100PercentBronx

Monday, July 23, 2018

Wave Hill Events August 2‒August 9

Thu, August 2 Art Workshop Series Begins: Drawn to Color WAITLIST ONLY

Compose intimate portraits of Wave Hill’s loveliest summer blooms by layering and blending soft pastels. This two-day, intensive mini-course, which continues Friday, May 3, includes plein air drawing, a curator-led overview of the summer exhibition and technical guidance from artist Wennie Huang, a newly inducted member of the Pastel Society of America. Basic tools and hardware supplies included; a materials list will be provided upon registration. All skill levels welcome. $160. Wave Hill Members save 10%. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Space is limited.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM–4PM

Thu, August 2 Stories in the Garden

Each week, Wave Hill educators share some of their favorite nature stories. These stories—classics and more—will come to life through interactive book readings, sing-alongs and movement. Programs are held outdoors. Rain cancels. Ideal for children ages three to six with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds.

ON THE GROUNDS, 11AM

Thu, August 2 OnBehalfof.Life: Bronx Edition

EPA Agents will be on hand to facilitate conversations about environmental issues affecting multispecies habitats in the Bronx River Watershed and how these issues are influenced by environmental protection policy. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the OnBehalfof.Life project by submitting a public comment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of another species, helping to articulate a vision for environmental justice on behalf of all life. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 6–7:30PM

Thu, August 2 Evening Garden Walk

Enjoy a short evening stroll in the gardens with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Free with admission to the grounds. Serene Thursday event.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 6:30PM

Sat, August 4 Family Art Project: On Storytelling and the Land

In conjunction with this summer’s gallery exhibition addressing ecological consciousness, activist and exhibiting artist Alicia Grullon will pose the question “What connects us to the land?” Through storytelling, movement and exploring Wave Hill’s history, we’ll go beyond property titles and leases, and create inclusive stories, envisioning a future when the land belongs to everyone. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, August 4 Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Sat, August 4 Gallery Tour

Learn about Glyndor Gallery exhibitions on a tour led by Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow. Ecological Consciousness: Artist as Instigator continues Wave Hill’s efforts to examine the ways that artists engage in ecological projects that present a call to action. The exhibition documents environmental art that explores persistent problems throughout New York City. In the Sunroom Project Space, Priyanka Dasgupta and Chad Marshall’s installation uses traditional landscape architecture, such as a conventional English garden maze, to expose the instability of identity in the United States. Working collaboratively since 2015, Dasgupta and Marshall’s work explores the dichotomy of the sanctuary—its ability to protect as well as restrict. In the Sun Porch, Katie Westmoreland’s presentation of kinetic tapestries responds to the space’s architecture, evoking the patterns cast by sunlight through trees and plants. Her immersive installation utilizes the passing light and shadow patterns of the day as active mediums in her work, calling attention to the sun’s enduring, inspirational qualities. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sun, August 5 Family Art Project: On Storytelling and the Land

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, August 5 Neighbors Engaging the Environment

Explore two thought-provoking exhibitions at neighboring institutions in one afternoon. The Derfner Judaica Museum + The Art Collection’s Associate Curator Emily O’Leary will give informal tours of Erosion: Works by Leonard Ursachi, whose work addresses themes of environmental and social crises caused by manmade events. The exhibition reflects on how the destruction of natural resources is intimately interconnected with the effacement of human history and culture. Wave Hill Senior Curator Jennifer McGregor will give informal tours of Wave Hill’s Ecological Consciousness: Artist as Instigator. Wave Hill provides shuttle service between the Hebrew Home and Wave Hill. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY; SHUTTLE LEAVES FROM WAVE HILL FRONT GATE, 1:30‒4PM

Sun, August 5 Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Mon, August 6

Closed to the public

Tue, August 7 Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Tue, August 7 Gallery Tour

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Wed, August 8 Sunset Wednesdays: Live Music on the Great Lawn: Aurora & Zon del Barrio

