Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 9/6/21-9/10/21

 

Dear Community,

Unfortunately, New York continues to grapple with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ida, including parts of District 34. As we continue to recover, I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and cared for. If you are still recovering from damaging flooding or need any other assistance due to the tropical storm, please fill out this form so that my office and I can properly assist you. 

FEMA Disaster Assistance is here. Earlier this week, President Joe Biden approved Governor Kathy Hochul’s expedited Major Disaster Declaration that will provide federal financial relief for local governments and deliver assistance for eligible New Yorkers recovering from the flooding damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. If you experienced damages due to Ida, you may be eligible for funding. 

Apply for FEMA financial assistance: 

www.disasterassistance.gov

1-800-621-3362

TTY 1-800-462-7585

Additionally, New York City is offering additional storm recovery resources. for City residents. By calling 311, New Yorkers may access temporary hotel shelter for homeowners and renters, free water pumping, food delivery, and Red Cross debit cards to help replace items. I strongly recommend New Yorkers utilize these resources from the City if needed. 

If you need assistance filing a FEMA claim, please contact my office at biaggi@nysenate.gov or by calling 718-822-2049. I am optimistic that we will be able to recover quickly from this storm together. 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Attorney General James and Monroe County Executive Bello Discuss Opioids Crisis in Monroe County

 

Leaders Discuss Funds Going to Monroe County from AG’s Lawsuits, Challenges Monroe County Continues to Face

 New York Attorney General Letitia James and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello met to discuss the continued impact of the opioid crisis in Monroe County and how funds from recent settlements will go directly towards treatment, prevention, and outreach efforts in Monroe County. In the last three months alone, Attorney General James has announced a number of settlements with some of the manufacturers and distributors responsible for fueling the opioid crisis that will infuse as much as $1.5 billion into New York communities to fund opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

“The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc on communities across New York state, including Monroe County,” said Attorney General James. “No lawsuit or settlement will ever bring back the lives we have lost or undo all the destruction we have seen as a result of opioid addiction, but the millions we’ve already secured for the region will help us invest in opioid prevention, education, and treatment programs right away, as we continue to fight for more funds. The pain and suffering far too many communities have experienced has only accelerated over the course of the pandemic, so now is the time to take every action we can to prevent any future devastation.”

“To battle the opioid epidemic and increasing overdose fatalities in our county, we created the Improving Addiction Coordination Team (IMPACT) to provide 24-hour outreach to those suffering from addiction,” said Monroe County Executive Bello. “Thanks to Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, vital dollars to prevent and treat addiction will be made available for our around-the-clock efforts to combat this opioid crisis.”

Attorney General James, Monroe County Executive Bello, and others

meet to discuss the ongoing opioid epidemic in Monroe County.

Over the last two decades, the opioid crisis has caused millions of addictions and thousands of deaths across New York state. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis has only exacerbated opioid use and overdoses in the last year. In Monroe County alone in 2020, 238 people died from an opioid overdose — a 31 percent increase from 2019. In response, last year, Monroe County appointed the county’s first-ever director of addiction services.

In March 2019, Attorney General James filed the nation’s most extensive lawsuit to hold accountable the various manufacturers and distributors responsible for the opioid epidemic. The manufacturers named in the complaint included Purdue Pharma and its affiliates, as well as members of the Sackler Family (owners of Purdue) and trusts they control; Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its affiliates (including its parent company Johnson & Johnson); Mallinckrodt LLC and its affiliates; Endo Health Solutions and its affiliates; Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and its affiliates; and Allergan Finance, LLC and its affiliates. The distributors named in the complaint were McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., Amerisource Bergen Drug Corporation, and Rochester Drug Cooperative Inc.

The cases against Mallinckrodt and Rochester Drug Cooperative are now in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. In June, a settlement that ended Johnson & Johnson’s sale of opioids nationwide and that will deliver $230 million to New York alone was announced. In July, a settlement with McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource Bergen that will deliver up to $1 billion to New York state to combat the opioid epidemic was announced. The deals with Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource Bergen have a global value of approximately $26 billion. Earlier this month, a settlement that secured more than $4.5 billion — at least $200 million of which will be earmarked for New York — from the Sackler family and foundations that they control, ends the Sacklers’ ability to manufacture opioids ever again, and will shut down Purdue Pharma was announced. Last night, a settlement that secured $50 million for New York state and Nassau and Suffolk Counties was announced.

The trial against all other defendants is currently underway in Suffolk County State Supreme Court.

As a result of the above mentioned settlements, Western New York, Monroe County, and the City of Rochester stand to receive millions for opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery programs, and could possibly receive millions more as a result of any additional settlements that may still come.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

66,746 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

34 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday  

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.  

"Our fight against COVID-19 is not over - it is crucial that New Yorkers continue to wear a mask, wash their hands and get vaccinated if they haven't already," Governor Hochul said. "The vaccine is the best defense we have at keeping ourselves and our communities safe from the resurging virus. It is safe, it is free and readily available, and it is effective." 

  

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported - 203,374 
• Total Positive - 5,768 
• Percent Positive - 2.84% 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.22% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,414 (+24) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 321 
• Patients in ICU - 518 (+1) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 276 (+1) 
• Total Discharges - 195,775 (+276) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 34 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 43,918 

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. 

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 55,891 

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. 

• Total vaccine doses administered - 24,255,789 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 66,746 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 334,470 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 78.8% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 71.2% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 81.3% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.0% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 66.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 59.9% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 68.8% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 61.4% 

NYS OASAS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF KINSHIP CARE TOOLKIT TO ASSIST FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE AFFECTED BY ADDICTION

 

Toolkit Provides Resources for Caregivers of Children Whose Parents Are Unable to Care for Them

 The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) today announced the launch of the Kinship Care Toolkit to support relatives and family friends who are caring full-time for children whose parents can no longer take care of them due to substance use or addiction, incarceration, death, or other circumstances. The toolkit was developed in partnership with the NYS Kinship Navigator.

“Unfortunately, there are many circumstances in which parents are no longer able to care for their children, often through no fault of their own.” (OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “With the launch of this toolkit, we are giving non-parent caregivers the resources and information they need to help these children navigate a difficult time, as well as support their own well-being.”

Kinship care refers to extended family members such as grandparents, aunts or uncles or other extended relatives, as well as family friends who are caring full-time for children whose parents are absent or face limitations on caring for them. The toolkit was designed to help maintain family bonds and assist caregivers in having conversations about these topics with young people.

The toolkit provides information on subjects such as grief, identifying red-flag behavior in youth, having age-appropriate discussions and self-care for kinship care providers. It also includes interactive exercises for children in kinship care to help express their feelings and promote positive thinking and self-image.

The new toolkit is available at https://oasas.ny.gov/kinship-care-toolkit.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or e-mail at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

Ribbon Cutting for New Bronx YMCA at 1250 East 229th Street.

 

It was a rainy Thursday morning, but that did not stop over one hundred people from coming out to celebrate the grand opening of the new Edenwald YMCA located at 1250 East 229th Street, two blocks off Boston Road. The Y was a dream of a group of area residents who wanted a place for neighborhood children and adults to enjoy and be safe. The group led by Shirley Fearon and Alonzo De Castro started their dream years ago when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie was only Assemblyman Carl Heastie, New Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was brought into the picture, and Larry Seabrook was the councilman. 

As time would go on Andy King became the councilman, Assemblyman Carl Heastie became Speaker Carl Heastie, and the mayor became Bill de Blasio. In August 2016 this Idea became a reality when Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Heastie, Councilman Andy King and others brought out the concept of a 50,000 Square foot Y with an Aquatics Center with two swimming pools, a wellness center, full basketball court, gymnasium, and programming for people of all ages and income levels. It would also create 100 permanent living wage jobs. the estimated cost was to be forty-eight million dollars with completion in 2020.

In 2018 ground was broken for this new YMCA.

On Thursday September 9, 2021 the ribbon was cut for the New Bronx YMCA. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio who said he was proud to help in building this new YMCA in the Bronx shows the Bronx X here. 

The song YMCA was played, and everyone then went into the YMCA dance of showing the letters.

Some people then went into the new gym to meet former New York Knick John Starks. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie showed off his hoop ability by getting five of six baskets, as you see one that went in here.

State Senator Jamaal Bailey wanted a photo of him with his two daughters and New York Knick star John Starks. Bailey said he and his family will be regulars at the Y, and that he wants to learn how to swim in one of the two regulation pools.

A photo of the entrance to the New YMCA located at 1250 East 229th Street. 

