US Sees Record Drop in Poverty After Pandemic Aid July 29, 2021

It may seem counterintuitive that poverty levels could decline during a pandemic, but in fact they will almost halve this year in the U.S. Thanks to the huge increase in government aid sparked by the coronavirus, the number of poor Americans will be the lowest on record. A study published yesterday predicts there will be 20 million fewer people in poverty compared to 2018, a 45% drop, thanks largely to expanded unemployment insurance, food stamps and stimulus checks. The Biden administration wants to make an expansion of the child tax credit permanent but conservatives argue pandemic-era spending is unsustainable. (Sources: NYT, Reuters)

Cryptocurrency: US Marshals Tap Crypto Bank To Handle Seized Digital Assets

 US Marshals Tap Crypto Bank To Handle Seized Digital Assets

Anchorage Digital, the first cryptocurrency bank to receive federal charter approval, has been awarded a contract to manage seized and forfeited digital assets for the U.S. Marshals Service, the company said Wednesday.

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International Humanitarian Training Opportunities: Human Trafficking in Emergencies. July 2021

 

Human Trafficking in Emergencies Protection   Every year, thousands of men, women, and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. In a new study released this month by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the pandemic was shown to have “increased vulnerabilities to trafficking in persons while making trafficking even harder to detect and leaving victims struggling to obtain help and access to justice,” said UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly.     Tomorrow, the United Nations observes 30 July as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. We encourage you to take action by learning more about this grave violation of human rights. We created this free online training in partnership with The Salvation Army. It provides guidance on identifying the signs of trafficking and supporting survivors.  By learning how to recognize and take appropriate actions to respond, we can help put an end to human trafficking.     Get Started       Learner Review "Very informative. We together can put a stop to this heinous crime. See something, say something." —Jo J. ★★★★★

NOLA: MAYOR CANTRELL ANNOUNCES RETURN OF BLUE BIKES BIKE SHARE PROGRAM TO NEW ORLEANS

 

A fleet of 500 pedal-assist e-bikes will be ready to ride by Sept. 1

 

 

