Statement from New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on NYCHA Lead Exposure

 

“Every failure to protect children from lead exposure is outrageous and unacceptable. Sixteen years ago, New York City set a goal to eliminate lead poisoning once and for all, but mismanagement and bureaucracy have let thousands of children fall through the cracks. Last year, I issued a report revealing systemic breakdowns that left thousands of buildings uninspected for lead paint. The City had the data but failed to connect the dots — and more children were exposed to lead as a result. Now, NYCHA has suddenly discovered 6,000 more apartments where children may have been exposed. We can’t keep failing to protect our kids. We need real management and accountability. No amount of lead in a child’s blood is safe or tolerable — period. I won’t waver in my focus on this issue until we’ve done absolutely all that we can to eliminate the threat of lead paint from our city. Our children deserve nothing less.”

The Comptroller’s investigation is available here.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress during COVID-19 Pandemic - OCTOBER 22, 2020

 

Statewide Positivity Rate is 1.20 Percent    

Positive Testing Rate in All Focus Zone Areas is 3.20 Percent; New York State Positivity Outside All Focus Zone Areas Included is 0.96 Percent    

15 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday 

New Community Testing Sites Opening Tomorrow in Cortland County

 Governor Cuomo updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"We've been adjusting our focus in the micro-clusters - after 14 days of data, we rearranged the restrictions in Queens, Brooklyn, and we added focuses to Broome and Chemung," Governor Cuomo said. "Through the fall, we will see micro-clusters come and go - they can literally be generated by a couple of events that violated rules. We might all be feeling COVID-fatigue, but we cannot afford to go backwards: We must all keep washing our hands, wearing our masks and remaining socially distant to protect the progress we've made in New York."   

The Governor noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state's Micro-Cluster strategy is 3.20 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 0.96 percent. Full results for tests reported yesterday,

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

·         Patient Hospitalization - 986 (+36)   

·         Patients Newly Admitted - 166

·         Hospital Counties - 45   

·         Number ICU - 209 (+8)   

·         Number ICU with Intubation - 106 (+3)   

·         Total Discharges - 78,753 (+108)  

·         Deaths - 15   

·         Total Deaths - 25,694   

NYS Office of the Comptroller - Wall St. Profits Soared in First Half of 2020

 

Securities Industry Buoyed by Federal Stimulus, Massive Influx of Liquidity

Wall St.’s Success Only Sustainable with Recovery on Main St.

  Amidst the economic tumult brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the securities industry saw its pretax profits reach $27.6 billion in the first six months of 2020, an 82 percent increase over the same period last year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s annual report on Wall St.’s performance.

“An injection of federal stimulus money, plummeting interest rates and rising volume in trading drove profits dramatically upward to a level hard to imagine in March,” DiNapoli said. “Wall Street’s successful first half helps our state and city budgets because the securities industry provides an outsized source of revenue, but the rising profits on Wall Street are disconnected from the pain being felt on Main Street. Our economy, and Main Street’s businesses and workers, are badly in need of additional support, including action in Washington on a new round of stimulus and relief. Wall Street’s growth can only be sustained if there is broad economic recovery.”

Industry performance is traditionally measured by the pretax profits of the broker/dealer operations of New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) member firms. There are now about 120 member firms, down from more than 200 before the Global Financial Crisis.

First half profits in 2020 were nearly equal to the entirety of 2019’s profits of $28.1 billion. The jump was propelled by $2.4 trillion in federal stimulus funds and the lowering of interest rates to near zero, which reduced the cost of borrowing. These actions spurred growth in securities offerings, particularly debt, which reached record levels. The pandemic also significantly disrupted financial markets. Wild market swings drove trading volume upward along with firms’ commissions and trading income. Firms’ income from underwriting rose by more than one-third in the first half of 2020 over the same period last year.

While continued profit growth in the second half remains to be seen, 2020 profits are on pace to surpass last year, barring any further unforeseen events.

In 2019, the securities industry was at its highest employment level since the 2008 financial crisis with 182,100 jobs. Immigrants made up over one-third of industry employees in New York City, a higher share than in 2008. This year, Wall Street is on pace to shed 7,300 jobs, erasing nearly half (45 percent) of the jobs gained since 2013.  

The average salary, including bonuses, for industry employees in New York City was $406,854 in 2019, an increase of 2 percent compared to 2018. It is nearly five times more than the $82,938 average salary for the rest of the private sector in the city in 2019. As an illustration of the increase in the pay gap over time, in 1981 the average industry salary was two times higher than the rest of the private sector.

