Yisroel R.

The Village of Kiryas Joel is launching a new “Legislator’s Desk” initiative aimed at making it easier for residents to receive direct assistance from the offices of elected officials and government agencies, without having to travel to distant offices or struggle through complicated government systems. Under the new program, staff members from various legislative offices will come directly to Kiryas Joel on designated days to meet privately with residents and assist with individual government-related issues.

Village officials said elected officials and their staffs regularly work on broader matters that affect thousands of residents at once, including sewer and water issues, traffic, roads and sidewalks, government assistance programs, education-related matters and other community needs. At the same time, their offices are also able to assist individual residents who become stuck in the often-complicated bureaucracy of federal, state and county agencies.

The new Legislator’s Desk will provide residents with a local point of contact for those individual cases. Assistance can include matters involving federal agencies, including immigration and citizenship, passports, banking and financial agencies, student aid, health and Medicare, labor matters, agriculture, IRS, Social Security, Postal Service, and other federal programs. Residents will be able to meet with staff members locally and receive help navigating the appropriate agency.

The service will also cover issues involving New York State and Orange County agencies, including the DMV, Department of Labor, health and assistance agencies, housing-related matters, state licensing and taxation, as well as County related matters, such as Social Services and tax assessments. The Village said the initiative was created because residents can often have difficulty reaching the offices and staff members of higher-level elected officials who may be able to resolve these issues.

The first Legislator’s Desk session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, when staff members from Congressman Pat Ryan’s office will be available in Kiryas Joel. Residents seeking a private appointment can contact the Village office at 845-783-8300, extension 257. Additional legislative offices are expected to participate on designated days as the new program continues.