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Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Interview with Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa
TLC Launches Resource Center Offering Legal, Financial and other Services to Hard Hit Drivers, Owners
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) launched its Driver Resource Center (https://portal.
Among the services available to licensees are legal services, financial counseling, health and mental health referrals, and public benefits application support.
“TLC Licensees, Medallion Owners/Drivers and For-Hire Vehicle Drivers, are among the most vulnerable workers in our city amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They deserve all that we can give them to stay healthy and support their families.” said TLC Commissioner and Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk. “The Resource Center will connect drivers to all the services New York has to offer. The Center will be a transformative tool in the fight to get through this crisis and emerge from it a better, fairer city.”
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) played a key role in ensuring the Center’s launch.
“We commend the TLC for launching remotely and helping drivers navigate through this difficult time. Drivers are struggling now more than ever, and the City is here to support them,” said DCWP Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “We’re proud to be able to be a part of the TLC Driver Resource Center and provide free, confidential, one-on-one financial counseling through our Office of Financial Empowerment. A phone appointment with a financial counselor can help drivers manage funds, reduce debt, draft letters to creditors and much more.”
The Center was conceived by City Council Members as a space where drivers could receive financial and mental health referrals as well as referrals to non-profit organizations for other advisory needs, and became a reality when Local Law 220 of 2018 was enacted on December 15 of that year. While working aggressively toward the Center’s creation, the TLC was able to expand on the Center’s planned scope with such resources as legal services and advocacy for those owner/drivers seeking to have lenders right-size their loans.
"The Council is deeply proud of our efforts to help for-hire vehicle drivers, which are becoming more important by the day as this industry is among the hardest hit by this awful virus,” said New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “We heard directly from the people hurt by turmoil in this business that they needed access to resources ranging from mental health services to financial counseling, and this Resource Center will give drivers and medallion owners the help they need and deserve. We will keep working to help drivers get through this pandemic and continue to succeed in a post-coronavirus New York City."
“The city’s for-hire vehicle drivers need support now more than ever. Our response team, that is part of the first of its kind Mental Health program designed for drivers, has been helping thousands of drivers navigate this crisis,” said Brendan Sexton, Executive Director of the Independent Drivers Guild. “Having the TLC’s Driver Resource Center available to join us in assisting drivers as they negotiate with leasing companies, lenders and creditors will be huge. Thanks to Commissioner Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk, the TLC and the entire interdepartmental City team for building this much-needed resource.”
“NYLAG is proud to be a part of the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s new Driver Resource Center.” said Beth Goldman, President & Attorney-in-Charge of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). “We look forward to providing much-needed legal services to medallion owner-drivers who are facing debt and other civil legal issues stemming from ownership of these medallions. We applaud the Mayor and the City Council for recognizing the critical need for legal services in addressing this crisis.”
"Neighborhood Trust's financial counseling services are designed to help vulnerable workers in a moment of crisis, and our phone-based model is particularly effective at meeting the unique challenges of today," said Justine Zinkin, CEO, Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners. "We're proud to be called upon to offer our financial counseling services alongside legal and health services and help give drivers the support they deserve. "
Financial counseling and legal assistance services at the Driver Resource Center are operated by DCWP’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) and are offered in partnership with Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners and New York Legal Assistance Group.
TLC-licensed drivers, and taxi medallion owner-drivers will be able to access these services by visiting directly at https://portal.
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The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission was created in 1972 by Charter mandate and is the nation’s largest and most active regulator of taxicabs and for-hire vehicle
DiNAPOLI: APRIL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS DECLINE OVER 24 PERCENT AFTER COVID-19 SHUTDOWN
Local sales tax collections dropped 24.4 percent in April compared to April 2019, leaving many of New York’s local governments grappling with shortfalls, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Sales tax collections totaled $1.02 billion in April.
Plummeting sales tax collections were widespread, leaving counties, cities and some other local governments short by about $327 million compared to last year. Although the first quarter of 2020 was relatively strong, March sales tax collections had already begun to show the impact of the COVID-19 shutdown–a decrease of 3.7 percent statewide with the largest declines downstate. The April figures show shrinking revenues for local governments throughout the state.
“The coronavirus has hurt household finances, and the April sales tax figures show how deep it is cutting into municipal finances,” DiNapoli said. “Sales tax revenues are vital for the counties and cities that are on the front lines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. They are the first responders and provide a safety net of services for New Yorkers. The federal government needs to provide assistance to those hit hard by this virus or the budget cuts could be severe in some communities.”
