Governor Hochul Signs Legislative Package to Protect Rights of Public Benefit Recipients and Strengthen Access to Social Services

 

Legislation (S.3178A/A.5817A) Requires Offices of Social Services to PostNotice of Recipients' Basic Rights

Legislation (S.8972A/A.9749B) Ensures that Certain Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits Receive Two Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Credit or Debit Cards

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced she signed a legislative package of two bills that will protect the rights of New Yorkers who receive public benefits and strengthen access to social services. These two bills will increase transparency on the rights of those applying to receive assistance and improve access to food assistance.

"As New Yorkers continue to recover from the economic pains of the pandemic, it is critical that we ensure that public assistance programs are properly serving our most vulnerable communities," Governor Hochul said. "These bills will educate people across the state on their rights when receiving social services and ensure that families don't struggle to put food on the table. I am proud to take important steps to protect and empower New Yorkers who receive public assistance because nobody deserves to experience food or childcare insecurity, homelessness, or any other life-threatening stresses."

Legislation (S.3178A/A.5817A) will require the posting of the rights of individuals who are applying to receive assistance. This will notify the recipients of their basic rights which are established by law, such as a right to a fair hearing, the right to ask about emergency assistance, the right to apply for all benefits and services, the right to ask about child care, the right to free language services, the right to screening and special services if experiencing domestic violence, and the right to a written adequate notice.

Legislation (S.8972A/A.9749B) requires supplemental nutrition assistance programs to provide two electronic benefit transfer credit or debit cards for each household that has more than one parent or guardian residing in the household. This will provide recipients more convenience in utilizing their benefits to feed their families.

VCJC News & Notes 7/15/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 7/15/22 @ 8:07 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:45 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 7/16/22 @ 9:10 pm   Fast of Tammuz Sunday, July 17th  is the Fast of Tammuz Fast begins at 4:27 am --- Fast ends at 9:09 pm  Services at 8:30 am in the Daily Chapel   Blood Drive!  VCJC is hosting a blood drive on Sunday, July 31, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.  We need both people to donate blood and volunteers to help run the drive.   To donate:  https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/296446  To volunteer: Call the office or email Stu Harris.   Our mailing address is: Van Cortlandt Jewish Center 3880 Sedgwick Ave Bronx, NY 10463

NYS Office of the Comptroller - DiNapoli: Number of New Yorkers Behind on Utility Bills Soared During Pandemic

 

One in Eight Residential Customers Statewide Face Overdue Utility Bills, 60% of Customers in Arrears are from NYC and Long Island

 The devastating number of job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant increase in the number of residential customers owing money to their utility companies, with one in eight customers in arrears as of March 2022, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. More than 1.2 million customers statewide owed $1.8 billion with customers from New York City and Long Island comprising 60% of those in arrears and 68% of the amount owed.

In the first quarter of 2022, the number of customers behind on their bills fell by about 50,000 to 1.2 million while the total amount owed grew to $1.8 billion, an increase of close to $1 billion from March 2020. The average amount customers owed over this period doubled from $768 in March 2020 to $1,467 in March 2022.

“The pandemic’s effects continue to be felt in multiple aspects of life, including the elevated number of New Yorkers who continue to have trouble paying their utility bills,” DiNapoli said. “Failure to pay these bills may result in service shutoffs, which increases economic stress on families and can damage local economies by reducing household spending, leading to job losses. State lawmakers and the Public Service Commission have acted to provide meaningful relief to low-income customers through the Utility Arrears Relief Program and the Phase 1 Arrears Reduction Program, and should continue to consider mechanisms to help utility customers that cannot pay their bills.”

DiNapoli’s report, includes:

• Arrears by state’s largest electric and gas utilities;
• Regional breakdown of residential customers and amount in arrears; and
• Allocation of state funds and authorized cost recovery.

Analysis

Economic and Policy Insights: Distribution of Utility Arrears in New York State

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE SUPPORTS NEW REFORMS TO STENGTHEN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD

 As the city faces increased need to promote, protect, and reimagine public safety, the Office of Public Advocate continues to push for systems that promote transparency and accountability in law enforcement. In testimony at a hearing of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, First Deputy Public Advocate Nick E. Smith supported a rule change that would allow the CCRB to self-initiate investigations and pushed for new rules to make the investigation process more transparent and easier for the public to understand. After the passage of Local Law 47 last year, the CCRB can now investigate complaints of racial profiling and bias-based policing by the New York Police Department. To fully and substantially fulfill these new duties, CCRB’s rules must be updated. 

“While the CCRB receives many complaints—over 750 during the summer 2020 Black Lives Matter protests—there are undoubtedly far more incidences of police misconduct than is reported,” said First Deputy Public Advocate Nick E. Smith. “When people experience abusive or inappropriate behavior from the police, they are vulnerable, and may be hesitant or scared to share what has happened to them. Many New Yorkers do not know how to file an official complaint with the CCRB, or how long they have before the statute of limitations expires.” The city’s ability to hold police officers accountable should not be unnecessarily constrained, and the CCRB must be able to self-initiate investigations to catch these instances of police misconduct that might go unreported. 

Additionally, the language used by the CCRB should be easy to understand so that all New Yorkers can follow the investigative process and correctly interpret its outcomes. As Nick E. Smith noted, “for civilians, and especially for people who primarily speak a language other than English, the legal terms typically used in reports are often confusing or difficult to understand. Replacing the term ‘unsubstantiated’ with ‘unable to determine,’ for example, makes it clearer there was not sufficient evidence to establish whether or not there was an act of misconduct.” Using terms with clearer definitions is essential for accurately describing the CCRB’s investigations, and these changes will make the organization’s work more accessible. 

Read the full testimony below.

TESTIMONY OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS

TO THE CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD

JULY 13, 2022

Good evening, 

My name is Nick E. Smith, and I am testifying on behalf of Jumaane D. Williams, the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I would like to thank the Civilian Complaint Review Board for holding this hearing today. 

The Civilian Complaint Review Board, or CCRB, is a vital part of the city’s infrastructure to hold the New York Police Department accountable for acts of misconduct and abuse of authority against civilians. The work they do is important, and they are frequently met with resistance by the NYPD. Public Advocate Williams, then a member of the City Council, was a champion sponsor of the Community Safety Act, which was passed in 2013. The CSA took aim at discriminatory policing practices and instituted a new and more robust accountability structure in the city surrounding policing. Still, there is so far to go, and continuing to strengthen the CCRB’s authority and independence must be a priority for the city.

One of the proposed rule changes would allow the CCRB to self-initiate investigations into bias-based policing or racial profiling. Currently, city law requires the board to receive a complaint from a member of the public in order to begin an investigation into alleged NYPD misconduct. While the CCRB receives many complaints—over 750 during the summer 2020 Black Lives Matter protests—there are undoubtedly far more incidences of police misconduct than is reported. When people experience abusive or inappropriate behavior from the police, they are vulnerable, and may be hesitant or scared to share what has happened to them. Many New Yorkers do not know how to file an official complaint with the CCRB, or how long they have before the statute of limitations expires. In the age of smartphones and social media, many acts of police misconduct are quickly publicized; this rule change would allow the CCRB to react to and investigate what they are seeing in real time. 

The CCRB has also proposed new rules to make the investigation process more transparent and easier for the public to understand. For civilians, and especially for people who primarily speak a language other than English, the legal terms typically used in reports are often confusing or difficult to understand. Replacing the term “unsubstantiated” with “unable to determine,” for example, makes it clearer there was not sufficient evidence to establish whether or not there was an act of misconduct. Importantly, the updated language also adds bias-based policing and racial profiling as well as improper use of body worn cameras to the definition of “abuse of authority.” The CCRB operates for civilians, and all communications must be in language that everyday New Yorkers can understand. 

It is clear that we must prioritize empowering and increasing resources for the CCRB so they are able to fully hold the NYPD accountable. The proposed rule changes, particularly giving the CCRB the power to initiate its own investigations, are a step in the right direction, one that we must continue.  

Housing Lottery Launches For 2434 Bronx Park East In Allerton, Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 2434 Bronx Park East, an eight-story residential building in Allerton, The Bronx. Designed by Fred Geremia Architects and developed by Franc Gjini, the structure yields 38 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 18 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $50,743 to $187,330.

Amenities include a garage with assigned parking spaces, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, package lockers, a recycling center, elevator, and an on-site resident manager. Units include name-brand countertops and finishes, air conditioning, energy-efficient appliances, charging outlets with USB ports, and high-speed internet.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are four studios with a monthly rent of $1,480 for incomes ranging from $50,743 to $138,840; 11 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,600 for incomes ranging from $54,858 to $156,130; and three two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,900 for incomes ranging from $65,143 to $187,330.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than August 1, 2022.

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES CITY COUNCIL PASSAGE OF RESILIENT EDGEMERE COMMUNITY PLAN

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today celebrated the New York City Council’s passage of the Resilient Edgemere Community Plan. The vote paves the way for the creation of approximately 530 new affordable homes, 35 percent of which will be set aside for affordable homeownership opportunities. The plan includes a new Community Land Trust that will identify partners to own up to eight acres of city-owned land, new resiliency, and coastal protection measures for vulnerable areas in the neighborhood, new retail and commercial opportunities near transit and pedestrian corridors, and millions of dollars in new infrastructure investments to create a stronger, more resilient Edgemere neighborhood.

