Queens Gazette

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BILLS ADDRESS GROWING CHILDHOOD TRAUMA CRISIS: On Oct. 8, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) announced their plan to introduce a pair of bills that take a holistic and community-based approach to addressing the growing crisis of childhood trauma.

Chairwoman Maloney said, “After years of regulatory assaults by the Trump Administration on the health and wellbeing of America’s children, the coronavirus pandemic has increased and exacerbated childhood trauma across the nation. This moment demands critical resources to support our children, families and communities.

“Childhood trauma and insecurity is a public health crisis in this country. Congress must pass the Children’s Protection Act and the STRONG Support for Children Act to ensure that the federal government prioritizes the health and wellbeing of our children and is a partner in breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma fueled by race and class discrimination. Every child deserves to grow up feeling safe and supported with the tools they need to create their best future, and federal actions should never undermine this bedrock value. I’m proud to continue the work of the late Chairman Elijah E. Cummings, who held the first-ever Congressional hearings on childhood trauma.”

Unaddressed childhood trauma is linked to several leading causes of death in America, including heart disease, lung disease, substance use, and suicide. Studies show that exposure to poverty, homelessness, food insecurity and malnutrition, discrimination, family separation, and deportation increase likelihood of negative health outcomes and can lead to complex trauma and toxic stress.

The Children’s Protection Act, led by Chairwoman Maloney, would require all proposed federal rules to undergo a childhood trauma impact study before being finalized to ensure that the health, wellbeing, and futures of all children in America are prioritized.

The Services and Trauma-informed Research of Outcomes in Neighborhood Grants for (STRONG) Support for Children Act, led by Congresswoman Pressley, would establish two new grant programs to support local Public Health Departments in addressing trauma and ensuring that programming is conveniently located and accessible to all children and families regardless of immigration status, ability to pay, and prior involvement in the criminal legal system. The legislation would prohibit grant recipients from using funds to increase surveillance and policing of vulnerable communities.

Both bills have been widely endorsed by various related organizations.

BIG TECH ANTITRUST INVESTIGATION REPORT: NYS Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris issued the following statement as House Judiciary Democrats released their long-anticipated investigative report on the monopolistic practices of Big Tech companies. The report specifically highlighted the need for an abuse of dominance standard, which Senator Gianaris has proposed in his legislation at the state level.

“Our antitrust laws were written a century ago for a radically different economy and they are in desperate need of serious updates. Corporate power has reached unprecedented and dangerous levels, and we need powerful new laws to protect the public and our economy,” said Senator Gianaris. “I am pleased this issue is gaining attention and I commend our colleagues in Congress, led by Rep. David Cicilline, for their thorough investigation.”

As alluded to by the senator, New York’s existing antitrust laws are more than a century old and are not equipped to regulate abuses in today’s world. In the meantime, market domination has led to new uncompetitive practices such as predatory pricing and leveraging a company’s dominant position to control adjacent markets. Senator Gianaris’ legislation, the 21st Century Antitrust Act, would allow the state to take action against companies engaging in these practices, as well as allow for class action lawsuits. The Senate held its first-ever antitrust hearing on Senator Gianaris’ bill in September.

DELAY IN SCHOOL ADMISSIONS AND SHSAT: NYS Senator John Liu, Chair of the Senate’s Committee on NYC Education stated the following about the delay in school admissions and SHSAT: “Predictably, the de Blasio administration has delayed the middle and high school admissions process, including the SHSAT, in the continuous disarray and dysfunction that students and families have endured. It is imperative that the DOE provide clear information and a timeframe ASAP, and not use COVID to change long-standing policy suddenly and unilaterally.”

GOVERNOR’S NEW CLUSTER ACTION INITIATIVE: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Oct. 6 a new cluster action initiative to address COVID-19 hot spots that have cropped up in Brooklyn, Queens, and Broome, Orange and Rockland Counties. Working with the top public health experts, New York State developed a science-based approach to attack these clusters and stop any further spread of the virus, including new rules and restrictions directly targeted to areas with the highest concentration of COVID cases and the surrounding communities. The new rules will be in effect for a minimum of 14 days.

The plan was developed in consultation with national public health experts including Dr. Noam Ross of EcoHealth Alliance, Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota and former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden.

“A cluster is just that – it’s a cluster of cases, a high density of cases, and it seeps and grows from that cluster almost in concentric circles. Drop a pebble into the pond, the pebble goes in, then there’s one ring, two rings, three rings, and the rings continue across the pond. When you see the cluster, you have to stop it at that point,” Governor Cuomo said. ”Our strategy is to crush the cluster and stop the spread, and we’re announcing a special initiative to do just that. Step one, you take the most dramatic action within the cluster itself where you have the highest density of cases. Understanding that the people in that cluster interface with the surrounding communities, take additional action in the communities surrounding the cluster. Then as a precautionary measure, take action in the communities that are outlying that area.”

Governor Cuomo also announced that fines for the sponsors of mass gatherings in violation of state public health rules will be increased to $15,000.

