NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADVISES NEW YORKERS TO BE PREPARED FOR COASTAL STORM RISKS

A coastal storm is forecast to bring high winds and heavy rain Monday; localized minor to moderate coastal flooding is expected

January 22, 2017– The New York City Emergency Management Department today urged New Yorkers to be prepared for high winds, heavy rain, and localized minor to moderate coastal flooding on Monday, January 23. The potential for heavy winds and rain will create hazardous travel conditions Monday.

“New York City is expecting strong, gusty winds and two to three inches of rain Monday, with possible minor to moderate coastal flooding in vulnerable areas along the coast,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “We’re urging New Yorkers to use extra caution when outdoors Monday and allow for extra travel time duringtomorrow’s commutes. Coastal residents in vulnerable neighborhoods should take steps to protect their property ahead of this storm.”

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning from 1:00 AM Monday through 1:00 AM Tuesday. The National Weather Service has also issued a Flood Watch for New York City from 1:00 PM Mondaythrough 5:00 AM Tuesday.

A Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued from 3:00 PM through 8:00 PM Monday for along the southern shores of Queens, and areas near the coastline in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

A Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM Monday along the northern shores of Queens and areas near the coastline in The Bronx.

During a Coastal Flood Advisory, minor flooding of the most vulnerable shore roads and/or properties is possible. Coastal residents should be alert for updates and take action to protect property.

A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect from 3:00 PM through 9:00 PMMonday for areas near the coastline in Staten Island.

During a Coastal Flood Warning, widespread moderate flooding is expected, resulting in beach erosion and flooding of vulnerable shore roads and/or properties. Coastal residents in the warned area should be alert for rising water and take appropriate action to protect life and property.

A weak area of low pressure is expected to bring heavy rain and high winds to the New York City area through Monday. Light rain accompanied by high winds is forecast to begin Sunday evening, increasing overnight into Monday. The heaviest rain and strongest winds are forecast Monday afternoon through Monday night, with sustained winds of 30 mph to 40 mph and gusts of 60 mph to 70 mph predicted. The rain is expected to subside Monday night and winds are expected to decrease early Tuesday morning. A total of two to three inches of rain is forecast, but locally higher amounts are possible. Urban flooding may occur in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Flash flooding cannot be ruled out during the periods of heaviest rain. NYC residents living in coastal areas expected to experience minor to moderate coastal flooding should take action to protect their property.

The New York City Department of Buildings has issued a release advising property owners, contractors and crane operators to take precautionary measures to secure their construction sites, buildings and equipment. The Buildings Department will also be performing random spot-check inspections of construction sites around the City. If sites are not secured, the Department will take immediate enforcement action -- issuing violations and Stop Work Orders, where necessary.

The City’s Flash Flood Emergency Plan has been activated to ensure a quick, effective, and coordinated response to any flash flood events. Additionally, the City’s Downed Tree Task Force has been notified.  This multi-agency task force is responsible for coordinating the response to a large downed tree event.  NYC Emergency Management has also notified elected officials of the impending storm, and has issued an Advance Warning System (AWS) message to more than 1200 service providers who disseminate information to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. NYC Emergency Management will deploy Citywide Interagency Coordinators to coastal locations during Monday and Tuesdayhigh tide cycles to facilitate coordination and information collection. New York City Emergency Management will continue to work closely with The National Weather Service to monitor the storm.

The Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, and Department of Sanitation regularly target recurring flood locations for catch basin cleaning and maintenance prior to major weather events. During flooding events, DEP patrols highways to identify and clear catch basin grates when possible.

Safety Tips:

The safest place to be during high winds is indoors. Postpone outdoor activities if a wind advisory or high wind warning has been issued. High winds can bring down trees and power lines and can turn unsecured objects into dangerous projectiles. To protect against the hazard of high winds, New Yorkers should:

·         Check the area immediately surrounding your home for unsecured objects or potentially dangerous conditions. Tree limbs, garbage cans, yard debris, or other materials that can be moved by the wind are potential projectiles aimed at your home or parked vehicle.

·         Bring inside loose, lightweight objects such as lawn furniture, potted plants, garbage cans, garden tools and toys.

