MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCE FIRST ANNUAL ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER CULTURAL AND HERITAGE PARADE IN NYC

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that the first annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Cultural and Heritage Parade in New York City will be held on May 15, 2022. The parade comes as New Yorkers celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, as well as New York City’s being home to the second-largest Asian American and Pacific Islander population in the United States. AAPI Heritage Month pays tribute to the generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have enriched New York’s history for generations.

 

“Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates New Yorkers who contribute to the rich culture that makes New York the greatest city in the world,” said Mayor Adams. “As we work to combat a spike in hate crimes, it is important to support and uplift our AAPI brothers and sisters. We are proud to announce the New York City’s first annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Cultural and Heritage Parade and pay tribute to the generations of New Yorkers from the Asian and Pacific diaspora.”

 

“Now more than ever, it is important to support New Yorkers in the AAPI community and reflect on the rich Asian American and Pacific Islander history,” said Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman. “The Adams administration is proud to announce the first-ever Asian American and Pacific Islanders Cultural and Heritage Parade. Together, we will recognize the important contributions of AAPI New Yorkers of the past and celebrate the ones to come in the future.”

 

“We at Better Chinatown USA are extremely excited about organizing this historic first Asian Pacific American Cultural and Heritage Parade in Midtown,” said Steven Tin, director, Better Chinatown USA. “We are very thankful to Mayor Adams’ office, especially CAU Commissioner Kreizman, Special Events Office & NYPD, for this great opportunity to showcase the exciting Asian Pacific American Cultural Heritage to the American mainstream and our younger generation.”

 

The inaugural parade will take place on 6^th Avenue, proceeding north from West 44^th Street to West 55^th Street. The parade will begin at 10:45 AM.

 

“We are thankful to Mayor Eric Adams, CAU Commissioner Fred Kreizman, Winnie Greco, NYPD, and the City Hall staff all working together quickly and made this parade a reality,” said Robin Mui, event co-chair, Asian American and Pacific Islander Cultural and Heritage Parade. “This is the right time to unite the Asian to fight Asian Hate Crimes and remind them to register to vote and be counted.”

 

“This parade signifies a historical moment where Asian, South Asian & Pacific Islander Americans all come together at the heart of our diverse city to celebrate cultures and traditions while amplifying our voice in unity,” said Dr. Bindu Babu, event co-chair, Asian American and Pacific Islander Cultural and Heritage Parade.

 

“In these pandemic times and with Anti-Asian intolerance, division, and hatred on the rise, it is so important for all of us to come together to celebrate our collective humanity — in a rare historic parade — as it is about time that we march together with each other to show our solidarity,” said Wellington Z. Chen, executive director, Chinatown BID/Partnership.

 

“When I first came to New York City, working as a peddler in Manhattan, I remember being amazed at the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the Columbus Day Parade. I never dreamed I would one day lead Korean New Yorkers down sixth avenue for the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Parade,” said John Park, founder, Korean American Community Empowerment Council. “I thank Mayor Adams for finally giving Asian New Yorkers the celebration we deserve!”

 

“Victory Music & Dance Company Inc., of Brownsville, Brooklyn, is delighted to be participating in the first annual Asian American Pacific Islander Cultural and Heritage Parade,” said Nicole Williams, founder and executive director, Victory Music & Dance Company Inc. “Our youth are excited about the opportunity to unite the community through music and dance!”

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MAY 11, 2022

 

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

New York Remains #1 Among Large States in Fully Vaccinated Total Population

21 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"Getting fully vaccinated and staying up to date on booster doses is a key way to prevent serious illness and hospitalization from COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "I want to thank the more than 75 percent of New Yorkers who have gotten fully vaccinated and are keeping their communities safe and healthy. Let's continue to move forward safely through this pandemic: Make sure you are fully vaccinated and up to date on your booster doses."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 51.62
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 48.66
• Test Results Reported - 109,960
• Total Positive - 10,087
• Percent Positive - 9.02%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.18%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,358 (-11)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 445
• Patients in ICU - 222 (+5)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 94 (+3)
• Total Discharges - 299,944 (415)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 21
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,672

** 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 - 71,068

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 - 38,563,494
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 25,747
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 148,730
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.5%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.8%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 87.1%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.2%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.2%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.0%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.2%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.3%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.1%  

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, May 8, 2022	Monday, May 9, 2022	Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Bronx	3.58%	3.62%	3.75%
Kings	4.12%	3.66%	3.86%
New York	6.73%	6.62%	6.56%
Queens	5.11%	5.08%	5.16%
Richmond	5.19%	5.28%	5.35%

Recording Artist Gang Leader Pleads Guilty To Racketeering And Narcotics Trafficking Conspiracies

 

Caswell Senior, a/k/a “Casanova,” Admits to a Shooting and a Robbery, and Having a Gang Leadership Role, and is Thirteenth Defendant to Plead Guilty

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that recording artist CASWELL SENIOR, a/k/a “Casanova,” pled guilty today to racketeering and narcotics offenses arising out of his leadership role in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang (“Gorilla Stone”) in Westchester County, New York City, and Florida.  As part of the racketeering conspiracy offense, SENIOR admitted to participating in a shooting in Florida on July 5, 2020, a robbery in New York City on August 5, 2018, and conspiring to traffic over 100 kilograms of marijuana.  SENIOR pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Like twelve of his co-defendants, Caswell Senior, an accomplished recording artist and performer, now stands convicted of playing a leadership role in Gorilla Stone, a particularly violent Bloods gang that operates throughout New York and across the country.  In addition to his supervisory role, Senior was an active, hands-on participant in the gang’s senseless violence, including a shooting in Miami and contributing to a robbery at a Manhattan diner.  Dismantling violent gangs and stopping gun violence continues to be one of my highest priorities.  Thanks to the dedication of our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Senior now awaits sentencing for his dangerous conduct.”      