In observance of 9/11/2001 There Were no Posts,

 

  Photo Credit Wikipedia, Tribute in Light.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

 

58,138 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

43 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

"Many New Yorkers are continuing to catch COVID-19 as we work to fight the pandemic across the state. Although many have gotten vaccinated, we need to push those numbers even higher to defeat this virus for good," Governor Hochul said. "We're working to get more vaccines in underserved communities across New York—particularly among 12 to 17-year-olds—and that's why we're opening new pop-up sites and leveraging a social media campaign to get the word out. The shot is safe, free and effective, so let's all protect our friends and neighbors and get vaccinated today."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 197,952
• Total Positive - 6,151
• Percent Positive - 3.11%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.30%
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,390 (-37)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 295
• Patients in ICU - 517 (-3)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 275 (+4)
• Total Discharges - 195,499 (+317)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 43
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 43,882

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.

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 55,891

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.

• Total vaccine doses administered - 24,189,043
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 58,138
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 335,686
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 78.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 71.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 81.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 66.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 59.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 68.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 61.2%

LOCAL LEADERS AND SAFE STREETS ADVOCATES CALL FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AFTER TRAGIC FATALITY IN BRONX

 

On Tuesday, September 7, a local community member in the northwest Bronx was killed by a bus in an intersection that has long attracted safety concerns from pedestrians.

 Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Community Board 8 District Manager Ciara Gannon, and advocates for safe streets gathered at the intersection of Kappock Street and Johnson Avenue on Friday, three days after a bus struck and killed a local woman, Ruth Mullen, who was crossing the street in this location. The local leaders and advocates were united in calling for the NYC Department of Transportation to take expeditious action to make the intersection safer for pedestrians.

 

Council Member Dinowitz and Assemblyman Dinowitz have both spoken with the Bronx DOT Commissioner about the need for safety improvements at this intersection.

 

The tragic pedestrian death in the northwestern Bronx comes amidst a concerning rise in traffic fatalities throughout New York City over the past two years, with NYPD reporting 176 fatalities citywide through September 5, 2021. This number corresponds to a nearly 25% rise in traffic fatalities compared to this point in 2020.

 

Local residents have long expressed concern about pedestrian safety at the intersection of Johnson Avenue and Kappock Street, which is a frequently-used thoroughfare that connects the Spuyten Duyvil neighborhood with nearby Kingsbridge. It is also a common pass-through for people connecting from the Henry Hudson Parkway to the Major Deegan Expressway as well as the Broadway Bridge. The intersection also serves as a bus stop for several major bus routes, including the Bx10, Bx20, BxM1, BxM2, and BxM18 lines.

 

Several years ago, Assemblyman Dinowitz was successful in getting a stop sign installed for northbound traffic on Johnson – alleviating a major safety concern where cars previously only had to stop in two out of the three possible directions at the intersection. Now, local residents and leaders are asking for additional improvements — suggesting that DOT consider installing traffic signals, speed humps, curb extensions, and other ideas to make it safer for people to cross the street.

 

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: "There is nothing we can say or do that will bring Ruth back to our community, but we can work to prevent this type of tragedy from happening again. Walkable neighborhoods are livable neighborhoods, and there is resounding support in our community to make this intersection safer for pedestrians. We need DOT to take expeditious action and come up with pedestrian safety improvements quickly."

 

"On Tuesday night, our community suffered an incredible tragedy when a life was taken while crossing the street, just minutes from her home,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz. “We cannot skirt around the reality of the situation--traffic violence is a deadly epidemic in our city. We know for a fact that there are proven ways to better protect pedestrians, and we demand that the Department of Transportation take immediate steps to make this intersection safer with infrastructural upgrades that have demonstrated evidence of saving lives."

 

Community Board 8 District Manager Ciara Gannon said: "On behalf of Bronx Community Board 8, we send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and neighbors of Ruth Mullen. We thank the first responders of this community who rushed to Ruth's aide on Tuesday evening.  Community Board 8 is committed to working with NYC DOT and community members to ensure that this intersection, as well as others, are made safe for everyone."

 

"Our hearts ache for all who knew and loved Ruth Mullen. Burying our partners, parents, kids and friends should not be part of the New York City experience. But this is the reality we are faced with every day because our leaders have not confronted the public health crisis of traffic violence," said Irma Rosenblatt, Families for Safe Streets member. “In 2014, My mother, Ida Rosenblatt, was struck by a speeding SUV turning the corner on Netherland Ave. Like Ruth, she was vibrant, energetic, civically active -- and merely walking near her home. Mayor de Blasio must immediately enable the redesign of the Kappock Street and Johnson Avenue intersection and hundreds of other dangerous intersections in the Bronx.  Albany must pass the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, which includes Sammy’s Law so safer speed limits could be set across the five boroughs. The power to stop traffic violence is in our leaders’ hands. We just need them to use it."