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Tuesday, January 12, 2021
GrowNYC Education
MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES 24/7 MEGA VACCINATION SITE AT CITI FIELD
"The Mets are hitting it out of the park today," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "By making Citi Field a 24/7 vaccination site they’re stepping up to the plate for New Yorkers across our city.”
“Alex and I have talked about the importance of the Mets being actively involved in our community and we are happy to help out,” said Mets Owner Steve Cohen. “Partnering with the Mayor and City to open Citi Field as a 24/7 vaccination site will help get more people vaccinated faster as part of the City’s recovery from COVID-19.”
An additional 24/7 mega site also launched today at 125 Worth Street in Manhattan, adding to the two sites that are currently operational in the Bronx and Brooklyn. A site in Staten Island at the Vanderbilt Gotham Health Center will launch Friday, followed by a site at the DOHMH clinic in Corona, Queens on Saturday. By the end of this week, a total of five 24/7 vaccination sites across the city will be open, with one location in each borough.
The Citi Field site will eventually scale up to be able to vaccinate approximately 5,000-7,000 eligible New Yorkers per day, building on the City' s goal to offer one million doses of the vaccine by the end of January. For other sites citywide, eligible New Yorkers can make their vaccine appointments using the City’s Vaccine Finder, which aggregates all vaccination locations open to the eligible public citywide into a single, accessible five-borough network, including City-run sites and private providers.
New Yorkers 75 or older and frontline essential workers such as teachers and education workers, childcare staff, first responders, public safety workers, public transit workers, and other frontline essential workers are now eligible to get the free COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible New Yorkers in Phase 1A or 1B can reserve their appointment by calling 877 – VAX – 4NYC or by visiting nyc.gov/VaccineFinder
This helpful tool allows New Yorkers to access the vaccine however works for them, at locations they know and trust in their own communities. Eligible New Yorkers who wish to make an appointment over the phone can do so by calling 877 – VAX – 4NYC between the hours of 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM, seven days a week.
Phase 1A priority groups also continue to be eligible for vaccines including healthcare workers and staff with direct patient contact, emergency responders, staff at COVID-19 testing and vaccination locations, home health aides, and long-term care staff and residents, among others.
“All New Yorkers must have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, and this massive new site gives us the ability to deliver the vaccine rapidly so that we can protect New Yorkers and keep our city safe,” said NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long. “With a track record of testing millions of New Yorkers for the virus, the addition of our latest 24/7 vaccination site at Citi Field builds on the strong base we have established through the Test & Trace Corps to win the fight and finally end this pandemic.”
“The vaccination location at Citi Field adds to our growing network of vaccine access points citywide, making it even easier for eligible New Yorkers to access the safe, free COVID-19 vaccine,” said Deputy Mayor Melanie Hartzog. “With more and more New Yorkers determined eligible by the State to be vaccinated all the time, we’re focused on continuing to ramp up our capacity for vaccination to meet demand. With vaccine supply very limited, however, we urge New Yorkers scheduling appointments to be patient – and new sites like Citi Field will help us deliver on our promise of vaccines for all.”
Bronx State Senator Luis Sepulveda Turns Himself In After His Wife Accuses Him of Assault
This morning State Senator Luis Sepulveda turned himself in at the 48th Precinct facing charges that he assaulted his wife. It was reported that his wife Elizabeth called 911 Saturday shortly after the senator who is running for Bronx Borough President finished a virtual candidates forum. The incident had occurred in their West Farms apartment where both said to police that the other had assaulted them. It was rumored that the reason Sepulveda's wife went to Florida previously was because of a domestic dispute, but she returned to the Bronx a short time later.
He became a State Senator in April of 2018 replacing Ruben Diaz Sr. who left the State Senate to become a City Councilman. Senator Sepulveda is known for his work in Criminal Justice reforms, sponsoring the Green Light Bill which granted drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants in New York State. He chairs the Senate Committee on Crime Victims and Corrections, but Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins said that Senator Sepulveda would be removed as the chair, and stripped of all his committee assignments. She added that the situation will be monitored, and that she takes these allegations extremely seriously.
In January 2020 the State Senate received a thirteen page packet from Senator Sepulveda's older brother who is incarcerated in a Florida jail after being convicted in 1998 of importation of Cocaine, Marijuana, and Hashish oil. The senator denied the claims stating they are false, and that his brother is in a difficult place in his life. The charges were not substantiated by the Ethics Committee chaired By Senator Biaggi.
Here is a statement from Marvin Ray Raskin Esq. that we were given.