The average bonus paid in the industry for 2019 was $164,100, up 3 percent from 2018, and in line with last year’s increased profits. In the first half of 2020, firms have set aside nearly 5 percent more for compensation than last year. The size of 2020 bonuses will heavily depend on the resumption of broad economic activity in the second half of the year, as well as associated loan performance.

The city has forecast a one-third (34 percent) decline in bonuses this year. The state Division of the Budget has projected a decline in finance and insurance bonuses of 28 percent as part of the state’s first quarter financial plan update. Bonus declines of larger magnitude occurred only during the last two recessions. DiNapoli will release his annual estimate of Wall St. bonuses in March 2021.

New York remains the capital of the securities industry, with a greater share of jobs than anywhere else, but its share has long been in decline. As firms have moved to less expensive locales around the metropolitan region and the country, New York’s share of jobs has fallen from one-third in 1990 to 19 percent in 2019.

State and city economic impact from the securities industry has also lessened. The industry is still the largest single contributor to the city’s economy, responsible for 17 percent of all economic activity in 2018, but that share is down from its pre-recession contribution of 25 percent. Similarly, Wall St.’s share of state economic activity (5.9 percent in 2019, still the largest in any state) has declined from its 2006 peak of 8.2 percent. 

Wall St. provides an outsized contribution to state tax collections, accounting for 18 percent ($15.1 billion) of all tax collections in state fiscal year ending March 30, 2020. The industry’s estimated contribution of $3.9 billion to the city’s total tax collections in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, was down 5 percent from the previous year, reflecting a decline in jobs and capital gains. Wall St.’s share of city tax revenue has declined over the past several years as the city’s economy has diversified.

The Comptroller’s report also notes that:

• New York state relies more on Wall St. than New York City because it depends more on personal income tax revenue in its budget.
• DiNapoli estimates the securities industry’s high incomes create economic activity in other sectors and that each job gained or lost on Wall St. leads to the creation or loss of three additional jobs in other industries in New York state and that 1 in 10 jobs in New York City and 1 in 15 jobs in New York state are associated with the industry.
• Net revenue (gross revenue less interest expenses, the preferred industry measure) grew by 3.8 percent in 2019, slower than the previous two years.
• Three-fifths (60 percent) of industry employees were White, 22 percent were Asian American, 9 percent were Hispanic and 7 percent were African American (based on most recently available 2019 data). Immigrants (primarily from Asia and Europe) made up over one-third (35 percent) of the employees, a higher share than in 2008 (29 percent), but lower than the immigrant share of all City employment (41 percent).
• Commuters from outside New York City accounted for 41 percent of the wages paid by the industry in New York City, with one-fifth of industry employees in the city coming from New Jersey, 8 percent from Long Island and 5 percent from Connecticut, followed by Westchester County at 4 percent (based on most recently available 2019 data).

Report

The Securities Industry in New York City

Upcoming Wave Hill Events Nov 5-12

 

Fall foliage at Wave Hill is beginning to pop! See it for yourself on a walk through the gardens. And don't miss out on wildlife this season while you're here: Look out for migrant birds on a Fall Birding Walk and at a live bird demonstration with master falconer Brian Bradley.

You can reserve your tickets to visit here--advance registration is required.

Family Art Project: Stories of the Nearby Wild (Onsite)

Saturday, Sunday, November 7, 8, 10AM–1PM

Where does wilderness live? What lives wild and free in you? Take a close look at the wilderness that lives in and among us—even in the most urban of landscapes. Learn assemblage techniques to create puppets from upcycled and natural materials. Then, take your raccoon, raptor and beetle puppets into an open-air theater to share how they keep their wonderful wild ways while living in the city. Shine only.

Fall Foliage Walk (Onsite)

Saturday, November 7, 1–2PM

Enjoy colorful foliage and late-blooming flowers at their seasonal peak, set against the scenic backdrop of the Hudson River and Palisades. Registration required, online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Space is limited. If you have any questions about this program or have registration questions, please contact us at 718.549.3200 x251 or information@wavehill.org.

Fall Birding (Onsite)

Sunday, November 8, 9:30–11AM

Birding returns to Wave Hill, just in time to catch the fall migrants and welcome back the winter birds. Guest birders Alyssa Bueno, Wave Hill Educator and avid birder, and naturalist Tod Winston, Communications Content Manager and Birding Guide at NYC Audubon, explore the gardens and woodlands to look for birds that are attracted by Wave Hill’s diversity of habitats. Birders of all levels welcome. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission to the grounds. Registration required, online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Space is limited. Please bring your own binoculars. If you have any questions about this program or have registration questions, please contact us at 718.549.3200 x251 or information@wavehill.org.

