Too Much Loss, Need Something New

While local statistics such as deaths, infections, hospitalizations, and other measures of the COVID-19 pandemic move in the right direction, as a country, we have now lost 100,000 thousand people with the death toll continuing to climb.…

While local statistics such as deaths, infections, hospitalizations, and other measures of the COVID-19 pandemic move in the right direction, as a country, we have now lost 100,000 thousand people with the death toll continuing to climb. To all those who lost anyone to this vicious virus, I offer my deepest condolences and sympathy. 

I know every weekday, at some point, you receive an email from me expressing the hope that it finds you well followed by, especially during this crisis, some policy ideas, and a heads up about resources listed below my email signature. However, it is only today that I can remind you that it was on this date in 1935, that FDR without pause signed the New Dea l into law. I mention this not just to highlight a significant historical event, but because we are in need of bold policy's mirroring the thought that went into crafting the New Deal, if we are to work our way back and, hopefully, reach a better place. 

Whether that means some form of a WPA program , or other options for aiding our restaurant and entertainment industries, and reinforcing our city’s industrial capacity , it is a call for action. No matter what, it’s going to take a lot, hopefully starting with the passage of the Heroes Act . Our vulnerabilities were exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic, but they were there and called for a remedy.

More information, including more basic reminders and resources, can be found by scrolling on down. If you choose to check them out, that’s great, but no matter what you decide to do, enjoy the rest of your Wednesday. 

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