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Bronx Politics and Community events
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This was the second book bag giveaway by the 49th precinct, and several children received new book bags from the Youth Coordinator Officers of the 49th Precinct. below are two photo of the event.
I am happy to be able to make some announcements which I think will be well received by the people of the State of New York.
I also want to say I have worked tirelessly through the weekend with the leadership of the Assembly, Carl Heastie, his team, as well the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, Andrea Stewart-Cousins. I thank them and my team for putting in an unlimited number of hours to make sure that we address the crisis that we are facing in the State of New York.
The Defendant Destroyed More Than 20 Gigabytes of Data, Including Financial Records, in Retaliation for Being Fired
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Juliana Barile pleaded guilty to one count of computer intrusion arising from the defendant’s unauthorized intrusion into, and destruction of data on, the computer system of a New York credit union (the “Credit Union”) following her termination as an employee of the Credit Union. The guilty plea took place before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano. When sentenced, Barile faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.
“In an act of revenge for being terminated, Barile surreptitiously accessed the computer system of her former employer, a New York Credit Union, and deleted mortgage loan applications and other sensitive information maintained on its file server,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kasulis. “Protecting private financial data from being compromised or destroyed by unauthorized computer intrusions is an important priority of this Office.” Ms. Kasulis also thanked New York City Police Department for their valuable assistance with the case.
“Ms. Barile may have thought she was getting back at her employer by deleting files, however she did just as much harm to customers. Her petty revenge not only created a huge security risk for the bank, but customers also depending on paperwork and approvals to pay for their homes were left scrambling,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. “An insider threat can wreak just as much havoc, if not more, than an external criminal. The bank and customers are now faced with the tremendous headache of fixing one employee's selfish actions.”
According to court filings, Barile was fired from her position as a part-time employee with the Credit Union on May 19, 2021. Two days later, on May 21, 2021, Barile remotely accessed the Credit Union’s file server and deleted more than 20,000 files and almost 3,500 directories, totaling approximately 21.3 gigabytes of data. The deleted data included files related to mortgage loan applications and the Credit Union’s anti-ransomware protection software. Barile also opened confidential files. After she accessed the computer server without authorization and destroyed files, Barile sent text messages to a friend explaining that “I deleted their shared network documents,” referring to the Credit Union’s share drive. To date, the Credit Union has spent approximately $10,000 in remediating Barile’s unauthorized intrusion and destruction of data.
It looks like I am going to have to go back to the Bronx, and show off my hoop experience once again. My good friend to my right can help by having one of his peace rallies again, since he couldn't drop a basket.
Now the community is demonstrating at the precinct house. I wonder why Joe Biden is the president, not Donald Trump.
The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced a series of ‘Back to School 2021’ videos to assist and support parents, caregivers and students as they prepare for the new school year. OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “This has been an extremely trying year for the students of New York and for their parents. Some students haven’t been in the classroom for 18 months. Others have had to juggle hybrid learning. It’s been a period of extreme sacrifice and now, as we prepare to enter the 2021-22 school year, we want parents and students to know that we are here to support you and your mental health.” The videos are targeted to parents and caregivers as well students with topics that include:
OMH surveyed hundreds of New York children and families to learn what might be causing anxiety and concern ahead of this school year. The videos will help kids and parents deal with the stress and other issues caused by the pandemic over the last 18 months, and also offer additional resources that have been compiled by the Office of Mental Health, including:
Additionally, OMH’s NY Project Hope Emotional Support Helpline (1-844-863-9314) continues to help support students and caregivers during this transition. The Helpline is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday through Friday. Trained crisis counselors can listen to your concerns and offer suggestions for coping. It also provides linkages for callers who need additional support. OMH launched the Emotional Support Helpline in March 2020 as part of the agency’s COVID-19 response and to date the line has handled 70,000 calls and provided free, confidential, and anonymous assistance to New Yorkers across the state. | |
Dear Community,
Hope you are well. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions this past weekend, my office had to cancel our annual Backpack Giveaway. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. Today, I am excited to announce we have rescheduled our back to school event for this week!
Please join me for a Backpack Giveaway at 894 Garrison Ave Bronx, NY 10474 this Friday, September 3rd from 2PM to 4PM, while supplies last. Our event will be held rain or shine!
As we are approaching the end of summer and the start of school, it is important that our community is well equipped to return back to school safely. I look forward to hosting my annual Back to School event for the 34th Senate District that will honor our shared community and the progress we have made this year, especially after the difficult year it has been for students, teachers and families. Our teams have worked hard throughout the past year to provide for our communities, and this year's back to school event is a prime example of our continued work.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me and my team at biaggi@nysenate.gov or by calling our office at 718-822-2049.
