Governor Cuomo Announces New York is Notifying 49 Other States of COVID-Related Illness in Children

Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, State is Investigating 85 Reported Cases in New York 

Governor Proposes "Americans First Law" Stating a Corporation Cannot Receive Government Funding if it Does Not Rehire the Same Number of Employees Pre-Pandemic 

Issues Executive Order Mandating All Nursing Home Staff Be Tested for COVID-19 Twice Per Week 

Executive Order States Hospitals Cannot Discharge a Patient to a Nursing Home Unless That Patient Tests Negative for COVID-19 

Department of Health and Human Services Has Distributed New Treatment Remdesivir to New York to Help Patients Infected with COVID-19 Recover More Quickly 

Confirms 2,273 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 335,395; New Cases in 47 Counties 

Governor Cuomo: "New York State is investigating 85 cases of a COVID-related illness in children. Mostly toddler to elementary schools, it's symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease, what they call Kawasaki disease or toxic shock-like syndrome. This does not present as a normal COVID case. COVID cases tend to be respiratory. This presents as an inflammation of the blood vessels, sometimes inflammation of the heart." 

Cuomo: "It's possible that these cases were coming in and were not diagnosed as related to COVID because they don't appear as COVID. But it is a situation that has taken the lives of three New Yorkers. There are two additional deaths that are currently under investigation as possibly related to the same situation. The New York State Department of Health is going to notify all the other state departments of health Again, we've recently found this and are investigating it, but it may be possible and it may even be probable that this is a situation that exists in other states and we want to make sure that they are where aware of it." 

Cuomo: "Here's my suggestion to my colleagues in Washington -- the Americans First Law. If a corporation does not rehire the same number of employees, no government money. All the billions that they just gave out, if you don't rehire the same number of employees you had pre-pandemic, you have to return those funds. We're not going to subsidize you to lay off workers. If you can lay off workers and you're saving money by laying off workers, you don't need the American taxpayer to subsidize you. Otherwise you will never get those employment numbers back.

  Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced earlier today New York State is notifying 49 other states across the country of emerging cases of COVID-related illness in children. The State is currently investigating 85 reported cases in New York where children - predominantly school-aged - are experiencing symptoms similar to an atypical Kawasaki disease or a toxic shock-like syndrome possibly due to COVID-19. The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers and an additional two deaths are currently under investigation.

Governor Cuomo also proposed the "Americans First Law" which states that a corporation cannot be eligible to receive government funding if it does not rehire the same number of employees that the corporation had before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor also announced he will issue an Executive Order mandating that all nursing homes and adult care facilities test all personnel for COVID-19 two times per week and report any positive test results to the State Department of Health by the next day. The Executive Order also mandates that hospitals cannot discharge a patient to a nursing home unless that patient tests negative for COVID-19. 

All nursing home and adult care facility administrators will be required to submit a plan on how they will accomplish this testing and a certificate of compliance with this Executive Order to the State Department of Health by Friday May 15th.

Any nursing home or adult care facility found to be in violation of the Executive Order may have its operating certificate suspended or revoked or may be subject to a penalty for non-compliance of $2,000 per violation per day. Additionally, any personnel who refuse to be tested for COVID-19 will be considered to have outdated or incomplete health assessments and therefore will be prohibited from working in the nursing home or adult care facility until testing is performed.

The Governor also announced that the Department of Health and Human Services is distributing a promising treatment called Remdesivir that has been shown to help patients infected with COVID-19 recover more quickly. The Department of Health and Human Services has sent New York enough antiviral to treat 2,900 people at 15 hospitals and will send more doses in the coming weeks to treat 500 more patients, including children, at additional New York Hospitals.

MAYOR DE BLASIO on COVID-19 - May 10 2020

  Mayor Bill de Blasio: Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers of New York City. Right there is a beautiful image of the mother that we are honoring and celebrating in our family today, our First Lady who raised two wonderful children. There are so many mothers all over this city who do extraordinary things every single day. And I want to start by saying, everyone, as you show your love, you show your appreciation, you celebrate the moms of your families and the moms of New York City today, remember, first of all, let's think about the greatest gift we can give besides our love is the gift of keeping them safe. So, if a mom in your life is vulnerable at this moment because of this crisis, if a mom is older or has those pre-existing conditions, remember lots and lots of ways to show love, but let's make sure we keep mom safe no matter what. That's job one today, it’s showing our love and respect by keeping the moms in our life safe. 

