Photo Credit: via Getty Images
August 10, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sabrina Rezzy
rezzys@nyassembly.gov
718-940-0428
NYC Mandates Proof of Vaccination For Indoor Dining, Gyms and Other Activities

Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

NYS COVID-19 Guidelines for MTA and Port Authority Employees; NYC Declares July as Disability Pride Month; TPS for Haiti Extended; and More!
RODNEYSE IN THE NEWS
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn was a guest on CNN Newsroom with Ana Cabrera discussing the James Report.
  • CNN - Cuomo’s fight to stay in office runs into a wave of Democratic defections. Read more here.
  • NY1 - Errol Louis Inside City Hall. Watch here.
  • Write-up from NY1 - Political Buzz: The cheese stands alone. Read more here.
  • New York Post - Sinking ship: Cuomo losing labor unions over harassment findings. Read more here
  • New York Post - Here are the Democrats jockeying to succeed Gov. Cuomo if he resigns. Read more here
  • Caribbean Today - Caribbean American Legislators Join Calls for NY Governor to Resign. Read more here
  • BK Reader - BK Responds to Cuomo Investigation, Should He Be Impeached? Read more here
  • Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Cuomo urged to resign after probe finds he harassed 11 women. Read more here
CITY & STATE NY: BROOKLYN POWER 100
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn is featured as #9 on the '2021 Brooklyn Power 100' list published in City & State New York, covering the biggest political players in the borough brimming with political power.

View the feature here.
NYS: GOVERNOR CUOMO
Gov. Cuomo announced Monday that MTA and Port Authority employees working in New York facilities will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or be tested weekly starting Labor Day. Photo Credit: DON POLLARD / NYS
  • Governor Cuomo announced that MTA and Port Authority employees working in New York facilities will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or be tested weekly starting Labor Day. Read more here.
  • The governor announced that 773 grants were awarded through the "Restart NY: Rapid Live Performance Grants" program, developed by the New York State Council of the Arts to 438 performance organizations across New York State. Read more here.
  • The governor announced the sixth funding round of his Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, which will provide up to $35 million in service and operating funds for at least 1,400 housing units.
  • This latest round of funding will ensure the continued operation of these critical supportive housing developments throughout the state. Read more here.
  • The Child Victims Act, statute of limitation extension that allowed alleged victims to file lawsuits against their abusers or the institutions that harbored them, is set to expire on August 13, 2021. Read more here.
NYC: MAYOR DE BLASIO
Photo Credit: Mayor's Office
  • Mayor de Blasio signed an executive order proclaiming July as Disability Pride Month. Read more here.
  • The mayor has appointed Margaret Nelson as Acting Commissioner of NYC Parks who served as then-Commissioner Mitchell Silver’s Chief of Staff. Read more here.
  • The mayor mandates proof of vaccinations from employees and customers of indoor eateries, gyms, and entertainment centers.
  • The order goes into effect on August 16, with full enforcement beginning Sept. 13. Read more here.
  • The Departments of Education and Health announced that August 9 is the last day for children 12 and up to get their first shot in time to be fully protected by school opening on September 13. Read more here.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Vaccination rates have climbed in recent days, buoyed in part by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. Photo Credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
  • President Biden has reached the goal of administering at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose to 70 percent of American adults.Read more here.
  • The Biden administration resumed fast-track deportation flights to Central America following another spike in families crossing the border into the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Read more here.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has discovered, through data collection, that fully vaccinated Americans who contract the Delta variant carry similar levels of the virus as unvaccinated people who contract the variant. Read more here.
  • USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has revised the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Haiti for 18-months beginning August 3, 2021 and extending through February 3, 2023 for eligible Haitian nationals who have continuously resided in the U.S. since July 29, 2021. Read more here.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
New York City, the Universal Hip Hop Museum, and IDEKO will feature a dynamic lineup of Hip Hop, Latin freestyle, dance, freestyle, techno, and funk artists in The Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens during NYC Homecoming Week.
  • The Brooklyn event will be held on Thursday August 19th from 4:00PM - 9:30PM
  • All concert tickets are FREE. Get tickets here.
Photo Credit: Department of Labor
The Excluded Workers Fund (EWF) provides financial
help to New Yorkers, including undocumented New Yorkers, who lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic and were left out of various federal relief programs, including unemployment and pandemic benefits.
  • The application for the Excluded Workers Fund is now open. Please click here to apply.
Flatbush YMCA has a number of positions available.
  • Youth & Community Development
  • Summer Camp
  • Membership
  • Fitness
  • And more. To learn more click here.
If you get your first vaccine dose at a New York City-run vaccine location, you will be eligible to choose one of the incentives, including a $100 pre-paid debit card as of July 30, 2021.
  • If an individual receives their first dose on July 28 or 29, they can still redeem their $100 pre-paid debit card. Click here for more information.
SUMMER SUBWAY OFFICE HOURS
Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn with members of the community at the Beverly Road 2 & 5 train station.
12TH ANNUAL EID UL ADHA (AMCW)
Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn, and Bazah Roohi founder of ACMW (third from the right).
Council Member Mathieu Eugene, and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn help to distribute food to the community.
Vice Council General of Pakistan Nawab Adil Khan; Council Member Mathieu Eugene; Bazah Roohi, founder of ACMW; Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn; and NYPD Lt. Zaigam Abbas.
BLOCK ASSOCIATION BLOCK PARTY'S
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn with East 26th Street Block Association president Christine Chapman, and resident.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Council Member Farah N. Louis with residents at the East 26th Street Block Association block party.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn with East 26th Street Block Association president Christine Chapman, and resident.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn with members of the 300 East 25th Street Block Association community.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn with 300 East 25th Street Block Association Co-Presidents Carol Reneau, & Garline Octobre and residents.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn at the 67th Police Precinct National Night Out (NNO) event wtih 67th Precinct Community Council president Patricia Reddock; and officers and residents of the community.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn at the 67th Police Precinct National Night Out (NNO) event with members of "Mothers For Safe Cities Response Team".
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn at the 70th Police Precinct National Night Out (NNO) event with 70th Pct. Inspector David Wall; 70th Precinct Community Council President Ed Powell; Council of Peoples Organization founder, Mohammad Razvi; Community Board 14 District Manager, Shawn Campbell; 70th Precinct Officer; and Dovi Zeitlin of Events by Dovi.
Team from the office of Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn at the 70th Police Precinct National Night Out (NNO) event, Vladimir Edouard and Soleil Griffin.
COUNTDOWN TO JUSTICE: NEW YORK'S CHILD VICTIMS ACT
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn participates in a panel Countdown to Justice: New York's Child Victims Act, hosted by the New York City Department of Records & Information Services, WomensActivism.NYC and Incorrigibles. 
COVID-19 VACCINATION SITES
If you or someone you love would like to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit here or call 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).
COVID VACCINE SCAM ALERT
DON'T FORGET YOUR MASK
MUTUAL AID NYC FOOD RESOURCES
Mutual Aid NYC is providing food assistance, resources, and other services. To get more information call their hotline at which you can call at 646-437-8080.
NYC SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE NETWORK
The NYC Small Business Resource Network is a unique private/public partnership that provides our local businesses with the free, personalized guidance they need right now to survive the pandemic. If you have a small business, you can sign up for this network today.

Once you fill out the brief intake form, you will be matched with a business support specialist. Through this program, all five borough Chambers of Commerce have specialists offering one-on-one support to businesses in their boroughs.
 
The program is funded by a $2.8 million grant from the New York City-based Peter G. Peterson Foundation and supported by in-kind contributions from other partners, this collaboration, led by the Partnership for New York City, the NYC Economic Development Corporation and all five Chambers of Commerce, leverages the city’s corporate, financial and professional services sectors, as well as universities, philanthropies and expert volunteers to help small business owners gain access to a range of programs and services.
COVID-19 RAPID TESTING BROOKLYN LOCATIONS
STOP THE SPREAD
WEARING FACE COVERINGS
AVOID SCAMS
Photo Credit: Pixabay/CDC
  • Notify NYC: Beware of COVID-19 scams!
  • Report price gouging to 311 or NYC.gov/dcwp. You can also file a complaint to the Attorney General's office by filling out a complaint form.
  • NYS Price Gouging Hotline: 800-697-1220.
  • CDC staff will NOT go door-to-door. If you experience this, call 911.
SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Photo Credit: Ansi.org
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on New York City's workforce, the City of New York has developed a list of resources for those who may be unemployed due to COVID-19 or are seeking additional assistance. The list below will be updated frequently.

It has information on the following categories:
  • Employment Resources
  • Food Assistance
  • Health & Medical Assistance
  • Financial Assistance
  • Rent Arrears and Public Assistance
  • Emotional Support & Spiritual Care
  • Other Assistance

Visit this website for resources.

NYS Department of Health Hotline for people who want to be assessed and get appointment for test (888-364-3065). NYC residents should call (844-692-4692).


Free Internet Services:
Charter is offering free spectrum broadband and WiFi access for 60 days to household with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have Spectrum broadband subscription. To enroll, call 844-488-8395.
Until further notice, all Xfinity WiFi Public Hotspots are now open to everyone on the "xfinitywifi" SSID. For more information visit here.

The Hebrew Educational Society in partnership with MET Council has a food pantry that is open to all. To reserve a spot, visit here.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn covering Ditmas Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Midwood. She is currently the Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), and serves on the following committees: Housing, Government Operations, Education, Banks, Health, and Higher Education. She is also a member of the Task Force on Women's Issues and sits on Governor Cuomo's Domestic Violence Advisory Council and Mayor De Blasio's MWBE Task Force.

As a current Assemblymember, District Leader, and Chair of Brooklyn Democratic Party, Rodneyse Bichotte has been an outspoken advocate on issues concerning immigration, education, economic development, unemployment, education reform, health care access, senior citizen centers, affordable housing, school safety, women's and LGBTQ rights, as well as other issues affecting the quality of life in the community.

  
Learn more about 
Rodneyse Bichotte by visiting her websites: