FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARСH 19, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 19
сoronavirus
LIC Partnership calls for increased
support for local small business
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
When Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an
executive order that will limit restaurants,
bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery,
the Long Island City Partnership swung
into action updating and simplifying its
promotion to encourage people to patronize
local businesses during the coronavirus
emergency.
“As New Yorkers heed safety guidance
and new mandates, we are urging residents
Courtesy Hunters Point Parks Conservancy
The Long Island City community is mobilizing to help families and small business that are hurting
during the coronavirus emergency.
New York state halts debt collection for
student loans and medical payments
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Th e state announced that it would temporarily
halt debt collections on individuals
who owe payments on student loans
and medical bills to New York state, in an
eff ort to aid the fi nancial hardships as a
result of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Governor Andrew Cuomo
and Attorney General Letitia James, the
suspension on payments would be “eff ective
immediately” for “at least a 30-day
period” from March 16 to April 15.
Following that period, the state will reassess
the needs of residents and issue possible
extensions.
“As the fi nancial impact of this emerging
crisis grows, we are doing everything
we can to support the thousands of New
Yorkers that are suff ering due to disruptions
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,”
Cuomo said. “Th is new action to temporarily
suspend the collection of debt
owed to the state will help mitigate
the adverse fi nancial impact of
the outbreak on individuals, families,
communities and businesses
in New York state, as we continue
to do everything we can to slow the
spread of the virus.”
Currently, the attorney
general’s offi ce identifi es
more than “165,000
matters” that fi t the
criteria for a suspension
of
state debt.
Th ese cases
include, but
are not limited
to, the
following:
T h o s e
who owe
medical debt to the fi ve state hospitals
and fi ve state veterans’ homes;
Students who owe debts to State
University of New York campuses;
Individual debtors, sole proprietors,
small business owners
and certain homeowners
who owe debt relating to oil
spill cleanup and removal costs,
property damage and breach
of contract, as well as
other fees owed to
state agencies.
In addition to
suspending debt
p a y m e n t s ,
the temporary
policy
will also
automatically
suspend
interest
accrual
and collection
of fees
on all outstanding state medical and student
debt on individuals referred to the
offi ce of the attorney general (OAG).
“In this time of crisis, my offi ce will
not add undue stress or saddle New
Yorkers with unnecessary fi nancial burden,”
said James, “New Yorkers need to
focus on keeping themselves safe and
healthy from the coronavirus, and therefore
can rest assured that state medical
and student debt referred to my offi ce
will not be collected against them for
at least 30 days. Th is is the time when
New Yorkers need to rally around each
other and pick each other up, which is
why I am committed to doing everything
in my power to support our state’s
residents.”
Th e state also encourages those with
non-medical or non-student debt who
have been referred to the OAG to apply
to temporarily halt the collection of
state debt. Th ose who are interested can
fi ll out an online application or visit
the OAG’s coronavirus website to learn
more.
Individuals unable to fi ll out an online
application can call the OAG hotline at
800-771-7755 to learn more.
and essential workers in Long Island
City to support their local businesses
by ordering takeout and delivery from
their favorite nearby cafes and restaurants,
caterers, shops and wine stores,” LIC
Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin
said. “Shopping local has never been more
important and we hope our neighbors will
join us in supporting the businesses that
are the heart of our community.”
Th e LIC Partnership’s “Shop, Eat, Drink
Campaign” encourages people to buy a
gift card to local restaurants, hotels and
stores. For a list of businesses, you can
help support, visit the Partnership’s website
at longislandcityqueens.com.
Meanwhile, the Long Island City community
is coming together to help those
who are less fortunate during the coronavirus
outbreak. Local civic, religious and
business organizations “to alleviate specifi
c needs in our neighborhood and surrounding
areas” in western Queens.
Starting Monday, March 23, the LIC
Community COVID-19 Relief Group will
begin to distribute meals for students and
families impacted by the ongoing school
closure. Meals will be in a “grab-and-go”
format with no seating available.
“We are working on fi nalizing diff erent
locations in Hunters Point and Court
Square but nothing has been fi nalized
yet,” Hunters Point Parks Conservancy
President Rob Basch said. “Everyone is
welcome to join our work in progress as
we try to keep people fed through this
crisis and also help our local restaurants
stay open.”
Th e coalition of organizations is currently
collecting dry goods for distribution. Any
products received will be disbursed to local
food pantries with the highest needs.
Donations can be made at the New
City Church offi ce at 10-54 47th Ave.,the
LIC Jewish Community Center at 10-29
48th Ave.
Kelly Craig, the co-vice-president of the
P.S./I.S. 78Q PTA, got the eff ort started
over the weekend.
“I was speaking to Patrick Th ompson
from New City Church NYC and we discussed
how diverse Long Island City is and
the economic disparity that you see when
you get away from the luxury high-rises
along the waterfront,” Craig said. “Th ere
are 780 children at my school and many
of them do not get meals at home. I feel
responsible for these kids, so I told Patrick,
‘We have to start getting in front of this.
We’re asking for food donations as well as
monetary donations that will all go to people
that need help right now.”
She is enlisting the help of restaurants
like Little Chef Little Cafe to prepare the
“grab-and-go” meals.
“We have the boots on the ground but we
desperately need funding to help as many
people as we can,” Craig said. “Th e needs
here will only intensify in the coming weeks.”
To volunteer, email Casey Chamberlain at
casey@hunterspointpark.org and to donate,
visit newcitychurch.churchcenter.com.
Donations are processed through New City
Church LIC, but separately accounted for.
For more information about fi nancial
donations email Kelly Craig at kelly@psis78pta.
org.
Photo via Flickr/Governor Andrew Cuomo
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