MAYOR ADAMS, COMMISSIONER VASAN ISSUE HEALTH GUIDANCE AHEAD OF HOLIDAYS, ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO KEEP NEW YORKERS SAFE FROM TRIDEMIC

 

With Increasing COVID-19, Flu, and RSV Cases, Officials Remind New Yorkers to Get Vaccinated, Mask Up, Test, and Get Treated if Sick

 

50 Test to Treat Units Now Offering Flu, RSV Testing, Tamiflu Prescriptions

 

Kids Six Months Through Four Years Old Can Now Receive Updated COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine at All NYC H+H Hospitals

With cases of COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rising, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today reminded New Yorkers to stay safe heading into the holidays by staying up to date with vaccinations, masking in indoor public settings when possible, testing regularly, and staying home if sick. The city also announced that flu and RSV testing, as well as Tamiflu prescriptions, are now available at 50 NYC Health + Hospitals’ Test to Treat units. Finally, beginning this week, updated COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines will be available to children from six months to four years old at all of the city’s 11 public hospitals. Data shows that this year, flu cases in New York City are already higher than they were during the peak of the last four flu seasons. Additionally, over the past month, the seven-day average of confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 increased, as did cases of RSV.

 

“When COVID-19 hit New York City almost three years ago, New Yorkers looked out for each other and followed the advice of our health experts,” said Mayor Adams. “With the holiday season in full swing and cases of COVID-19, flu, and RSV rising, we are asking New Yorkers to protect themselves and their loved ones once again. Mask up, get tested, get treated if you’re eligible, and, if you haven’t gotten your flu shot or your COVID-19 booster, we encourage you to roll up your sleeve. We are stepping up our efforts to get the tools to stay safe into as many New Yorkers’ hands as possible, and, together, we will have a happy and healthy holiday season.”

 

“As we enter our third holiday season with COVID-19, we need to keep taking the precautions that keep us and our loved ones healthy,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to keep up with their vaccinations, to utilize free testing resources available citywide, to wear masks as advised, to stay home if sick, and to maintain good hand hygiene. The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to gather with friends and family, and we want to embrace our loved ones this year knowing we have taken all the steps possible to keep us all safe and healthy.”

 

“We want everyone to have a happy and healthy holiday,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “While we’re asking New Yorkers to do their part by masking, staying home if sick, testing, and getting treated, the city stands ready to help all of us through this winter. The Health Department will be closely tracking transmission, variants, and health system capacity, and is making resources easily available, so you know where to turn to protect yourself and each other.”

 

“The last few years have been really tough, and the city has your back with the resources and guidance to safely enjoy the company of your loved ones this year,” said Dr. Ted Long, executive director, NYC Test & Treat Corps. “We have 75 first-in-the-country mobile Test to Treat units and, overall, more than 330 sites where you can get tested or take away free home tests. Get tested before you gather so that you have a healthy and happy holiday — you deserve it!”

 

“We are very pleased to make available to our youngest patients the updated, bivalent COVID-19 vaccine,” said Andrew B. Wallach, ambulatory care chief medical officer, NYC Health + Hospitals, MD, FACP. “These updated, bivalent vaccines offer the best protection against the current variants of the COVID-19 virus circulating in our communities. Further, they are safe and effective and prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19.”

 

New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan recently issued a issued a Health Advisory that urges New York City residents to use high-quality masks when indoors and in crowded outdoor settings. This is especially important for people who are — or are meeting — those who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, such as those age 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised.

