Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - AUGUST 25, 2022

 

Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

15 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"With school coming back into session and the summer season coming to a close, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using the tools we know that work to protect against COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Remember to get vaccinated or boosted when you're eligible if you haven't already. Test if you have symptoms, and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment. By remaining vigilant and responsible, New Yorkers will beat this virus."  

Earlier this week, Governor Hochul announced updated COVID-19 guidance and frequently asked questions for schools and childcare facilities that aligns with the new CDC recommendations. Among other things, this guidance specifies that asymptomatic children exposed to COVID-19 no longer need to quarantine and that isolation is now only advised for individuals that have tested positive for the virus. Read the updated guidance and frequently asked questions here. 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 26.90
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 22.68
• Test Results Reported - 71,310
• Total Positive - 5,257
• Percent Positive - 7.01%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.29%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,394 (-26)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 426
• Patients in ICU - 252 (-3)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 102 (+3)
• Total Discharges - 335,085 (408)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 15
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 57,546

** 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 - 73,541     

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	Monday, Aug. 22, 2022	Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022	Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022
Bronx	7.31%	7.29%	7.23%
Kings	3.66%	3.58%	3.52%
New York	5.59%	5.58%	5.35%
Queens	7.79%	7.78%	7.48%
Richmond	7.01%	6.74%	6.48%

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATAL SHOOTING IN FORDHAM HEIGHTS

 

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for a fatal shooting that occurred at a basketball court in Fordham Heights.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant shot and killed the victim after a dispute. The defendant will now spend more than two decades in prison for this senseless shooting.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Marquis Tanner, 30, last of 365 East 184th Street, was sentenced today to 22 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lester Adler. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on March 23, 2022.

 According to the investigation, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on December 26, 2020 at a basketball court at 365 East 183rd Street, the defendant argued with Alexandria Winchester, 24, and shot the victim once in the neck. Winchester was pronounced dead at the scene and the defendant fled. The shooting was captured on surveillance video. The defendant was arrested on December 29, 2020 and identified himself on the surveillance video. He also confessed to the killing, saying he shot Winchester over a scam.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Indiana McGowan-Anderson of the 46th Precinct Squad and NYPD Detective Patrick Sullivan of the Bronx Homicide Squad for their work in the investigation.

Florida Residents Plead Guilty To Conspiracy To Commit Interstate Transportation Of Stolen Property

 

Pleas Follow Filing of Criminal Information Alleging Defendants Stole Property Belonging to Immediate Family Member of a Then-Former Government Official

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that AIMEE HARRIS and ROBERT KURLANDER pled guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property involving the theft of personal belongings of an immediate family member of a then-former government official who was a candidate for national political office.  HARRIS and KURLANDER pled guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave and will be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Harris and Kurlander stole personal property from an immediate family member of a candidate for national political office.  They sold the property to an organization in New York for $40,000 and even returned to take more of the victim’s property when asked to do so.  Harris and Kurlander sought to profit from their theft of another person’s personal property, and they now stand convicted of a federal felony as a result.”  

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said:  “As they've admitted with today’s pleas, the defendants conspired to steal an individual’s personal property, which they subsequently sold to a third party and delivered across state lines.  As a consequence of their actions, they now face punishment in the federal criminal justice system for their crimes.  I’d like to thank the Public Corruption Units at both the FBI’s New York Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their dedicated effort in this case.”  

According to the Information and statements made in court:

In or about September 2020, HARRIS and KURLANDER conspired to steal, transport across state lines, and sell personal property that belonged to an individual (the “Victim”) whom HARRIS and KURLANDER knew was an immediate family member of a then-former government official who was a candidate for national political office.  The Victim had stored the property, including a handwritten journal containing highly personal entries, tax records, a digital storage card containing private family photographs, and a cellphone, among other things, in a private residence in Delray Beach, Florida, at which HARRIS was temporarily residing.  After HARRIS stole the property, she enlisted KURLANDER to help her facilitate its sale.  HARRIS and KURLANDER then made contact with an employee of an organization based in Mamaroneck, New York (the “Organization”), who instructed them to use an encrypted application to communicate with the Organization and requested photographs of the Victim’s property.  After receiving the photographs, the Organization offered to pay for HARRIS and KURLANDER’s transportation of the property from Florida to New York City.  HARRIS and KURLANDER subsequently traveled to New York City with the Victim’s property at the Organization’s expense and met with employees of the Organization.  During that meeting, HARRIS described the circumstances of how she had obtained the Victim’s property, provided the property to the Organization, and disclosed that the Victim had stored additional property in the residence where HARRIS continued to have access.  After the meeting, and at the Organization’s request, HARRIS and KURLANDER returned to Florida to obtain more of the Victim’s property in order to provide it to the Organization.  They later met with an Organization employee in Florida and gave that employee more of the Victim’s stolen property, believing that the Organization would transport or cause the transport of the stolen property from Florida to the Organization’s offices in New York, which the Organization subsequently did.  The Organization subsequently paid HARRIS and KURLANDER each $20,000 for the stolen property.

