Forwarding updates from our Bernalillo County Commissioner Jim Collie.
#VivaNobHill
Gary Eyster, Nob Hill Neighborhood Association
From: Janis Hartley [mailto:jhartley@bernco.gov]
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 8:43 AM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: From Commissioner Jim Collie - Bernalillo County Commission District 3 Newsletter, Edition 3
Bernalillo County District 3
Newsletter, Edition #3
April 2, 2020
In this Edition:
Message from the Commissioner
Updates & Important information
What You Can Do to Help
Community Resources
A Good Read, Listen & Look
From Our Readers
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER:
I would like to THANK —
Matt Simonds, owner-Broken Trail Brewery & Distillery; Doug Diefenthaler, owner, CEO & Executive Vice President-Vara Winery & Distillery; other local distilleries and members of the New Mexico Brewers Guild — who had to close their establishments because of the COVID19 health and safety orders, but are now producing hand sanitizer for the police and fire departments, mail carriers and local hospitals.
Click on https://www.abqjournal.com/1437781/distilleries-filling-the-sanitizer-void.html to read the article from the Sunday Journal.
Ilse Biel, UNM Professor & Community Activist-who has worked tirelessly on behalf of our neighbors who don’t have traditional roofs stay safe and fed during this pandemic. She successfully lobbied the city and county to provide sanitary facilities at several sites in the city and is working to have Albuquerque’s homeless treated according to the CDC COVID19 guidelines.
John Bolton, Executive Director-East Central Ministries, a faith-based, community development ministry located in the center of the La Mesa and Trumbull neighborhoods —who has installed washing stations in front of his nursery on Charleston and in front of East Central Ministries Office. He is planning to install more in the International District.
Susan Page and her husband, Mark - who took the funds that they usually use to go to the movies or out to dinner to purchase extra food and cleaning supplies and donated them to the BernCo Department of Behavioral Health Services and the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) distribution center at the South Valley Multipurpose Center, 2008 Larrazolo Road SW.
These are very different people with very different backgrounds. But, they all saw COVID19 as a challenge, not a roadblock, and came up with solutions that benefit the entire community.
I hope you have an opportunity to personally thank them by contributing supplies or time to Ilse or Susan, supporting one of East Central Ministries’ projects or buying a beer or glass of wine at one of our local breweries when they reopen.
I know that these are only a few of the many acts of kindness that are going on in our city every day. Please send us your stories and we will make sure the people are recognized. Working together will make this unprecedented moment in time easier for all.
If you're receiving this newsletter as a leader in your neighborhood association, please forward it to your association's mailing list. If you received this newsletter from a friend who passed it along and you would like to be on our weekly mailing list, let us know by sending your e-mail address to District3@bernco.gov. We plan to send weekly newsletters until our monthly brown bag lunches can resume.
Please take care of yourself, stay well and, most importantly, wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. — Jim Collie
To see the past newsletters, please go to: https://www.bernco.gov/District-3/district-3-newsletter.aspx
For the latest edition of the BernCo at a Glance, click here https://conta.cc/2yj75GI
UPDATES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Important Telephone Numbers to Keep Handy
Covid19 hotline
1-855-600-3453
Non-health related Covid19 hotline
1-833-551-0518
For an updated one-stop source of COVID19 information, click on:
www.newmexico.gov
From the New Mexico State Police
The New Mexico State Police has been made aware of rumors that law enforcement is making traffic stops to determine if a person is an essential worker or if their travel is essential.
THIS IS FALSE
Tim Johnson, Chief on the New Mexico State Police, said, “ I have mandated from the very beginning that my officers first educate the public about the important of us all following the health order before taking any enforcement action. We will continue to perform this difficult task with professionalism, compassion and diligence.”
To report non-compliance within a business, a violation of the mass gathering ban or other violations of public order, you may report them to NMSP.COVID19@state.nm.us or to the local police or sheriff's office.
