100PercentBronx

Friday, November 4, 2022

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Clinical specimen testing for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Wadsworth Laboratory

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

24 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"As respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 circulate in our state this fall, I urge New Yorkers to take advantage of all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Yesterday, Governor Hochul launched a new public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about three viruses - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), flu and COVID-19 - now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers.

Governor Hochul continues to remind New Yorkers that children ages 5 and older may now receive the bivalent booster shots that are recommended to increase protection against COVID-19.

The Governor also urges New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations.

In addition, Governor Hochul encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.

The State Department of Health is continuing its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month.

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

Cases Per 100k - 24.57
7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 19.72
Test Results Reported - 81,888
Total Positive - 4,801
Percent Positive - 5.19%**
7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.81%**
Patient Hospitalization - 2,804 (-45)
Patients Newly Admitted - 417
Patients in ICU - 303 (+6)
Patients in ICU with Intubation - 102 (+4)
Total Discharges - 358,316 (+427)
New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 24
Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,903

** 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 - 75,112

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 - 40,360,422
Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 4,403
Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 23,573
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 93.4%
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 84.8%
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) - 89.6%
Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 86.1%
Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.6%
Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 83.6%
Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 75.6%
Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 93.2%
Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.7%

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

Borough	Tuesday, November 1, 2022	Wednesday, November 2, 2022	Thursday, November 3, 2022
Bronx	6.28%	6.36%	6.25%
Kings	3.83%	4.31%	4.03%
New York	5.84%	5.91%	5.83%
Queens	6.57%	6.60%	6.46%
Richmond	5.53%	5.54%	5.16%

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE PUSHES TO STRENGTHEN CRISIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE

Today, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams championed the Crisis Management System (CMS) as alternative anti-violence programming, as well as supported the passage of two bills aimed at supporting and evaluating non-profit violence prevention groups, as the City continues its efforts to address a local and nationwide spike in gun violence. Speaking at a hearing of the Committee on Public Safety in the City Council, he highlighted the many successes of the Crisis Management System in the ongoing work to holistically address violence in New York City.

“While it may be necessary to make an arrest and take a person who has perpetrated an act of gun violence off the streets, it is clear that traditional policing by itself cannot address the root of the problem, and thus does not have the long-term effects that we desire,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. As part of co-producing public safety, he advocated for supporting and funding non-profit organizations that aim to prevent violence in the first place.

The city’s Crisis Management System is a network that is centered around credible messengers who help mediate conflicts on the street, and helps to connect high-risk individuals to services that can reduce the long-term risk of violence.

The Public Advocate, who as a former Chair of the Task Force to Combat Gun Violence helped push for and launch the Crisis Management System from its inception, also pointed to data that shows that CMS groups have seen massive success where implemented. He explained that, “the program [CMS] has contributed to an average 40 percent reduction in shootings across program areas, compared to a 31 percent decline in shootings in the 17 precincts in New York City with the highest rates of violence. We also found that violence decreased in those catchment areas even further than the city as a whole.”

The Office of Public Advocate recently released a comprehensive plan on the root causes of gun violence in New York City as well as recommendations to save lives. Read and download the report, Reimagining Gun Violence Prevention and Public Safety For New York City.

Given the past successes of anti-violence programming initiatives, the Public Advocate highlighted legislation to support, evaluate, and strengthen CMS. He argued, “This is what public safety can look like: an investment in communities, robust support services, and allowing those closest to the problem to lead the solution,” and urged passage of Int. 0756-2022, introduced by Chair Hanks, which would require the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to provide training and operational support to not-for-profit organizations participating in CMS, as well as Int. 0439-2022, introduced by Council Member Nantasha Williams, which mandates that MOCJ evaluate the performance of any organization that receives funding from the city for criminal justice-related services and submit a summary of the evaluation to the mayor and the speaker.

Read the Public Advocate’s full statement below.

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS

TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY

NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Good morning,

My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. Again, thank you to the Chair and the members of the Committee on Public Safety for holding this important hearing.

The stress and trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase of violence, particularly gun violence, in our city. Although the spike in gun violence has begun to decline, even one shooting is too many. We must also make clear that this violence has increased all across the country, but New York City does have an opportunity to lead. While it may be necessary to make an arrest and take a person who has perpetrated an act of gun violence off the streets, it is clear that traditional policing by itself cannot address the root of the problem, and thus does not have the long-term effects that we desire. In September of this year, my office released a report on reimagining gun violence prevention, which outlines a number of alternative solutions to traditional policing.