Aurora & Zon del Barrio, featuring Fania All-Star Nicky Marrero, bring its classic Afro-Boricua foot-stomping, funk-based classic salsa, plena, merengue, bomba and boogalu to the corners of the barrios where Latinos live, work and play. Creative and musically diverse while resourceful in survival, Latinos from the barrio zones have sophisticated tastes in music that are not relegated to one particular genre. Zon del Barrio emerges as one of the few orchestras to express the varied genres of Latin music from the African Diaspora and the urban streets of New York. This group of veteran and young musicians is led by music journalist and historian Aurora Flores with musical direction provided by David Fernandez, a multi-instrumentalist who defers to his almost encyclopedic knowledge of the classics for his creative arrangements. Rain or shine, all Sunset Wednesday Concerts are held on the Great Lawn. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved indoors to Armor Hall with overflow space in the Mark Twain Room and the covered terrace behind Wave Hill House. Check wavehill.org for shuttle service and for The Café menu on Sunset Wednesdays. The onsite parking lot closes at 4PM, except to accommodate vehicles with a disability license plate or placard. Free with admission to the grounds, which is $12 starting at 4PM. Free to Wave Hill Members. The grounds close at 8:30PM.

ON THE GROUNDS, 7PM

Thu, August 9 Stories in the Garden

ON THE GROUNDS, 11AM

Thu, August 9 Evening Garden Walk

Enjoy a short evening stroll in the gardens with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Free with admission to the grounds. Serene Thursday event.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 6:30PM

Thu, August 9 Summer Stargazing

Prepare for the Perseid meteor shower, this summer’s most anticipated celestial show! Look up and get ready for an out-of-this-world experience with Irene Pease, sidewalk astronomer and science educator. Learn what it takes to be an amateur astronomer in New York City, get oriented to the night sky, test out a telescope in the garden, and observe the starry night high above Wave Hill. This program is rain or shine, with an indoor presentation only in the case of rain. Adults and children 12 and up welcome. $25. Wave Hill Members save 10%. Registration required, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. Space is limited. Serene Thursday event.

MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, 8−9:30PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–5:30PM, March 15–October 31. Closes 4:30PM, starting November 1.

ADMISSION $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Councilman Rubén Díaz Sr.

Reasons Why I have been writing "What You Should Know" for many years

You should know that The New York City Ethics Committee has opened up an investigation into the writing of my weekly column, which I titled “What You Should Know” (WYSK).

It is important for you to know, my dear reader, why and what motivates me to write this column, which I have done for more than 20 years.

I want you to know that for the past (16) sixteen years, while I served as a New York State Senator, my column was always e-mailed through my Senate email address “Senator Ruben Diaz” Diaz@NYSenate.com. I was never investigated by the Senate’s Ethics Committee for violating the Senates rules and ethics.

I believe that it is my right as an elected official to inform, not only my constituents, but the State, City Employees and the General Public as a whole about important issues, negotiations, or to write on the antics, and conniving manner in which some things are done, especially those things that have an impact on New York State/ City residents.

I strongly believe transparency is of great importance. Therefore, I write on issues that are being done secretly or in a conniving manner, be it intentional or unintentional. I must ensure the people have a full understanding of what is actually being done by their representatives or what impact, if any, these actions may have on their lives. So, I write to inform the public, hence the title “What You Should Know.”

Sometimes, I am compelled to write late at night. When a thought or an issue that I feel you should know comes to mind, my sleep is interrupted, and I wake up in the middle of the night to write on the matter of importance that you should know.

I have never used this column for personal gain or for political purposes. This column has never been used to raise money, nor to endorse, support or ask to vote for any candidate in particular. This column has always been to inform and as a public official to express my position on public issues that are being discussed and may become law.

This column is also a way for me to inform the public on coming activities and planned community events related to education, cultural events, parades, etc.

This column also presents the positions and opinions expressed by other public officials especially if those opinions differ when in private, than those expressed in public. When it comes time to vote some elected officials will vote differently than what they promised in public. This is wrong. Therefore, I will write on it, because I strongly feel that the people we represent have a right to know. If I don’t write on it, the people may never know, and they have a right to know what their legislators are doing.

Once in a while, some in the New York media will comment on the topics covered on “WYSK”, and at times the press have reprinted my column in its entire format.

There are readers of “WYSK” that have given it praise and compliments regarding the topics covered. There are other readers who criticize “WYSK”. But either way, this is great, because it just shows the American way of expressing our right to free speech.