Now, there are some moms who deserve particular credit and they are the moms who are on the front lines fighting for all of us, the moms out there who are members of – the doctors, the nurses, the members of the NYPD and FDNY, so many moms who in addition to the everyday heroism, what they do in their families, they've been heroes in this fight against the coronavirus. So, we owe a special thanks to the moms, the essential workers who have been there on the front line while at the same time caring for their families. What an extraordinary thing they have done. Let's give them our love and respect today. By the way, as we say in our household, every day is Mother's Day. So, special appreciation today and then let's continue it the other 364 days of the year.

Let's talk about what it's going to take to get us to move forward here in this city as we fight our way through this crisis and move to a better place. And to get there, we've talked in recent days a lot about what we have to do with testing and tracing. But there's a whole additional piece to this equation and it's the medical side of the equation, the eventual pathway to a vaccine and a treatment. We know right now with the state of medical science that we all need to stay devoted to the things that work now, the social distancing, the shelter in place, using face coverings, while there's time provided to all the people in the medical field to find those bigger solutions and everyone's working hard on them. But in the meantime, there are some new examples of progress. They're important in the here and now. Even though the ultimate goal of course is a vaccine and the treatment, there are some things happening that actually are going to help those afflicted with the coronavirus here now. And some hope this last week when the FDA approved a new drug for treating those with severe cases of the coronavirus, remdesivir. It's a drug that now is being utilized as part of the trials that is going through in some of our public hospitals, Jacobi, North Central Bronx, among others, are starting to use this drug to treat those who are suffering and to make sure that this is hopefully part of the long term plan to help people. 

What we're seeing so far is that this drug has decreased hospital stays for those who have utilized it from 15 days to 11 days. Now that may not sound like a lot to you on first blush, but let me tell you, that means four less days of suffering for that patient, four less days of worrying for their family, four days sooner that each patient can get home to their families and continue their recovery. So, it's a big deal. And I want to tell you the company involved, Gilead, donated over half-a-million doses of this drug to the federal government to distribute. And that's a great thing. So far, however, we've gotten very few doses of the drug provided to New York City. Only 4,000 doses for hospitals here, our public hospitals that particularly need them the most. And we need that number greatly intensified. 

Now, we said many times this is a disease which is so troubling and challenging because it's so new, literally did not exist as far as medical science knew in human beings just six, seven months ago. There's still so many unanswered questions. There are still things we see that confound doctors and scientists. We keep learning every day. And we keep hoping that by learning every day we're going to find solutions. But some of the things we're learning are raising new questions and concerns. And particularly a deep concern is anything that might affect our children who previously have not been affected by this disease by and large anywhere near as much as adults and particularly older adults. But there is a rare condition which we're seeing more of just in the last days and it is causing tremendous concern. I'm deeply concerned. As a father, I am feeling the concern I know other parents are feeling. Our health leadership is deeply concerned. Doctors are now calling this pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome. And what it does is basically in a child's body triggers intensive, almost overwhelming, immune system response. And that actually causes harm to the body. So, as the body is fighting, it fights in such a manner that it actually starts to cause other problems. The symptoms are fever, rash, abdominal pain, and vomiting. 

So, last week our Health Department alerted, doctors alerted the people in New York City that we're seeing cases of this and that we need everyone who experiences this to get help right away, every family that sees a child going through this to get help right away every health care professional that sees anything like this to report it to our Health Department, and we're getting more information now and it certainly is causing us additional concern. So, now as of today, there've been 38 cases detected here in New York City. That's up from 15 at the last count. There are nine more cases that the specifics of the case are still pending, meaning they're still making an evaluation to determine if it is this syndrome or not. Now, of the cases that have been verified, 47 percent of the kids involved tested positive for the coronavirus at that point. Of those who tested negative, 81 percent had the antibody. So, had been exposed at some previous point. So that's telling our doctors and our scientists a lot, this is something we really need to focus on and address. We have lost one child in New York City and previously this is something that we didn't see cases of. Then we started to see a few cases, then we saw more cases. Now, we've actually lost a child to this syndrome and that is deeply, deeply troubling and I want to express my condolences to the family that's lost their child and our hearts go out to you. This is something all New Yorkers are feeling this new threat. 

