Governor Cuomo Announces Updated Quarantine Guidelines to Align with CDC Recommendations, and Updates on COVID-19 Indicators DECEMBER 29, 2020

 

Individuals Can End Quarantine After 10 Days As Long As No Symptoms Are Reported

7,814 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide 

1,224 Patients in the ICU; 711 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 7.14% 

124 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced updated quarantine guidelines for New York which are consistent with the latest Centers for Disease Control guidance. Under the new guidelines, individuals exposed to COVID-19 can end their quarantine after 10 days without a testing requirement as long as no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period. After day 10 is reached, individuals must continue monitoring for symptoms through day 14 and if any develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact the local health department or their healthcare provider to report this change and determine if they should seek testing. Individuals should to continue strict adherence to all recommended safe behaviors to stop the spread - wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings.

"As we approach the New Year and the end of the holiday season, all New Yorkers must remember one simple truth - celebrating smart stops shutdowns," Governor Cuomo said. "While the holidays have always been synonymous with socialization, the data shows vast majority of new cases are stemming from private gatherings. I understand not being able to join together with loved ones makes an already trying year, more difficult, but it also means we control our own destiny. New York is leading the nation in quickly and efficiently administering the vaccine, so if we can continue that progress and the rest of us keep making smart decisions like avoiding gatherings, socially distancing and wearing masks, we will finally reach the light at the end of the tunnel." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 160,164
• Total Positive - 11,438
• Percent Positive - 7.14%
• Patient Hospitalization - 7,814 (+255)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 788
• Hospital Counties - 54
• Number ICU - 1,224 (+2)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 711 (-6)
• Total Discharges - 100,442 (+434)
• Deaths - 124
• Total Deaths - 29,756

Consumer Alert: The Division of Consumer Protection Urges New Yorkers to be Aware of COVID-19 Vaccination Scams

 

Scammers Using A Variety of Methods Tied to COVID-19 Vaccines to Target Consumers and Steal Personal Info

 The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is alerting consumers about scammers taking advantage of COVID-19 vaccinations to steal personal information. Scammers are using techniques that typically arise with a major global event such as: falsely claiming to be online sellers of the vaccination; sending fake emails and texts that contain harmful links designed to steal your personal information; and using robocalls to pitch vaccination information. People should be on the lookout for scammers looking to take advantage of public interest surrounding vaccinations.

“The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccination brings along hope for so many of us, but it also creates new opportunities for unscrupulous scammers to attempt to lure people into unintentionally providing their personal information,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. “As the vaccine is rolled out over the next several months, there are simple steps you can take to avoid COVID-19 vaccine scams that can help protect your hard-earned money and your identity.” 

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "As we begin the monumental and historic task of vaccinating New Yorkers for COVID-19, we must be mindful of following verification protocols that will ensure a safe and effective vaccination process. As Governor Cuomo has announced, the vaccine will be free to receive and should be covered by insurance. New Yorkers can do their part by keeping their personal health information safe and questioning any requests for information that are not affiliated with a trusted health or government entity.”

Trusted Information – Vaccinate New York

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently launched the Vaccinate New York website to provide New Yorkers with a one-stop location for accurate and up to date information on the vaccine, safety, distribution priorities and a number of other details. Upon accessing the site, New Yorkers will find not only general information about the vaccine, but also a detailed Frequently Asked Questions section that provides facts about the vaccine's safety and efficacy. This information is critical to help instill confidence in the vaccine and to educate the public on it. Information on New York's Clinical Advisory Task Force, which approved the FDA's decision to move forward with the vaccine for New York, and on New York's Vaccine Distribution and Implementation Task Force are also available on the website.

New Yorkers can access the website by visiting www.ny.gov/vaccine.

Below are tips to protect yourself from COVID-19 Vaccination Scams:

• Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. It could download a virus onto your computer or device. Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is up to date.
• Be aware of emails coming from unknown senders. Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts claiming to have information about the vaccine. For the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in New York State, visit the New York State Department of Health website.
• Ignore online offers for vaccinations or emails claiming you can get your vaccine sooner. If you see ads touting getting your vaccination sooner for COVID-19, ask yourself: is an ad or sales pitch a trusted source of information?
• Be aware of emails asking for your personal information. Do your homework when it comes to sharing your personal information over email. Confirm by calling the sender.
• Hang up on illegal robocallers. If you receive a call about scam COVID-19 vaccines, hang up. Don’t press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.

