CORONA, NY (April 3, 2020) — On Friday, Council Member Francisco Moya called for the immediate creation of an emergency relief fund to help low-income families whose loved ones have died from COVID-19 make death arrangements.

“One of the most heartbreaking issues that constituents are calling me about is what to do when their loved one dies suddenly and unexpectedly from COVID-19 and they don’t have the financial resources to make arrangements.

“These families have two options: burial or cremation. For families who can’t afford the $925 cremation expense, let alone the cost of a burial, where can they turn?

“We need a government solution. I’m calling for the City to immediately create an emergency relief fund to help families cover the arrangements of all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, who die from COVID-19.

“When we say ‘we’re all in this together,’ we have to mean it. That means not abandoning our friends, neighbors and fellow New Yorkers in their time of grief and need.”

About Francisco Moya

Council Member Francisco Moya represents the New York City Council’s 21st District, which encompasses Corona, East Elmhurst, LeFrak City and parts of Jackson Heights. He chairs the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and sits on seven other committees: Civil Service and Labor; Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations; Finance; Immigration; Land Use; Parks and Recreation; and Hospitals. Council Member Moya also serves as the vice co-chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus (BLAC). For more information, please visit council.nyc.gov/francisco-moya.

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