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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MAY 15-MAY 21, 2020 15
BY COREY JOHNSON AND
HELEN ROSENTHAL
This pandemic has been hard for
all New Yorkers, but for those facing
domestic violence, it is even more
dangerous. Isolated with an abuser
and far from support networks,
their opportunities to get help may
be limited, and even a simple phone
call can be perilous.
The stories of our fellow New
Yorkers are heartbreaking.
One woman struggled to get an
order of protection online, only to
be told by the police they couldn’t
enforce it without a hard copy. Another
woman and her children were
thrown out of their home, and it took
two calls to 911 to receive help.
Advocates shared these and other
tragedies with the City Council during
a May 1 oversight hearing on the
impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence.
What became clear is that we
must have a comprehensive plan in
place to reach these vulnerable New
Yorkers.
Sadly, the city’s messaging on
domestic violence has fallen short.
At our hearing, providers testified
about the need for robust and culturally
appropriate messaging that
identifies resources available for
survivors. To begin to address this
messaging gap, last week, the City
Council launched the #BeingSafeCANTWait
campaign to let survivors
and bystanders know how to
recognize signs of DV, and that help
is available.
The city must build on this work
and get the word out about support
services for DV survivors during
the pandemic. The Mayor’s Office
to End Domestic and Gender Based
Violence should implement a public
service campaign amplifying DV
messaging, resources, and text and
chat platforms. And they should create
palm cards with information
about DV supports to be distributed
at sites across the city, such as food
pantries, grocery stores and pharmacies,
where essential services
are already being provided. Getting
the word out means reaching people
where they are during PAUSE.
The city should also work to increase
DV survivors’ access to the
internet and to personal communication
devices, particularly in shelters.
And the city should provide
guidance regarding how to protect
their personal devices from abusers
who use technology to track and
stalk survivors.
Finally, the city must develop a
thoughtful plan that anticipates the
surge in DV reports — and demand
for services — that will likely follow
the lifting of the state’s PAUSE
restrictions. Some countries saw a
30 percent spike in DV reports after
COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed.
We should prepare for the same
trend.
Corey Johnson is Speaker of the
New York City Council, Helen Rosenthal
is the Chair of the Council Committee
on Women and Gender Equity.
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