Healthy Lifestyles Day with Eric Adams October 12th 12 - 5 PM

 

Department Of Justice Announces Launch Of Firearms Trafficking Strike Forces To Crack Down On Sources Of Crime Guns

 

Southern and Eastern Districts of New York to Participate in Cross-Jurisdictional Strike Force

 The U.S. Department of Justice today launched five cross-jurisdictional strike forces to help reduce gun violence by disrupting illegal firearms trafficking in key regions across the country.  Leveraging existing  resources, the regional strike forces will better ensure sustained and focused coordination across jurisdictions and help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms from source cities, through other communities, and into five key market regions:  New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area/Sacramento Region and Washington, D.C.

Each strike force region will be led by designated United States Attorneys, who will collaborate with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and with state and local law enforcement partners within their own jurisdiction (where firearms are used in crimes) as well as law enforcement partners in areas where illegally trafficked guns originate. These officials will use the latest data, evidence, and intelligence from crime scenes to identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes.

“All too often, guns found at crime scenes come from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. We are redoubling our efforts as ATF works with law enforcement to track the movement of illegal firearms used in violent crimes.  These strike forces enable sustained coordination across multiple jurisdictions to help disrupt the worst gun trafficking corridors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Department of Justice will use all of its tools – enforcement, prevention, intervention, and investment – to help ensure the safety of our communities – the department’s highest priority.”

According to gun trace data, the vast majority of firearms recovered in New York City originate outside the state and are illegally trafficked into New York. The new strike force, led by Audrey Strauss, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, will help ensure sustained and focused coordination between law enforcement and prosecutors in New York City with their counterparts in locations where many of the firearms originate.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Disrupting the flow of guns into New York City is an important part of our anti-violence efforts.  We look forward to working with our federal and state partners to investigate and prosecute gun trafficking cases.  Because many of the firearm source locations for New York City overlap with the source locations for firearms recovered in the District of Columbia, we will coordinate our efforts with our D.C. counterparts.”

U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis said: “Gun violence has taken a terrible, unacceptable toll on our communities, and it must be stopped.  Stemming the flow of illegal guns into New York City is critical to eradicating gun violence in our city.  We are committed to working with our federal and state partners to investigate and prosecute gun trafficking to the fullest extent of the law.”

The strike forces represent one important, concrete step in implementing the Department’s Comprehensive Violent Crime Reduction Strategy, which was announced on May 26, 2021. The comprehensive strategy supports local communities in preventing, investigating, and prosecuting gun violence and other violent crime – and requires U.S. Attorneys’ offices to work with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, as well as the communities they serve, to address the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. In guidance to federal agents and prosecutors as part of that comprehensive strategy, the Deputy Attorney General made clear that firearms traffickers providing weapons to violent offenders are an enforcement priority across the country.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNAPOLI: LOCAL SALES TAXES JUMP 49.2 PERCENT IN SECOND QUARTER COMPARED TO SAME PERIOD IN 2020

 

Statewide Collections Surpassed Pre-Pandemic Levels

 Sales tax revenue for local governments in New York state rose by 49.2% in the second quarter (April to June 2021) compared to the same period last year, a dramatic increase from last year’s weak collections during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Sales tax collections during this period totaled just over $1.6 billion and even surpassed collections reported during the second quarter of 2019, before the onset of the pandemic.

“The strength of these collections, along with federal aid, will give local governments statewide the chance to improve their fiscal stability, but it will take time to recover from the strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said DiNapoli. “While this is good news, local leaders are advised to budget carefully. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to always plan for unpredictable circumstances.”

The size of the increase largely reflects extremely weak collections in the April to June period of 2020. However, even compared to pre-pandemic collections for the same period in 2019, statewide collections in 2021 were up 8.7% or $396 million. Every region outside of New York City experienced two-year growth over 18%. The Mid-Hudson and North Country regions both reported increases of more than 29%.

New York City’s collections grew by 44.6% in the second quarter of 2021 — the first increase after four quarters of year-over-year declines, but its total collections have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The city was hit earliest and hardest by the pandemic and was slower to reopen than the rest of the state, much of which had begun to see increasing sales tax collections starting as soon as the third quarter of 2020.

Year-to-date, statewide local collections in 2021 are up 18.8%, or nearly $1.5 billion, over the first six months of 2020. Such results, where nearly every region in the state saw a surge in collections, may reflect a combination of pent-up consumer demand, along with purchases tied to recent spikes in home sales.

