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Friday, December 25, 2020
Vol. 69, No. 52
HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY PAGES 19-22
ALLEGED CAR THIEF ARRESTED
NORTHWELL’S DOWLING TELLS LESSONS OF COVID-19
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Not enough funds for us: local officials
H A L L - I D AY C H E E R
Complaints over lack of money for municipalities, states in package BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Local officials throughout Nassau County, Long Island and New York voiced approval for the passage of a second coronavirus stimulus package totaling $900 billion but were displeased with the lack of federal funding for state governments and local municipalities. On Monday night, Congress approved the nation’s second stimulus package to aid people in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The bill, which passed in the House 359-53 and in the Senate 92-6, was sent to President Donald Trump. On Tuesday night, Trump called the measure a disgrace and pressed Congress to increase direct payments to individuals. The measure calls for direct payments of $600 to adults and children, payments of $300 per week for workers receiving unemployment benefits through March 14 and $20 billion in Economic Injury
Disaster Grants. But Trump said in a video that the amount of direct payments should be increased to $2,000 per person from “the ridiculously low $600,” while stopping short of an explicit veto threat. Before Trump made his remarks, U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (DGarden City) said, “This agreement is far from perfect, but in this case, something is absolutely better than nothing and I am pleased we have finally passed new relief for our constituents and avoided a government shutdown after months of inaction by the Senate.” U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), along with Rice, has been vocal about the need for bipartisan work to provide federal aid since the beginning of the pandemic. Suozzi is a member of the Problem Solvers’ Caucus, a group composed of members of Congress from both sides of the political aisle. Suozzi touted his and his colleagues’ Continued on Page 27
PHOTO COURTESY OF MINEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mineola Middle School students were decked out in their holiday attire last week.
Three airlines agree to N.Y. travel restrictions BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
Kingdom after reports of a new coronavirus variant that health experts have said could potenGov. Andrew Cuomo criti- tially spread faster than others. Cuomo said six flights arrive cized the federal government on Sunday for not imposing travel at Kennedy International Airport restrictions from the United from the United Kingdom every
day. With 120 countries already having imposed travel restrictions from the United Kingdom, Cuomo expressed displeasure with the federal government not following in others’ footsteps. Continued on Page 28
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