Page 4 - Queens Times Edition #12
P. 4

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)
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