 

In addition to wearing masks and getting vaccinated, officials urged New Yorkers to take other precautions, including getting tested before gatherings and if symptoms of illness present. To ensure resources are available throughout the city, New York City officials are providing:

• At-home rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 available at over 250 walk-up distribution locations in every borough, including at city libraries, parks facilities, and cultural institutions, among other locations. New Yorkers can visit NYC.gov/COVIDTest to find the at-home test distribution location most convenient to them. At-home tests are available for public school students and staff who have symptoms and are also being distributed ahead of the winter break.
• COVID-19 testing with immediate access to Paxlovid anti-viral medication for eligible patients at 75 mobile Test to Treat units. Fifty mobile Test to Treat units now offer flu and RSV testing for symptomatic patients and prescriptions for Tamiflu for those found eligible. New Yorkers may present proof of a positive test — including at-home test results and test results from any external testing provider — at all mobile Test to Treat units to be evaluated for and immediately connected to Paxlovid. New Yorkers can visit NYC.gov/COVIDTest to find the mobile Test to Treat unit most convenient to them; and
• New Yorkers can call their doctor or 212-COVID19 to ask about treatment for COVID-19. Calling 212-COVID19 provides an immediate connection to a clinician who can refer patients to monoclonal antibody treatment or prescribe antiviral medications, like Paxlovid, and arrange to have it delivered to their home that same day for free.

Flu and RSV patients can also visit NYC Health + Hospitals’ ExpressCare or call 631-EXP-CARE to talk to a provider who can provide high-quality urgent care and prescribe medications to the pharmacy of their choice.

 

As part of its winter planning, the city is monitoring case, hospitalization, and death data on COVID-19, flu, and RSV. This includes looking at emergency room admissions and available space in hospitals and intensive care units.

 

The city is paying particular attention to New Yorkers who are 65 years and older, who are at the highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, as well as people with underlying medical conditions who are also at higher risk from these viruses. The city is taking the following steps to help keep New Yorkers at highest risk safe:

• Making calls to people 65 years or older with positive tests to get Paxlovid,
• Sending text messages to remind people to get their bivalent booster vaccine, and
• Calling on all health care providers to reach out to their patients who are at increased risk for severe illness.

New Yorker who are sick are encouraged to stay home, avoid close contact with others, and talk to a provider about what testing, care, and treatment options are available to them. Calling a provider is recommended or 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) to ask about treatment.

 

New Yorkers can find a nearby COVID-19 and flu vaccination provider by visiting NYC Vaccine Finder or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) to schedule an appointment at certain sites, as well as to obtain other vaccination assistance.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE UNVEILS WORST LANDLORD WATCHLIST WITH MOST VIOLATIONS IN ITS HISTORY

 

2022 List Shows Housing Conditions Worsening as Rents Skyrocket Citywide

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams unveiled the 2022 Worst Landlord Watchlist today, naming the 100 most egregiously negligent landlords in the city as determined by conditions at their buildings. This year’s list found that housing violations at the worst owner’s properties are at the highest levels in the history of the list, with conditions continuing to deteriorate even as the median rent in the city has massively increased in recent years. Across the 2022 list, there were a staggering 69,018 violations, nearly a 30% increase from the previous year. At the same time, New York City has risen to become the most expensive city in the world.

The number one worst landlord for 2022 is Johnathan Santana, who averaged 2,980 open violations across 15 buildings on the watchlist – the most violations of any landlord in the history of the list, and more than double the average number from last year’s worst offender. The list was unveiled this morning outside two of Santana’s Washington Heights properties averaging over 300 violations each, where tenants spoke about heat and hot water outages, rodent infestation issues, and collapsing infrastructure. Without a superintendent to maintain the property, tenants are forced to pay for and perform repairs. 

Johnathan Santana is also listed as the primary officer for watchlist buildings in neighborhoods throughout Manhattan as well as Queens. While Santana is designated as primary officer for all of these buildings, they are registered under a number of different LLCs, a common tactic for owners to attempt to evade accountability.

“Across the city, housing costs are up and housing quality is down. Rents are becoming unaffordable and conditions are becoming unlivable,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams in releasing the list. “The only explanation for this is that landlords are putting profits over people, and prioritizing circumventing or repealing housing laws rather than following them. To combat both the specific conditions that threaten the well-being of tenants in these buildings and the overall trends that deepen this citywide crisis, we need to meet this crisis with strong regulations and real consequences. That means the city needs to dismiss disingenuous arguments from bad actors, and invest more resources for enforcement, not cut what we have.”