Skyhunters in Flight (Onsite)

Sunday, November 8, 12:30–1:30PM & 2:30–3:30PM

Back by popular demand, master falconer Brian Bradley and his beautiful and beloved raptors are here for a live bird presentation! Watch trained birds of prey sharpen their hunting skills during an exciting outdoor flight demonstration. Hear about the ancient sport of falconry and see live raptors from around the world. Ages eight and older welcome with an adult. Registration required, online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Space is extremely limited. Rain location is Armor Hall. If you have any questions about this program or have registration questions, please contact us at 718. 549.3200 x251 or information@wavehill.org.

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS: Special restricted hours as New York City recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic: 10AM–5:30PM, Wednesdays–Sunday.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

STATE AGENCIES ANNOUNCE KEY MILESTONE FOR ADIRONDACK RAIL TRAIL

 

Removal of Railroad Tracks Between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid is First Step in Developing World-Class Recreational Trail

The New York State Departments of Transportation and Environmental Conservation, in cooperation with the State Office of General Services, today announced a major milestone in the development of the world-class Adirondack Rail Trail, a 34-mile multi-use recreational path for outdoor adventurers between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid.  The New York State Department of Transportation has broken ground on a $1.9 million project to remove the tracks from the former railroad right-of-way, clearing the way for its conversion into a shared-use path ideal for hikers, bikers, cross country skiers, and snowmobile enthusiasts. A second project will commence in the coming weeks to rehabilitate the existing rails between Big Moose and Tupper Lake in order to create the longest scenic railway in the country.

 

The rail trail and scenic railway are key components of the recently completed 2020 Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan (UMP), which provides a blueprint for sustainably developing this picturesque 119-mile travel corridor to bolster tourism and further recreation opportunities. The corridor follows the path of a once-thriving rail line constructed in 1892, and operated continuously until 1972. The line and its right-of-way were purchased by New York State in 1974. 

 

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The Adirondacks are one of the great treasures of New York State, and the careful redevelopment of this historic railroad right-of-way will make it easier for people to enjoy the region’s grandeur - regardless of whether they are hiking, riding a bicycle, snowmobile, or taking a scenic train. These two projects are indicative of the level of investment Governor Cuomo is making in creating expanded opportunities for tourism and economic growth while also protecting one New York State’s most valuable natural resources, the Adirondacks.”

 

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Today is a critical step in the creation of the Adirondack Rail Trail. Providing a 34-mile accessible recreation trail in the northern corridor and the nation’s longest scenic railway in the southern corridor, this development will expand and enhance visitor experiences and help to drive Adirondack economies. Visitors and local residents alike will be able to experience the excitement of a trail ride through some of the Adirondacks’ most remote and spectacular areas. For those who prefer hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and more, the trail offers a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.”

 

OGS Commissioner RoAnn Destito said, “Development of The Adirondack Rail Trail, as well as the Empire State Trail, demonstrate Governor Cuomo’s continued commitment to expanding the type of outdoor recreational opportunities that foster economic growth in communities throughout New York State.  The Adirondack wilderness is a beautiful place to visit, and Team OGS is proud to be working with DOT and DEC on a project that will give the public the chance to enjoy even more of the stunning scenery this region has in abundance.”

 

Under the project administered by DOT, existing tracks will be removed from the northern portions of the line above Tupper Lake. The Adirondack Rail Trail will be constructed in their place to connect Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake, allowing trail users to enjoy the unique charm and amenities of each community while providing access to miles of breathtaking trails, numerous campsites, and abundant waterways in the Forest Preserve lands adjacent to the travel corridor. The corridor will also feature signage to help visitors interpret the history of the railway, the cultures of adjacent communities, and the natural resources of surrounding lands and waters to create a linear museum.

 

The New York State Office of General Services is leading the trail’s design and working to ensure it will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Upon completion of construction, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will assume day-to-day management of the trail and, working closely with stakeholders and municipalities, will ensure it remains a world-class accessible outdoor recreation destination.  

 

Construction of the trail is scheduled to begin in 2022 and will be completed in phases. The multi-use recreation trail is expected to be complete by the end of 2024. 

