Category: News from Gale Brewer

New $100 million New York Forward Loan Fund.

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The State’s New York Forward Loan Fund will make under-$100,000 working capital loans to NYS small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords of under 20 employees and gross revenues of under $3 million. Applicants are ineligible if they received SBA funding through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).  Loan amounts will be the lesser of (a) $100,000 or (b) up to 100% of average monthly … Read more

We need at least one social worker in every public school!

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Therapists will tell you that children who experience trauma often have difficulty identifying, expressing, and managing emotions; they will internalize or externalize stress reactions, resulting in depression, anxiety, or anger. Social Workers are mental health professionals who are trained to address those issues— and they can help relieve the pressures on already overworked educators and staff.  I have been calling for every school to have at least one social worker… Read more

Current list of COVID-19 testing sites in Manhattan.

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The following is a list of testing sites for both swab testing (for those who suspect they are infected) and antibody testing (for those who believe they have already recovered from the virus) in Manhattan. All sites are swab testing sites and available by appointment only, unless otherwise noted. Last updated: 5/27/2020 NOTE: The State has released an online map tool to help find your nearest COVID-19 testing center, which… Read more

Current list of open streets in Manhattan.

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Here’s a list of all the open streets in Manhattan as of May 14th:
  • Hudson Blvd. East & West, from 35th – 36th Street.
  • 17th Street, from 10th Ave. – 8th Ave.
  • West End Avenue, from 87th – 96th Street.
  • 75th Street, from Broadway – Riverside Drive.
  • 114th Street, from Manhattan Ave. – Frederick Douglass Blvd.
  • Edgecombe Avenue, from St. Nicholas Place – 145th Street.
  • Margaret Corbin Drive, from Fort
… Read more

Who’s Helping New York Reopen?

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Who’s Helping New York Reopen? The Mayor and Governor are announcing many advisory boards of stakeholders and experts working to determine best practices as we adapt to a “new normal.” Here are the boards that I know of… Blue-Ribbon Commission Appointed by Governor Cuomo on May 25, the Blue-Ribbon Commission will advise on improving telehealth and broadband access using new, innovative technologies. Source: governor.ny.gov.
  • Chair: Eric Schmidt, former CEO
… Read more

Help Available for Freelancers

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Here’s a list of active grant programs available to freelancers:

Freelancers Relief Fund:

Launched by Freelancers Union, this program offers financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs. This includes: food/food supplies, utility payments, cash assistance to cover income loss. Eligibility:
  • Primarily reside in the US
  • Must have performed freelance work as their primary source of
… Read more

WATCH: Summer Youth Employment Program Zoom conference

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I hosted a virtual Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Town Hall on Aprill 22, 2020. You can watch the hour-long panel on the importance of SYEP and efforts to save it, featuring these panelists:
  • Children’s Aid Society’s Sandino Sanchez,
  • Catholic Charities’ Alianza Dominicana Division’s Eddie Silverio,
  • The Boys and Girls Club of Harlem’s Dominique Jones,
  • The Chinese-American Planning Council’s Wayne Ho, and
  • The United Neighborhood Houses’ J.T. Falcone.
Watch it… Read more