From page 36
across the state are facing a loss
of income, the eviction moratorium
and court closures means
that during the crisis, tenants
won’t have to worry about losing
their homes or risking their
health to defend their homes in
housing court.
RED CROSS FACES
BLOOD SHORTAGES
The American Red Cross has
a severe blood shortage due to an
unprecedented number of blood
drive cancellations at these locations
during this coronavirus
outbreak. Healthy individuals
are needed to donate now to help
patients counting on lifesaving
blood.
Volu
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
EXTEND CLOSURE
Catholic Schools within the
Archdiocese of New York have
extended the closure of all elementary
schools in our system
through Monday, April 20.
Informed by the current CDC
guidelines and in consultation
with other health professionals,
the Health and Safety Task
Force of the Offi ce of the Superintendent
of Schools made this
decision out of concern for the
well-being of our students, families
and staff. We believe this decision
will also help to successfully
decrease risk to the whole
community.
CON EDISON: WE’RE ALL
IN THIS TOGETHER
Con Edison has expanded
its efforts to support New Yorkers
as they face the challenges
of the coronavirus. Con Edison
is always ready to respond to every
emergency. The energy company’s
managers and crews are
committed to keeping New York
safe and the service reliable.
If utility workers knock
on your door, they will carry
proper identifi cation. They will
explain that they are following
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and New York State and City
health and safety guidelines to
reduce the transmission of the
virus
They’ll ask if anyone in the
household is ill and discuss how
they may carry out their tasks
with everyone’s safety and comfort
in mind. If you have an appointment
with us, please let us
know if you or anyone in your
premises is quarantined by calling
1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-
6633). All company employees
and contractors are advised to
follow social distancing guidelines.
Coronavirus Impact - News You Need To Know
Con Edison will not shut off
electric, natural gas or steam
service due to payment diffi culties
resulting from the health
crisis. And they are waiving
new late-payment charges for
all customers and suspending
the fee usually charged to a customer
who is unable to grant access
to their property.
Meter readers will not enter
customers’ homes to read
meters. Customers with indoor
meters can report their usage
online.
SOCIAL SECURITY
ONLINE SERVICES
AVAILABLE
All local Social Security offi
ces will be closed to the public
for in-person service starting
Tuesday, March 17. Its secure
and convenient online services
remain available at www.socialsecurity.
gov. Local offi ces will
also continue to provide critical
services over the phone. For
more information, please visit
https://www.ssa.gov/news/
press/releases/.
CORONAVIRUS HALTS IRISH
BRONX TIMES R 38 EPORTER, MARCH 20-26, 2020 BTR
BAND’S ST. PATTY’S
SCHEDULE
The Aisling Irish Centre
Ceili band and ballad group, a
tour de force in traditional Irish
music, had their jam-packed
schedule postponed due to the
unprecedented outbreak of the
Coronavirus. The band and
group are instead using the extra
time to practice, and shortly hope
to perform and share their gifts
once again, beyond the month
of March and these challenging
times.
DELAY TAX PAYMENTS TO
HELP BUSINESSES
Amid the coronavirus pandemic
and its devastating impact
on local businesses, 38 members
of the New York City Council
have called on Governor Cuomo
and Mayor de Blasio to delay payments
of a specifi c set of taxes
to help struggling small businesses.
The members call attention
to the impact that the pandemic
is having on locally owned businesses,
“In addition to the potential
loss of life, the coronavirus
crisis has impacted our city in
ways that we are just now starting
to comprehend. As advised by
health offi cials, New Yorkers are
‘social distancing’ themselves
and avoiding gatherings in an effort
to remain healthy and help
contain the virus. This is good.
Unfortunately, this is also having
a tremendously negative impact
on retail businesses and restaurants
that depend on customer
traffi c to stay open and pay their
employees. In some cases, businesses
are reporting a drop-in
sales that is as high as 50%.”
Specifi cally, the supermajority
of the Council called on the
two leaders to “temporarily delay
the payments of specifi c state and
municipal business taxes without
penalties until our retail sector
has had a chance to weather
this unpredictable crisis. Specifically,
in the next few months a
slate of taxes will be due: business
taxes on March 16, sales taxes on
March 20 and June 20, payrolls
taxes on April 30 and real estate
taxes (including
commercial rent tax and BID
assessments) on July 1.”
ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING
SUSPENDED TILL 3/24
Mayor de Blasio has agreed
to suspend alternate-side parking
enforcement until Tuesday,
March 24 and to reevaluate a
long-term suspension during the
next week, reports Assemblyman
Jeff Dinowitz and Councilman
Andy Cohen.
The mayor has stated they
city will continue to evaluate
their options going forward.
BRONX RISING TO
FIGHT OUTBREAK
Earlier this week Bronx
Rising Initiative met with administrative
leaders from the
Morris Heights Health Center
to present their organization
with a check for $100,000.
These funds are being provided
so their organization
can increase efforts to combat
COVID-19.
In the coming weeks, Bronx
Rising Initiative will continue
to meet with administrative
leaders from other hospitals
and clinics in the Bronx while
building strategic partnerships
with individuals and private
companies. BRI will work
to raise fi nancial resources to
prepare the south Bronx community
to fi ght COVID-19.
STUDENT DEBT ON
HOLD THRU MARCH
NYS Attorney General Letitia
James has announced that
her offi ce will temporarily halt
the collection of medical and
student debts referred to the
Offi ce of the Attorney General
for collection, for at least 30
days.
Many city agencies have closed temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo courtesy by Photo by Miriam Quin f
Afya, a Yonkers-based nonprofi t which delivers medical supplies to underserved
locations globally, has formed a partnership to assist New
York Federally Qualifi ed Health Centers in Westchester County and New
York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of AFYA
/www.social-security.gov
/www.social-security.gov
/www.social-security.gov
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