Jenkintown Borough continues to update the opens in a new windowBorough website with the latest COVID-19 information and community resources that have been provided by County, State, and Federal agencies. State Representative Steve McCarter updates the public in a message below on voting against State Bill 613 and provides more helpful community resources including donation and distribution times for opens in a new windowlocal food cupboards, Governor Wolf’s announcement on emergency opens in a new windowSNAP benefit distribution and local feeding programs and more.
Dear Friends,
Despite the chilly temperatures of late, we are getting warmer — warmer in the hide-and-seek sense. We’re closer to our goal: a return to a sense of normalcy. But we are not there yet.
Like you, I want nothing more than for the virus to die and the social isolation and financial devastation to end. But I also want to preserve the public health and make sure our workers and the most vulnerable among us are protected. And I believe we have to follow the science in order to do that.
This past week, the majority party in Harrisburg passed Senate Bill 613, which would expand essential businesses and allow them to reopen. In a letter to state senators, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said the bill would dilute the commonwealth’s efforts to contain the coronavirus and have a “devastating impact” on public health.
Here in Montgomery County, the tip of the COVID-19 spear in Pennsylvania, we are still seeing a high level of infection and a high death toll, especially in our long-term care and nursing facilities. In fact, the number of positive cases today was actually higher than those in previous days, and this coincided with a opens in a new windowsignificant spike in cases statewide. It is for this reason that I and almost every legislator in the county, including two Republicans, voted in opposition to Senate Bill 613. Governor Wolf has signaled that he will veto it.
I and my fellow legislators are simply following the science (and the majority of economists, who believe that the best way to limit economic damage is to listen to public health experts’ advice). We will vote to open up the commonwealth after we have extensive accurate testing, accurate contact tracing for all new cases and adequate medical supplies and beds available to handle a possible resurgence in the virus. That time is coming — we are in many ways getting warmer. But we are not there yet.
In the meantime, I and my staff are here to help. We are available 24/7 to answer questions and to help to ease, as best we can, the many hardships the pandemic has wrought. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via phone at 215-572-5210 and/or email at RepMcCarter@pahouse.netcreate new email. We will get through this, together.
Time to study Wolf’s recovery plan
I am already closely examining the governor’s Plan for Pennsylvania’s Relief, Reopening and Recovery. I am in talks seven days a week with my colleagues and leadership on how we in the legislature can help the commonwealth move forward. I will continue to report the developments to you.
For now, please take a look at the governor’s framework for yourself at opens in a new windowwww.governor.pa.gov/plan-for-pennsylvania. If you have feedback you’d like included in the plan, please contact my office.
Working with our neighboring states
This week, Governor Tom Wolf and his counterparts in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island and Massachusetts announced the opens in a new windowcreation of a multi-state council to work together to restore the economy in the Northeast and get people back to work. This builds on the states’ ongoing regional approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coordinating group, which will include one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state, will work to develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay-at-home orders while minimalizing the risk of increased spread of the virus.
The council will use every tool available to accomplish the goal of easing social isolation without triggering renewed spread, including testing, contact tracing, treatment and social distancing. It will rely on the best available scientific, statistical, social and economic information to manage and evaluate those tools.
Addressing how COVID-19 is affecting minorities
Amid growing concern for how COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting minority populations in PA and exacerbating existing health disparity issues, Gov. Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announced the creation of a opens in a new windowCOVID-19 Response Task Force for Health Disparity to address how the pandemic is affecting the state’s minority and vulnerable populations. Fetterman will chair the task force.
Joining Gov. Wolf to get vital funding to PA hospitals
House Democrats supported action earlier this week by PENNVEST to deliver up to opens in a new window$450 million in immediate financial relief to the state’s hospitals caring for people during the COVID-19 crisis. The surge in cases is happening now, and hospitals need this help as the daily caseload intensifies.
Ensuring essential workers are safe
Dr. Rachel Levine, under her authority as Secretary of the Department of Health to take any disease control measure appropriate to protect the public from the spread of infectious disease, opens in a new windowsigned an order this week directing protections for critical workers who are employed at businesses deemed essential during the COVID-19 disaster emergency. Specifics on what that entails are included in the link above.