For up to date information on COVID-19 and vaccination information, visit the New York State Department of Health website or call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm or visit the DCP website at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

AMID YEAR OF UNPRECEDENTED STREETSCAPE CHANGES, MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES LARGEST ONE-YEAR PROTECTED BIKE LANE EXPANSION IN NEW YORK CITY HISTORY

 

Over 28 miles of protected bike lanes installed this year; 16.3 miles of new bus lanes; Open Streets, Open Restaurants gave New York City’s streetscape the most dramatic transformation in modern history

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has constructed a record 28.6 lane miles of new protected bike lanes across all five boroughs in 2020. Combined with another 35.2 miles of conventional bike lanes, 83 miles of car-free Open Streets, more than 10,800 Open Restaurants on city streets and sidewalk, and 16.3 miles of new bus lanes – another one-year record – New York City’s streetscape was transformed more dramatically during 2020 than in any year in modern history.

 

“Our city has reimagined our streets as we’ve fought back the COVID-19 crisis. That means more space for restaurants and businesses, faster options for bus riders, and more ways than ever to accommodate the cycling boom with new protected bike lanes,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Record numbers of bike lanes and bus lanes will change our urban landscape forever – and, as we continue our fight to build a fairer and better city, we won’t stop here.”

 

"In a year where we have seen cycling boom throughout this city, DOT has done a remarkable job in building the critical infrastructure to keep New Yorkers safe and moving throughout this city," said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. "Amidst all of the challenges COVID-19 has thrown our way, this Administration has remained dedicated to building upon Vision Zero and making our streets safer for all New Yorkers."

 

“As unprecedented as this year has been, I sincerely applaud everyone at DOT for being able to implement a record number of protected bike lanes this year,” said Acting DOT Commissioner Margaret Forgione. “We have seen a tremendous shift towards cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic and predict the trend will continue even after the city recovers, so it is imperative we continue growing our bike network and keep cyclists safe.”

 

Today’s announcement brings the city’s total bike lane network to 1,375 lane miles, 545 of which are protected miles, including nearly 170 miles on street. DOT is also on track to meet the Green Wave Plan goal of installing over 80 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of 2021, and adding 75 miles of bicycle infrastructure in Bicycle Priority Districts by 2022.

 

The agency also completed over 70 Street Improvement Projects in all five boroughs, targeting locations with the greatest safety need for pedestrians and cyclists.

 

Protected Bike Lanes

Notable protected bike lane projects completed this year include:

 

Manhattan: (5.0 Protected Lane Miles)

• Broadway from Barclay Street to Morris Street
• Central Park West from 77^th Street to Frederick Douglass Circle
• 5^th Avenue from 110^th Street to 120^th Street
• St. Nicholas Avenue from 165^th to 170^th Street
• 6^th Avenue from 35^th Street to Central Park South
• 2^nd Avenue from 43^rd to 34^th Street

 

Brooklyn: (9.1 Protected Lane Miles)

• Tillary Street Phase II
• Franklin Street, N 14th Street to Quay Street; Quay Street, Franklin Street to West Street
• N. 14^th Street from Franklin Street to Berry Street
• 7^th Avenue Southbound from Bay Ridge Parkway to 79^th Street
• Flatbush Avenue from Grand Army Plaza to Ocean Avenue
• Smith Street from State Street to Fulton Street
• 4^th Avenue from 15^th Street to 60^th Street
• 4^th Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to 1^st Street

 

Queens: (9.5 Protected Lane Miles)

• Cross Bay Boulevard from the Addabbo Bridge to East 6^th Road
• Laurel Hill Boulevard from 51^st Avenue to 55^th Road
• Crescent Street from Queens Plaza North to Hoyt Avenue North
• Cross Bay Boulevard from Van Brunt Road to West 20th Road

 

Bronx: (3.2 Protected Lane Miles)

• Southern Boulevard from E Fordham Road to Mosholu Parkway
• E.L. Grant Highway
• Bronx Park East at White Plains Road

 

Staten Island: (1.8 Protected Lane Miles)

• Western Avenue, Gulf Avenue, Forest Avenue, Goethals Bridge Ped/Bike Connection 

 

Streetscape Changes:

During the pandemic, New York City found creative ways to rethink and reshape how it uses public space. That has included the creation of Open Streets, Open Restaurants, and Better Buses Restart, a record expansion of the bus lane network citywide. This year alone, New Yorkers enjoyed:

• 83 miles of car-free Open Streets and Open Streets: Restaurants, the most in the nation; another 17 miles of streets were given to schools for outdoor learning.
• 10,847 Open Restaurants.
• 16.3 new bus lane miles – a New York City record – including a new busway on Jay Street in Brooklyn and a permanent busway on 14^th Street in Manhattan.
• Speed limit reductions to nine major corridors citywide.
• Over 1,200 speed cameras installed across 750 school zones citywide.

