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Thursday, August 26, 2021
Nos Quedamos' OPEN HOUSE Series Resumes TODAY (8/26/21) After Covid-19 Pause
Senator Biaggi's Back to School Event 08/28/2021 / Evento Regreso a Clases de la Senadora Biaggi 28/08/21
*baja hacia abajo para español*
Dear Community,
As we approach the end of summer and the start of school, it is important that our community is well equipped to return back to school safely. I look forward to hosting my annual Back to School event for the 34th Senate District that will honor our shared community and the progress we have made this year, especially after the difficult year it has been for students, teachers and families.
Our teams have worked hard throughout the past year to provide for our communities, and this year's back to school event is a prime example of our continued work. Please join me for a Backpack Giveaway at 894 Garrison Ave Bronx, NY 10474 on Saturday, August 28th from 1 P.M to 3.P.M, while supplies last.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me and my team at biaggi@nysenate.gov or by calling our office at 718-822-2049.
With Gratitude,
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi
Querida Comunidad,
A medida que nos acercamos al final del verano y al comienzo de la escuela, es importante que nuestra comunidad esté bien equipada para volver a la escuela de forma segura. Espero organizar mi evento anual de Regreso a la Escuela para el Distrito 34 del Senado que honrará a nuestra comunidad compartida y el progreso que hemos logrado este año, especialmente después del año difícil que ha sido para los estudiantes, maestros y familias.
Nuestros equipos han trabajado duro durante el año pasado para proveer a nuestras comunidades, y el evento de regreso a la escuela de este año es un ejemplo excelente de nuestro trabajo continuo. Por favor, únase a mí para una distribución de mochilas en el 894 Garrison Ave Bronx, NY 10474 el sábado, 28 de agosto de 1 p.m. a 3 .P.M, mientras duren los recursos escolares.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en ponerse en contacto conmigo y mi equipo en biaggi@nysenate.gov o llamando a nuestra oficina al 718-822-2049.
Con agradecimiento,
Senadora Estatal Alessandra Biaggi
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz 18 District, Bronx
Hispanic Community: By Passed Again
You should know that upon appointing Senator Brian Benjamin, as our next lieutenant governor for the State of New York, African Americans are practically shaping up to hold all relevant positions of power in the State of New York.
African Americans will have control of the following positions: Lieutenant Governor, Senate Majority Leader, Assembly Majority Leader, and State Attorney General. This means that now the full control of the budget for the entire State of New York is under the control of African Americans. Education, Health, Housing, Rents, Transportation, etc, etc. Everything will be under their control. Therefore, people of color can no longer blame the Republicans, nor the White people, or their "White Privilege” or blame our future woes on racism and discrimination.
Additionally in New York City, African Americans will hold the positions of mayor, Ombudsman, Majority Leader of the City Council, Presidents of the boroughs of the Bronx, Queens, and many other positions in the City Council, Congressional seats, State Senators, State Assembly, Attorney Generals of different boroughs, and the Chairmanships of the Democratic Party in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Wow that’s power.
I imagine that next year, the Hispanic community will be remembered again when needed for the 2022 elections. The Hispanics come to mind when the Democrats need to maintain power and keep it out of the reach of Republicans. I have seen this movie before!
But now, we Hispanics being the majority, and possessing many well qualified men and women who could have been appointed to lieutenant governor while making history as the first person of Hispanic origin to occupy said position, again backs are turned, and the Hispanics are by passed once again. Then there is talk of discrimination and white privilege. Oh, please give me a break. To another fool with that tale.
Rumor has it that among one of the reasons Governor Hochul appointed Senator Brian Benjamin, lieutenant governor, in addition to his qualifications, and he is well qualified, we congratulate him on his appointment, was because he is African American. It is believed in political circles that this would energize Gov. Hochul’s possible primary run against A.G. Letitia James or Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, both African Americans.
Gov. Hochul overlooked naming a Hispanic person, which demonstrates that she like many before her, take the Hispanic vote for granted. She may feel that the Hispanic vote is a sure thing, and she has us in her pocket. We will have to wait and see until next year. I can however guarantee you that in the Hispanic community there is a lot of resentment.
I am Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.