AIMEE HARRIS, 40, of Palm Beach, Florida, and ROBERT KURLANDER, 58, of Jupiter, Florida, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. 

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

Under the terms of their plea agreements, HARRIS and KURLANDER each agreed to forfeit $20,000, and KURLANDER agreed to cooperate with the Government.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Alessandra Biaggi - Thank you

Thank you so much for being a part of our campaign. Although Tuesday's primary did not end the way we had hoped, I feel an immense amount of gratitude.In just 90 days, we built a people-powered campaign that fought to end big money polluting our politics, to elevate the grassroots over the wallets of special interests, and to create a government that delivers for working people, not corporate donors.

Dark money super PACs spent nearly $1 million against us because when we're brave enough to tell the truth about systems that need to change, people in power feel threatened.

The NYC PBA spent hundreds of thousands of dollars against me because I come from a law enforcement family — my grandfather was one of the most decorated police officers in NYPD history, and that makes me a credible messenger for police reform and accountability.

I ran this longshot race to make the Democratic Party better. That is transformational work, and it takes time and sustained conviction.

We will see the day that the Democratic Party once again puts working people and the middle class first. That is what Americans deserve, and it’s what will win general elections.

We would be a better party if more Democratic leaders took personal career risk, instead of always protecting their own existing power. And while it isn’t fun to lose a race, I will always take a stand for what is right, rather than get complacent with my power.

I’ve failed a lot more often than I’ve won in my life, and it’s always been the failures that have fueled the future wins. But right now, this contest is over, and we must prevent a Republican majority in the House — that includes defending NY-17 with everything we've got.

After some much-needed rest, you will see me out on the frontlines working to keep this district in Democratic hands, and I hope I can count on you and our movement to join me in that fight.

Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who tirelessly made tens of thousands of phone calls and knocked on countless doors spreading our message of bold, progressive change to voters in every corner of the district.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to every single supporter that joined us in the fight for a more equitable future.

It is our relentlessness that will make everything we've worked for possible. I look forward to joining you in the fights ahead.

With gratitude,

Alessandra

MAYOR ADAMS, AMAZON COLLABORATE TO CRACK DOWN ON “GHOST VEHICLES,” ILLICIT LICENSE PLATES IN NYC

 

Collaboration Follows Adams Administration’s Continuing Crackdown on Ghost Vehicles

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Amazon today took a new step in New York City’s crackdown on “ghost vehicles,” collaborating to further prohibit and prevent the sale of any product advertised on the e-commerce site as a “camera blocker” to anyone ordering such a product within New York state. As part of the collaboration, Amazon will proactively search for and restrict the sale of smokescreen license plate covers and tinted license plate covers to customers with a New York state address. Amazon has also agreed to automatically display electronic notices stating that a given item cannot be shipped to New York locations — before one of these products can even be added to a customer’s online shopping cart.

 

In January 2022, the city enacted Local Law 22 prohibiting the sale of products designed to conceal or obscure vehicle license plates to New York City residents. This local law builds upon a provision of the State Vehicle and Traffic Law, which also prohibits the concealing or obscuring of license plates. Despite Local Law 22, companies have continued to sell these products to New York City residents who use them to purposefully break the law. Amazon’s commitment to restrict the sale of these products complies with Local Law 22 and sets an example for other retailers.

 

“Today, we are sending a clear and simple message: We will leave no stone unturned to keep New Yorkers safe on our streets,” said Mayor Adams. “Ghost cars are by design unsafe and untraceable, so in addition to finding and towing them, we’re going to stop them from appearing in the first place. Amazon has been a willing partner in the battle for street safety and we thank them for working with us to keep New York City streets safe. We expect all e-commerce platforms and other sellers to follow their lead, comply with the law, and keep these products out of New York.”

 

“We strive every day to ensure a trustworthy experience for our customers,” said Jennifer Cruickshank, director, New York public policy, Amazon. “We are proud to collaborate with Mayor Adams and support his efforts to keep tinted and smokescreen license plate covers from being sold in New York.”

Ghost vehicles — vehicles bearing illegal and counterfeit license plates — are fueling an epidemic of virtually untraceable cars that harm and kill pedestrians, bicyclists, and New York City’s most vulnerable — including seniors, children, and other at-risk groups. Obstructed license plates are often intended to defraud speed and red-light cameras throughout New York City — resulting in upticks in dangerous traffic violations and convincing drivers they can evade accountability.

 

In the first seven months of 2022, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) arrested over 2,700 vehicle operators driving with forged license plates. The NYPD has also towed nearly 2,000 vehicles parked in violation while displaying a covered, obstructed, or illegal paper plate.

 

Vehicles with fraudulent or obstructed licenses plates towed by the NYPD and the Sheriff’s Office are often not redeemed and sent to auction. Approximately 25 percent of the 5,500 vehicles with paper plates found to be in violation and towed by the NYPD’s Traffic Enforcement District last year were abandoned by their owners. Through June 2022, 562 of the 1,646 towed vehicles with paper plates were similarly not redeemed.

 

“Whether it’s to avoid paying tolls or an attempt to evade law enforcement, the sole purpose of these products is to skirt the law, and that’s unacceptable,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “Make no mistake — any product used to obscure a license plate poses a safety threat. This effort is an innovative, proactive strategy to further protect all of the motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians who share our roads. I commend Amazon for their partnership and thank Mayor Adams for continuing to put New Yorkers’ safety first.”

 

“This administration will not enable reckless driving on our streets. That means we must ensure there is not a market for unsafe products to reach New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “We thank Amazon for being a willing partner in helping us remove license plate covers from their list of products and enforce against potential bad drivers.”

 

“The NYPD will never waver in its mission to ensure that the city’s roads remain safe for all,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “We often say that traffic safety is public safety, and vehicles that are unsafe and untraceable represent the opposite of public safety. That is why we have been holding strategy sessions with our partners to end the far-ranging public safety hazards that threaten everyone who lives in, works in, or visits New York City. Our efforts to find the best approaches to road safety will go on as New Yorkers demand and deserve.”

 

“We are committed to working collaboratively with partners to improve public safety,” said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda. “Plastic covers creates ghost vehicles facilitating speeding, passing red lights, driving recklessly, and avoiding tolls. These actions present a clear danger to our families, those walking, and those driving. Any device that creates or promotes ‘ghost vehicles’ will be fully investigated.”

 

“We know that the growing number of drivers who obscure license plates are a threat to public safety, because DOT’s automated enforcement cameras cannot hold them accountable when they speed or run red lights,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We thank Mayor Adams for coming to this innovative agreement with Amazon to stop the sale of such items in our state. In addition to 24/7 speed cameras, DOT has an ambitious plan to redesign streets and intersections — as we use every tool at our disposal to stop traffic violence.”

 

“New Yorkers are being maimed and killed by traffic violence every day. That is why Families for Safe Streets fought so hard for 24/7 speed safety cameras,” said Devan Sipher, member, steering committee, Families for Safe Streets. “Any product that helps drivers evade accountability for reckless driving is purposefully making our streets more dangerous, especially for children and the elderly. Today’s announcement by Mayor Adams and Amazon is a welcome step toward ensuring that speed cameras continue to keep New Yorkers safe.”

 

DEC Announces Record-Breaking New York City and Long Island "CleanSweepNY" Collection

 

Nearly 220,000 Pounds of Pesticides and Chemicals Collected

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today DEC held a record-breaking CleanSweepNY collection this July in Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties as part of a targeted initiative in DEC’s Long Island and New York City regions. CleanSweepNY events promote a healthy and sustainable New York by providing opportunities for proper disposal of unwanted and/or obsolete pesticides and other chemicals.

The Queens and Long Island CleanSweepNY event collected 191,512 pounds of pesticides and 28,319 pounds of other items such as paint and other chemicals. This collection event breaks the CleanSweepNY record set earlier this year (of 218,369 pounds) with the collection of a total of 219,869 pounds of pesticides and chemicals.

“CleanSweepNY helps keep unwanted pesticides and other chemicals out of our environment, communities, and municipal landfills.” Commissioner Seggos said. “DEC is pleased so many farmers, businesses, and institutions in the region are participating in this critical work to help build a toxic-free future for New York State.” 

 DEC established CleanSweepNY in 2002 with funds from several enforcement settlements through the agency’s Pesticides Management program to promote proper disposal practices of these potentially harmful chemicals. Since the program's inception, CleanSweepNY collection events across New York State have captured more than three million pounds of chemicals.

The NYC and Long Island collection events were held at a New York City Parks facility in Queens and New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) facilities in Riverhead, and Melville.

CleanSweepNY services are provided to farmers and owners of former farms, all categories of NYS-certified pesticide applicators, cemeteries, golf courses, marinas, schools, landscapers and lawncare providers, nurseries, greenhouses, and other entities possessing unwanted or unusable pesticides and other waste chemicals.

DEC organized the events in collaboration with DOT and New York State Parks, which provided sites in the targeted DEC regions for the collection of these unwanted chemical materials. The program is supported by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Agricultural Container Recycling Council, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, New York Farm Bureau, and other related grower associations.