Likewise, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently shared opens in a new windowinformation about the best practices to operate retail food stores, restaurants and associated pick-up and delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is designed to safeguard workers and consumers.
Testing in MontCo — a new site
After nearly 5,000 people were tested for COVID-19 at a drive-through testing location at Temple University’s Ambler Campus between March 20 and April 9, that facility was shuttered.
A opens in a new windownew testing site opened Thursday at the Central Campus of the Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell. It is by appointment only. See link for details.
Collecting unemployment during the pandemic
The Department of Labor and Industry has been taxed by the rising surge in job losses due to COVID-19, and it can be very difficult to get through to an Unemployment Compensation Service Center on the phone. But there are opens in a new windowresources available to help on their website, including updates on the federal CARES Act, information on your PIN and determinations, and claimant updates.
Additionally, the PA Attorney General’s office rolled out a highly informative opens in a new windowUnemployment Rights and Resources guide for COVID-19. Included in it is information on grace periods for utilities, rent and loans; student loan relief; and new paid sick leave opportunities.
Getting to essential destinations
opens in a new windowTransNet continues to provide transportation for consumers wearing masks to essential destinations, including grocery stores, medical facilities, pharmacies and essential workplaces. Contact TransNet at 215-542-RIDE with questions or to schedule an essential trip.
Helping our neighbors, helping ourselves
Food insecurity is increasing across the county. I’ve compiled information on donation and distribution times for local food cupboards, opens in a new windowavailable through this link.
Emergency SNAP benefit distribution begins today
DHS began emergency opens in a new windowSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit issuance today in line with the federal government’s interpretation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
Payments include a supplemental increase for both March and April and will continue to be issued for current SNAP households through April 29.
Sign up for AlertPA
It’s a text notification system for health, weather and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Sign up online at opens in a new windowwww.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.
Loan deferrals for coronavirus-impacted businesses
The Department of Community and Economic Development this week announced the opens in a new windowforbearance of loans administered by the DCED. This extended deferral should help ease the burden on local businesses and enable them to focus and prioritize their efforts as we all work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
A waiver for prepayments of sales tax
Among various opens in a new windowcoronavirus-related financial relief information available through the Department of Revenue is a recent announcement that businesses that collect PA sales tax opens in a new windowwill not have to make Accelerated Sales Tax prepayments over the next three months. That means businesses that normally have a monthly prepayment requirement will not be charged penalties for missing the prepayment deadline during this three-month period.
Getting your real estate tax exemption
Because of COVID-19, the Montgomery County Office of Veterans Affairs is still unable to meet with veterans face to face, but the office has started an opens in a new windowonline application process for veterans and surviving spouses to apply for a Real Estate Tax Exemption (RETX). Electronic applications will be given first priority. Call 610-278-3286 for questions concerning this process and/or other types of help.
PLBC accepting more online orders
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced it is opens in a new windowsignificantly increasing the number of orders it is accepting on a daily basis at opens in a new windowFineWineAndGoodSpirits.com.
As order fulfillment capacity increases, the PLCB will continue increasing the number of orders it takes each day, expecting to be able to accept 10,000 or more orders daily in coming days.
Gov. Wolf thanks Pennsylvanians for sacrifices
Earlier this week, Gov. Wolf showed his appreciation for the sacrifices all Pennsylvanians are making in the effort to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. opens in a new windowFull remarks are available for reading.
Lastly, please use and trust the following links for direct information on COVID-19.
- opens in a new windowCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- opens in a new windowPA Department of Health
- opens in a new windowMontgomery County
Sincerely,
Steve McCarter
Pennsylvania State Representative
Serving Cheltenham Township, Springfield Township and Jenkintown Borough
The Borough continues to encourage everyone to follow the Governor’s latest “Stay at Home Order” as well as the opens in a new windowCDC guidelines including hand washing, social distancing and covering of your cough/sneezes.
Thank you all! Stay safe and be well.