Now I have been in the New York City Council a mere six (6) months and rumor has it that one of my colleagues did not like a “WYSK” and therefore has filed a complaint against me, placing my reputation, integrity, and honesty in question.

The City Council’s Ethics Committee has opened an investigation and the media has written an article reporting that I am under investigation, giving the wrong impression. Some have said that I am being investigated for corruption.

This is unfair, unjust and unnecessary. I sincerely hope that the “Ethics Committee” does the right thing and puts an end to this as soon as possible. I also pray that other members of the City Council will never be put through this kind of situation.

I am Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is What You Should Know.

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Bronx Democratic County Dinner

The above photo of former Bronx Deputy Borough President Aurila Greene standing next to a portrait of herself presented by the Bronx County organization as the Lifetime Achievement Award was the highlight of the dinner. The four Honorees of the dinner were Ms. Rella Fogliano (CEO of the MacQuesten Companies), Dr. Mario J. Garcia (Chief of Cardiology, Montefiore Einstein College of Medicine), Ms. Rosa Garcia (Owner Mott Haven Bar & Grill), and Mr. Joseph Geiger (Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Metro NYC District Council of Carpenters).

Elected officials on hand included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., NYS Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochol, NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, State Senator Jeff Klein, State Senator Jose Marcos Serrano. and various Bronx and citywide assembly and city council members. The photos below should tell the rest of the story.

Above - Lt. Governor Kathy Hochol,

Below - NYS Comptroller Tom Dinapoli.

Above - Mayor Bill de Blasio saying that as is well, and Bronx BP Diaz Jr. is doing a great job.

Below - Current Public Advocate (and candidate for NYS Attorney General) points towards her goal of going to Albany.

Above - Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo.

Below - State Senator Jamaal Bailru with NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and the Democratic District leader from the 83rd A.D.

Above - Is State Senator Jeff Klein getting some advice from Assemblyman Michael Benedetto on Klein's current tough re-election bid?

Below - Former Bronx Deputy BP standing next to hew portrait with the artist Ms. Ayala

Bronx Shooting Injures One Person

Thursday night an unidentified man was shot in the face at the corner of Morris Park And Van Buren Avenues. The man was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital with wounds to his face. Police from the 49th precinct would only say that the unidentified man suffered an injury to his face (with part of the face was blown off by the blast). Police searched the area of the shooting, but did not find the shooter. Neighborhood residents who did not want to be identified said that this was the second shooting in the area (and same corner) recently. They also believed this was a hit by someone in the area.

Above - Police from the 49th precinct stand guard over the crime scene. There was a representative of the Bronx District Attorney's office present at the crime scene. The cup in the foreground covers part of the face that was blown off.

Below - The fresh blood from the shooting victim lies on the sidewalk as evidence of the crime. Police officers try to figure out why the shooting happened, and who was the shooter.

UPDATE ON THE CITY’S RESPONSE TO THE MANHATTAN STEAM MAIN EXPLOSION

All Air Samples Have Been Negative for Asbestos

Clean-Up Plan for Debris That Tested Positive for Asbestos Began Overnight

Individuals Who Live and Work in the Affected Area Will Not be Permitted to Enter the Area During Clean-Up

The City’s Emergency Management Department continues to coordinate the interagency response to the steam main explosion that occurred in Manhattan at West 21^st Street and 5th Avenue on Thursday, July 19. City agencies continue to operate in the area, including the FDNY, NYPD, and the Departments of Environmental Protection, Buildings, Health and Mental Hygiene, and Emergency Management. Con Edison, the American Red Cross in Greater NY, and the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration are also coordinating response operations.

The following is an update of the City’s response to the affected area:

HOT ZONE REMAINS IN PLACE:

· In an abundance of caution, and to facilitate clean-up operations, a hot zone will remain in place. The hot zone boundaries include:

o 5^th Avenue from 19^th Street to 22^nd Street (midway down the block on 19^th Street and most of 20^th and 21^st streets on the west side).

o The entire block on East 20^th and 21^st Streets and midway down the block on East 19^th Street.

· Individuals are not permitted to enter the zone from outside the area. As clean-up work progresses, the City will work to shrink the size of the frozen zone.