So, we now are going to make a major priority of addressing this. A set of new actions are being undertaken at our public hospitals, at Health + Hospitals. All facilities will do antibody testing for all children with the symptoms, with fever, with the abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms. That will be done across the board. That guidance is being given to all pediatricians in New York City, calling on all hospitals, not just public, but all private and independent hospitals, to do the same, to start immediately administering these tests when you see these symptoms. Our medical leadership, our health leadership, Department of Health, Health + Hospitals, convening pediatricians from around the city on a video conference to analyze more of this information and learn more together what's going on. We're sending a health alert to the parents of more than one million public school kids to put them on alert of this challenge and make sure anyone who sees these symptoms in their kids gets health care immediately, reaches out to their doctor or gets their child to health care immediately.

Okay, want to go back to the topic of social distancing and as we talk about the challenges we face, as we talk about the hope for new medical solutions, we've got to keep coming back to the fact that the thing that has worked, the reason we've made progress and can continue to make progress in this city is because of what all of you have done. The extraordinary effort New Yorkers have shown around social distancing, the extraordinary effort to stay home to the maximum extent possible, to wear those face coverings, all of these pieces, they work and you've done it and we need to keep doing it. Now, generally speaking, New Yorkers have just done the right thing. I mean overwhelmingly New Yorkers have done the right thing. That doesn't mean in a city of 8.6 million people, you don't need reminders, you don't need education, you don't need some enforcement. 

What we don't need is anything that goes beyond the proper enforcement of these rules into something else. And we saw a very troubling video a few days back from the Lower East Side, an instance of the wrong approach to policing that was very alienating to so many people in this city. You know, we've come a long way in New York City to change the nature of policing, to build trust between police and community, to de-escalate conflicts, to train officers to help bring down the temperature. And that has worked in so many ways, but we certainly have seen one video in particular and there have been some others that have raised concern and I think they pull at people in a very real and painful way and remind us of things that were too common for too long that are not acceptable. That's the big story here. The vast majority of the work that's been done by the NYPD and all the other enforcement agencies has been education, going out and reminding people, more and more giving them face coverings for free, which is great, and never wanting to give a summons unless it's absolutely necessary. And in fact, remember the number of summonses given is very, very small throughout this crisis – fewer than 10 a day for the whole city. But that being said, the last thing we want to see is enforcement, if there's any other way to get the job done. 

So to give you the reports from the last couple of nights – on Friday night, our homeless outreach workers and trained NYPD officers who focused on homeless outreach, they engaged 416 homeless individuals coming out of the subway in those early morning hours. 212 of them accepted services. 183 went to shelter, 29 went to hospital. Again, amazing, amazing fact. More than half. We've seen this every night. That's – these are numbers that we have literally never seen in our history happened again on Friday night. So what about Saturday night? 384 people engaged in the subway. 198 accepted services, 175 went to shelter, 23 to the hospital. This is just amazing. I mean, this is about changing people's lives. Think about if someone's life had come apart over months and years to the point they were living permanently on the street. And now in just a matter of days, hundreds upon hundreds of people accepting services, coming into shelter. Now we'll be able to get them the mental health support, the substance misuse treatment. Now we'll really be able to change the lives of so many of them for good. But we have now seen this day after day. We got a lot more to do, but this is an amazing step forward and really, really encouraging what we're seeing. And again, a great thank you to all our partners, the MTA, the State, of course the NYPD and Social Services, Homeless Services, those amazing outreach workers, keep doing this great, great work. It's having a huge, huge impact.

So every day I try and count my blessings and every day I try and remember to be thankful. And I know so many of you feel the same way in this crisis. We've gone through a lot together, but we also remember all the good around us. The people are doing so much good and the people who are trying so hard to help each other. And I like to remember to publicly thank a lot of folks who have stepped forward to help New York City. So a list of thank yous today starting with the skincare company Tatcha and its founder Vicky Tsai, who donated one million non-surgical masks, really amazing donation. Wonderful. Educare, Germany has donated 20,000 KN95 masks. AIG has donated 1,500 N95 masks. Mattel donated 20,000 surgical masks and over 6,000 face shields. Perrigo has donated 50,000 bottles of hand sanitizer. IEDM has donated 50,000 nonmedical masks. The UN Staff Union donated 10,000 nonmedical masks. Project Isaiah donated 400 tablets to H + H. And BNY Mellon donated 150 tablets to H + H. Friends of Rockaway donated 2,000 nonmedical face shields. Center for Professional Education of Teachers donated 7,000 surgical masks and Warby Parker Lab donated 1,900 nonmedical masks. Warby Parker has been amazing, what they’ve been doing for our school kids for years with eyeglasses. Now they are helping in the fight against the coronavirus too. We're thankful to them. We're thankful to all the people and all the companies, all the organizations that keep stepping up. It helps every single time. So thank you from the bottom of my heart and all New Yorkers are thankful to you.

