Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 30, 2022

COVID-19 vaccine vial and syringe

 6 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday


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

"While we keep a watchful eye on hospitalization and case trends, it is vitally important that every New Yorker continues using the tools we know are effective," Governor Hochul said. "If you're feeling sick, get tested and limit your exposure to others. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about available treatments. The vaccine and booster are still the most effective way to limit infection and severe illness, and I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of these tools so we can continue to keep ourselves and loved ones safe and healthy."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

  • Test Results Reported - 127,873
  • Total Positive - 3,243
  • Percent Positive - 2.54%
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.45%
  • Patient Hospitalization - 817 (-28)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 146
  • Patients in ICU - 130 (+3)
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 58 (-1)
  • Total Discharges - 290,604 (+147)
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 6
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,119

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 - 70,231

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 - 37,432,862
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 13,280
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 84,720
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.0%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.4%
  • 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) - 86.1%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.5%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.6%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.5%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.7%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.5%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.1%
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, March 27, 2022 

Monday, March 28, 2022 

Tuesday, March 29, 2022 

Bronx 

0.91% 

0.96% 

1.00% 

Kings 

1.70% 

1.76% 

1.76% 

New York 

2.46% 

2.51% 

2.52% 

Queens 

1.48% 

1.54% 

1.55% 

Richmond 

1.71% 

1.86% 

1.92% 

PUBLIC ADVOCATE PUSHES FOR COMMUNITY-CENTERED GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AT COUNCIL HEARING


Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today emphasized the need to redefine public safety and combat the root causes of the recent rise in gun violence to make New York City safer. In his comments at an oversight hearing of the Committee on Public Safety focused on the mayor’s recent Blueprint to End Gun Violence, the Public Advocate stressed that the city cannot simply police its way out of longstanding issues and repeated his calls for investment in the communities that face the most violence. 


“I know the pain that these shootings can cause in communities that know too well the shock and trauma from this epidemic. We cannot accept this as normal, and we cannot go numb to the violence in our streets,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “I do appreciate that Mayor Adams’ administration acknowledges gun violence as a public health crisis. I agree that this issue is a public health issue. At the same time, I do not believe this Blueprint, and the parts that have been most focused on, goes far enough to provide immediate relief and long-term transformational changes that are needed.”


The Public Advocate analyzed the mayor’s Blueprint to cite both areas of agreement and elements that could negatively impact New Yorkers. He explained that the expanded Summer Youth Employment Program as well as the mayor’s proposed investments in mental health programming would bring positive change. At the same time, the Blueprint also in part attributes the rise in gun violence to bail reform and Raise the Age legislation, which data refutes. He emphasized that, “We can’t use excuses of the past that result in overpolicing of communities of more color and mass incarceration is unproductive and dishonest. We can and should do better to stop the violence in our communities.”


Alternatively, the Public Advocate recommended his own framework to combat gun violence and reimagine policing in New York City. Among many proposals, his plan suggests increased investment in the Mayor’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention and providing expanded social, educational, vocational, and health care services to the communities hardest hit by gun violence. “The neighborhoods that see the highest rate of shootings are the same neighborhoods with the highest rates of unemployment. They are the same neighborhoods that saw the highest COVID-19 cases during the height of the pandemic. They are the same neighborhoods facing a housing crisis and without access to education facilities that are properly funded and resourced.”


In pushing for a greater budgetary focus on services, many of which are cut in the preliminary budget, than on enforcement agencies who are set to have their budgets increase, the Public Advocate said, “I understand that there has to be accountability for violence in our communities. None of these things are about excuses. The problem is that we spend more on getting accountability than actually addressing these structural issues in the first place … I hope that this administration does not rely on the strategies that saw Black and Brown New Yorkers overpoliced and jailed … We need to make sure people, especially young people, can get a chance to succeed rather than face the trauma and stress seen across previous administrations.” 


In closing, the Public Advocate reminded the administration, “Communities have the solutions and the answers, and the administration should make sure to listen to these ideas.”


The Public Advocate’s full comments as delivered are below. 


TESTIMONY OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS

TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - OVERSIGHT - MAYOR’S BLUEPRINT TO END GUN VIOLENCE

MARCH 30, 2022


Good morning,


My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I would like to thank Chair Kamillah Hanks for holding today’s hearing and for allowing me some opportunities to speak on the Mayor’s Blueprint to End Gun Violence. I’m thankful to see Commissioner Sewell as well.


