Community & Reopening Update 9-10-2020

Dear Friends:

Friday marks the 19th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. On this date, for me and for millions of Americans, the world changed. Each of us remembers that awful feeling of dread as the day unfolded and we realized the plane crashes were not an accident but an attack on our nation. We realized that our feelings of security and innocence were no longer justified. For many families throughout the 37th Senate District and Westchester, the dread was even more terrible. For them, the loss was deeply personal as their beloveds were gone in an instant. Their loss is a void that will never be filled – and never be forgotten.

In the face of such national pain, in the face of thousands lost, our country responded with a sense of patriotism, unity, sacrifice and empathy. I distinctly remember the lines of firetrucks and police cars, from volunteer and paid departments from the entire New York community, coming down the West Side Highway to enter into harm’s way. No one stopped to ask, "should I go?" No one stopped to ask, "is there someone I know at risk?" They jumped in their trucks, their police cars, their ambulance vans, and they barreled down there because they were needed. These first responders paid a terrible price for their actions – so many have gotten sick and some have died. Every day, our police officers, firefighters, and EMTs step into harm’s way, without a question or debate. They do it out of loyalty, patriotism, sacrifice and empathy. We owe them our deepest gratitude, and we cannot forget their sacrifice. 

This Friday, I will be attending several 9-11 memorial services throughout the district, as well as volunteering with Volunteer New York as part of their 9-11: Serve & Remember Day of Action. I hope to see you at one of these events.

NEW YORK FORWARD:

• Click here for an updated list of states on the travel advisory list requiring individuals who travel to New York from those states to quarantine for 14 days.
• Casinos in New York State are allowed to reopen at 25% capacity beginning on Wednesday, September 9th. Casinos must have enhanced air filtration, and ventilation & purification standards in place in order to open. Click here to learn more.
• NYC indoor dining will be permitted to reopen at 25% capacity beginning on September 30th. Temperature checks will be required of all customers; masks must be worn when not seated; and no bar service will be allowed. Click here for additional guidance for indoor dining in NYC.

COVID-19 MONITORING DASHBOARD FOR NEW YORK SCHOOLS
This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo launched the COVID-19 monitoring dashboards for school districts throughout the state and for SUNY schools. New York school districts and all 64 SUNY colleges & universities will report positive COVID-19 cases to the NYS Department of Health daily. The data will be available publicly for all on the dashboards. Click here for the SUNY COVID-19 Case Tracker. Click here for the New York School Districts COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard (the data will be live once reporting starts coming back to the NYSDOH). The COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard will provide important information for parents, staff and the public yet places additional financial challenges on already strained school budgets.

HELPING PORT CHESTER FAMILIES DISPLACED BY FIVE ALARM FIRE
Special thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Port Chester/Rye Brook and the folks at Arctic Mechanical Heating & Cooling for stepping up to help Port Chester residents who lost their homes in a major fire on Sunday, August 30th. Since the incident, donation bins have been placed at local Port Chester locations to help the families recover. If you can, I encourage you to donate clothes, canned food, toiletries, bedding, or anything else you think would be helpful. There are three locations for donation bins:

• Port Chester Senior Center (Monday - Saturday, 9AM - 3PM): 222 Grace Church Street, Port Chester, NY 10573
• Arctic Mechanical: 460 N. Main Street in Port Chester, NY, 10573
• Kohl's: 431 Boston Post Rd, Port Chester, NY 10573

BLOOD DRIVE CO-SPONSORED BY SENATOR SHELLEY MAYER & THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK
On October 2nd, I am pleased to co-sponsor a Blood Drive with the American Red Cross & the Town of Mamaroneck. Donating blood is essential to community health and the need for blood is constant. Donations are by appointment only. I encourage those who are healthy to make an appointment to donate. Visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment. Masks and social distancing will be required and observed.
BLOOD DRIVE
Friday, October 2nd, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Hommocks Park Ice Rink
140 Hommocks Road, Larchmont, NY 10538
Click here to make an appointment.

PROGRAMS FOR YONKERS SENIORS VIA ZOOM
The Yonkers Office of the Aging, in partnership with the Yonkers NNORC (Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community), Yonkers Public Library, and New York-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, is sponsoring several programs for seniors via Zoom. The programs include Body/Mind Fitness on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM, Bingo on Thursdays at 1:00 PM, and Meditation Chair Yoga on Fridays at 9:00 AM. Click here for a flyer with more information including Zoom information on how to join the programs. Contact Sally Pinto at the Yonkers NNORC for programs, services, and referrals: (914) 391-1323 or sally.pinto@yonkersny.gov.

EMPIRE CITY CASINO BY MGM RESORTS TO REOPEN MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Empire City Casino in Yonkers announced that it will reopen its doors on Monday, September 21st with the health & safety of employees and guests at the forefront. The casino will follow MGM Resorts' comprehensive "Seven-Point Safety Plan" that includes employee screening, temperature checks and COVID-19 specific training; guest screening and temperature checks with limited casino entrance points; and physical barriers installed in areas where distancing presents challenges, among other safety precautions. Click here to learn more.

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.

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