View it in your browser.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  July 28, 2021 Contact: LaTonya Norton For Media Inquiries Only communications@nola.gov (504) 658-4962 MAYOR CANTRELL ANNOUNCES RETURN OF BLUE BIKES BIKE SHARE PROGRAM TO NEW ORLEANS   NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today announced that Blue Bikes, Louisiana’s first bike share program, will return to the City of New Orleans later this summer. A fleet of 500 pedal-assist e-bikes will be ready to ride by Sept. 1.   “The upcoming launch of Blue Bikes is a major accomplishment in our commitment to improve equity, connectivity, safety and efficiency in our transportation networks. Bike share is a critical component of our transportation system; people rely on it to get to work, and we are excited that 500 bikes will be back on the streets soon. We appreciate the partnership in the Greater New Orleans Foundation, which helped develop the new program, and are thankful for the return of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana as lead sponsor. Blue Bikes is returning better than before, with a greater focus on supporting our community every step of the way,” said Mayor Cantrell.   [WATCH: Blue Bikes press conference]   The city announced the relaunch of Blue Bikes in partnership with Blue Krewe, a local, community-based nonprofit organization that operates the program, and title sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.   Mayor Cantrell was also joined by Office of Transportation Director Laura Bryan and Policy and Program Manager Dan Jatres; President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield Dr. I. Steven Udvarhelyi; Board Member of Blue Krewe Destinie Hammond; President & CEO of Greater New Orleans Foundation Andy Kopplin; and Executive Director of Bike Easy Dan Favre.    About Blue Bikes 2.0 Blue Bikes first launched in 2017 and was in operation through spring 2020. During that time, residents and visitors embraced Blue Bikes as a valuable community asset. Bike share offered a healthy, environmentally-friendly and accessible transportation option to move around the Crescent City.   When Blue Bikes relaunches, the initial system area will include parts of the Lower Garden District, Central City, the Central Business District, the French Quarter, the Marigny, the Bywater, the 7th Ward, Tremé, Mid-City and the lower section of City Park.   Blue Bikes 2.0 will have a particular focus on serving areas identified in the City of New Orleans’ Bicycle Equity Index, which are primarily lower-income and communities of color with low car ownership rates. The program will connect these neighborhoods to job centers and amenities.   Additionally, through dedicated outreach with specific metrics to measure progress, Blue Bikes 2.0 will ensure that bike share is easily accessible for residents of color and low-wealth communities, residents who work in the service and hospitality industry, and/or residents who lack access to other transportation options.   People can sign up to ride Blue Bikes by downloading the Blue Bikes Nola app. People can also ride through the $0.15 per minute Pay As You Go option or with a $25 monthly membership. Additionally, through the Blue Bikes for All program, New Orleans residents who qualify for Medicaid or Louisiana Purchase (SNAP) will be able to access a reduced-price plan of $4 per month. To learn more about the Blue Bikes pricing and system area, visit BlueBikesNola.com.   "We are proud of our partnership with Blue Krewe and the City of New Orleans to bring this healthy, environmentally friendly, affordable transportation option back to the Crescent City," said Dr. I. Steven Udvarhelyi, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana President and CEO. "Blue Bikes promotes healthy exercise and gives residents an easy way to get to work or school, go to medical appointments or shop at full-service grocery stores and farmers markets. We know from the first round of the program that Blue Bikes meets transportation needs in the New Orleans community, and we’re looking forward to seeing the bikes rolling through city streets again."   Blue Bikes 2.0 Operations During its first years of operation, the Blue Bikes program was highly successful, with riders logging more than a million miles within the first two years and eliminating more than a million miles in carbon offset — a gasoline cost savings of nearly $700,000. Trips taken and miles ridden jumped up each year of Blue Bikes’ operation, as more people embraced the program.   The original Blue Bikes system shut down in spring 2020 following ownership changes that led to the previous out-of-state corporate operator ending bike share operations in the New Orleans market.    But, recognizing the importance of Blue Bikes for New Orleans and the need for local control of the city’s bike-share system, local bike share enthusiasts – including former Blue Bikes staff, bicycling and walking advocates, philanthropists and community healthcare organizations – came together to form Blue Krewe last year. The Greater New Orleans Foundation provided critical start-up funding and fiscal sponsorship for Blue Krewe. Blue Krewe's partners include Bike Easy, title sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, and the City of New Orleans.   “When corporate decision-makers far from New Orleans shut down our bike share program during the middle of the pandemic, we knew we needed the next era of bike share to be controlled locally,” said Andy Kopplin, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation and Treasurer of the Blue Krewe board. “The Greater New Orleans Foundation was thrilled to work with Mayor Cantrell and our partners to create the new nonprofit structure and provide critical seed capital and fiscal sponsorship to get Blue Krewe off the ground.”   Blue Krewe’s governance structure as a community-based nonprofit organization is specifically designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of an equitable bike share program in New Orleans.   Blue Krewe has assembled a board of directors with a wealth of experience and dedication to Southeastern Louisiana. Blue Krewe’s Board of Directors includes: Board President Corey Hebert, CEO, College Health TV and Chief Medical Editor of Black News Channel Board Secretary Dan Favre, Executive Director of Bike Easy Treasurer Andy Kopplin, CEO and President of the Greater New Orleans Foundation Board Member Destinie Hammond, Communications Manager for the North American Bikeshare Association Board Member Emilie Bahr, Urban Planner and Walking + Biking Evangelist Ex-Officio Board Member Laura Bryan, Director of the City of New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Transportation Ex-Officio Board Member Rod Teamer, Director of Diversity Program and Business Development, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana For more information and timely updates on the Blue Bikes 2.0 launch, visit BlueBikesNOLA.com or follow Blue Bikes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @BlueBikesNOLA.   # # # About Blue Krewe Founded in New Orleans in 2020, Blue Krewe is a local, community-based nonprofit that manages and operates the Blue Bikes program. Recognizing the importance of Blue Bikes as a healthy, equitable, and environmentally-friendly transportation option, local bikeshare enthusiasts – such former Blue Bikes staff, biking and pedestrian advocates, philanthropists and community healthcare advocates – came together to form Blue Krewe. Here at Blue Krewe, we are committed to our mission to provide the Greater New Orleans region with equitable shared micro-mobility solutions that are rooted in and supportive of our community.

