Weekly Legislative Update — Monday, May 25, 2020: Memorial Day Remembrance, New WPA-PR Legislation Introduced, ‘Back to Business’ Town Hall Re-cap, and the Capital Region Enters Phase 1 of Reopening!
This Memorial Day weekend, we take a moment to pause and remember those Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Reflect upon: “All gave some; some gave all.”
We held our seventh Transition Town Hall focused on how businesses are faring as the Capital Region reopens during Phase 1 this week and best practices and protocols to follow as we look towards Phase 2 and how the regional economy will look in the long-term.
Please also read up on legislation I’ve recently introduced with Senator Rachel May (D — Syracuse) to create a short-term jobs program, the ‘Works Progress Administration-Pandemic Recovery (WPA-PR)’ to re-employ thousands of NYers out-of-work.
Legislative News and Events:
• New Legislation: ‘Works Progress Administration-Pandemic Recovery’ (WPA-PR). Earlier this week, I introduced legislation to create a state-level, short-term New Deal-style WPA jobs program known as the ‘Works Progress Administration-Pandemic Recovery’ (WPA-PR) in New York. Rising unemployment and the economic upheaval caused by COVID-19 will require bold investments and meaningful action to mitigate these effects and reinvigorate the future economy. Senator Rachel May (D — Syracuse) now carries this legislation in the state Senate. Almost 2 million NY workers are out-of-work due to COVID-19, with many of those jobs potentially lost for good. We need a statewide, short-term #NewWPANow to unleash the potential of New York State’s workforce, restart and reinvigorate the economy, and put New Yorkers back to work with good-paying jobs fast.
- Spectrum News Capital Region: Bill Would Create a WPA-Style Program for New York. “With two million New Yorkers receiving unemployment benefits, Fahy points to research that questions if all these retail and food industry jobs will return once things start to open back up. This bill is modeled after the 1935 Work Progress Administration program created by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression when unemployment was at 20 percent. The WPA gave over 3 million Americans jobs in construction and in the arts.”
Town Hall Recap: ‘Back to Business: Reopening the Capital Region During Phase 1’. Thank you to our panelists and everyone who tuned into our Back to Business: Reopening the Capital Region in Phase 1 town hall this morning for our discussion on best practices businesses and others can follow during Phase 1 of the Capital Region’s reopening, and what our region’s economy will look like moving forward! If you missed it, you can view the full recording and discussion here:
• Forbes: ‘42% of Jobs Lost to COVID-19 Are Gone For Good’. Make no mistake about it: this is a job crushing-pandemic. With so many workers potentially unable to return to their places of work and left stranded, we need a #NewWPANow to create thousands of good-paying jobs.
• Capital Region Reopening Began Last Wednesday — Phase 1. Thank you to the countless partners in the Capital Region who worked tirelessly to reopen the our area and for displaying a untied front to get it done! As many of you know, the Capital Region began Phase 1 of reopening last Wednesday, May 20th, with certain industries resuming normal operations including retail curbside pick-up. For a full list of Phase 1 businesses, click here: forward.ny.gov As you prepare to leave the house this weekend and in the future, consider making a checklist and remember our frontline #HealthcareHeroes and the most vulnerable among us as we remain vigilant in combatting the spread of the virus. Social distancing of 6 feet should still be maintained in public as well as wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to be #CapitalRegionStrong.
• Delivering NYS Clean Hand Sanitizer to ABGC + Central Ave. BID. 🧼 Happy to deliver New York State hand sanitizer to the Boys & Girls Club of Albany and Central Avenue Business Improvement District last week — thank you Governor Cuomo! (And remember to #BuyLocal!)
• JOBS: Apply to be a New York State Contact Tracer in the Capital Region. New York State is hiring hundreds of contact tracers to help combat the spread of COVID-19; employment details and how to apply can be found at this link.
• NYT Opinion: ‘Social Distancing, Without the Police’. Concerns surrounding social distancing present an opportunity for more adding more contact tracers, and saving summer youth employment while addressing disparate outcomes for minority communities where COVID-19 has hit the hardest, health-wise and economically.
• Bethlehem To Authorize New Park.
The Town of Bethlehem, NY is getting a new park; ‘Normans Kill Ravines Park’! Check it out below and for more details here’s the Albany Times Union article link.
Community Updates:
• 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!
• U.S. Census Launches COVID-19 Resource List. The United States Census has put together a detailed analysis and interactive map of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States to help keep you informed about what’s going on in your community.
• NYS Comptroller Launches Financial Resources Toolkit. The New York State Comptroller’s Office has released a COVID-19 financial resources toolkit for families and individuals navigating this challenging time when it comes to financial wellbeing.
• Guilderland and Washington Park Farmer’s Markets Go Virtual. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects here in the Capital Region, the Guilderland and Washington Park Farmer’s Markets have decided to go virtual for their seasonal openings. Click on the link in the beginning for more information!
• 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.
- Reminder: Billions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program funds still available for local small businesses to apply for.
- New protections/rules for tenants and renters were announced by Governor Cuomo (graphic below).
- All New York State schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year with a decision on summer schooling to be announced by the end of May.
- New York State will begin to reopen certain businesses and areas based on COVID-19 data and more after May 15th.
- New York State’s stay-at-home order known as PAUSE-NY is extended until Friday, May 15th. For more information on the PAUSE-NY order, please follow this link.
- 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
