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Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Partnerships for Parks - Raise Money and Set Goals During the Pandemic
Statement from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approval of Entergy's Sale of Indian Point
"Cleaning up Indian Point will be complicated and expensive, and for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to act without considering New York's request for a hearing is unacceptable and denies New Yorkers the public and transparent process they deserve. We remain committed to ensuring that the decommissioning process is done quickly and prioritizes the safety of New Yorkers and as such, we are considering all options at our disposal to see that the shutdown of this facility protects the public's health and the environment. Critical to that is for any new owner to have the capability and financial wherewithal to expeditiously and thoroughly decommission and restore the site. New York is unwavering in our commitment to holding any owner of Indian Point to the highest standards throughout this process and we will continue to fight to ensure it is shut down safely."
MAYOR DE BLASIO HOLDS VERIZON ACCOUBTABLE TO CONNECT HALF A MILLION NEW YORK CITY HOUSEHOLDS TO BROADBAND
Under the terms of the agreement, Verizon will build out Fios connectivity for New Yorkers, prioritizing the least-connected communities and NYCHA residential buildings
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced an advancement in tackling the digital divide in New York City by ensuring that Verizon builds out its FiOS footprint to 500,000 additional households, making high-speed fiber broadband available to more New Yorkers.
The agreement secured by Mayor de Blasio addresses disparities faced by low-income and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) families across the city. Due to the corporation’s previous failure to connect many buildings, large portions of New York City neighborhoods are under an effective monopoly, with only one cable and broadband provider, risking lower speeds and higher costs. Under the settlement, Verizon is compelled to prioritize the least-connected Community Districts and ensure connectivity for every NYCHA residential building. The City began proceedings against Verizon due to the telecom’s failure to meet the terms of its cable franchise agreement, inked under the Bloomberg administration, to build out its Fios network.
“Internet access is an economic right in New York City, no matter your ZIP code. Tech giants will not stand in our way to deliver high-quality broadband to New Yorkers – they must be a part of the solution,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “COVID-19 has further exposed the inequalities in internet access while changing the way New Yorkers work, learn, and live. We will continue to hold any corporation that fails to deliver on its promise to New Yorkers accountable.”
As New York City charts a path to recovery, broadband is no longer a luxury, but an essential service to maintain health, receive an education, and access employment. In addition to ensuring Verizon will build out its network, the City continues to accelerate the NYC Internet Master Plan to systematically close the digital divide.
“As we plan an equitable recovery for New York City, closing the digital divide remains more urgent than ever,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “The Internet has the power to connect New Yorkers to social services, jobs, school and more. This settlement and the Internet Master Plan will ensure New Yorkers of all walks of life can access quality broadband.”
“This settlement will make sure that Verizon builds out its fiber footprint more equitably throughout New York City — especially in low-income communities that have historically been underserved by internet service providers,” said DoITT Commissioner and Citywide CIO Jessica Tisch. “This agreement attacks that unfair imbalance, and recognizes that high-quality internet is a necessity, not a luxury.”
"The New York City Internet Master Plan makes clear the need for more options in parts of the five boroughs that have been historically underserved by industry. This settlement will lead to more choice for New Yorkers, particularly those most vulnerable to the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," said John Paul Farmer, New York City Chief Technology Officer. "With a focus on COVID-priority neighborhoods and an eye on racial equity, the City is working in unprecedented ways with large companies, small startups, and community-based organizations to increase choice, lower costs, and put New York City on the path to universal broadband."
“If you are a child who needs access to an online class or a senior who wants to see a loved one, you know better than most how vital internet access is to daily life,” said Corporation Counsel James E. Johnson. “We resolved this case so that more New Yorkers will have access to a vital tool. The pandemic has underscored this critical need. This resolution could not be more timely.”