Mayor Adams and I sometimes disagree on the most impactful ways to address crime and violence in our city, but I applaud his support of alternative solutions to violence, including violence interrupters and crisis management systems. I’m also proud to have been one of the leading voices in getting this off the ground, so to see this go from the five million dollars originally allotted to where it is now, makes me very proud. The city’s Crisis Management System (CMS) is a network that is centered around credible messengers who help mediate conflicts on the street, but it also does so much more than that. It helps connect high-risk individuals to services that can reduce the long-term risk of violence. We made sure that the Crisis Management System was not just the Cure Violence Program, but also provided non-punitive, wrap-around services including school conflict mediation, employment programs, mental health services, and legal services.

We have evidence that alternatives to policing work to reduce violence: CMS data from 2010 to 2019 did the opposite of what people said would happen. They told us the sky would fall in and crime would rise, but we showed that the program has contributed to an average 40 percent reduction in shootings across program areas, compared to a 31 percent decline in shootings in the 17 precincts in New York City with the highest rates of violence. We also found that violence decreased in those catchment areas even further than the city as a whole.

Brownsville, Brooklyn’s 73rd Precinct exemplifies the success and necessity of these types of programs. In December 2020, the police withdrew from their regular posts on Mother Gaston Boulevard for five days. Instead of a police presence, a CMS group that was called Brownsville In, Violence Out watched over the two blocks between Pitkin and Sutter Avenues. No valid 911 or 311 calls were made during this pilot. A second round of this experiment a few months later saw the cure violence group and their community partners finding a missing 4-year-old and intervening in a fight brewing between groups of teenage girls, all without the help of police. I also want to shout out CCD, run by K Bain. I’m very proud of that, because he was my legislative director at the time when we got this off the ground, and the catchment area he has in Queensbridge went a whole year, the largest public housing in the country went a whole year without any shootings at all.

This is what public safety can look like: an investment in communities, robust support services, and allowing those closest to the problem to lead the solution. I absolutely understand that our law enforcement partners are necessary, the problem is when we ask them to do the job of so many others. That is why I am expressing my support for, and hope to sign onto, Int. 0756-2022, introduced by Chair Hanks, which would require the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to provide training and operational support to not-for-profit organizations participating in CMS. Also integral to expanding this system is Int. 0439-2022, which I’d also like to sign onto, introduced by Council Member Nantasha Williams, which mandates that MOCJ evaluate the performance of any organization that receives funding from the city for criminal justice-related services and submit a summary of the evaluation to the mayor and the speaker. As a matter of fact, when we had the original pilot program, there was funding made available for this program to be evaluated. I’m not sure what happened. Thank you to both Chair Hanks and Council Member Williams for introducing these important bills.

As widespread support for alternatives to policing grows, I am excited to work with the Mayor’s Office and the City Council to support and expand these critical programs and services that have been proven to keep New Yorkers safe.

As I mentioned, this is a problem all across the country, and I also know that data means nothing to people who are suffering in this city. We have an opportunity to lead here and we should.

Thank you.

Hochul Dials 911 Bringing in POTUS to Save Failing Campaign

"Hochul bringing in Biden is like bringing in the Captain of the Titanic to save your sinking ship"

In the surest sign yet that Lee Zeldin is on the cusp of a historic victory, Kathy Hochul has dialed 911 to bring in the President of the United States to boost her failing campaign just days before the election.

Langworthy noted the fact that this is the second time in weeks that Biden has had to come to deep blue New York to try and boost the governor amid a race that polling shows is a statistical dead heat. The last time a sitting president came to New York to campaign for a governor right before the election was in 1994 when Mario Cuomo lost to Republican George Pataki.

“New York Democrats are smashing the glass and pulling the fire alarm,” said NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy. “But calling in Biden to try and save Kathy Hochul is like bringing in the captain of the Titanic to save your sinking ship. I should say 'thank you' because it’s the perfect message to voters who are clamoring for a change from the failed Biden-Hochul agenda. This is an act of pure desperation and a sure sign that Lee Zeldin is on the cusp of a historic victory.”

Governor Hochul Signs Executive Order to Create New York's First-Ever Master Plan for Aging

an older couple walking

On Older New Yorkers' Day, Executive Order Calls for Comprehensive Master Plan for Aging to Ensure Older New Yorkers Can Live Healthy, Fulfilling Lives While Aging with Dignity and Independence

Department of Health and Office for the Aging to Head a Master Plan for Aging Council; Convene a Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed an executive order to create the state's first-ever Master Plan for Aging to ensure older New Yorkers can live healthy, fulfilling lives while aging with dignity and independence. Signed on Older New Yorkers' Day, the Executive Order directs the Commissioner of the State Department of Health and the Director of the State Office for the Aging to head a Master Plan for Aging Council, which will then gather input from relevant stakeholders to draft guidance for building healthy, livable communities that offer opportunities for older adults.