·         Anchor objects that would be unsafe outside, such as gas grills or propane tanks.

·         Close up and secure patio umbrellas.

·         Secure retractable awnings.

·         Remove aerial antennas and satellite television dishes.

·         Use caution when walking or driving high profile vehicles during periods of high winds.

·         Stand clear of roadways or train tracks, as a gust may blow you toward an oncoming vehicle.

·         Use handrails where available.

·         Avoid elevated areas such as roofs, as wind speeds may be higher above ground level.

• Avoid anything that may be touching downed lines, including vehicles or tree branches. Puddles and even wet ground can conduct electricity in some cases. 
• Watch for flying debris. Tree limbs may break and objects may become loose during strong wind gusts. 

·         Build or restock your emergency supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.

·         Charge cell phones and any battery-powered devices.

·         Turn your refrigerator and freezer to a colder setting. If you lose power, items that need refrigeration will stay cooler for longer. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage.

·         Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed.

·         If you lose power and have a disability or access and functional needs, or use Life Sustaining Equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance, please call 911.

If you are driving during periods of high winds:

·         Keep both hands on the wheel and slow down.

·         Watch for objects blowing across the roadway and into your path.

·         Keep a safe distance from cars in adjacent lanes, as strong gusts could push a car outside its lane of travel.

·         Take extra care in a high-profile vehicle such as trucks, vans and SUVs, as these vehicles are more prone to being pushed or flipped by high wind gusts.

·         New Yorkers are encouraged to call 911 to report emergencies at construction sites or buildings. New Yorkers who suspect a building or property has been structurally compromised should call 911.

Additional wind guidance from the NYC Department of Buildings:

To safeguard construction sites, builders, contractors, and developers should take all precautionary measures including but not limited to the following:

·         Tie down and secure material and loose debris at construction sites.

·         Cover electrical equipment from exposure to the weather.

·         Store loose tools, oil cans, and extra fuses in a tool box.

·         Secure netting, scaffolding, and sidewalk sheds.

·         Suspend crane operations and secure crane equipment when wind speeds reach 30 mph or greater.

·         Suspend hoist operations and secure exterior hoists when wind speeds reach 35 mph or greater, unless manufacturer specifications state otherwise.

·         Brace and secure construction fences.         

·         Call 911 if there is an emergency on a construction site.

Coastal Flooding Preparations

NYC residents living in coastal areas expected to experience minor coastal flooding should take the following preparedness steps:

·         Prepare a Go Bag that you can grab in case you need to leave your home in a hurry.

·         Learn the safest route from your home or workplace to safe, high ground in case you have to evacuate. This should be part of your household emergency plan.

·         If you live in a flood-susceptible area, keep materials, such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber, on hand to help protect your home.

·         Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Sign up for emergency notifications at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

·          If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving or use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

·         Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.

·         When outside, avoid walking and driving through flooded areas. As few as six inches of moving water can knock a person over. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling. One or two feet of water can carry away a vehicle.

HORRORS IN HOMELESS HOUSING: NEW YORK’S UNCLEAN, UNSAFE, DANGEROUS TEMPORARY SHELTER SYSTEM AND HOW TO FINALLY TACKLE THE HOMELESS EPIDEMIC

Senators Klein, Savino, Avella, Alcantara, Hamilton & Peralta release alarming investigative report on worst commercial hotels and cluster sites in the city; propose legislation to combat homelessness

Senators Jeff Klein (Bronx/Westchester), Diane Savino (SI/Brooklyn), Avella (Queens), Alcantara (Manhattan), Hamilton (Brooklyn) and Jose Peralta (Queens), joined by advocates, released an investigative report detailing deplorable conditions at New York City hotels and cluster sites used for the homeless and called for a five-point legislative solution to the homelessness crisis.

The disturbing investigation, “Horrors in Homeless Housing,” analyzes inspection data in commercial hotels and cluster site housing where some of New York City’s skyrocketing homeless population call home. Violations left open at many sites where families and individuals are placed include unsafe cooking spaces, toilets that don’t flush, lead paint contamination and broken fire escapes.

