On January 17th, the 77th Precinct United Clergy Council, under the leadership of our Pastor Cecil Henry hosted the First Annual Dr. MLK Jr. Day Ecumenical Service.  The day was to promote standing “Together in One Solidarity” by building bridges with diversity and strength.  The event was held at St. Gregory’s R.C. Church and was also streamed on Zoom and social media platforms.

Click here to view highlights of this memorable occasion.

Food Distribution

Job Openings

NYCSSS is hiring for the 2020-2021 school year. For job openings and applications go to:

https://new-york-city-school-support-services.epayhire.com

NYCSSS supports the NYC Department of Education in its mission to provide clean and safe schools for the children of New York City. We provide janitorial, handyperson and fire person resources to service the approximately 1300 school buildings in our five boroughs. 

• As of 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 6th, there are 223,473 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City and 62,072 confirmed cases in Brooklyn. As of 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 6th, there were 18,938 confirmed deaths citywide, with an additional 4,625 probable deaths, including 5,625 confirmed deaths, and 1,628 additional probable deaths in Brooklyn.
   

  EDUCATION

• Brooklyn Museum’s “Youth Tours: Art at Two” offers virtual programming for children ages five through 10. Click here for more information.
• NYC H2O has an online portal for all ages to explore and learn about New York City’s Water System.
• Digital Girl, Inc. has an online learning portal with summer offerings. Click here to register. 
• “Let’s Learn NYC!”, the new educational public television program produced by the WNET Group in partnership with the New York City Department of Education (DOE), features lessons for children in 3K through second grade that will supplement remote learning. More information can be found here.
• Generation Citizen has provided free online resources to stay educated during the pandemic.
   

  HEALTH

• Free tele-support group services are available with Lighthouse Guild Family Service Network. For all questions, call (212) 769-7833.
• The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has partnered with select CVS and Walgreens pharmacies to make FREE naloxone kits available to any individual who requests one. 
• COVID-19 testing has been made available to all New Yorkers. COVID-19 testing sites are available in your area with new ones being added on an ongoing basis. To find the one nearest you, visit the state website [New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website], the City’s website [New York City’s COVID-19 Information Portal], or type “COVID testing near me” in Google Maps.
• Crisis Text Line has support resources and counselors available for free 24/7 for frontline and essential workers. Text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to be connected, or visit www.crisistextline.org.
• Mayor de Blasio announced an emergency financial relief program for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence to provide funding for immediate safety, economic, and housing needs currently exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Helpful resources that are currently available include the agency website, the “NYC HOPE” resource directory, and the  Resources for Survivors During COVID-19 page.
  If you need mental health support, the New York Emotional Support Hotline is (844) 863-9314.
• The New York Peace Institute has online resources to mitigate stress with tools such as meditation.
• New York Road Runners has an online portal to keep you “Active at Home.” They also have an online resource, NYRR Striders at Home, which offers exercises and activities for our senior community.
• Use telemedicine services BEFORE going to the doctor’s office, urgent care, or the ER. Thanks to our advocacy and Governor Cuomo’s leadership, co-pays for telemedicine consultations have been eliminated due to COVID-19. Call (800) 633-4227 or your doctor for more information if you are on Medicaid. Whether you utilize Medicaid, private insurance, or are a self-payer, options are offered across many specialty areas. Urgent care telemedicine is available with New York-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, or NYU Langone.  Mental health telemedicine is available with  Columbia Doctors. Diabetes telemedicine help is available with NYC Health + Hospitals. If you know other services, email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov..
• The City has created a new, online portal that will allow New Yorkers to self-report COVID-19 data, helping the City to communicate with affected members of the public and assist in the identification of areas that may require an enhanced response. By going online or calling 311, New Yorkers can quickly input information about themselves and legal guardians can add information for children or adults in their care. New Yorkers can update their status at any time through the portal or by calling 311. The portal is available in 11 languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. It is not intended as a mechanism for providing medical advice or treatment and should not be relied upon as a method to obtain medical care or emergency service. Personal information will be stored securely and only accessible to City employees protecting public health. It will not be accessible by ICE or used for law enforcement or any other purpose.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