The initiative will currently apply to clusters in the following areas: Queens (Two Areas, Red, Orange and Yellow), Broome County, Brooklyn (One Area, Red, Orange and Yellow), Orange County, and Rockland County.

The initiative divides clusters and the areas around them into three categories with successively higher restrictions within each one:

  • Red Zone — Cluster Itself. Houses of Worship: 25 percent capacity, 10 people maximum; Mass Gatherings: Prohibited; Businesses: Only essential businesses open; Dining: Takeout only; Schools: Closed, remote only
  • Orange Zone — Warning Zone. Houses of Worship: 33 percent capacity, 25 people maximum; Mass Gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoor and outdoor; Businesses: Closing high-risk, non-essential businesses, e.g. gyms and personal care; Dining: Outdoor dining only, 4 person maximum per table; Schools: Closed, remote only.
  • Yellow Zone — Precautionary Zone. Houses of Worship: 50 percent capacity; Mass Gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoor and outdoor; Businesses: Open; Dining: Indoor and outdoor dining, 4 person maximum per table; Schools: Open with mandatory weekly testing of students and teachers/staff for in-person settings. The New York State Department of Health established a percentage of teachers and students/staff who needed to be tested by Oct. 9.

The enforcement of the zones went into effect last week.

‘TAKE SCHOOLS COMPLETELY REMOTE’: Council Member Costa Constantinides, District 22, released the following statement on the New York City Schools system in relation to the uptick in COVID-19 cases: ”At this point it’s not a question of IF New York City’s schools will close, but when. We knew this second spike was coming, so it’s inexcusable should we repeat the mistakes of March. Instead of rushing into a plan for full remote learning, the City must clearly, transparently develop a strategy to take as many students as possible fully online. The time for squabbling is over — our students, teachers, staff, parents and guardians deserve definitive answers.”

Constantinides said that at the same time, we have to be conscious that some students must learn in person. “We need a safe plan to make sure early age and District 75 students get the attention they need, while also keeping them and their teachers safe.”

He said the Mayor’s Office must unlock the nearly $1 million allocated this budget year to Council District 22 schools. “These funds will empower teachers to do their best job possible with reliable technology. Once the schools close, it could very well be for the bulk of this school year. Teachers deserve the infrastructure to make sure this isn’t a lost year for our children.”

Constantinides has called on the City to delay in-person learning for most grades, with the exception of 3-K, Pre-K, and District 75 schools.

The Council Member penned a letter to Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza last month to ask them to release the technology funds.

‘DEFUND DEFEAT DESPAIR PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN’: On Oct. 6, Committee on Oversight and Reform Chair Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chair Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Chair of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, introduced the Defeat Pandemic Propaganda Act of 2020, which will prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using federal funds to create campaign-style political advertisements regarding COVID-19 in the run-up to the presidential election.

“Taxpayer money should never be used for political propaganda or to manipulate and deceive the American people. This legislation would enact guardrails – ones that this Administration has proven we need – to protect our democracy and prevent the hijacking of public health communications for political purposes,” said Chairwoman Maloney.

“With more than 200,000 Americans dead from COVID-19 and no end to the pandemic in sight, federally-funded advertisements meant to cast the situation in a positive light or suggest there is no longer a need to take public health precautions would be wholly unethical, especially in the weeks before a presidential election,” said Chairman Krishnamoorthi. “Our bill would ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services cannot be used to produce taxpayer-funded campaign propaganda that could endanger lives and mislead the electorate.”

In late August, HHS signed a $250 million contract for a public service advertising and announcement campaign intended to, in part, “defeat despair and inspire hope, sharing best practices for businesses to operate in the new normal and instill confidence to return to work and restart the economy.” The project, originally overseen by former Trump campaign aide and loyalist Michael Caputo, has the potential to produce taxpayer-funded propaganda that could benefit President Trump at the polls, Maloney’s office explained.

In response, Reps. Maloney, Krishnamoorthi, and Clyburn, as Chairs of House Committee Oversight and Reform panels, called on HHS to suspend the contract and provide related documents for review as part of an ongoing investigation.

CITY COUNCIL EXPELS KING: NYC Council Member Costa Constantinides issued the following statement on his vote to expel Andy King from the New York City Council: “Today the New York City Council took the unprecedented step to expel Andy King from this body. This was not taken lightly, but over the last year Andy has shown no remorse for the substantiated allegations of abuse, harassment, and betrayal of public trust. Instead, he has doubled down on the idea that he has done nothing wrong. What does that say to the women he made feel unsafe? Andy has time and again betrayed the oath all of us took to make this City a better place, not just for our constituents but all 8.4 million New Yorkers – including our staffs.

“For the last year I have maintained he was no longer fit to serve in the Council, as he’s continually sought retribution instead of absolution. He scoffed at the umpteenth chance he got last year to make amends or improve himself. I voted last year and again today to expel him, because we must set the example that anyone who abuses trust should be removed from the workplace. As a former Council staffer, I know how hard our teams work over grueling days to make the City a safer place. They have put their faith in us because they believe in our particular causes or want to serve their neighborhood. We, in turn, should support them – not make them fear for their health or safety. This is something we must uphold.”

