Westchester Reopens and Primary Season Heats Up

As Westchester gradually starts to “reopen” today, let’s pause to remember those who lost their lives to COVID-19. Thank you for staying home and please continue to practice safe social distancing measures. 

Check out this dashboard to see what metrics have been met as we head into Phase 1 of reopening. Here is a list of what can open during each of the four phases.

Antibody testing is now available at the Westchester County Center. Call 914-326-2060 for more information.

If you filled out an absentee ballot application, your ballots for the June 23rd Democratic primary should be arriving in the mail any day now – many voters started getting theirs at the end of last week.

If you are voting by mail, you will get TWO ballots. One for the presidential primary and one for local (congressional, judicial, district attorney) races. Be sure to send BOTH ballots back to the BOE. They must be postmarked by June 22nd.

If you want to vote by mail but haven’t filled out an application, click here  to download the application from the BOE website and check the box labeled “temporary illness.” You must mail your application by June 16th.

Voting by mail is only one of three ways you can vote in the primary. You can also Vote Early starting on June  13th or you can Vote on June 23rd – Primary Day.

Click here for a complete guide to voting in the NY primary.

Time To Write Letters and Postcards

Join the national effort The Big Send to send 10 million letters to voters before the general election in November.

Here’s how it works: over the next few months, you write letters (yes, physical letters!) to voters, sharing why you vote and why it’s important than they do. You put them in envelopes and stash them in a safe spot in your house.

Then, in October, you’ll get a reminder to slap a stamp on each envelope and drop it in the mail. The United States Postal Service will deliver the messages to each voter and, if we’re successful, 10 million more people will vote!

Save USPSCOVID-19 proves we need to be able to vote by mail; however the United States Postal Service is in serious danger of going bust with elections right around the corner. The USPS has also reaffirmed their policy to deliver mail-in ballots without postage so please sign this petition,this one, this one.and this new one from the American Postal Workers Union. Please share widely!

Let’s Flip Another NY State Senate Seat

Close to home, help Democrat Karen Smythe pick up a NY State Senate seat in the Hudson Valley by joining our virtual fundraiser. 

Ways To Help Those In Need:

• Feeding Westchester
• Donate to the New Rochelle Food Pantry 
• Donate to WestCOP
• Donate to Family-to-Family
• Coronavirus Care Fund
• Donate to the National Domestic Workers Alliance Coronavirus Fund
• Masks are in short supply. Help out @ www.sewforny.org
• Call (914) 849-GIVE or email wphcmail@wphospital.org to contribute to White Plains Hospital’s COVID-19 Relief Fund 
• New York-Presbyterian Hospital, in addition to accepting masks, gloves and protective eyewear, would also accept funds for food for the health care workers and old iPads to help patients in hospitals stay connected with loved ones. You can email NYP at masks@NYP.net
•  Greenwich Hospital has created a donation page for financial donations. Http://giving.greenhosp.org/giving/covid-19/support/funds/
• Additional ways to help locally

Here are some Domestic Violence hotlines and resources:
Westchester County
Hope’s Door, Inc. (888) 438-8700 – Provides both residential and non-residential domestic violence services. OCFS Licensed and Approved.My Sisters’ Place (800) 298-SAFE/7233 – Provides both residential and non-residential domestic violence services. OCFS Licensed and Approved.Westchester County Office for Women– Provides non-residential domestic violence services. OCFS Licensed and ApprovedFamily Helpline/Hotline weekdays 9am – 5pm (914) 995-5972Weekend and after hours (914) 995-2099Spanish Language (White Plains) (914) 995–6581
Spanish Language (Yonkers) (914) 231-2882

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