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Dear Constituent,
Below is my latest Resource Roundup message, containing information about helpful programs, services, and opportunities from New York State government and other entities serving Assembly District 95. If you know of anything that should be included in a message like this, please feel free to send it to district95@nyassembly.gov.
Visionary Voices Art Show September 26
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This Friday, September 26 from 3-5 PM, I will be hosting a special showing of my district office’s latest art exhibition, Visionary Voices. Many thanks to our curator, Joyce Sharrock-Cole, for her work in pulling the show together! Visionary Voices is a beautiful, thought-provoking collection of pieces by local artists exploring themes of equality, inequality, and diversity in our state. Click here to RSVP for this showing.
Coffee & Conversation October 11
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Save the date - I’ll be hosting a coffee and conversation event at the Black Cow in Croton on Saturday, October 11 from 1-2 PM. Hope to see you there!
Preventing Political Violence
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The murder of Charlie Kirk was yet another terrifying instance of gun violence in this country. As I said at the time, such violence is completely unacceptable. In the aftermath, Governor Kathy Hochul and a bipartisan group of local and state leaders are taking steps to protect against and prevent political violence. Click here to read more. In addition to monitoring the threat environment, the state is encouraging everyone to check out the Disagree Better initiative, currently co-led by Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Click here to learn more about it and check out tools for keeping disagreement civil.
Observing Rosh Hashanah
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Shanah Tovah to all who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah this week! As always, I send my best wishes for happiness, good health and peace to everyone in Assembly District 95 and everywhere. My staff will continue to be in the office during the holiday, so please feel free to call (914) 941-1111 or email levenbergd@nyassembly.gov if you need anything.
Sincerely,
Assemblymember Dana Levenberg
| | Advisory: Harmful Algal Bloom in the Hudson River | | |
Riverkeeper and a network of partners are currently monitoring and collecting data on a large, widespread harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the Hudson River Estuary, which has recently spread as far south as Garrison, NY. Based on observations to date, this appears to be the most extensive HAB in the estuary in living memory.
The public is advised to avoid water contact on shorelines where a suspected HAB is present, as HABs can produce toxins that pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife via ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. The most common symptoms that may occur from exposure include skin rashes or stomach upset. Exposure to high concentrations of the more potent and rare toxins can damage the liver or neurological system. Dogs that swim in waters affected by HABs have died. Click here to read more about the situation.
| | Vaccine Information from the Northeast Public Health Collaborative | | New York State is now part of the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a regional coalition of public health agencies coming together to promote and protect public health in our states as the federal government becomes less reliable for evidence-based information and guidance. Click here for current guidance regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. Also note that Governor Hochul has signed an executive order permitting pharmacists to prescribe and administer the vaccine, so New Yorkers can continue to receive them at local pharmacies if they so choose. | | Career Resources & Opportunities | | Westchester County Economic Development is hosting the Entering & Re-Entering the Workforce Job Fair at the Westchester County Center on Wednesday, October 16 from 9 AM - 12 PM. If you are new to the workforce or looking to return to it (or looking to hire new talent), click here to learn more and register for the event. | | Four Ways to Save Before EV Credits Expire September 30 | | Veterans Chow Down Sunday, November 2 | | Along with Guardian Revival, the Joseph P. Dwyer Vet2Vet Program of Putnam County, and my Putnam County colleagues in the state legislature, I am co-hosting the 11th annual Veterans Chow Down on Sunday, November 2. Putnam County Veterans can call my office at (914) 941-1111 to reserve a place for themselves and one guest at either the 11 AM or 2 PM seatings. | | NAMI Family & Friends is a free 90-minute webinar that helps people who have loved ones with a mental health condition learn how to best support them. It’s also an opportunity to meet other people in similar situations and gain community support. Participants learn about diagnoses, treatment, recovery, communication strategies, crisis preparation and community resources. Seminar leaders have personal experience with mental health conditions in their families. Click here to register. | | New Westchester County Office of Housing Counsel | | |
Westchester County has officially launched the Office of Housing Counsel (OHC) in an effort to help low-income individuals and families who may be struggling with a number of housing insecurity issues. In addition to providing free legal services for income-eligible Westchester residents, the OHC will coordinate access to pre-eviction support and counseling programs.
County residents whose household income is at or below 60% of the County’s median household income ($102,000 for a four person household) are eligible for free legal representation in eviction and other housing cases under this new program. Residents can contact the OHC to be connected with legal representation in these cases, free of charge. The OHC has also contracted with a number of counseling and financial advising providers in order to better serve residents.
County residents of any income level who are struggling with housing are invited to contact the OHC for assistance with any of the following issues/related issues:
- Eviction
- Rent payment
- Tenant/Landlord disputes
- Loss of essential services (heat/hot water, etc.)
- Pre-eviction support/counseling programs
County residents can complete an online intake form and a member of the OHC staff will review it and set up a connection with the appropriate services. Click here to complete the form. Residents can also call 211 to access this and a variety of other helpful services.
| | Isolation to Connection Program | | Isolation to Connection is a free program open to all, working with older adults, their families and caregivers to assess needs and connect the elderly to an array of community based services and resources including home delivered meals, transportation services and socialization opportunities. If you or any of your loved ones, friends, or neighbors need help navigating aging services, resources and/or programs, please let them know about this program. Click here to learn more about the program. | | |
Urge Congress to Extend Affordable Care Act Tax Credits
If Congress does not extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits, millions of Americans will see their healthcare costs spike. This number includes more than 140,000 New Yorkers using private insurance and 1.7 million New Yorkers on the Essential Plan, which is funded in part through these credits. Click here to learn more about what is at stake. Below are links to contact information for our representatives in Congress:
Congressman Mike Lawler: https://lawler.house.gov/contact/
Senator Chuck Schumer: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/
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Westchester County is holding two in-person budget forums to hear about residents’ priorities for programs and services for the upcoming year:
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Monday, September 29, 4 -6 PM: Yonkers Public Library, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701
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Tuesday, October 7, 4 - 6 PM: Mount Kisco Public Library, 100 E Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY 10549
If you are unable to attend in person or would like to submit a written comment, you may do so by emailing communications@westchestercountyny.gov.
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