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.


314 Days and Counting

 


I have 314 days left in office. On February 3, 2019 as I entered my sixth year as mayor, I said the Bronx had also been shortchanged in many ways by previous administrations, but the Bronx is now going to get its Fair Share.

was joined by Speaker Carl Heastie to announce major repairs for the community center at NYCHA’s Eastchester Gardens Development. The City will invest nearly $4 million to renovate and upgrade the gym, classrooms, heating system and plumbing that serve over 2,000 NYCHA residents. Construction will start in 2021. 

HA, HA, I fooled you, now I am going to put more homeless shelters in the Bronx, and we still are only in February.

Housing Lottery Launches For 1641 Andrews Avenue In Morris Heights, The Bronx

 

1641 Andrews Avenue. All photos courtesy of NYC Housing Connect1641 Andrews Avenue. All photos courtesy of NYC Housing Connect

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 1641 Andrews Avenue, a five-story residential development in Morris Heights, The Bronx. Built in 1925 and most recently renovated in 2016, the 55,750-square-foot building yields 61 units. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 21 units for residents at 120 percent of the area median income, ranging in eligible income from $28,663 to $180,120.

1641 Andrews Avenue Residence

1641 Andrews Avenue Residence

Residential amenities include a shared laundry room, security cameras, and an n-site resident manager. Units include energy-efficient appliances and hardwood floors.

1641 Andrews Avenue Residence

1641 Andrews Avenue Residence

1641 Andrews Avenue Residence

1641 Andrews Avenue Residence

At 120 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a $750 monthly rent for incomes ranging from $28,663 to $109,200; seven one-bedrooms with a $1,050 monthly rent for incomes ranging from $39,326 to $122,880; and four one-bedrooms with a $1,060 monthly rent for incomes ranging from $39,669 to $122,880.

At 120 percent of the AMI, there is six two-bedrooms with a $1,350 monthly rent for incomes ranging from $50,435 to $147,360; one two-bedroom with a $1,397 monthly rent for incomes ranging from $52,046 to $147,360; one three-bedroom with a $1,800 monthly rent for incomes ranging from $66,720 to $169,200, and one four-bedroom with a $2,424 monthly rent for incomes ranging from $88,972 to $180,120.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than March 22, 2021.

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State Vaccination Program - FEBRUARY 20, 2021


As of 11 AM today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 93% of First Doses  

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker; Dashboard Now Includes Demographic Data  

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. As of 11AM today, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 93 percent of first doses. The week 10 allocation from the federal government has been delayed due to winter storms impacting much of the country - New York continues to monitor the situation and work with providers and federal partners to address these shipping issues. New York's health care distribution sites have administered 90 percent of doses so far delivered.  

"From the very beginning of the vaccination process, there has been one guiding principle to our efforts - get as many shots in arms as quickly, fairly and equitably as possible, and that is exactly what we have continued to do," Governor Cuomo said. "Through our expansive network of vaccination sites and community-based 'pop up' sites, the resources are in place to vaccinate up to 100,000 New Yorkers every day, but as has been the case, the only thing standing in our way of making that a reality is the supply. With the weather clearing up, we are working closely with the federal government, local governments, and health care providers to administer shots as quickly as we can. As New Yorkers have shown throughout this entire pandemic, if we stay tough and stay united, we will get through this and finally reach the light at the end of the tunnel."

Approximately 10 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by more than 20 percent over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.   

The 'Am I Eligible' screening tool has been updated for individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions with new appointments released on a rolling basis over the next weeks. Starting next week, local health departments will also receive vaccine allocations for these individuals. New Yorkers can use the following to show they are eligible:  

  • Doctor's letter, or
  • Medical information evidencing comorbidity, or
  • Signed certification 

Vaccination program numbers below are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 11AM today is as follows. Beginning week 9, allocation totals are inclusive of some excess vaccine doses that have been reallocated from the federal Long Term Care Facility program. The allocation totals below include 40 percent of the week 10 allocation which is expected to finish being distributed to New York provider sites on Sunday.  

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

First Doses Received - 2,335,250

First Doses Administered - 2,173,322; 93%

Second Doses Received - 1,284,300

Second Doses Administered - 1,081,917