Governor Hochul Secures Emergency Declaration From President Biden as Winter Storm Buried Upstate New York Communities With Nearly Seven Feet of Snow

 

Emergency Declaration From President Biden For the 11 Counties Under Governor's State of Emergency Provides Access to Federal Funding for Impacted Counties to Support Response Operations

State Agency Emergency Response Assets Continue to Assist Local Governments in Cleanup and Restoration Efforts in Wake of Historic Snowfall Event

80 Inches of Snow Reported in Orchard Park in Erie County, with Peak Snowfall Accumulations of Six Inches Per Hour; Parts of City of Buffalo and the City of Lackawanna Remain Under Travel Ban

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that President Biden approved her request for an Emergency Declaration for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Wyoming counties, following the historic winter storm that buried some of New York's upstate communities with nearly seven feet of snow this past week. Under an Emergency Declaration, direct federal assistance is available for the previously listed counties and FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures for the State that includes search and rescue operations, as well as actions to protect critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, water control facilities, utilities, and mass transit facilities. At Governor Hochul's direction, State agencies' emergency response assets remain on the ground in affected areas of Western New York, Central New York and the North Country, assisting local governments with cleanup and restoration efforts.

"I thank President Biden for immediately granting our emergency declaration request and for our ongoing strong partnership as well as Senator Schumer for his assistance in securing relief for New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "My team and I will continue working around the clock to keep everyone safe, help communities dig out, and secure every last dollar to help rebuild and recover from this unprecedented, record-shattering historic winter storm."

Over the weekend, Governor Hochul submitted a request to the federal government for an Emergency Declaration, which was granted Sunday evening. The last time New York State submitted an Emergency Declaration request for a similar winter storm was in 2014, when it took weeks to grant the request. An Emergency Declaration can be declared for any occasion or instance in which the President determines federal assistance is needed. These declarations supplement State and local efforts in providing emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States. Governor Hochul will also ask the federal Small Business Administration to evaluate how it can help small businesses harmed by the storm in the 11 counties and contiguous counties, once state operations transition from response to recovery mode.

Governor Hochul and New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Commissioner Jackie Bray encouraged local officials in impacted counties to continue working with their County Emergency Managers to submit any resource needs directly into NY Responds, the state's web-based system that enables both local governments and state agencies to submit and share vital emergency-related information and resource requests.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "Thanks to Governor Hochul and President Biden, this emergency declaration will provide much needed federal relief for local governments the State has been supporting since before the storm. My team and I will work directly with FEMA to maximize the impact of this funding to ensure our communities can return to normal."

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Department of Transportation, New York State Police, Thruway Authority, and National Guard continue to be fully engaged in supporting local governments with response to the winter storm and snow removal and cleanup operations.

Prior to the arrival of lake effect snow on Thursday, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for 11 counties and contiguous counties, which remains in effect. Additionally, New York's emergency management experts have been in constant communication with their local counterparts for days leading up to the event.

The winter storm that began Thursday impacted several regions of the State through Sunday, with 80 inches of snow reported in Orchard Park in Erie County, and more than six feet of snow reported in parts of Erie and Jefferson Counties. Throughout the storm, these areas experienced consistent snowfall rates of two-to-three inches per hour, and some seeing a peak of six inches of snowfall an hour. This intense snowfall created extremely dangerous travel conditions.

DHSES's Disaster Recovery team will immediately begin working with the 11 counties listed in the Emergency Declaration to maximize federal assistance.

City to Auction Gifts Given to Previous New York City Mayors

 

‘Gifts to the City’ Auctions Feature Over 50 Gifts to Mayors Koch, Dinkins, Giuliani, and Bloomberg

 

Items Include Autographed Sports Memorabilia, Art, Jewelry, and Other Keepsakes

NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock and NYC Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) Commissioner Pauline A. Toole today announced the launch of Gifts to the City, a series of online auctions of select items gifted to previous New York City mayors. An initial selection of over 50 items from Mayors Koch, Dinkins, Giuliani, and Bloomberg are now up for auction by DCAS and auctions will last between one to three weeks. Items include autographed sports memorabilia, art, jewelry, and other keepsakes. Items gifted to mayors and other City officials remain the property of the City of New York and are managed by DORIS. The items up for auction have been deemed by DORIS to have no research or archival value.   Some featured items include:   Nike Air Force One Sneakers Autographed by Ice-T and Fab 5 Freddy – Mayor Bloomberg Tiffany & Co. Cake Slicer Inscribed for the Museum of the City of New York Groundbreaking in 2006 – Mayor Bloomberg Tiffany & Co. Clock Inscribed with: Hospital for Special Surgery Discovery to Recovery, 2005 – Mayor Bloomberg A 25-inch String of Pearls Gifted to Mayor Bloomberg – Mayor Bloomberg Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Cufflinks and Lapel Pin – Mayor Giuliani A Louis Vuitton 1998 World Cup Soccer Ball – Mayor Giuliani A Spalding Basketball Autographed by New York Knicks Players – Mayor Giuliani Glass Apple Shaped Paperweight Gifted by Diana Ross – Mayor Dinkins Silver Bowl from Catalca, Istanbul in a Velvet Enclosure – Mayor Dinkins Framed Chinese Art – Mayor Dinkins Matted Portrait of Mayor Koch by Miriam Troop (autographed by Mayor Koch) – Mayor Koch Framed Front Page of The Village Voice featuring Cover Story: Mayor Dearest: An Exclusive Preview of Mayor Koch’s Memoirs – Mayor Koch Original Painting by Artist Peter Max Depicting the Face of the Statue of Liberty; Includes a Hand-Written Inscription to Mayor Koch and the Artist's Signature – Mayor Koch   “Gifts to the City offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of history,” said NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “This is the first time the City has auctioned gifts to past mayors, and New Yorkers have a chance to purchase items they won’t get anywhere else.”   “We are pleased to work with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to hold this auction of unique memorabilia,” said NYC Department of Records and Information Services Commissioner Pauline Toole. “Purchasers will receive a special certificate of provenance certifying that the item sold at auction is an authentic gift originally received by a Mayor of the City of New York and that the purchase will support the work of the Municipal Archives and Municipal Library.”   The Gifts to the City auctions are open to the public and City employees, except for employees of DCAS and DORIS, and any persons or firms associated with DCAS and DORIS employees. For the purposes of this auction, a person or firm associated with DCAS and DORIS employees include spouses, domestic partners, children, parents, or siblings; a person with whom the DCAS or DORIS employee has business or other financial relations, and each firm in which such employees have a present or potential interest.     Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Municipal Archives Reference and Research Fund (MARRF). Established from the proceeds of a prior auction of City ephemera and Audubon prints in 1985, MARRF supports projects to preserve and provide access to historical and contemporary records in the Municipal Archives and Library. The Municipal Archives previously auctioned non-archival saloon licenses, canceled bonds, and, most famously, a folio of Audubon drawings.    Each year DCAS conducts over 4,000 surplus auctions of City property, ranging from furniture, to vehicles, to office supplies, and more. Listings for all City of New York surplus auctions can be found on the DCAS website.

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services   The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:    Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.   Managing 55 public buildings.   Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.   Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.   Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.   Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations. Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas and by following us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

 

2002 Balloon Inflation & Thanksgiving Day Parade Traffic and Media Advisory

 

The balloon inflation will take place on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022, from noon to 6 p.m. Spectators may enter the queue at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. Large backpacks, coolers, alcoholic beverages, chairs and umbrellas are expressly prohibited, and participants will be screened prior to entering the viewing route. Once screened, spectators will enter the inflation viewing area at West 72nd Street and Central Park West. The balloon viewing path winds around the American Museum of Natural History. Spectators exit the viewing area at West 82nd Street and Central Park West.

The Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place on Thursday, November 24th, 2022, and will step off from Central Park West and 77th Street at 8:45 a.m. The procession marches to Columbus Circle, turns onto Central Park South and proceeds down 6th Avenue to West 34th Street. It then turns west and ends at 7th Avenue, in front of Macy’s Herald Square.

Heavy traffic conditions are expected, and there will be rolling street closures in Manhattan, so mass transit is strongly encouraged. Remember: No large backpacks, lawn chairs, umbrellas, large coolers or alcoholic beverages will be allowed. Anyone who sees suspicious activity should alert a police officer or call 911. The NYPD’s terrorism hotline is 888-NYC-SAFE.

Traffic Advisory:

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022 – Gridlock Alert Day (balloon inflation):  

At 6 a.m. West 81st Street and West 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue and Central Park West from West 72nd Street to West 86th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

At 8 a.m. West 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenues will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Additional vehicular traffic closures at noon are as follows:

•Central Park West from West 73rd to 85th Streets

•West 74th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 75th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 76th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 77th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 78th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 80th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 81st Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 82nd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 83rd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 84th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•West 85th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

•Central Park Transverse Road at Central Park West and West 81 St. (both directions)

After 10 p.m., West 81st Street and West 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue as well as Central Park West from West 59th Street to West 86th Street will be closed to all traffic. "Broadcast vehicles only" may park beginning at 9 a.m. on the east side of Columbus Avenue from West 77th Street to West 76th Street. All Broadcast Vehicles must be off Columbus Avenue by 11:30 p.m.  

Thursday, November 24th, 2022 (Thanksgiving Day Parade):

Formation for the parade will begin at 8 a.m. at the following locations:

•West 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

•West 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

•Central Park West between West 77th and 86th Streets

The parade will begin at 8:45 a.m. from Central Park West and West 77th Street and proceed on the following route:

•South on Central Park West to Columbus Circle

•South through E/S Columbus Circle to West 59th Street

•East on West 59th Street to 6th Avenue

•South on 6th Avenue to West 34th Street

•West on West 34th Street to 7th Avenue (dispersal area)

Additional closures are as follows:
•Broadway between West 34th Street and West 41st Street- Midnight to 1 p.m.
•6th Avenue between West 23rd Street and West 42nd Street – 2 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•7th Avenue from West 34th Street and West 42nd Street - 2 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
•West 34th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 10 p.m. (Wed) to 5 p.m.
• West 59th Street E/B between 7th Avenue and Central Park West – Midnight to 2 p.m.
• West 59th Street W/B between 5th Avenue and Central Park West – 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 35th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 2 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• West 36th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 37th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 38th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 8th Avenue between 34th Street and 40th Street - 4 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
•Broadway between 38th Street and 59th Street - 4 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• West 33rd Street between 7th Avenue and 10th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 40th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 49th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• West 50th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
•Central Park 65th Street/ West 66th Street Transverse Roads 7 a.m. until conclusion

Please note: From 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. vehicles will not be able to access:
•6th Avenue between West 33rd and West 59th Street
•8th Avenue between West 57th Street and West 59th Street
•8th Avenue between West 33rd and West 40th Streets
•Broadway between West 59th Street and West 57th Street
•Broadway between West 34th and West 40th Streets (only escorted deliveries)
• West 42nd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue
• West 57th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue

Annual Pelham Parkway Turkey Giveaway

 

Sunday was the Annual Pelham Parkway Turkey Giveaway. Over one-hundred turkeys were given away by the PPNA to people from the PPNA neighborhood so they could have a happy Thanksgiving dinner. 

PPNA President Steven Glosser said that he and the members of the PPNA were glad that they could put some joy to over one-hundred families by giving them free Thanksgiving turkeys to have for their Thanksgiving dinner. He added this year the price of turkeys are more expensive than in past years, so it also saves the people who received our turkeys more money for the other items that go with the Thanksgiving turkey. 

PPNA President Steven Gloser is holding one of the free turkeys the PPNA gave away. Front row L - R, PPNA Secretary Loui Lutnick, Marcy Gross, and Jenni Leon. Back row - Lance Zavin, and Treasurer Elio Morales. 

PPNA Treasurer Elio Morales hands off this turkey to a person who did  not want to be photographed as PPNA President Steven Glosser look on.

It was cold outside as the PPNA Turkey Giveaway was held across the street from the Key Food supermarket on Holland Avenue. L - R - PPNA Sergeant of Arms Oscar Ruiz, Secretary Louis Lutnick, Treasurer Elio Morales, and President Steven Glosser. 

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Winter Wonderland Holiday Party, December 8 - Sponsor & Get Your Tables Today

 

Sponsor & Purchase Tables - Click Here The Board of Directors and the leadership team of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend our signature Winter Wonderland Holiday Party on Thursday, December 8 at Pelham Bay Split Rock Golf Course, 870 Shore Road Bronx, NY. Enjoy an evening where you don't have to plan or shop or clean up afterward! This Bronx Chamber signature event brings together businesses, families, colleagues, and friends for an evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing, and live entertainment while also doing good for our community as we collect toys and contributions for Astor Family and Children's Services. Bring your company's staff - book your tables - and become a sponsor.  This annual event is a lot of fun and celebrates the holidays while also celebrating the amazing people on your team. Sponsor or Purchase Your Tickets - Click Here

NYS OASAS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF MOBILE ADDICTION SERVICES IN NEW YORK CITY

 

New Mobile Unit Operated by Bridging Access to Care Will Bring Services to High-Need Communities

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) announced the launch of a new mobile unit to provide addiction treatment, harm reduction, prevention, and recovery services to residents of New York City. This new mobile unit is being operated by Bridging Access to Care, and is being supported with $225,000 in funding provided to New York State through the federal State Opioid Response Grant, and administered by OASAS.

“Ensuring treatment equity and supporting harm reduction are two critical parts of the work we are doing at OASAS. We need to make sure that everyone has access to care for addiction, whenever they are ready to seek help.” OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. “With this new mobile unit, we will be able to better connect with underserved communities, and improve access to a full spectrum of health care services designed to support overall well-being.”

The new mobile unit is equipped with two exam rooms, two bathrooms, and Wi-Fi capability, and will provide medication for addiction treatment, overdose prevention kits, mental health services, health screenings, and health information and education. 

This new unit will provide services throughout Brooklyn, as well as other underserved areas of New York City, and add to existing mobile units that have reached thousands with critical addiction services since their inception.

The expansion of these services builds on OASAS’ efforts to expand mobile services throughout New York State to reach underserved communities, and meet people wherever they are, as well as the expansion of harm reduction services and health education. This includes the establishment of a new Harm Reduction Division within OASAS, which is working to reduce overdose deaths by improving access to treatment, increasing the availability of naloxone, and eliminating the stigma around substance use and treatment.

“As an organization that invests in community wellness, we are excited to bring life-saving overdose prevention and treatment to all boroughs,” said Nadine Akinyemi, Chief Executive Officer, Bridging Access to Care. “There is a lot of misconception about medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorder. Thanks to the funding and support from OASAS, this new mobile unit will enable us to bring substance use treatment and mental health services and distribute the correct information about MAT and other treatment options to neighborhoods that lack established treatment facilities and suffer from high overdose rates, including neighborhoods like Williamsburg, East New York, and Coney Island.”

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 680,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year. 

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

 

In the fall of 2021, the Associated Supermarket located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn shut its doors due to development. Neighborhood residents, including many seniors, found themselves without access to a grocery store.

Community members were concerned about the lack of access to affordable, fresh, healthy food. That's where GrowNYC stepped in.

GrowNYC's Crown Heights Farmstand now serves the community by bringing a selection of seasonal and affordable produce to the neighborhood every Friday. GrowNYC Farmstands bring fresh fruits and vegetables to under-resourced neighborhoods across New York City while providing workforce development opportunities for young New Yorkers. Historically under-resourced New York City neighborhoods are frequently overlooked by large food distributors and have fewer access points to fresh produce. 60 percent of Farmstand customers use a food subsidy program like SNAP, WIC, or OTC cards, making Farmstands, as well as GrowNYC's Greenmarkets and Fresh Food Box sites, crucial to fighting the inequity in NYC's current food system. Giselle Ladino Perez, one of our Farmstand Youth Staff, shared that "I know that everyone deserves to have food on their table. I want everyone to be able to say 'Yes, food is a human right.'" When you give to GrowNYC you ensure that New Yorkers across the five boroughs have access to fresh, affordable food - no matter their income or zip code. We can't do this work without your support. Thank you for sharing our vision of building a more equitable and sustainable food system throughout New York City.