oped letters & comments
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bxtimes.com
SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR APRIL 24-30, 2020 13
BY ALEXANDRIA
OCASIO-CORTEZ
Our district is the epicenter
of the epicenter. Among
the zip codes with the highest
number of positive cases,
fi ve of the top 10 reside in
NY-14. The neighborhoods
of Jackson Heights, Corona,
Elmhurst, East Elmhurst
have a combined population
of about 600,000 and more
than 7,260 coronavirus cases.
Manhattan, with nearly
three times as many people,
had about 10,860 cases.
Our community is also
disproportionately at risk for
the greatest consequences of
the virus. Bronx residents
are twice as likely to die from
COVID-19 than other New
York City residents. Latinx
people also comprise 34 percent
of the COVID-19-related
deaths in New York City, the
largest share for any racial
or ethnic group.
Congress has not yet done
nearly enough to address this
crisis. I believe our next stimulus
must include three critical
policies. First, we must
provide recurring monthly
payments of $2,000 per individual
and $1,000 for dependents.
Second, unlike the
last stimulus package, immigrants
must be given relief.
Those with Tax ID numbers
should receive stimulus
checks, and all immigrants,
regardless of status, should
be eligible for healthcare
programs. Finally, we must
expand public plans like
Medicare and Medicaid to
cover those who lose their insurance
when they lose their
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
Letters to the editor are welcome from all readers. They should
be addressed care of this newspaper to Laura Guerriero, Publisher,
the Bronx Times Reporter, 3604 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx,
NY 10465, or e-mail to bronxtimes@cnglocal.com.
All letters, including those submitted via e-mail, MUST be
signed and with a verifi able address and telephone number
included.
Note that the address and telephone number will NOT be
published and the name will be published or withheld upon
request.
No unsigned letters can be accepted for publication. The editor
reserves the right to edit all submissions.
jobs.
There is some relief currently
available. To date,
Congress has made COVID-19
testing free; required companies
of fewer than 500 people
to provide paid sick and family
leave; increased funding
for food banks and nutrition
programs; granted direct
cash assistance for adults
with Social Security Numbers
earning $99,000 or less;
created a new pandemic unemployment
insurance program;
and provided relief for
small businesses.
To learn more about how
to apply for any of these programs
– and to learn about
resources available to immigrant
communities – go
to my website, ocasio-cortez.
house.gov, or call our offi ce,
718-662-5970. Last week, our
offi ce responded to over 400
inquiries.
We know many of you are
facing issues applying for unemployment.
The state has
revamped its website in response.
Now, once you apply
online, you will receive a call
from the state within 3 days.
You no longer have to call the
State to complete your application
for unemployment insurance.
We also know many
of our small businesses are
frustrated by the delays with
the Paycheck Protection Program.
It appears that Congress
will reach a deal with
the Trump administration
this week to add an additional
$300 million to the program,
which should free up
lenders to begin distributing
loans again.
I’m not one to sugarcoat.
Things are very hard, and
Congress has not done nearly
enough. But I’m also not one
to stop fi ghting. Just two
years ago, I was a bartender.
My family lived on the precipice
of economic ruin after
my father died unexpectedly.
I know personally the devastation
many of you are facing.
Please know that I will continue
to fi ght every day to get
you the relief you deserve.
Dear Letters Editor:
Many cities, suburbs and
small towns are down to one
local daily or weekly newspaper.
“Communities need their
newspapers, and newspapers
need their community” (Editorial
— April 17).
Newspapers have to deal
with increasing costs for newsprint,
delivery and distribution
along with reduced advertising
revenues and declining
readership due to competition
from the internet and other
new information sources.
Bronx residents have a
number of daily newspapers
to select from including the
Daily News, Post, Times, USA
Today, Wall Street Journal
and along with freebies such
as AM Metro New York.
Daily newspapers concentrate
on international, Washington,
Albany, City Hall,
business and sports stories.
They have few reporters assigned
to cover local neighborhood
news stories. These
reporters have to compete
against colleagues for limited
available print space. As a result,
daily newspapers miss
signifi cant news and political
stories from local Bronx
neighborhoods.
Weekly newspapers such as
our own Bronx Times, Bronx
Times Reporter and others fi ll
the void for coverage of local
community news.
I’m grateful that you have
afforded me the opportunity
to express my views via letters
to the editor along with
others who may have different
opinions on the issues of
the day.
Local neighbors need
to continuing supporting
weekly community newspapers.
Patronize their advertisers;
they provide the revenues
to help keep them in business.
Let them know you saw their
ad. This helps keep our neighbors
employed and the local
economy growing. In the marketplace
of ideas, let us hope
there continues to be room for
everyone including the Bronx
Times, Bronx Times Reporter
and others.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
VISIONS
Last Friday night, VISIONS/
Services for the Blind
& Visually Impaired (www.
visionsvcb.org) hosted an
At Home Concert featuring
Bronx actor, entertainer and
entrepreneur Gene DiNapoli,
The event raised more than
$5,300 to support VISIONS
free services for individuals
who are blind or visually impaired.
To Gene, to everyone who
watched the concert, and to
those who made donations,
thank you for joining us and
for your support of VISIONS.
If you missed the concert
or simply want to watch it
again, visit DiNapoli’s Stone
Mill Restaurant on Facebook
or GeneDiNapoli on Instagram.
To make a donation to VISIONS,
please visit www.visionsvcb.
org/donate.
Thank you and please stay
healthy and safe.
Amy Gordon,
Senior Director of Fundraising
Initiatives
VISIONS
Op Ed: COVID in NY-14
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You Think
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PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER: ��������������������������������������������������CEO AND CO-PUBLISHER: Joshua Schneps
BRONX TIMES PUBLISHER: Laura Guerriero
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