We, the people of Ulster County, are facing unprecedented economic challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic.The systems we have operated within have been catastrophically disrupted and, in the process, we’ve seen just how tragically broken they were. Returning to the pre-COVID version of “normal” is not an option. In our society, electricity and internet access are basic needs, especially with many working from and schooling from home. Individuals and families are suffering from the impacts of Coronavirus—lost income, added expenses from being home, and stress from a global pandemic. COVID has hurt small businesses in dire ways. Business has slowed due to life-saving safety measures and illness, which has caused small businesses all across Ulster County to close their doors. Particularly, utility costs are crushing small businesses, causing them to make the horrible decision between making payroll for Ulster County residents and keeping the lights on. Meanwhile, Spectrum and Central Hudson are shutting down people’s service for non-payment. For Spectrum, First-quarter revenues increased to $11.7 billion. Profits reached about $396 million and their CEO made 98 million in 2016 while we struggle. Central Hudson’s parent company Fortis had 2019 revenue of $8.8 billion and total assets of $57 billion as of March 31, 2020. In the first two months of the pandemic, community members rallied around their neighbors experiencing financial hardship, by supporting the Radio Kingston Community Fund and raising over $400,000 to provide emergency financial support. Of these donations, $107,000 went directly to Central Hudson & Spectrum to thwart shut-offs. The people of Kingston cannot allow corporations to profit off our pain. We demand a cancellation of all internet and electric charges for Kingston residents.

There can be no true justice in America until there is actions coupled with the apologies for the North America slave trade.

We should not have a defeated President naming a Justice for life in the last few months of his term. McConnell blocked Obama’s Garland appointment in Obama’s last YEAR.

It affects all aspects of our lives. Women's rights concerning their own bodies, and many other key issues.

The hardships, experienced at the local municipality level, are not being addressed in a timely or efficient manner by the State Govenor and Legislators. There are requests that have been made to the state that have been disapproved even though the requests fit the guidance policies published by the US Treasury. The application, review and funds disbursement would occur more rapidly and in a timely manner if the funds were released to the municipalities for local management and distribution.

Trump is trying to starve the Post Office to swing the election

Everyone knows that the income payroll tax funds Social Security and Medicare -- two vitally important programs for Americans. Cutting, reducing, or "defraying" these taxes will decimate these two popular and badly needed programs for seniors; seniors who have paid into these funds all of their working lives. Trump and the GOP have already decimated American tax reveues through their tax cut for billionaires and big corporations -- revenues badly needed for education, healthcare, combatting climate change, funding the Postal Services, to name a few needs of a healthy and vibrant democratic society. Don't let him decimate Social Security and Medicare as well.

Originally, license suspensions were used to promote driving safety by punishing and removing unsafe drivers from the road and thereby encouraging safe driving. However, the scope of license suspensions has expanded greatly. Instead of suspending driver’s licenses only where public safety is at stake, courts now use license suspensions as a tool for collecting this unpaid traffic citation debt. These suspensions make it harder for people to get and keep jobs, often start them on a path to incarceration, and raise public safety concerns. Ultimately they keep people in long cycles of poverty that are difficult, if not impossible, for many to overcome. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. People should make restitution and pay their debts, but we believe driver’s license suspension should not be the first step to trying to make that happen. Since 2015, the states of California, Mississippi, Virginia, Texas, Montana, Idaho, Maine and Washington, D.C, have passed laws discontinuing the practice of suspending a person's driver's licenses simply because an individual can't afford to pay the ticket in the time allotted. Surprisingly, the collection of fines in these states has increased, not gone down. What they've found is that if you make it easier -- not harder -- for people to pay, the more likely they will. This can be the practice in Kansas and with this policy change, we will be a safer state and one where our citizens can adequately contribute to the economy, since they will be able to drive to jobs where they can earn a reasonable income, and subsequently stay of state-supported services. It's a policy that only makes sense and it works.

Getting relief to the families left in the dust, and getting aid to them IMMEDIATELY. Not excuses or you’ll get a tax credit. Time is up we have waited LONG ENOUGH. It’s time to stand up and fight back for our rights too!!!!!!

We are all front line workers through this pandemic and a lot of us are struggling also. Most of but as we know not all, the people that are out of work are the ones that don't need to work because they make thousands of dollars. The ones that are standing there on that front line are lower paid people that deserve that money also. I agree the extra money shall be there for unemployment but where is our bonus pay?

People can’t move forward with life and stay positive through this horrible time if they are constantly worried about losing there home, not being able to pay for lights, internet for school, car payments for vehicles used to care for families, essentials toilet paper, dog food? When will they stop arguing about the tits for tats and do something. It continues to get worse and worse in this country yet no one is doing anything to help long term only in the moment!

This is very important that this gets extended because still so many people are with out work. Jobs for everyone aren’t gonna come as easy as you think just because you didn’t extend the 600. Families are far behind and depending on this money for them to make it through. I know people who get unemployment who are constantly looking for work and can still not find it. Louisiana rate for the covid-19 are still going up. We need this help