For more information on CleanSweepNY, visit http://www.cleansweepny.org or call (518) 225-8146. For information about reducing household hazardous waste, visit DEC’s website.

Annual 49th Precinct Bookbag and School Supply Giveaway

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez's office donated one-hundred bookbags and boxes of school supplies to the Annual 49th Precinct Bookbag and School Supply Giveaway. While the councilwoman was away on business, she had two staffers, Adrian and Jacklyn to help hand out the bookbags and supplies. Shabbir Gul of ICNA Relief Inc. was alo on hand to give out snacks to the children and food supplies to families in need. Empire Health Plan gave out information gift for the children and information about their various health plans.

Any leftover bookbags or school supplies will go to the next event held by Councilwoman Velazquez, of which there are several coming up throughout her council district. The event took place in the muster room of the 49th Precinct. 

Everyone gets ready for the children to come in to pick up their bookbag and school supplies. 

While there is a choice of which color bookbag is to be chosen, and there is also the question of which snacks do these children want.

Shabbir Gul of ICNA Relief shows off the various snacks this girl can take. There were bags of food for the family behind on the table.

These four kids show off their new bookbag as Community Affairs officer Graham, Adrian (from Councilwoman Velazquez's office), Phyliss Nastico of the 49th Precinct Community Council and Community Board 11, Shabbir Gul of ICNA Relief, and mom are behind them. 

AOC, Gustavo Rivera and The Unions Defeated Adriano Espaillat, Richie Torres, and the Bronx Democratic Machine

 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Former NYC Councilman

Rev. Ruben Diaz

You should know that the past Democratic Primary, held on Tuesday, August 23, the electorate chose their next elected leaders and who will kiss their ring from now on.

 

As you may Know Representative Alexandra Ocasio Cortes (AOC) together with the Working Families Party and the Unions, placed her reputation and leadership on the line when she launched her support behind the Puerto Rican Senator Gustavo Rivera in his reelection bid to retain his Senate Seat.

 

On the other hand, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, joined forces with Representative Richie Torres and the Establishment (The Bronx Democratic Machine) in his effort to unseat the Incumbent Senator Gustavo Rivera, but his efforts were cut short with the defeat of his candidate the Dominican, Miguelina Camillo.

 

You should know that Congressman Adriano Espaillat has been quite successful in his political career. He has won many triumphs and has made alliances along the way. However, in one way or another those alliances don’t last long. They have been short lived, and his allies become his political foes. 

 

 Congressman Espaillat has had alliances with people like Guillermo Linares, Miguel Martínez, Marisol Alcántara, Gabriela Rosa, and Robert Jackson among many others.   Rumor has it that these people were once upon a time, allies of Rep. Espaillat, but that due to ambition for political growth they were trampled upon by Espaillat and his lack of loyalty.

 

During these past elections, Espaillat still basking with the recent triumph of his candidate George Alvarez, who won defeating longtime Assemblyman José Rivera, Espaillat decided to join forces with Congressman Richie Torres and the Democratic Political Machine of the Bronx. With his support Espaillat backed candidates against two Incumbent Senators, the Puerto Rican Gustavo Rivera and the African American Robert Jackson and thus showed solidarity with his political power in the Bronx given that Dominicans are moving to the Bronx abandoning residence in Manhattan’s Washington Heights.

 

Gustavo Rivera won reelection with the backing of AOC and the Unions, which, by the way they no longer have the political will that they use to have in the past, when Dennis Rivera directed the political affairs of the Union 1199, Randi Weingarten’s leadership in the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and Victor Gotbaum and the Union DC.37.

 

In those days the Unions wielded so much power that no politician dared to go against the will of the Unions.  Times have changed and the Unions with their new leaders have practically lost the political power they once wielded. 

 

Perhaps Adriano Espaillat thought that the Unions would not come out in full force as they did for Gustavo Rivera. Therefore Espaillat, Richie Torres and the elected leaders of the Bronx united and went against the Unions, and AOC to unseat Gustavo Rivera and Robert Jackson.

 

Apparently, the Unions woke up from their lethargy and mobilized all their troops against the millions of dollars invested by the Democratic Establishment, Political Groups, PACs and even the influence of Mayor Eric Adams in the battle of the Titans that will determine who controls the leadership in Bronx politics.

 

Imagine if Senators Gustavo Rivera and Robert Jackson joined forces with (AOC) and the Unions to replace the leadership in the Bronx. This would be very interesting and dangerous for Adriano Espaillat, because even Dominicans last Tuesday, here in the Bronx, voted against those candidates backed by Congressman Adriano Espaillat.

 

I am Reverend Ruben Diaz, and this is What You Should Know.