NYC Mayor's Community Affairs Unit Newsletter

 

Dear New Yorker,

 

We continue to work with the victims of the Bronx fire in January. Earlier this week, Mayor Adams signed Executive Order 12 to strengthen fire safety enforcement and outreach in the aftermath of the tragic Twin Parks apartment fire in January. This will increase coordination between FDNY and HPD inspectors to identify safety violations earlier and increase fire safety compliance. FDNY and HPD will also launch a broad campaign to educate New Yorkers on fire safety.

 

Mayor Adams announced the expansion of the NYPD Neighborhood Safety Teams to five additional precincts at Manhattan's 25th and 28th precinct, Brooklyn's 69th precinct, Queen’s 114th precinct, and Staten Island's 120th precinct. Six days after launching the program, the NYPD made 31 arrests and removed 10 guns from our streets - that's about one gun removed from our streets each day.

 

Mayor Adams announced that masks will be optional for 2-4 year old children in schools and daycare settings starting Monday, April 4th. Two weeks ago, the City removed the mask mandate for K-12 public school children and found that our percent positivity in schools remained low. In addition, Mayor Adams expanded the performer exemption to the city’s private employer vaccine mandate, putting New York City-based performers on a level playing field with performers based outside of the city. The previous double standard hurt the city’s economy and put New York sports teams at a self-imposed competitive disadvantage. We will continue to follow the data and the science as we reopen our City. 

 

This week we continued having community roundtables. On Tuesday, we engaged the Muslim community leaders. On Thursday, we had a discussion with the Transgender People of Color community. We will work together to get stuff done for New Yorkers across all communities in New York City.

 

Mayor Adams announced the reappointment of Cecile Noel as commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), Laurie Cumbo as Department of Cultural Affairs Commission, Elizabeth Crotty as Business Integrity Commission Commissioner and Chair, and Abby Jo Sigal as executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development.

 

We wish the Greek community a Happy Greek Independence Day! 

 

In partnership,

Fred Kreizman

Commissioner, Mayor's Community Affairs Unit

OCASIO-CORTEZ TO RALLY WITH VOLUNTEERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE BRONX AND QUEENS ON SUNDAY

 

This Sunday, March 27, 2022, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will join volunteers for her re-election campaign at events in The Bronx and Queens as they gather petition signatures for the June primary election. In Jackson Heights, Queens, Ocasio-Cortez will join State Senator Jessica Ramos (SD-13), State Senator Mike Gianaris (SD-12), Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (AD-39), Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas (AD-34), and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (AD-36).   11 AM on Sunday, March 27,  34th Avenue Open Streets, b/w 77th St and 78th St (in front of Travers Park), Jackson Heights, Queens In Parkchester, The Bronx, the Congresswoman will rally alongside Assemblymember Karines Reyes (AD-80) and Assemblymember Nathalia Fernandez (AD-87).  2 PM on Sunday, March 27, Virginia Park/Playground (west of Hugh J. Grant Circle), Parkchester, The Bronx.

Attorney General James Protects Consumers From Unscrupulous Energy Service Company

 

AG James Fines Columbia Utilities $500,000 for Prohibited Door-to-Door Marketing

 New York Attorney General Letitia James took action to protect consumers, securing more than $555,000 from an energy service company that was engaging in prohibited marketing practices over a two-month period. Columbia Utilities, LLC and Columbia Utilities Power, LLC (Columbia Utilities) entered into hundreds of gas and electric contracts through prohibited door-to-door marketing to convince consumers across the state to use its services. A previous settlement with Columbia Utilities and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) prohibited the company from conducting door-to-door marketing. Columbia Utilities has paid $500,000 in penalties for violating the previous settlement and is paying nearly $60,000 in full restitution to the impacted consumers.

“Protecting consumers from unscrupulous companies is a top priority for my office,” said Attorney General James. “This hefty penalty forces Columbia Utilities to pay the price for its wrongdoing and ensures that it will follow the rules. Consumers can trust that my office will protect them from companies that break the rules. Companies that violate settlements with our office are on notice that such conduct will not be tolerated.” 

Columbia Utilities is a repeat offender. In 2011, an investigation by OAG found that the energy service company was misleading consumers. As a result, the company agreed to pay $2 million in restitution to consumers deceived by false promises of savings. The agreement also imposed restrictions on the company’s marketing practices. In 2014, the agreement was amended to impose a further restriction, entirely prohibiting Columbia Utilities from engaging in door-to-door marketing without prior approval from OAG. Nevertheless, in November 2020, the company violated the terms of the settlement and resumed door-to-door marketing for two months, before OAG learned of the conduct and promptly shut it down. During that time, Columbia Utilities convinced 912 consumers throughout the state to sign 1,334 contracts. The prohibited door-to-door marketing was predominately in and around New York City, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Ithaca, Utica, and Watertown.

To resolve the violation of Columbia Utilities’ prior settlement, the company has paid $500,000 in penalties plus full restitution under each of the prohibited contracts for every dollar that consumers paid above what they would have paid to their utilities. Columbia Utilities is providing the restitution to affected consumers without requiring any further action by the consumers. In addition, each contract with Columbia Utilities will be terminated, unless the consumer affirmatively opts to continue the contract with the company. Further, the prohibition against door-to-door marketing by Columbia Utilities will persist, unless the company presents a suitable marketing plan that is approved by OAG.

The settlement with Columbia Utilities is part of OAG’s long-standing, ongoing investigations into energy service companies (ESCOs) and their practices. As a result of those investigations, ESCOs have paid millions of dollars in restitution and penalties. Together with OAG’s recent settlement with Family Energy, over the last five years OAG has recovered more than $7.5 million in settlements from six ESCOs.

District Leader Candidates and CB 7 Give Out Groceries in Norwood

It was a warm Friday afternoon as 80th District Leader candidate Remy Salas had just dropped off one hundred bags of groceries on the corner of East 204th Street and Hull Avenue to be distributed to area residents who were in need of the free groceries. As the crowd lined up District Leader candidates Remy Salas and Sandra Pabon talked to the crowd of people who were waiting on line to introduce themselves. Many already knew Norwood resident Pabon, and she said that Remy Salas was her running mate in the upcoming June Democratic Primary. 

Also on hand was Community Board 7 District Manager Ischia Bravo, and CB 7 board member Monjur Choudhury Joglul who were giving out reusable grocery bags and other items. Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez stopped by to see how everything was going and to take a photo op with the District Leader candidates, CB 7 District Manager Bravo and her board member.

80th Assembly District Leader candidates Sandra Pabon, and Remy Salas who is holding one of the bags of groceries that was given out.

Community Board 7 District Manager Ischia Bravo holds a bag of containers to hold a weeks worth of daily vitamins and/or pills for people to have.

Assemblywoman Fernandez watches as District Leader candidate Remy Salas introduces himself to a woman waiting on line.

The group photo op. L-R are 80th A.D. Female District Leader Candidate Sandra Pabon, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, CB 7 DM Ischia Bravo who is holding one of the reusable grocery bags that were given out, 80th A.D. Male District Leader candidate Remy Salas, and CB 7 member Monjur Choudhury Joglul.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 26, 2022

 845 Hospitalizations - Under 1,000 for More Than a Week

14 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

“Our battle with COVID-19 isn’t over yet — we must remain vigilant," Governor Hochul said. "The vaccine is the tool that will move us forward safely through the pandemic. If you’re eligible, get boosted today to ensure you have the best protection possible against this virus, and consult your child’s pediatrician about vaccinating them as well.”

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported – 133,894
• Total Positive – 3,117
• Percent Positive – 2.33%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 2.20%
• Patient Hospitalization – 845 (-24)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 133
• Patients in ICU – 143 (+4)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 62 (-3)
• Total Discharges – 290,121 (+151)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 14
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 55,089 

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 – 70,107

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 – 37,390,979
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 14,112
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 90,108
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 92.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 83.4%
• 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) – 86.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 82.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 72.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 81.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 73.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 89.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 76.1%

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

BOROUGH	Wednesday, March 23, 2022	Thursday, March 24, 2022	Friday, March 25, 2022
Bronx	0.74%	0.79%	0.79%
Brooklyn	1.37%	1.49%	1.54%
Manhattan	2.12%	2.27%	2.34%
Queens	1.19%	1.27%	1.36%
Staten Island	1.30%	1.42%	1.56%

Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 3/21/22-3/25/22

 

I am excited to share that I was featured in a Vice News episode about my bill, the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (S7428). The episode provides a deep dive on the detrimental environmental and labor impacts of the fashion industry, and illustrates how my bill aims to reduce these harms and hold the fashion industry accountable in a transformative way.

Watch the episode here. 

This historic bill would require fashion retailers and manufacturers that conduct business in New York to map their supply chains, disclose environmental and social impacts, and set targets in accordance with Science Based Targets— regulating the fashion industry in a way that’s never been done before in the US. Companies that do not comply with regulations would be fined, and the revenues would be used to fund environmental justice projects in New York. Ultimately, this bill will allow us to build a sustainable, thriving fashion industry that prioritizes people and the planet over profits. 

To learn more about the Fashion Act or get involved with our coalition, visit our website here. 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi