Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating Covid-19 - JULY 6, 2022 "It Keeps Going Up" See Table at the End By Borough.

 

50 Statewide Deaths Reported from July 2 to July 5  

 NOTE: Beginning June 24, 2022, the Vaccine data will be updated weekly on Fridays to align with CDC's updated data refresh schedule. For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccination Data provided by CDC, see https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total.         

NOTE: Updates to the CDC's cumulative death data files have been paused as the CDC upgrades its system. As of July 5, 2022, CDC reporting has not yet resumed. Any questions about this should be directed to the CDC. During this time, total deaths and new daily deaths reported through HERDS will continue as normal.  

Important Note: HERDS data collection from health care facilities was paused due to the weekend and holiday on 7/2/2022 and resumed on 7/5/2022. Data from those days were submitted in Tuesday's report. Where noted, totals include four days of cumulative data from 7/2/2022-7/5/2022. As a result, some data may appear higher than recent trends. Data affected is marked with an asterisk.    

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

"New Yorkers have worked hard to get us where we are in our fight against COVID-19, but we should continue to utilize the tools at hand to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe," Governor Hochul said. "If you have yet to, get your vaccination or your booster dose. If you're a parent or guardian, talk to your pediatrician about getting your children vaccinated. Stay home if you feel sick and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:       

• Cases Per 100k - 20.45   
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 27.72   
• Test Results Reported - 39,471   
• Total Positive - 3,996    
• Percent Positive - 9.24%**    
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 8.78%**    
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,206 (+224)    
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1,151*  
• Patients in ICU - 201 (+5)*   
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 74 (+8)*  
• Total Discharges - 317,316 (+840)*  
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 50*  
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 56,636*  

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.        

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.         

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.       

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 72,206       

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.    

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:        

Borough	Sunday, July 3, 2022	Monday, July 4, 2022	Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Bronx	8.63%	8.83%	9.27%
Kings	7.78%	8.40%	8.31%
New York	8.32%	8.59%	8.61%
Queens	9.85%	10.01%	10.44%
Richmond	9.23%	9.29%	9.42%

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The COVID-19 rate has jumped in the last couple of months, and has almost doubled in the last two weeks. 

What are Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams waiting for?

Colombian Woman Sentenced to 10 Years and $5 Million Forfeiture for Narcotrafficking

 

Defendant Brokered Multi-Hundred-Kilogram Shipments of Cocaine

 Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Hilda Maria Gonzalez Lopez, also known as “La Boyaca” and “Daniela,” who aligned herself with powerful members of Los Rastrojos, a breakoff group of the violent arm of the Norte Valle Cartel, was sentenced by United States District Judge I. Leo Glasser to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $5 million in forfeiture following her guilty plea for participating in a conspiracy to internationally distribute cocaine. In her October 2021 plea agreement, Gonzalez Lopez stipulated that she was responsible for distributing more than 450 kilograms of cocaine and agreed to forfeit $5,000,000. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), announced the sentence.

“For years, the defendant profited from trafficking cocaine and operating a ‘collection office,’ which relied on hitmen to collect drug debts, and she did so without regard for the harm she inflicted on communities stretching from Colombia to the United States,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace.  “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the results of the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to working with our international partners to dismantle destructive transcontinental drug trafficking organizations.” 

Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), New York State Police (NYSP), Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Colombian law enforcement authorities, and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attachés in Bogotá, Colombia who assisted in the apprehension and extradition of the defendant.

“Gonzalez Lopez was at the helm of a narcotrafficking operation who arranged cocaine shipments, negotiated ‘taxes’ with other narcotraffickers, and employed hitmen to collect debts.  Today’s sentencing helps to ensure this lucrative and violent organization saw their final delivery – justice,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Patel.  “HSI and our partners will continue to leverage our international reach to aggressively pursue drug traffickers wherever they operate.”

“Using intimidation and fear, Hilda Maria Gonzalez Lopez made millions of dollars exporting loads of cocaine from Colombia to the United States,” said DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Tarentino.  “The DEA leaves no stone unturned, and this arrest signifies our resolve to bring those responsible for flooding our streets with poison to justice.  I commend the diligent work by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of New York and our local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners.” 

Los Rastrojos

In approximately the early 1990’s, a group of narcotics traffickers based in the Norte Valle del Cauca region of Colombia, located near Colombia’s west coast, began to dominate the cocaine trade in Colombia, and became known as the “Norte Valle Cartel.”  Between 1990 and 2006, the Norte Valle Cartel was responsible for the exportation to the United States of more than one million kilograms of cocaine with a wholesale value exceeding several billion dollars.

In the early 2000s, high-ranking members of the Norte Valle Cartel’s armed contingent—which was responsible for assassinations, kidnappings, and the collection of drug debts through violence or the threat of violence—broke off to form Los Rastrojos. After 2008, Javier Antonio Calle Serna (Calle Serna) took control of the organization.  Under his leadership, Los Rastrojos acted as a paramilitary group with over 1,500 members and took control of several provinces of Colombia.   In those areas, Los Rastrojos corrupted government officials, sanctioned violence, and “taxed” drug traffickers who operated in the cartel’s territory.  

The Defendant’s Conduct

Between 2005 and 2011, according to court filings, Gonzalez Lopez was directly involved in coordinating the shipment and distribution of cocaine and leveraged her relationship with powerful and violent narcotraffickers, including Calle Serna.  Gonzalez Lopez began brokering her own multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico and Central America for ultimate distribution in the United States.

Gonzalez Lopez coordinated drug transportation routes and paid export “taxes” to the Los Rastrojos.  She also used her relationship with Calle Serna to negotiate lower export taxes and maintain control of a drug debt collection operation in which she employed collectors or hitmen to collect drug debts, for which she received a percentage of the recovered debt as compensation. 

During these six years, Gonzalez Lopez was personally responsible for at least 450 kilograms of cocaine, which yielded her profits of at least $5,000,000. 

On July 12, 2019, the defendant was arrested in Colombia at the request of the United States and was extradited to the United States on March 5, 2021.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF  

Representative Jamaal Bowman - I’m hiring!

 

Dear neighbor, 

My office is currently hiring! If you or someone you may know is interested in working to help serve our communities, please find more info below along with a link to apply. 

We’re looking for a District Scheduling and Operations Coordinator.

DISTRICT SCHEDULING

Responsibilities include handling all of the Congressman's travel arrangements to and from the district as well as his in-district logistics. Will also be responsible for coordinating the Member’s New York schedule by making travel and meeting arrangements while anticipating and responding to his day-to-day developments; coordinating with staff to identify community events in relation to schedule priorities; work with district staff to send representatives to events the Congressman cannot attend; working directly with the District Director, Director of Scheduling and Operations as well as the Chief of Staff on day to day logistics; and support the Director of Scheduling and Operations with any scheduling related needs to ensure all contacts have a response in a timely manner.

OFFICE OPERATIONS AND MEMBER SUPPORT

This person is also responsible for working with the District Director and Staff Assistant on managing the district internship program, financial and expense records, and office management, ensuring supplies are stocked and the district offices are running smoothly. This person will ensure that the Congressman has notes for each district meeting with various administrative duties, and managing special projects including the district internship program. This person will also manage the certificate and proclamations program, the Congressman's district correspondence. As needed, this person will drive the Congressman to and from meetings as well as staff him for events when other staff are unavailable.

A successful candidate will be highly organized, detail oriented, possess strong writing skills, have experience working in a fast-paced office, and the ability to maintain a professional, flexible, and positive demeanor while managing multiple and competing tasks and projects.

The salary for this position is $55,000. Full benefits including a significant number of paid time off, federal student loan repayment and federal benefit applies.

Please apply for this role through this form. Prior experience with a congressional office is not necessary. Familiarity with the Westchester strongly required.

Our office is an equal opportunity employer and women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and members of other traditionally underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply. Underrepresented candidates and those with New York City/ Westchester County ties are encouraged to apply.

***ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL FINAL ROUND***


To apply please click here. 

Peace and love,

Congressman Jamaal Bowman

Washington D.C. Office        Westchester District Office        Bronx District Office      
1605 Longworth HOB           6 Gramatan Ave. Ste. 205        177 Dreiser Loop Rm 3 
Washington, DC 20515         Mt. Vernon, NY 10550              Bronx, NY 10475          
Phone: (202) 225-2464         Phone: (914) 371-9220            Phone: (718) 530-7710 

NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera Receives Endorsement From 1199SEIU

 

“I AM IMMENSELY PROUD:” STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT FROM 1199SEIU

In response to receiving the endorsement of 1199SEIU, New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera shared the following statement: 

“I am immensely proud to receive the endorsement of 1199SEIU for reelection to the New York State Senate. 1199 is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in the country, and its members, many of whom are my constituents, have been on the frontlines through the pandemic and beyond at great sacrifice to their personal health and safety. These courageous men and women give their all⁠—and then some⁠—every single day to protect the health and well-being of all New Yorkers."

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Launches a Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellowship

 

This new fellowship will enhance patient care by training providers to identify signs of violence and gather evidence for legal proceedings

 NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County today launched the Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellowship, a one-year training program designed to build leaders in the field of clinical forensics for emergency medicine. The fellowship will teach clinicians to identify and care for victims of violence and trauma, prevent the destruction of potential evidence, assist in legal proceedings, and recognize and document patterns of violence and abusive behavior.

"Too often, victims of crime are re-traumatized as they receive medical care and seek justice through our criminal legal system," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "This new Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellowship will ensure that clinicians identify and care for victims of violence and trauma in a culturally sensitive and compassionate way. As always, NYC Health + Hospitals is paving the way to strengthen the criminal justice system and provide all New Yorkers with the highest level of care."

"The Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellowship at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County is a promising initiative that will empower our fellows to become leaders in clinical forensics and enhance our efforts to ensure our patients receive the high-quality care they deserve," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County Chief Executive Officer Sheldon P. McLeod. "The Fellowship includes extensive clinical training that prepares our fellows to be adept at forensic interviews, evidence identification, and courtroom testimony, all attributes that benefit our patients and New Yorkers."

"The time has come to recognize the need for a formal education and training process for providers practicing frontline forensic medicine," said Dr. Rajesh Verma, MD, Chief of the Emergency Department at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. "Emergency Medicine physicians with dedicated training in this discipline will improve the initial care of patients who are victims of trauma and abuse and improve their advocacy in the legal system. We are proud to have Kings County pioneer such a program in New York City."

The fellow will work directly with patients and learn from industry experts in forensic science, law enforcement, protective services, and advocacy groups. This fellowship will expand emergency clinicians’ ability to be trauma-informed, patient-centric, and culturally sensitive when interacting with patients.

The fellowship incorporates evidence collection, crime scene exposure, analyzing witness testimonials, and Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T.) practices. At the end of the fellowship, the clinicians will be able to better support victims of abuse by recognizing and reporting violent patterns of abuse such as ligatures, strangulation, and bindings. They will be trained to work closely with community groups such as social workers, crisis counselors, patient advocates, and other local agencies to connect patients to relevant services.

NYC Health + Hospitals has specially trained Sexual Assault Response Teams approved by the New York State Department of Health in every hospital emergency room. Sexual assault victims receive care within one hour of their arrival. The SART staff members at NYC Health + Hospitals’ Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Centers of Excellence have gone through intensive training and are approved by the New York State Department of Health. Their tasks include: properly identifying, collecting and storing forensic evidence; accurately documenting injuries; and attending to the significant emotional needs of rape victims. Forensic Examiners perform a thorough evaluation including a physical examination and medical history to ensure the patient’s health and safety and collect evidence of the crime. Rape Crisis Counselors help the patient recover from the physical and emotional trauma of sexual assault. NYC Health + Hospitals’ assault recovery teams operate around the clock to minimize trauma to the victim and reduce the risk that critical evidence will be lost, damaged, or overlooked.

The following agencies are collaborating on the Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellowship:

• NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME)
• The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
• New York Police Department (NYPD) Special Victims Division
• John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical University
• Kings County District Attorney’s Office
• CASA-NYC
• Family Justice Center
• Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI)

 

"We have an ethical obligation to fulfill a critical role in safeguarding our patients. When handled by the forensic fellow, the hospital experience for victims of violence will be the beginning of the healing process rather than an extension of the trauma," said Dr. Brigitte Alexander, DO, Director of Clinical Forensic Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County.

"As the only active training program for emergency medicine physicians in the country, this fellowship will serve as a conduit for developing highly specialized providers," said Dr. Elias Youssef, MD, Medical Director of Quality and Patient Safety for the Emergency Department. "Our goal is that graduates of this fellowship will use this unique skill set to train other providers and ensure that victims of violence and abuse receive the highest quality of care."

"As the first fellow of forensics emergency medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, I have been allowed to be a catalyst of the change that I had always hoped to see in our community," said Dr. Keesandra Agenor, MD, Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellow at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. "This fellowship will grant us the resources to unite medical professionals, the medical examiner’s office, district attorney’s office, and the New York City Police Department to deliver time-sensitive care and culturally-sensitive care to survivors of trauma and life-changing experiences. This is only the beginning."

Fellows will serve a public health role by developing and educating students and the community on strategies aimed at community violence reduction.

For more information about the Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellowship at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, please call 718-245-4804.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County

NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County is a 639-bed acute care teaching hospital located in Central Brooklyn. Among our highly specialized programs are a Level I Trauma Center, Pediatric Emergency Room, Level 3 Perinatal Center, Heart Health Center, Stroke Center, Sickle Cell Program, Behavioral Health Center, and Diabetes Education Center of Excellence.  Many of our programs have received national recognition, including our cardiac, stroke and diabetes services. The hospital offers a broad array of primary and specialty care, including practices in neuroscience, orthopedics, urology and cardiology. Annually, our ambulatory care clinics see well over 500,000 visits, and more than 150,000 visits in the Behavioral Health outpatient program, in addition to close to 23,000 inpatient discharges. NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has played a major role in providing health care to vulnerable populations in Brooklyn since 1831, and is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the nation. For more information visit, nychealthandhospitals.org/kingscounty.

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthandHospitals or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.

Governor Hochul Announces Launch of First Statewide Mobile Air Monitoring Initiative

 Hyperlocal Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Underway in Communities Overburdened by Pollution

Aclima Mobile Mapping Technology, in Partnership with Google Public Sector, Deploying in First Four of 10 Total Communities - Bronx, Buffalo, Capital Region, and Manhattan

$1 Million Now Available for Capacity Building; Additional $2 Million Announced Today to Support Community-Led Air Monitoring

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the historic statewide air quality and greenhouse gas mobile monitoring initiative that is deploying in the first four of 10 disadvantaged communities, home to approximately five million New Yorkers—25 percent of the State's population—in areas overburdened by environmental pollution. Working in partnership with community-based organizations, the effort to map hyperlocal air pollution and greenhouse gases statewide at the community level is the largest ever undertaken by New York State. The initiative is using proven mobile mapping technology and professional analytics from Aclima, run exclusively on Google Cloud. Monitoring is underway in the Bronx, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, the Capital Region, and Manhattan, and six additional communities will start monitoring this fall. The initiative is bolstered by an estimated $3 million in State grant funding - $1 million is currently available for Community Air Monitoring Capacity Building Grants, and an additional $2 million in new funding will support community-led air monitoring to complement the State's efforts.

"As New York continues to forge a greener path ahead to make our state cleaner and healthier, we are also correcting decades of environmental injustices that have overburdened disadvantaged communities for far too long," Governor Hochul said. "As someone who grew up in the shadow of a steel plant that contributed to orange skies and a polluted Lake Erie, I know firsthand the urgency of our fight against air pollution and climate change. By launching this historic statewide air quality and greenhouse gas monitoring initiative we will develop strategies to address air quality issues in New York's most vulnerable communities, while contributing to the state's nation-leading climate goals."

Aclima's mobile monitoring fleet will collect hyperlocal data to drive solutions that reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollutants to protect public health and will be critical to developing strategies to achieve the goals of New York's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The 10 communities selected for monitoring in consultation with the Climate Justice Working Group were identified as having a disproportionate air pollution burden based on criteria developed by the CJWG, and include Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Capital Region, Bronx, Manhattan, Rochester, Syracuse, Mount Vernon/Yonkers, Brooklyn, Queens, and Hempstead. The boundaries for monitoring in each area were determined using community input and current understanding of pollution sources. In addition, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is partnering with community-based organizations and local officials in each area to evaluate the data obtained and identify and implement solutions to reduce harmful emissions.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, "New York State is rapidly advancing this landmark initiative and increasing funding to support our community partners to launch this important work in neighborhoods long overburdened by environmental pollution. It speaks directly to Governor Hochul's successful leadership in addressing climate change and providing support and resources like today's $3 million for community-led initiatives that drives the improved health and well-being of all New Yorkers. Department of Environmental Conservation is eager to join New York's many climate and environmental justice leaders to develop data-driven solutions that benefit public health and will help meet our ambitious climate goals."

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Doreen Harris said, "New York State Energy Research and Development Authority supports Department of Environmental Conservation's efforts to better understand the atmospheric pollution in underserved communities and the damaging impacts that it has had in those communities. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York is making air quality improvement a priority as part of the State's comprehensive work to combat climate change and create healthier communities for all New Yorkers."

Following the submission of a Request for Qualifications in October, New York State finalized an agreement to utilize Aclima's mobile sensing technology and software platform to obtain and analyze air quality measurements in disadvantaged communities, through the State's contract with Google Public Sector. Aclima's air monitoring data is being collected by mobile sensors on its fleet vehicles that measure air pollution on a block-by-block level during different times, days, and seasons. In total, the monitoring will provide an initial screening of community-level air quality sources for further evaluation. The results will inform the State's actions, in collaboration with our partners, to reduce emissions and help address health burdens and inequities in communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution.

Governor Kathy Hochul first announced the community air monitoring initiative during Climate Week. To ensure community participation in the process, Governor Hochul's 2022 State of the State Address directed Department of Environmental Conservation to increase funding previously announced for Community Air Monitoring Capacity Building Grants from $500,000 to $1 million. This funding is now available to support capacity building for eligible community-based organizations located in or serving the 10 identified communities. The capacity-building grant can be used for, but is not limited to, developing or strengthening existing programs focused on reducing exposure and improving public health in communities most impacted by air pollution, or supporting community engagement in the state's air monitoring program. This grant opportunity is supported by the State Environmental Protection Fund with dollars designated to environmental justice. Individual award amounts will range from $50,000 to $100,000. The Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting applications until September 14, 2022 at 3 p.m. through the New York State Grants Gateway.

The additional $2 million announced today, for a total of $3 million, will provide grants to improve the ability of community groups working on the ground in these areas to contribute to or bolster their own air quality monitoring efforts. This additional funding will also allow greater contributions in the identification and selection of carbon-free technology investments and other emission reduction strategies in their local neighborhoods. Award amounts for these new grant opportunities will vary, but will fund up to $100,000 for capacity-building projects to strengthen organizations through training, purchasing air monitoring equipment, sensor technology, community engagement and education, or consultant support, and up to $500,000 to support community-led air monitoring. More information about these grant opportunities will be announced soon.

In addition, Aclima announced that BlocPower, a New York-based climate tech startup that is rapidly greening American inner cities, is working with Aclima and its community and government partners to train and staff workforce trainees to operate Aclima's hyperlocal mobile environmental sensor network. Through the partnership, BlocPower will provide recruitment and workforce development support to Aclima, sourcing talent from impacted communities.

The program will identify hyperlocal information about air quality impacts in these overburdened areas and help the State identify mitigation activities, which may also support New York's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050. This first-ever statewide mobile monitoring complements Department of Environmental Conservation's existing efforts to measure levels of outdoor air pollution at more than 50 sites across the State using continuous and/or manual instrumentation. Department of Environmental Conservation reports these measurements to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) API. Department of Environmental Conservation also provides an Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast for some pollutants that can be harmful to human health and current air quality measurement data for New York State. In addition, community-based organizations in New York City have also conducted hyperlocal air quality monitoring to help inform residents and policymakers about specific emissions sources and other environmental or public health concerns.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

About Aclima

Aclima is pioneering an entirely new way to diagnose the health of our air and track climate-changing pollution. Powered by their network of roving and stationary sensors, Aclima measures air pollution and greenhouse gases at unprecedented scales and with block-by-block resolution. Their professional analytics software, Aclima Pro, translates billions of scientific measurements into environmental intelligence for governments, companies, and communities. Their free app, air.health, maps address-level air and climate insights for the communities they serve. Aclima is a purpose-driven technology company catalyzing bold climate action that protects public health, reduces emissions, and delivers clean air for all.

About BlocPower

BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based climate technology company rapidly greening American cities. Since its founding in 2014, the company has completed energy projects in 1,200+ buildings and delivers results ahead of schedule and under budget. BlocPower utilizes its proprietary software for analysis, leasing, project management, and monitoring of urban clean energy projects and its customers are saving 20-40% on their energy bills each year.

Two Men Charged In $5.4 Million Scheme To Defraud New York City Program For Homeless Veterans

 

 Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging RUDEAN WEIR and JEROME WEAH, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme to defraud a program of the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) which provides cash assistance to homeless veterans of the United States armed services (“Veterans”) seeking permanent housing.  WEAH was presented yesterday in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo.  WEIR will be presented today in federal court in Atlanta, Georgia.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged, the defendants abused a New York City program intended to benefit veterans of the United States armed services seeking permanent housing by submitting hundreds of false applications for benefits and causing more than $5 million in fraudulent payments.  Thanks to the efforts of the New York City Department of Investigation, the fraud has been exposed and the defendants will have to answer for their conduct.”

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said:  “The Enhanced One-Shot Deal program provides critical funding to help New York City’s unhoused veterans obtain permanent housing.  As alleged, defendants Jerome Weah and Rudean Weir stole millions of dollars from the program by fraudulently claiming entitlement to rent, brokers’ fees and other program payments.  I thank the City’s Department of Social Services for referring this investigation to DOI and for their hard work on this matter.  DOI is proud to work with DSS, and our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to expose and prevent the theft of precious public funding intended to aid vulnerable New Yorkers.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

From at least October 2020 through at least May 2022, RUDEAN WEIR and JEROME WEAH submitted more than 340 fraudulent applications seeking cash assistance pursuant to the Enhanced One Shot Deal (“EOSD”) program administered by the HRA.  The EOSD is an emergency assistance program pursuant to which HRA makes a one-time cash assistance payment to qualifying individuals.  EOSD payments are often used to help individuals move out of homeless shelters and/or other temporary housing into permanent housing.  EOSD payments may be used to cover certain costs associated with the move to permanent housing, including rent, moving expenses, security deposits, broker’s fees, and payments for furniture and other household items.  The HRA also offers and administers services and programs for Veterans, sometimes referred to as “Veteran’s Initiatives.”  In connection with these services, the HRA has a designated group responsible for receiving and reviewing EOSD requests made on behalf of homeless Veterans seeking permanent housing.

Between October 2020 and May 2022, the HRA received at least 340 EOSD applications which claimed that the applicants were homeless Veterans who had entered into a lease agreement with a particular landlord (“Landlord-1”).  Each of these applications (the “Landlord-1 EOSD Applications”) claimed that a particular company provided broker’s services in connection with the lease agreement (“Broker Company-1”).  HRA paid over $5.4 million in EOSD payments and broker’s fees pursuant to the Landlord-1 EOSD Applications.

Based on a review of approximately 60 of the 340 Landlord-1 EOSD Applications, those applications included, among other things, a completed application for “Emergency Assistance” on an HRA designated form; a copy of a purported lease agreement between a Veteran and Landlord-1; forms requesting payment to Landlord-1 and Broker Company-1 for services provided; personal identifying information, such as copies of identification cards and military and/or employment records for the Veteran; and an identification card issued by the New York Department of State reflecting one of two individuals and purporting that each of those individuals was a “Real Estate Salesperson” with Broker Company-1.

The Landlord-1 EOSD Applications were fraudulent.  Specifically, Landlord-1 and the Veterans did not, in fact, enter into the lease agreements submitted to HRA in connection with the Landlord-1 EOSD Applications, and Broker Company-1 did not provide real estate brokerage services to either Landlord-1 and/or the Veterans.  Furthermore, the identification cards reflecting purported individual brokers associated with Broker Company-1 were forged, in that those brokers are not affiliated with Broker Company-1 and did not provide any real estate brokerage services to either Landlord-1 and/or the Veterans.  Therefore, the Landlord-1 EOSD Applications contained fake documentation and information, and fraudulently induced HRA into making EOSD payments.

HRA made EOSD payments of at least $5.4 million in connection with the Landlord-1 EOSD Applications.  Of this $5.4 million, over $3.6 million was deposited into a bank account controlled by WEIR, and over $1 million was deposited into a bank account controlled by WEAH.  In addition, during this period, the bank account controlled by WEIR paid over $1 million to a bank account held in the name of WEAH.

WEIR, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, and WEAH, 46, of Edison, New Jersey, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries an additional mandatory consecutive two-year sentence. 

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DOI.  Mr. Williams also thanked the DSS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, for their assistance.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.