Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) is reminding his constituents that his office staff remains available to help his constituents with any issues they have experienced during the COVID-19 crisis. His dedicated staff, are working from home and already has helped hundreds of constituents from the 47th assembly district as well as from outside the district with unemployment issues which they have been working closely with the Governor’s office to break through the backlog of the Department of Labor in getting unemployment benefits approved for many constituents who have already contacted my office, also with information on where to get food, housing issues, rent, and mortgage questions, small business forgivable loans and grants and other small business information, as well as questions with SCRIE, DRIE, section 8, food stamps, nursing home problems, and many other concerns.

"We have organized donations of hot meals and cleaning supplies through the various businesses for our neighborhood Police Precincts, Fire Houses and Hospitals as well as in obtaining a limited number of face masks for those constituents who are in need," Colton said.

"My office is serving over 4,000 constituents a year, before being temporarily closed with the Executive Stay at Home order due to the COVID-19 health emergency. I am urging my constituents "Please don't hesitate to contact my office, in these difficult times when everyone is facing much anxiety and problems. I want to be able to continue to help anyone who's in dire need. Constituents can choose to contact my office either by phone at 718-236-1598 and leave a clear message with your name, phone number, and a brief message of the concern or via email at coltonw@nyassembly.gov or at williamc8@verizon.net. All messages are being forwarded to a staff member who is working from home and who will call you back to help. In addition to English speaking staff, my staff members can return calls in Russian, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, and Bangladesh," Colton continued.

"I offer my condolences and prayers for all who died in this crisis, and to their families. I also offer my prayers and support to all who fell victims to this vicious virus and to their families in their fight to recover. I also thank all of our essential workers who have been serving our neighborhood, including our police and fire heroes, all our health care workers, our transit workers, our Sanitation workers, our postal carriers, all our retail employees and cashiers in our essential businesses and all of our residents who have practiced being kind and considerate to all our neighbors and have practiced social distancing helping to flatten the curve and bringing us all closer to a better quality of life," Colton added.