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

Beginning in at least 2004 and lasting until December 2020, SENIOR participated in and was associated with the Gorilla Stone racketeering conspiracy.  Senior admitted that as part of the racketeering activity, on or about July 5, 2020, while at a party in Florida that included gang members, he discharged a firearm at an individual with whom he was having a gambling dispute.  A victim suffered serious bodily injury because of the shooting.  Thereafter, other party attendees discharged multiple firearms.  Additionally, SENIOR stipulated that as part of a separate August 5, 2018 robbery in Manhattan, a victim was restrained and suffered serious bodily injury.  In connection with his guilty plea, SENIOR further stipulated that he was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants and he agreed to traffic at least 100 kilograms of marijuana.

SENIOR, 35, of Montville, New Jersey, is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Philip M. Halpern on December 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.  SENIOR pled guilty to one count of conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of conspiring to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana.  The total maximum term of prison on these two counts is 60 years, with a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison. 

The maximum and mandatory minimum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

SENIOR is the thirteenth defendant in the Gorilla Stone case to plead guilty.  The twelve other defendants who previously pled guilty are: DESHAWN THOMAS, a/k/a “Don,” NAYA AUSTIN, a/k/a “Baby,” BRANDON NIEVES, a/k/a “Untouchable Dot,” DONAVAN GILLARD, a/k/a “Donnie Love,” JARRETT CRISLER, Jr., a/k/a “Jayecee,” DEZON WASHINGTON, a/k/a “Blakk,” STEPHEN HUGH, a/k/a “Chino,” JORDAN INGRAM, a/k/a “Flow,” SHANAY OUTLAW, a/k/a “Easy,” ROBERTA SLIGH, a/k/a “Trouble,” BRINAE THORNTON, a/k/a “Luxury,” and JAMAL TRENT, a/ka/ “Trap Smoke.” 

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of special agents and task force officers from the FBI, US Probation, New York State Police, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, NYPD, Westchester County PD, Westchester County DAs Office, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Rockland DAs Office and the Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, White Plains, Peekskill, Ramapo and Clarkstown Police Departments.

Bronx Community Board 9 - SENIOR CONNECTED IS BACK! 5.20.2022

 

Resources for people with Disabilities

COVID-19 Testing Sites

COVID-19 and Human Rights

Covid-19 Rent Relief Program Visit our website Bronx Community Board 9 -  1967 Turnbull Ave , Bronx , NY 10472

NYPD Announces New Head of Special Victims Division

Human-Trafficking Investigations Move to Survivor-Centric Unit

Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today announced the appointment of Inspector Carlos Ortiz, a 25-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, to lead the NYPD's newly restructured Special Victims Division.

As the division's commanding officer, Inspector Ortiz will oversee a survivor-centric, evidence-driven investigative body that will now also have full responsibility for investigating human-trafficking cases previously handled by the NYPD’s Vice Unit. Placing these investigations under SVD’s purview will streamline cases and allow detectives to more effectively and efficiently serve survivors of all sexual offenses, while simultaneously building the strongest possible cases on their behalf.

Inspector Ortiz was chosen from among several other highly qualified executive finalists. Each of the candidates was interviewed and vetted by a group of NYPD leaders and survivors’ advocates.

"As our NYPD team comes into sharper focus, it is clear that Inspector Ortiz is the best-suited professional to take the helm of our Special Victims Division and to lead all of the dedicated individuals committed to this important and challenging work,” Commissioner Sewell said. "He has extensive investigative experience, and I am confident in his proven abilities to enhance our public safety mission and further strengthen our close working relationships with advocacy groups – whose own members were consulted in the selection process for this critical role."

A New York City native, Inspector Ortiz joined the NYPD in April 1997, and began his career on patrol at the 44th Precinct in the Bronx. He also served at Police Service Area 8 in the Bronx, Detective Borough Manhattan South, the 45th Precinct in the Bronx, Detective Borough Bronx, and Patrol Borough Manhattan North. He was promoted to sergeant in December 2002, lieutenant in October 2007, captain in April 2011, deputy inspector in June 2015, and inspector in November 2018.

He served as commanding officer of Detective Borough Bronx, Zones 7 and 20; Detective Borough Manhattan South Operations; and the 115th Precinct in Queens. He was also executive officer of the 24th and 32nd Precincts in Manhattan. Most recently, Inspector Ortiz was Special Projects Coordinator for the Patrol Services Bureau.

Inspector Ortiz earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from DePauw University in Indiana in 1992.

The NYPD is relentlessly focused on delivering justice to brave survivors of sexual assault and other offenses, beginning at the very first interaction and throughout the entire investigative process. Well-trained SVD investigators are deeply committed to doing everything necessary to ensure that survivors of all crimes feel the safety and support needed to come forward, to courageously share their experiences, and to help their police department deliver them justice.

Today’s announcement further fortifies SVD, adding to previous improvements such as: the assignment of additional investigators, implementation of enhanced training that amplifies the NYPD’s ability to respond to survivors, and improved collaboration with survivors' advocates to offer necessary support and services while conducting full and thorough investigations.

Additionally, Commissioner Sewell announced today the search for a subject-matter expert who will fill a new civilian director's position within SVD, further supporting the goals of the division and the police department as a whole.