the Governor

No. 202.19: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

No. 202.19

E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to be continue;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency or if necessary to assist or aid in coping with such disaster, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through May 17, 2020 the following:

• Subdivision one of Section 860-b of the Labor Law, to the extent necessary to allow a business that receives federal Paycheck Protection Program funding and subsequently rehires employees, to provide the notice required under this section as soon as practicable but not necessarily within ninety days, provided that a business that receives federal Paycheck Protection Program funding provided the notice required under this section when it initially laid off employees.

IN ADDITION, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of this Executive Order through May 17, 2020:

• The Department of Health shall hereby establish a single, statewide coordinated testing prioritization process that shall require all laboratories in the state, both public and private, that conduct COVID-19 diagnostic testing, to complete such COVID-19 diagnostic testing only in accordance with such process. Any such laboratories shall prioritize testing of entities or individuals as directed by this coordinated statewide process. Any such laboratories may not, without an exemption from the Department of Health, enter into an agreement that would reserve testing capabilities for any private or public entity and therefore impede the Departments’ ability to prioritize and coordinate COVID-19 testing in New York State. Any violation of this directive may result in a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 or three times the value of such testing provided in violation of this section, and provided further that the Commissioner is hereby empowered and may revoke any operating certificate or license of such laboratory.
  

• The directive contained in Executive Order 202.18 requiring any skilled nursing facility, nursing home, or adult care facility licensed and regulated by the Commissioner of Health to notify a family member or next of kin if any resident tests positive for COVID-19, or suffers a COVID-19 related death, within 24 hours is hereby modified solely to provide a penalty for non-compliance of $2,000 per violation per day, as if it were a violation of section 12 of the public health law, and any subsequent violation shall be punishable as if it is a violation of section 12-b of the public health law.
  

• No local government or local department of health shall take any actions that could affect public health without consulting with the state department of health. No local government official shall take any action that could impede or conflict with any other local government actions, or state actions, with respect to managing the COVID-19 public health emergency.  

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this seventeenth day of April in the year two thousand twenty.

BY THE GOVERNOR      

   

Secretary to the Governor

NYS 2020-2021 BUDGET BREAKDOWN FROM SENATOR ALESSANDRA BIAGGI

Dear Community,

As always, I hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy.

It goes without saying that this has been a very difficult two months for our community – but as your State Senator, I have not stopped fighting to protect your rights and secure your safety, even under these uncertain circumstances.

In this unprecedented moment, we officially passed the SFY 2020-21 Budget on April 3rd. We could not have imagined when the budget process began in January the challenges our state is currently facing. I understood that given the growing deficit our state faces under the COVID-19 pandemic, compromise would play a central role in our decision-making. However, I will be transparent in saying that I am deeply disappointed in the path we ultimately chose and the priorities the final budget reflects. You can read about how and why I voted on the budget the way that I did, in my interview with The Appeal.

In part because of your advocacy, our conference fought hard to include revenue raisers in the budget to help fill the deficit. We could have raised revenue that would financially support all of our communities through this difficult time, by asking the New Yorkers with the most to chip in a little more or by legalizing adult-use marijuana.

Instead, the budget was balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable New Yorkers and our critical healthcare system. It includes billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid funding, as well as rollbacks to transformative criminal justice reforms we passed last year. We have cast a dark shadow over our communities in their greatest moment of need, by delivering a budget that puts millions of New Yorkers in harm’s way and fails to meet the needs of our healthcare system under these extraordinary circumstances.

Without invalidating our losses, I want to acknowledge some of the good fights won in this budget. We legalized gestational surrogacy to grow New York families, banned styrofoam and fracking to protect our environment, and expanded the prevailing wage and legalized e-bikes to support working New Yorkers.

However, the fact remains that the significant losses in this year’s budget are a microcosm of what is wrong with this process and the disproportionate power dynamics in Albany. The unilateral control the Executive branch holds over the budget process undermines the duty of legislators to make thoughtful spending and policy choices on behalf of your interests and priorities. It is neither fair, nor just to subdue the voice of the people in this way, which is why my colleagues and I have set out to change it.