• New York State is offering an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits. Visit dol.ny.gov to see if you qualify.
• Distribution sites for small businesses looking to obtain face coverings, are open. Visit nyc.gov/business for more information across the boroughs.
• The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) has published plain language industry guides as a tool for small businesses to adhere to the latest mandatory guidance and to share best practices. Visit nyc.gov/business for more information on the guides.
• The Public Service Commission approved an increased bill-credit program for low-income Con Edison customers to ensure that they can access air conditioning during the hot summer months.
• Unemployed New Yorkers can access support at the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)’s new website, NYSBA.org/legalhelp, which was set up to provide resources for filing an unemployment claim. If needed, NYSBA will match people with a pro bono attorney.
• The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has launched the Bring Back Brooklyn Fund to support small businesses that have been shut out of other COVID-19-related loan programs, with 65 percent earmarked for minority and/or women-owned business enterprises (MWBE). The Bring Back Brooklyn Fund will offer no-interest recovery loans between $500 and $30,000. You can contribute to the effort here.
• The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) launched the NY COVID-19 Legal Resource Hotline to help New York City residents impacted by COVID-19 get answers to their legal questions on issues including unemployment benefits, employee rights, housing, public benefits, consumer debt, advance planning, stimulus payments, and special education issues. Call (929) 356-9582 Monday-Friday 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM to leave a message with your name and contact information or visit nylag.org/hotline for more information.
• DCWP’s Office of Financial Empowerment has transitioned all financial counseling and coaching programs to offer services remotely. Book an appointment here.
   

  FOOD PANTRY/FOOD ASSISTANCE

• Governor Cuomo announced that all restaurants and bars statewide will be subject to new requirements that they must only serve alcohol to people who are ordering and eating food and that all service at bar tops must only be for seated patrons who are socially distanced by six feet or separated by physical barriers. Under current law, only establishments that serve food are permitted to serve alcoholic beverages.
• Indoor dining is suspended until further notice.
• Mayor de Blasio combined the Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs. Locations can be found here. This program will also return June 1, 2021 and continue through October 31, 2021.
• All students who would have received a free or reduced-price meal at school are now eligible for additional food assistance through Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT). This includes undocumented students, students whose private schools participate in the National School Lunch Program, and students in districts that implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). New York City families will receive an additional $5.70 for every day school has been closed to purchase foods available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• School sites are open for grab-and-go meals this week, from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, outside of main entrances of every school building. The program is now open to anyone who wants food, no questions asked. Go to schools.nyc.gov, or text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 for lists of where meals are being served.
• New Yorkers can use their SNAP benefits to order online.
• The City has streamlined the home delivery of meals to seniors and is working to support our food pantries, which are critical partners in these efforts. In the interim, you can find a list of key resources at nyc.gov/GetFood  or by calling 311 and saying “Get Food.”
• Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has partnered with Share Meals, Hunger Free America, BetaNYC, and Plentiful to  compile a listing and guide on food resources available to New Yorkers.
   

  GENERAL

• Mayor de Blasio announced COVID-19 traveler registration checkpoints into New York City to ensure compliance with New York State quarantine requirements. Travelers who have visited 35 designated states or territories with high COVID-19 transmission rates are required to complete the New York State Department of Health traveler form and quarantine for a period of 14 days upon entering New York City.
• The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment’s Film Office is accepting permit applications for Phase 4 production activity. The latest Commissioner’s Directive No. 9 plain language explanation and FAQ are available on the Film Permit website.
• City employees can partake in virtual events online with Work Well NYC. Click here for their August calendar.
• Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that large events requiring a City events permit will be cancelled through Wednesday, September 30th. The City will not issue a permit for any event in a location that interferes with the Open Streets or Open Restaurants program.
• The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) zoos and aquarium announced plans to reopen Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Zoo and New York Aquarium — along with the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo. Please call locations for hours of operation and confirmation before visiting.
• The New York City Parks Department (NYC Parks) welcomed swimmers at 15 of its 53 pools across the five boroughs beginning last week, including Sunset Park’s Sunset Pool and Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Kosciusko Pool. Brownsville’s Betsy Head pool opened Saturday, August 1st.
• The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will only offer services in person by reservation for limited transactions that cannot be done online or by mail or drop box. You can make reservations at dmv.ny.gov/reservation.
• New York City COVID-19 Response Maps are available online.

