Page 4 - Queens Times Edition #12

PAGE 4 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

The NYS Tax Department Website Project Will Place

Has Free Resources Available To Help Micromobility Chargers at

Ensure Timely And Accurate Returns Four NYCHA Developments

Before The April 18 Deadline Test Project Will Also Provide Secure Storage
For e-Bikes and e-Scooters

The New York State Department state income tax returns. number for your bank, which you Con Edison and the New York and South in Queens, De Hostos
of Taxation and Finance has Make it simple - To get started, can find on a blank check) City Housing Authority will place in Manhattan, and Van Dyke I
reminded taxpayers that infor- gather the information and docu- • NY 529 College Saving Account chargers and storage for e-bikes in Brooklyn. The parties hope to
mation available on its website, ments needed to file a return: information (if requesting refund to and e-scooters at NYCHA devel- begin the demonstration project
www.tax.ny.gov, can help make • an active email account (enables be distributed) opments to see how much riders by the end of this year.
filing personal income tax returns you to file electronically and keep Make it fast - E-filing is safer, like the concept. Con Edison has posted a request
simple, fast, and free for qualify- track of the status of your return) faster, and more efficient than The chargers and secure stor- for information, a step toward
ing New Yorkers. • a copy of last year’s tax return sending paper returns through the age areas will be at four develop- finding a vendor to provide and
or your prior-year federal adjusted mail. And those who e-file and ments in Manhattan, Queens and operate the chargers once they
Federal and state tax returns gross income (FAGI) use direct deposit will receive any Brooklyn under the demonstration are installed. Con Edison and
must be filed by Tuesday, April 18, • a driver license or state-issued refund owed faster and without project that Mayor Eric Adams the chosen vendor will visit the
this year. That’s because the usual nondriver ID (for you and your the worry of a lost or undelivered announced today. NYCHA developments and deter-
April 15 deadline falls on a Sat- spouse, if filing jointly) check. The project will test whether mine how many chargers to place
urday and the following Monday • birth dates and Social Security Taxpayers can quickly view the use of e-bikes and e-scooters at each site.
is Emancipation Day, a holiday in numbers for you, your spouse, and the status of their New York State would increase if New Yorkers The goal is to provide chargers
Washington, D.C. your dependents tax refund anytime by using the had suitable charging and stor- that will accommodate all e-bikes
Taxpayers can take advantage • proof of income and tax with- Check your Refund application on age. Increasing the use of these and e-scooters, regardless of the
of an array of helpful and money- held (wages, interest, and dividend the Tax Department website: www. devices would reduce reliance on manufacturer.
saving resources on the Tax De- statements): tax.ny.gov. It’s the fastest and most fossil fuel-powered transporta- Along with environmental
partment’s website, including free • Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 convenient way to know when to tion, meaning cleaner air and safer benefits, micromobility devices
tax preparation and filing software, • if you received unemployment expect your refund. streets. contribute to urban quality of life
answers to common questions, payments, your Department of Make it free - Many New The partners also want to in other ways. They are quiet and
and checklists to ensure a smooth Labor Form 1099-G Yorkers qualify to electronically determine whether providing reduce traffic congestion.
process. • any other documents showing prepare and file their taxes online safe, secure charging and storage Electric micromobility devices
“We want to provide the most additional income for free. The Tax Department part- outdoors would reduce indoor are an affordable alternative to
convenient tax filing experience • the total of any estimated pay- ners with the Free File Alliance to charging, which can be dangerous. cars for low-income New York-
possible,” said New York State De- ments you made throughout the save eligible taxpayers the cost of It’s also a test of a business ers, many of whom have jobs
partment of Taxation and Finance year, as well as any overpayment buying tax software or hiring a tax model. Con Edison will gather in- delivering food or other goods to
Acting Commissioner Amanda from last year’s return you asked preparer. formation from the chargers to see customers throughout the city. But
Hiller. “The resources available at to have applied to your taxes this To ensure you’re not charged how many unique riders use them, food delivery app companies usu-
www.tax.ny.gov can help taxpayers year (more information is available a fee, you must access Free File how long riders use the chargers ally do not provide workers with
quickly and easily meet their filing at tax account balance) through the Tax Department’s and the times of day when riders transportation devices.
obligations and receive any refunds • Forms 1095-A, B, or C, Afford- website to complete your return. charge. In addition, the company That has resulted in many
they’re owed.” able Healthcare Statement If you do not qualify to use one will determine the amount of car- workers using their own devices
Visit the Tax Department’s filing • information related to any cred- of New York’s Free File software bon that would have been emitted to make deliveries to New Yorkers
