City of Miami Beach Update on COVID-19, 6/29

Monday, June 29, 2020 As COVID-19 cases have been surging across the State of Florida, the City of Miami Beach will now mandate the use of facial coverings to help prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Effective tomorrow, June 30, 2020, all persons in public spaces and places, both indoors and outdoors, must wear a face covering if social distancing is not being achieved, as defined in Miami-Dade County Emergency Order 20-20. Any person not wearing a facial covering is subject to a $50 civil fine. Click here to read the city’s amended Emergency Measures. Additionally, effective at 11:59 p.m. tonight, per Miami-Dade County Emergency Order 23-20 all establishments that are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, MUST cease the sale of those alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m. each day; and hookah lounges shall remain closed. As a reminder, per Miami-Dade County Order, all beaches will close in the County commencing on Friday, July 3 and extending through Monday, July 6, 2020. Beaches will reopen on Tuesday, July 7. Click here to read the full order.   The closure may be extended if conditions do not improve and people do not follow "New Normal" rules requiring masks to be worn always inside commercial establishments and outdoors when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not possible.  With the recent surge of COVID-19 cases and increasing hospitalizations throughout the State of Florida, the city continues to urge you to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands regularly. Now is NOT the time to let our guards down on proactive safety measures. Read more on the latest information from the City of Miami Beach below. Message from the Mayor View today's message from Mayor Dan Gelber below and read it in Spanish here. Safety for All Personal responsibility is of the utmost importance as we deal with COVID-19. We NEED everyone to do their part in stopping the spread of this deadly virus, including: Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol Social distancing with members outside of your household Wearing a face covering Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth Avoiding close contact with people who are sick Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe Taking personal responsibility. If you are sick with a fever, cough or viral symptoms, please stay away from others, including the work environment and crowded area   There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, you can learn more about prevention and treatment by visiting the CDC website. Land Use & Sustainability Meeting The next virtual Land Use and Sustainability board meeting is being held tomorrow, June 30 at 8 a.m. and will be televised on MBTV and streamed live on Facebook. The Zoom information for both meetings is as follows: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88655286334. These meetings will also be streamed live on MBTV Channel 660 on Atlantic Broadband or 99 on AT&T U-Verse. How to provide spoken public comment during the meeting: The public may provide spoken comment by dialing telephone 929.205.6099 or 888.475.4499 (toll free). The Webinar ID is 886 5528 6334. Press *9 to raise a hand to be placed in queue to speak. North Beach Drive-Thru Food Distribution South Florida Seniors in Action, Farm Share and Commissioner David Richardson will host a drive-thru food distribution on Wednesday, July 1. Wednesday, July 1 9 AM - 11 AM 8700 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL The food distribution is on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Please remain in your car and open the trunk when it's your turn in line. If you do not have a car and would like to qualify for food assistance, please call or register online. Phone: 305.604.CITY (2489) or www.miamibeachfl.gov/food Drive-Thru Food Distribution Feeding South Florida and Commissioner David Richardson will host a drive-thru food distribution on Saturday, July 4. Saturday, July 4 9 AM - 11 AM 2100 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL The food distribution is on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Please remain in your car and open the trunk when it's your turn in line. If you do not have a car and would like to qualify for food assistance, please call or register online. Phone: 305.604.CITY (2489) or   www.miamibeachfl.gov/food Celebrate a Virtual 4th of July While the City of Miami Beach’s traditional July 4th festivities have been canceled, we are still celebrating! Check out a variety of virtual activities your entire family can partake in as we celebrate Independence Day and catch a virtual fireworks display on MBTV (Channels 660 on Atlantic Broadband or 99 on AT&T U-Verse). COVID-19 & Antibody Tests Available Both active virus COVID-19 and antibody tests are available at the Miami Beach Convention Center testing facility located on 17 Street and Convention Center Drive. The active virus COVID-19 test is available as both drive-through or walk up daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a new capacity of 1,200 of these tests. The drive-through antibody testing is also being conducted daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a capacity of 300 antibody tests per day. Results are typically provided within one hour. The State of Florida is also operating a mobile COVID-19 testing site at 12 Street and Washington Avenue (by Miami Beach Police headquarters). A total of 400 tests will be available each day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.  The site is walk-up only and no appointments are necessary. Testing at both sites is FREE and being offered to anyone 18 years or older, regardless of COVID-19 symptoms. A patient that has been tested is welcome to be retested at any time. Visit the testing tab on our dedicated Coronavirus webpage to learn more about homebound testing. Pediatric Mobile Clinic The University of Miami Pediatric Mobile Clinic is offering FREE COVID-19 testing for children of all ages. Testing is done by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To to book an appointment, please call 305.243.2049. OneBlood Donation OneBlood is working with the public and physicians to coordinate the delivery of potential lifesaving COVID-19 convalescent plasma to those in need. People who have recovered from coronavirus infection have developed antibodies to the virus that remain in the plasma portion of their blood.   Transfusing the plasma that contains the antibodies into a person still fighting the virus can provide a boost to the patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover. Click here to learn more and how you can donate today. Stay Informed Now more than ever it's important to get counted! So call up your friends and neighbors and ask them to visit my2020census.gov and make sure our community gets counted. Visit our dedicated, city-related coronavirus webpage www.miamibeachfl.gov/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information, including important resources, impacts to city services and more. Our city hotline at 305.604.CITY (2489) is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can also email your questions to MBCovid@miamibeachfl.gov. Our next connect with us through social media via email, Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and via text message (text MBAlert to 888777).