"Mr. Sepulveda has been the victim of recurring physical violence by his estranged spouse for approximately nine years, a situation he has endured because of the young child they share together. This false accusation is a calculated attempt by a disgruntled party to leverage a divorce settlement from a case she filed in Florida this past November.”
"All allegations must be taken seriously and investigated to the full extent of the law, which is why the Senator is committed to and will proactively provide full transparency as this matter is resolved. The issues raised must see the full light of day, and we are confident that when the true history of the relationship is understood, the facts that present themselves will clear his name.”
Two Men Charged in Connection with Events at U.S. Capitol
Two more men were charged in federal court in the District of Columbia in connection with the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
Larry Rendell Brock, of Texas, was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Brock was arrested today in Texas.
It is alleged that Brock was identified as one of the individuals who unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol wearing a green helmet, green tactical vest with patches, black and camo jacket, and beige pants holding a white flex cuff, which is used by law enforcement to restrain and/or detain subjects.
Eric Gavelek Munchel, of Tennessee, was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Munchel was arrested today in Tennessee.
It is alleged that Munchel was inside of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Photos depicting his presence show a person who appears to be Munchel carrying plastic restraints, an item in a holster on his right hip, and a cell phone mounted on his chest with the camera facing outward, ostensibly to record events that day.
These cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the DOJ’s National Security Division, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. The cases are being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, the FBI’s Memphis Field Office and the United States Capitol Police.
The information contained in the charging documents are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
Three Men Charged in Connection with Events at U.S. Capitol
Three men were charged in federal court in the District of Columbia in connection with the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
Jacob Anthony Chansley, a.k.a. Jake Angeli, of Arizona, was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Chansley was taken into custody today.
It is alleged that Chansley was identified as the man seen in media coverage who entered the Capitol building dressed in horns, a bearskin headdress, red, white and blue face paint, shirtless, and tan pants. This individual carried a spear, approximately 6 feet in length, with an American flag tied just below the blade.
Adam Johnson, 36, of Florida, was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; one count of theft of government property; and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Johnson was arrested yesterday and is currently in custody.
It is alleged that on Jan. 6, 2021, Johnson illegally entered the United States Capitol and removed the Speaker of the House’s lectern from where it had been stored on the House side of the Capitol building. A search of open sources led law enforcement to Johnson, who is allegedly seen in a widely circulated photo inside the Capitol carrying the lectern.
Derrick Evans, 35, of West Virginia, was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds. Evans was taken into custody Friday.
It is alleged that on Jan. 6, 2021, Evans, a recently elected member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, streamed live to his Facebook page a video of himself joining and encouraging a crowd unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol. In the video, Evans is allegedly seen crossing the threshold of the doorway into the U.S. Capitol and shouting, “We’re in, we’re in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!”
These cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the United States Capitol Police.
The information contained in the charging documents are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
Raytheon Technologies and Subsidiary Pay $515K to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RAYTHEON TECHONLOGIES CORPORATION (“RTC”) and its subsidiary, HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION (“HSC”), have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the government in which they will pay $515,6235 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act.
RTC, a Massachusetts-based corporation, and HSC, its wholly owned subsidiary, are military defense contractors that sell goods and services to the U.S. and to other defense contractors.
The Buy American Act of 1933 (the “BAA”) is domestic-preference legislation that attempts to protect U.S. businesses and labor by generally restricting the acquisition and use of end products or construction materials that are not categorized as “domestic.” The government alleges that UTC and HSC sold various goods to the government pursuant to contracts containing domestic-preference requirements and, in the course of those sales, improperly certified that the goods were of domestic origin pursuant to the BAA when the goods were actually manufactured in Romania. UTC and HSC also sold various goods to a third-party supplier for sale to the government and, in the course of those sales, improperly certified to the third-party supplier that the goods were of domestic origin pursuant to the BAA when the goods were actually manufactured in Romania.
The government contends that the certifications and invoices submitted to the government and to the third-party supplier were false claims for payment pursuant to the False Claims Act. To resolve the government’s allegations, RTC and HSC have paid $515,625 for conduct occurring between 2006 and 2015.
This investigation was conducted by Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Comptroller Stringer: With New Leadership in Washington Congress Must Deliver Comprehensive Federal Aid
Comptroller writes to President-elect Biden, incoming Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi, urging swift stimulus package for critical short-term needs and a stronger, more inclusive 21st century economy
Outlines New York City’s needs for ongoing COVID-19 response, transportation, public housing, education, health care, child care and paid family leave, affordable housing and more
Comptroller Stringer: “New York City powers the national economy. Federal investment in the financial wellbeing of our cities is crucial to any sustained recovery.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
It should be noted that Comptroller Stringer is a candidate for Mayor of New York City this year.