“Homeless families are among the most vulnerable groups in New York City. It is unacceptable that they be subjected to the living conditions detailed in the report that we unveiled today. The solution proposed will help provide new, more humane, housing options for city residents who live in these hotels and clusters sites. The proposal will also ensure that those on the brink of losing their home will be able to remain where they are living, adding much needed stability to their lives,” said Senator Klein.

“It is unconscionable to allow children and families to be forced to live in these violation ridden hotels and cluster sites. These sites lack the basic services that homeless families should have access to and make living a normal life difficult, if not impossible. The IDC plan presented today will keep people in their homes and make it easier for those in the shelter system to find a place of their own," said Senator Savino.

“New York City has a duty to provide shelter, aid, and support for the homeless who live in our city. However, the current system completely looks past the aid and support and only wishes to provide the bare minimum shelter provisions. Many times these sites are almost as bad as staying on the street and the individuals are not treated with any dignity. The City does very little to provide these families and individuals with the assistance and support necessary to get back on their feet. The City should be allocating funds for programs that can cater to basic human needs rather than facilities that warehouse families. We need to provide these families and individuals with, at the very least, basic city services that are built into our State’s constitution and our City’s charter,” said Senator Avella.

"Our current system of homelessness prevention is expensive, complicated, and dehumanizing to the homeless families who are warehoused in cluster housing and hotels. Replacing multiple overlapping housing subsidies with the Home Stability Support plan will not only save our local governments money, but also increase the number of homeless families who are able to understand and therefore take advantage of state support to remain in their homes,” said Senator Alcantara.

"We need to stop using hotels, cluster sites, and temporary housing and instead advance real solutions to our affordable housing crisis. That’s why I am a strong supporter of the Home Stability Support Program in the 2017  budget, so we can proactively prevent people from facing homelessness. It is also why I am a strong supporter of 100% affordable housing at the Bedford Union Armory site – we need to use our public-owned sites for public benefit.  Three of the top ten cluster site violators are in communities I represent in Crown Heights and Brownsville. Our neighbors are living in buildings with more than 100 open violations. Nobody should live like this. I am proud to stand with colleagues in demanding the housing our most vulnerable New Yorkers deserve,” said Senator Hamilton.

“My constituents have been raising concerns for the last couple of years regarding the  increasing number of hotel to shelter conversions in the district and throughout the City. In light of the growing homeless population, it is clear that warehousing  homeless New Yorkers is not the correct answer to the crisis we face. It is also troubling to see the unsafe, unsanitary living conditions at some homeless shelters and clusters. No family or individual should be living in run-down buildings. It is time to stop putting band-aids on this grave situation and to focus on preventive solutions. A starting point is the Home Stability Support Program. Let’s tackle the problem at its roots and pivot the efforts toward preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place. I applaud Assemblymember Hevesi, Senator Klein and the IDC for their efforts to combat the homelessness situation throughout New York City,” said Senator Peralta.

“The Van Cortlandt Motel in the northwest Bronx is a prime example of the old dilapidated, run-down, dirty motels being used by DHS. This 1960s-era motel is a magnet for crime and prostitution. It is almost impossible to provide wraparound support services at these motels that most shelter residents need. I applaud the Mayor's commitment to ending the use of hotels and cluster sites, but this startling report demonstrates that more needs to be done,” said Councilman Andrew Cohen.

With the recent rise in homelessness in New York City, the use of hotels and temporary apartments known as cluster sites has risen to keep up with the demand for shelter. The IDC’s report examined both the use of hotels and cluster sites to shelter the homeless. Using the city’s shelter scorecard system, IDC investigators identified these sites and examined their Housing Preservation & Development, Department of Buildings and Environmental Control Board violations.

The investigation found that 78% of identified hotels used to house the homeless currently have a total of 433 open violations, with the 10 worst sites accounting for 67.9% of all violations. Overall, those with violations averaged 8.68 per site, with Manhattan hotels having the highest average of over 20 violations per hotel. In the case of the Dawn Hotel in Manhattan, the worst site with 78 open violations, investigators found open citations for broken floors, broken sinks, toilets that won’t flush, issues with fire escapes, unlawful cooking spaces, potentially dangerous electric hot plates and contaminated lead paint.