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A Message from Mayor George "Bud" Scholl

By Mayor George "Bud" Scholl Friday, June 26, 2020 Coronavirus cases are rising at an alarming rate in Florida. It’s been nearly four months since our lives were first disrupted by COVID-19, and the virus is stronger than ever in our community. We all must do our part to keep our city and community safe. Most businesses have reopened and we are moving toward our “new normal,” but the virus has not disappeared. Just looking at the number of reported cases for our city is misleading and not indicative of the grave nature of this virus. Today, Florida reported nearly 9,000 new positive cases, and the CDC has indicated that the actual number may be 10 times higher than the official count. At OneBlood we have seen the demand for COVID-19 plasma triple over the past three weeks. This plasma is one of the few therapies that can potentially provide relief to the critically ill, and the spike up in demand tells us that there are a lot more critically ill patients than ever before. These patients are not just the elderly; there are many more young people experiencing threatening symptoms during this second wave than we saw in the first wave. Combatting COVID-19 is a joint effort requiring everyone’s cooperation. We cannot win this fight alone. Though we may have differing opinions about the guidelines and government regulations, it is proven that the best way to stay safe is to social distance, wash your hands, wear a facial covering in public, avoid crowds, and stay home when possible. We’ve all seen the debate around face masks; most are following the guidelines, but some vehemently oppose the coverings. While Sunny Isles Beach does not have an order requiring facial coverings in all public places, we are strictly following Miami-Dade County’s order requiring masks indoors at businesses, except when eating at a restaurant, and outdoors when social distancing of six feet is not possible. Wearing a facial covering is a simple way to help asymptomatic carriers avoid spreading the virus, so we highly recommend wearing a mask in public whenever possible. In order to keep our businesses open and enjoy this “new normal,” everyone must cooperate. When inside a business or your condominium’s common areas, wear a facial covering and take extra precautions to stay six feet away from those not in your household. Work alongside your condo association to ensure they comply with County guidelines including proper CDC signage and enhanced sanitization of all common areas. Help our businesses do business safely so that they remain open. Now more than ever we need everyone to take personal responsibility. Hold others accountable and hold yourself accountable. We must put aside our differences to do what’s best for our community, especially our vulnerable populations. You may not be concerned with contracting the virus, but think of your parents, grandparents, kids, friends and our healthcare system. Don’t let self-interest cloud your social responsibility. Condemn complacency. Failure to get the virus under control and slow the spread may result in more roll backs and closures. All of us on the City Commission and your City staff want what’s best for our residents and businesses. Do your part by continuing to follow CDC guidelines and State, County and City orders. Together, let’s protect Sunny Isles Beach. Stay Informed Stay up to date on the latest news, closures and updates from the City of Sunny Isles Beach. See the complete details about reopening in Sunny Isles Beach at sibfl.net/reopening. We will continue to post updates and answers to frequently asked questions at sibfl.net/coronavirus. Sign up for SIBAlert emergency notifications Subscribe to eSIBi email notifications Follow us on social media: Facebook and Twitter If you have any additional questions, please email info@sibfl.net or call 305.792.1759.