In addition, two major changes that required many out-of-state vendors to collect and remit state and local sales taxes may have prevented steeper declines. The first change occurred after June 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair established the economic nexus policy, expanding the group of vendors required to collect sales tax. The second change, the marketplace provision, now requires online marketplace providers, such as eBay and Etsy, to collect and remit sales taxes on behalf of their third-party vendors effective June 2019.

The first full “sales tax year” during which both the economic nexus policy and the marketplace provision were in effect was March 2020 through February 2021. During that period, the vendors subject to these changes reported $16.2 billion in total sales to New Yorkers, generating an estimated $686 million in sales tax revenue. Of that total, $431 million was generated by sales outside of New York City and $255 million by sales inside the city. Both, far exceeded the state’s original estimates. The better-than-expected outcome during this period was likely due, in part, to how the pandemic influenced consumer behavior by reducing in-person purchases and increasing online shopping. 

Regionally, the percentage of taxable sales from marketplace and nexus vendors varied by county, as did the effect of pandemic-related changes in consumer behavior.  In general, less densely populated counties, such as Allegany, Oswego, and Washington, had relatively high percentages of revenue from online vendors, as did Putnam County.  Such counties likely benefited from the combination of more online shopping during the pandemic with the state’s ability to capture taxes from a wider array of online sales.

In New York City the percentage of revenue generated by marketplace and nexus vendors was 4.5%, below the 5.4% average for counties in the rest of the state in the March to May sales tax quarter of 2020-21.

Table

Monthly and Quarterly Local Sales Tax Collections by Region

Report

Local Sales Taxes Surge 49.2 Percent in April-June 2021 Over Same Quarter in 2020

Governor Cuomo Announces launch of $100 Million New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit

 

Post-Pandemic Program Will Encourage Reopening of Broadway Productions as Part of State's Comprehensive Economic Recovery Initiative  

More Information Available Here  

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of the new $100 million New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit, designed to help revitalize an industry vital to the state’s continued economic recovery. This program will further jump-start the entertainment industry and help to generate additional tourism activity in New York City. Prior to the pandemic, Broadway theatres welcomed a collective audience of nearly 250,000 people each week, while the industry supported more than 90,000 local jobs and contributed over $14 billion to the New York City economy annually. Since the program was first announced as part of the FY 2022 Budget, at least 35 productions have announced opening performance plans for this year. 

“New York is not 'New York' without theatre, but for more than a year and a half visitors and residents were unable to enjoy the unparalleled experience of a live stage performance," Governor Cuomo said. “Theatrical productions support thousands of jobs and showcase performances and artists that reflect our state’s great talent and diversity. With the state's coronavirus restrictions lifted, these tax credits will help to restart this quintessentially New York industry more quickly.”  

The $100 million New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit is a two-year program designed to support the entertainment and tourism industries in New York City. The program will offset some of the costs associated with producing a show, including production costs for sets, costumes, wardrobes, makeup, technical support, salaries, sound, lighting and staging. Eligible companies can receive tax credits of 25% of qualified production expenditures. First-year program applicants can receive up to $3 million per production, with second year applications being eligible for up to $1.5 million. ​

All program participants will be required to take part in a New York State diversity and arts job training program and expand opportunities for low-income New Yorkers to access productions at low or no-cost. To continue supporting the arts, highly profitable participating productions will increase access to art and cultural programs by contributing to a cultural access fund overseen by the New York State Council on the Arts. 

More information on the program, including the program guidelines and application, is available here. 

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, "While the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were felt by all, it was particularly damaging to New York's performance artists and the entire entertainment community. The greater theatre ecosystem includes so many businesses, from companies directly involved in production to the nearby restaurants that complete the 'dinner and a show' experience. Innovative programs like the New York City Musical and Theatrical Tax Credit will help rebuild this crucial piece of our economy, while supporting the businesses and employees that depend on live performances."    

President of the Broadway League Charlotte St. Martin said, “Governor Cuomo's support of Broadway during the pandemic has been vital to the industry’s survival. His announcement comes at a perfect moment for New York. This unprecedented initiative will increase access to Broadway shows for New York State residents and create new career pathways in our industry. We're gratified for the Governor's enthusiastic support of Broadway and investment in the industry’s workforce, which are so vital to the economic and cultural health of New York State."

The New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit Programs is part of a comprehensive package of economic recovery initiatives announced in April as part of the FY2022 Budget to help restart the State’s economy and support the recovery of New York’s businesses. The $1 billion package includes assistance and relief for arts and cultural organizations, musical and theatrical productions, the tourism industry, restaurants, and the state’s small businesses, which represent 98% of New York’s economy. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo launched NY PopsUp, an unprecedented and expansive festival featuring hundreds of pop-up performances to revitalize the spirits of New Yorkers with the energy of live performances and jumpstart the state's live entertainment industry.