Every day we go over the indicators and what they tell us about the direction we're going in. So this weekend, generally good. Yesterday, very, very good. All three indicators down yesterday. Today, a mixed bag. In terms of the people admitted to hospital with suspected COVID-19, we had a day, a breakeven day, 69 one day, 69 the next day. Now thank God that number is as low as 69. That's a very good thing. But again, we want to see steady downward trends. People currently in our public hospital ICUs with suspected COVID-19, that is down and that is very, very important. Down from 559 to 540. Still too many people, but that's real progress. Now this is the one that didn't go right today – percentage of people tested who are testing positive for COVID-19 citywide, up from 12 percent to 17 percent. So still a much lower percentage than where we were just weeks ago. But we want to get that going in the same direction. So when you take Saturday and Sunday together, a very good weekend. Not yet exactly what we're looking for, but a very good weekend. And you know what I'll say next. Keep doing what you're doing because it clearly is working. We just need to do more of it and keep disciplined and keep strong. 

HISPANIC EVANGELICAL CHURCHES PROVIDING HELP DURING THIS PANDEMIC

 What You Should Know

By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

District 18, Bronx County

HISPANIC EVANGELICAL CHURCHES PROVIDING

HELP DURING THIS PANDEMIC

  

You should know that during this Covid-19 pandemic, Hispanics and African American communities have been the most affected and those who have suffered a greater loss of lives in the City of New York.   The reasons for this, is that these communities too often are under served.  When our communities are faced with dire situations and there’s a need and a call to action, our leader’s response to the emergency is to create a commission to investigate the cause of the problem or emergency instead of taking immediate action. Unfortunately, in many cases such as this, a commission only serves to enable our leaders to give the appearance of taking action, when in reality what they are doing is what Pontius Pilate did. They wash their hands of the problem.  For decades we have seen this in our leader’s when it has come to handling the matters of immigration, health care, public education, jobs, housing, and now during this pandemic. Communities of color, predominately Black and Latino Communities are the most affected and neglected by its elected leaders.   You should know that Pastors, members of The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, have been offering the City and State of New York the use of their temples, as available facilities, to use as Covid-19 testing locations. These are temples that are situated in the heart of communities of color making them accessible for the residents of these minority communities.   In Bronx County, Rev. Roberto Lopez, Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church John 3:16, located at 864 Westchester Avenue in Bronx County, has been offered to help facilitate Covid-19 testing sites to both Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo.  In Brooklyn County Bishop Nicolas Angustia Pastor of “The Revival United Mennonite Church” located at 390 Melrose Avenue corner of Knickerbocker Avenue, has also offered his facilities to also use for Covid-19 testing site. These facilities, both John 3:16 in the Bronx and the Mennonite Church in Brooklyn, again, are Churches located in the heart of minority communities and both have spacious facilities that are easily accessible to its residents. For weeks both of these Pastors and other clergy members have patiently waited for a response to discuss the use and logistics from the municipal and state authorities.   This would greatly help these minority communities. To accomplish this no commissions are needed.  What’s needed is what was done recently which is to call and communicate with the pastors, and then take the necessary actions and move forward to provide our people with this much needed and vital health service. It is important for you to know that recently the Church John 3:16 has been selected as a site for Covid-19 testing.  Testing is scheduled to begin Wednesday May 13, 2020 by appointment only. You can call 833-422-7369 (833-4CARENY) to obtain an appointment. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Rev. Meily de Olmo Pastor of the Spanish Evangelical Church located at 800 East 156th Street (between Tinton and Union Avenue) in Bronx County who serves groceries every Friday to more than 500 community families.   I am Councilman Rev. Rubén Diaz and this is what you should know.

Governor Cuomo Launches New Initiative to Expand Access to Testing in Low-Income Communities and Communities of Color

State is Partnering with Northwell Health to Establish 24 Temporary Testing Sites at Churches in Predominately Minority Communities

Results of State's Diagnostic and Antibody Surveys and Comprehensive Survey of Newly Admitted Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 Found Communities of Color are Most Impacted by COVID-19

Preliminary Results of Antibody Testing Survey of More Than 1,300 Transit Workers in the NYC Region Show 14.2 Percent Have COVID-19 Antibodies

Confirms 2,715 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 333,122; New Cases in 48 Counties

  Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of a new initiative to expand access to testing in low-income communities and communities of color. The state is partnering with Northwell Health to establish an initial 24 temporary testing sites at churches in predominately minority communities in downstate New York to build on the state's network of downstate testing sites.

