Stimulus and New Vaccine Information

Dear Neighbor,

Some good news. President Biden has signed the American Rescue Plan, which means more help is finally on the way for small businesses, families, schools, non-profits, and state and local governments. In New York, we are counting on that assistance to prevent some budget cuts that would have otherwise occurred. To learn more about the impact of the plan, click here to view summary reports provided by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office.  

On the vaccine front, people 60 and older were made eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week. As of today, public-facing government, nonprofit, and building service workers will also be eligible--joining our other essential workers.  

My office has updated the weekly list of pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals that have received the vaccine this week. Please click here and call these providers for appointments. You should find that more of them are accepting those with underlying conditions. Pharmacies which could only give vaccines to those eligible by age are now allowed to give the vaccine to teachers. You can also book an appointment at a mass vaccine site here or by phone:1-833-697-4829. And keep in touch with your local village, town, or city government, as many are working with local pharmacies to host limited pop-up vaccine sites. 

Lastly, please remember to join Senator Shelley Mayer and me for our Women’s History Month celebration, as we recognize women from our district who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic to help others. The event will be virtual on Zoom and Facebook on Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:00 p.m.

As always, please don’t hesitate to email me at scousins@nysenate.gov or call my office at (914) 423-4031, if you have any questions or issues of concern.

Until next time,

Andrea Stewart-Cousins
New York State Senator, 35th District
President Pro Tem, Majority Leader
 

• For Yonkers residents, the Yonkers Riverfront Library at 1 Larkin Center has set up a small help desk in the atrium to assist with vaccine appointments, and help is available in English and Spanish. Hours are: Mondays & Thursdays, 12 p.m. - 7:00 p.m and Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
   
• Weddings and catered events can resume with less restrictive capacity limitations.  For more information, click here. 
   
• Open enrollment for New York's health insurance Marketplace has been extended to May 15, 2021. To apply for coverage, click here. 
   

Each year, I honor one outstanding woman and one outstanding veteran from my Senate District to be recognized by the NYS Senate. The Woman of Distinction award recognizes a woman whose achievements set an extraordinary example for future generations and  who has given back to the community. The Veterans Hall of Fame recognizes a veteran who has selflessly served in the Armed Forces and made a tremendous impact on the community. To learn more about these prestigious honors please click here: Woman of Distinction, Veterans Hall of Fame. To nominate a community member for either award, please email my office at scousins@nysenate.gov by April 1st.

During my tenure as Senate Majority Leader, we have passed landmark legislation to protect and improve women's healthcare. 

The bills passed this month address serious maternal health issues and help to ensure that women are in control of their healthcare. 

Citizen participation in government, on all levels, is the very bedrock of our democracy. 

The legislation passed by the Senate Democratic Majority will help ensure that the 2021 Elections are able to run smoothly and be conducted with every effort taken to protect New Yorkers’ health.