This week I introduced legislation that would amend the New York State Constitution to give the Legislature its fair share of bargaining power in the budget process. By putting us on equal-footing with the Executive in the budget process, your voices will be lifted. The fight for a constitutional amendment is going to be a long and difficult battle, but the only way we will achieve budget justice for the people of New York is by ensuring our communities have a true seat at the table.

Again, I want to emphasize that the adopted budget is far from what I had hoped for, and is less than you deserve, despite the few silver linings in the mix. Regardless, it is critical that you familiarize yourself with the contents, both good and bad, in order to understand how they will impact your life as we continue to navigate this pandemic together. 

Below is a breakdown of this year’s adopted budget:

COVID-19 Emergency Funds

• $4 billion in State emergency appropriations to directly address the crisis.
  • This is in addition to $40 million allocated in March. 

Health and Healthcare

• The budget includes a 1.8% across the board cut to Medicaid, as well as numerous changes designed to make Medicaid more efficient and reduce spending. These measures were negotiated based on the Medicaid Redesign Team II proposals, and include: 
  • Changes to the Managed Long Term Care program designed to focus services on patients with the highest need;
  • Reduced reimbursement to nursing homes on capital projects;
  • Changes to reimbursements for 340b pharmacies that serve patients on Medicaid;
  • Changes to transportation management for Medicaid patients; 
  • Partially expands access to telehealth in the Medicaid program so more New Yorkers can connect with their healthcare providers. 
• We were able to eliminate $100 million in proposed cuts to hospital funding and created a $250 million funding pool to assist financially distressed hospitals in the final budget. However, this support will not extend to every hospital, including many hospitals in District 34 which will be ineligible, but none-the-less impacted by changes and cuts included in the budget. 
• The final budget extends the Medicaid global cap through SFY 2021-22. The growth of local spending will not be considered under the cap. 
• Expands tobacco and vaping control regulations, to protect young people including prohibiting the retail sale of most flavored vapor products and creating an education campaign to educate youth about the dangers of vaping. 
• Designates 13 fentanyl analogs to Schedule I controlled substances to get these drugs off the streets and protect New Yorkers.
• Authorizes the Department of Financial Services to investigate prescription drug price increases of over 50% and indications of fraud, and created the Drug Accountability Board to participate in the investigations.
• Limits out-of-pocket expenses for a 30 day supply of insulin to be capped at $100. 
• Establishes the Curing Alzheimer’s Health Consortium within SUNY to identify genes that predict an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s.

Supporting Working Families

• Guarantees Sick Leave of at least 5-7 days for all employees.
• Increases Unemployment Insurance funding by $1.05 billion in anticipation of increased unemployment claims due to COVID-19. 
• Provides more than $22.65 million for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and other human service programs.
• Provides $200 million in additional support for the Child Care Development Block Grant to assist families affected by the public health emergency.
• Eliminates the current photo identification requirement for public assistance recipients and allows these New Yorkers to access a free identification card.
• Adds $9.8 million to address an anticipated increase in workers compensation claims spurred by COVID-19.
• Adds almost $3.5 million in statewide and local economic development programs  
• Legalizes the use of e-bikes and scooters with protections for safety.
• Expands the prevailing wage to certain private projects paid in whole or in part out of public funds. 

Schools and Education

• Funding for schools is held flat – every school will receive funding at the same levels as the 2019-20 fiscal year. New York State will spend $27.9 billion on School Aid. 
• Provides $10 million in new funding for student mental health support grants and $1 million for civics curriculum development. Additionally, past years’ competitive grants are maintained, totaling more than $230 million in funding to school districts for programs such as early college high schools, after-school programming, and advanced courses.

