https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU2wB9P8T94 TALKING POLITICS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams tonight released the following statement on the signing of mayoral accountability into law by New York Governor Kathy Hochul:

 

“Mayoral accountability is vitally important to New York City families, students, teachers, and the entire school community. I want to thank Governor Hochul for championing on behalf of our students and allowing me and Chancellor Banks to keep the politics out of our schools to provide bold and necessary programs for the betterment of our children. We will continue to wage this fight on behalf of our city’s children. The nearly one million students and their families deserve an education system free from bureaucracy and one that allots them the certainty they deserve — particularly after the trauma they’ve experienced over the past two years. We will continue to partner with the community to provide historic investments in our education department and change the way we approach learning in New York City.”

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES NATION’S FIRST MOBILE TEST TO TREAT PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO ANTI-VIRAL COVID-19 MEDICATIONS AT MOBILE TESTING LOCATIONS

 

Medications Will Be Prescribed to Eligible Patients Within Minutes of Positive Rapid Test

Program Will Expand to More Than 30 Mobile Testing Units Through July and Soon Offer Medication on Site

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Test & Trace Corps, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) were joined by White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha today to announce the launch of the country’s first-ever mobile-based “Test to Treat” program. Starting today, participating mobile testing units managed by NYC Test & Trace Corps will now include a clinician on their team to provide instant access to prescriptions for no-cost, antiviral medications for eligible New Yorkers who test positive at these sites. The initial Test to Treat units are partnering with local pharmacies to provide immediate distribution of medication from the prescription. As the launch continues, the program will expand to over 30 units over the month of July. This program will also shift to be able to distribute antiviral medications in the units this summer, ensuring New Yorkers have even more immediate access to life-saving treatments. 

 

“New York City may have been at the epicenter of the pandemic at the start, but now we are leading the way in prevention and mitigation,” said Mayor Adams. “By getting lifesaving medications into the hands of New Yorkers minutes after they test positive, we are once again leading the nation to quickly deliver accessible care to those who need it. This mobile Test to Treat program will save lives today and prepares us for future waves of this pandemic, keeping more New Yorkers safe and healthy.”  

 

“We have made a lot of progress in our fight against COVID-19 — deaths are down 90 percent from when President Biden took office, and vaccines and treatments are keeping people out of the hospital and saving lives,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator. But we know COVID isn’t over, and we must ensure lifesaving treatments like Paxlovid are reaching our hardest-hit communities. That’s exactly what New York City is doing with the launch of the nation’s first mobile Test-to-Treat clinic.” 

 

“Today we are offering you another, faster, way to get treated, where you can walk away with an oral medication a matter of minutes after a positive test,” said Dr. Ted Long, executive director, NYC Test & Trace Corps; senior vice president, Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “Working with trusted local pharmacies, and soon equipping our actual units with Paxlovid, this new mobile Test to Treat model lets us equitably bring treatment to all New Yorkers and protect our city so that we can continue to recover together.”

 

“Health services, including for COVID-19, should be omnipresent and capable of meeting people where they are,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “We’ve learned during the pandemic how important it is to bring care to people, in an equitable way, prioritizing vulnerable groups and neighborhoods that have been hardest hit by COVID-19. In addition to home delivery of medications, we should be ready to hand off lifesaving medications to those who may not feel comfortable or confident using tele-visit services and deliver end-to-end services at a single point-of care. The new mobile Test to Treat model continues the city’s track record of innovation in our pandemic response.”

 

“New Yorkers trust the high-quality care they receive at NYC Health + Hospitals, and our new Test to Treat mobile vans are an extension of the four walls of our hospitals and clinics,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, president and CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals. “The Test to Treat program meets patients where they are, providing access to immediate COVID-19 treatment to those eligible. I want to thank Mayor Adams and Dr. Ashish Jha for their continued support and commitment to the care of all New Yorkers.”

 

The Test to Treat mobile program is starting with three mobile testing units, paired with local pharmacies, and will expand to more than 30 units through the month of July. In the initial phase, New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a prescription from a clinician at the mobile site and be able to pick up the medication at the co-located pharmacy or through the city’s free home delivery program. Units will be partnered and deployed at the following locations:

 

• Inwood Pharmacy
  4915 Broadway
  New York, New York 10034 

 

• Burke Avenue Pharmacy
  759 Burke Avenue
  Bronx, New York 10467  

 

• Rex Pharmacy
  119-01 Rockaway Boulevard
  South Ozone Park, New York 114120 

 

As the program expands, New Yorkers who test positive at a participating mobile testing unit will be offered the chance to engage with an onsite clinician and, if eligible, walk away with a free course of Paxlovid anti-viral medication. The program builds upon the NYC Test & Trace Corps’ nation-leading mobile testing and vaccination efforts, which have provided New Yorkers 1.9 million tests and 285,000 vaccinations to date.