Census

• Visit MutualAid.NYC for information on groups and individuals working on mutual aid in their communities, as well as if you need help or can help. 
• The New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare announced the launch of the NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline. Pet Hotline operators can be reached directly at (877) 204-8821, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.
• Free and low-cost childcare options during the COVID-19 crisis are available through Workers Need Childcare, for parents and caregivers in New York City’s essential workforce.
• Worried about having to self-isolate in a dangerous home situation? Co-quarantined with an abuser? Please reach out and contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1 (800) 799-7233, TTY 1 (800) 787-3224, or chat online at thehotline.org.
• For veterans and their families, the NYC Veterans Alliance has a list of resources on their website.
• The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public library reopened 22 branches with Grab-and-Go services
• If you see price gouging, report it to 1 (800) 697-1220, fill out the complaint form on the New York State Attorney General’s website, or email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.
   

  HOUSING

• A statewide eviction moratorium is currently in effect, including residential and commercial properties as well as foreclosures, according to the Office of Court Administration. The eviction moratorium has been extended to Thursday, August 20th, and Governor Cuomo has also announced the State is banning late payments or fees for missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium, as well as allowing renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 to use their security deposit as payment and repay their security deposit over time.
• Utilities have been ordered to not shut off service for gas, water, or electricity.  Internet services will not be cut off during this time.
• For New Yorkers requiring quarantine or isolation, NYC Health + Hospitals is offering free hotel rooms for up to 14 days if there is a need for a place to isolate. Call (844) NYC-4NYC (844-692-4692) and press “0”.
• NYCHA’s journal has information about how they are responding to COVID-19. Information is available about hardship reductions for NYCHA residents struggling to pay rent.
• As per Mayor de Blasio, all tax lien sales will be postponed until September. Property owners who are facing hardships making their property tax payments can take advantage of several existing New York City Department of Finance (DOF) programs. These include exemption programs to lower the amount of taxes owed, standard payment plans, or a new Property Tax and Interest Deferral (PT AID) program, for those who qualify. DOF also provides a monthly property tax billing service to facilitate budgeting for property owners billed on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. More information on those programs can be found on the agency’s website.
• National Grid customers should be aware of a phone scam demanding immediate bill payment and threatening service disconnection. Learn ways to protect yourself and your family here.
   

  TRANSPORTATION

• The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the installation of barriers across 4,800 local buses and 1,000 express buses to further enhance bus operator safety. Installation of a full-length vinyl curtain on express buses will start this week and is expected to be completed by mid-August.
• Mayor de Blasio announced that the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Staten Island Ferry will return to 30-minute service frequency during the morning (5:00 AM to 9:00 AM) and evening (3:30 PM to 7:30 PM) rush hours.
• The Driver Resource Center launched by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) offers a wide range of services to all TLC-licensed drivers and medallion owner-drivers.
• There is currently no subway service from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM to allow for cleaning and disinfecting of trains and stations. The “MTA Overnight” page provides details on the service changes.

For City alerts in English, text COVID to 692-692.
For City alerts in Spanish, text COVIDESP to 692-692. 

Source: Brooklyn Borough President’s Office

• NYC is hiring 1,000 Contract Tracers immediately to help trace, isolate and support all New Yorkers with confirmed COVID-19. For more information, including required skills, click here 
• Temporary Positions: click here
• As a part of the GetFoodNYC deliver program, Licensed TLC Drivers can sign-up here  to deliver meals 
• Seasonal Jobs at NYCHA: NYCHA is currently hiring temporary workers to assist with maintenance at their properties throughout the city. The job will last as needed throughout the spring season at a rate of $15/hour. For more info and to apply, your constituents who are NYCHA residents can contact their local NYCHA Property Management Office: Click here. 
• As of 6:00 PM on Sunday, April 26th, there are 156,100 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City and 41,327 confirmed cases in Brooklyn. As of 6:00 PM on Sunday, April 26th, there were 11,708 confirmed deaths citywide, with an additional 5,228 probable deaths, including 3,494 confirmed deaths and 1,282 probable deaths in Brooklyn.
• The New York City Board of Elections (BOE) has canceled June’s Democratic primary.
• Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center has partnered with Share Meals, Hunger Free America, BetaNYC, and Plentiful to compile a listing and guide on food resources available to New Yorkers.
• New York Road Runners has released an online portal to keep you “Active at Home.”
• SOMOS Community Care has opened an antibody testing center in Sunset Park. It is available by appointment only, Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Call 1-833-SOMOSNY (1-833-766-6769) for an appointment.
• New York City partnered with T-Mobile to provide free tablets with internet access to 10,000 the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) seniors to stay connected with their families including a hotline for live human help.  The first neighborhoods to receive help from the $5 million venture will be Brownsville, Bushwick, Coney Island, East New York, Red Hook, and Mott Haven.
• The Coalition for the Homeless has resources online to help homeless New Yorkers, including downloadable borough-specific resource guides, a crisis hotline, mobile soup kitchen schedule, New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) guidance, and policy papers.
• All publicly permitted events that were scheduled in the month of May and June have been cancelled.
• The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Office of Financial Empowerment has transitioned all financial counseling and coaching programs to offer services remotely. Book an appointment here.
• Per Mayor de Blasio, new testing centers will be opened across the five boroughs.  Five of these centers will focus on serving at-risk patients in neighborhoods that have seen a large number of coronavirus cases, including a center in East New York.
• Beginning May 4th, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will suspend its curbside composting program. During the suspension, any food scraps and yard waste set out for composting will be collected as trash. Residents with brown bins should store their bins in a safe location for the duration of the suspension.
• The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that the opening of its recreational boating season will be postponed until May 23rd.
• National Grid is warning customers to beware of a new phone scam where imposters are demanding immediate bill payment and threatening service disconnection. This latest scam, which is targeting customers already facing hardships due to COVID-19, involves callers who pretend to be National Grid representatives. Please see attached for more info.  This info can also be found on our website: 