The results of the state's diagnostic testing and antibody testing surveys show that low-income and minority communities are suffering the most from COVID-19. The largest statewide antibody testing survey of 15,000 New Yorkers found a greater infection rate in communities of color. Additionally, the state's comprehensive survey of all newly admitted patients hospitalized for COVID-19 found communities of color are most impacted and of the 21 zip codes with the most new COVID-19 hospitalizations, 20 have greater than average black and/or Latino populations. A deeper look into two of the most impacted communities in the survey, in Brooklyn and the Bronx, found communities of color are also lower-income and have a greater percentage of COVID-19 hospitalizations and infections than New York City overall.

Today's testing expansion initiative builds on previous state actions to address inequalities and deliver for those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, the state has partnered with Ready Responders to bring healthcare services, including COVID-19 diagnostic testing, to residents of public housing in New York City and delivered one million cloth masks and 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to public housing.

The Governor also announced the preliminary results of the state's antibody testing survey of more than 1,300 transit workers in the New York City region show 14.2 percent have COVID-19 antibodies, compared to 19.9 percent of the general population in New York City.

"It is a cruel fact that when you look at disasters and emergencies the poorest and most disadvantaged people often pay the highest price, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different," Governor Cuomo said. "The fact is that low-income and minority communities are suffering the most - it is not right and we have to address it. In New York we are working to break this cycle and actually resolve these disparities. We have already taken aggressive actions to help these communities, and we are going to partner with Northwell Health to set up additional testing sites at churches in predominately minority communities. And I want to thank our Congressional partners and the church groups who have been working with us on this issue."

CORONAVIRUS-STAMPED HEROIN/FENTANYL GLASSINES SEIZED IN THE BRONX: SIX INDIVIDUALS CHARGED

Packaging mill produced over $1 million worth of individual dose envelopes stamped “Coronavirus,” “24 Black Mamba,” “Hiroshima,” “Isis,” “Antrax” and “95”

  Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea and New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett announced the arrests of six individuals in connection with a large-scale alleged narcotics packaging and distribution network operating in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx.

A long-term investigation into a narcotics trafficking operation in New York City, with distribution throughout the Northeast, led to the seizure of approximately 120,000 glassine envelopes of suspected heroin/fentanyl worth over a million dollars, as well as $25,000 cash and drug packaging materials. A surveillance operation centered on defendant Dariel FERMIN, an alleged manager of the drug distribution network, led members of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF), Group T-12, and investigators with the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor to identify a packaging mill location at 2333 Loring Place North. Daniel FERMIN faces the top narcotics charge of Operating as a Major Trafficker.

At approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2020, agents and investigators observed an individual later identified as Manuel MORILLO exit 2333 Loring Place North carrying a heavy brown bag and place the bag in a waiting livery car.  Surveillance units followed the cab away from the location and stopped it in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge. The driver of the livery car was identified as Frank Gilberto MARTE URENA and a search of the brown bag yielded approximately 80,000 glassines of suspected heroin/fentanyl.

Surveillance continued at 2333 Loring Place North, where agents and investigators observed a female, later identified as Yamilka FERMIN, exit Apartment 3, carrying a heavy black bag.  Agents and investigators stopped her and recovered approximately 40,000 glassines and multiple zip lock bags containing loose powder suspected to be heroin/fentanyl from inside the bag. Soon afterwards, Dariel FERMIN, MORILLO and two other individuals left the apartment. Agents and investigators stopped these individuals and detained them while they obtained a warrant to search the apartment.

At approximately 10:15 p.m., members of NYDETF and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor obtained a court authorized search warrant for 2333 Loring Place North, Apt. 3. Agents and officers recovered $25,000 cash from two bedrooms of the apartment, as well as all of the packaging equipment and paraphernalia typical of a heroin/fentanyl mill, such as strainers, grinders, gloves, stamps and ink pads.

Further review of the 120,000 heroin/fentanyl filled glassine envelopes seized from the two bags revealed they were stamped with several different brands including a stamp with the word “Coronavirus” next to a biohazard symbol and “24 Black Mamba” (an apparent reference to the death of Kobe Bryant), as well as “Hiroshima,” “Isis,” “Antrax” and “95.”

The DEA estimates the black market value of the suspected heroin/fentanyl at over $1 million. Results of laboratory analysis of the seized narcotics are pending. The narcotics are believed to have been destined for New York City and New Jersey.

