JOE Destefano

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE? Our combined efforts to vaccinate Suffolk County residents is underway! Starting next Monday, New York State w...ill begin scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals eligible under Phase 1b, which includes: -residents 75 and older -education workers -first responders -transit workers -other frontline essential employees As distribution continues to ramp up, Suffolk County stands ready and willing to provide these vaccines, as soon as they become available. We know many have questions as to when them and their family will be able to receive the vaccine. Anyone with any questions regarding eligibility should visit https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/. As soon as further information is available we will forward along. Responders can remain connected with Suffolk Fire Rescue by auto enrolling by sending SIGNAL19 to 67283 (1st responder) SuffolkAlerts to 67283 (community public safety messaging) SuffolkEspanol to 67283 (Spanish communit public safety messaging). Expect further information on Monday for how eligible residents can schedule their vaccination appointments. P.s. create a family safety profile... public safety solutions.... #whenminutesmattersecondscount Smart911 Register and enroll in Smart911 and optional messaging by registering at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/login.action See more

Once again, my opponent finds himself on the wrong side of an issue as he supports Cuomo’s hiding of the facts on why New York was the epicenter for Coronavirus... deaths. He said nothing as I railed against the governor for forcing nursing homes to take in COVID patients and was voiceless in the face of the many press releases and posts I put out to galvanize public attention. Instead of questioning the governor on why he won’t release the statistics on virus deaths and why he tried to skew the numbers, he chose to attack me. The fact is, I was front and center at the recent COVID hearings as a member of the Committee on Aging. My opponent shows his ignorance by not knowing the most effective way to conduct these hearings. Questions were directed through the ranking members so that the concerns of all interested parties could be heard. Saving lives by finding out what went wrong should be my opponent’s main concern as we learn from the mistakes that were made, instead of having his minions who don’t even live in the district run cover for the politicians. See more

I was honored to join many colleagues and friends at the Suffolk County Fire District Officers Association annual dinner where it was a perfect occasion to than...k and congratulate many dedicated volunteers who put in countless hours to protect us. As a volunteer myself and a fire commissioner for 25 years, l can’t even hold a candle to many of these brave and devoted men and women as they put service above self. See more

Families shouldn't be forced to pick between caring for an ill-family member and working to pay the bills. We need to pass Vinny's law (A.3415A) to give family ...members who are registered nurses the option to care for their struggling loved ones by allowing them to receive Medicaid nursing reimbursements. In Vinny's case, it would allow his mother to care for him, which would alleviate the burden of trying to find skilled Medicaid nursing care and work full time at the hospital, as a nurse.