Opinion

NYC Pet Hotline Launched As Two New York Cats Test Positive for COVID-19

By Síle Moloney
Following recent reports by the CDC that two pet cats in New York State contracted the novel coronavirus, pet owners around the City may have become concerned that their own pets may get infected. However, they can now call a new Pet Hotline which will serve as an information, planning, referral and service coordination hub for New York City pet owners.   On Apr. 29, the City’s emergency management department and the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare announced the launch of the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline for those who need support for their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic.   “Pets


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Op-Ed, Financial Focus: A New Job for the Kids: “House Assistant”

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA
So, the kids who are now on “stay home” orders are continuing their education through online learning during the day, but what are they doing with their evenings?   I would assume many kids would want to play, and I would presume many parents would want them to do chores! What might be a common denominator?   What do kids want just as much as their parents? A job and money! Financial literacy for children during the early stages of life is about teaching them how to earn, value and manage money.   So, as parents have been doing for


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Financial Focus: What Wrestling Can Teach Us about the Coronavirus, Economy, Your Job & You

By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA
  The share price for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), a publicly-traded wrestling and entertainment company, fell by 40 percent between Jan. 1 and Mar. 11, the latter being the date on which the World Health Organization officially declared the growing spread of the novel coronavirus a pandemic.   At that stage, 28 people had died from the virus in the U.S. according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. having been reported in Washington state in January. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed positive cases in the U.S. had risen to over


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Water Shutdown Scheduled for Monday, Apr. 20, 2020 on East 204th Street

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


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Free Virtual Career Service Launched to Help Job Seekers

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


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IRS launches New Tool to Help Non-Tax Return Filers Register for Economic Impact Payments

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


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Op-Ed, Financial Focus: You Have a New Job – The Unemployment Telephone Line

Dollars
By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA
When people got laid off in an earlier time, you would never see any lines at the unemployment exchange. They were in cyberspace. States would process unemployment claims by telephone and via the internet.   While success varied from state to state, I’m sure many would say, except for some minor glitches, people would start to receive assistance within three weeks of applying. Welcome to Coronavirus 2020 – where now it might take you three weeks – just to apply.   The phone lines are jammed. You might get disconnected. Even worse, when completing the application online, you may find


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Financial Focus: Coronavirus Interest Rates and What You Should Do for Your Financial Health!

Dollars
By PROFESSOR ANTHONY RIVIECCIO, MBA PFA
In this sad state of affairs that we now see ourselves in because of Coronavirus, we will not comment on the health concerns except to say, please be safe and careful. But while our Government tries to find ways to safeguard our US Economy, The Federal Reserve has lowered short term interest rates to nearly 0 percent. This will no doubt have a trickle down effect on long term interest rates as well. So, how do you dare save money in Banking accounts? At 0 percent interest? What should you do to make your money healthier,  while yourself quarantined? Mortgages


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