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Vaccine Requirement for Attending Graduation Previously Lifted
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks, in consultation with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), today announced the lifting of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for New York City public school proms. Students were previously told they could attend graduation this year regardless of vaccination status.
Nevins Street Apartments Adds 129 Affordable and Supportive Homes to Downtown Brooklyn with 6,000 Square Feet of Retail Space
78 Apartments Reserved for Formerly Homeless Individuals, Veterans, Young Adults, and Individuals Recovering From a Substance Use Disorder
Part of Governor's $25 Billion Five-Year Transformative Housing Plan
Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the completion of Nevins Street Apartments, a $72 million mixed-use housing development that creates accessible, supportive and affordable homes in Downtown Brooklyn. The development complex includes the entire renovation of a century-old building and the new construction of an adjacent 10-story building. Nevins Street Apartments features 129 affordable apartments, including 78 supportive homes reserved for individuals who need tailored services to live independently and 6,000 square feet of commercial space.
"In the wake of the pandemic, it is critical that we take bold action to make New York a more affordable place for all, and that is why my administration launched a comprehensive $25 billion affordable housing plan to help ensure every New Yorker has access to safe, affordable housing," Governor Hochul said. "New York is committed to tackling the housing crisis with transformative projects like Nevins Street Apartments that drive neighborhood revitalization and provide New Yorkers with the support and stability they need to thrive."
"We need to solve the crisis of homelessness with the crisis of housing, and I am proud to have supported a project as Borough President and now as mayor that helps us do exactly that," Mayor Adams said. "This project represents exactly what we need more of in New York City: collaboration between city and state to provide affordable homes for families in shelters, New Yorkers struggling with mental health challenges, or veterans who have served our country bravely and need a place to call home."
Nevins Street Apartments is part of Governor Hochul's sweeping plans to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable. In the recently enacted State Budget, the Governor secured a new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan that will increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.
Nevins Street Apartments has a total of 129 apartments across two buildings that share a common core. The development includes the substantial rehabilitation of an existing building originally constructed in 1912 as a single room occupancy residential facility by the YWCA for single women. Over the last 30 years, the Institute for Community Living has operated the building as an Office of Mental Health licensed transitional housing facility. The redevelopment converted the existing single rooms into self-contained apartments.
The newly constructed 10-story building stands on an adjacent parking lot. Amenities include common laundry facilities, 24/7 front desk security, a community room, a gym and yoga room, a computer lab, and a classroom. The developer is the Institute for Community Living.
Of the 129 apartments, 78 are reserved for formerly homeless individuals, veterans, young adults, and individuals recovering from a substance use disorder. The remaining apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income. There is one apartment reserved for a superintendent.
Residents will have access to the Institute for Community Living's comprehensive onsite support services including counseling, parenting and life skills, family reunification and stabilization, health education, social and recreational services, and linkage to community services.
The residential complex is located on Nevins Street between Schermerhorn and State Streets in Downtown Brooklyn. The development's retail space will face Schermerhorn Street, the neighborhood's major commercial corridor. Residents will enjoy easy access to nearby transit and all major services including shopping, medical care and public facilities.
State financing for the development includes $13.6 million in tax-exempt bonds, federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $27.3 million in equity and $9 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York State Office of Mental Health will provide $1.9 million annually for rental assistance and services for the supportive units through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $10.6 million from the Supportive Housing Loan Program.
Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said,"Taking a century-old building and creating 129 affordable and supportive homes for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers demonstrates the type of collaboration and vision needed to combat homelessness and strengthen communities. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, we will continue to increase the supply of decent and affordable housing across Brooklyn's diverse neighborhoods and in every region of the state. Our thanks to the city of New York and the Institute for Community Living for their partnership on this important investment."
Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "The 78 supportive housing units in the Nevins Street Apartments will allow people living with mental illness the opportunity to live independently and successfully in their own homes and community. Governor Hochul's commitment to supportive housing is providing vulnerable New Yorkers with safe and stable homes, coupled with the services they need to become valuable contributors to the communities."