 

Test & Trace will continue to work hand in hand with community partners to ensure deployments are reaching New Yorkers in neighborhoods most impacted by COVID-19 and to coordinate closely with DOHMH to make data-informed decisions.

 

New Yorkers can visit nyc.gov/covidtest to find a city-run testing site most convenient and accessible to them. Multiple COVID-19 treatments are available for people ages 12 and older and can be delivered to New Yorkers’ homes for free. For more information on COVID-19 treatments, please call 212-COVID19 and press 9 or visit nyc.gov/health/covidtreatments. Calling 212-COVID19 provides New Yorkers an immediate connection to a clinician who can refer them to monoclonal antibody treatment or prescribe antiviral medications, like Paxlovid, and arrange to have it delivered to their home that same day.

 

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

 

15 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 NOTE: Beginning June 24, 2022, the Vaccine data will be updated weekly on Fridays to align with CDC's updated data refresh schedule. For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccination Data provided by CDC, see https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total.

NOTE: Updates to the CDC's cumulative death data files are being delayed, as the CDC upgrades its system. Any questions about this should be directed to the CDC. During this time, total deaths and new daily deaths reported through HERDS will continue as normal.

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

"As we continue to monitor the current numbers, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using the tools we know that work to protect against COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on your vaccine and booster doses. Parents and guardians, now is a great time to consult with your child's pediatrician about getting them vaccinated. Test if you have symptoms, and if you're positive stay home and talk to you doctor about treatment."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 34.47
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 27.76
• Test Results Reported - 74,439
• Total Positive - 6,737
• Percent Positive - 8.88%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.91%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,990 (-57)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 334
• Patients in ICU - 192 (+6)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 77 (+4)
• Total Discharges - 315,794 (+365)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 15
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 56,560

** 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 - 72,079

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.

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

Borough	Monday, June 27, 2022	Tuesday, June 28, 2022	Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Bronx	5.29%	5.44%	6.20%
Kings	2.41%	3.00%	3.90%
New York	6.63%	6.80%	7.07%
Queens	7.36%	7.45%	8.04%
Richmond	5.73%	6.19%	7.13%

Bronx Gang Member Who Shot 12-Year Old Child In Playground Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that NICHOLAS JOSEPH, a/k/a “Gotti,” a/k/a “Finesse,” was sentenced today to 22 years in prison in connection with his participation in the Castle Hill Crew, a violent street gang based in the Castle Hill Houses in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx, including for his role in the shooting of a 12-year old child on April 28, 2017, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud, and other acts of violence.  On September 22, 2021, a jury found JOSEPH guilty of racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, and firearms offenses after a seven-day trial.  U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “For years, Nicholas Joseph actively participated in the Castle Hill Crew, a violent gang that infected the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx with guns, drug dealing, fraud, and violence.  These crimes included a shooting in a crowded playground next to an elementary school, which seriously injured a 12-year-old child.  Today’s lengthy sentence sends an important message to gang members who commit crimes that they will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

As alleged in the Indictment and based on the evidence at trial and statements made in open court:

Between in or about 2014 and in or about December 2020, JOSEPH was a member and associate of the Castle Hill Crew, a racketeering enterprise that operated principally in the Castle Hill Houses in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx.  In order to enrich the enterprise, preserve and protect the power of the enterprise, and enhance its criminal operations, Castle Hill Crew members and associates committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder; distributed and possessed with intent to distribute narcotics; engaged in fraud; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms.

On or about November 19, 2015, JOSEPH and others stabbed a rival gang member in the head and back.

On or about April 28, 2017, JOSEPH shot at rival gang members in the vicinity of the Story Playground in the Bronx, New York, during which a 12-year-old child was injured.

In addition, on or about July 10, 2020, and in or around November 2020 and December 2020, JOSEPH illegally possessed firearms and ammunition. 

In addition to his prison term, JOSEPH, 23, of the Bronx, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the New York City Department of Investigation.

VCJC News & Notes 7/1/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 7/1/22 @ 8:13 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:45 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 7/2/22 @ 9:16 pm   Blood Drive!  VCJC is hosting a blood drive on Sunday, July 31, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.  We need both people to donate blood and volunteers to help run the drive.   To donate:  https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/296446  To volunteer: Call the office or email Stu Harris.    Happy Independence Day! In observance of Independence Day, the office will be closed on Monday, July 4 Van Cortlandt Jewish Center 3880 Sedgwick Ave Bronx, NY 10463

MAYOR ADAMS TO TURN ON NEW YORK CITY’S SPEED CAMERAS 24/7 ON AUGUST 1, FOLLOWING MONTH-LONG PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

 

Multi-Agency, Multimedia Outreach Campaign in 11 Languages Will Remind Drivers About Coming Change

 

Speed Cameras Are Proven Preventive Tools That Save Lives, Reduce Speeding by 72 Percent

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced that New York City’s speed cameras will begin operating 24/7 on August 1, 2022, following a month-long public awareness campaign starting tomorrow to prepare drivers and all New Yorkers for the change. The city’s 2,000 automated speed cameras were previously authorized by the state to operate only on weekdays, between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, missing the 59 percent of traffic fatalities that occurred when the cameras were previously required to be turned off. A state law signed last week by New York Governor Kathy Hochul now allows the cameras to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Speed cameras and automated traffic enforcement are proven, effective safety tools shown to reduce speeding by 72 percent.

 

“New Yorkers deserve to be safe on our streets 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and keeping our cameras on is a critical step in that direction,” said Mayor Adams. “Speed cameras work: They save lives, reduce speeding, and help protect New Yorkers all across the city. And we are expanding this proven program to ensure that New Yorkers have that protection at any time of any day.”

 

“Sadly, we know reckless drivers are on our streets 24/7 — so our cameras must be on 24/7 too,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Thanks to the hard work of many people, our cameras will now be on at all hours, helping to keep our streets safer.”

 

“Overnight and weekend crashes have become far too prevalent in recent years, and we are so grateful that state legislators heard our call for 24/7 speed-camera coverage,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “We thank the mayor for his support as we put together an aggressive plan to get this critical law up and running. As we make the nation’s largest automated enforcement network even more effective, we will get out the word about this new law, which will allow us to start saving lives on our streets as soon as possible.”

The city’s automated enforcement program has been highly effective at both reducing speeding and changing driver behavior when cameras are active. Since the start of the speed camera program in 2014, speeding violations are down 72 percent on average at camera locations in the 750 school zones citywide during the hours they operate. Most vehicles caught speeding have only received one or two tickets since the start of the program. Still, traffic violence and rampant speeding have skyrocketed nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, including in New York City — and 31 percent of on-street traffic fatalities now occur in camera zones during hours when the city’s speed cameras could not previously operate, inhibiting the city’s ability to identify drivers and take appropriate action.

 

Starting tomorrow, July 1, DOT will launch a month-long messaging and outreach campaign to inform New Yorkers of the program’s expansion ahead of the August 1^st implementation date. Digital and print materials will be available in 11 languages.

 

The campaign will include:

 

• Paid Media: The city will leverage paid and pro-bono media to amplify speed camera expansion communications, with a total investment of $500,000 and a special focus on community and ethnic media.

 

• Digital Communications: The city will deploy a 30-day “countdown” social media campaign to provide details of the speed camera expansion and explain the program’s benefits.

 

• Physical Outreach: DOT has produced postcards that will be distributed by DOT Street Teams. Ahead of the August 1^st change, Vision Zero agency partners will partner on a Day of Awareness — a large-scale, five-borough, on-street event. Finally, DOT will produce a notice that will be included in all speed camera violations.

 

• Education Programs: DOT will modify its summer and fall programs in schools, senior centers, and community centers to specifically address the change in the law and the safety benefits of the program.

 

The new effort follows Mayor Adams’ historic investment of more than $900 million in street safety announced in his Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams also announced a plan to redesign 1,000 intersections across New York City to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

 

“Speed cameras are an essential tool to keep all New Yorkers, from pedestrians and cyclists to TLC-licensed drivers and passengers, safe from traffic violence — but they can’t be effective when they’re turned off,” said New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner (TLC) and Chair David Do. “We are grateful to Mayor Adams, Commissioner Rodriguez, Governor Hochul, and the state Legislature for expanding the city’s speed camera program and ensuring that road users are protected from reckless drivers regardless of the time of day.”

 

“Turning speed cameras on 24/7, 365 days a year is a critical step towards improving safety and protecting all New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “As a Vision Zero Task Force member agency, we believe that decreasing speed can lead to an increase in traffic safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists. Expanding camera hours is one of many tools we can lean on to improve our city and promote safe driving. At DCAS, we expect all of our fleet operators to remain focused and abide by traffic laws, and we encourage all motorists to do the same.”