Top Ten Hotel Violators

Rank	Name of Hotel	Address	Borough	Number of Open Violations
1	Dawn Hotel of NY LLC	6-8 ST NICHOLAS PLACE	Manhattan	78
2	Frant Hotel	209/211 WEST 101 STREET	Manhattan	59
3	Ellington Hotel LLC	610 WEST 111 STREET	Manhattan	37
4	Aladdin Hotel	317 WEST 45TH STREET	Manhattan	26
5	Apollo Hotel	2027 7TH AVENUE	Manhattan	25
6	Lincoln Atlantic Motor Inn Inc	90-35 Van Wyck Expy	Queens	17
7	Park Overlook Hotel	1938 WEBSTER AVENUE	Bronx	16
8	Galaxy Motel	860 PENNSYLVANIA AVE	Brooklyn	16
9	Manhattan Center	315 West 34th Street	Manhattan	10
10	Extended Stay America-NYC LaGuardia Airport	18-30 WHITESTONE EXP	Queens	10

While the violations at hotels are alarming, investigators found violations at cluster sites to be especially egregious, with 93% of those analyzed having open violations. Despite numbering less than homeless hotels, cluster sites had nearly six times as many violations and averaged 68 violations per site. The Bronx has the highest number of violators with six sites making the top 10 list and accounting for 46% of violations uncovered. The worst violator in the city and the site of a recent shooting, Bedco Cluster in the Bronx, had 185 open violations including rodent and roach infestations, mold, lead paint in several units and failure to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The site also lacks a locking front entryway and door locks are absent from several units.

Top Ten Cluster Site Violators

Rank	Name of Cluster Site	Address	Borough	Number of Open Violations
1	BEDCO CLUSTER	1055 UNIVERSITY AVENUE	Bronx	185
2	LCG COMMUNITY SERVICES CLUSTER	111 E MOSHOLU PARKWAY N	Bronx	166
3	BEDCO CLUSTER	250 East 176 Street	Bronx	158
4	LCG BROOKLYN	1801 Pitkin Avenue	Brooklyn	144
5	CHLDN RESCUE FUND CL MODEL PRG	1575 TOWNSEND AVENUE	Bronx	143
6	BROOKLYN ACACIA CLUSTER	2063 NOSTRAND AVENUE	Brooklyn	142
7	LCG COMMUNITY SERVICES CLUSTER	2723 Barnes Avenue	Bronx	140
8	LCG COMMUNITY    SERVICES CLUSTER	1229 CLAY AVENUE	Bronx	123
9	MONICA HOUSE II, WOMEN IN NEED	899 MONTGOMERY STREET	Brooklyn	113
10	MONICA HOUSE II, WOMEN IN NEED	434 SCHENECTADY AVENUE	Brooklyn	112

As part of the IDC investigation staff visited the Van Cortlandt Motel in The Bronx to take undercover photographs of conditions. These sites are generally difficult to access, however IDC staff obtained access to a room at the hotel and were able to photograph unsafe conditions and damaged units.

In response to the findings, the IDC proposes a five-point legislative solution that will focus on prevention, re-housing and planning. The proposal includes the Home Stability Support initiative which will provide a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals, who are facing eviction, are currently homeless, or who have lost housing due to domestic violence and/or hazardous conditions. The IDC will introduce legislation to ensure inclusion of domestic violence survivors within the HSS, expand housing anti-discrimination measures, give preference in the New York City Housing Lottery to those living in shelters and require a survey of homelessness across the state. With the implementation of these policies, the use of dangerous hotels and cluster sites will be greatly diminished, resulting in safer, stable housing for struggling New Yorkers.

“Empire Justice Center is grateful to Senator Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference for bringing into sharp focus the unacceptable level of homelessness in New York, the plight of those who do not have a decent place to live, and for their crucial backing of the Home Stability Support initiative (HSS).  Empire Justice Center is proud to be a partner in this campaign to that seeks to bring housing stability to thousands of low income New Yorkers, from Buffalo to Suffolk County.  In communities all over this State, many of the people who Empire Justice serves simply cannot afford housing.  In addition, many New Yorkers must pay for fuel for heating in addition to their rent and thus engage in a monthly triage, balancing among rent costs, fuel bills and food.  HSS will make it possible to pay the rent, pay for heat and achieve the stable home that they have worked so hard for, but that has been out of their grasp,” Said Don Friedman, Managing Attorney of Empire Justice Center’s Long Island office.

