MAYOR ADAMS AND CHANCELLOR BANKS ANNOUNCE KICKOFF OF 2022 FREE SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM

 

Free Breakfast and Lunch Will Be Available to All New Yorkers Under Age of 18

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Chancellor David C. Banks today officially announced the kickoff of the 2022 summer meals program, which offers free breakfast and lunch to any person in New York City 18 years old and younger this summer. No registration, documentation, or identification will be necessary to receive a free breakfast or lunch meal, and meals will be distributed at more than 300 designated public schools, community pool centers, parks, and food trucks across the five boroughs. Today’s kickoff took place at the launch of the Summer Rising program at the Island School in Manhattan. These programs are providing New York City’s youth with upstream solutions with the resources needed to learn, have fun, and make a difference in the future.

“New York City children deserve a space to learn, to be a kid, and not worry about where to get their next meal, and our free summer meals program helps them do just that,” said Mayor Adams. “One of my top priorities as mayor is ensuring that our children have the necessary and nutritious meals they need to learn and grow into the great New Yorkers who will one day run our city. Today’s kickoff of free summer meals, coupled with the launch of Summer Rising, only further highlights this administration’s unwavering commitment to the young people of this city. I’m grateful to our city partners, food service workers, and all the New Yorkers working to feed, nurture, and take care of every one of our kids.”

 

“It is essential that our youngest New Yorkers have access to healthy and nourishing meals, particularly while school is not in session during the summer months,” said NYCDOE Chancellor Banks. “I’m so proud that we are again able to offer free breakfast and lunch to all of New York City’s children throughout the summer. This would not be possible without the tireless work of all of our dedicated food service workers on the ground, making sure our children are fed and cared for.” 

 

A full list of 2022 summer meal locations can be found on the NYCDOE's website, by texting NYC Food to 304-304, or by calling 311. 

 

Additionally, as per the guidance released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the New York State Department of Education, the NYCDOE is proud to offer a daily pre-packaged cold take-out meal to all children in New York City 18 years old or younger, in addition to hot meals served. 

 

As is the case throughout the school year, breakfast and lunch meals reflect the NYCDOE’s commitment to the highest standard of nutrition. All meals meet or exceed USDA standards and do not use food additives, such as artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Children will have access to a variety of fresh fruit, whole grains, vegetables, and salads to enjoy. Plant-based meals are available at all locations. Halal meals are available at select locations across the city and we are happy to announce that kosher meals will be available beginning the morning of July 12 at select locations across the city.

 

“Consistent access to delicious, nutritious, and plant-powered meals is essential for the healthy development of our children. The DOE’s Summer Meals program is critical to fighting child food insecurity during the summer months,” said Kate MacKenzie, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Food Policy. “I thank our food service workers and our partners across the city, without their dedication and hard work, this amazing program would not be possible.”

 

Permits Filed For 55 Clifford Place In Tremont, The Bronx

Permits have been filed to expand a two-story structure into a four-story building at 55 Clifford Place in Tremont, The Bronx. Located between Walton Avenue and Townsend Avenue, the lot is one block from the 174-175th Streets subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Gil Broitman of Brooklyn Grid is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 51-foot-tall development will yield 6,830 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 12 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 569 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a cellar, penthouse, and a 33-foot-long rear yard.

Xiaojun Wang of Just Consulting Engineering PLLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the project requires an expansion. An estimated completion date has not been announced. 

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JULY 7, 2022

 

Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

15 Statewide Deaths Reported 

 NOTE: Beginning June 24, 2022, the Vaccine data will be updated weekly on Fridays to align with CDC's updated data refresh schedule. For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccination Data provided by CDC, see https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total.    

Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

"As we continue to monitor the numbers, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using the tools we know that work to protect against and treat COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on your vaccine and booster doses. If you're a parent or guardian, talk to your pediatrician about getting your children vaccinated. Stay home if you feel sick and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you."  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

• Cases Per 100k - 38.51   
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 28.30   
• Test Results Reported - 77,598   
• Total Positive - 7,526    
• Percent Positive - 9.47%**    
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 8.89%**    
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,255 (+49)    
• Patients Newly Admitted - 431  
• Patients in ICU - 209 (+8)   
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 80 (+6)  
• Total Discharges - 317,661 (+345)  
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 15  
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 56,652     

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.     

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.    

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.    

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 72,218   

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.    

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:  

Borough	Monday, July 4, 2022	Tuesday, July 5, 2022	Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Bronx	8.83%	9.27%	9.53%
Kings	8.40%	8.31%	8.54%
New York	8.59%	8.61%	8.81%
Queens	10.01%	10.44%	10.60%
Richmond	9.29%	9.42%	9.79%

Attorney General James Recoups $122,000 for Consumers Charged for Expedited COVID-19 Tests That Were Late

After OAG Sent Warning Letter, Clear 19 Rapid Testing Refunded Hundreds of New Yorkers Who Received Late COVID-19 Results

OAG Has Recovered More Than $530,000 Total for Thousands of New Yorkers Charged for Untimely COVID-19 Test Results 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office recovered more than $122,000 for more than 690 consumers in New York City who paid for expedited COVID-19 tests but received their results later than the promised 24-hour timeframe. After the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) issued a warning letter to Clear 19 Rapid Testing LLC (Clear 19) to stop misrepresenting turnaround times for COVID-19 results, Clear 19 refunded hundreds of consumers who received their results more than two hours after the promised time. The company also amended their advertising to accurately describe turnaround times.

“New Yorkers paid Clear 19 for expedited COVID-19 tests so they could get fast results to travel safely during the holidays, instead they received their results days or weeks later,” said Attorney General James. “Clear 19 misled New Yorkers, but we held them accountable and got their money back. We are still in the midst of this pandemic, and testing sites that advertise fast results are still required to deliver on those promises. New Yorkers depend on accurate and timely results to stay safe, and my office will continue to ensure that testing sites meet those standards and no one is cheated.”

Clear 19 refunded $122,014 in fees to 692 consumers who had received late test results during the holiday season. Two other COVID-19 testing sites, ClearMD Health and SameDay Health, previously refunded thousands of consumers more than $182,000 and more than $230,000 respectively for failing to provide expedited test results that consumers paid extra charges for. 

The OAG first launched investigations into COVID-19 testing sites in December 2021, following numerous reports from New Yorkers who were not receiving COVID-19 test results as promised during the busy holiday season.

Attorney General James asks any consumer who believes a lab or other testing facility is making misleading statements about its turnaround time for COVID-19 test results to file a complaint online with OAG's Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau or call the office at 1-800-771-7755.