Assistance from BernCo
Bernalillo County Office of Economic Development has put together the following list to help small businesses in Bernalillo County find funding resources:
New Mexico Economic Development Department: NMEDD COVID-19 Business Loan Programs
Contact: Mark Roper: Mark.Roper@state.nm.us. 575-562-0327
Department of Workforce Solutions:
Information for Workers Affected by COVID-19
Unemployment Fact Sheet English
Informacion para Trabajadores Afectados por COVID-19
Small Business Development Centers:
The New Mexico Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can assist businesses complete the federal SBA loan program application.
SBDC contact information for the Albuquerque area:
Fran Fernandez, Interim Center Director: ffernandez10@cnm.edu
Kristin Groves, Business Advisor: kgroves@cnm.edu
Liliana Reyes, Business Advisor: lrio@cnm.edu
Federal Assistance:
CARES Act: go to www.tomudall.senate.gov, click on the top headline: NEWS: senator Tom Udall’s Legislative Actions to Address the Novel coronavirus/COVID19 and scroll down to small business and other links.
US Small Business Administration Loan Program: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Contact Information: 1.800.659.2955 (TTY: 1.800.877.8339)
US Department of Labor:
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): Employee Paid Leave Right
Fact Sheets
Employees: Fact Sheet for Employees
Employers: Fact Sheet for Employers
FAQ’s: Addresses Critical Questions, for Paid Leave under the new Act.
How small businesses can obtain an exemption;
How to count hours for part-time employees;
What documentation employees have to provide to employers;
How to calculate the wages employees are entitled to under this law; and more.
FFCRA Rights Poster
The FFCRA poster, outlines details of the new, temporary, paid sick and family medical leave programs that can be distributed to employees.
Bernalillo County Animal Care & Resource Center is operating adoptions, fosters and reclaims by appointment only.
All interactions with animals are being done outside or via video. Adoptions will be by appointment only. View the center’s available animals at Adopt-a-Pet.com. To set an appointment to see a specific animal, contact alommasson@bernco.gov or call 505-269-3036
Citizens who wish to donate to the animals and the county’s animal care programming may make a donation athttps://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1441157?uniqueID=634466775676697665
Due to the large numbers of animals in the facility, citizens who are interested in temporarily fostering an animal are encouraged to contact jhewitt@bernco.gov or 505-269-3877
Lost Animals - If a citizen has lost their animal, they should contact animal@bernco.gov to report. Post lost signs in immediate and surrounding neighborhoods and on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor and Pawboost.com
Reclaim of lost pets – to see if a pet owner’s animal is at a sheltering location, go to Petharbor.com. If a pet owner believes their animal is at the Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Center, please call 505-468-PETS (7387) to set up an appointment to reclaim the animal.
Assistance from the City of Albuquerque
Economic Development Department has announced a $500,000 Micro-Business Relief Program to provide vital economic support to Albuquerque businesses needing assistance in overcoming the temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. The City of Albuquerque will provide working capital grants of up to $5,000 for qualifying small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The City of Albuquerque will begin accepting applications on Monday, March 30, 2020.
For more information on all our efforts to support Albuquerque small businesses during COVID-19, and to apply to the Micro-Business Relief Program click on https://www.cabq.gov/coronavirus-information/business-organization-resources
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
Support Local Business
Rehm’s Nursery, 5801 Lomas Blvd NE, 1-505-266-5978, is open on reduced hours, Friday, Saturday & Monday, 9:00am-6:00pm and Sunday, 11:0am-5:00pm. Call ahead to make sure they are open. Nurseries (the kind that sells plants and vegetables are allowed to remain open as essential businesses). Rehm’s is a locally family owned business till thriving after over 80 years in business in Commission District 3, let's help them stay in business for another 80 years.
Rhubarb & Elliot is offering safe, no-contact, complete "like home" meals throughout Albuquerque. The service is called R&E Doorstep Delivery. Access the service through their website https://www.rhubarbandelliott.com/store.
Rhubarb and Elliot is committed to making sure everyone in the community has access to nutritious food. They are donating one meal for every meal purchased. If you know of a vulnerable person in your community you’d like to receive a free meal, please contact them directly to arrange delivery.
