Safety, Schools, Streets

Our distancing continues to pay dividends in the form of a decreasing death toll, fewer hospitalizations, and other encouraging COVID-19 numbers. Over the last day, there were 337 deaths , which is the lowest total since March.

Our distancing continues to pay dividends in the form of a decreasing death toll, fewer hospitalizations, and other encouraging COVID-19 numbers. Over the last day, there were 337 deaths , which is the lowest total since March. This total is still horribly high, and just because we are passed an initial surge, we are not through this yet. So we have to remain apart and cover our faces when necessarily out in the world.

However, now is a good time to start figuring out how we may start up again after this “pause.” The Governor and Mayor have sketched outlines for how to do this, but it’s still preliminary. Among the most difficult decisions since the COVID-19 crisis began is how to ensure that we can safely educate the city’s children.

When schools were closed back in March, everyone who is part of our public schools, from students and their parents & guardians, crossing guards, teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, and administrators, willingly made unprecedented adjustments in their lives and careers. Making sure that when they return to their school building, every step is taken to ensure it’s safe is a public health necessity and the right thing to do. 

For that reason, we wrote this letter to the Mayor on Saturday , indicating that while there can be a reasonable debate in terms of timing for school reopening, having proper safety protocols in place is not up for debate. In the letter, we stated our support for the United Federation of Teachers petition demanding such protocols . 

Schools will certainly be a topic next Wednesday, May 6th, during our Community “Check-in.” If you haven’t already signed up, you can join the over 90 who already have done so by following this link. 

If you scroll past my email signature, you’ll find useful information such as Alternate Side Parking remaining suspended until May 12th. 

I hope you stay safe and that you enjoy the rest of your day and feel free to share this information however you’d like. 

This is the web archive of a newsletter originally sent by email to Brooklyn Community Board 6 subscribers on Monday, April 27, 2020. The email edition may contain additional event listings and links.