Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MAY 18, 2022

 

7-Day Average Case Rates in Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley — First Regions in New York State to See Spring Uptick — Continue Downward Decline

North Country, Southern Tier, and Western New York Case Rates Continue to Plateau

19 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"As we continue to monitor the numbers, I encourage New Yorkers to keep using the tools that protect against and treat COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "The best way to prevent serious illness and hospitalization from COVID-19 is by getting fully vaccinated and staying up to date on your booster doses. I know first-hand how tests can help stop the spread to our vulnerable loved ones, so let's keep using this critical tool. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about treatments. Let's continue to look out for each as we work to move forward safely through this pandemic."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 52.81
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 50.67
• Test Results Reported - 117,484
• Total Positive - 10,320
• Percent Positive - 8.27%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.57%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,705 (+56)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 535
• Patients in ICU - 247 (+2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 96 (+1)
• Total Discharges - 302,496 (+430)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 19
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,835

** 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 - 71,292

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 - 38,711,416
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 22,201
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 147,922
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.6%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.9%  
• 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) - 87.2%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.4%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.3%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.1%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.3%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.4%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.2%  

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 15, 2022	Monday, May 16, 2022	Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Bronx	3.76%	3.75%	3.73%
Kings	4.01%	5.00%	5.07%
New York	5.62%	5.94%	6.02%
Queens	5.16%	5.26%	5.15%
Richmond	6.02%	6.50%	6.71%

     

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBER TO PANEL FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced his appointment of Kyle Kimball to the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP). The newly appointed member brings a diverse range of experience spanning the public sector, education policy, the private sector, and, most importantly, firsthand knowledge as a public school parent. 

 

“New York City families deserve to be represented by a board reflective of the diversity that makes this city great,” said Mayor Adams. “Our PEP appointees reflect that diversity and our administration’s priority for enhancing parent and community engagement, as we reimagine our schools and improve education for every child from every background.”

 

“As a parent of a public school student, the husband of a teacher, and a deep history serving our city, Mr. Kimball brings critical insight to the Panel,” said New York City Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks. “I look forward to working with him to uplift our schools in the coming years.”

 

The PEP replaced the former Board of Education in 2002 and is part of the governance structure responsible for the city’s public schools. Established under State Education Law, the PEP is responsible for approving standards, policies, and objectives directly related to educational achievement and instruction and the Chancellor’s Regulations, significant changes in school utilization, budgetary items, and department contracts.

 

Mayor Adams is responsible for nine appointments on the PEP. Kimball joins Dr. Vasthi Acosta, Tom Allon, Gregory Faulkner, Dr. Angela Green, Anthony Lopez, Alan Ong, Karina Taveras, and Gladys Ward as mayoral appointees to the PEP.

 

About Kyle Kimball

 

Kyle Kimball currently serves as the vice president of Government Relations for Consolidated Edison (Con Ed), joining the company in June 2015. In 2013, Kimball was appointed president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and later reappointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio. In that position, he oversaw billions of dollars in capital infrastructure investments and implemented several of the city’s most ambitious commercial and housing real estate development projects. He also led efforts to strengthen the city’s economy by attracting new industries, growing local companies, and expanding entrepreneurship and educational opportunities. Before joining NYCEDC, Kimball worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co. as vice president in the Americas Financing Group, and at J.P. Morgan, as a vice president, in corporate capital markets.

 

Kimball is a 1995 graduate of Harvard. He also received a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1998.

 

Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Kimball lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with his husband Doug, a public school teacher, and their daughter, Isadora, a public school student.

 

Community Resources Fair by Jose Rivera

 

Friday, May 20th  (12pm - 5pm),

b/w E. 192nd Street & E. Kingsbridege Road Grand Concourse.

KRVC - Jazz at Amalgamated is Coming Up Next Week! Reserve your Spot NOW

 

Join Us for our first Jazz at Amalgamated since 2019! We are so excited to bring this event back after a two year pandemic hiatus!

Also Please Save the Date & Join Us for our First Outdoor Concert in Riverdale since 2019! 

We are excited to be back at Henry Hudson Park! 

Our large funders include: Empire State Development, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYS Department of Family and Children’s Services, NYC Department of Small Business Services, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz, Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, TD Bank, Douglas Elliman Real Estate and Ridgewood Savings Bank.  The arts are thriving again in our community -- hope to see you. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

NYS OASAS Announces Award of $800,000 to Expand Opioid Addiction Treatment Services in New York State

 

Providers Will Receive $200,000 Each to Establish Additional Opioid Treatment Program Locations Outside of their Main Facilities

 The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) today announced the award of $800,000 to four Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) providers to establish new locations outside of their existing facilities. These programs will help to bring OTP services to currently underserved locations and continue to address the ongoing need for treatment throughout New York State.