New York City Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. said, "More than half of the 129 affordable homes at Nevins Street Apartments are set aside for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, who will also have access to supportive services provided by the Institute for Community Living. Each apartment represents a lifeline to someone in need of housing, enabling them to live healthier lives in the safety and comfort of their own home. Thank you to ICL and our partners at the State for making this project possible, and to the new residents of Nevins Street Apartments, welcome home."
It rained all day Saturday cancelling outside activities for Bronx Week, but inside the Mall at Bay Plaza the Bronx Week Fashion Show was a huge success. Show Creative Producer Flora Montes was joined by Emcee for the event Miss New York State 2022 contestant Samara Clark, Creative Director Crystal Gomez, Fashion Producer Hazel McIntyre, Runway Coordinator Natasha Roldan, DJ Latiff, Raymond Chankasingh, Lourdes Rios, Rosy Dossantos, and many more people including all the models who walked the runway for the Bronx Week 2022 Fashion Show at the Mall at Bay Plaza.
Extra chairs had to be set up for this fashion show, which like all the other Bronx Week events took a hiatus for two years because of COVID-19. Models were featuring outfits from Macy's, Ashley Stewart, Forever 21, Daysi Collections, and Callejas. Both women's and men's fashions were exhibited.
Governor Hochul Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against, Treat and Prevent Serious Illness from COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment
18 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 to protect against, treat and prevent serious illness from COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Get your vaccine, your second dose, or your booster when you're eligible and get your children fully vaccinated. Get tested before traveling and seeing vulnerable loved ones and if you test positive, ask your doctor about possible treatments. We will continue to make sure these tools are available to all New Yorkers so we can keep moving forward safely through this pandemic."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
** 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.
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.
Borough | Friday, May 6, 2022 | Saturday, May 7, 2022 | Sunday, May 8, 2022 |
Bronx | 3.29% | 3.51% | 3.58% |
Kings | 3.87% | 4.21% | 4.12% |
New York | 6.42% | 6.66% | 6.73% |
Queens | 4.86% | 5.05% | 5.11% |
Richmond | 4.82% | 4.97% | 5.19% |
Defendant Conspired to Kill a Suspected Federal Informant
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Ronald Williams, a leader of the ‘90s Crew street gang based in the Canarsie and East Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn, was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 24 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice murder, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Williams was convicted by a federal jury on January 24, 2018 following a two-week trial. Williams’ co-defendant, Leon Campbell, pleaded guilty in June 2019 to murder-for-hire conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and was sentenced in November 2019 to nine years’ imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), announced the sentence.
“Ronald Williams showed his indifference for a human life when, without any hesitation, he accepted money to kill someone suspected of being an informant for federal law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s lengthy sentence demonstrates the seriousness of obstructing justice and that those who seek to do so will be punished. Our district is a safer place with this dangerous and ruthless felon off the streets. I commend the DEA for taking swift action in warning the victim and preventing the planned murder from being carried out.”
“This sentencing demonstrates DEA’s relentless pursuit to seek justice for drug trafficking and violent crimes,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Tarentino. “The investigation underscores the relationship between drug trafficking and violence, and further demonstrates our commitment and resolve to holding those accountable for causing the most harm in our communities. I commend the hard work of the agents, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly on this investigation.”
On April 26, 2013, DEA agents were following Campbell as he was making a delivery of marijuana to a customer in Brooklyn. Campbell spotted the agents and fled, suspecting that his marijuana customer was an informant providing information to federal law enforcement. On April 30, 2013, Campbell called Williams and offered to pay him $5,000 to kill the individual he suspected was a federal informant. Williams agreed to commit the murder and began planning the murder, including selecting a gang member to carry out the contract. Federal agents, however, were able to identify the potential victim, and the murder was not carried out.
Williams was also convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition found during the execution of a search warrant at his residence and using a firearm in connection with the charged drug trafficking crime. The items recovered during a search of Williams’ residence on East 96th Street in Brooklyn included three handguns and several pounds of marijuana, a drug ledger, a safe, and a police scanner.