 

The $19.1 million project to rehabilitate the rails between Big Moose and Tupper Lake will allow the current scenic railway service – presently operated by the Adirondack Railway Preservation Society under a use and occupancy permit from the State – to be extended 45 miles further into the Adirondacks. Rail rehabilitation is expected to be complete by the end of 2021. Plans also call for the Tupper Lake Station to be redeveloped to serve as a terminus for rail operations. 

 

Additional details about the 2020 Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan Amendment/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement are available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/62816.html.  

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CITY WILL ADVANCE FUNDING FOR HOUSING NEW YORK PLAN

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the acceleration of capital funding within the City’s affordable housing plan, a major step toward ensuring a fair recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The City will shift $466 million to the current fiscal year’s capital budget during the upcoming Preliminary Plan to address urgent affordable housing needs, bringing the capital investment this fiscal year to over $1.4 billion. Significantly, the Housing New York goal of creating and preserving 300,000 affordable homes by 2026 remains on track.

 

This week, New York City released the Where We Live NYC Plan, the City’s blueprint for fair housing in the five boroughs to break down barriers to opportunity and build more integrated, equitable neighborhoods.

 

“Rebuilding a fairer and better New York City means investing in affordable housing and making our neighborhoods more inclusive,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “There’s no surer or more important investment than safe and livable communities, anchored by affordable housing. We’re proud to keep our affordability and preservation goals on track.”

 

"Stable, affordable housing is critical to the health and well-being of New Yorkers, and we are doubling down on our ambitious housing goals," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "These funds will maximize our production pipeline, prioritizing NEW housing for those who are most in need, while also putting people back to work and furthering projects sponsored by our M/WBE and non-profit developers to ensure our economic recovery is robust and fair.”

 

In March, the City moved $466 million from HPD’s Fiscal Year 2021 capital budget into Fiscal Years 2022 through 2024. To support both the ongoing recovery effort and this critical program, the City will be moving these funds back to Fiscal Year 2021.

 

Since the pandemic began, the City has advanced a robust affordable housing pipeline. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) continued to support projects with limited use of City capital – focusing on developments that serve vulnerable residents and communities – and sponsored by Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and nonprofit developers. 

 

“This administration has made affordable housing a priority since day one, and especially in this critical moment, we are grateful for the additional funding," said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “With these restored funds, we’ll be forging ahead on the goals of Housing New York with an even sharper focus on protecting the most vulnerable among us – New Yorkers at the lowest income levels, our seniors, those experiencing homelessness – and helping make this city a more equitable place by supporting M/WBE’s and nonprofits projects as well as those in neighborhoods hit hard by COVID-19.”

 

This past summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the City financed 30,023 affordable homes in the last fiscal year. To date, the City has financed almost 166,000 affordable homes, of which 44% serve extremely low and very-low income families, those earning less than $30,720 or $51,200 for a family of three, respectively.

 

With this capital commitment, HPD will extend its ability to house New Yorkers in need, support M/WBE and NFP firms, bring jobs and new infrastructure to neighborhoods that have been hit especially hard by the pandemic, and improve the habitability of existing housing stock.  In the wake of the COVID crisis, the City is also keenly focused on housing that contributes to the health and well-being of our residents by ensuring there is broadband connectivity in new construction projects as well as community facilities that bring health services, recreational opportunities, and outdoor space.

 

Already in this fiscal year, HPD has closed on several projects that align with these goals. That includes 1921 Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, a new joint venture between two M/WBE developers that will provide housing to 236 lower-income and formerly homeless households, along with a grocery store and multi-faceted community space. Other M/WBE-sponsored developments this year include 461 Alabama Avenue in Brooklyn and Victory Commons in the Bronx.

 

HPD also preserved three properties across the Bronx and in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn through the Neighborhood Pillars program, which helps mission-driven organizations acquire and rehabilitate properties. Half of these units will remain permanently affordable, with 30% of the units set-aside for eligible homeless tenants, helping ensure these buildings remain bastions of affordability for their communities into the future.

 

Join Fellow Progressives for our October Meeting!

 

When: Wednesday, October 28th, 7pm

Where:

Join Zoom Meeting at

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84219624370

Meeting ID: 842 1962 4370

Greetings Bronx Progressives Members!

 

How are you all? Hope this email finds you all well, and that your loved ones continue to stay healthy and safe during this health crisis. We must continue to be diligently cautious of our surroundings, that our masks are appropriately protecting us, and never allow ourselves to grow complacent. 

So I write to you again. Thinking how quickly this month flew by. Now here we are and it's October, and just thirteen days away from election day! 

