FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2020
City of Kingston Coronavirus Response Update
KINGSTON, NY – As part of the COVID-19 response, Mayor Steven T. Noble, City of Kingston staff, Common Council members, and volunteers have been working to assist residents during this time of crisis, while continuing to deliver all essential City services.
Mayor Noble’s first priority was ensuring that no one goes hungry, and began by supporting the Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative and assisting with the creation of an Emergency Food Hotline (888-316-0879). Dozens of City staff have been helping to facilitate the hotline, prepare and package meals, and distribute food. The Emergency Food Collaboration is now delivering over 1,000 meals and groceries to 75 families per day.
Mayor Noble announced today that the City of Kingston has made an additional $30,000 contribution to both Family of Woodstock and People’s Place to further support these organizations in providing emergency food assistance, food delivery arrangements, emergency counseling, and more. Mayor Noble has provided additional support to the Emergency Food Hotline efforts by devoting IT efforts to developing the software; renting tents for both the YMCA and People’s Place food distribution points; and renting a portable food cooling unit for the YMCA. Additionally, Mayor Noble is contributing $12,000 to the YMCA for operating costs at the food distribution point.
However, food insecurity is only one of the issues facing our community. Additional efforts that Mayor Noble has initiated include:
- Requesting Governor Cuomo’s Office extend the City of Kingston’s second property tax payment, which due April 30, for 21 days.
- The Kingston Water Department and Sewer Department has waived all water and sewer bill penalties starting on bill due dates beginning April 7, 2020 until at least May 12, 2020.
- The City’s Office of Community Development has secured approximately $440,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery Funds that will help those most in need in our community.
- The Kingston Local Development Corporation is working to expand its small business loan program to support Kingston’s small businesses.
- The City Assessor has cancelled all planned reassessments at this time. Assessments for all properties will remain the same except in the case of improvements, inventory adjustment or change of use.
“This has been an unprecedented and unique crisis. I want to assure members of this community that we are doing everything we can to help ease the pain,” said Mayor Noble. “It will be a challenge, but I know that Kingston will get through this and will be stronger because we worked together and supported one another in our neighbors’ time of need.”