Paycheck Protection Program Ends June 30 – Apply Today!

Urgent reminder! The deadline for SBA to approve Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications is Tuesday, June 30. This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. Find a lender and apply today SBA Partnering with Small Businesses to Drive Economic Recovery By SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza For the 200 employees at On-Target Supplies & Logistics in Dallas, having a job right now means stability during times of economic uncertainty. The pandemic has impacted small businesses across the country, but it has been particularly harmful for entrepreneurs in underserved communities. Following President Trump’s guidance, SBA launched the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), designed to quickly bring financial relief to socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses, as well as minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned small businesses. On-Target owner Tré Black said the forgivable PPP loan he received has allowed him to continue paying his workforce and has brought peace of mind during this difficult time. The priority for this Administration, and me personally, is to ensure these forgivable loans are going to those most in need. I’m proud to report nearly half of all PPP loans – both in terms of volume and value – are going to low-income counties across the country. Learn more How the SBA is Reaching Every Nook and Cranny of the Country SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza's interview with the Washington Examiner  Jovita Carranza, the administrator of the Small Business Administration, said you’ll likely not see this in a headline, but small businesses are rebounding. “The momentum is there because I've seen it firsthand,” she said. Carranza sat for an interview with the Washington Examiner both here in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, as well as in Morgantown, West Virginia, to discuss the impact the Paycheck Protection Program has had on small businesses trying to make a comeback after being shut down from either production or services for months. Learn more Helping America’s Entrepreneurs Get Back to Business By Allen Gutierrez, Associate Administrator of SBA's Office of Entrepreneurial Development Now more than ever before, Americans are turning to online learning. The trend is especially true as small businesses begin to reopen after states lift Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in the weeks and months ahead. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers free online courses that can help to guide you as you get back to business. Our online courses, housed in the SBA Learning Center, are tailored to specific subject areas and business stages. You can also supplement the knowledge you gain from these courses with other SBA resources – including virtual expert advice from SBA resource partners. Here are some of the online courses that you can leverage. Learn more The SBA is hiring temporary employees to assist with disaster relief efforts during these unprecedented times. The positions include: Call Center Customer Service Representative Document Preparation/Legal Review/Loan Closings Loan Processing/Credit Analysis/Mortgage Underwriting Program Support Apply today In 2019, 50,477 wildfires burned 4.7 million acres in the U.S., disrupting businesses and displacing people from their homes and communities. It’s essential for small business owners in wildfire-prone areas to make a plan to prepare for and deal with the aftermath of a wildfire. The U.S. Small Business Administration can help with resources and guidance before, during, and after a wildfire strikes. Here are some key tips to get your business ready for wildfire season. Learn more Beware of Scams and Fraud Schemes The Office of Inspector General recognizes that we are facing unprecedented times and is alerting the public about potential fraud schemes related to economic stimulus programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration in response to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the largest financial assistance bill to date, includes provisions to help small businesses. Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times.  Be on the lookout for grant fraud, loan fraud, and phishing. Learn more Federal Coronavirus Resources State, local, and federal agencies are working together to maintain the safety, security, and health of the American people. Check out coronavirus.gov for updates from the White House's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force. Go to cdc.gov for detailed information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   Learn more about the federal government's response Virtual Mentoring and Training  Offices around the country may be closed to the Coronavirus pandemic, but SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers and other resource partners are providing free business mentoring and training by phone, email, and video. Find an SBA resource partner near you

