Keyword: Alessandra Biaggi | The Riverdale Press

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, center, tried to put criticism about where the congressman has been spending the pandemic to rest through the Assemblyman’s ‘COVID Conversations’ — a 45-min- ute chat Engel did from his home in the Washington suburbs rather than from the Bronx, where he reportedly

Engel not ashamed about escaping to DC during pandemic

Eliot Engel is not here in New York, hasn’t really been in New York since about the time the coronavirus pandemic started in March, and won’t apologize for it. In fact, the congressman — who has been holed up in his Maryland home just outside of Washington, D.C. for weeks — says he’s exactly where he needs to be. more

By MICHAEL HINMAN | 5/30/20

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi have helped push two bills through the legislature they hope will protect tenants not able to pay rent because of the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-affected renters may get a little help from state lawmakers

The hole in New York's state budget might be measured in billions, but lawmakers are hoping Gov. Andrew Cuomo will find a spare $100 million in Albany's couch cushions to cover late and missed rent payments by many low-income tenants since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. more

By MICHAEL HINMAN | 5/28/20

Biaggi fights against budget process

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi has worked her way through a second state budget. And while acknowledging this year was much different than any year in the state’s history because of the coronavirus pandemic, the senator is not happy with how the whole process works. more

By MICHAEL HINMAN | 4/26/20

Tipped workers are facing a new crisis since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic has forced many businesses to either close completely or work at a reduced capacity. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi spoke about emergency funds available for people who had lost their jobs or had their hours cut during a recent virtual town hall meeting.

Biaggi, Yang stand up for better tipped employee wages

What kind of town hall could bring together state lawmakers, a former presidential candidate, and dozens of New York City workers? One held by One Fair Wage, a national advocacy group focused on ensuring tipped workers across the country make what they say is a full and fair minimum wage more

By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN | 4/19/20

Former state senate majority leader Dean Skelos, second from right, joins state Sen. Jeff Klein and other senators in 2015 as talks begin for the state budget that year Skelos, who would later be convicted on corruption charges, is leaving prison early after being exposed to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Fallen senate leader Skelos wins release after coronavirus diagnosis

Former state Sen. Dean Skelos has tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and will serve the remainder of his prison term at home. more

By JILL NOSSA | 4/16/20

The post office on West 238th Street was closed for several days last week, but was back in business on Monday.

Where has all the mail gone? Blame it on the coronavirus

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo shut down New York last month to essential businesses only, he didn’t close off U.S. Postal Service deliveries. Nor could he, likely, since it’s a federal agency. Yet, in recent days, many living within both the 10463 and 10471 ZIP codes — among others — haven’t been getting mail, or having outgoing parcels picked up. The culprit is probably no surprise: the coronavirus. more

By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN | 4/12/20

Elected leaders are calling for more research into how the coronavirus is affecting minority communities after preliminary reports on the city's death rate showed disproportionately more blacks and Latinos dying from COVID-19 complications than any other ethnicity.

COVID-19 kills more Latinos, blacks, than anyone else

More than 6,000 people have died from complications of COVID-19 in New York as of Wednesday, and outside of New York City, numbers appear to indicate that three out of every four of those deaths were white. But inside New York City, it appears to be a much different story — and local elected officials aren't happy about it. more

By MICHAEL HINMAN | 4/9/20

Customers take care of their postal needs at the post office on West 238th Street in Summer 2018. More recently, customers have complained about not receiving mail, primarily because this particular location is shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Slow mail delivery? Blame the coronavirus

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo shut down New York last month to essential businesses only, he didn't close off U.S. Postal Service deliveries. Yet, in recent days, many living within the 10463 ZIP code (and others) haven't been getting mail, or having it picked up. The culprit is probably no surprise: the coronavirus. more

By KIRSTYN BRENDLEN | 4/3/20

Both Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi are working on legislation that will allow people to continue voting, even during coronavirus crisis concerns.

Biaggi, Dinowitz work to save voting during coronavirus pandemic

Just about everything in the news right now is centered around the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But local lawmakers like state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz are still thinking about everything else we'll have to worry about — like the upcoming elections. more

By MICHAEL HINMAN | 3/23/20

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi wants the governor and mayor to implement a plan protecting the more than 5,000 inmates at Rikers Island from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Biaggi wants Rikers Island protected from COVID-19

With two cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 confirmed on Rikers Island, state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi is calling on both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to create an emergency plan that will allow those in jail a fighting chance to protect themselves from getting sick. more

3/19/20