 

In midst of all of this, Bronx Progressives is pleased to invite you to our October general meeting, taking place on Wednesday, October 28th at 7pm. We are excited to bring you updates on the reactivation of Bronx Progressives. Since we last met, a group of us formed from our September 30th general meeting, have been meeting consecutively in the past few weeks, and reviewing and discussing our current bylaws. A crucial responsibility that will help us build a more stronger and resilient Bronx Progressives. 

 

We will also be joined by special guest Juan Nunez (sorry couldn't pull of tilde on Nunez), Lead Organizer with Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. He will discuss the current state of the housing crisis. Governor Cuomo extended the housing moratorium, which will prevent tenants from evictions until January 2021. But what about rent relief?  

We will also discuss the upcoming election on November 3, and how to plan your vote.

Agenda:

• Greetings and Welcomes (2 Mins.)

• Overview of the agenda (3 Mins.)

• House Rules (5 Mins.)

• Reviewing the Zoom features

• Adding your name/neighborhood you live in to chat box

• Sign-in form

• Introducing Juan Nunez from Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition 

• Juan Nunez speaks (15 Mins.)

• Q&A (10 Mins.)

• Upcoming Elections and Creating a voting plan (10 Mins.)

• Recap of last month meeting (10 Mins.)

• Report on work Committee on Reactivating Bronx Progressives is doing (10 Mins.)

• Reviewing and discussing Bylaws

• Around the room discussion/Feedback (20 Mins.)

• Next Steps (10 Mins.)

• A call to action on reactivating Bronx Progressives

• Recruitment of reliable members to serve in a steering committee to reactivate Bronx Progressives

• Adjourn

 

When: 

Time: Oct 28, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Where:

Join Zoom Meeting at

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84219624370

Meeting ID: 842 1962 4370

***This meeting is ADA accessible and is a safe space for all races, religions, sexes, gender identities, ages and beliefs***

MAYOR DE BLASIO, FIRST LADY CHIRLANE MCCRAY AND TASKFORCE ON RACIAL INCLUSION AND EQUITY ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS HARDEST HIT BY COVID-19

 

New initiatives will provide trauma-informed counseling and connect students to outpatient mental health clinics 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray today announced that the City will add new mental health services to hundreds of schools in the neighborhoods hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Two new programs will use existing resources to maximize mental health support for students and confront the trauma that has been caused by the public health crisis. This work is supported by the administration's Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity, which brings an equity-based approach to COVID-19 response and recovery efforts in hardest-hit communities.

 

“COVID-19 has taken a tremendous emotional toll on our city’s students,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.  “Now, our educators, parents, and school communities will not endure the trauma of the pandemic alone. To those who are suffering, your city sees you and we are here to help.”’

 

“Now, more than ever, we want all of our students to know that they are not alone, and there are compassionate, trained professionals ready to help them process anxiety, grief and trauma that may have intensified during the pandemic.” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “Parents and educators in our communities hardest hit by COVID-19 have called out for this kind of direct support and we are responding.”

 

More specifically, the School Mental Health Consultant Program was converted to the School Mental Health Specialist Program. Launched in 2016, the Consultant Program served 46% of the City’s public schools. Licensed social workers worked with these schools to survey their existing mental health resources, build custom mental health plans, and, when needed, connect students to mental health support in the school system and to clinical services in their community. Currently staffed by mental health workers, the Consultant Program has delivered 6,993 trainings to 217,379 Department of Education (DOE) teachers and staff since 2016.   

 

Under the new program, the current mental health workers will become Specialists and begin delivering trauma-informed group work, to students at 350 schools in the neighborhoods hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in late October, each Specialist will serve up to five schools, and, in addition to direct services, will provide mental health education to caregivers and school staff to help them address students’ mental health needs and strengthen community and family ties.   

 

The Specialist program, like the Consultant program, will be implemented by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), in partnership with DOE, with programmatic oversight from ThriveNYC. The $8.7 million Fiscal Year 2021 budget for the Consultant Program will be entirely converted to support the Specialist program, with the new direct service model requiring no additional costs. The Mayor’s Fund has raised $35,000 to cover the cost of training curriculum and material to transition the program. Data on the program’s reach and impact will be regularly published on ThriveNYC’s data dashboard.    

 

Second, a first-ever formal partnership between NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) and the City’s public schools will directly connect 26 schools in the neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19 to outpatient mental health clinics, where children and adolescents can receive ongoing therapy, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and other clinical services. A designated staff person will be appointed in each school to coordinate directly with H+H, ensuring that referrals happen quickly and easily for students in need. Schools will also receive training to better understand when a referral to ongoing mental healthcare at H+H may help a student.  