 

Green Wave Plan Progress:

Announced last year, the Green Wave Plan aims to combine design, enforcement, legislation, policy and education to make the City’s streets safer for cyclists and all street users. In the coming year, DOT will prioritize providing more protected lanes in the Bronx, including developing a network in Morrisania, Southern Boulevard, and continuing work on University Avenue. Despite the operational and administrative challenges brought on by COVID-19, additional Green Wave progress as of 2020 includes:

 

• Installed Green Wave Signal Timing along 13 corridors.
• Held five monthly community bicycle working groups.
• Launched the Eastern Queens Greenway planning initiative.
• Added 50 Neighborhood Loading Zones, bringing total to 112 zones.
• Launched Commercial Cargo Bicycle Pilot, which has now grown to six companies and over 300 cargo bikes,
• 

Governor Cuomo Announces New Yorkers to Begin Receiving Extended Federal Unemployment Benefits Next Week

 

Thanks to Proactive Preparation, New York State will Deliver Extended Unemployment Benefits Without Delay

Unemployed New Yorkers Will Receive an Additional $300 Weekly Supplement and Extended Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Starting the Week of January 3rd

Unemployed New Yorkers Must Continue to Certify to Receive Benefits

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that unemployed New Yorkers will begin receiving extended and expanded federal unemployment benefits next week — the first week these benefits can be paid under federal law. New York is able to provide these benefits immediately due to proactive work by the State Department of Labor to prepare for the federal government finally enacting a bill to extend unemployment programs originally included in the CARES Act that were set to expire at the end of 2020. The programs extended include Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which provides benefits for those not covered by traditional state unemployment insurance; Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which provides additional weeks of benefits after an individual exhausts the 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance; and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which provides all New Yorkers receiving unemployment benefits an additional $300 weekly payment.

"This pandemic has created an unprecedented economic crisis, and New Yorkers have waited in uncertainty for far too long. I have repeatedly called on the federal government to do the right thing by renewing critical benefits to support millions of unemployed families through to the end of this pandemic - and now that Washington has finally acted, New York is immediately delivering those funds," Governor Cuomo said. " In the spring, New York led the nation in implementing federal unemployment programs, and this winter we will once again act swiftly to get money in the hands of New Yorkers who need it most."

The federal government has extended federal unemployment benefits for an additional eleven weeks through March 14, 2021. New Yorkers currently receiving benefits do not need to call the Department of Labor to receive these extended benefits — they should continue to certify for unemployment benefits in their usual manner and will automatically receive extended benefits. Those whose unemployment benefit year has ended should reapply online. Details of how New York will implement these extensions follows:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - New Yorkers can now receive up to 57 weeks of PUA benefits, with the program extended from the week ending January 3, 2021 through March 14, 2021. New Yorkers currently receiving PUA should continue to certify as usual and will continue to receive their benefits. According to the Federal government, additional eligibility documentation will be required beginning January 31, 2021. The Department of Labor will directly contact claimants who need to provide additional documentation.
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation - New Yorkers can now receive up to 24 weeks of PEUC (up from the 13 weeks originally authorized in the spring) with the program extended through March 14, 2021. New Yorkers who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance should continue to certify as normal and will automatically receive up to 24 weeks of PEUC. Individuals who previously exhausted the original 13 weeks of PEUC and transitioned to the Extended Benefits program will begin receiving extended PEUC benefits after they exhaust their EB benefits. The Department of Labor will automatically handle these program transfers.
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation - New Yorkers' FPUC benefits will resume the week ending January 3, 2021 and will last for eleven weeks. During that time, all New Yorkers who are receiving unemployment benefits — including traditional state UI, Shared Work Benefits, PEUC, EB, or PUA — will receive an additional $300 payment per week. Per federal guidelines, FPUC benefits will not be backdated, and can only be provided starting the week ending January 3, 2021.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "The extension of these federal unemployment benefits is a lifeline for many New Yorkers, and we will continue to do everything we can to bring relief to those who remain unemployed due to this unprecedented pandemic. We have paid out more than $59 billion in benefits to over 3.9 million unemployed New Yorkers during this crisis — nearly 28 typical years' worth of benefits paid in ten months — and we will continue to move heaven and earth to serve our neighbors."