Social distancing protocols were established with the “New York State on PAUSE” initiative, which has shuttered non-essential businesses and offices since March 22. A halt to travel, the decline in retail activity and the large and growing numbers of New Yorkers who have lost their jobs have restricted business activity.
Every county in every region of the state saw a large drop in April collections. New York City experienced a 23.1 percent decline, amounting to $141.8 million in lost revenues for a single month. Unknown at this time is how collections are impacted by consumers’ growing reliance on e-commerce shopping for products that are now subject to State and local sales taxes.
The least severe, though still substantial decline in sales tax collections occurred in the Mid-Hudson Region (-21.5 percent). The Capital District had the most severe decline (-28.8 percent). Outside of New York City, the state’s 57 counties had a decrease in collections of $159.5 million compared to April 2019.
In addition, 17 cities (not including New York City) impose their own general sales tax. April collections were down $5.7 million in April in aggregate compared to April 2019. Nearly every city saw large losses ranging from a decline of 20.1 percent in White Plains to a decrease of over 37 percent in Gloversville. A few cities tax only specific goods or services. Most cities, towns and villages and some school districts also rely on sales tax revenues to support their operations, through sharing agreements with their counties.
Does Samelys Lopez Really Know What the Population is?, and Why Does She Still Refuse to be Interviewed By Us?
Samelys made a guest appearance on Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning show to demand that Governor Cuomo appoint an Afro-Latina/o or Latina/o to the NYS Independent Redistricting Commission. The commission is responsible for drawing new legislative and congressional district lines every ten years. While Afro-Latina/o and Latina/o New Yorkers make up nearly 20% of New York’s population and 66% of that of the South Bronx. (Taken from a press release dated May 11, 2020 by the Lopez for Congress campaign)
Let's go to the video tape (view the video here) where candidate Samelys Lopez says (at the 55 second mark on the tape) "A lot of Latino's in New York City and New York State 66% of the community is Latino". There is no mention of the South Bronx.
We would like to interview 15th Congressional candidate candidate Samelys Lopez on this misstatement she states on Hot 97 radio, but she refuses to be interviewed by us.
It is unfortunate that we have not been allowed from the day Samelys Lopez announced her candidacy to ask her any questions, even after her consultants said we could have an interview that day. The consultants were fired shortly after the announcement, which we also wonder why.
We have lots of questions to ask candidate Samelys Lopez. Where are you hiding candidate Samelys Lopez, and why won't you give us an interview?
Events From Councilman Mark Gjonaj This Week
“You can only get out of a community that which you put into it”
718-931-1721
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Monday, May 11, 2020
Governor Cuomo Announces Three Regions of New York State Ready to Begin Reopening May 15th
Finger Lakes, Southern Tier & Mohawk Valley Regions Have Met the 7 Metrics Required to Begin Phase 1 of Reopening Plan, Which Includes Construction, Manufacturing, Retail for Curbside Pickup, & Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing
The North Country and Central NY Close to Meeting All Metrics
Governor Cuomo Releases the "NY Forward Reopening" Plan, Available Here
Certain Low-Risk Business and Recreational Activities --including Landscaping, Gardening, Tennis & Drive-In-Movie Theaters -- Will Reopen Statewide on May 15th
Launches Regional Monitoring Dashboard -- Available Here
Announces Members of Regional Control Rooms to Monitor Regional Metrics During Reopening Process
Governor Cuomo: "This is the next big step in this historic journey. First phase was to figure out what we were dealing with because we had no idea. Scramble, frankly, to deal with the situation that dropped from another planet. Stabilize, ramp up the healthcare system, inform people, get people to understand what we were dealing with and control the damage. That's the mountain to me. We're now on the other side of the mountain. Next step, how do we reopen, how do we reopen intelligently and how do we reopen without taking a step back? What we have done thus far is really amazing. And it was because we were smart and because we were unified, and because we did that, we averted tragedy."
Cuomo: "We start with businesses that are more essential and pose a lower risk because once you say we're going to reopen they say, well what first? Well really everybody says, me first. After me first what businesses first? Those that are most essential and those that pose a lower risk because you can socially distance, et cetera. That's the matrix to make the decision and then businesses have to do their part also. It's not a one-sided affair."