With Gratitude,
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi
State Exploring Vaccine Mandate for All Staff in All State Regulated Facilities
"Last year every community across the state came together in a profound way to say, 'we can do this'," Governor Hochul said. "This war is not over and the Delta variant is a serious threat, especially for people who are still unvaccinated. We all need to remain vigilant to protect each other - and that means coming in to get your shot and booster shot, wearing masks in indoor spaces, and exercising basic safety measures that we are all familiar with by now."
Getting children back to school where they can learn most effectively and protecting the students, teachers and staff are top priorities for Governor Hochul. Building on the state department of health's directive requiring universal masking for anyone entering schools, the governor will be working with localities, the department of health and the Public Health and Health Planning Council in the days ahead to implement a mandatory weekly COVID testing for school staff who are not vaccinated.
Following the department of health's announcement last week that all staff in health care facilities need to be vaccinated, the state is exploring how to expand this requirement to include staff at all state-regulated facilities.Local health departments will be supporting the distribution of booster shots in New York, enabling them to use their knowledge and workforce to quickly deliver booster shots to their communities. The governor is making $65 million available to local health departments to build the infrastructure for these efforts.
COVID-19 Numbers for New York as of August 30:
COVID-19 Vaccination Data for New York as of August 31, 11 a.m.:
There were about one thousand book bags waiting for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to give them out to the children of Parkchester. In the parking lot at the corner of Westchester Avenue and White Plains Road the Mujumder Foundation had finished giving out awards to outstanding students going into high school, and community leaders.
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez arrived shortly afterwards to say a few words on the stage, greeted the next Bronx Borough President, current Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, and then went over to her booth, set up by her team to give out all the book bags that were there. As you will see in the photos everyone loved Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez.
There is talk that during redistricting next year Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez could pick up Coop-City, while giving up some of her Queens part of the district. That could make it a 50/50 district between queens and the Bronx.
The affordable housing lottery has launched for Muller Apartments, a four-story residential building at 555 Nereid Avenue in Wakefield, The Bronx. Designed by MHG Architects and developed by The Doe Fund as supportive housing for veterans, the structure yields 90 residences with 54 of the units allocated for formerly homeless military veterans. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 35 units for residents at 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $30,583 to $57,300
Amenities include an on-site resident manager, elevator, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, gym, green space, and a community center with a 123-seat auditorium. On-site supportive services for tenants include comprehensive case management, health care support, job preparedness, employment training, and drug and alcohol abuse prevention.
At 60 percent of the AMI, there are 35 studios with a monthly rent of $892 for incomes ranging from $30,583 to $57,300.
Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than October 25, 2021.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) issued the following statement Monday after the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan:
“We never should have begun America's longest war in the first place — a war of endless suffering and needless death. Let us now envision a future that is based on peace, security, dignity, diplomacy, and human rights, not destruction and profiteering by military contractors. A top priority right now must be raising the refugee cap and assisting as many Afghans as possible with resettlement. My office stands ready to help, and we will be working with the State Department to help ensure all those still trying to leave Afghanistan can safely leave. We are praying for the active service members and veterans who are dealing with the trauma of this war, and hope they know they are not alone and help is available to them.”
36,132 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours
18 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.
"While we have come so far in containing COVID, the virus is still a threat to our communities - it is up to us to prevent it from spreading any further," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "Wear a mask, wash your hands and, if you haven't already, get vaccinated today. The vaccine is effective, it's safe, and it's available free of charge. It is the best protection we have against COVID."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
The Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association and The Albanian Open Hands Association joined with Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Assemblywoman Nathelia Fernandez, and State Senator Alessandra Biaggi for a book bag, school supplies, and more giveaway inside the new Destination Tomorrow building on Lydig Avenue.
A line of tables were set up so when children walked in they first received a new book bag from the hundreds that were on hand. The children would then walk down the line of tables with their parents, who would choose which schools supplies their child/children would need. When the book bags were full as they went outside, Councilman Mark Gjonaj was there with a cooler full of delicious fruit bars, and other snacks for the children to enjoy.
O.K. It's back to business now that I finished up my City Hall in Staten Island week. I wanted to see Staten Island Chuck and ask him if he saw his shadow this year, but I was banned from the Staten Island Zoo when I dropped Chuck a few years ago. It's nice to be back with the Democrats, as Staten Island has the only Republican borough president. I am sure that Curtis Swila will win Staten Island, but that is all.