Many of the neighborhoods that have the most to gain from this settlement are Community Districts that are hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic; with low median household incomes; and fewest options, if any for affordable broadband, including:
- Bronx 2 (Hunts Point, Inwood)
- Bronx 5 (Fordham/Morris Heights, Mount Hope, University Heights)
- Brooklyn 16 (Brownsville, Ocean Hill)
- Bronx 7 (Bedford Park, Fordham, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge Heights, Norwood, University Heights)
- Manhattan 9 (Hamilton Heights, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights)
- Brooklyn 12 (Borough Park, Kensington, Ocean Parkway, Midwood)
- Manhattan 3 (Alphabet City, the East Village, the Lower East Side, Two Bridges, Chinatown)
- Brooklyn 9 (Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Wingate)
- Manhattan 12 (Inwood, Washington Heights)
- Brooklyn 4 (Bushwick)
- Queens 12 (South Jamaica)
At a minimum, Verizon will make connections available to 125,000 additional households in these Community Districts, which means that if a resident requests paid FiOS service, Verizon will be required to make it available generally within seven days.
The terms of the settlement call for Verizon to report quarterly on their progress, and the City will make public the list of newly eligible households that were previously ineligible for FiOS or broadband service. The lawsuit and its settlement highlight the City’s commitment to holding franchisees accountable to meet their commitments to the public. The City’s franchise team will be closely monitoring Verizon’s performance for any slippage from the terms of this agreement and is prepared to ensure serious consequences for failure to perform. The settlement is subject to approval from the NYC Franchise and Review Commission and the Public Service Commission.
Many New Yorkers lack internet connections at home and others have only limited broadband service. Today’s settlement will ensure that 500,000 households that previously lacked Verizon broadband access because of a corporate failure to invest in the necessary infrastructure will have the option of fiber broadband, and create critical cost competition in areas where today only one provider exists.
This settlement is complementary to other City-led efforts underway to achieve the goal of universal broadband, including the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity’s efforts announced in July to extend new low cost internet service options to 600,000 underserved New Yorkers, including 200,000 NYCHA residents, over the next 18 months. New Yorkers need more from the companies that serve them – they need affordable service options. At a time when nearly a third of New Yorkers do not have home broadband, New York City’s Internet Master Plan has made the single largest capital investment by any municipality in the country to end the digital divide. The City will soon be releasing a solicitation for new open-access infrastructure and will engage new and existing broadband companies in serving New Yorkers with high-quality, affordable internet service options. It is critical that the private sector partners with the City to ensure New Yorkers are affordably connected to the internet.
Attorney General James Helps Secure $17.5 Million After Data Breach at The Home Depot
New York State to Receive Nearly $600,000
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a multistate agreement with The Home Depot, Inc. that resolves an investigation into a massive 2014 data breach, which compromised the payment card information of approximately 40 million consumers nationwide. Today’s agreement resolves the cyberattack by requiring The Home Depot to pay 46 states and the District of Columbia a total of $17.5 million — of which $597,459.80 will go to New York state. In addition to the payment, The Home Depot has also agreed to a series of data security practices designed to strengthen its information security program and safeguard the personal information of consumers.
“New Yorkers have every reasonable expectation that their personal financial information will remain private and protected,” said Attorney General James. “Instead of building a secure system, The Home Depot failed to protect consumers and put their data at risk. My office is committed to protecting consumers, which is why we will continue to use every instrument in our toolbox to hold accountable companies that fail to safeguard personal information.”
The breach occurred when hackers gained access to The Home Depot’s network and deployed malware on the company’s self-checkout point-of-sale system. The malware allowed hackers to obtain the payment card information of customers who used self-checkout lanes at The Home Depot stores throughout the U.S. between April 10, 2014 and September 13, 2014.
As part of the agreement, The Home Depot will also make a series of provisions to its security protocols, including:
- Employing a duly qualified chief information security officer — reporting to both senior or C-level executives and the board of directors regarding The Home Depot’s security posture and security risks;
- Providing resources necessary to fully implement the company’s information security program;
- Providing appropriate security awareness and privacy training to all personnel who have access to the company’s network or responsibility for U.S. consumers’ personal information;
- Employing specific security safeguards with respect to logging and monitoring, access controls, password management, two-factor authentication, file integrity monitoring, firewalls, encryption, risk assessments, penetration testing, intrusion detection, and vendor account management; and
- Undergoing a post settlement information security assessment — consistent with previous state data breach settlements — that, in part, will evaluate its implementation of the agreed upon information security program.
Joining Attorney General James in filing today’s multistate agreement are the attorneys general of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
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State Senator Jamaal Bailey Annual Turkey Giveaway
The District Council of Carpenters joined State Senator Jamaal Bailey to hand out one hundred and fifty turkeys to constituents of the Senator in front of his office. People lined up in front of the stores next to the senators office, to receive one of the turkeys.
Senator Bailey handed out each turkey so he could speak directly with each of his constituents in this time of need to see if there was anything that the people may need other than a turkey for Thanksgiving.
Above - Senator Bailey helping unload turkey from boxes onto a table to be given out.
Below - The people standing in line to receive a turkey from Senator Bailey.
Below - Senator Bailey places a turkey in this woman's wagon.
Turkey Giveaway by Assemblyman Jose Rivera and Councilman Rafael Salamanca at Weinberg Apartments
Councilman (and still undeclared candidate for Bronx Borough President) Rafael Salamanca joined Assemblyman Jose Rivera and 78th A.D. District Leader Angel Santana to distribute one hundred and fifty frozen turkeys to the residents of the Weinberg Apartments.
The turkey giveaway took place in the courtyard of the building and the surrounding buildings. People from the building who received a Turkey Ticket lined up, and were given one of the turkeys for their Thanksgiving meal.
Above - Assemblyman Rivera, Councilman Salamanca, and the general manager of the building go over the turkey giveaway.
Below - Councilman Salamanca addresses the crowd of people waiting for turkeys.
Below - Councilman Salamanca puts this turkey in this woman's bag.
Here Councilman Salamanca puts this turkey in this woman's wagon
Monday, November 23, 2020
DEC ANNOUNCES NEW “WHY I HUNT” AND “WHY I TRAP” PHOTO ESSAY CONTEST
Deadline for Submissions Jan. 31, 2021
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced a new statewide photo and essay contest for hunters and trappers to share stories about why they hunt or trap in New York State. Photos and essays submitted will be used to support DEC’s ongoing efforts to introduce more New Yorkers to hunting and trapping.
“Whether it’s a family tradition, a connection to nature, or to feed your family, DEC would like to hear from New York hunters and trappers about what motivates them to venture afield,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Hunting and trapping benefit New Yorkers and our environment by helping manage wildlife species and providing nutritious meat to our families. Please share your stories and photographs and help encourage more New Yorkers to get outside and enjoy hunting and trapping themselves.”
Participating hunters and trappers may submit photos and essays in one of the following categories:
- Youth (under 17, non-first year);
- First-year hunters (youth);
- First-year hunters (adult); and
- Adults (non first-year).
Each contestant may submit up to two photos with their essay entry. DEC staff will select the best photo/essay in each category. Winners’ essays and photos will appear in the 2021-2022 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which is read by more than half a million people each year.
Contest specifications:
- Essays should be non-fiction, original material (not previously published), and told from a first-person perspective;
- Essays should be no less than 50 words and no more than 500 words;
- Limit of one entry per person;
- Maximum of two photos per entry; and
- Photos must be taken in New York State.
Submissions should be made using this link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/
Visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/
DEC is deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and encourages entries from people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and genders. All photo submissions become the property of DEC and may be used in future DEC publications, electronic, and print outreach materials. In addition, DEC reserves the right to edit essays for content, clarity, length, and style. DEC retains first rights to written submissions and written submissions may also appear in a future issue of Conservationist magazine or other DEC publications, media, and social media.
For more information about the “Why I Hunt” and “Why I Trap” contest, call (518) 402-8963, e-mail hunter@dec.ny.gov, or write to: Hunter Education Program, 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4754.