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April 19, 2023

I joined 1199SEIU, the Greater New York Hospital Association, and my colleagues to #ClosetheMedicaidCoverageGap by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, which have not been significantly increased in the last fifteen years, to ensure low-income children, the elderly, and people with disabilities receive the care they deserve. It is especially urgent that the Medicaid reimbursement rates be increased given the State’s worsening mental health crisis. At the same time we must also reject the proposed $700 million cut to safety net hospitals and provide $2.5 billion for our safety net hospitals, nursing homes, and home care workers.

This week, I joined my colleagues and dozens of 1199SEIU home care workers to fight against attempts to slash home care wages. Rather than sabotaging the livelihoods of our communities, we should provide Fair Pay 4 Homecare. Last year the duties that home care workers perform were rightfully recognized when their pay was raised to $3 above the minimum wage. We must ensure that home care workers pay remains at least $3 above the minimum wage rate so that it may continue to rise jointly with the rest of the State and must not be frozen or weakened.

We also need to raise wages for all workers to $21.25/hour and then index it to inflation.

I joined the Legal Aid Society, Housing Justice 4 All, other advocates, my colleagues, and dozens of tenants to demand that our budget include Good Cause Eviction and the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP). Good Cause would provide tenants with common sense protections against potential abuses from landlords, as well as limiting skyrocketing rent increases and the HAVP would create a subsidy for homeless New Yorkers or those at-risk of homelessness. A budget without these provisions is a budget that fails to do what is in the best interest for our communities, especially while countless ordinary citizens struggle with the housing affordability crisis. Housing should not be in the budget unless it includes #GoodCause and #HAVP. We have a housing affordability crisis and MUST address it.

Sex trafficking survivors and advocates former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from NOW-NYS, Sonia Ossorio from Women's Justice NOW, Taina Bien-Aimé from the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women, and other supporters joined State Senator Cordell Cleare and I in Albany to support our legislation that builds on legislation which I authored to combat the horrible practice of sex trafficking and make it easier to prosecute perpetrators of this heinous crime. This legislation would remove the criminal statute of limitations for sex trafficking crimes and treat it like other sex crimes such as rape in the first degree. The bill also affords survivors the same opportunities for justice as victims of other sexual offenses by extending the time period in which a lawsuit can be brought like we did in the Child Victim’s Act and the Adult Survivor’s Act. It is time to take the next step toward eradicating commercial sexual exploitation.

Nearly a hundred people attended our rally to fight the construction of a seven-story building on a site where a single family home once stood. It is the proposed location of a charter school for 250 to 300 students. Neighborhood residents, including those from three coops adjacent to the site (Tibbett Towers, Corlear Gardens and The Edwardian) came out in force to protest this proposed building, which undoubtedly would have a very negative impact on the community. Council Member Eric Dinowitz, State Senator Robert Jackson and I all strongly spoke out against this project and we were also joined by union members of Local 79 LiUNA. The construction has already resulted in significant damage to the adjacent parking lot of Tibbett Towers. I pointed out that I do not believe there is even a need for seats that this middle school would provide, which would be part of the International Leadership charter school located only a block away, because that school has already seen a significant reduction in their enrollment and even applied to the Department of Education for a revision in their charter, reducing the number of students. Right now, however I think all construction must stop because of the damage that is being done next door to it.

I had the opportunity last week to visit Riverdale Senior Services and meet with their Social Action Committee to discuss various community concerns.

Per the RSS Website: If you are interested in seeing change happen in your community become part of the RSS Social Action Group. If you are interested in joining send an email to info@rssny.org

Our office received numerous calls regarding a truck and attached trailer that was parked on 235th street, between Arlington and Netherland Avenue. The truck had been parked for several weeks, without moving, and I am happy to report that it is no longer located at the municipal meter spot on that block . After several 311 complaints and communications with the NYPD, the truck is no longer taking up two muni meter spaces in front of the businesses on 235th. Thank you to the NYPD and the 50th Precinct for your attention to this matter!

Currently the Governor and the New York State Legislature are negotiating the budget, which is now three weeks late. It is being held up by numerous issues, totally unrelated to the budget, including proposed changes to criminal justice reform, housing policy, proposal to increase the number of charter schools in NYC and many other issues. Because the Governor has more leverage during the budget process than after the budget is adopted, she has made many of these issues part of the negotiation, and that is what is causing the budget to be late, especially considering there is general agreement on actual expenditures.

Last week, I asked "Should the statute of limitations be paused when a person holds the office of the presidency?"

Here are the results:

Yes, toll (pause) the statute of limitations. — 67%

No, statute of limitations not be tolled (paused). — 31%

Other/No Opinion. — 2%

» Dine Out Riverdale — Riverdale Restaurant Week from Saturday 4/15 to Sunday 4/22

• For more information, including participating locations, please visit their website: dineoutriverdale.com

» Riverdale Nature Preservancy — Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 20

• Will be held from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Riverdale Y (5625 Arlington Avenue).

• Light refreshments will be served. RSVP at riverdalenature.org.

» Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark — Prom Dress and Suit Drive through Friday, April 21

• The Bronx District Attorney's Office is accepting donations of gently used formal dresses and suits for Bronx high school seniors.