This year, rents have skyrocketed citywide, with median Manhattan rent topping $5000 and median rent across the five boroughs increasing by 20% for one bedroom units in the last three years and 30% since 2021, according to a recent study. The same study found a 27% increase for two bedroom apartments since 2019 and nearly a 36% increase since last year. Even among rent-regulated units, the Rent Guidelines Board approved its largest increase in nearly a decade.

At the same time as rents were rising, so were the average number of housing violations recorded with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). As noted above, there was nearly a 30% rise in the total number of average violations on the list this year. Among the Top 10, that increase was 44%. And the worst landlord on this year’s list, Jonathan Santana, had 106% move average violations on average than the 2021 Worst Landlord. 

The increase in violations was not only among private landlords. Yet again, the New York City Housing Authority has demonstrated an inability to improve conditions, or even keep pace with the deterioration of complexes. This year, there are 673,990 open work orders, an increase of 73,510 over last year’s number. In a year which saw an arsenic poisoning scare and the CEO of the Authority step down, the city itself remains the overall worst landlord in our city.

“It’s no surprise that NYCHA, the city itself, continues to be the worst landlord in New York – and that conditions have actually worsened,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams about the Authority. “As my office showed in our report earlier this year, the city has failed its obligation to provide safe, quality housing. It’s true that NYCHA needs more funding from the state and federal government, but it’s also true that its management failures this year and for many years before have led to a bankruptcy of tenant trust. Taking ownership of NYCHA’s past and present failures, rather than passing the buck, is essential to improving its future and the dangerous conditions for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers paying to live there. Across all levels of government, we need real, urgent reforms to keep people in their homes, and keep those homes safe.”

The top five worst individual landlords in New York City for 2022 are:

•   Johnathan Santana, with an average of 2980 HPD open violations
•   Brian Ritter, with an average of 1816 HPD open violations
•   David Tennenbaum, with an average of 1647 HPD open violations
•   Sima Abdavies, with an average of 1444 HPD open violations
•   Jacob Bistricer, with an average of 1404 HPD open violations

While many landlords attempt to circumvent tenant protections and artificially inflate vacancy rates in an effort to further increase their profits, buildings are falling into greater disrepair.

The Public Advocate is pursuing legislative solutions to the issues present by the list. This week, the City Council heard the first of two bills in the Worst Landlord Accountability Act, Intro 583, legislation that would require a certification of correction list at HPD, and prohibit any listed landlord from certifying correction of violations in multiple dwellings without an inspection. This would prevent landlords already identified as bad actors from falsely claiming repairs have been made – the bill also increases penalties for failure to correctly certify. Tomorrow at the City Council Stated meeting, the Public Advocate will reintroduce the second bill in the package, which would require the city's department of Housing Preservation and Development to more quickly respond to and perform inspections of hazardous violations.

At the launch, the Public Advocate also directed New Yorkers to LandlordWatchlist.com, as well his office’s Text Line, 833-933-1692, to learn about whether their landlords are featured on the list, how to report violations, and access resources for tenants to organize and seek relief.

Private landlords on the Worst Landlord Watchlist are ranked objectively according to data obtained by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Landlords are ranked based on the average number of housing code violations open per month on their buildings on the watchlist, using data from December 2021 to November 2022. More on the methodology is available here.

View the full Worst Landlord Watchlist, and check to see if your address is owned by a 2022 worst landlord, by visiting LandlordWatchlist.com.

PPNA and Pelham Parkway Vision Center Toy Giveaway

 

Saturday December 17th the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association with the Pelham Parkway Vision Center held their Annual Neighborhood Toy Giveaway. Santa greeted some children outside the store as the line of children and their parents stretched for almost three blocks on Lydig Avenue. 

