National AFSCME News
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Two MELS Webinars on Taxes, Divorce Now Online By DIANE S. WILLIAMS More than 800 DC 37 members watched two virtual MELS webinars in February that are now available online. “The pandemic has increased the need for the legal services we provide our members,” said Bill Whalen, chief counsel and director of DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services. “We are seeing successful turnouts for the virtual webinars we’ve held to help our members with their 2020 taxes and free tax prep and matrimonial law. DC 37 continues to anticipate members’ needs in order to provide services they can really use.” TAX TIPS The Jan. 27 MELS Tax Tips live event had 280 DC 37 members and retirees watch MELS Co-Supervising Attorney Shelly Barasch, who is also an accountant, explain what’s new for tax year 2020, filing status, standard and itemized deductions, tax credits and more. View the video or view the slide show, here: MELS Tax Tips webinar video: http://bit.ly/3a4JtVC MELS Tax Tips webinar slides: http://bit.ly/3qXdvkT FREE TAX PREP The Food Bank for NYC offers free, contactless tax preparation services for low income New Yorkers to help them get the refunds and credits they are entitled to, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that can be worth up to $8,852 for [...] — Feb 23
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CAN YOU VOLUNTEER TO GOTV? POLITICAL ACTION SPECIAL ELECTION FEB. 23: DC 37 members are making calls together live on Zoom today and Tuesday Feb. 23! There’s a lot at stake for us in 2021 and we need to make sure we have representatives on the New York City Council who will have our backs when we need them to. Please join us for a virtual phone bank to urge our DC 37 sisters and brothers to vote for Selvena Brooks-Powers for City Council in the 31st Council District. You can sign up for one of the phone banking shifts taking place today and on Special Election Day, Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 12 noon to 8 PM. Even if you’ve never volunteered with us before, using the virtual phone bank is easy and convenient. The time you spend volunteering can make a big difference in improving the lives of DC 37 members. Please sign up now for a phone banking shift at: https://www.mobilize.us/afscmedc37/event/374983/ — Feb 22
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Transformational Tuesdays: A Professional Development Series During these challenging times, it can be difficult to see what the future has in store and how to best prepare for it. For the City’s youngest employees, this may be even more true. WorkWell NYC’s Project XYZ, a wellness initiative intentionally created to focus on the health and wellness of City employees from Generations Y and Z, is focusing on the opportunity before us to launch “Transformation Tuesdays”, a three-part professional development series in partnership with DCAS and LeadNYC. Even in uncertainty, we recognize the opportunity to help young employees improve their skills and learn how to successfully navigate the civil service system and set themselves up for careers with the City beyond our immediate crisis. All employees, regardless of age, are welcome to participate in Project XYZ Programs! Civil Service 101: Navigating Jobs in City Government Feb. 23, 12:30 p.m. Learn about the civil service exam process and which exams may be best suited for you and your career. You on Paper: Resume & Cover Letter Building March 23, 12:30 p.m. Learn how to shine on paper with tips to develop a compelling resume and cover letter. You in Person: Interviewing & Networking April 20, 12:30 p.m. Learn 5 easy steps [...] — Feb 19
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NEWS, UPCOMING EVENTS and SERVICES POLITICAL ACTION SPECIAL ELECTION FEB. 23: DC 37 members are making calls together live on Zoom! There’s a lot at stake for us in 2021 and we need to make sure we have representatives on the New York City Council who will have our backs when we need them to. Please join us for a virtual phone bank to urge our DC 37 sisters and brothers to vote for Selvena Brooks-Powers for City Council in the 31st Council District. You can sign up for one of the phone banking shifts taking place today through Thursday, Feb. 18 and on Special Election Day, Tuesday, Feb. 23. Even if you’ve never volunteered with us before, using the virtual phone bank is easy and convenient. The time you spend volunteering can make a big difference in improving the lives of DC 37 members. Please sign up now for a phone banking shift at: https://www.mobilize.us/afscmedc37/event/374983/ ### DC 37 HEALTH & SECURITY PLAN Update Your [...] — Feb 18
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FEMA to Cover $7K for COVID Funerals By DIANE S. WILLIAMS New York State will get about $260 million in aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, to cover the funeral expenses of COVID victims, said Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a joint press conference in February. “If you are a family who couldn’t afford or had to just stretch, went without rent or went without food or anything else so you might give your loved one a decent funeral and burial, you can get reimbursed for up to $7,000 from FEMA,” Schumer said. FEMA may reimburse families in need up to $7,000 for COVID-related funeral costs incurred between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 2020, as part of the December 2020 COVID relief bill. Funerals held in 2021 are not covered. This federal aid is similar to relief FEMA provided to victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and other disasters. Until FEMA finalizes the funeral aid program and releases a hotline, the lawmakers urge families to start gathering official death certificates and receipts for body storage, funeral and burial costs and other related documentation that FEMA will require applicants to submit. — Feb 17