  https://www.nationalgridus. com/News/2020/05/National- Grid-Warns-New-York-Customers- of-Latest-Payment-Phone-Scam/.
• The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) launched the NY COVID-19 Legal Resource Hotline to help New York City residents impacted by COVID-19 get answers to their legal questions on issues including unemployment benefits, employee rights, housing, public benefits, consumer debt, advance planning, stimulus payments, and special education issues.  Call (929) 356-9582 Monday-Friday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM to leave a message with your name and contact information or visit nylag.org/hotline for more information. 
• Per Governor Cuomo, the PAUSE plan will stay in effect through Wednesday, May 15th. The maximum social distancing fines have been increased from $500 to $1,000. One hundred percent of a non-exempt essential service business’s workforce should stay home. Guidelines on what essential services must still be in person can be found here. A halt on all non-essential public gatherings remains in effect.
• The Trump Administration is moving to delay some deadlines for the 2020 Census due to the novel coronavirus, including delivering data to states for congressional redistricting. The Census Bureau is requesting Congress to allow a 120-day delay on some data-reporting deadlines. The delay would accommodate social distancing guidelines for workers to prevent the spread of the disease and extend the deadline from December 2020 to April 2021. You can do your part to secure respect, money, and resources with the 2020 Census. Please fill out the Census online and #MakeBrooklynCount.
• NYCHA’s journal has information about how they are responding to COVID-19. Information is available here about hardship reductions for NYCHA residents struggling to pay rent.
• New York Cares is currently mobilizing volunteers to respond to COVID-19.
• New Yorkers can use their SNAP benefits to order online.
• The City has streamlined the home delivery of meals to seniors and working to support our food pantries, who are critical partners in these efforts. In the interim, you can find a list of key resources at www.nyc.gov/GetFood or by calling 311 and saying “Get Food.”
• Free and low-cost childcare options during the COVID-19 crisis are available through Workers Need Childcare, for parents and caregivers in New York City’s essential workforce.
• Temporary toilets and hand washing stations will be made available citywide in 12 locations, by the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS).  There are currently two Brooklyn locations: under the BQE on Meeker and Sutton and on 61st Street and 10th Avenue.
• Mental health professionals have signed up to volunteer their services at a FREE hotline. Call (844) 863-9314 for a free appointment.
• Worried about having to self-isolate in a dangerous home situation? Co-quarantined with an abuser? Please reach out and contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.  Call 1 (800) 799-7233,  TTY 1 (800) 787-3224, or chat online at thehotline.org.
• The senior center meals program is now 100 percent delivery, rather than grab-and-go. Seniors should call their local senior center for more information if they haven’t already received meals.
• Numerous businesses have reached out about how they can provide support. The City launched this intake form and a designated hotline (833-NYC-0040) for local businesses that have resources to offer that can potentially support the COVID-19 emergency response effort.  
• The City has created a new, online portal that will allow New Yorkers to self-report COVID-19 data, helping the City to communicate with affected members of the public and assist in the identification of areas that may require an enhanced response. By going online or calling 311, New Yorkers can quickly input information about themselves and legal guardians can add information for children or adults in their care. New Yorkers can update their status at any time through the Portal or by calling 311. The Portal is available in 11 languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. It is not intended as a mechanism for providing medical advice or treatment, and should not be relied upon as a method to obtain medical care or emergency service. Personal information will be stored securely and only accessible to City employees protecting public health. It will not be accessible by ICE, or used for law enforcement or any other purpose.
• Banks have waived mortgage payments for 90 days and suspended foreclosures. Eligibility is based on financial hardship. Late payment fees and ATM overdraft fees are also suspended. All student loan interest has been suspended. 
• Tax Day has been pushed back to Wednesday, July 15th. As per Mayor de Blasio, all tax lien sales will be postponed from May until at least August.
• The Employee Retention Grant for small businesses with four or fewer employees is available and includes space for you to add March and April’s revenue.  Information and eligibility can be found here.