“The treatment offered by OTP providers has been proven to save lives and improve long-term health outcomes,” OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. “This is an important expansion that will bring these services to new areas and allow more New Yorkers to receive the critical addiction help that they need.”

These additional OTP services will be operated by existing providers, who can use this funding for building repairs and maintenance, including renovations, medical supplies and equipment, and furniture. Each of the providers below is receiving $200,000 in one-time funding, which is being provided to New York State through the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant Supplemental award and administered by NYS OASAS through a request for applications process.

OTP Additional Location Award Recipients:

• Community Action Organization of Western NY OTP Erie County/Additional Location - Genesee County
• Farnham, Inc. OTP Oswego County/Additional Location - Cayuga County
• Lexington Center for Recovery, Inc. OTP Rockland County/Additional Location - Ulster County
• Lexington Center for Recovery, Inc. OTP Dutchess County/Additional Location - Dutchess County

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

Man Charged in Sales of Nearly 50 Pounds of Crystal Meth in Manhattan and Queens

 

Drugs transported from Atlanta, Ga. carried a street value of over $2 million

A North Carolina man is charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree for allegedly selling 22 kilograms (over 48 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine in Manhattan and Queens during an undercover investigation. 

Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell and New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen announced the arrest following the arraignment of ANDRADE-MORA in Manhattan Criminal Court last night. 

The investigation was conducted by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s (SNP) Investigators Unit and DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF), Group T-23, which is comprised of agents and officers with the DEA New York Division, the NYPD and the New York State Police. 

JUVENAL ANDRADE-MORA was arrested on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at approximately 12:35 p.m. in the vicinity of 539 West 155th Street in Manhattan and is charged in a criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. 

In the days leading up to his arrest, ANDRADE-MORA travelled to New York City from North Carolina and allegedly met with an undercover officer on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 12:40 p.m. at 72-12 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, Queens. ANDRADE-MORA allegedly provided the undercover with one kilogram of crystal meth wrapped inside a green sweatshirt. 

ANDRADE-MORA and the undercover arranged for a second meeting and the sale of an additional 19 kilograms of crystal meth for a wholesale price of $11,000 per kilogram, or a combined $220,000. 

Agents and officers used electronic surveillance to track ANDRADE-MORA as he returned to North Carolina by bus, and then traveled to Atlanta, Ga. On May 11, ANDRADE-MORA returned to New York.  

That day, at approximately 12:35 p.m., ANDRADE-MORA allegedly met with the undercover on West 155th Street in Manhattan, and directed the undercover to a black suitcase in front of 575 West 155th Street, indicating that the drugs were inside the suitcase. The undercover retrieved the bag, and members of SNP’s Investigators Unit and NYDETF Group T-23 arrested ANDRADE-MORA. 

The suitcase contained two plastic bags, each with several plastic bags inside containing a white, crystal-like substance. The packages weighed approximately 21 kilograms. Field-testing indicated the substance is crystal methamphetamine. Laboratory test results are pending. Investigators believe the crystal meth originated in Mexico. The street value of the drugs is estimated at over $2 million. 

ANDRADE-MORA was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court and released without bail being set. Under current New York State law, he could not be charged with a bail eligible offense. Methamphetamine is categorized as a controlled substance, but not a narcotic drug. Regardless of the amount of methamphetamine sold or possessed, and regardless of a defendant’s lack of connections to New York State, under current law judges may not set bail on cases involving only methamphetamine.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and commended her office’s Investigators Unit and Special Investigations Bureau, and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, including the DEA New York Division, the NYPD and the New York State Police, for their work on the investigation.

“Methamphetamine, a synthetic drug, is a potentially lethal stimulant, which is driving up overdose deaths across the country, according to federal health officials. The increased volume of methamphetamine coming into our city is astonishing, most of it produced in Mexico. Once here, it is mixed with other dangerous drugs and pressed into counterfeit pills. We work tirelessly with law enforcement partners to intercept it at the highest levels, and will work with the state legislature to make sure we have every tool at our disposal to protect New Yorkers from this deadly drug,” said Special Prosecutor Brennan.

"Illegal drugs like the ones seized in this investigation poison our communities and destroy lives," said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. "Our department works day and night to rid our streets of these toxins, and we vow to bring anyone who peddles them to justice. I want to thank the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, the DEA New York Division, the New York State Police, and all of our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work on this case."   