 

In the last six years, the City has significantly expanded onsite mental health services in schools, including adding clinics to over 200 high-need schools across the City. For some students with ongoing or acute mental health needs, schools may need to connect students to community-based providers. The new H+H initiative, Pathways to Care, closes this critical gap in care, expediting referrals and connection to community-based services for students in the neighborhoods that have experienced high levels of trauma and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new partnership will use existing resources, without the need for a new budget.  Pathways to Care will be implemented by H+H and DOE, with programmatic oversight from the Mayor’s Office of ThriveNYC. 

 

While schools are operating both in-person and virtually, students and their families will be able to access services through both of these new programs both onsite and via tele-mental health.    

The strategies announced today are part of an ongoing, citywide effort to meet the mental health needs of children and young people in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, the Mayor, First Lady and Chancellor announced the Bridge to School program to help schools integrate trauma-informed practices into school reopening, following an historic investment to address the social-emotional needs of students. In addition, ThriveNYC and DOE collaborate on several innovative mental health programs that serve children and families, which offer a combination of in-person and tele-mental health support during the pandemic.    

 

“The academic success and mental health of our students are completely intertwined, and this direct support to our hardest hit communities will be invaluable in supporting our students as we continue to navigate this pandemic,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “These initiatives give schools reliable and easily accessible care, and I thank the Mayor and First Lady for their unwavering dedication to the health and wellbeing of our students.”

 

“Whether it was the impact of months of isolation, coping with loss due to COVID-19, or anxieties associated with the pandemic, it is critical that students receive the proper mental health support now, and we’re proud to be partnering with other City agencies to make this a reality,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Office of Behavioral Health Charles Barron, MD. “School-aged children and young adults are at a pivotal stage of development and it’s important to provide the most comprehensive mental health services conveniently so they can overcome the stresses and trauma felt by so many during this pandemic.” 

 

"From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, children have coped with stressors at home, family illness and loss," said Dr. Daniel Stephens, Deputy Commissioner for Family Child Health for the New York City Health Department. "Schools offer a supportive environment where children and families can receive mental health care and connections to necessary resources. I am proud to partner with DOE, H+H, and Thrive NYC to provide these critical mental health services."   

 

"So many students in our schools are coping with the profound emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic - from grief, loss and trauma to anxiety and isolation," said Susan Herman, Director of the Mayor's Office of ThriveNYC. "With these new strategies, the City is acting swiftly to bring more mental health support to the children and young people who need it most right now. I thank all the clinicians and mental health workers who are meeting this extraordinary moment with creativity and resolve."

 

"Young New Yorkers have been facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemics on all fronts--in school, at home, and in their communities. Individualized attention and support is key to ensuring they remain mentally and physically healthy and resilient," said Toya Williford, Executive Director of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. "We are proud to leverage the strength of our partnerships to help provide the necessary support and care to the children of this city."

 

“Now, more than ever, students and families need support for their mental health and well-being,” said Sideya Sherman, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity and EVP for Community Engagement & Partnerships at NYCHA. “These new initiatives will bring much needed mental health services and connections to outpatient clinical services, to schools in the communities hardest-hit by COVID-19. Through interagency collaboration, the City is taking proactive steps to meet the social and emotional needs of young people.”

 

"The American Psychological Association applauds this plan to provide much-needed care to New York City's school children," said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans, PhD. "We know from our polling research that the youngest generation is experiencing the most stress of all age groups as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic so extra attention to their mental health needs will be critical to their future development."

 

“New York City’s children have lost so much to COVID, beloved family members have died, school has been disrupted, and normal and needed activities with friends have been on hold for months and months,” said Linda Rosenberg, Executive Director of External Relations, Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. “Mayor de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray’s decision to use existing resources to add mental health services to hundreds of schools in the neighborhoods hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic is right and just. In a crisis of this dimension and duration, we must attend to the present while building for the future, and our children are the future.”

 

“Children and young adults have been the ones most deeply affected by the pandemic across a variety of mental health indicators, including anxiety, depression, and self-harm or even suicidal thinking,” said Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO of Mental Health America. “At Mental Health America, literally millions have come directly to us or our local affiliates for help since the start of the pandemic. It is essential that we support them where they are – in their homes, neighborhoods, and schools. This great initiative can serve as a model for the nation and remind communities that no matter how many resources they have, it is essential to direct as many of these as possible to supporting the mental health of our children during these incredibly challenging times.”