ASSESSMENT AND CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS:

· 44 buildings have had their facades visually inspected for asbestos contamination. No buildings have been cleared for re occupancy as of 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Visual inspections are ongoing.

· An assessment is underway to determine how many building have been contaminated. Once the assessment is completed, the exterior washing of buildings will begin. This operation will be conducted by outside vendors hired by Con Edison.

· The Departments of Environmental Protection and Health and Mental Hygiene will determine when it is safe for residents to reoccupy buildings.

RECEPTION CENTER FOR AFFECTED RESIDENTS:

· A reception center for affected individuals remains open at the Clinton School at 10 East 15th Street until 8:00 p.m. tonight. The reception center will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. through Sunday, 7/22. This reception center is for information inquiries only and is currently staffed with representatives from the New York City Departments of Emergency Management and Health and Mental Hygiene along with Con Edison, the American Red Cross in Greater NY, ASPCA, and the Animal Care Center of NYC. Individuals who live or work within the potential affected area and need to retrieve needed medical supplies or pets should report to the reception center, where escorts will be coordinated if possible. The reception center assisted seven households yesterday affected by the steam main explosion. One family was sheltered in a local hotel by the American Red Cross in Greater NY.

STREET CLOSURES:

Street closures are still necessary to facilitate assessment and clean-up work. The following full street closures are in effect:

· West 20^th Street between Broadway and 6^th Avenue

· West 21^st Street between Broadway and 6^th Avenue

Partial closures:

· North side of West 19^th Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue is partially closed, but we are working on opening the street entirely as soon as possible.

· West 22^nd Street between Broadway and 5^th Avenue

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & MENTAL HYGIENE (DOHMH):

The public should stay away from the affected area. Emergency crews are still on scene.

All air samples have been negative for asbestos. Some debris samples contained asbestos. However, it is very unlikely that people exposed to this event will develop an asbestos-related illness. Asbestos-related illnesses usually develop after many years of exposure. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be experiencing breathing difficulties. Irritation to the eyes, nose and throat from exposure to the debris is also possible. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.

If you had been exposed to debris from the steam-pipe explosion, you should shower and seal all clothing you were wearing at the time of the explosion in a clear plastic bag. Con Edison is accepting bagged clothing from people who were in the immediate area of the steam pipe rupture at 5th Avenue and 21st Street in Manhattan.

People who live or work within the affected area should keep windows closed until clean-up is completed. Window air conditioners should be set to re-circulate indoor air. If you see or have debris from the steam pipe explosion, you should notify your landlord, building owner, or building manager. Debris should not be disturbed. New York City agencies are working to determine what contamination is present and the extent of impact.

The Health Department and other city agencies will continue to provide updates as new information is made available. For current information, visit nyc.gov/health.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (DEP):

· DEP is monitoring asbestos levels while the cleanup and reoccupancy continues. All air samples have been negative for asbestos.

· DEP asbestos inspectors are conducting physical assessments of each building in the area, coordinated with NYPD, FDNY, and DOHMH.

FDNY:

· FDNY has two decontamination task forces on scene – one at 22nd Street and Broadway and another at 19^th Street and Broadway. These task forces will decontaminate FDNY members, workers, and civilian walk-ins, as needed.

· A fire task force remains on scene, with three units standing by if needed (1 chief, 1 engine company, 1 ladder company).

· An alarm investigation team also remains on scene. This two-person team can respond to alarms in buildings in the immediate area and advise dispatch quickly if additional resources are needed. These teams are put in place during big events, and useful to prevent sending in several resources if not needed for a false alarm.

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS:

· Buildings inspectors and forensic engineers remain on the scene to assist with structural assessments and engineering expertise.

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

· The Emergency Operations Center remains activated in response to the steam main explosion. NYC Emergency Management continues to coordinate the interagency response on scene.

· NYC Emergency Management and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services have moved 4,000 sandbags to the location to support clean-up operations.

MTA:

· There are no service impacts to the R & W subway lines, and the station at 23rd Street has been reopened.