The “Coronavirus” biohazard stamp and “24 Black Mamba” stamp are associated with multiple fatal overdoses in New Jersey. However, these deaths have not been linked to the packaging mill dismantled in this case.

Dariel FERMIN is charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree. The five defendants arrested at the 2333 Loring Place North location are charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree. Frank Gilberto MARTE URENA is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree. The defendants are scheduled for arraignment this evening in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and commended her office’s Special Investigations Bureau and Investigators Unit and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, including members of the DEA, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Police, for their work on the case.

“As New York city and the metropolitan area lose thousands of loved ones to coronavirus, six people in the Bronx are charged with mixing and distributing more than a hundred thousand packets of fentanyl and heroin stamped with the name of the deadly virus, trying to capitalize of the pandemic’s lethal reputation,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. “Taking a million dollars’ worth of deadly drugs off the street is critical at this time, when isolation and fear make substance users ever more vulnerable.  A team of investigators and attorneys demonstrated remarkable dedication, following investigative leads to this successful conclusion, despite the added dangers of enforcement during a crisis of this magnitude, and I commend them.”

“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we arrested six drug traffickers who aptly branded their product ‘coronavirus’,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan.  “Traffickers market their drugs like businesses, branding their product with stamps to attract users, like ’24 Black Mamba’; or use an ‘Antrax’ stamp to designate origins and reference enforcer gangs of the Sinaloa Cartel.  Today’s arrests send a message to traffickers that our mission is tantamount to keeping our streets safe for New Yorkers.  I applaud the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for their diligent work on this investigation.”

“There is no place in our city for illegal narcotics that undermine public safety and threaten lives. I thank our detectives, and our federal and local partners, for remaining determined in our mission to protect New Yorkers throughout this Coronavirus crisis,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “It is because of the great police work done by the NYDETF and NYC Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor that multiple suspects are behind bars and a dangerous operation shut down.  We were able to seize a large quantity of heroin as a result of this investigation, drugs that could cost lives. I thank our partners on this case, because of this partnership law enforcement has once again put an end to a violent enterprise, and made our streets safer.”

	Defendants	Charges
1	Dariel Fermin Bronx, NY 6/4/1988	Operating as a Major Trafficker CPCS 1st – 1 ct Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia 2nd – 2 cts
2	Manuel Morillo Bronx, NY 12/26/1965	CPCS 1st – 1 ct Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia 2nd – 2 cts
3	Frank Marte Urena Bronx, NY 1/16/1990	CPCS 1st – 1 ct
4	Cindy Cortoreal Bronx, NY 4/15/1985	CPCS 1st – 1 ct Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia 2nd – 2 cts
5	Yamilka Fermin Bronx, NY 1/3/1986	CPCS 1st – 1 ct Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia 2nd  – 2 cts
6	Ana Lora Diaz Bronx, NY 9/14/1995	CPCS 1st – 1 ct Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia 2nd  – 2 cts

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the 

defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr. - OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO

Pelhan Parkway Squirrels to the NYCDEP - Leave Our Homes Alone

  Could there be more trees to be cut down on Pelham Parkway? Local Pelham Parkway squirrels are up in arms, and will defend their homes to the death. Anyone who may try to cut any tree down on Pelham Parkway, had better be careful of the squirrels who call the trees their home. 

Above - Rocky wants to know where his favorite tree went.

Below - This squirrel wanted to remain anonymous, but is looking out for anyone who wants to cut this tree down. 

Above - Another mad squirrel is on the watch for anyone who wants to cut down this tree.

Below - One squirrel stands watch in front of this tree, while its friend stands guard at the foot of the tree. 

Above - Two more squirrels stand guard by this tree, as a third is not far away.

Below - Four squirrels guard these two trees.

No. 202.29: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

No. 202.29

E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to continue;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby continue the suspensions and modifications of law, and any directives, not superseded by a subsequent directive, made by Executive Order 202.15, 202.16, 202.17, 202.18, 202.19, 202.20, and 202.21, for thirty days until June 7, 2020; and

IN ADDITION, I hereby temporarily modify, beginning on the date of this Executive Order, the following:

• Section 214-g of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, to the extent it allows an action to be commenced not later than one year and six months after the effective date of such section, is hereby modified to allow an action commenced pursuant to such section to be commenced not later than one year and eleven months after the effective date of such section.

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this eighth day of May in the year two thousand twenty.

BY THE GOVERNOR         

Secretary to the Governor