Manhattan COVID-19 News Roundup, May 20, 2020

COVID-19 molecule
COVID-19 (Credit: CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS)

Rosenthal Discusses Combating Domestic Violence

Council Member Helen Rosenthal
Council Member Helen Rosenthal

In a Tuesday op-ed for the Daily News, City Council Women and Gender Equity Committee Chair Helen Rosenthal (D-Upper West Side, Central Park) discussed her efforts to combat domestic violence amid the coronavirus.

While evidence shows that fewer reports and arrests of domestic violence have occurred since the pandemic started, the number of responses to emergency calls has increased.

“We by no means think that the criminal justice system is the central solution to domestic violence in our city,” wrote Rosenthal. “However, it is unclear from our hearing whether the NYPD accepts what advocates and experts understand from the data: that domestic violence is rising, and fewer perpetrators are being punished.”

Koffman to Discuss Safe Streets

New York State Assembly Candidate Cameron Koffman
New York State Assembly Candidate Cameron Koffman

Cameron Koffman (D) the 22-year old grandson of real estate mogul Samuel LeFrak and primary challenger to Assemblymember Dan Quart (D-Murray Hill, Lenox Hill) will discuss his safe streets policy proposals in a virtual Q&A session with New Yorkers for Safer Streets Thursday evening, Patch reported Monday.

“For the first time in 20 years, we have choices for candidates in the democratic primaries. As we prepare for recovery amid Covid-19, we need leaders who have a plan and will put public safety & quality of life issues first,” New Yorkers for Safer Streets wrote in a notice.

Stringer: MTA Contractors Exploiting Subway Cleaners

NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer

In a Monday letter to the MTA chairman, Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) alleged that the private contractors who hire the city’s subway cleaners are not paying them a fair wage or providing adequate benefits, the Daily News reported.

The letter comes after the MTA recruited these cleaners to sanitize the subway system nightly when it closes from 1am-5am throughout the crisis.

“My staff has had the opportunity to review one of NYC Transit’s cleaning contracts, and it does not appear to require the payment of prevailing wages and benefits,” Stringer wrote. “These workers are risking their own health and that of their families to ensure that New Yorkers — especially our frontline workforce — can use our transit system safely.”