Weekly Legislative Update — Sunday, July 11, 2020
Over the next couple of weeks, the Legislature will reconvene for a rare mid-year session as a result of ongoing negotiations of another federal stimulus bill and unfinished work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New legislation I’ve introduced would expand New York’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to include more New York households, 18–25 year olds for the first time, and more — read on below. As always, there are a number of critical community updates and COVID-19 resources included below from around the 109th District and Capital Region for your use. Please continue to stay healthy and safe!
Note: Read my quarterly Spring Newsletter online here if you haven’t already!
Legislative News and Events:
• 💵➡️🏘 New Legislation Introduced: Expanding New York’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Expanding New York State’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) under my recently introduced legislation, now sponsored by Senator Anna Kaplan in the Senate, would significantly raise the maximum income thresholds at which the credit ends to include hundreds of thousands of working NYers. Struggling workers and families need cash in their pockets now to afford necessities and pay their bills. Low-income NYers have been hit the hardest by the #COVID19 pandemic. Expanding NY’s EITC eligibility would ensure that we’re supporting some of our most essential workers and injecting badly-needed capital into our economy, and jumpstart the ‘bottom-up’ recovery needed to combat the ever-growing wealth gap between the ultra-wealthy and middle/lower classes.
⬇️ See how you might be affected below, stay tuned for more about expanding the NY EITC, and read more about the push to transform the credit here: https://tinyurl.com/ExpandNYEITCLearnMore
• 📰 NY Times Features New WPA Proposal. The New York Times included NYS Senator Rachel May’s and my #NewWPA proposal in a story about how localities + states throughout the U.S. are considering implementing public works + jobs programs to in the absence of federal leadership. With over 40 million Americans now having applied for unemployment, we undoubtedly need a bold investment in our workforce akin to the original, 1935-WPA.
• 📜 Capitol Pressroom: I-787 Progress. #Albany is the oldest continuously chartered city in the United States — yet access to the Hudson River waterfront that fueled our city’s early growth, resulting in the first charter in 1686 — remains out of reach. It can — and should — be different for New York’s Capital City. I joined The Capitol Pressroom on the ongoing push to reimagine #I787.
• 🚲 South End Bike Connector Trail Open For Business! The South End Connector bike trail is finally ‘open for business’ — connecting the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail and the Mohawk Hudson Bike-Hike Path for 32 miles of uninterrupted, paved biking trails! A project years in the making, I was proud to help secure a state grant to fund this important project, which will finally close a gap in our regional trail network, and increase foot traffic and mobility in downtown #Albany.
• Malls Reopening in New York Safely and Responsibly. Locally-owned small businesses located in malls who would’ve otherwise been allowed to open alongside their counterparts have faced weeks of unnecessary uncertainty. Reopening our malls in a safe and responsible manner will bring back thousands of jobs especially for young people and help to reinvigorate the Capital Region economy. I’m pleased the Governor has finally authorized the reopening of these regional economic drivers in Phase 4 regions and will continue working to ensure our small businesses are treated fairly in comparison to ‘Big Box’ stores as we adjust to our ‘new normal’.
• ICE Announces Study Abroad Students Must Leave If Taking Online Classes. I have signed a letter with a number of my Assembly Majority colleagues urging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescind its guidance ordering international students must leave the United States if taking online classes this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New York State and the State University of New York (SUNY) is home to thousands of international students who contribute to our social and economic fabric, and must be allowed to remain here.
• 🗃 Supreme Court Rules President Must Hand Over Tax Returns. As sponsor of legislation with Senator Brad Hoylman to require disclosure of financial records by candidates for President and VP of the United States, I’m pleased with today’s #SCOTUS decision affirming that no one — not even the President — is above the law.
• Supreme Court Rules Employers Can Deny Women Reproductive Health Coverage. There are only two people who should be making decisions surrounding a woman’s reproductive healthcare: herself, and her doctor. Not #SCOTUS — and certainly not an employer. 126k women nationwide will lose access to contraceptives as a result. In other words, 126k American women will lose access to their healthcare.
• 🏘 Albany Common Council Passes Eviction Moratorium Until August 20, 2020. Click here for helpful information for tenants regarding the City of Albany’s new eviction moratorium lasting until August 20, 2020, to help keep renters in their homes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Albany City Schools Seeking Input on Re-Opening in the Fall. The City School District of Albany is holding a series of virtual forums this month to allow students, parents and guardians, and community members to ask questions and provide input on plans for re-opening school in September. Learn more and provide your input by visiting their website.
Community Updates:
• 📚 Albany Public Library Begins Curbside Pick-Up Service. The Albany Public Library’s curbside pick-up service began this past week! Details below on how to utilize this resource and click on the link or image for more information!
• NY State Parks Launches New App for Mobile Phones. NY State Parks & Historic Sites has launched its Parks Explorer app to help better connect you to parks, historic sites, camping, trails, and more! Download for Android or iPhone here:
📲https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ny-state-parks-explorer/id1496803341
📲https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.ny.its.nyspark
• All New Yorkers Can Now Be Tested for COVID-19. 📳 All New Yorkers can now receive testing for #COVID19 — including antibody and standard diagnostic testing. 📍 Find a test site near you: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you
• City of Albany Funding for Summer Camps, Day Care, Renters, and More Available Now. For more information on funded partners and programs, and remaining grant funding available, please click on the link in this section.
• Albany NAACP Announces 3 Scholarships Available for Students. The Albany NAACP Branch has announced three scholarships are now available for students to apply for, to see if you’re eligible just follow the link in this section.
• South End Children’s Cafe Seeking Volunteers This Week. The South End Children’s Cafe needs your help next week from Monday — Thursday at 11 AM, more information available at the link in this section.
• 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.
• 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.
109th District COVID-19 Resources:
>> Click here for The New York Times’ COVID-19 National and State Case Tracker <<
NYS Dept. of Labor Unemployment Insurance (UI) Updates
New York State Department of Labor UI FAQ
Tenants Guide to NY’s Residential Eviction Moratorium
Job + Employment Opportunities
109th Mental Health Resources
Domestic Violence Resources 1–800–942–6906
Nonprofit + COVID19 Capital Region Response Fund
New York State — How You Can Help
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
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