What’s Breaking: News for Thursday, September 2, 2021

September 2, 2021 By Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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‘OVERHAUL SUBWAY SYSTEM’: In the aftermath of the past 24 hours’ massive flooding to the New York’s underground transit system, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to overhaul the subway system to be better equipped for extreme weather as it becomes more common, she said on Spectrum New York 1 News #MorningsOn1. Gov. Hochul also declared a state of emergency in response to record-breaking flooding as a result of Tropical Depression Ida.

According to an Eyewitness News (ABC, Channel 7) report, the restoration was beginning with the lettered lines, and acting MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber expressed hope that service would be mostly back to normal by the end of today.

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FLOODING AFFECTS SOME VACCINE CENTERS: Some vaccine distribution sites in New York City are temporarily closed or will open later than usual due to the flooding in the city over the past 24 hours, according to Notify NYC’s mobile phone alert system. Notify NYC directs readers to vaccinefinder.nyc.gov for the locations of centers that are open today, Thursday, September 2.

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COLLEGE CLASSES GO VIRTUAL FOR TODAY: Brooklyn College announced Thursday morning that classes will be held virtually. “Due to an abundance of rainwater on Brooklyn college campus resulting from current weather conditions, all classes scheduled to be held in person today Thursday, September 2, will be conducted online.”

Brooklyn College is on Bedford Avenue in Midwood.

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RENTAL RELIEF FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS: The New York State Assembly has passed legislation that would implement measures to ensure that tenants and landlords get the rental relief they need through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz (D-45), who made the announcement this morning, September 2, had last month heard testimony from tenants, landlords and housing advocates about problems with the ERAP application process and long delays in disbursing the federal funds. This bill also provides $25 million to fund legal services for tenants unable to afford counsel facing eviction proceedings in localities that don’t already have a similar program.

The legislation would also extend until January 15, 2022 the residential and commercial eviction and foreclosure moratoriums for those facing a financial hardship due to COVID.

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ASBESTOS INVESTIGATORS INDICTED: Four Certified Asbestos Investigators have been indicted for repeatedly filing false asbestos inspection reports, putting the health and safety of workers and New York City residents at risk. A joint investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Investigation found that over several years, the defendants — who were independent contractors certified by the New York state Department of Labor and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) submitted fraudulent reports for inspections that took place on days when they were out of the state and country.

These charges are at the point only accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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GOVERNOR SIGNS NEW EVICTION MORATORIUM: A new moratorium on COVID-related residential and commercial evictions for New York State was signed into law this morning, Thursday, Sept. 2. Under the new moratorium that Governor Kathy Hochul signed in the early hours, and in effect until January 15, 2022, all protections of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act for residential tenants who are suffering financial hardship as a result of the pandemic will remain in place, along with new protections on commercial evictions.

As of August 31, more than $1.2 billion in funding has either been obligated or distributed through ERAP, including more than $300 million in direct payments to more than 23,000 landlords.