Today's subject is the backlog in the court system. We have much crime going on, and the alleged suspects are not getting their day in court. I have with me a bright young Councilman from one of the highest crime areas, Bronx Councilman Oswald Feliz. Now Oswald just read what my staff gave you and don't go off script. Thank you Mayor de Blasio.
Governor Hochul: "Let me be very clear. Last night was unacceptable. If you're one of those riders or people relying on safe transport, the system failed you. The MTA is the lifeblood of the city, and a disruption of this magnitude can be catastrophic ... I'm immediately directing a review to find out the root cause of the service issues last night. We need to know why the system broke down and why there's a breakdown of communications between the rail center, the rail control center and the trains."
Good morning. I'm Governor Kathy Hochul. I thank you for joining us on this beautiful Monday morning. I'm joined by Janno Lieber, the MTA acting chair and CEO, and Demetrius Crichlow, the senior vice president in the department of subways. Last night, one half of the New York subway system experienced an unprecedented system breakdown. Approximately 8:25 p.m., Con Ed reported losing a feeder for a short period of time that resulted in a voltage dip across New York City. At about the same time, two power plants and generators went offline. It was a momentary outage that did go to the backup system. When it tried to go back to normal, there was a surge, an unprecedented surge that resulted in the subway losing signalization and communication ability and it lost that between its command center and the trains throughout the system.
The trains that were affected were the numbers lines 1 through 7, as well as the L train. Eighty-three trains were affected but what was most concerning was the five trains that had been stuck between stations. This ended up leading to evacuations in the tunnels and two of those evacuations were orderly and directed by the emergency personnel. In two other cases, the experience was what was known as self-evacuation, where riders decided to leave on their own. We never, ever want riders to do that. It is dangerous and it caused a delay in the restoration of power. The tracks are dangerous and the last train was re-platformed.
What we experienced was a lot of anxiety for the citizens of the city who happened to be on the trains, and on the five trains in particular that were between the stations over 550 people were affected. Again, this is a scary situation, something we don't want New Yorkers to ever have to experience again. And again, I say this was unprecedented. The confluence of events that led to this has never happened before to our knowledge. So we did have a rolling restoration. It would have happened earlier, and this happened at 1:30 a.m. It could have happened around midnight, except we had to make sure, working closely with the FDNY, that because of the self-evacuation that they had to go examine all the tracks to make sure that there were no people on them. That was a very dangerous situation. So that did delay the restoration of power. It could have been restored by midnight. But by 1:30, all trains are restored in the morning, commute operations are going normally.
Let me be very clear. Last night was unacceptable. If you're one of those riders or people relying on safe transport, the system failed you. The MTA is the lifeblood of the city, and a disruption of this magnitude can be catastrophic. And thank God, when you think about the time that this happened. It was a time of low ridership. It was on a weekend night, late at night. And I can only imagine how devastating this would have been for thousands of New Yorkers had this occurred during a morning commute like this morning. So I'm immediately directing a review to find out the root cause of the service issues last night. We need to know why the system broke down and why there's a breakdown of communications between the rail center, the rail control center and the trains. I would also be clear that we've had no indication of any malicious actions that would, that would have created the situation, and that's why I want to find out exactly what happened to prevent it from happening again.
We are in regular communications with City Hall throughout this and the Office of Emergency Management, they are participating directly. So it was a collaborative effort between the state and the city, the MTA. And I do want to thank all the transit workers, particularly the conductors who had the weight of responsibility on their shoulders to go to all through the trains, sometimes 10 in number, to let people know verbally what were experiencing. Again, there was no communication other than what the conductor could say on the PA system or verbally went to the trains because the overall system was not functioning.
So I also want to think all the transit workers, the NYPD was fabulous. We enjoyed working with them and their professionalism. FDNY was right there on the scene doing their work, and all the first responders who worked tirelessly through the night to rescue people who had been stranded, make sure that it was safe, and ultimately the restoration of power. So I want to commend the work of all these New Yorkers and the work that's going in every single day at the MTA to make sure that everything is working right.
Again, this was triggered by an incident at 8:25, when Con Ed reported losing a feeder. Now I want to thank you very much, and I want to thank the leadership of these individuals. They worked tirelessly through the night. I trust their professionalism and I trust their ability to get to the bottom of this and give me a full report once they've had an opportunity to examine the circumstances that led to this. Once again, an unprecedented system breakdown in half of the New York City subway system.