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that as of today, the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions have met all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state's regional phased reopening plan when NYS on PAUSE orders expire on May 15th. If the trend continues, starting on May 15th, these three regions can begin opening businesses for phase one, which includes construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; retail for curbside pickup and drop-off or in-store pickup; and agriculture, forestry and fishing. The North Country and Central NY regions have met 6 of the 7 metrics and could be ready at the end of the week. A guide to the state's "NY Forward Reopening" Plan is available here. The Governor also launched the state's regional monitoring dashboard, which is available here.
The Governor also announced that certain low-risk business and recreational activities will be ready to reopen statewide on May 15th, including landscaping and gardening; outdoor, low-risk recreational activities such as tennis; and drive-in movie theaters.
Attorney General James Provides Direction for Law Enforcement on Unlawful Evictions During COVID-19 Pandemic
Law Enforcement Handling of Illegal Evictions Established by
New York’s Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019
New York Attorney General Letitia James provided direction to law enforcement departments throughout New York state so they have clear guidance on how to protect the public from unlawful evictions both during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis and into the future.
There is a rising concern that some landlords might begin to take matters into their own hands and attempt to evict tenants themselves in the absence of a court order. New York’s Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 created new protections for tenants, including a new provision that makes it a crime (a Class A misdemeanor) for a person to either evict an occupant from their home without a court order, or to fail to restore an occupant who was evicted without court order. This new law empowers law enforcement to intervene when encountering unlawful evictions, which provides a welcomed and timely additional layer of protection for tenants as they grapple with the economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 public health crisis.
“As the coronavirus rages on, many individuals are experiencing unprecedented financial instability, and it is important for everyone to understand the protections in place to guard against unlawful evictions at such a vulnerable time,” said Attorney General James. “I will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure that no New Yorker is illegally removed from their home during this pandemic.”
Attorney General James highlights the following directions for law enforcement responding to unlawful evictions across New York state:
- It is an unlawful eviction if a person evicts or attempts to evict a person by:
- Using or threatening the use of force;
- Interrupting or discontinuing essential services (i.e. heat, water, electricity);
- Removing the occupant’s possessions from the dwelling unit;
- Removing the door at the entrance to the dwelling unit;
- Removing, plugging, or otherwise rendering the lock on the entrance door inoperable;
- Changing the lock on an entrance door without supplying the occupant with a key; and
- Any other action which prevents or is intended to prevent the occupant from the lawful occupancy of the dwelling unit, which interferes or intends to interfere with the occupant’s use and occupancy of the dwelling unit, or induces the occupant to vacate.
- The law protects any person who occupies a dwelling unit (which can be an apartment, a room, or a bed) through a written or oral lease, or who has occupied the unit for at least 30 days from the unlawful eviction, including tenants whose leases have expired, family members who have been in the dwelling unit for at least 30 days, and roommates or other licensees of tenants and occupants who have been in the dwelling unit for at least 30 days.
- Furthermore, the law also requires an owner of the dwelling unit to take all reasonable and necessary actions to restore an occupant who has been unlawfully evicted to their unit. Alternatively, the owner can provide the occupant another habitable unit within the dwelling.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) continues to actively monitor housing practices throughout the state to ensure that unlawful evictions do not occur. OAG has sent cease and desist letters to landlords throughout the state who unlawfully threaten tenants with eviction amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Attorney General James recently issued guidance to New Yorkers highlighting how to navigate tenant issues related to COVID-19. New York courts are not accepting any new eviction or foreclosure cases. Threats of eviction are not only illegal, but also damaging to the well-being of New Yorkers.
In addition to the new protections afforded to tenants in the 2019 Act, additional measures have been implemented via executive orders issued by the governor. All COVID-19 guidance on tenant protections, among other important updates for the public and businesses, can be found on the OAG website.
Face Mask Give Aways over Mother's Day Weekend
Sunday it was Councilman Mark Gjonaj if front of the Big Deal supermarket with Community Board 11 Chair Al D'Angelo, and members of the Morris Park Community Association who handed out face masks, gloves, bags, and flowers for the mothers.
Saturday it was the Parks Department that gave out face masks at Bronx Park East and Boston Road,
On both Saturday and Sunday it was the Friend of Pelham Parkway who also gave out face masks on the Wallace Avenue Walkway at the Pelham Parkway North Service Road.