The devastating rise in gun violence is alarming and a tragedy, with 28 people shot over a weekend this month alone. I know the pain that these shootings can cause in communities that know too well the shock and trauma from this epidemic. We cannot accept this as normal, and we cannot go numb to the violence in our streets. I do appreciate that Mayor Adams’ administration acknowledges gun violence as a public health crisis. I appreciate the work that both of us have done together over the years on this issue. I agree that this issue is a public health issue. At the same time, I do not believe this Blueprint and the parts that have been most focused on goes far enough to provide immediate relief and long-term transformational change that are needed


There are very great spaces of agreement in the Blueprint. An expanded Summer Youth Employment Program is the right step to offer long-overdue resources to young people. In addition, the administration’s desire to invest in mental health programs that offer direct need to people is a welcome announcement. The fact that we will be trying to structuralize the Crisis Management System into other agencies. The fact there was an agreement to get other agencies to look at COMPStat numbers instead of just the NYPD. I’m not sure those have moved along yet. Those are some areas of agreement that need to be built out much more. The issue is that this Blueprint does not go far enough on some of the other areas, and the emphasis on change doesn’t seem to be in the areas that need the most transformation.


In some areas, it takes a step back by using false narratives that drive gun violence. Focus on bail reform that we know is not the reason for the rise in gun violence in New York State nor across the nation. Raise the Age is not the reason for the rise in gun violence. I would love to see not just the age change of people who are shooting, but people not to shoot to begin with. We need an honest conversation to make meaningful changes, to stop violence, and to save lives. We can’t use excuses of the past that result in overpolicing of communities of more color and mass incarceration is unproductive and dishonest. We can and should do better to stop the violence in our communities.


The Mayor’s Blueprint should not result in something that appears like broken windows. 

That type of policing has not, does not, and will not work to curb violence in our City. What we’ve learned in the past years that officers are not needed to fix a broken window. A broken window doesn’t always take the police to fix it. The Mayor’s Subway Safety Plan is an example of sending police to eject or arrest people in the transit system. Addressing the problems seen across communities in the City, or in our transit system, should not solely depend on police and should not have police going there first.


I recommend my Office’s newly-updated Redefining Public Safety platform released in January. The platform’s recommendations alone do not solve the epidemic of violence. The platform is designed to create a base to redefine, protect, and promote public safety in our City. The City should invest more in the Mayor’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention to target young people directly impacted by gun violence. Crisis Management System programming should be embedded with City agencies, as the Mayor said back in January this year. Law enforcement’s role in public safety is also important. It should involve community stakeholders in COMPStat meetings and policing strategies for transparency purposes and so other folks can provide the services they know they can in the same areas of the zip codes being focused on.


We have said for so many years that we know the concentration of gun violence and where it is occurring. The neighborhoods that see the highest rate of shootings are the same neighborhoods with the highest rates of unemployment. They are the same neighborhoods that saw the highest COVID-19 cases during the height of the pandemic. They are the same neighborhoods facing a housing crisis and without access to education facilities that are properly funded and resourced. It’s all going to be in the same community. 


I understand that there has to be accountability for violence in our communities. None of these things are about excuses. The problem is that we spend more on getting accountability than actually addressing these structural issues in the first place. If we want to get this right, we need to address those issues. We have an opportunity to get it right, now, and this administration needs to reimagine public safety for our City. So we’re not apologizing for decisions we’re making in a few decades like we did 40 years ago when we tried to address the same issues.


I hope that this administration does not rely on the strategies that saw Black and Brown New Yorkers overpoliced and jailed. We have a preliminary budget that gives too much for the Department of Correction and the NYPD while defunding agencies like the Department of Education. We need to make sure people, especially young people, can get a chance to succeed rather than face the trauma and stress seen across previous administrations that deployed abusive strategies like the abuses of stop, question, and frisk.


I look forward to the administration’s testimony in explaining its vision and goals to stop this epidemic of gun violence. Communities have the solutions and the answers, and the administration should make sure to listen to these ideas. I’m proud to be a leading voice on these issues for over a decade. Even though many people fought tooth and nail, we were able to show that you can lower arrests, lower incarceration, lower shootings, lower use of force by police, lower people actually accusing police of use of force. In 2018 and 2019, when people were saying the same things, we actually showed the City was the safest it has ever been. If you are a victim of crime, that would mean absolutely nothing to you. But many of us would say crime would go up as we saw the pandemic impact. We should focus on what is working, what works, and understand the police are our law enforcement partners. We have to stop asking them to do the work of others. It’s unfair to them because they don’t have the tools. It’s unfair to the community.


I hope we can come together and get this right because we have to. Thank you so much. Peace and blessings. 

Brooklyn Man Convicted Of Robbing Chanel Store In Soho

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ERIC SPENCER, was convicted for his participation in a robbery of a luxury retail store in New York, New York on February 2, 2021. SPENCER was convicted after a one-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.