• Additionally, loans are available for small businesses affected by COVID-19, the application can be accessed here. The Small Business Continuity Fund will offer financial assistance to small businesses with fewer than 100 employees who have seen sales decreases of 25 percent or more will be eligible for loans of up to $75,000, to help retain employees and ensure business continuity.
• We have partnered with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to get businesses the relief they deserve amid the pandemic. Join the Small Business Hotline via the Brooklyn App.
• Per Governor Cuomo, the statewide school shutdown is extended through Wednesday, April 29th at this time, although Mayor De Blasio and Chancellor Carranza announced that New York City public schools are remote learning and are closed until September 2020. The DOE will provide computers and internet access to every student who needs it. Call (718) 935-5100 (press 5). Parents and guardians of students with disabilities can send questions to specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov. 
• School sites are open for grab-and-go meals this week, from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, outside of main entrances of every school building. The program is now open to anyone who wants food, no questions asked. Go to nyc.gov,or text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877 for lists of where meals are being served.
• For veterans and their families, the NYC Veterans Alliance has a list of resources on their website.
• MTA buses and subways remain open, and the NYC Ferry system and Staten Island Ferry will continue to operate. MTA buses are rear-door boarding-only, with exceptions for disabled riders. On local buses, that means no more fare collection. Regular fare policy remains in effect wherever on-board payment boxes or SBS off-board ticket machines continue to be accessible.
• Alternate Side Parking (ASP) is suspended through Tuesday, May 12th. Parking meters are still in effect. Rideshares and carpools have been banned by executive order.  With the exception of families, there can only be one passenger per vehicle.   
• The City is recruiting TLC-licensed drivers through DeliveryTLC to help with work related to COVID-19, such as delivering food to older adults. This work will be paid $15/hour plus reimbursement for gas and tolls. Drivers will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis. The initial need for drivers will be small, but they expect it to increase as they expand the programs.
• The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) is fining and shutting down non-essential construction sites. Essential construction may continue and such construction includes roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals, or health care facilities, affordable housing, and homeless shelters. A map of essential and emergency construction sites allowed to continue working can be found here.
• While all Brooklyn Public Library branches are closed until further notice, services and programming are still available online at their website. 
• A statewide eviction moratorium is currently in effect, including residential and commercial properties as well as foreclosures, according to the Office of Court Administration. The City will work with the State to suspend the Rent Guidelines Board process for the coming year, which will maintain all regulated rents at their current level for 2.3 million tenants in nearly one million stabilized units across the city.
• Utilities have been ordered to not shut off service for gas, water, or electricity. Internet services will not be cut off during this time.
• If you see price gouging, report it to 1 (800) 697-1220, fill out the complaint form on the New York State Attorney General’s website, or email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.

If you are feeling sick, please wait three to four days before contacting a doctor. Use telemedicine services BEFORE going to the doctor’s office, urgent care, or the ER. Thanks to our advocacy and Governor Cuomo’s leadership, co-pays for telemedicine consultations have been eliminated due to COVID-19. Call (800) 633-4227 or your doctor for more information if you are on Medicaid. Whether you utilize Medicaid, private insurance, or are a self-payer, options are offered across many specialty areas.  Urgent care telemedicine is available with New York-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, or NYU Langone. Mental health telemedicine is available with Columbia Doctors. Diabetes telemedicine help is available with NYC Health + Hospitals. If you know other services, email askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.

As a community church, Calvary is here to the bridge the gap to help meet the needs in our community.  On this post you will find resources available to New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic.