Legislative Update, Monday, June 8, 2020
Demonstrations and protests continue in the wake of the killing of George Floyd In Minneapolis. Demands for justice can no longer be ignored and I welcome a return to Legislative session to begin to address police reforms, however, we have much more work to do to end the systemic inequalities that have plagued our nation and society for far too long. Please find my full statement on these unfolding events below. Black Lives Matter.
This week, I also hosted a virtual town hall on my recently introduced bill, the New York Works Progress Administration (NY WPA) Recovery Act, alongside Senate bill sponsor Senator Rachel May (D — Syracuse) to provide an in-depth overview of the bill with our panelists.
June is Pride Month in the United States, and I’m proud that the Capital Region has one of the most vibrant and inclusive LGBTQIA communities in the country. As always, read on for anything you missed this week!
Reminder: NYS school board and budget votes are being conducted via mail-in ballots on Tuesday, June 9. Registered voters will receive ballots with a postage-paid envelope to mail back by that date. Please check with your individual school district for information regarding budget and school board information.
Legislative News and Events:
• Statement: Repealing 50-a in NYS and #GeorgeFloyd Demonstrations and Protests:
As demonstrations and protests continue across the nation including here in Albany and throughout the Capital Region, we continue to hear the calls and cries for real and transformative institutional reform. We would be remiss to ignore these pleas and miss the opportunity to enact broad and lasting change, starting with the repeal of section 50-a in New York State. We cannot wait — as justice delayed — will always be justice denied. As I previously stated, I am anxious to return to session and address other related reforms alongside my NYS Assembly Majority colleagues and enact what is long-overdue systemic change.
#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #SayTheirNames
• 🎥 New York Works Progress Administration (NY WPA) Recovery Act Virtual Town Hall Re-Cap. 🖥⚒ The full recording of the NY Works Progress Administration Town Hall I held with NYS Senator Rachel May to give an in-depth overview of our legislation and why it is so badly needed from this week is available below — thank you again to all of our panelists; Greg Michel of Onondaga Earth Corps, Tom Nardacci of Aurelius Coworks & Troy Innovation Garage, Maureen Sager of the Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy, and Phil Harvey, Professor of Law/Economics at Rutgers Law School & Counsel, National Jobs for All Coalition, and everyone who tuned in!
- 📊 NPR: WPA-Style Plan to Help NYS Economy. Total unemployment in the U.S. now stands at 13.3% with most analysts predicting a slow, multi-year recovery — the need couldn’t be greater for a #NewWPA/NY WPA to provide immediate good-paying jobs targetted at our youth, farmers and agricultural sector, creative/gig economies, environment, and clean energy.
(Click on image below for the full recording)
• Letter Sent to Governor Urging Small Business Opening in Malls. As most of New York State including the Capital Region moves into Phase 2 of reopening with includes most retail, small businesses within shopping malls must be allowed to reopen alongside other retail with so many jobs and the lifeblood of our communities at stake. I signed a letter to the Governor urging this change in regulation to allow for our Mom and Pops to open safely in line with other retail. While resilient, some simply may not make it until Phase 3 or 4. With 2,500 plus jobs on hold alone at Crossgates and Mom and Pops struggling with fine bottom lines, these businesses need a lifeline and fast.
• I-787: ‘The Racist History of Highways’. Highways built 40 or 50 years ago were purposefully constructed through and adjacent to predominantly black, brown, and minority neighborhoods — and in the process, oftentimes leveled entire blocks or communities. Cities and states across the country are finally rethinking and reversing the segregationist decisions and policies these concrete barriers still represent today, including our ongoing push to reimagine I-787 in Albany, alongside I-84 in neighboring Syracuse.
• Capital Region Enters Phase 2 of Reopening; Outdoor Dining Now Permitted. Last Wednesday, June 3, businesses listed below began to reopen and public libraries resumed limited in-person services as the Capital Region entered Phase 2 of reopening our regional economy. For more information on what’s covered under Phase 2, please visit this link for guidance. The Governor also announced this past week that restaurants in regions where Phase 2 has commenced can begin outdoor dining and seating effective Thursday, June 4th. For more information and guidance, please click here.
Community Updates:
• PICTURED: Capital Region Begins to Reopen. Great to see restaurants up and down Lark Street and New Scotland Avenue beginning to open patios and outdoor dining as the #CapitalRegion continues to reopen — and as always, great to see my predecessor Jack McEneny out & about!
Let’s keep up the progress and continue safely restarting our regional economy!
• NY State Parks to Allow Camping Reservation Starting June 8th. NY State Parks has announced that camping reservations can again be made starting June 8th at state campgrounds, for a full list of nearby and state campsites please follow this link!
• A Brief Message for the Class of 2020. Click here for a short message from me for graduating seniors this year in college, and in high school; and congratulations to the #ClassOf2020🎓!
• Albany Schools Most Recent COVID-19 Update. You can find the Albany City Schools’ most recent COVID-19 update for families and students at this link. I appreciate the district’s transparency in sharing data regarding the serious challenges they face and getting their students and families online for e-learning.
• Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY (LASNNY) COVID-19 Guide. LASNNY has a free, easy to use COVID-19 legal/other resources guide you can access by following this link.
• Federal Stimulus Check — IRS’ ‘Get My Check’. Click here to check on your federal stimulus payment if you haven’t received it yet using the IRS’ new ‘get my check’ tool.
• Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region and Local Coalition Launch COVID-19 Grant Program to Assist Small Businesses. Application & Guidelines Available Here — ‘During this time of unprecedented economic hardship, local banks and community organizations have banded together to launch a new grant program in order to stabilize Capital Region small businesses. The COVID-19 Small Business Continuity Grant Program will award small businesses up to $20,000 to help them stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis. Small businesses can use the grant funds to make payroll, pay bills, and keep their operations going.’ Kudos to #SupportSmAlbany for continuing to support our local small businesses!
• Schuyler Center COVID-19 Resource Guide. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about families’ health and mental health, social isolation, economic insecurity, child welfare, child development, and parenting needs, the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy has compiled a body of informative links, phone numbers, and text numbers to connect families to resources that may be helpful during this stressful and challenging time.
Most Recent NY-ON-PAUSE/COVID-19 Updates:
- Regions of NYS have begun to reopen after meeting requirements found in the Regional Reopening Metrics Dashboard linked here.
- New protections/rules for tenants and renters were announced by Governor Cuomo (graphic below).
- Masks Matter: All New Yorkers, in situations where 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained, must now wear a mask or face-covering in public.
- 🗳 Reminder: All eligible voters in active or inactive status will be mailed an absentee ballot application for the primary or special elections to be held on June 23, 2020. No one should have to put themselves or their health at risk to exercise their fundamental democratic right. More info: www.elections.ny.gov
109th District COVID-19 Resources:
>> Click here for The New York Times’ COVID-19 National and State Case Tracker <<
Federal COVID-19 Stimulus Check Information
New Federal Resources Available for Small Businesses
New York State’s Empire State Development (ESD) Updated List of Essential Businesses
NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles + Registration/Inspection Updates
NYS Dept. of Labor Unemployment Insurance (UI) Updates
New York State Department of Labor UI FAQ
Tenants Guide to NY’s Residential Eviction Moratorium
Health Insurance Enrollment Period Extended Until May 15th for Displaced Workers
Job + Employment Opportunities
109th Mental Health Resources
Headspace Partners with NYS to Provide Free Mental Health Resources
Domestic Violence Resources 1–800–942–6906
Hate + Biased-Related Crime due to COVID-19
Non-Essential Construction Ceasing — Executive Order
Healthcare Providers Who Need Equipment
Nonprofit + COVID19 Capital Region Response Fund
New York State — How You Can Help
Albany County Medical Reserve Corps
109th District | Capital Region Family Resource Guide, Now Available en Espanol
REMEMBER: Should you have any questions during this time please do not hesitate to utilize my office as a resource at (518) 455–4178 or fahyp@nyassembly.gov.
Sincerely,
Pat
