Governor Cuomo Issues Directive To New York State Mortgage Servicers To Pause Payments For 90 Days (At Least)

Photo Credit: Ruby Martin (my 9-year-old assistant, taking this photo safely from a passenger seat of the car.

A Little Beacon Blog has been pursuing this story for two weeks. We have made inquires to local, state-based banks to see if they were thinking of pausing billing - tacking these months of payments to future months. We received some positive answers, but nothing concrete to publish. Also note: it is not clear what this means for non-state issued banks. Like Quicken Loans (who we are with), who has been fabulous throughout our loan management process, but figuring out who to call (first) tomorrow to pursue this loan modification will take several deep breaths. Looks like this is a win in the direction of going with a local bank. :)

While this photo is not a directive to any one financial institution in particular, it was a billboard that we saw while on our daily drive-around as we drive my toddler into his nap. (He’s normally in daycare but we paused that in the name of #flattenthecurve… and it’s SO HARD to also substitute-teach two the older kids at home while the little one is running around chasing us, squirting us with cleaning supplies he finds!)

Back to the point. The main point. The point about how Governor Cuomo just issued a directive to banks to pause mortgage payments for those in financial hardship because of the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak. Which is all of us who just lost jobs. Part-time jobs. Gig jobs. Full-time jobs. Client jobs.

In Governor Cuomo’s own words, here is how this directive will work. The details are most likely being fleshed out, but here is the direction. Not being an economic expert here, I’m not sure that this will work because money needs money to keep churning. But am hoping that the invisible hand of both spending money with our local businesses (keeping membership payments in place, buying takeout from restaurants, buying from the websites of our Main Street boutiques, etc.) will help.

From Governor Cuomo’s Press Conference, March 19, 2020:

We're also going to take a bold action but a necessary action, offering 90-day relief of mortgage payments. Waiving payments based on financial hardship. Meaning, if you are not working. If you are working only part-time. We are going to have the banks and financial institutions waive mortgage payments for 90 days. That will be a real-life economic benefit. It will also be a stress reliever for many families.

Waiving these payments will not have a negative effect on your credit report. There will be a grace period for loan modification. We are not exempting people from the mortgage payments, we are just adjusting the mortgage to include those payments on the back end.

No late fees or online payments fee. Postponing or suspending any foreclosures during this time. And waiving those fees for ATMs and credit cards. This is a real-life benefit. People are under tremendous economic pressure. Making a mortgage can be a No. 1 stressor. Eliminating that stressor for 90 days I think will go a long way. We will reassess as the situation goes on, if that should be extended or not.

(Toward the end of the press conference, he added this): You're going to have time with your family. You're going to have time at home. In this busy, hurry-up world.

OK! Until tomorrow!

The Internet Is Getting Overloaded. Netflix Limits Streaming In Europe To Preserve Bandwidth

When you started working from home, you may have thought that your Internet was glitchy. Your kids may have been throwing fits at the Xbox because it kept skipping. You are not alone. The Internet is getting clogged because none of us want to be alone. We are all connecting at once through Zoom, Google Classroom, GoToWebinar, Live Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/YouTube, streaming videos on YouTube. Streaming shows on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+. Press conferences. So much streaming.

Netflix announced today (3/19/2020) that it will limit streaming in Europe. This has been a discussion for a while over there, as people are having trouble uploading and downloading content.

As reported by Deadline: “The European Union’s Internal Market and Services Commissioner, Thierry Breton, has called on streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube to take measures to prevent internet gridlock as the response to the coronavirus places additional strain on communications networks.”

More from the article: “In a call placed Wednesday, he urged Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to serve only standard-definition content to users in times of peak demand. With vast numbers of people now working from home, and using video chat and digital messages to stay in touch with friends and family, and as users increase their time spent on streaming platforms, Breton said streamers had a role to play in ensuring telecom operators weren’t overwhelmed.”

Please read the full article here, but please use these ideas to conserve and free up the Internet. The goal is to spread out our global usage of the Internet. We need the videos from you! From our teachers, our fitness studios, everyone who is doing creative things to try to stay in business digitally.

• Try to check your social at certain times of the day. Not all day.

• Maybe don’t make live videos all day. Maybe don’t watch the live videos. Every single person coming on there is contributing to bandwidth usage. I want everyone to make live videos so badly, but maybe we just need to limit it at certain times.

• Music: If you stream music from Apple or Spotify or something, just go buy some albums from iTunes. Put a bunch of the CDs in your basement onto your computer (OK, that’s from my own to-do list because I’ve never been a music streamer… I never trusted the cloud! ‘Clouds can blow away,’ is what I always said, though I subscribe to a bunch of them…keep your subscriptions! We will emerge from this.)

• Limit kid video playdates to certain times.

• Having a lot of meetings on Zoom? Maybe tell your boss that you need to conserve teleconferencing bandwidth. GoToWebinar is already very slow at times (worked great when it worked, just took a while for it to start) and I have been hearing that downloading Zoom is taking a long time. Sorry, Boss!

• Not sure if these work, but: close unused tabs in your browser and on your phone. Don’t use these and reminder placeholders anymore.

• If a press conference is happening right now, maybe watch it later. Not live. (Or watch on regular TV instead of streaming.)

• Get cable! I was never a cord-cutter. I always knew that streaming would get expensive because we’d be signing up for so many services! So get that cable box back, LOL! (But to be honest, I don’t know the technology of cable; it might all run on WiFi anyway at this point.)

• Turn the TV off when you leave the room.

• Close browser tabs when you’re done with them.

Key Food Reserves Every Morning 7 to 8 am For Seniors-Only Shopping. Plus, A Tip For Protecting Older People

PUBLISHED: Thursday, March 19, 2020

Call it the Adult Swim of the Coronavirus Era: Seniors are getting a dedicated block of time, 7 to 8 am every day, to shop in Key Food so as to limit exposures to others (especially those who may be asymptomatic or feeling only mild symptoms). “Seniors” are considered to be anyone 60 and older. Key Food also offers delivery, as well as online ordering and delivery through InstaCart.

Other grocery stores have set similar hours, including Adams Fairacre Farms, Dollar General, Stop and Shop, and ShopRite. One follower of Adams, Brittany Mackey, a holistic health practitioner, suggested on Adams’ social media that stores consider this a permanent trend after the pandemic is over: “How about we keep this going after all this is said and done!!”

Beacon Natural Market has taken the route of not limiting hours by customers’ age, and is going with the strategy of not wanting to foster the unintended consequences of clustering an age group or increasing the number of people in the store at once. Bettina Fries, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Medicine, had concerns about the dedicated hours, and told the Washington Post: “I hope the scattered shopping hours would lead to seniors being in a store with less people,” she said. “It’s less likely that you will have [a] senior with coronavirus in a store because they’re less likely to be asymptomatic.”

On the other hand, grocery stores do need time to re-stock. Said Beacon Natural to A Little Beacon Blog: “We’re also hoping to use some extra morning hours to have our staff restock without customers in the store, thereby reducing their exposure. But we certainly support any and all efforts stores are doing to help serve their communities. We’re all making this up as we go along. There is no precedent.”

A Tip For Protecting Older People

With recommendations from the CDC that older people and people with heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes are at higher risk for being in serious condition from coronavirus/COVID-19, there are a few extra things you can do to protect seniors - sometimes from themselves. According to the CDC today (3/19/2020), data coming in shows that older people 65+ are tending to get hospitalized the most. However, those in their 20s are also not risk-free. The best things to do are grocery delivery for everyone, have a super-reduced number of people in a store, and constantly wipe surfaces at the check-out line, front and exit door, and other commonly touched surfaces.

• Talk To, But Back Away From, Seniors: An older person might not know about social distancing, and might not believe in or know about the pandemic. If you have an older neighbor who has early-stage dementia, for instance, and if that older neighbor sees you on the sidewalk, and rushes out of their house to come say Hi! to you and even hug you, back away. If this happens while you are with your children, who don’t know how to react in that situation, gently move your child back with you and tell the older person you are being careful because you might have a little cold (even if you don’t). This happened to me with one of our very jubilant and social neighbors, so it seemed like a good bit to pass along.

• Give A Senior Space: If you’re shopping in the grocery store and a senior is near you, back away and take another direction.

• A Senior In Denial: You may know a person who is 60+ and is in great shape. They may be in denial about their exposure, and they may be out and about. Wave to them from afar, and make sure to walk with the minimum 6 feet of social distance between you.

• Don’t Visit Grandparents Right Now: Even if you have young and healthy grandparents, they are probably over 60 years old. It’s easy to forget that your own mom or dad are “older” and at risk. So just FaceTime or MarcoPolo them, or walk at a far social distance in the woods. Scenic areas are picking up with humans as we all try to social distance, so if it’s too crowded even in nature, look for a different nature spot. (This is why green space is important to preserve in cities as they plan development, and why Scenic Hudson does a lot of great work purchasing and maintaining open land!)

• Seniors Need Socializing: So we need to connect with and talk to our senior friends. They may be at home all day watching any news channel that is producing good but scary reporting. Or propagating conspiracy theories. If you see a senior out and about, keep your distance, but let them talk to you, and answer them in a reassuring way.

• Seniors Sometimes Don’t Ask For Help: Keep an eye on your older neighbor. If they deny your offer to help, just start trying to observe what they might need.

• Use the Mutual Aid Beacon Group of Volunteers: This is a growing group of people from Beacon who have signed up to be volunteers to help get things for people who can’t do it themselves. No task or request is too small. Visit their website here.

List Of Coronavirus Links and Resources

Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog

UPDATE: 5/16/2020

Let’s be real. The links dubbed as “official” are coming in fast and furious. We have started adding them to this dedicated page. When we add a new one, we consider who shared it with us (like if that person was a government source or a respected media outlet), we will indicate that source, and move the publication date up of this article so that it’s at the top of your article collection as you read our articles on the Coronavirus tag.

NEW YORK STATE

New York State 24/7 Coronavirus Hotline 24/7: 1-888-364-3065

New York State Mental and Emotional Counseling Hotline: 844-863-9314
Open 8am-10pm 7 days a week.

Emotional Support For Health Care Workers: Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services.

New York State’s Coronavirus Page
New York State’s Official Coronavirus Page. Updated daily. A bullet list at the top of the page lists the major developments of the day.
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

New York State’s Phased Reopening Plan
Industries Reopening By Phase
An updated page of industries with descriptions of the industry, and plans that need to be met by the businesses in order to open.

NY Forward: A Guide To Reopening New York and Building Back Better

The Guide to Essential vs Non-Essential Businesses (from before the NY Forward Reopening Plan)

New York State Coronavirus Update Email
You can sign up via the link below for emails from New York State.
https://now.ny.gov/page/s/coronavirus-updates

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Twitter
An amazing updating of what is happening hour-by-hour, sometimes minute-by-minute. An easy way to listen to daily briefings on your phone.
https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo

Testing for Coronavirus
- Get the up-to-date information at the New York State COVID-19 Website.
The experience of how to get tested changes. As it changes, New York State updates their COVID-19 website.
According to the New York State Website:
- (As of 3/21/2010) “Testing is free to all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider or by calling the NYS COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065.”

New York State and Dutchess County urge you to not go to your doctor or an Urgent Care without calling them first. The medical professionals need to prepare to see you. If you are infected with COVID-19, you could expose their office and other patients.

Your doctor may use a telemedicine session with you also. Governor Cuomo has waved all copays for telehealth visits (3/14/2020). Several insurance companies have waived testing and other costs associated to testing.

Dutchess County Testing Locations (this is a live list that is updated as testing increases)

CDC

CDC’s Coronavirus Page
A very clear way to find up-to-date information and stats about coronavirus.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
What to do when you feel sick: CDC Recommendations

WHO

WHO (World Health Organization)
A very clear way to hear about the latest things researchers have learned about coronavirus, and the state of the health care management system and its needs.
https://www.who.int/

WHO’s Website Tool Tracking Coronavirus Caseshttps://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd

BEACON

City Of Beacon Website
www.cityofbeacon.org

City Of Beacon City Council Meetings
Board meetings (City Council, Zoning, Planning) are now being held via video conferencing. City Council Meetings or Workshops every Monday at 7pm.
Get to their channel here.

Beacon’s Mayor’s Update via Emergency Robo-Call System
Want periodic updates phone-calls and emails from the Mayor? Or announcements of important updates?
Sign Up Here >

Quarantined In Beacon And Need Help?
The Mutual Aid of Beacon Group formed and has at least 80 local volunteers ready to help if you cannot leave your house and need help getting things. Take a look at the website - it is really neat! Makes you feel safe living in Beacon. It is a system of connected people who can help. Even if a person doesn’t use technology, there are neighbors who want to look out for them.
Call (845) 206-9836 or email mutualaidbeacon@gmail.com
http://www.beaconmutualaid.com/
Facebook Link

SUPPORTING MAIN STREET BUSINESSES IN BEACON

Restaurants in Beacon: Who is still open, with COVID-19 updates as we learn them. Free. Businesses can submit as needed.
Shopping Boutiques in Beacon: Who is still open, with COVID-19 updates as we learn them. Free. Businesses can submit as needed.
Source: A Little Beacon Blog, edited by Marilyn Perez

DUTCHESS COUNTY

Dutchess County Coronavirus Hotline: 845-486-3555
Open 9am-5pm 7 days a week

Dutchess County’s COVID-19 Case Tracker (aka “Community Impact Dashboard”)
Statistics on positive COVID-19 cases by city/town/municipality, deaths, recovered, etc.
Details >

Orange County COVID-19 Case Tracker
Statistics on positive COVID-19 cases in Newburgh and City of Newburgh.
Details >

Dutchess Responds
A website coordinate volunteer efforts, urgent requests for PPE (masks, sanitizer, gowns, face shields, etc.). If you have any to donate, or if your business can manufacture them.
Details >

Tela-mental-health 24/7 (stress, anxiety, depression, drugs and alcohol): 888-692-9355

United Way Of The Dutchess-Orange Region:
https://www.uwdor.org/covid19-communityresources
Super huge and long list of very helpful links of all kinds.

Dutchess County Coronavirus COVID-19 Website

Dutchess County State of Emergency

Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health

Dutchess County Mental Health Services

BUSINESS HELP

Dutchess Business Notification Network
A website and notification email of updates in the local business world.
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
Source: Dutchess County (Ron Hicks) and Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce (Frank Castella)

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance
Application for the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Program for up to $2 million.
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
More about that loan and how it came to be:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYDUTCHESS/bulletins/281a0f9

Paycheck Protection Program
The Overview page for the program. Is updated.

The FAQ page for the program that provides a lot of detailed guidance. Is updated.

Business Questions for New York State
Place your business questions here for the state. Give them time to respond.
https://esd.ny.gov/covid-19-help

FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Dutchess County Office for the Aging
Good for people looking for info about the county's Home Delivered Meals program - either as a volunteer or a recipient.
https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Aging/OFA-Home-Delivered-Meals-Groceries.htm

LIFE HELP + MENTAL HEALTH
Domestic Violence Resources
https://www.alittlebeaconblog.com/blog/lifestyle-domestic-abuse-in-the-time-of-isolation-awareness-for-local-sources-to-call

PET PREP + HELP
How to foster and adopt during the time of coronavirus.
https://www.alittlebeaconblog.com/blog/pets-consider-fostering-a-dog-or-cat-if-someone-gets-too-sick-to-care-for-them

STATISTICS

nCoV2019
A website created by a 17-year old named Avi Schiffmann. He started it in December 2019 when COVID-19 started in Wuhan, China. His website pulls information from local health department websites via a method called “web scraping.” He builds upon the website based on user feedback. As of 3/19/2019, the website shows stats for: confirmed cases, total deceased, total serious, total recovered.
https://ncov2019.live/
Source: Democracy Now

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Event Cancelled

For those who have inquired, Dutchess County's Household Waste and Electronics Recycling Event, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 28, has been canceled pursuant to the local State of Emergency limiting social gatherings to stem a possible community spread of coronavirus. We are unable to schedule an alternate date.

Those who registered for this event will receive a refund: Those who paid by credit card will have their cards credited; those who paid by check or cash will receive a refund check or their voided check in the mail; refund checks are anticipated to be mailed on Thursday, March 19.

As of today, the next such collection event is Saturday, June 20, with registration opening on Wednesday, May 20. Those dates may change, depending on the status of the coronavirus pandemic. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we progress as a community through this evolving health situation.

For more information, visit dutchessNY.gov.

Delinquent Medical and Student Debt WaIved For 30 Days By New York Attorney General

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, March 18, 2020

When medical and student debt goes beyond hitting a collection agency who sends you those letters trying to collect, it goes to New York Attorney General Letitia James. During the time of coronavirus/COVID-19, she doesn’t want to collect, and has temporarily suspended medical and student debt referred to her office for 30 days, through April 15, 2020, as reported by ABC News.

She said via a statement: “In this time of crisis, my office will not add undue stress or saddle New Yorkers with unnecessary financial burden. New Yorkers need to focus on keeping themselves safe and healthy from the coronavirus, and therefore can rest assured that state medical and student debt referred to my office will not be collected against them for at least 30 days."

Coronavirus and Stigma: Learn The Facts- Infographic

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, March 18, 2020

The City of Beacon sent this awareness piece issued by Dutchess County out to the media, to help spread the word and increase comfort levels as people do their thing to protect themselves. You can see more information like this at DutchessNY.gov/coronavirus

From the flyer:

Viruses don’t discriminate, and neither should we. Learn more about coronavirus and the stigma that comes with it.

Coronavirus Doesn’t Recognize Race, Nationality, or Ethnicity

2019 novel coronavirus started in Wuhan, China. That’s just geography. Having Chinese ancestry - or any other ancestry - does not make a person more vulnerable to this illness.

Wearing A Mask Does Not Mean A Person Is Ill

People wear masks for a variety of reasons, including to avoid pollen and air pollution and for cultural and social reasons. We should not judge someone for wearing a mask or assume they are sick.

You Can Interrupt Stigma. Start By Sharing Accurate Information

Avoid spreading misinformation. Stay informed through reputable, trusted resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• New York State Department of Health

• Dutchess Country Department of Behavioral & Community Health

Speak Up If You Hear, See, Or Read Misinformation Or Harassment

Gently correct the false information, and remind the speaker: Prejudiced language and actions make us all less safe. If a serious harassment occurs, consider reporting it.

Show Compassion And Support For Those Most Closely Impacted

In schools and workplaces, create learning opportunities for students and staff that dispel racist and misinformed ideas. Listen to, acknowledge and, with permission, share the stories of people experiencing stigma, along with a message that bigotry is not acceptable in your community.

More information can be found at DutchessNY.gov/Coronavirus or via the Coronavirus Hotline, (845) 486-3555

You can also download this graphic by clicking the button below.

Clearwater's Community Response To COVID-19

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, March 18, 2020

This is a message from Greg Williams, Executive Director of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

In the spirit of Clearwater’s founding mission, to protect the happiness and health of the Hudson River, we feel that it is just as pertinent to take precautions to promote safety and health within our community. 

As you are well aware, due to the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, health officials have cautioned against large gatherings to reduce any further spreading of the disease. 

Clearwater is adapting and responding, so that we can continue our important work of protecting the Hudson River and advocating for a just, clean energy future.

First, we're prioritizing the health of our volunteers, activists, staff, crew and entire community. The COVID-19 pandemic is a social and economic justice issue, as well as a health crisis. and we recognize that each of us have a social responsibility to be good actors in keeping others safe, too.

Our hope is that the country’s collective participation will help change the outcome of what COVID-19 brings to the human race; and prove that together, we can do even greater things for our environment.

Here are some specific steps that Clearwater is taking: 

• To support students spending time at home and teachers working diligently to keep their students engaged and energized, we are developing online education opportunities that allow students to explore and experience the Hudson River and the Sloop from afar. 

• We anticipate that many of our upcoming education programs (Tideline, Sailing Classroom, and In-School) will be affected as we implement necessary social distancing measures to protect our community. We will be in touch directly with the groups who scheduled for upcoming programs.

• We are canceling our Clearwater Community Celebration scheduled for June 20 and 21 at Croton Point Park. Due to caution against travel, ticket sales and travel arrangements for the Community Celebration will be severely impacted. We understand the disappointment that our Clearwater family may feel in lieu of this unprecedented situation, and appreciate your understanding. 

• We are requiring office staff to work from home until further notice. You can still reach our staff by email or phone, (845) 265-8080. 