 

“With the Resilient Edgemere Community Plan, my administration is delivering over 500 new affordable homes, urgent resiliency measures, and critical neighborhood infrastructure investments — an important step forward for residents of Edgemere, the Rockaways, and the entire city,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “I want to thank Speaker Adams and Councilmember Brooks-Powers for working with us so closely to pass this plan, and I look forward to continued partnership with the speaker and the City Council to tackle our affordable housing crisis, equip our neighborhoods for a changing climate, and help our city recover from the pandemic.”

 

“The Resilient Edgemere Community Plan will bring deeply needed affordable housing opportunities, resiliency upgrades, and coastal protections to the Edgemere neighborhood,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “As we plan for an equitable recovery in the face of a housing crisis and the growing threats of climate change, this multi-year, interagency effort is an important model of thoughtful, holistic neighborhood planning. Thank you to Speaker Adams and Councilmember Brooks-Powers for their partnership in the successful passage to build a stronger, more resilient Edgemere.”

 

“This is a great win for the Edgemere community and the city as a whole,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “The Resilient Edgemere Plan shows how important community-based planning is to ensuring we continue to build critically needed new homes, while also prioritizing vital protections for our coastal neighborhoods in the face of a changing climate. I want to thank HPD, DCP, and Councilmember Brooks-Powers for working together and helping us become the ‘City of Yes’ we need to be in order to house our neighbors.”

 

“This momentous step forward for the Resilient Edgemere Plan is the result of a multi-year partnership between HPD and the Edgemere community and a testament to the value of community-based planning,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Together we developed a comprehensive framework that creates desperately needed affordable housing, increases homeownership opportunities, improves flexibility for more diverse retail and other desired community uses, and activates vacant land for public benefit. The plan achieves these goals, while adopting measures that invest in resiliency-focused infrastructure and land use policies that will protect this neighborhood from climate change and sea-level rise. We are grateful to Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams, Councilmember Brooks-Powers, and the other members of the City Council who voted to approve this application and look forward to continuing on our path to realizing this vision for the future of Edgemere."

 

“As a new special coastal risk district, which includes resiliency measures and affordable housing, this community-first plan for Edgemere puts the health, safety, and equity of its residents and workers front and center,” said New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick. “The plan will help this underserved Rockaways neighborhood thrive for years to come. Congratulations to Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and everyone involved in getting it to the finish line.”

 

The plan builds on the city’s broader resiliency planning efforts in the area, including over $80 million in investments in coastal protection projects and nearby NYCHA upgrades in recent years. This includes $14 million for a raised shoreline, an elevated berm that will protect Edgemere against 30 inches of sea level rise, and $68 million in improvements to NYCHA’s Beach 41st St. Houses and Beach 41st St. Cornerstone Community Center.

 

New infrastructure investments associated with the plan include $2.3 million in critical sewer and drainage infrastructure upgrades. The city will also prioritize the widening of portions of Edgemere Avenue, between Beach 38th Street and Beach 62nd Street, and the construction of a new publicly owned parking lot at Beach 60th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard.

 

Today’s vote is the culmination of over seven years of community planning work led by HPD in coordination with multiple city agencies and community partners and memorialized in the 2017 Resilient Edgemere Community Plan document.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JULY 14, 2022 Borough Monday, July 11, 2022 Tuesday, July 12, 2022 Wednesday, July 13, 2022 Bronx 9.81% 9.54% 9.13% Kings 8.64% 8.63% 8.53% New York 8.82% 8.83% 8.22% Queens 11.19% 10.88% 10.77% Richmond 10.37% 10.24% 9.45%

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

14 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday 

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. Earlier today, Governor Hochul announced the launch of a new public awareness campaign on treatment options for people who test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms. Yesterday, Governor Hochul announced the launch of a new free Hotline for those who test positive for COVID-19, but don'thave a health care provider.

"We've made significant progress in our fight against COVID-19, but as new variants continue to spread we remain vigilant in our ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using tools that we know protect against and treat COVID-19. Stay up to date on your vaccine and booster doses, and consult with your child's pediatrician about getting them vaccinated as soon as possible. Test often if you have symptoms, and if you test positive stay home and talk to you doctor about available treatment options."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 47.35
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 36.54
• Test Results Reported - 97,605
• Total Positive - 9,253
• Percent Positive - 9.08%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,460 (+63)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 506
• Patients in ICU - 233 (+3)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 70 (-1)
• Total Discharges - 320,033 (+413)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 14
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 56,740

** 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 - 72,417

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 11, 2022	Tuesday, July 12, 2022	Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Bronx	9.81%	9.54%	9.13%
Kings	8.64%	8.63%	8.53%
New York	8.82%	8.83%	8.22%
Queens	11.19%	10.88%	10.77%
Richmond	10.37%	10.24%	9.45%