Mayor’s Message to Bronx: “Everyone Who Needs Food Will Get It.”

By Síle Moloney

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio assured Bronxites that no New Yorker would go hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic when he paid a visit to the Kingsbrige Armory on Saturday, Apr. 18, along with Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr., and number of other City agency officials. “My message today is simple,” he said. “We will not let any New Yorker go hungry – period. If you need food, we will get it to you.” The armory has been transformed into a temporary food distribution center, one of eight set up in recent weeks all over the City

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Beyond addressing the immediate public health concerns brought on by the spread of COVID-19, NYC agencies are also reaching out, through virtual town hall meetings, to inform workers across the City that their rights have not been suspended, even if they are undocumented immigrants. In a town hall meeting streamed on Zoom and Facebook Live on Tuesday, Apr. 14, officials from four City agencies outlined the resources available to immigrant communities while the statewide PAUSE order is in effect. In addition to answering employment-related questions from workers, City representatives provided information on the public charge rule, NYC

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Just like her neighbors, 74-year-old Norwood resident, Silvya Parodi relies on the leafy surroundings of Mosholu Park for her physical and mental well being. Prior to the enactment of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s statewide PAUSE order, the vast, tree-lined, green zone served as a welcome sanctuary from the City’s daily hustle and bustle. When the shelter-in-place restrictions came into effect in March, that lifeline to nature became even more vital to Parodi, and a local community craving some semblance of normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Sometimes I go sit in the park and talk to some old person that is

The Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a water shutdown for Monday, Apr. 20, 2020 to complete water main repairs on East 204th Street between Grand Concourse and Valentine Avenue. The shutdown hours are anticipated to be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with impacts expected to be minimal. *An earlier version of this story cited Monday, Apr. 4 as being the date of the water shutdown. Apologies.

De Blasio Announces Budget Cuts but Prioritizes Health, Safety, Shelter and Access To Food

By Síle Moloney

Mayor Bill de Blasio released New York City’s Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) on Thursday, Apr. 16. The budget prioritizes health, safety, shelter and access to food for all New Yorkers, and outlines the spending cuts that will be made to other services to address revenue shortfalls and budget gaps. The mayor said, via a press release, that the cuts, detailed in the so-called Program to Eliminate the Budget Gap (PEG), would be temporary, that there would be no gap in “necessary” services, and that the budget plan would be reevaluated by officials over the course of

Bronx (Fordham Rd), West Farms, and Hunts Point Workforce Career Centers are currently closed, but have launched virtual services to help job seekers during this time. Workforce1 helps New Yorkers prepare for and connect to jobs across New York City’s five boroughs in every sector of the economy. Through their Virtual Workforce1 Career Center system, the career centers can connect candidates via web or phone to one-on-one help from professionals, including help with the following: Job Opportunities Individual Career Advice Resume & Interview Preparation All of the services are provided at no cost and do not require

The IRS and the Treasury Department launched a new web tool on Apr. 15, 2020 to allow quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return. A second tool, due to be released next week, will provide taxpayers with a payment delivery date and provide direct deposit information. The non-filer tool, developed in partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, provides a free and easy option designed for people who don’t have a tax return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file. The feature is available only on

City authorities announced on Apr. 14 that information has been gathered specifically to inform people with disabilities, access and functional needs about the resources available to them during NYC’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The resources cover a wide range of topics from meal delivery to transportation, and from home health care providers to mental health resources, and can be accessed here. Anyone who has specific questions or concerns about this information should contact the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities directly: Voice Phone: 212-788-2830 Video Phone: 646-396-5830 MOPD COVID-19 Feedback Form For the most up-to-date information

By Síle Moloney

The City’s business community and their partners have called on New York’s elected leaders to implement an economic relief package called The Blueprint to Save Small Business to help small businesses cope with the unexpected economic pressure resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. It outlines four key policies which the group hopes will help resuscitate the thousands of ailing small businesses that make up the economic and social fabric of New York City, and help revamp the economy. In a letter dated Apr. 13, 2020, the business community outlined the proposed measures and presented them to Gov. Andrew Cuomo,