SACSS TO CELEBRATE QUEENS’ RESILIENCE: On October 22, 7:30 pm ET, South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) will host a virtual celebration of its Queens community, and its 20th anniversary of service.

SACSS empowers and integrates underserved South Asians and all immigrants into the economic and civic life of New York through the fundamentals of food security, healthcare access, job preparedness, senior services including counseling, and much more. SACSS also helps individuals and families learn their rights and have a voice in civic issues such as census enrollment, voting, and more (www.sacssny.org ).

The virtual event, #QueensStrong, is a celebration of the community, and SACSS’ 20th anniversary, and will feature special guests such as actor Sendhil Ramamurthy, journalist Sree Sreenivasan, comedienne Zarna Garg, Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, along with special performances by Navatman, Brooklyn Raga Massive, and Masala Bhangra. The event will be streamed live and broadcast on TV Asia.

Sudha Acharya, executive director of SACSS, said, “COVID-19 has devastated the Queens community resulting in thousands of people losing loved ones, livelihoods, and their way of life. But despite this, our community of never-quitters is rallying with resilience and determination. We at SACSS have had the pleasure of serving this community for 20 years – together, we are Queens Strong.”

All SACSS’ programs are free and available in 15 languages including Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan, Spanish, Creole and Mandarin. In 2019, SACSS served more than 15,000 people a year struggling to feed their families, pay their bills, stay healthy, and prosper. During the pandemic, these numbers are rising, and SACSS currently provides food at their curbside food pantry to about 1,000 families each week. For more information, contact sacss@sacssny.org or call 201-920-1976.

MENG STATEMENT REGARDING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND COVID-19: US Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) issued the following statement regarding the Jewish community and COVID-19: “I’ve experienced how one community can be singled out and unjustly blamed for COVID-19. Bigotry and violence have been directed toward the Asian American community, and we need to prevent that hate from continuing to spread toward my constituents in the Jewish community in Queens. That begins by not blaming COVID-19 transmission on any one group of people, but instead on a set of behaviors.

“New Yorkers know the havoc that COVID-19 has wreaked on our city. We have lost loved ones, been forced out of our homes, been laid off from jobs, had to close our businesses, and lost precious time with our friends and family. We all must take this virus seriously to keep transmission rates down.

“My constituents in the Jewish community, and many throughout our region, are doing their utmost to follow the rules to keep our city safe. The actions of those not following the rules, amplified by news reports, should not be conflated with the actions of the many who are following the rules. The recent violence and violation of public health guidelines is unacceptable. But there should never be blanket discrimination against the entire Jewish population of New York.

“Our standards must be consistent across the city. Everyone must adhere to the rules: no mass indoor gatherings, no large groups inside houses of worship, wear masks, practice social distancing, and encourage testing in our communities. If we all follow these guidelines, we will get through this together and keep our city safe.”

‘NEED NEW EIS FOR ARVERNE EAST’: On Oct. 5, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) and State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-South Queens) sent a letter to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and City Planning Director, Marisa Lago calling for a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be conducted for the Arverne East proposed development in Arverne, within the Arverne Urban Renewal Area. The current EIS was conducted in the early-2000s and does not account for numerous factors including major weather events, the COVID-19 pandemic, and demographic trends that have changed over time, the lawmakers stated.

“There are a lot of great aspects to this development, but the reality is there has not been a comprehensive EIS done for Arverne East since George Bush was president. A lot has changed in our community since then that needs to be considered,” Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato said. “Major weather events, population growth, commercial and retail trends, education needs, and a global pandemic are just a few of the factors that were not considered in the last EIS. A development this large needs to be done responsibly; a current EIS will better state the needs of our community and we deserve that.”

“Due to several major changes and events over the last 17 years, I believe it is imperative that a new Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is conducted for the proposed Arverne East Development, as well as a full reevaluation of the commercial program before any projects begin,” said Senator Addabbo. “While I normally favor job growth and development, the Rockaway Peninsula is a completely different place than it was in 2003, when the original EIS was done. We owe it to the people of Arverne to take another look at where the community stands, and what the community needs now in 2020 and beyond.”

The Arverne East Development is within the Arverne Urban Renewal Area, overseen by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The plan calls for thousands of units of housing, 150,000 square feet of community retail and restaurant space, and a nature preserve over the 81 acres of city-owned land that has been vacant for decades. Over the past decade, the Rockaway Peninsula has been slated to received over 5,000 new units of housing through major rezonings including the Downtown Far Rockaway Revitalization, and the Peninsula Hospital site redevelopment. Pheffer Amato, Addabbo, community leaders and Community Board 14 have voiced their concerns regarding the various projects, citing that the city has not accounted for increased density and a lack of resources for residents.

—With contributions by Annette Hanze Alberts

This column was originated by John A. Toscano

 

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