Dear Friends,
First and foremost, thank you to our veterans for your service. I was honored to attend the Rye, Village of Mamaroneck and Willow Towers Veterans Day Ceremonies, and to visit Empire Post 375 in Yonkers.
On Saturday, I will be holding a Food Drive with Senator Pete Harckham, Neighbors Link, The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry and the Bedford Teachers’ Association at Mount Kisco Elementary School from noon to 2 p.m. If you are able, I encourage you to stop by and donate. The most needed items are healthy cereal, oatmeal, olive or canola oil, instant coffee, pasta sauce, dried beans, peanut butter, jelly, low sodium soups, diapers, detergent, dishwashing liquid and toilet paper.
On Tuesday, I will be cohosting a virtual forum on preparing for retirement with AARP New York State President Leo Asen. We will cover a wide range of topics including staying active and legal and financial planning. The Zoom link is listed below.
I would also like to inform you about the ‘Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate’ vaccine incentive program. Children ages 5 to 11 who are vaccinated by Dec. 19 can now enter to win a full scholarship to any two- or four-year SUNY or CUNY college or university. More information is available below.
As always, if there is anything my office can do to assist you, please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov or call (914) 934-5250.
Warm regards,
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Shelley B. Mayer
State Senator
37th District
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Veterans Day in Senate District 37 |
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Rye Veterans Day Ceremony |
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Village of Mamaroneck Veterans Day Ceremony |
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Willow Towers Veteran Day Ceremony |
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Empire Post 375 in Yonkers |
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The rights and freedoms we enjoy have been fought for and protected over the centuries by brave men and women who were called to put courage over fear and their fellow citizens above themselves. Veterans Day is a powerful reminder that we need to do better by our veterans and ensure that the next generation knows what they sacrificed for our nation.
I am proud to share the news that legislation Assemblyman Nader Sayegh and I sponsored to authorize Westchester County to waive certain fees for veterans’ organizations (S7125/A2658) was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on Veterans Day.
The new law aims to facilitate the expansion and renovation of veterans’ posts in the county, especially those which have foregone investment in infrastructure due to financial constraints. The fees include, but are not limited to, building permit review fees and fees associated with capital improvements to any post or hall owned by a not-for-profit congressionally chartered veterans’ organization.
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Enter to Win a Full Scholarship to SUNY or CUNY |
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On Nov. 9, I was pleased to join Governor Kathy Hochul at the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center for the announcement of the ‘Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate’ vaccine incentive program. Children ages 5 to 11 who are vaccinated by Dec. 19 can now enter to win a full scholarship to any two- or four-year SUNY or CUNY college or university. A total of 50 winners will be selected.
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SBA Business Recovery Center Moves
& Upcoming FEMA Deadlines
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Opening of the SBA Business Recovery Center in New Rochelle |
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On Nov. 8, the Westchester County Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Recovery Center moved from White Plains to New Rochelle. Its new location is American Legion Post #8, 112 North Ave, New Rochelle. Businesses and nonprofits, as well as individuals who need help applying for assistance, can visit Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
I continue to meet with municipal leaders, property owners, renters, and small business owners experiencing Ida-related damage to identify paths for rebuilding and increasing resiliency. I know there are persistent frustrations with the short- and long-term rebuilding ahead.
FEMA Application Deadline:
Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, is the deadline for applying for FEMA disaster assistance.
Visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app, or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Phone Lines are open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
You can also visit the Disaster Recovery Center at the Mamaroneck Village Library, 136 Prospect Ave, Mamaroneck, for in-person assistance.
FEMA Appeal:
If you receive a letter from FEMA indicating you are ineligible for assistance or that your application is incomplete, you are entitled and encouraged to appeal the decision within 60 days.
You must fax or mail your appeal postmarked within 60 days of the date of FEMA’s decision letter. In addition to the information FEMA provides, National Disaster Legal Aid provides a useful set of resources, especially surrounding appeals: www.disasterlegalaid.org/femaappeals/
SBA Application Deadlines:
Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available to businesses and residents in Westchester. SBA provides loans for physical and economic damage caused by a declared disaster, including home and personal property, business, and economic injury loans. As of Oct. 7, the SBA’s Physical Loan application deadline is Dec. 6, 2021, while the Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan application deadline is June 6, 2022. Find more information at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.
Note that after applying for disaster assistance from FEMA, you may be referred to the SBA to apply for a loan. If you are referred to SBA, FEMA recommends that you complete and submit the loan application. If your application is approved, you are not obligated to accept the SBA disaster loan but failure to submit the application may disqualify you from other FEMA assistance, such as disaster-related car repairs, essential household items and other expenses.
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White Plains Train Station |
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If you have been to White Plains Trains Station recently, you have probably noticed some upgrades. As someone who used to commute from this station, I was thrilled to join MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi for the celebration of the completion of the full-scale $95 million renewal of the station.
The top-to-bottom transformation includes:
- A new elevator fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
- New staircases with an automatic system to melt snow and ice as it falls
- Extended platforms
- Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity
- Improved lighting
- Remodeled restrooms
White Plains remains among the stations with the highest ridership in the Metro-North system. Its modernization will continue to help draw riders back to the system as we rebuild the economy.
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Thanksgiving Food Drive in Mount Kisco |
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Upcoming Narcan Training
Registration Required by Nov. 22
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Landlord Rental Assistance Program Roundtable |
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On Nov. 4, I cohosted a Zoom forum with the Building and Realty Institute (BRI) to explain the Landlord Rental Assistance Program (LRAP), which provides assistance to residential landlords affected by the COVID-19 pandemic whose tenants are ineligible or unwilling to apply for the Covid-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). The legislature allocated $125 million in non-federal funds to be made available to landlords whose tenants did not qualify for the federal funding allocated to ERAP. The LRAP program provides payments directly to landlords of up to 12 months of rental arrears for rents accrued on or after March 1, 2020. There are no citizenship or immigration status requirements to qualify for the program. Tim Foley, Executive Director of BRI; Ron Abad, CEO of Community Housing Innovations (CHI); Blanca Lopez, Assistant Director of Operations, Westchester County; and Cynthia Fernandez, Director of Property Management for CHI, provided an excellent explanation of the program and the application process.
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Blood Drive at The White Plains Library |
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222 Grace Church Street, Suite 300
Port Chester, NY 10573
Phone: (914) 934-5250
Email: SMayer@nysenate.gov
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