Criminal Justice System

• Changes to New York’s bail law including expanding the list of bail eligible crimes to include additional domestic violence felonies, high level drug offenses, and certain sex crimes, among other charges. The reforms also expand bail eligibility to individuals who are arrested for certain crimes while awaiting trial for another crime, and require the Office of Court Administration and Department of Criminal Justice Systems to collect and report on how bail is used by judges across New York State. Lastly, the reforms allow private, for-profit companies to provide electronic monitoring services. 
• Provides $40 million to support the implementation of discovery reforms, and updates the criminal discovery law, including by extending the initial discovery response deadline and providing clarification in the law to ease the burden on prosecutors working to provide discovery. The reforms also provide additional protections for victims and witnesses. 
• Establishes two degrees of Domestic Act of Terrorism Motivated by Hate and establishes a Domestic Terrorism Task Force. 
• Bars gun ownership for individuals who commit serious offenses in other states.
• Empowers law enforcement to seize weapons for at least 48 hours when responding to domestic violence incidents. Law enforcement will be authorized to seize firearms that are in plain view when conducting a lawful search in responding to a domestic violence incident.
• Ensures District Attorneys follow current practices and Court Clerks promptly provide information on misdemeanor domestic violence convictions to the State Department of Criminal Justice Services to ensure these offenses are easier to identify on a criminal record for gun background checks.

Environment and Natural Resources

• Authorizes the $3 billion ‘Restore Mother Nature Bond Act.’ If approved by voters, this will provide funding for projects that restore our natural environment, including: 
  • $1 billion for restoration and flood risk reduction;
  • $700 million for climate change mitigation; 
  • $550 million for open space land conservation and recreation;
  • $550 million for water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure; and
  • Specific provisions for projects benefiting environmental justice communities.
• Bans polystyrene food packaging and polystyrene packaging peanuts beginning January 1, 2022. 
• Codifies the ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing, plus imposing a moratorium on applications for gelled propane hydraulic fracturing filed with the Department of Environmental Conservation. 
• Creates a new Office of Renewable Energy Siting, a NYSERDA build-ready program, and an electric power transmission plan to accelerate the development of renewable energy, while ensuring community input and benefits and environmental protections.

Economic Development

• Extends the application period for START-UP NY for five years to December 2025.
• The enacted budget provides an additional $4,714,000 for statewide and local economic development programs.
• Extends the Excelsior Tax Credit Program for 5 years.
• Makes the New York Buy American Act permanent.
• Expands the eligibility of the Economic Transformation Facility Redevelopment Program through 2021 to support the economies of communities affected by the closure of certain correctional facilities in 2011.
• Provides an additional $365,000 for Minority and Women-Owned Business Development.

Veterans

• Provides funds for programs that help connect veterans with peers, address PTSD, and transition back to civilian life. 
• Extends the ‘Hire-a-Vet’ tax credit to help incentivize New York businesses to provide good paying jobs for returning veterans.

Transportation

• Commits $3 billion to the MTA's 2020-24 Capital Plan.
• Provides the State Department of Transportation with $6 billion in capital funds to help ensure vital investments are made to the state’s transportation system. 
• Allocates funds for extreme winter recovery road reconstruction to keep these roads functional so New Yorkers can continue traveling safely.
• Increases Statewide Mass Transportation Operating Assistance to support public transit systems across the state.
• Allows the MTA to temporarily access emergency loans to offset revenue losses and increased costs caused by COVID-19, with measures in place to ensure the money is spent wisely and that emergency borrowing will be paid off as quickly as possible when revenues recover.
• Empowers the MTA to temporarily borrow from the central business district lockbox to offset revenue losses caused by COVID-19, with strong protections in the form of review by the MTA Board, the State Budget Division, and a requirement that the lockbox will be repaid with priority.

Local Government and Taxpayers

• Allows for up to 40 years’ maturity for loans helping low-income communities finance water infrastructure improvements.
• Ensures pay equity at state and local public authorities.
• Moves the NYC Housing Vacancy Study to accommodate the Federal Census.

Human Rights 

• Legalizes gestational surrogacy with significant protections for people acting as surrogate. 
• Bans discriminatory gender-based pricing, commonly referred to as the “pink tax.”

Democracy 

• Codifies the recommendations of the Campaign Finance Reform Commission to create a public financing program in New York State. This program will take effect after the 2022 general election and will match small-donor donations to participating candidates, helping to amplify the voices of New Yorkers regardless of their ability to donate large sums. These changes also include: 
  • Lowering individual contribution limits.
  • Raising the threshold for a party to qualify for a line on the ballot in each election.