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendants is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Governor Hochul Announces Complaint Filed Against Amazon

 

NYS Division of Human Rights Alleges Pregnancy and Disability Discrimination at Amazon Worksites

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the New York State Division of Human Rights has filed a complaint against Amazon, Inc. alleging the company engages in discrimination against pregnant workers and workers with disabilities by denying them reasonable accommodations. The Division also alleges that Amazon has policies that force pregnant workers and workers with disabilities to take an unpaid leave of absence rather than allowing them to work with a reasonable accommodation.  

"My administration will hold any employer accountable, regardless of how big or small, if they do not treat their workers with the dignity and respect they deserve," Governor Hochul said. "New York has the strongest worker protections in the nation and was one of the first to have protections for workers who are pregnant and those with disabilities. Working men and women are the backbone of New York and we will continue to take a stand against any injustice they face."  

The New York State Human Rights Law requires that all employers, upon request, reasonably accommodate workers with disabilities or pregnancy-related conditions. This can include modification of job duties that allow an employee to perform the essential functions of their jobs. Amazon, which operates 23 worksites with over 39,000 workers across New York State, employs in-house "Accommodation Consultants" to evaluate such requests and recommend appropriate action. The Division alleges that Amazon's policy of allowing worksite managers to override the recommendations made by the Accommodations Consultant have caused Amazon employees to be denied reasonable accommodations for their disabilities and pregnancy-related conditions.  

The Division further alleges that under Amazon's accommodation policy, employees with disabilities are forced to take unpaid medical leave even in situations where the Accommodation Consultant has identified a reasonable accommodation that would allow the employee to perform the essential functions of their position without an undue burden. The policy or practice of forcing employees to take an unpaid medical leave of absence diminishes the terms and conditions of employment for employees with disabilities and is against the Human Rights Law.  

Division of Human Rights Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Melissa Franco said, "Since the 1970s - years before the Americans with Disabilities Act - New York State has prohibited discrimination against pregnant employees in the workplace. The Division will work to ensure that everyone in our state is fully afforded the rights and dignities that the law requires."  

In its complaint, the Division alleges a pregnant worker requested and was approved to receive a reasonable accommodation to avoid lifting packages over 25 pounds. However, the worksite manager refused to follow the accommodation - forcing the worker to continue lifting heavy packages. Despite internal complaints about the lack of accommodation, Amazon took no action to ensure the needed change was carried out and the pregnant worker suffered an injury while lifting heavy packages. Subsequently, the worker required further accommodations as a result of the injury. Amazon denied the request and forced the pregnant worker into indefinite unpaid leave. 

The Division alleges that another Amazon worker was improperly denied when they requested a modified work schedule due to a documented disability. The worker's condition necessitated a specific sleep schedule and the worker submitted supporting medical documentation with the request. Prior to the request, the worker had been swapping shifts with a coworker to accommodate this condition without objections from management. Amazon's Accommodations Consultant recommended that the worker be given the requested modified work schedule. However, the worksite manager refused to implement the accommodation without offering any explanation. The Accommodations Consultant did not challenge the manager's refusal. Rather, the Accommodations Consultant reversed their recommendation and denied the request citing a lack of a qualifying condition - despite the medical documentation they had previously received.

In another instance from the Division's complaint, the agency alleges that a worker who requested a reduction of work hours due to disability was denied an accommodation, despite initial approval by an Accommodations Consultant. The Amazon worksite manager refused to change the worker's schedule even after several weeks of correspondence with the Accommodations Consultant. Eventually, Amazon determined that the request was not supported by sufficient medical documentation. Rather than continuing a dialogue with the worker to obtain appropriate medical documentation as New York State law requires, Amazon denied the request and closed the matter.  

The Division's complaint seeks a decision requiring Amazon to cease its discriminatory conduct, adopt non-discriminatory policies and practices regarding the review of requests for reasonable accommodations, train its employees on the provisions of the Human Rights Law, and pay civil fines and penalties to the State of New York.   

The Division of Human Rights is empowered by law to investigate and prosecute systematic patterns of discrimination through their Division Initiated Action Unit. This Unit can, upon its own motion, initiate investigations and file complaints alleging violations of the state anti-discrimination law. Once filed, a separate unit within the Division investigates the complaint and issues findings. Complaints that are found to have probable cause are then set for an administrative hearing before the Division's Hearings Unit. Although the complaint is a private document, the Division's final determination on the complaint will be available to the public. For more information on the Division of Human Rights' process visit www.dhr.ny.gov.