Community & Reopening Update 8-21-2020

Dear Friends:

I hope you and your families have recovered from the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias. Though our power and phones may be back online, we will never forget the wholly inadequate response of our utility and telecommunications providers. Following the storm, my office and I spent hours every day filling a critical customer service role that utility and telecommunications providers had abdicated. We fielded complaints from some of our most vulnerable residents, and we coordinated with these companies to ensure customers received proper attention. Lack of timely updates and systems for two-way communication between customers and these companies was just one of the major failures of the storm response.

Following the numerous failures of our utility and telecommunications providers, I fought for a public hearing to bring to light what went wrong and how things will be improved to ensure this pattern of failed storm responses does not continue year after year. The Senate and Assembly held a joint public hearing on Thursday, August 20th. Click here to watch the hearing. At the hearing, we heard from John Rhodes, Chair of the Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities and telecommunications providers, as well as the heads of Con Edison, NYSEG, Verizon, Altice (Optimum), and others. It is clear that major structural reforms must be implemented to protect the public and ensure improved performance. To that end, I will be announcing a package of bills this coming week to reform the NYS Public Service Commission, improve communication between providers and customers, and enhance accountability.

In addition to working to improve utility & telecommunication storm preparedness, this week I participated in a City & State webinar on Education in New York on Tuesday, August 18th; attended the Westchester County Police Reform & Reimagining Task Force Public Forum in Yonkers on the same day; and distributed food for seniors in New Rochelle. If there’s an event in your community you’d like me to participate in, please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov or call my District Office at 914-934-5250. 

NEW YORK FORWARD

• Gyms and fitness centers can reopen at 33% capacity for regions in Phase Four of reopening starting on Monday, August 24th. Click here for guidance.
• A total of 35 states meet the metrics to necessitate a travel advisory requiring individuals who travel to New York from those states to quarantine for 14 days. Click here for the full list of states on New York's travel advisory.
• Bowling alleys were permitted to reopen at 50% capacity statewide starting on Monday, August 17th. Click here for further guidance on Sports & Recreation Reopening Guidelines.
• U.S. Open Golf Championship will be held without on-site fans at the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck from September 14th to September 20th. Click here to learn more.

DELIVERING MASKS & HAND SANITIZER TO THE PORT CHESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY
Thank you to Port Chester Village Trustee Alex Payan for arranging a mask and sanitizer drop-off at the Port Chester Housing Authority on Monday, August 17th. We had a wonderful meeting, and I enjoyed seeing their beautiful community gardens!

ACCESS TO CARE HEALTH FAIR IN MAMARONECK
On August 15th, my office participated in the annual Access to Care Health Fair hosted by the Community Resource Center (CRC), Open Door Community Health Center and the Rye YMCA. Thank you so Jirandy Martinez, Executive Director of the CRC, and all who worked hard to make this event happen.

FREE HAND SANITIZER FOR COMMUNITY NONPROFITS
My office has been delivering hand sanitizer to religious institutions, senior buildings, public housing and community groups throughout the 37th district who have requested it. To date, we have distributed over 120 gallons of hand sanitizer and over 600 2 oz. spray bottles to over 40 locations. Please fill out the form here to request a 1 gallon bottle of hand sanitizer for your community nonprofit, senior building, or other community group.

100 YEARS OF VOTES FOR WOMEN
Tuesday, August 18th marked the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting American women the hard-fought right to vote nationally. With hard work and perseverance, we have made great progress to have women's voices represented in all levels of government. To commemorate the anniversary, I participated in a must-watch News 12 Women's Right to Vote: Power & Politics Special with Tara Rosenblum. I also joined Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for a bi-partisan discussion with our female colleagues in the State Senate titled 19 on 19: the History, Revolution, and Evolution of Women's Political Voices. Click here to watch our conversation.

COMPLETE THE CENSUS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES
We have until September 30th to ensure everyone in our communities is counted in the Census. The data collected is used to fund more than 50 government programs for the next 10 years including for school funding, roads, healthcare, and so much more. The Census is safe & secure, and will only take a few minutes of your time to complete. Visit My2020Census.gov to be counted.

COMPLETE EL CENSO PARA APOYAR A NUESTRAS COMUNIDADES
Tenemos hasta el 30 de septiembre para garantizar que todos los miembros de nuestras comunidades sean contados en el Censo. Los datos recopilados en el censo serán utilizados para financiar más de 50 programas gubernamentales durante los próximos 10 años, incluyendo fondos escolares, carreteras, cuidado de la salud y mucho más. El Censo es seguro y sin riesgos y solo le tomará unos pocos minutos completarlo. Visite My2020Census.gov para hacerse contar.

DEADLINE TO GET INSURED THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE MARKETPLACE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 15
Governor Andrew Cuomo has extended the deadline to September 15th for those who are uninsured to enroll through the state's healthcare marketplace. If you lost your job, or health coverage, and now need health insurance, visit the NYS of Health Marketplace to enroll: nystateofhealth.ny.gov.

As always, feel free to contact my office at (914) 934-5250 or smayer@nysenate.gov if there is an issue with which we can offer assistance or if you have questions about reopening for yourself or your business.

Kind regards,
Shelley B. Mayer
State Senator
37th District