season resource center webpage for its you’re claiming providers, you still have choices. if the users had driven passenger and charging those devices in their
(Continued on page 10) helpful information about how to • your banking information (the See Other e-file options on the Tax cars instead of their micromobil- apartments.
prepare and file your federal and account number and the routing Department website to learn more. ity devices. Con Edison and the chosen ven-
Statement From Speaker Adrienne “As electric bikes and scoot- dor will seek charging locations
ers grow in popularity, we want that are away from residences.
Adams And Criminal Justice Chair to explore ways to ensure that The locations will be designated in
New Yorkers have access to safe, accordance with Fire Department
convenient charging and secure of New York guidelines for safety.
Carlina Rivera on The Closure of storage,” said Raghu Sudha- Con Edison urges anyone using
kara, vice president, Distributed a lithium ion battery to make sure
Rikers Island by 2027 Resource Integration, for Con the battery has been certified by
Edison. “Making micromobility UL or another safety testing lab,
“New York City is required by our jail system, making it the will lead to failure and a less safer and easier will be a plus for comply with FDNY safety rules,
law to close Rikers by 2027, and deadliest year in a decade. The safe city. The Administration the many hard-working people use only charging cables that the
the City Council remains com- City’s failure to effectively ad- and all stakeholders must commit who earn their living delivering manufacturer recommends, and
mitted to ensuring this Adminis- dress the mental health crisis to solutions that prevent crime, food to our homes and businesses. stop using a battery that is dam-
tration adheres to that deadline. has allowed Rikers to become reduce the excessive jail popula- Our demonstration project with aged. The FDNY offers these and
We know there’s been significant a de facto mental health facility tion, make our jails safer, and NYCHA will provide us with other safety tips. The National
progress in the procurement of without the appropriate services. stop the revolving door. Among information on how we can sup- Fire Protection Association also
contracts for borough-based Half of its population has a men- these are increased interventions port these forms of transportation, offers safety advice for lithium
jails, and physical work began tal health diagnosis, too often that divert people to effective which provide environmental ben- ion batteries.
at each site in early 2022. Any worsened by cycling through mental health treatment, as well efits, convenience and enjoyment Con Edison is a subsidiary
borough-based jail contract must the criminal legal system. The as re-entry programs that provide when used safely.” of Consolidated Edison, Inc.
align with the 2027 mandate for staff and New Yorkers detained job opportunities, supportive “The safety of NYCHA resi- [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s
Rikers’ closure. The inconsistent there are subjected to continuing housing, and stability for people dents is our chief priority and largest investor-owned energy
statements from the Administra- levels of violence and trauma that to return successfully to com- central to the work we do every companies, with approximately
tion over the past days have unac- perpetuate cycles of harm. This munities. The path forward is day,” said NYCHA Interim CEO $16 billion in annual revenues and
ceptably created questions where cannot continue. continuing towards the closure of Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We are pleased $69 billion in assets, as of Decem-
there should be none – Rikers “The evidence is clear on Rikers by 2027, and investing in to partner with Con Edison on ber 31, 2022. The utility delivers
must close by 2027 and we cannot programs that reduce recidivism our communities and programs this pilot program, which will electricity, natural gas and steam,
allow it to continue undermining and improve public safety, but that create and sustain a safer provide NYCHA residents with a and serves 3.5 million customers
public safety across our city. a passive approach that fails to city. This is the only plan that safe outdoor charging and storage in New York City and Westchester
“Last year, 19 people died in deepen the City’s use of them serves our city.” alternative, while supporting the County. For financial, operations
growth of this sustainable mode and customer service information,
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic Appointed to The New York of transportation.” visit conEd.com. For energy ef-
The first chargers and storage ficiency information, visit coned.
State Assembly’s Budget Committee For Education areas will be at these NYCHA de- com/energyefficiency. Also, visit
On the first day of General Con- ing me to carry out this crucial velopments: Queensbridge North us on Twitter and Facebook.
ference Budget Committees, NYS work,” said Rozic. “I have long
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie advocated schools and students
announced the appointment of and will ensure that every student
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic has access to a high-quality educa-
(D,WF-Queens) as a member of tion, regardless of where they live,
the Budget Conference Commit- what language they speak, or what
tee for Education. community they come from.”
“I am honored to be appointed As a member of the Budget
to the Assembly’s Budget Confer- Committee for Education, As-
ence Committee for Education and
thank Speaker Heastie for entrust- (Continued on page 9)