We will be happy to hear from you.

Ways To Support

Spring is a financially challenging season for Clearwater even in our best years. For an organization designed to bring people together, isolation and social distance are especially difficult. The prospect of cutting back our events and education programs for weeks or months presents a new and perhaps greater threat than Clearwater has ever faced. To make it through this, we need your support.

Call To Action

While we are taking this time to step back from public gatherings, we will continue our efforts to keep our waters protected in the digital world. A meaningful step that you can take today to protect the Hudson and surrounding communities, is to submit comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Committee against the sale of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant to an unqualified, untrustworthy company called Holtec. 

Digital Communities

While we may not be able to meet in public, we are continuing to build a strong community online. Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram or YouTube to stay connected. You can also visit our website, Clearwater.org.

We would like to express our gratitude for your continued support, and partnership in our mission toward protecting the health and wellness of both our beloved Hudson River, and our community. 

Stay Connected - Sign Up For Beacon's Emergency Alert Phone/Email System

Published Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Did you get the call today from the City of Beacon? The one where the mayor called to tell you about some COVID-19 information?

If you did not, then you are not hooked in to the City of Beacon’s Emergency Alert System.

You need to get on this now.

If you decide to opt out later when things get back to normal, you can.

But get signed up now:

A Little Beacon Blog made directions for you here.

First City Council Meeting Took Place Since CoronaCrisis Awakening - COVID-19 Update Released

Published Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Last week, the City of Beacon announced via press release that their regular Monday meeting would meet at a larger space to allow for social distancing, so that people could sit apart from one another. Similar measures have taken place in New York City for Governor Cuomo’s press conferences; after one day the governor’s meetings were the usual shoulder-to-shoulder arrangement, and then the next day there was an awkward array of seating.

The City of Beacon set up teleconferencing so that City Council members who were not comfortable or able to attend could call in and participate. Councilpeople Terry Nelson, Amber Grant, Jodi McCredo and Air Rhodes were dialed in on the line, which came in loud and clear. George Mansfield, Dan Aymar-Blair and Mayor Lee Kyriacou attended in person at the table. The City Attorney, Nick Ward-Willis, also attended in person, as did City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero. “I think you can all agree, we are certainly at appropriate distances right now,” he said.

Teleconferencing was set up in a day, as mentioned by Mayor Kyriacou. Participation for the public is also possible via teleconferencing, or the public can attend in person, provided that there is enough space between people. The mayor read the press release that was issued last week, which stated how several procedures will work for the foreseeable future. Read that press release (including a helpful fact sheet of COVID-19 symptoms) on the City of Beacon’s website, or right here.

All leaders were concerned about the coronavirus/COVID-19 and its impact on the Beacon community. Mayor Kyriacou urged people to check on their neighbors. To do so casually, or to let them know you want to check in on them. He also urged people to order out from their restaurant friends, and to continue to support those businesses.

Councilperson George Mansfield owns a bar/restaurant, Dogwood, and had this to say: “As a bar owner who was forced to be shut down by the state yesterday, I believe that it is the right and prudent thing to do. Hundreds of people have lost their jobs today... Maybe people live paycheck-to-paycheck, and now are without that paycheck.”

Councilperson Dan Aymar-Blair informed the public about Mutual Aid, a new group that has organized quickly in order to help people. There are “limits to what the state and county can do,” Dan said, “and we rely on each other.” The group is for the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and anyone who needs to quarantine. “This group is here for you,” said Dan. Call (845) 206-9836 or email mutualaidbeacon@gmail.com. They are on Facebook here, where you can see direct requests as they come in, and offer to help for each one.

Don’t be shy. Especially if you are a solo parent or person living without someone at home often. Call if you are not able to get out to get what you need.

Councilperson Jodi McCredo proposed to initiate a resolution to get local aid directly to Beacon. Mayor Kyriacou contributed insight he has from nearly all-day meetings: that Dutchess County was aware and working on directions. The following day (today) the mayor shared a press release about the low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It is a low-interest federal disaster loan for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to that press release: “SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on March 15, 2020.” Actions like this from neighboring states continue, as the states work together regionally to plan and protect.

Additionally:

• Evictions have been halted statewide with no end date as of yet (after the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office did agree to halt them for two weeks to start, and was open to a lengthier period). Evictions are now suspended until further notice.

• Seven-day waiting period for unemployment was waived (Governor’s Executive Order)

• State Aid Penalty waived for schools closing (Governor’s Executive Order)

• Utilities are not to be shut off, as directed by the Governor to the Department of Public Service.

• Source: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/after-weeks-demanding-approval-governor-cuomo-announces-fda-gives-new-york-state-authority

Councilpersons Jodi McCredo and Amber Grant both encouraged people to give elderly people physical space - especially in the grocery store. Councilperson Grant encouraged people to shop and help Beacon businesses and to take the 2020 U.S. Census! Letters are arriving in the mail now. Don’t miss that opportunity. Filling that out is how communities get approved for grants. Money. Federal funding for many things you see - and want to see - around you.

The press release from the City of Beacon is below:

---

The City of Beacon is working closely with Dutchess County and New York State to ensure public health and safety in connection with COVID-19, and wants to inform the community of the following current information and actions.

Public Information

The City of Beacon recognizes that the best statewide health expertise is provided by New York State, and the best local health expertise lies with the Dutchess County Health Department. Accordingly, the City will where possible promptly re-communicate relevant, accurate information provided by these sources, whether electronically on the Beacon Public Access Channel (Channel 22) , the City of Beacon website (http://www.CityofBeacon.org), links in documents, or in printed form. The primary objective of the actions being taken by public health officials is to reduce the pace of transmission of COVID-19, to “flatten the curve” as many describe, so as to avoid exceeding the capacity of our hospital services.

City Preparedness

The City is working closely with expert state and county governmental partners, participating in multiple daily calls and meetings involving communities throughout the region. Information is passed on to all city staff, including police, fire and other departments, and the community, and the City is taking the appropriate recommended actions to properly inform to safeguard our community, including actions and recommendations to reduce the pace of transmission of COVID-19.

Limiting Gatherings

Today (Monday, March 16), the Governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced a lower crowd capacity limit of 50 people for recreational and social gatherings (e.g., theaters, sporting events; but not e.g., libraries, retail establishments), effective at 8:00 PM tonight. This follows an earlier order from last Friday (March 13) with an initial limit, which was the lesser of 500 persons or 50% of venue capacity. Today the Governors also announced that restaurants and bars will close for on-premise service (but still allow take-out and delivery service), and the temporary closing of movie theaters, gyms and casinos. Dutchess County and the City of Beacon collectively have the authority to enforce this limitation through our police, fire and building departments, and will promptly begin doing so.

Schools

All school districts in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties were closed for regular classes starting today (Monday, March 16). The Beacon City School District is closed for two weeks. The City’s school-based recreation programs are also closed.

State & Local Government Workforce

Today (Monday, March 16), the Governor announced that 50% of non-essential state employees should not report to work, and if feasible may work from home, and called for local governments to do the same (we understand this will become an executive order by the end of the day). The City of Beacon will implement this directive beginning tomorrow. We have identified executive, police, fire, water and sewer departments, and code enforcement officers, as essential employees. Other employees will be working for the most part on an every-other-day schedule.

City Facilities & Services

The following changes have been made regarding city facilities, board meetings and activities.

• Essential Services: Beacon Police and Fire Departments are unaffected by any mandated reduction in staffing; these departments have their own protocols with respect to staffing in emergency situations and interacting with the public. Water and Sewer Departments are unaffected, and trash collection is handled by a private contractor and is on schedule. The roles of Mayor, City Council and City Administrator are unaffected.

• City Hall: The window in the front entrance of our Municipal Building will remain open during regular hours for in-person service. Note that this window will as needed service in-person interactions with City departments located in the lower level of the building. Municipal buildings are being cleaned twice a day, and are safe for the public. Residents are encouraged to contact the City by phone or e-mail, where you will receive excellent customer service.

• Board Meetings: Meetings of the Beacon City Council, as well as other regular and ad hoc board meetings will continue to meet on schedule, with a change of location on a trial basis, from the Court Room at the Municipal Building to the much larger public meeting room across Route 9D at the Lewis Tompkins Hose Meeting Room located at 13 South Avenue. This will allow for appropriate “social distancing” in a larger venue; the City will monitor and limit public attendance as necessary. The City will continue to televise City Council and other board meetings, and has installed teleconferencing for meetings. Board members are of course free to make individual choices regarding attendance specific to their individual circumstances.

• Recreation Programs: The City has already discontinued after-school programs consistent with the school district decision. Other City-sponsored recreational activities are already seeing reduced attendance, and the City will discontinue all recreation programming.

• Transfer Station: The City’s recycling and transfer facility on Dennings Avenue will be open for some services, with details to be determined.

Some Accurate Sources of Information

Below are some links to accurate and up-to- date local information on health and safety. Take care to find and rely on accurate official sources, and not unofficial, informal or uninformed ones.

• Dutchess County Coronavirus Information Hotline: 845-486-3555
• NYS DOH Website: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
• NYS Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065
• Dutchess County State of Emergency: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/County-Executive/Dutchess-County-Announces-State-of-Emergency.htm
• Dutchess County Department of Health: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm
• Dutchess County Mental Health Services: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/Mental-Health-Services.htm

Public Health Reminders

The City of Beacon wishes to repeat some official common-sense public health guidelines including personal hygiene, social distancing, and avoiding large public gatherings and events. These come from the Dutchess County Department of Health and the New York State Department of Health.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Please see attached COVID-19/Coronavirus Fact Sheet.

NY, CT, NJ Close Gyms, Movie Theaters, Casinos; Bars/Restaurants Takeout Only. Regional Cooperation Stressed

From Governor Cuomo via Twitter from his press conference today, where his messaging was consistent with that of past press conference. Governor Cuomo has been asking the federal government to have a countrywide mandate on restrictions. His fear is that shutting down New York state bars, for example, results in, “Everybody drives to New Jersey to drink,” for example. Or to the movies, or to go out to dinner. Or go to the movies.

Cuomo’s fear is that when he shuts something down in New York, people will go elsewhere to get it. He said this yesterday (Sunday) and again today (Monday). If something is shut down in New York City, people might come to Beacon to do it instead.

In backing up his strategy, he said:

“I don’t remember this happening, period.”

“This pre-empts what any mayor or any county executive anywhere said. You can’t close bars in Manhattan but leave them open in Nassau. Because now everybody drives to Nassau to drink.”

“In an emergency situation, there is a protocol that makes sense. Local governments can make rules, the state can override those rules, and the federal government can override those rules.”

“They are counter to common sense, and they are counter to public safety and public health.”

With regards to public schools, Cuomo indicated he would have a statewide policy on school closures as well.

Authorities are considering a recommendation to stop elective surgeries for now.

From Governor Cuomo’s Twitter:

“NY, CT and NJ are taking joint regional action to reduce the spread of #COVID19:”

Effective 8pm TONIGHT (Monday):
-Crowd capacity reduced to 50.
-Restaurants/bars will be takeout/delivery ONLY.
-Gyms closed.
-Movie theaters closed.
-Casinos closed.

UPDATE! Residential and Commercial Evictions Are Banned Statewide Until Further Notice

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

Update! This just in from Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson’s office: The ban on evictions has been put into effect statewide, has no time limit at this time, and includes commercial evictions.

Read all about it here at TheRealDeal.com (a real estate news website).

According to the article: “The decision to halt evictions comes amid calls from officials and community organizers from all over the state to implement an immediate ban on evictions — including a letter signed by two dozen state senators, followed by a similar letter from the state Assembly.”

Keep the tips coming in!

Dutchess County Sheriff‘s Office Suspends Enforcement of Evictions For 2 Weeks

Published Date: Sunday, March 15, 2020

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office has suspended enforcement of evictions for two weeks. This has been announced on the Democratic Caucus of the Dutchess County Legislator page on social media.

Says Legislator Hannah Black in the announcement:

“New information has been provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for our County’s residents: The Dutchess County’s Sheriff’s Office will suspend evictions for 14 days beginning Monday, March 16th. This plan to suspend evictions, will be revisited after 2 weeks to determine whether or not the suspension should be extended.

”I hope this information proves helpful and provides our residents with some ease of mind knowing that they will be able to remain in their homes while they may have to be out of work for 2 weeks due to the need to close schools. Once the legislators are given a memo on this suspension, we will be able to share that information with more detail.”

To shed light on how the process works, according to the City of Beacon’s Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, police officers in Beacon are not directly involved with evictions when at an address within Beacon. “Evictions are a civil process and all done through the Sheriffs Office Civil Division,” he told A Little Beacon Blog.

Pressure to make these types of types of allowances seems to be increasing. Gothamist reported that “a petition circulated by Housing Justice for All garnered more than 10,000 signatures before the moratorium [in NYC] was announced.” Some larger property owners have pledged a 90-day moratorium. From the article: “Some top property owners with the Real Estate Board of New York said they would stay evictions for the next 90 days, with an exception for ‘criminal or negligent behavior that jeopardizes the life, health or safety of other residents.’ The property owners represent more than 150,000 rental units across [NYC].”

Beacon Residents and Rent

Residents have been responding to Dutchess County’s eviction news with a brief sigh of relief, accompanied by a skeptical: “That’s not enough, but OK. Haha. Rent is due in two weeks. What if I don’t have it?”

City Council Member Terry Nelson: “I hope that gets extended because two weeks is not even close to being a sufficient amount of time.” From Legislator Hannah Black’s announcement above, it sounds like there is an open door to revisiting: “This plan to suspend evictions, will be revisited after 2 weeks to determine whether or not the suspension should be extended.”

While this legislation is a good sign for tenants, it is at the enforcement level, and does not impact if a landlord can decide to break a lease with a tenant if they cannot pay their rent due to wage loss from the pandemic-related States of Emergency in New York City and Dutchess County that encourage social distancing. Logic would indicate that breaking a lease with a long-term tenant would be a bad idea, as there would most likely be other residents with lower savings accounts as well.

When asked what message he had for the landlords, Mayor Lee Kyriacou told A Little Beacon Blog: “Be kind if at all possible; work it out. For example, consider allowing tenants to split monthly rent in two, in effect deferring half for two weeks (we've done that for years for two of our four Beacon tenants); or consider using some of the deposit for current rent (again, we've done that in the past). Obviously, landlords have their own mortgages and obligations, so there needs to be kindness and understanding in both directions at times.”

Several Beacon Residents Commute To Jobs In NYC That Are Being Temporarily Cut

Several Beacon residents commute into New York City to work in different industries, such as hospitality and film and television. Both sectors have been severely impacted by the coronavirus/COVID-19. Most film and television production in New York City, Los Angeles and other cities like Richmond, Virginia and Cleveland, Ohio have been halted for at least two weeks. You won’t be seeing any new broadcasts of late-night shows or Wendy Williams, and some news broadcasts have had to move locations because of CBS and other media outlets closing to deep clean, courtesy of staff exposure to coronavirus.

Not all film productions have indicated they will pay those gig-based employees to retain them for two weeks, but some have. A top showrunner of “Mythic Quest” has challenged studios to pay their crew while shows are shuttered, according to Deadline. In hospitality, those working for hotels have seen their shifts slashed and they are told not to come to work, but to use their paid vacation days instead. Restaurant workers who rely on hefty tips at major NYC restaurants and bars may not even have paid vacation or sick days to work with, and must file for unemployment right away.

Dutchess County Legislator Nick Page told A Little Beacon Blog via email that there is no talk yet of restricting landlords from breaking leases if a tenant cannot pay due to the pandemic, nor the reverse (a tenant breaking lease if they cannot pay).

Beacon Cancels or Postpones Easter At Memorial Park, Beacon Barks Parade, Easter Sunrise Service, and Good Friday Procession

Published Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020

In keeping with State and County directives to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the City of Beacon is canceling or postponing public-supported events involving large attendance scheduled between now and the end of April. That includes Easter at Memorial Park, Beacon Barks Parade, Easter Sunrise Service, and Good Friday Procession.

What To Do Instead

Easter at Memorial Park: Let’s be real here. This is really just a big candy fest, and a highly stressful event for parents with young kids who like to run off. So, there is a chance that parents are breathing a sigh of relief with this cancellation.

Beacon Barks Parade: We will check in with Libby and Nanci, who are (were) taking back their bigger role as parade organizers this year. They had stepped away after selling their shop, Beacon Barkery, to Donald and his son John. Donald has been recovering from an illness, and John just launched the shop’s brand new website, where you can order online! You may even get delivery of pet food from John at the Beacon Barkery, if you call the store to see if he’s available to do so. Back to the parade: We’ll circle back with an update, and ways to support adopting cats and dogs.

Religious Services: If any of your religious services are canceled during this Holy Week time, there may be creative ways of connecting. Consider going outside during the peaceful dawn hours, and perhaps your religious group has recorded a video of a service and uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo, and you can play/watch/listen to it while you take some time to honor the moment. †

City of Beacon's Message To Residents Regarding Coronavirus Procedures and Upcoming Plans

Issued by the City of Beacon via press release on March 13, 2020:

The City of Beacon is working closely with Dutchess County and New York State to ensure public health and safety in connection with COVID-19, and wants to inform the community of the following current information and actions.

Public Information:

The City of Beacon recognizes that the best local health expertise lies with the Dutchess County Health Department, and that best overall information is provided by way of collaboration with Dutchess County and New York State. Accordingly, the City is promptly re-communicating relevant, accurate information provided by the best sources, whether electronically on the Beacon Public Access Channel (Channel 22) , the City of Beacon website (http://www.CityofBeacon.org), links in documents, or in printed form.

City Preparedness:

The City is working closely with expert state and county partners, participating in multiple daily calls and meetings involving communities throughout the region. Information is passed on to all city staff, including police, fire and other departments, and the community, and the city is taking the appropriate recommended actions to properly inform to safeguard our community, including actions and recommendations to reduce the pace of transmission of COVID-19.

Large Public Events:

As State and County directives recognize, the major risk of COVID-19 transmission involves large public events. Accordingly, the City is canceling or postponing public-supported events involving large attendance scheduled between now and the end of April – including the Parade of Green, Good Friday Procession, Easter at Memorial Park, Easter Sunrise Service and the Beacon Barks Parade.

Beacon Recreation Programs:

The City is following the lead of the Beacon City School District, and discontinuing programming consistent with the school district schedule. Other City-sponsored recreational activity involving small groups in large enough venues will continue, with City staff monitoring and ensuring allowance for “social distancing.”

Public Board Meetings:

Meetings of the Beacon City Council, Planning and Zoning Boards, and other regular and ad hoc city board meetings – will continue to meet on schedule, with a change of location from the Court Room at the Municipal Building to the much larger public meeting room across Route 9D at the Lewis Tompkins Hose Meeting Room located at 13 South Avenue. This will allow for appropriate “social distancing” in a much larger venue; if necessary, the City will monitor and limit public attendance appropriate to venue size. The City will continue to televise City Council and other board meetings, and is working on installation of teleconferencing for meetings. Board members are or course free to make individual choices regarding attendance specific to their individual circumstances.

City Hall & Municipal Buildings:

Our City Hall at One Municipal Plaza and all other public municipal facilities remain open. Municipal buildings are being cleaned twice a day, and are safe for the public. Residents are encouraged to contact the City by phone or e-mail, where you will receive excellent customer service.

Some Accurate Sources of Information:

Below are some links to accurate and up-to-date local information on health and safety. Take care to find and rely on accurate official sources, and not unofficial, informal or uninformed ones.

• Dutchess County Coronavirus Information Hotline: 845-486-3555

• NYS DOH Novel Coronavirus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065

• Dutchess County State of Emergency: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/County-Executive/Dutchess-County-Announces-State-of-Emergency.htm

• Dutchess County Department of Health: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm

• NYS DOH Website: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
  

Public Health Reminders:

The City of Beacon wishes to repeat some official common-sense public health guidelines including personal hygiene, social distancing, and avoiding large public gatherings and events. These come from the Dutchess County Department of Health and the New York State and the New York State Department of Health.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

From The Dutchess County COVID-19/Coronavirus Fact Sheet

What Are The Symptoms Of Coronavirus COVID-19?

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

What If I Am Sick?

If you believe you have contacted COVID-19, call ahead to your primary care doctor or urgent care so that they can take necessary precautions upon your arrival. Do NOT go directly to the hospital unless you are in distress.

Photo Credit: Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health Facet Sheet, as circulated by the City of Beacon.