SENATOR RIVERA ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF 12,000 ADDITIONAL COVID-19 DEATHS IN NYS
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"In her inaugural address, Governor Kathy Hochul promised New Yorkers transparency in an effort to regain the trust New Yorkers have lost in the office of the Governor. While I am deeply grateful that she is keeping her promise, it is devastating to learn from her administration that the previous one grossly misrepresented the total number of COVID-19 deaths across New York State with nearly 12,000 additional deaths needing to be added to this terrible tally.
I once again offer my condolences to the families who lost loved ones to this deadly virus. I hope that affected families can find some solace in learning how their loved ones passed away and that this revelation can help them process their heart-wrenching loss.
It is critical for the sake of our State that the Assembly move forward with the impeachment process and send the Senate articles promptly. We must hold the former Governor and his top aides accountable for the suffering that their inexcusable actions caused thousands of New York families."
EDITOR'S NOTE:
As Chair of the State Senate Health Committee, we can not understand why Senator Rivera did not know of this misrepresentation of COVID-19 deaths in New York State. We hope that Senator Rivera is more effective under Governor Hochul.
Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams statement on the newly reported COVID-19 deaths in NY
Today, Governor Hochul's administration confirmed that there was a significant undercount in COVID-19 deaths. Alongside state legislators and advocates, I have spoken out and questioned Cuomo’s initial report for months and we learned that 12,000 deaths were unaccounted for by his administration. That's 12,000 lives tragically cut short and thousands of families left without closure for over a year after the passing of their loved ones.
This news is deeply unsettling and I thank Governor Hochul for being transparent. Disclosing these figures was a step in the right direction towards a more accountable government.
My condolences go out to the families of the 12,000 victims. While these results cannot undo the negligence committed by the previous administration, I hope it brings some sense of peace.
COVID-19 is still a threat to us all. As the Delta variant spreads, we must proceed with caution, re-evaluate our current rules, and continue to incentivize folks to get the vaccine. We’ve come so far, but we cannot stop the fight against this pandemic.
Peace and Blessings,
Jumaane D. Williams
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - AUGUST 25, 2021
55,600 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours
16 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
"COVID-19 is still a threat to hardworking New Yorkers, and although we're fighting every day to keep them safe, we need everyone who's able to get vaccinated right away," Governor Hochul said. "The more people we vaccinate, the more families and friends we're able to keep safe from this terrible virus. Appointments are available, sites are located across the state and the vaccine is free, so don't delay and get the vaccine as soon as you can."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Test Results Reported - 141,619
- Total Positive - 4,272
- Percent Positive - 3.02%
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.13%
- Patient Hospitalization - 2,143 (+40)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 336
- Patients in ICU - 422 (+6)
- Patients in ICU with Intubation - 209 (+5)
- Total Discharges - 191,299 (+272)
- New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 16
- Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 43,432
- 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 - 55,423
- 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 - 23,354,166
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 55,600
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 333,172
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 76.0%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 69.1%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 78.8%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 70.8%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 64.0%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 57.8%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 66.4%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 59.3%
Book Bag, Mask, Sanitizer, and Information Giveaway at Pelham Parkway Houses By Elected Officials
It was a beautiful, very hot Wednesday afternoon, and the event was billed as the Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and City Council presumed winner of the 13th City Council District Book Bag, Face Mask, Hand Sanitizer, and Information Giveaway at the Pelham Parkway Houses on Astor Avenue. There was also to be a food giveaway, but the delivery was postponed to a later date in the near future.
Three hundred book bags were given out in little over an hour, and boxes of face masks and hand sanitizer also went quickly. With the events going on in the world and state the elected officials were either in Washington as was the case for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, or in Albany with the new governor as was the case with Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, and State Senator Biaggi, but representatives of the two state legislators were at the event.
The event was scheduled to run from 11 AM through 4 PM, but by 12:30 all the book bags were given out, and only some face masks and hand sanitizer was left. There were some very happy children, and relieved parents that their child had a new book bag for school. The area where the event was held was spotless, as at the Pelham Parkway houses the staff works very hard to keep it clean.
Adrienne stands ready to hand out a book bag to the next child on line.
Children waited on a line to receive the book bag of their choice. In the hands of some of the children are face masks and hand sanitizer they picked up at the first table.
The children all loved the way Adrienne listened to them.
Keysdna, Lismary, and Lewis try on their book bags that fit great.
Oscar Grant of the Pelham Parkway Houses with Jerimia, Jaden, and Jayden.
Three hundred book bags were given out, and only some face masks and hand sanitizer were left, with plenty of informational flyers, by 12:30 PM. The food that was also to be given out did not arrive, and will be given out at another time in the near future.
Justice Department Approves Remission of Over $32 Million in Forfeited Funds to Victims in the FIFA Corruption Case
The Department of Justice announced that it will begin the process of remitting forfeited funds to FIFA, the world organizing body of soccer; CONCACAF, the confederation responsible for soccer governance in North and Central America, among other regions; CONMEBOL, the confederation responsible for soccer governance in South America; and various constituent national soccer federations (collectively, the “Victims”). The Department granted a joint petition for remission filed by the Victims, recognizing losses and granting remission up to a total of more than $201 million, of which $32.3 million in forfeited funds has been approved for an initial distribution. In total, well over the amount granted has been seized and has been or is expected to be forfeited to the United States in the Eastern District of New York as part of the government’s long-running investigation and prosecution of corruption in international soccer.
To date, the prosecutions have resulted in charges against more than 50 individual and corporate defendants from more than 20 countries, primarily in connection with the offer and receipt of bribes and kickbacks paid by sports marketing companies to soccer officials in exchange for the media and marketing rights to various soccer tournaments and events.
This announcement is the beginning of the process for returning funds to the victims of the FIFA bribery scandal and marks the Department’s continued commitment to ensuring justice for those victims harmed by this scheme.
Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, made the announcement.
“This announcement confirms that money stolen by corrupt soccer officials and sports marketing executives through fraud and greed will be returned to where it belongs and used to benefit the sport,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis. “From the start, this investigation and prosecution have been focused on bringing wrongdoers to justice and restoring ill-gotten gains to those who work for the benefit of the beautiful game. Our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will always work to compensate victims of crime.”
“The approval of this remission of funds illegally obtained in the FIFA scandal marks another important milestone in these prosecutions and the department’s commitment to use all tools at its disposal to prosecute corruption and to deprive perpetrators of ill-gotten gains,” stated Assistant Attorney General Polite. “This remission highlights the importance of asset forfeiture as a critical tool for the recovery of criminal proceeds and the pursuit of justice.”
“Kickbacks and bribes have a way of spreading like a disease through corrupt groups; pure and simple greed keeps the graft going. Not one official in this investigation seemed to care about the damage being done to a sport that millions around the world revere. The only silver lining is the money will now help underprivileged people who need it, not the wealthy executives who just wanted it to get richer. Our work isn’t finished, and our promise to those who love the game – we won’t give up until everyone sees justice for what they’ve done,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“For years, corrupt soccer officials and greedy sports marketing executives engaged in dozens of multimillion-dollar bribe and kickback schemes,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan L. Korner of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “These individuals and companies lined their pockets with millions that were supposed to be used for the development and betterment of soccer worldwide. Agents with IRS-CI and their partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI relentlessly pursued this corruption and seized these ill-gotten gains. Now these funds can be used as they were intended, to promote and develop the world’s most popular game.”
On May 27, 2015, an indictment was unsealed charging 14 FIFA officials and sports marketing executives with racketeering, honest services wire fraud and money laundering offenses, among others. On December 3, 2015, a superseding indictment was unsealed charging an additional 16 FIFA officials with similar crimes. Additional defendants were later charged by indictment and information. During the course of the prosecutions to date, 26 individual defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in the charged crimes. In December 2017, two former FIFA officials, Juan Ángel Napout of Paraguay and José Maria Marin of Brazil, were convicted after trial of racketeering conspiracy and related offenses. Four corporate entities have pleaded guilty and others, including banking institutions, have acknowledged their roles in criminal conduct through deferred prosecution or non-prosecution agreements. The government’s prosecutions and investigation are ongoing.
As part of these proceedings, many of the defendants were ordered to forfeit assets obtained through their criminal activity. Under federal law, the Department of Justice has the authority to distribute the proceeds of forfeited assets through the remission process to victims of crimes, including to the soccer organizations that employed and were defrauded by the corrupt soccer executives.
FIFA, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have committed to distributing funds received through the remission process to and through a newly created World Football Remission Fund (the “Fund”), to be established under the FIFA Foundation, an independent foundation focused on youth programs, community outreach and humanitarian needs. The terms of the Fund provide for oversight and independent audit measures to ensure remitted funds are distributed appropriately.