Mayor Applauds Social Distancing Efforts & Increases Supply of Halal Meals During Ramadan

By Síle Moloney

Mayor Bill de Blasio said that social distancing measures are helping the City fight the novel coronavirus, and that this is evidenced by three indicators. These are tracking hospital admissions for suspected COVID-19 cases, ICU occupants in NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, and the percentage of city residents testing positive for the virus. The mayor made the remarks at a press conference at City Hall on Thursday Apr. 23 during which he also announced plans to significantly increase the City’s supply and distribution of halal meals during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, which begins today. De Blasio praised

By Síle Moloney

Just over a quarter million New Yorkers have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Apr. 20 and it’s not over yet. 14,828 have died. Make no mistake. This is a tragedy. Aside from the loss of life, this crisis will forever leave a legacy – the trauma carried by all those who were unable to say goodbye, the horror of discovering bodies in the homes of those who died alone. How can we make sense of it? Some positives may be salvageable. Not only did the pandemic give rise to a statewide centralized care plan, involving both public

Andrew Saul, the U.S. social security commissioner, launched an appeal on Apr. 21 to social security beneficiaries who have dependents, and who do not file tax returns to take action in order to receive an additional payment of $500 per child, in addition to the automatic $1,200 individual payment. “Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon,” Saul said via a press release. “People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under

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

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

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