Empire State Development launched NYSBusinessRecovery.ny.gov, a dedicated website featuring an interactive tool that can guide businesses through the state’s various pandemic recovery programs. The site also highlights additional resources available to support businesses seeking pandemic relief. It will be continuously updated by Empire State Development as more details and funding information become available.  

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND STATEN ISLAND BOROUGH PRESIDENT JAMES ODDO ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO BRING ATLANTIC LEAGUE TEAM TO STATEN ISLAND BALLPARK

 

Staten Island Entertainment to activate stadium with baseball and additional community programming beginning Spring 2022

 Mayor de Blasio, Borough President James Oddo, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced an agreement with Staten Island Entertainment to bring professional baseball back to the Staten Island Ballpark. Staten Island Entertainment will bring an Atlantic League team to play at the St. George waterfront stadium beginning in 2022. The team will be named following an engagement process with local elected officials, community members, and other stakeholders.
 
Prior to the 2022 season, NYCEDC and Staten Island Entertainment will make necessary upgrades to the facility, which will include installation of synthetic turf, seating and concourse upgrades, and other improvements. The renovated stadium will be a destination venue for New Yorkers across the five boroughs; Staten Island Entertainment plans to release an annual calendar of concerts and other community events to draw additional visitors to the facility and the borough.
 
“Baseball is back on Staten Island,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This ballpark has the potential to unite Staten Islanders around the home team and attract visitors from across the city and the region. We’re proud to secure a long-term future for this venue and build a recovery for all of us on Staten Island.”
 
“Having our national pastime played once again in our borough will be wonderful, but this agreement is about so much more,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. “It’s about young players and professional athletes from many different sports.  It’s about local businesses and nearby cultural institutions. This is an opportunity to use Richmond County Ballpark to its fullest capacity, and to make it part of the lives of so many more Staten Islanders. Thank you to Mayor de Blasio and his team for the work they did to get this deal done, specifically the good folks at NYCEDC led by Rachel Loeb, and before that by my old friend James Patchett, as well as their hardworking staff that negotiated this deal."
 
“We are ecstatic to bring professional baseball back to the St. George waterfront and to reactivate the facility as a destination for Staten Islanders and visitors alike to enjoy concerts and additional events,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Rachel Loeb. “Congratulations to our partners Borough President Oddo and Staten Island Entertainment on bringing this vision to reality.”
 
“This is one of the most exciting ventures I have ever been a part of,” said SIE partner John Catsimatidis. “We will bring family entertainment back to the people of Staten Island, boost the local economy and see our team conquer the Atlantic League.”
 
“We will also welcome local sports teams to use our professional stadium for playoffs and championships,” said SIE partner Eric Shuffler. “We look forward to partnering with the community to create something great on Staten Island, starting with our team name.”
 
"We appreciate Major League Baseball and the Atlantic League for their support in this effort," said New York Yankees President Randy Levine. "This is something really exciting for the residents of the great borough of Staten Island. We wish them all of the success in the world."
 
The City recognizes the work and cooperation of Nostalgic Partners to successfully reassign the stadium lease to Staten Island Entertainment and appreciates their best efforts to bring professional baseball back to Staten Island.
 
 

164 Days and Counting

 

Monday I'll be back in the Bronx with City Hall in your borough at the rotunda in the Bronx Courthouse on the Grand Concourse at East 161st Street. It's to bad the Yankees are out of town, or I would have taken my good friend BP Ruben Diaz Jr. to a game with me. 

I want to make sure I bring a lot of police with me, because those people in the Bronx aren't happy with me. For over seven years I have been dumping on the Bronx, by sending homeless people we didn't want in Manhattan, and making sure that Bronx public schools were the worse of all the schools in the city. That's my new Tale of Two Cities. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and then there is the Bronx.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic

 

29,397 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

2 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19.

"As we near the midpoint of summer, life is picking back up and people are living again after putting everything on hold last year. The best way to take advantage of all that summer in New York has to offer is to get vaccinated - protect yourself and your loved ones," Governor Cuomo said. "COVID, especially the Delta variant, poses a great risk to those who remain unvaccinated. Get your vaccine before it's too late." 

  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 93,174 
• Total Positive - 1,584 
• Percent Positive - 1.70% 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.50% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 483 (+21) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 95 
• Patients in ICU - 105 (+5) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 34 (-2) 
• Total Discharges - 186,075 (+69) 
• Deaths - 2 
• Total Deaths - 43,043 
• Total vaccine doses administered - 21,911,089 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 29,397 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 225,622 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 71.4% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 66.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 74.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 59.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 54.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 61.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 56.2%