La FTC actualiza la Regla de lentes de contacto: Lo que significa para ti

23 de junio de 2020

por 

Colleen Tressler

Especialista en educación del consumidor, FTC

¿Usas lentes de contacto? En ese caso, sigue leyendo. Tú tienes derecho de obtener tu prescripción de lentes de contacto de parte de tu oculista — ya sea que la pidas o no — sin ningún cargo extra. Así lo dice la Regla de lentes de contacto que ejecuta la FTC. Eso te permite llevar tu prescripción donde quieras — en línea o al centro comercial — para buscar, comparar y encontrar el trato más conveniente.

A la FTC le gusta revisar sus reglas periódicamente para asegurarse de que estén actualizadas, sean efectivas y que no sean excesivamente gravosas. Como parte de nuestra revisión de la Regla de lentes de contacto, queríamos analizar las maneras de garantizar que los profesionales que emiten prescripciones les estén entregando una copia de la prescripción de lentes de contacto a los pacientes una vez que se completa la adaptación de las lentes de contacto. Recientemente, actualizamos la Regla para ayudar a que así sea. Los cambios a la Regla entran en vigor 60 días después de la publicación del aviso en el Registro Federal.

Ahora, después de entregarte una copia de tu prescripción, las personas que emiten estas recetas tienen que obtener un acuse de recibo firmado por ti y guardar ese documento por al menos tres años. Los profesionales que emiten prescripciones de lentes de contacto pueden confirmar que recibiste tu prescripción o receta de una de las cuatro siguientes maneras:

Pedirte que firmes una declaración de confirmación por separado.

Pedirte que firmes una copia de la prescripción que tenga una declaración de confirmación y que quedará en poder del profesional.

Pedirte que firmes una copia del recibo de venta del examen que tenga una declaración de confirmación y que quedará en poder del profesional.

Entregarte una copia digital de la prescripción y guardar un registro de que se envió, fue recibida o se puso a disposición en un formato que permita descargar e imprimir la prescripción.

Si sospechas que un profesional a cargo del cuidado de la vista está infringiendo la Regla de lentes de contacto, repórtalo en ftc.gov/queja. Para darle una mirada más profunda a tus derechos de obtener una prescripción de lentes de contacto — y anteojos — échale un vistazo a Comprenda sus derechos de prescripción de anteojos y lentes de contacto. Este artículo incluye una lista de lo que deberías ver en tu prescripción.

¿Cheques de estímulo económico de un concesionario de carros? No.

17 de junio de 2020

por 

Jim Kreidler

Especialista en Educación del Consumidor, FTC

Durante esta época de dificultades económicas, los estafadores harán prácticamente cualquier cosa para tratar de apropiarse de tu dinero. Incluso, como se ha visto en este caso, efectuar declaraciones falsas sobre cheques de estímulo económico para atraer clientes a eventos de ventas de carros.

En una demanda presentada hoy, la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC, por su sigla en inglés) dice que Traffic Jam Events, una firma de marketing directo por correo de concesionarios de carros, estás declarando falsamente que su programa “Economic Automotive Stimulus Relief” está afiliado y aprobado por el gobierno. No lo está.

También están declarando que la gente que concurra a los sitios designados obtendrá cheques de estímulo para asistencia. No recibirán ningún cheque.

Incluso están enviando cheques que dicen “COVID-19 Auto Stimulus” con un espacio al dorso para endosar el cheque. Pero los cheques son falsos, en la ley CARES no se establece ningún alivio ni asistencia relacionado con carros y el gobierno no está usando concesionarios de carros para entregar pagos de impacto económico.