“The Home Stability Support proposal that is being championed here by Senator Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference, is the first proposal that is matched to the scale of the crisis we are facing.  Home Stability Support addresses the most serious drivers of homelessness including the failure of homelessness prevention supplements to keep pace with the dramatically rising costs of housing in New York City and elsewhere around the State, and the failure to adequately support families fleeing domestic violence.  With over 150,000 New Yorkers either homeless or on the brink of homelessness, today marks a turning point in the fight to secure safe and permanent housing for homeless New Yorkers. Homelessness is not a partisan issue, and now, more than ever, it is time for the Executive, both houses of the legislature, and the City of New York to pull together to tackle this problem. We believe there is indeed a will to do so,” said Kenneth Stephens, Supervising Attorney, Civil Law Reform Unit, The Legal Aid Society.

Assembly Leads the Way in Protecting Women's Reproductive Freedom

  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz announced that he helped pass two critical pieces of legislation to strengthen and protect women’s reproductive rights. The measures affirm a woman’s right to an abortion in New York State (A.1748) and require insurers to continue covering contraception at no cost to the consumer (A.1378).

            “From coast to coast, women are fighting for their reproductive freedom, pushing back against what seems to be never-ending attacks on their rights,” Assemblyman Dinowitz said. “Over and over, we hear politicians arguing about what’s best for women, as if it’s their decision to make. Let me be clear: A woman and her doctor know what’s best for her health – not the government and not an insurance company.”

            There are 31 states with laws and regulations in place that put obstacles in the way of women obtaining access to abortions. In 2016 alone, 14 states passed new laws to further restrict this constitutional right.[1] And now, less than a month into 2017, at least 46 anti-choice bills have been introduced or are pending in state legislatures across the country.[2] It’s been nearly 44 years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, and yet the threat to women’s reproductive rights is as alarming and real as ever. With an anti-choice president about to take office with a Supreme Court vacancy to fill, the time to fight back is now, said Assemblyman Dinowitz.

            The Assembly Majority has shown a steadfast commitment to ensuring New York is a place where a woman’s constitutionally guaranteed right to choose is safeguarded and valued. Today, legislation was passed by the Assembly to protect a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy within 24 weeks, or when the pregnancy is not viable, or endangers her life or health (A.1748). The legislation emphasizes that the goal of medical laws and regulations should be to improve the quality and availability of health care, not to place undue burdens on patients and providers. 

The second piece of Assembly legislation, the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, requires health insurers to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and products when they are prescribed by a health care provider (A.1378). The legislation, though, leaves in place existing state law that allows religious employers to request an insurance policy that does not cover contraceptive methods. Further, the measure ensures coverage for emergency contraception, voluntary sterilization, patient education and counseling and all related follow-up care. Insurance companies are prohibited from charging co-pays, co-insurance payments and deductibles for contraception and are barred from imposing any restrictions or delays with respect to such coverage.

A hallmark of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the requirement that insurance providers cover contraception and preventive services at no cost to the consumer. But with the ACA in peril, it’s time New York takes action to ensure this vital coverage doesn’t disappear for the countless women and men who depend on it, noted Assemblyman Dinowitz.

“Not only is the right to choose under attack – this battle for equality stretches much further than that. Planned Parenthood is under attack, basic health care is under attack, our futures are under attack, and I refuse to sit back and do nothing,” Assemblyman Dinowitz said. “It’s up to New York State to be a leader and stand up for reproductive freedom. We can’t allow the progress we’ve made in the fight for full women’s equality to be undone – not now, not ever.”

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[1] washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/01/14-states-have-passed-laws-making-it-harder-to-get-an-abortion-already-this-year/?utm_term=.4f06124ccf5c

[2] news.vice.com/story/at-least-46-anti-abortion-bills-are-already-in-front-of-state-legislatures-in-2017