New Yorkers may be eligible for an additional $100 per week through the Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation program. MEUC benefits are provided for individuals who earned at least $5,000 a year in self-employment income but are disqualified from receiving more substantial PUA benefits because they may be eligible for traditional state UI. New York has signed an agreement with the US DOL to offer MEUC benefits and is currently awaiting additional guidance from the Federal government on implementing the program. The Department of Labor will provide more details as they become available.

Additional updates, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, will be posted to the NYS Department of Labor website at www.labor.ny.gov.

New Yorkers who are unemployed are also encouraged to take advantage of the State's Career Services resource page, view more than 112,000 jobs postings from all regions in the state and across all industries on New York's Jobs Express website at labor.ny.gov/jobs, increase their skills through the State's online learning platform in partnership with Coursera, and utilize the State University of New York's SUNY FOR ALL free Online Training Center.

Governor Cuomo Announces New Yorkers Can Begin Using New Paid Sick Leave Benefits Starting January 1, 2021 Under State's Nation-Leading Paid Sick Leave Law

 

Paid Sick Leave Will Empower Workers While Protecting All New Yorkers' Health    

Strongest-in-the-Nation Legislation Enacted as Part of Governor Cuomo's FY 2021 Budget 

Leave can be Used for an Illness, to Care for a Sick Family Member, or to Address Safety Needs for Victims of Domestic Violence 

In March, Governor Cuomo Signed Pandemic-specific Paid Sick Leave to Provide Immediate Assistance for New Yorkers Impacted by COVID-19 

More Information for New Yorkers Available Here

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers can begin using sick leave benefits under the state's nation-leading paid sick leave law starting January 1, 2021. This legislation, which was advanced in the Governor's 2020 State of the State address and enacted as part of the FY 2021 Budget, secures paid sick leave for workers at medium and large businesses and paid or unpaid leave for those at small businesses, depending on the employer's net income. Under this groundbreaking law, New Yorkers can use guaranteed sick leave to recover from an illness themselves, care for a sick family member, or address safety needs if they or a family member are the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. More information is available on the state's Paid Sick Leave website. 

"Even before the coronavirus pandemic, we knew that no one should have to make the unimaginable choice between keeping their job or caring for themselves or a loved one. This public health crisis has put that need in even greater relief. Now, as we continue to beat back COVID and build a stronger New York, we are expanding this fundamental right to all New Yorkers," Governor Cuomo said. "New York has long championed workers' rights, and this strongest-in-the-nation paid sick leave law will help millions of our neighbors stay healthy—a boon for both businesses' bottom line and New Yorkers' well-being."

"No one should have to choose between going to work sick or caring for a sick loved one and not getting a paycheck, especially as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "That is why in New York, we have the most comprehensive paid family leave and paid sick leave programs in the nation that serve as a model for other states to follow. This is part of our ongoing efforts to help ensure equal access, opportunity and success for all hard-working men and women in New York State."  

New Yorkers earn sick leave based on the hours they work, earning one hour of leave for every 30 hours they work, retroactive to September 30, 2020. New York's new guaranteed sick leave law requires businesses to provide different levels of sick leave depending on their size:  

• Businesses with 100 or more employees must provide up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave per year;  
• Businesses with five to 99 employees must provide up to five days (40 hours) of paid sick leave per year; 
• Businesses with fewer than five employees, but a net income of more than $1 million must provide up to five days (40 hours) of paid sick leave per year; and;
• Smaller businesses with fewer than five employees and a net income of less than $1 million must provide up to five days (40 hours) of unpaid sick leave. However, those already providing paid sick leave can continue to do so. 

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "Ensuring paid sick leave for working New Yorkers was a major priority for the Senate Democratic Majority. The coronavirus pandemic has further demonstrated how essential paid sick leave is, and by not penalizing workers for avoiding the workplace when they are ill, we help avoid spreading colds and viruses. I am proud that by working with our Assembly colleagues and Governor Cuomo we were able to get this done."

Speaker Carl E. Heastie said, "The Assembly Majority has always believed that families are the heartbeat of our communities. After being overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to help New Yorkers get back on their feet. The Paid Family Leave provisions in this year's budget will help ensure that New Yorkers can care for themselves or sick loved ones without worrying about losing their jobs and being able to put food on their tables. This is just one step to give New Yorkers the support they need to navigate this difficult time and keep moving forward."

"The lack of a paid sick leave policy was hurting our most vulnerable New Yorkers, and that is simply unacceptable," said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. "Governor Cuomo has been a champion for workers - and under his leadership, New York has been a progressive leader on issues important to working families. With this new law, we will remain at the forefront of the effort to restore economic parity and secure social justice for all. New Yorkers will no longer have to choose between staying home and getting healthy, or going to work to pay their bills."  

