Actions for Week of April 12, 2020
ELECTION NEWS
Per Governor Cuomo, the April primary has been postponed. All primaries will be on June 23. Plus, we will all be able to vote absentee. You will not have to choose between voting and your health.
That takes care of NY (at least for the primary). Now what about November and the general election? We saw what just happened in Wisconsin (vote in person, and risk your life, or don’t vote at all). More on that further down the page.
CANCEL RENT
Senate Bill 8125/Assembly bill 10224 calls for suspending certain rent and mortgage payments for 90 days during the coronavirus outbreak for people and businesses that have lost employment or been forced to close because of coronavirus. Call your state reps and tell them to support this legislation.
Liz Krueger
Phone: (518) 455-2297
Phone: (212) 490-9535
lkrueger@nysenate.gov
Dan Quart
Phone: (518) 455-4794
Phone: (212) 605-0937
quartd@nyassembly.gov
Rebecca Seawright
(518) 455-5676
(212) 288-4607
SeawrightR@nyassembly.gov
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND
At this point, all of us are feeling the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in our everyday lives, but there are some people and communities who are more vulnerable and need extra support. Your donations will be be evenly divided between groups that are feeding people, helping support laid off low wage workers, and mobilizing medical resources.
Donate Blood
Everyone is staying home, so there’s now a blood shortage. If you can, please donate. Find a blood drive hosted by the Red Cross, America’s Blood, or AABB.org
Buy Local Gift Cards
This will give neighborhood businesses much-needed revenue while they are shuttered. Check the link to find local NYC companies.
Thursday, April 16
VIRTUAL MEET THE CANDIDATES
7:30 PM
We’re going virtual this month. We’ve invited the four candidates for Congress in our district to come talk to us via Zoom. RSVP at the link so we can let you into the “room.” We’ve got space for 100 people, but are doing it this way to prevent Zoombombing (aka gate crashing).
So, sign up, and we'll send you the link in a separate email the day before and again on the day of the meeting. Meanwhile, think of some good questions to ask the candidates!
Friday, April 17
VOTE BY MAIL DAY OF ACTION
Call Congresswoman Maloney, Senator Schumer, and Senator Gillibrand and insist they fight to protect our election in November. This includes the ability to vote by mail (for anyone who wants to, no excuses), as well as funding the post office (which is cratering).
Senator Chuck Schumer: (212) 486-4430
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: (212) 688-6262
Representative Carolyn Maloney: (212) 860-0606
If you want to do more:
Record a video to demand your senators include Elizabeth Warren's election protection plan in the next coronavirus bill. Click here to make a video.
Email your member of Congress and ask that prioritize a people-first stimulus bill that puts people over profits. Click here to draft and send an email.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and explain to your neighbors and Congress why they should support a people’s bailout in response to COVID-19. Click here to draft your letter.
Send these links to your friends
RESOURCES FOR LIFE UNDER QUARANTINE
ADULTS
Telemedicine is taking off and the NY Dept, of Health has authorized telemedicine payments under Medicaid and Medicare. Check with your insurance company and your doctor and see if s/he can do routine appointments that way.
If you want to wear a mask and can’t find a commercially-made version, you can make your own. I found this fairly easy to follow (and I cannot sew).
Feeling antsy and anxious? A mediation app is offering free meditation and stress relief exercises.
Exercise
Or, for something more energetic, there’s exercise videos (for adults and a few for kids) from the YMCA
Virtual get-togethers
If your book group, knitting group, or whatever other social activity you normally do, is cancelled, have it on Zoom or Google Hangouts instead. Pick a host, and if you don’t have an account, chip in to get one.
Zoom
Free for either two people (or connections) or if your meeting is under 40 minutes. Otherwise you need a paid account.
Hangouts
Free for up to 10 people. You need a gmail account (which is also free)
Hangouts Meet
This costs $6 per month, with a Google Business Account (which also gives you access to Google Business features. It works for up to 250 people. For either option, you get the account, set up the meeting, and get a link and an id number. You send that out, and people can access by clicking the link. They can use a browser, the app, or if you choose, dial in on a phone with a password (like a conference call).
The Getty Museum challenged people sheltering in place to recreate their favorite artwork at home, and then post the results. Here they are.
KIDS
Two separate tracks, one for reading and one for comprehension, for ages 3 to 15
Children’s books read by celebrities
Kids Books Read by Their Authors
Links to books read by the authors (on Facebook and Instagram). There are also links to chats, drawing sessions, and more activities to keep kids occupied.
This could be indoors or outside in a yard (if you have one), or even in a park. Just make sure the clues are easy and fun, with a reward at the end (that’s the treasure).
Host a dance party, play a game, sing together, or read a story out loud