As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:

On February 2, 2021, SPENCER robbed a Chanel store located in the SoHo neighborhood in Manhattan. SPENCER and three other co-conspirators entered the store and began ripping handbags off the cables that secured them to store displays. When an armed security guard confronted SPENCER, he reached into his waistband and intimated he had a firearm, causing store personnel to back off as the perpetrators made off with over $200,000 in luxury goods.

In the days after the robbery, SPENCER took photos of the stolen bags on his phone, bragged on his social media account about acquiring so many bags he “COULD OPEN A SMALL BOUTIQUE,” and sent text messages confirming he had sold the stolen merchandise.

Spencer fleeing the scene of the SoHo store robbery with stolen merchandise in his hands

Pictured: Spencer fleeing the scene of the SoHo store robbery with stolen merchandise in his hands

 

A photo taken by Spencer of a bag stolen in the robbery

Pictured: A photo taken by Spencer of a bag stolen in the robbery 

SPENCER, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery. The maximum potential sentence for each count is 20 years in prison and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Woods for June 30, 2022.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York City Police Department.

Housing Lottery Launches For The Henry At 2395 Palisade Avenue In Spuyten Duyvil, (Riverdale) The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for the Henry, a six story residential building at 2395 Palisade Avenue in Spuyten Duyvil, Riverdale Section of the Bronx. Designed by Kutmicki Bernstein Architects and developed by Timber Equities, the structure yields 55 residencies. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 17 units for residents at 130 percent of the area medium income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from 65,520 to $167,570. 

The Henry at 2395 Palisade Avenue in Spuyten Duyvil, The Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

Units come equipped with dishwashers, washers and dryers, high-speed internet, air conditioning, name-brand appliances and finishes, and energy-efficient appliances. Amenities include common area Wi-Fi, gym, recreation room, package lockers, virtual doorman, garage with electric car charging stations, shared laundry room, and green space including a rooftop terrace.



At 130 percent of the AMI, there are three studios with a monthly rent of $1,825 for incomes ranging from $65,520 to $124,150; eight one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,190 for incomes ranging from $78,446 to $139,620; and six two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,675 for incomes ranging from $96,172 to $167,570.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than April 19, 2022.

MAYOR ADAMS SIGNS LEGISLATION EXTENDING HOUSING AND VACANCY SURVEY DEADLINE

 

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed Intro 70 into law, extending the deadline for the city’s Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS). Sponsored by New York City Councilmember and Housing and Buildings Committee Chair Pierina Sanchez, Intro 70 extends the deadline for the HVS from April 1, 2022 to July 1, 2022. 

“I am pleased that my first bill signing and hearing is one that gets stuff done for New York City renters and working people,” said Mayor Adams. “Too many New Yorkers are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table, and this bill provides the time needed for the city to make an informed decision on the extension of rent stabilization.”

 

“The Housing and Vacancy Study is a critical tool in tracking our housing stock and understanding the realities on the ground for New Yorkers trying to find an affordable home for their families,” said New York City Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “I am grateful to Councilmember Sanchez for understanding how important it is for the city to have adequate time to accurately assess the state of our housing market. We cannot rush a review against a short deadline when vital rent stabilized units are on the line. This bill will let us do our job right.”


“For more than 50 years, the ​New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey has been the most reliable source of information on the city’s vacancy rate, the supply and condition of housing, and the continued need for rent regulation. In light of the pandemic’s effect on New York City tenants, collecting thorough citywide data is more important than ever,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “We’re glad to have the Council’s support in extending the ​deadline to allow the New York City Housing Vacancy Survey to more accurately assess the state of housing in this city.”

 

“The pandemic is still impacting New York City on multiple fronts, including exacerbating the housing affordability crisis that predated the arrival of COVID,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Extending the period of determination for our city’s housing emergency will allow tenants to remain protected under rent stabilization laws for additional time. I thank Councilmember Sanchez for her leadership on this important legislation.”

 

“Stabilized housing is essential to maintaining affordability for our New Yorkers,” said New York City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez. “This bill is critical to ensuring rent stabilization can continue in New York City, upon proper findings in the city’s Housing Vacancy Survey. I am proud to have sponsored this bill as my first act as chair of the Housing and Buildings Committee, and I look forward to continuing all efforts to maintain rent stabilization for the two million New York households relying on city leaders to maintain our rent stabilization laws in this city.”

The HVS is completed every three years in compliance with New York state and New York City’s rent regulation laws, however, the survey scheduled for 2020 was postponed initially due to the 2021 U.S. Census and then further due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Per New York state law, the city’s rent stabilization law is triggered by a “housing emergency,” which is in effect when the city’s rental vacancy rate — as measured by the HVS — is below 5 percent.