Prior to the law's passage, approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers did not have access to paid sick leave - forcing them to either take unpaid leave and risk losing their jobs or show up to work while sick, potentially spreading communicable diseases to coworkers and the general public. Nearly one-in-four workers had reported being fired or being threatened with termination for taking sick time.   

New York's sick leave law builds on Governor Cuomo's unprecedented actions to protect and uplift workers and their families, including enacting a $15 minimum wage that raised income for 1.5 million New Yorkers and enacting the nation's strongest Paid Family Leave program, which benefitted 128,000 New Yorkers in its first year. 

Team Fernandez - New Website

 

We wanted to make sure you saw Nathalia's new website. You can learn more about the campaign and our vision for The Bronx here: https://www.fernandez2021.com/

Take a look at our issues page to learn about how Nathalia wants to transform The Bronx. This is a big step in getting our message out there, so please consider sharing it on social media or by email!

Thank you for your continued support, and happy holidays!

Team Fernandez

Team AOC - New York might have to cut two Reps from Congress

 

The first Census results are in. Based on the early numbers, New York will lose either one or two of its representatives. Alexandria’s district could be redrawn or scrapped into pieces. Lawyers, party leaders, and lawmakers will be sitting down to determine the shapes and sizes of the new districts.

We need to be prepared for whatever comes our way. We could be stuck with a heated primary, a district with tons of new constituents, or an all-out effort to lock Alexandria out of re-election. We just don’t know yet.

Early Census numbers show that New York could lose two seats. Since 70% of the House seats in New York are occupied by Democrats, the threat of our district being chopped up or us being challenged to a serious primary is no joke.

It’s worth noting here that this is all going according to the GOP playbook. Donald Trump’s administration did whatever they could to sabotage the Census this year in a way that would seriously undercount communities with lots of immigrant families like New York’s 14th District. Trump and his allies would much rather see New York lose a second seat than Alabama lose one.

As soon as we hear about the final Census allocation, we’ll report back. Until then, we just have to remain vigilant heading into what could be a tough fight this next year.

Thanks for all your support,

Team AOC

RECOVERY AGENDA: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF OPEN STOREFRONTS PROGRAM

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the Open Storefronts program, which permits storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas, will be extended through September 30, 2021. The mayor announced the program will also allow businesses to sell pre-packaged food on sidewalks, and allow restaurants to use sidewalks for take-out orders.

 

This program is a part of an effort to make New York City the world’s capital for healthy outdoor living and to advance the Mayor’s recovery agenda, which is centered on public health and social justice.

 

“Open Storefronts has given business owners an easy way to maximize their space and keep customers safe as they shop. And by introducing restaurants into the program, we’re giving local eateries more ways than ever to keep their communities vibrant,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We remain committed to giving small businesses more chances to thrive, and we’re excited to give them more opportunities to participate in this program throughout the winter and warmer months.”

 

"There's no question our small businesses have taken a tremendous hit because of this pandemic and we will continue to find new and creative ways to help them," said Laura Anglin, Deputy Mayor for Operations . "Continuing and expanding Open Storefronts will not only give businesses valuable space outside of their building, but continues to transform the streetscape of this city for the better."

 

“The City is committed to finding innovative ways to support small businesses during this pandemic, especially those in our hardest hit neighborhoods,” said J. Philip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives. “The extension of the Open Storefronts program, combined with our efforts to urge New Yorkers to shop local, will help our small businesses come back stronger than ever.”

 

An eight-foot clear path of sidewalk from the curb must be maintained for Open Storefronts to operate. Retailers cannot use the space of adjacent businesses, and they must bring all furniture and goods indoors when closed. For existing Open Streets: Restaurants locations, the Open Storefronts program will also permit businesses to use the curb lane directly fronting their storefront to conduct business activities during operating hours. Businesses can visit www.nyc.gov/openstorefronts to review eligibility requirements and to complete a brief online application.

 

“The pandemic has caused the City to reimagine the way we use our public spaces to help our small business economy, while adhering to health and safety regulations,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of NYC Department of Small Business Services. “Extending the Open Storefronts program will help both retail and restaurant businesses stay resilient and provide a much-needed boost during these unprecedented times.”

 

"Open Storefronts is an essential part of the effort to help small businesses survive as the City continues its work to recover from the impacts of the COVID crisis, and we thank Mayor de Blasio for extending this initiative," said Margaret Forgione, Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. "We have seen how the ability to use a portion of the sidewalk as sales space has given merchants a much-needed boost, and we hope more store owners will take advantage of this program in the new year."