Saturday, May 15, 2021

232 Days and Counting

 


I called for Equity and Excellence in my administration, and boy have I failed miserably. The public schools are more divided than ever, with more students not making the grade especially in the Bronx.  NYCHA Public Housing is in total disrepair. Crime has risen sharply in the past year, but you can't blame me for that because it was the state legislature who voted in the 'No Cash Bail Law'. I have told Police Commissioner Shea to have his officers 'Stand Down' when they see most crimes, because it will be a waste of time since the suspect will be right back out on the streets before the officers finish the paperwork. 

However the people who ride bikes (legal or not) love me for all those stupid bike lanes I put in. When I biked from Gracie Mansion to city hall last week, I too broke the law several times by going through red lights and riding the wrong way on the street. Let me enjoy this three day weekend away from those pesky reporters, and leave a ruined city for the next mayor to fix, I've done enough to New York City.


MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICES RAISES NEW YORK CITY'S GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND CREDIT OUTLOOK

 

Upward revision affirms the City’s strong financial position and sound fiscal management


 Yesterday Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) affirmed the Aa2 rating  assigned to New York City’s GO bonds and revised the city’s outlook to stable. The upward revision affirms actions the City has taken to maintain fiscal stability in response to the crisis brought on by COVID-19, the greatest budgetary stress test the city has faced in generations. New York City and State now have the same rating and outlook, which is significant because a local government is rarely rated as high as its home state.

 

Moody’s raised the outlook to stable due to improvements in the city’s overall financial position in light of nearly $15 billion in federal stimulus that will flow to the city, which they acknowledge provides flexibility and relief over the next several fiscal years, and that the risk of budget cuts from New York State is now eliminated. Moody’s highlighted the role of City’s vaccination program, stressed that high vaccination rates as compared with the US overall will drive confidence in the local economy, and noted the positive effect that the city’s accelerating reopening will have on employment and tax revenues. The agency also affirmed that outyear budget gaps are manageable, though noted that City must continue to exercise caution. 

 

“New York City is creating a recovery for all of us, bolstered by our vaccination campaign and strategic investments in public health, our children’s education, maintaining public safety, supporting small businesses and keeping streets clean. Combined with strong fiscal management, we are building the foundation for a successful future,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio

 

In affirming the City’s Aa2 GO Bond rating, Moody’s cited firm budgetary controls and strong financial management, a diverse revenue base, low crime rates compared with other large cities, a young and skilled labor pool, and that fixed costs for debt service, pensions and retiree health care are below the median for the largest local governments and in the bottom of the nation’s largest cities.

 

Additionally, Moody’s affirmed that the City’s outstanding appropriation-backed debt, including debt issued by the Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corporation, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the New York City Educational Construction Fund, and the New York City Industrial Development Agency (New York Stock Exchange Project) will remain at Aa3.

In April, Mayor Bill de Blasio presented the Recovery Budget, New York City’s $98.6 billion Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22)The Recovery Budget is an historic stimulus-driven investment in the city’s comeback that will drive economic growth, lift up working families and small businesses, promote academic and social resilience and ensure a clean and safe city for all. The Recovery Budget is fiscally responsible with $4.59 billion in budget reserves and $3.9 billion in savings achieved in the Citywide Savings Program which stretches across Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022.

 

Read Moody’s May 13, 2021 Rating Action Report here.


NYS Office of the Comptroller - DiNapoli: Former School District Treasurer Sentenced for Stealing Funds

 

Kristina Hand to Serve Two Years of Probation and Pay $34,000 in Restitution for Stealing from Morris Central School District

 State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced Kristina Hand was sentenced in federal court for stealing $34,000 from the Morris Central School District in Otsego County.

Hand, 47, of Morris, pled guilty last September to two counts of federal program theft, for stealing from a school district that received federal funds. She was sentenced Thursday to two years of probation and ordered to serve 50 hours of community service. Hand was also ordered to pay $34,000 in restitution.

“Ms. Hand took advantage of her position as treasurer and thought she could get away with stealing from the school district to fund her personal shopping,” DiNapoli said. “She was wrong and now she must face the consequences of her actions. My thanks to Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York Antoinette T. Bacon and the FBI for their continued partnership in the fight against public corruption.”

Hand admitted she stole about $24,000 by depositing checks payable to the school district into bank accounts that she controlled. She also admitted stealing at least $10,000 more by using the school district’s Amazon account and credit cards to purchase personal items during her time as treasurer for the school district from 2014 through February 2020.

This case was investigated in partnership with the FBI and the New York State Police and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District.


Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State Vaccination Program

 

140,551 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours

More Than 900,000 Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days        

1,134 Doses Administered at Pop-Up Vaccination Sites at MTA Station Stops on Day 2 of Pilot Program

Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily on the State's Vaccine Program Here


 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. 140,551 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and 1,134 doses have been administered at the eight pop-up vaccination sites at MTA station stops on day 2 of the pilot program that launched on May 12. More than 900,000 doses have been administered statewide over the past seven days.       

"We are continuing to work with communities to make sure the vaccine is accessible and to address any hesitancy or indifference people have towards getting vaccinated," Governor Cuomo said. "We cannot get comfortable or cocky. COVID is still out there, and if we let down our guard, we risk losing all the progress we have made. Our providers are working hard to gets more shots into people's arms, and I urge everyone who still needs to get their shot to do so quickly - for themselves and for everyone they care about and want to protect."    

All New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first serve basis. The walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses only with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot. In addition, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments for eligible New Yorkers. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them.                              

 

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 17,306,771

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 140,551

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 911,013

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 61.2%

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 51.0%

Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 49.2%

Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 40.8%  

Friday, May 14, 2021

Partnerships for Parks - Grants for Arts and Culture Events

 

City Parks Foundation is bringing free arts back to our parks and plazas! Applications are now open for GREEN / ARTS LIVE NYC. This new fund, created by a coalition of partners, will support NYC artists, arts and cultural groups, and community-based, volunteer organizations by providing small grants and production support for local arts events.

Thanks to generous support from the New York Community Trust and Con Edison’s Arts Al Fresco Series, this fund will bring free live performance to neighborhood parks, plazas, and gardens in communities that otherwise would not have access this summer and fall. 

Applications are open now through Friday, May 28th at 12:00PM. Apply now or attend a digital information session on May 18 at 12:00pm.
ATTEND INFO SESSION

In Celebration of the Life of The Honorable Aurelia Greene May 17 - May 20, 2021

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In Celebration of the Life of

The Honorable

 

Aurelia Greene

 

Monday May 17

11am - 3pm

 

The Honorable Aurelia Greene will lie-in-state in the Rotunda of the Bronx County Courthouse, for public viewing.

Bronx County Courthouse

851 Grand Concourse 

Bronx, NY 10451

 

Tuesday May 18 &

Wednesday May 19

3pm - 8pm

 

Viewing & Wake

Bronx Christian Charismatic

Prayer Fellowship

1069 Morris Avenue 

Bronx, NY 10456

 

 

Thursday May 20

9am

 

Homegoing Service

Thessalonia Worship Center

941 Rev James A Polite Avenue

Bronx, NY 10459

 

 

The Homegoing Services can be viewed via live stream on Facebook here:

 

Pastor Andre Faison OR

Bronx Christian Charismatic Prayer Fellowship

 

Internment will be at

Kensico Cemetary

273 Lakeview Avenue | Valhalla, NY 10595

 

Funeral repast will follow the internment, from 4pm to 7pm, in the garden of

The Andrew Freedman Home

1125 Grand Concourse 

Bronx, NY 10452

 

 

**Masks and social distancing required at all events.**

 

 

 

Key to the Bronx: Aurelia Greene

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation Into Civilian Death

 

 The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation has opened an investigation into the death of a civilian who died this morning, May 14, 2021, following an encounter with law enforcement in Rochester.

New York State Executive Law Section 70-b mandated the establishment of an Office of Special Investigation (OSI) within the Office of the New York State Attorney General, effective April 1, 2021. This legislation represents the codification and the expansion of the role previously performed by the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit (SIPU) since Executive Order 147 became effective on July 8, 2015.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic May 14, 2021

 

Statewide Positivity Rate Drops to 1.01% - Lowest Since October 10

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity Rate Drops to 1.22% - Lowest Since October 19; 39 Straight Days of Decline

Patient Hospitalizations Drop to 1,767 Statewide - Lowest Since November 12

415 Patients in the ICU - Lowest Since November 16

247 Intubated - Lowest Since November 21

25 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday


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

"As we near the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, it is imperative that we remain vigilant in our fight against the virus and continue to adhere to safety measures in place," Governor Cuomo said. "New York was hit harder than any other state in the nation, but thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, we are seeing a steady decline in our numbers. If you haven't already, get vaccinated so we can continue to make progress toward a healthier, stronger New York for all."

    Today's data is summarized briefly below:

         Test Results Reported - 203,852

         Total Positive - 2,068

         Percent Positive - 1.01%

         7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.22%

         Patient Hospitalization - 1,767 (-85)

         Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -497

         Patients Newly Admitted - 205

         Number ICU - 415 (-18)

         Number ICU with Intubation - 247 (-11)

         Total Discharges - 179,337 (+239)

         Deaths - 25

         Total Deaths - 42,417