A continuación, te listamos tres maneras que te pueden ayudar a protegerte y a proteger a los demás contra estos tipos de estafas:

Cuando recibas materiales promocionales por correo, verifica la legitimidad de la compañía antes de actuar. Haz una búsqueda en internet ingresando el nombre de la compañía y las palabras "scam" “complaint” o “review”; si haces la búsqueda en español, agrega palabras como "estafa" "queja" o "comentario".

No hagas clic en los enlaces de los emails o mensajes de texto. Al hacer clic, podrías descargar programas maliciosos en tu dispositivo y terminar en un sitio web cuyo objetivo es apropiarse de tu información personal. Si estás preocupado por el mensaje, en lugar de hacer clic, fíjate en el remitente. Luego llama o envía un email usando un número o domicilio de email que hayas obtenido por tu cuenta — no uses los datos que figuran en el mensaje.

Dile NO a todo aquel que insista en que le pagues con una tarjeta de regalo, transferencia de dinero o criptomoneda. Esos son los medios de pago que te pedirán los estafadores, y ningún negocio legítimo te dirá que pagues de esas maneras.

No olvide que los beneficios del Seguro Social pueden estar sujetos a impuestos

Los contribuyentes que reciben beneficios del Seguro Social pueden tener que pagar impuestos federales sobre una parte de esos beneficios.
Los beneficios del Seguro Social incluyen beneficios mensuales de jubilación, supervivencia y discapacidad. No incluyen pagos suplementarios de ingresos de seguridad, que no están sujetos a impuestos.
La parte de los beneficios que están sujetos a impuestos depende de los ingresos y el estado civil tributario del contribuyente.

Para saber si sus beneficios son tributables, los contribuyentes deben:

Tomar la mitad del dinero del Seguro Social que recaudaron durante el año y agregarlo a sus otros ingresos.

Otros ingresos incluyen pensiones, salarios, intereses, dividendos y ganancias de capital.

Si son solteros y ese total asciende a más de $25,000, entonces parte de sus beneficios del Seguro Social pueden estar sujetos a impuestos.

Si están casados ​​y presentan una declaración conjunta, deben tomar la mitad de su Seguro Social, más la mitad del Seguro Social de su cónyuge, y agregarlo a todos sus ingresos combinados. Si ese total es más de $32,000, entonces parte de su Seguro Social puede estar sujeto a impuestos.

El cincuenta por ciento de los beneficios de un contribuyente puede estar sujeto a impuestos si:

Presenta como soltero, jefe de familia, viudo o viudo calificado con ingresos de $25,000 a $34,000.
Casado que presentó una declaración por separado y vivió separado de su cónyuge durante todo 2019 con ingresos de $25,000 a $34,000.
Casado que presenta una declaración conjunta con ingresos de $32,000 a $44,000.

Hasta el 85 por ciento de los beneficios de un contribuyente pueden estar sujetos a impuestos si:

Presenta como soltero, jefe de familia o viuda o viudo calificado con más de $34,000 de ingresos.
Casado que presenta una declaración conjunta con más de $44,000 de ingresos.
Casado ​​que presenta una declaración por separado y vivió separado de su cónyuge durante todo 2019 con más de $34,000 de ingresos.
Casado ​​que presenta una declaración por separado y vivió con su cónyuge en cualquier momento durante 2019.
El Asistente Interactivo de Impuestos en IRS.gov puede ayudar a los contribuyentes a responder la pregunta ¿Son tributables mis beneficios de Seguro Social o Retiro Ferroviario Nivel I? (en inglés).
El plazo de presentación de impuestos se pospuso hasta el miércoles, 15 de julio de 2020. El IRS está procesando declaraciones de impuestos, emitiendo reembolsos y aceptando pagos. Los contribuyentes que enviaron una declaración de impuestos experimentarán una espera más larga. No es necesario enviar una segunda declaración de impuestos o llamar al IRS.

Más información en inglés:

Ingreso de Seguro Social (en inglés)
Publicación 915, Beneficios de Seguro Social y Jubilación Ferroviaria Equivalente (en inglés)