FYI.... New Orleans. Ongoing Effort. City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board to Conduct Adult Mosquito Abatement Tonight

 

Treatments will take place from 8:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., weather permitting

 

 

View it in your browser.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  July 28, 2021 Contact: LaTonya Norton For Media Inquiries Only communications@nola.gov (504) 658-4962 City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board to Conduct Adult Mosquito Abatement Tonight NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct adult mosquito abatement tonight.   Treatment will be conducted by airplane in the area bordered by Bayou St, John, Paris Road, Lakeshore Drive and I-610. Truck applications will also take place in New Orleans East in the area bounded by I-10, Dwyer Road, Chef Menteur Highway and Bullard Avenue. Treatments will take place from 8:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., weather permitting.   Frequent or heavy rainfall can significantly increase mosquito populations by creating breeding habitat. Mosquitoes lay eggs in anything that holds water and can develop from eggs to adults in less than a week. Some examples of common breeding habitats are tires, buckets, wheelbarrows, clogged gutters, unkept swimming pools, tarps or other plastic sheeting, grill covers, kiddie pools, water tables, drink cups or aluminum cans, pet water dishes, and trash cans or lids.   West Nile and other mosquito-borne viruses are more active in the summer and early fall. Currently, no human cases have been reported in Orleans Parish; however, we are asking residents to remain vigilant and to turn over or remove any items that hold water to prevent mosquito breeding. Residents should expect elevated mosquito activity in the next days and weeks with frequent summer storms and rainfall. Any time after a rain is a good time to look around residential property for containers that might be holding water.   NOMTRCB will perform city-wide control activities to manage mosquito populations as frequently as weather permits. Please call 311 or visit https://nola311.org/ to report mosquito issues such as tire piles, abandoned pools or areas with standing water that do not drain properly.   For additional information on the West Nile virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.   SAFETY TIPS   Protect Yourself Reduce mosquito exposure by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn. Use air-conditioning and make sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.   Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants while outside. The CDC recommends using repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients including DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. When using insect repellent, always follow the recommendations on the product label. Protect Your Home Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed. Remove trash and clutter, dispose of discarded tires and containers that can hold water. Turn over wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children's toys, or anything that can collect water. Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed such as pet dishes or bird baths. Scrub the side of the containers with a sponge or brush each week to remove mosquito eggs. Rain barrels and other water collection devices must be screened, and collected water should be used within one week. Aerate ornamental pools, fountains and sugar kettles or stock them with mosquitofish. Report illegal dumping, water leaks and unattended swimming pools by calling 311. Call 311 to report other mosquito problems. Report Tires Tires are easily filled with rainwater and collect leaves and litter, providing ideal breeding conditions for mosquito larvae. Removal of scrap tires will eliminate a prolific mosquito habitat. Residents can call 311 to request a bulk waste pickup of up to four tires. Tires should be stacked curbside next to City-issued trash containers. Tires in front of abandoned lots, unoccupied properties, or businesses are ineligible for pick up and will not be collected. This issue is currently being addressed through City-coordinated, cooperative efforts towards treatment and removal. Follow NOMTRCB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @nolamosquito.   # # #

Homeless. A Systems Approach Solution. ....assist individuals who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or were recently homeless or have a high risk of housing instability

 Federal Relief Resources for Renters and

Landlords

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced a one-month
extension of the CDC Eviction Moratorium expiring on July 31, 2021. USDA recognizes
the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an almost unprecedented housing affordability
crisis in the United States. The American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided billions of dollars to support distressed tenants and landlords and USDA continues to collaborate with federal partners to ensure Rural America receives ample relief. Provided below is information on several federal resources designed to help those facing rental hardship or eviction

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program will provide 70,000 housing choice
vouchers to local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in order to assist individuals who are
homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or were recently homeless
or have a high risk of housing instability. For more information on eligibility and how to
apply, please visit this link. HUD and USDA have also partnered on developing a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) fact sheet, which can be found here. Information in Spanish can be found here.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

CFPB provides additional resources to inform renters of potential options to help them stay in their homes. Please visit CFPB’s Renter Protections resource webpage for more information. Information in Spanish can be found here.e found here. Information in Spanish can be found here.

U.S. Treasury
Even as the American economy continues its recovery from the devastating impact of the
pandemic, millions of Americans face deep rental debt and fear evictions and the loss of
basic housing security. To meet this need, the U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental
Assistance (ERA) program makes funding available to assist households that are unable
to pay rent or utilities. The funds are provided directly to grantees such as states, U.S.
territories, local governments, and (in the case of the first round of funding) Indian tribes.
Grantees use the funds to provide assistance to eligible households through existing or
newly created rental assistance programs. To learn more about how to apply for
emergency rental assistance in your state, please visit this link. Information in Spanish for renters can be found here, and information in Spanish for landlords can be found here.