One by one the families entered the Pelham Parkway Vision Center to see Santa. They received a gender specific toy, had their picture taken with Santa, and received socks and glove on the way out by some of Santa's helpers. Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez and Assemblyman elect John Zaccaro Jr. joined the event after it started. 

Santa says hello to the children waiting for him to arrive outside the Pelham Parkway Vision Center on Lydig Avenue.

Inside the store there was a section where a Christmas tree wa set up with over one hundred wrapped presents to be given out as the two boys are holding as they get their picture taken with Santa.

As you see in the photo, Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez and Assemblyman elect John Zaccaro Jr. would join Santa in giving out the gifts.

A family of three children enjoy the presents they received from Santa.

All of Santa's helpers from the PPNA, Pelham Parkway Vision Center, and the elected officials gather for a group photo.

NineDot Energy Secures $85 Million Loan For 11 Renewable Community Energy Projects

 

A completed battery storage facility in the Bronx - NineDot Energy

NineDot Energy, one of the leading developers of community-accessible clean energy projects in the New York City region, has secured an $85 million loan for 11 new projects in The Bronx, Staten Island, Queens, and Long Island. The funding supports the completion of battery storage facilities that will provide sources of redundant, clean energy to existing grid infrastructure during peak demand, which helps avoid costly outages and unexpected service interruptions.

Funding was provided by CIT, a power and energy-focused division of Citizens Bank, and SMBC, a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Japan.

“Just about four months ago, we unveiled our first-of-its-kind battery storage site in the Bronx,” said NineDot Energy CEO and co-founder David Arfin. “With this [project financing], we will accelerate the growth of our community energy pipeline and implementation, bringing the benefits of distributed, local battery storage solutions to the broadest range of organizations and communities in the New York City region.”

Over the past several years, NineDot Energy has launched a number of clean and renewable energy projects in the outer boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester.

Aerial rendering of a battery storage project in Staten Island – NineDot Energy

Aerial rendering of a battery storage project in Suffolk County, Long Island – NineDot Energy

Ongoing projects include a development in The Bronx that will create the first battery energy storage facility in the borough, a solar canopy for renewable energy generation, and infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations. Similar storage projects are in the works for Staten Island and Suffolk County, Long Island.

These projects support New York State’s clean energy goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and no less than 85 percent by 2050. New York governor Kathy Hochul also introduced an initiative to double the state’s 2030 energy storage capabilities from 3 gigawatts (GW) to 6 GW.

More locally, New York City agencies aim to achieve a 100-percent reliance on carbon-free sources of electricity by 2040 and a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

Statement from Speaker Adams on the Death of a Second Asylum Seeker in a City Shelter

 

“I am heartbroken and deeply troubled by the death of another person in one of our city’s shelters, and extend my condolences to their family. The City has a responsibility to improve conditions across the shelter system to help prevent tragedies like this from occurring, providing the necessary support to keep people who have braved harrowing and traumatic journeys safe. At today’s hearing, we sought to understand how the City is ensuring culturally competent mental health care is provided to all those in need of services, a barrier that too many New Yorkers face to being healthy. The Council will continue to advocate for healthier conditions for all people residing in our city’s shelter system.”

Chinese Manufacturer and U.S. Companies Admit Scheme to Evade U.S. Customs Duties

 

 A company based in the People’s Republic of China, along with three businesses located in New Jersey and New York, entered into settlement agreements with the United States, admitting they took steps to avoid paying customs duties, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

According to the admissions and contentions of the United States in the settlement agreements:

United Silica Products Inc. (USP) is a company based in Franklin, New Jersey. From July 22, 2015, and Oct. 6, 2020, USP purchased certain merchandise that was manufactured by Noble Brand Holdings Ltd. (Noble) in China. In connection with the sale of its products, Noble generated two sets of invoices – one that showed the amount actually paid by USP and another, false invoice, that undervalued the products sold to USP. Noble provided USP with the invoices showing the amount actually paid and sent the false invoices to Argos Express Ltd., a New York-based freight forwarding company. Argos then provided the false invoices to USP’s New York-based customs broker, United Way International Inc. for purposes of making customs declarations on USP’s behalf.

In entering goods into the United States, customs brokers and importers of record are required to provide true and accurate disclosures concerning the value of the goods being imported. In the settlement agreements, the companies admitted that the false statements on the customs forms reduced the customs duties paid to the United States.

In the settlement agreements announced today, Noble agreed to pay $500,000; USP and its owner, Lynnmarie Boccuzzo, agreed to pay $20,000 and $5,000, respectively; Argos and United Way agreed to pay $15,000 each. The payments resolve the parties’ potential liability under, among other statutes, the False Claims Act.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel in New York, with the investigation leading to the settlement.

DASHBOARD UPDATE: NYC Comptroller Releases New Monthly Data on Department of Correction Operations

 

The New York City Comptroller’s Office released a monthly update to its Department of Correction (DOC) Dashboard, available here. The dashboard monitors pervasive issues in the City’s jails, including staff absenteeism, missed medical appointments, and incidents of violence among detained people and staff. It also tracks the jail population every month, which fell slightly to 5,879 people in custody. The detained population remains well above the capacity of the borough-based jails intended to replace the notorious Rikers complex. At a City Council hearing last week, DOC Commissioner Louis Molina cited that the agency expects Riker’s population to be over 7,000 people by 2024.

The DOC data for November shows little progress on the key metrics available for the dashboard:

• As of November 30th, the jail’s population fell slightly, to 5,879, of whom 5,084 were detained pretrial.
• Uniform headcount continues to decline with the average number of full-time staff declining by 1% this month.
• Total employee sick time grew slightly in November, while a persistent 12% of staff are out sick on a given day. Sick time usage remains lower than the peak in January 2022, when nearly 30% of staff were out.
• Measures of violence were mixed: The number of stabbing incidents declined by 17% and assaults on staff declined by 14% compared to the number of incidents in October. At the same time, the jail system recorded 104 more fights in November than in October, the highest recorded number since September 2021.

The Comptroller’s office has closely tracked pervasive issues in the City’s jail system dating back to 2014, and in August 2022, Comptroller Lander produced the Department of Correction dashboard to provide detailed, timely metrics for the press and public to assess progress on addressing ongoing management issues at DOC. Comptroller Lander was the first citywide elected official to call for a federal receiver to oversee reforms at the jail complex, citing rising violence, deaths in custody, and lack of progress on key reforms.

Bronx House Menorah Lighting

 

It was the second day of Chanukah and the lighting of the Bronx House outdoor Menorah. Rabbi Pewsner was on hand with Congressman Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson, Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero, Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, and Assemblyman elect John Zaccaro Jr. Also on hand were the children from the Bronx House afterschool program. 

Councilwoman Velazquez introduced Rabbi Pewzner who spoke about the miracle of Chanukah. The elected officials came up to speak about the holiday of Chanukah, and then the children from the Bronx House afterschool program sang Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel after the lights for the second day of Chanukah were lit.

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez spoke first, and then gave the microphone to Rabbi Pewzner to explain the holiday of Chanukah.

Rabbi Pewzner spoke about the holiday of Chanukah.

(L - R) Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero, Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, Congressman Ritchie Torres, 80th A.D. State Committeewoman Christine Culpepper De Ruiz, and Assemblyman elect John Zaccaro Jr. 

Congressman Ritchie Torres speaks about the holiday of Chanukah.

Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson tell what the holiday of Chanukah means to her. 

Rabbi Pewzner explain that the middle light is lit on the menorah which is the light that lights the other lights one more each day for the eight days of Chanukah.

On the second day of Chanukah the two right lights are lit with the middle light. Each day afterwards another light will be lit, in addition to those already that have been lit. 

Children from the Bronx House afterschool program sing Chanukah songs.