• Items must be clean. No rips, tears, or damages please. Bags and shoes welcome too!

• Drop off at 198 East 161st Street, Bronx, New York, 10451, between 9am and 5pm. Bin in lobby area.

• In conjunction with Bronx Fashion Week.

• Donations accepted until April 21, 2023.

• For more information, please email Community Affairs at cau@bronxda.nyc.gov.

» Jerome Gun Hill Bid and Friends of Mosholu Parkland — Earth Day Celebration, April 22

• Will be held from 12pm to 3pm at the Jerome Garden Plaza (Under the 4 train and Mosholu Parkway).

• Free environment themed arts & crafts and activities.

» 47th Precinct Community Council — Fellowship Breakfast on Wednesday, April 26

• Will be held at 8am at the Eastwood Manor (3371 Eastchester Rd).

• For more information please call 47th Precinct Community Council President Toba at 347-327-6288.

» Riverdale Senior Services —

TECH EXPO, May 5th and 6th

• Friday- 10am to 3:30pm

• Saturday- 10am to 4pm

• Riverdale Senior Services (2600 Netherland Avenue).

• For more information visit RSS Tech Expo or contact RSS at 718-884-5900 .

» Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz — Free Paper Shredding Sunday, May 7th

• Will be held from 10am to 1pm at the intersection of Johnson Avenue and West 235th Street.

• For more information contact the office of Assemblyman Dinowitz at 718-796-5345 or reply to this email.

» Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz — Free Paper Shredding Sunday, June 11th

• Will be held from 10am to 1pm in front of the office of State Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (3107 Kingsbridge Avenue).

• For more information contact the office of Assemblyman Dinowitz at 718-796-5345 or reply to this email.

» Emerald Isle Immigration Center — The EIIC Creatives Concert: Irish, Malian, and Newly Composed

Songs of Spring, Rebirth, and Renewal

Thursday, May 11th | 7PM

• Get Tickets Here

» Riverdale Pride — Second Annual Riverdale Pride, June 4th

• Will be held on June 4th from 11am to 2pm at the Riverdale Neighborhood House (5521 Mosholu Avenue).

• Learn more at riverdalepride.org.

» Riverdale Main Streets Alliance — North Riverdale Festival, June 11th

• For more information visit RMSA.

» Van Cortlandt Park Alliance — Interns Wanted

• VCPA is looking to hire 24 interns for two paid internship programs

• Open to high school students as well as college students

• Garden 2 Market (G2M): "Interns spend their summer exploring the local food system and building community at the VCPA garden and market. Ideal applicants are high school students who are interested in horticulture, trying new things, starting healthy habits and learning about green jobs related to gardening and the food system. Our garden rebuild is well underway and 2023 interns will play an integral part in helping us get the new space off to a great start." Apply here by April 14, 2023. Crew Leader apply here by May 20, 2023.

• Urban Ecology Teen Internship: "learn about local flora and fauna, complete labs, go on nature-focused field trips, and explore green career opportunities with natural resource professionals. Ideal applicants are rising Juniors and Seniors who are interested in learning about various green careers while completing hands-on restoration projects." Apply here by May 5, 2023. Crew Leader apply here by May 20, 2023.

• For more information, visit: https://vancortlandt.org/programs-overview/internships/?blm_aid=22417

» Community Health Care Services Foundation, Inc. — Scholarship Available for NYS Nurses

• "The Edna A. Lauterbach Scholarship is available every spring for NYS Registered Nurses (RNs) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who are planning to further their career in home and community-based care."

• "Applicants for the scholarship must currently hold an RN or LPN from New York State to be eligible for consideration."

• Scholarship is for up to $6,200 and the deadline to apply is June 1.

• For more information, please visit: https://www.nyshcp.org/CHCFoundation/Lauterbach_Nursing_Scholarship/CHCF/Lauterbach_Nursing_Scholarship.aspx

» NYC Department of Environmental Protection - Change in Water Supply

• DEP is preparing for a multi-month shutdown of the Delaware Aqueduct later this year

• DEP has started slowly introducing water from the Croton system into the city's supply of tap water

• Residents may detect a slightly different taste in water sourced from different reservoirs due to different mineral contents

• All water used in New York's tap water system are highly tested (2,000 times per day)

• Any concerns about tap water quality should be reported to 311 so DEP can investigate

• For more information about the city's tap water and sources, visit: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/current-water-distribution.page

• For more information about the Delaware Aqueduct repairs, visit here: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/news/21-006/600-feet-below-hudson-river-final-concrete-lining-completed-1-billion-water-tunnel#/0

» NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection — Free Tax Prep

• For families with an income of $80,000 or less in 2022

• For single filers with an income of $56,000 or less in 2022

• Work with a knowledgeable IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer to complete an accurate tax return.

• Four ways to file across more than 130 sites in all five boroughs: In-Person, Drop-Off Service, Virtual, and Assisted.

• For more information, visit nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for "tax perparation".

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

3107 Kingsbridge Avenue

Bronx, New York 10463

Phone: 718-796-5345 | E-Mail: dinowitzj@nyassembly.gov