"As the first age-friendly state in the nation, we continue to take important steps to empower and support older New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "This Master Plan for Aging will provide us with tools to ensure our aging New Yorkers have access to quality long term care in healthy, livable communities where they can thrive."

Governor Hochul's executive order is the first step toward building a comprehensive roadmap for meeting the socioeconomic needs of all generations of New Yorkers as they age. Building on New York State's status as the first state in the nation to officially receive AARP's age-friendly designation, the Master Plan for Aging will help to coordinate existing and new state policy and programs for older adults and their families, while also addressing challenges related to communication, coordination, caregiving, long-term care financing, and innovative care models with the overarching aim of furthering the ability for more to age with dignity and independence.

The executive order was signed in advance of the New York State Office for the Aging annual Older New Yorkers' Day celebration, which honors volunteerism among older adults statewide. Starting at 1 p.m. today, this year's virtual celebration will honor 94 older adults across the state for their unique contributions through civic organizations, charities, in schools or libraries, on behalf of health and human services organizations or other non-profits, and through acts of kindness.

Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett or her designee will chair the Master Plan for Aging Council, Office for the Aging Director Greg Olsen will serve as vice-chair, and relevant state agency commissioners and directors will serve as its membership. The council will then assemble a stakeholder committee, including members from health care and support service providers; consumers; informal caregivers; older adults - particularly those in communities experiencing disparities; health plan companies, labor and community-based organizations, employers, experts on aging, and academic researchers, among others.

Earlier this year, the State Department of Health established the Office of Aging and Long-Term Care to develop policies and programs to meet the needs of older New Yorkers and people with disabilities who require long-term care services and support. Created in July, this new office is working closely with the Office of Health Insurance Programs, the Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management, and the state Office for the Aging to coordinate Department of Health activities related to aging New Yorkers.

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, "New York State has a long history of supporting a broad array of long-term care services and supports, and I want to applaud Governor Hochul for building upon that legacy with the State's first Master Plan for Aging. The work of our department's recently created Office of Aging and Long-Term Care will be guided by Governor Hochul's vision of a long term care system that is accessible, effective, and affordable, a system that will recognize the unique needs and expectations of each of the individuals it serves."

New York State Master Plan for Aging Coalition Coordinator Bob Blancato said, "Thank you to Governor Hochul for today's Executive Order for a Master Plan for Aging. This moment can be the catalyst for the development of a cross-sectional, equitable, intergenerationaland transparent plan to guide New York into the future. The Executive Order provides a solid pathway for developing a Master Plan for Aging that will build on, add to and better coordinate existing state policies such as Age-Friendly New York State and Health and Age Across All Policies. We especially appreciate the Governor's recognition that the active involvement of stakeholders is vital for a viable plan. We look forward to having strong representation of our Coalition on the Stakeholder Advisory Council created by the Executive Order."

The Master Plan for Aging builds on New York's status as the first age-friendly state in the nation, as designated by AARP and the World Health Organization in 2017. This status is designated based on eight domains of livability: outdoor spaces and buildings; transportation; housing; social participation; respect and social inclusion; work and civic engagement; communication and information; community and health services.

New York has the fourth-largest population of older adults in the U.S., with 3.2 million New Yorkers -about 16 percent of the population -over 65. New York's population of those over the age of 60 is projected to grow to 5.3 million by 2030 with those over eighty years of age exceeding 1.2 million.

Roughly 36 percent of New York State's population is age 50 or older. This population contributes 43 percent -about $719 billion -to the state's gross domestic product, generates $482 billion in wages and salary and contributes $72 billion in state and local taxes.

Adults older than 60 also commit more than 495 million hours of community service annually at an economic value of $13.8 billion. About 66 percent of this age group also own their own homes and have no mortgage.

Governor Hochul continues to champion initiatives to build a more age-friendly New York, including $300 million to build housing for older adults, part of the five-year $25 billion comprehensive housing plan that will create and preserve $100,000 units of affordable housing, statewide.This year's state budget also includes a $10 billion investment in health care infrastructure to increase the availability of community-based options that allow older adults to age in place.

The FY 2023 State Budget also provides $181.5 million, along with an addition $114.9 million in dedicated federal funding, for programs that support the independence of New York's older adults and their caregivers through Office for the Aging programs and supports, including new and expanded innovations to combat social isolation with technology.

As part of the budget, Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature increased seniors' eligibility for Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Program. For New Yorkers age 65 and up, the income limits will increase to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. This will ensure that more New Yorkers have access to reliable, affordable health coverage.