Dear Neighbors,

Happy Friday. It was a busy week, including the reopening of the New York City Council. There is still a great deal of work to do in the weeks ahead, but I am enthusiastic about our work to bring COVID-19 relief to our district and the city as a whole. 
 
Our next COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall focusing on senior citizens is this Tuesday, April 28th. My office will share details on how to join the conversation in the coming days. 
 
As always, please contact my office with any questions or concerns at (718) 217-4969, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or via Facebook and Twitter (@RoryLancman). You can also visit my office’s new COVID-19 information page as a resource, and a place to find past email newsletters and Virtual Town Halls.
 
Stay safe and strong,

Rory I. Lancman
 
What's New
  • Deaths from the Coronavirus continued their gradual descent, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Friday, with the state recording 422 more deaths, the smallest number since April 1. The state death toll now stands at 16,162. One area of concern remains the number of virus patients newly admitted to hospitals. After dropping almost 35 percent from last Friday to Tuesday, it has fallen only another 5 percent since then.
     
  • Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city will no longer force correction officers to work 24 hours straight, after their union sued the city over the practice.
 
What You Need
  • Gov. Cuomo announced the state Board of Election will send every registered voter a postage-paid application for an absentee ballot for the primary election on June 23. 
     
  • The City Bar Justice Center’s new COVID-19 Small Business Remote Legal Clinic offers pro bono legal consultations to small business owners to help them understand and act upon options available under the federal government’s COVID-19 stimulus package and other opportunities available through federal, state and local programs.
     
  • Gov. Cuomo unveiled a new text message program today to aid victims of domestic abuse. The text service will be staffed 24/7 by domestic violence caseworkers. New Yorkers seeking help can text (844) 997-2121 or chat with a professional on the new confidential website at www.opdv.ny.gov. Calls to the state's domestic violence hotline are up 30 percent in April compared to last year and calls increased 18 percent from February to March 2020. State Police also report domestic violence incident calls were up 15 percent in March compared to last year.
 

What To Do

  • Health officials warned New Yorkers that it is dangerous to swallow or inject household disinfectants despite conflicting information from the federal government. Makers of Lysol also warned that its cleaning products were not meant to be swallowed or injected.
     
  • Relive Linsanity! The New York Knicks announced MSG Network will air nine games from February of 2012, starting with the birth of Linsanity against the New Jersey Nets on Monday. The highlight is Jeremy Lin’s 38-point sizzler against the Los Angeles Lakers, which will replay on Wednesday.