Nob Hill and local restaurants and businesses are open for take-out and delivery – To continue to enjoy their special offerings, Click here: http://nobhillmainstreet.org
To see a listing of Albuquerque restaurants that are providing takeout, curbside delivery and home delivery, Visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/763119104218215/
Volunteer
From donating blood to helping with food drives, there are opportunities to support your community during this time, go to City of Albuquerque COVID19 Volunteer Opportunities
Supplies Needed for Senior Citizens in Albuquerque
CABQ’s Department of Senior Affairs is conducting a donation drive to help get needed items to homebound seniors. Those items include paper towels, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo/conditioner, body soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, pet food, personal hygiene products, snacks (low-sodium/sugar-free), shelf-stable food, adult briefs, toilet paper, cleaning supplies and deodorant. They can be dropped off at the following locations:
Department of Senior Affairs Social Services Offices, 1620 1st NW
Jeffery Russell Memorial Substation, 12800 Lomas NE
John Carrillo Memorial Substation, 8201 Osuna NE
Michael King and Richard Smith Memorial Substation, 10401 Cibola Loop NW
Phil Chacon Memorial Substation, 800 Louisiana SE
Shawn McWethy Memorial Substation, 6404 Los Volcanes NW
Gerald Cline Memorial Substation, 5408 2nd NW
Seniors 60 and over who live in Bernalillo County and have questions about what services they might qualify for, should call the Department of Senior Affairs Senior Information Line at 505-764-6400. You can also visit: www.cabq.gov/seniors to learn more about senior citizen resources.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
Grab & Go Meals
The Indigenous Plate Program is providing hot “To-Go” meals for breakfast and lunch (M-F) at our All Nations Wellness & Healing Center located at 6416 Zuni Rd. SE. This is an important life-source for our families and relatives. This is available to all families not just Native American families.
APS grab and go meals
https://www.aps.edu/news/coronavirus/aps-identifies-schools-for-student-meal-pick-ups
Senior Meals
The following centers will temporarily serve as lunch distribution sites between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., individuals can pick up their meal outside the Center and take it home:
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center,
North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center,
Bernalillo County meal sites are closed. Home delivered meals will continue operate as normal. Seniors 60+ interested in receiving meals from Senior Affairs should call (505) 764-6400; priority service is for home bound seniors.
Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community
Challenging times have always brought our communities together and during this public health and economic crisis, that spirit is alive and well. We will move forward together. The team here at Equality New Mexico has been working hard to compile resources for transgender and queer people and our families in New Mexico. Please check back often – we’re working on a community connection hub that should launch soon!
Please click on www.eqnm.org/covid19 , for more information.
A GOOD READ, LISTEN & LOOK:
Explora Try This At Home Series
Children's Museum Provides At-Home STEM Activities
Take the activities you would do at Explora, and try them at home! The children's museum created an at-home series that includes stopics such as Marble-ous Mazes, Codename: Binary, Full of Hot Air, Slime, Build a Balloon Hovercraft, Make Your Own Lava Lamp, Random Math Walk and more to keep kids and adults alike busy. Check out the series and get started.
Cultivating Coders
Charles Ashley III, President & Founder-Cultivating Coders invites anyone who is interested in learning how to build a website to join a free, four week course. The course will meet on-line daily for one hour, Monday-Friday, 10:00am. To participate, sign in at https://www.codecrusher.com/. For more information, send an e-mail to info@codecrushcrew.com.
Albuquerque & Bernalillo County Libraries
Although closed our libraries still have plenty to offer. The Public Library's digital media services include eBooks, eAudiobooks, eVideos, and Digital Magazines. Click here for more information: https://abqlibrary.org/home
From the Washington Post-The Optimist
Have you missed your vacation this year, click here to travel from home:
FROM OUR READERS:
Nancy Bearce sent this multi-language You Tube from Vermont’s multilingual channel. It give information on COVID19 in multiple languages, including Swahili, Vietnamese and Arabic. Chick here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zjPpeFnXqvESr1y3d4DvQ/videos?app=desktop
John Hooker sent this interesting article from Texas Monthly, https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/heb-prepared-coronavirus-pandemic/, about how H.E.B supermarkets in Texas planned for the pandemic and continue to respond to the needs of the employees and their customers. What can government learn from how industry is handling the effects of COVID19 on constituents, employees and processes?