With Gratitude, 

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

MAYOR DE BLASIO EXPANDS TESTING TO COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY COVID-19

Walk-in testing sites open today for high-risk patients in East New York, Morrisania, and Vanderbilt through NYC Health + Hospitals; One Medical will also offer appointment-only testing to frontline SEIU members, as well as other healthcare and essential workers beginning today in Brooklyn and Queens 

  Mayor de Blasio announced today the opening of three COVID-19 testing sites for communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Beginning today, NYC Health + Hospitals/ Gotham Health East New York, Morrisania, and Vanderbilt will offer COVID-19 testing on a walk-in basis, with a priority for those over the age of 65 with pre-existing conditions that put them at risk for serious illness. Two additional sites at NYC Health+ Hospitals/ Queens and NYC Health+ Hospitals/ Sydenham in Manhattan will open on Monday, April 20^th.

The City will also partner with One Medical, a national digital health and primary care provider, to offer COVID-19 testing and virtual care services. Appointment-only testing will be prioritized for frontline 1199SEIU members, including adult care employees or those who work with people with disabilities, as well as other non-member healthcare professionals, essential workers, and NYC residents who are 65 and older with preexisting conditions. With its five testing sites, One Medical will be able to conduct 3,500 tests per week throughout New York City

“Communities of color have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We know that widespread testing is a key part of containing the spread of COVID-19, which is why we are doing everything we can to bring more testing to our most vulnerable.”

The NYC Health+Hospitals community testing clinics will offer tests by walk-in from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday, through Friday at East New York and Morrisania. Testing at Vanderbilt will be available from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Two additional sites at NYC Health+ Hospitals/ Queens and NYC Health+ Hospitals/Sydenham will open on Monday, April 20^th. These five sites will initially be able to conduct a total of 2,400 tests per week. Patients' test results will be available within one to two days via phone call and electronically through MyChart.

Additionally, One Medical’s five testing sites—one in each borough—will be open 9:00 AM to 6:00PM -6PM by appointment only. One Medical will be able to do 3,500 tests per week throughout New York City. Brooklyn and Queens are open today and Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island will be open starting Monday, April 20^th. Those who meet the testing criteria and would like to schedule an appointment call 1-888-ONEMED1 OR go to onemedical.com and use code NYCCARE30

“On the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, we see clear disparities in communities of color, lower income populations, immigrants, and New Yorkers with multiple comorbid conditions,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Our public health care system has long provided high-quality care to underserved communities in New York City. The community testing clinics will support and improve our efforts to provide critical services to those most in need.”

Kingsbridge Armory Opens as Food Distribution Center for Bronx

  The Kingsbridge Armory was converted into a warehouse of boxed food to be given out to residents of the Bronx. Mayor Bill de Blasio arrived to see how pallets of boxed food were set up to be loaded into livery cabs with each driver given a list of names and addresses to deliver each box to. In the box were supplies for three days of breakfast, lunch, and dinner with bagged snacks. 

  On hand were various city agency staff including Sanitation Commissioner Katheryn Garcia, Parks Commissioner Mitchel Silver, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and members of the National Guard. Mayor de Blasio walked around to see all the boxes of food placed in the armory, and stopped to see how the operation was going before speaking. During his speech the mayor said 'We will not let any New Yorker go hungry'. Each box contains three days of breakfast, lunch, and dinner with snacks/ People in need are urged to call 311 to receive the free food from the city. 

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. explained that there was hope that the Kingsbridge Armory could be used as a field hospital, but that there was not enough electricity coming into the armory so that plan had to be changed into a food depot for delivery to people in need. 

Above - Pallets of boxes of food are lined up in the Kingsbridge Armory for distribution.

Below - the tag from the side of one box with the contents of the box listed.

Above - One box was opened to show what is inside.

Below - Lanes were set up for cars to pull into the armory to load up.

Above - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr, demonstrated how the cars are loaded.

Below - Mayor de Blasio peaks about the use of the armory as a food distribution point, saying that the city will not let any New Yorker go hungry.