· MTA buses:

o Detoured - M1, M2, M3, M55, BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, X1, X7, X9, X10, X12, X14, X17, X27, X28, X42, X63, X64, X68, BxM6, BxM7, BxM9, BxM10, BxM11

o Delayed - M1, M2, M3, M55

CON EDISON:

· Con Edison personnel will be at three locations in Manhattan today to assist those affected by yesterday morning’s steam pipe rupture at 5^th Avenue and 21^st Street. The locations are:

· 10 E. 15^th St., inside Clinton School. Residents who cannot get back into their homes because of the evacuation should meet with Con Edison personnel who will be on-site for financial assistance from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

· Near 19^th Street and Broadway and near 22^nd Street and Broadway. Con Edison personnel will be at these two locations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will provide claim forms and accept clothing that was worn by people who were in the area at the time of the explosion.

· Con Edison advises that anyone who was within a block of 5^th Avenue and 21^st Street yesterday at or just after the time of the 6:40 a.m. rupture bag their clothing and bring it to one of the designated sites.

· The claim forms also are available at coned.com.

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REDUCE MATERNAL DEATHS AND LIFE-THREATENING COMPLICATIONS FROM CHILDBIRTH AMONG WOMEN OF COLOR

Four-point plan will address implicit bias, increase surveillance, enhance maternity care and expand public education

First Lady McCray and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio announced New York City’s first comprehensive plan to reduce maternal deaths and life-threatening complications of childbirth among women of color. The five year plan aims to eliminate disparities in maternal mortality between Black and White women – where the widest disparity exists – and reduce by half the number of severe maternal morbidity events in the five boroughs. Severe maternal morbidity is defined as life-threatening complications of childbirth; maternal mortality is defined as a death of a woman while pregnant or within one year of the termination of pregnancy due to any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management.

The City will invest $12.8 million over the next three years in this plan. Funding will go towards four initiatives: 1) Engaging relevant private and public health care providers across the City in adopting implicit bias training – the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that can affect behaviors, decisions and actions in their treatment of women of color who are pregnant; 2) supporting private and public hospitals to enhance data tracking and analysis of severe maternal mortality and maternal morbidity events to improve quality of care and eliminate preventable complications; 3) enhancing maternal care at NYC Health + Hospitals’ facilities; and 4) expanding public education in partnership with community-based organizations and residents.

In New York City, more than 3,000 women experience a life-threatening event during childbirth, and about 30 women die from a pregnancy-related cause each year. Preliminary data shows that in New York City, Black non-Hispanic women are eight times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than White women, much higher than the national average.

“We are losing far too many mothers – especially women of color – to pregnancy-related complications,” saidMayor Bill de Blasio. “That is unacceptable. This new plan will put our hospitals and healthcare system on track to save the lives of mothers and make healthier the futures of their children.”

“New York City is making women’s health care priority number one,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “No mother, in this great City of world class health providers, should ever worry about the quality of care she’ll receive when building her family, before, during or after childbirth.”

“Maternal mortality is not just a health crisis but also a human rights issue. It is a heartbreaking fact that maternal mortality greatly affects women of color. This investment is the City’s commitment to provide the best healthcare services to all New York women and the next step in ensuring the protection of all women, especially women of color. I thank Council Member Helen Rosenthal for bringing attention to the maternal mortality crisis, and I applaud the Administration for working with us on making New York City safe for all pregnant people,” saidCouncil Speaker Corey Johnson.

“The birth of a child should be a joyous moment for all families, and it is unacceptable that in 2018 we have so many Black mothers who are dying because of complications during childbirth,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “This ambitious plan is an example of joining medicine and hospital delivery systems with public health systems to help close health inequities and save the lives of mothers across New York City.”

“We know one of the key drivers of racial disparities in maternal mortality is structural racism. Decades of inequitable distribution of resources across neighborhoods and unequal treatment within healthcare settings have resulted in racial differences in birth outcomes,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “We want to thank First Lady Chirlane McCray and Deputy Mayor Palacio for investing in a bold plan to address maternal deaths. This builds upon the efforts of the Health Department to improve maternal health and close the racial gap by transforming how mothers, and specifically women of color, are cared for and supported throughout their pregnancy.”

“Despite years of work by the Health Department and many others, the stark and unacceptable racial and ethnic disparities in maternal death and life-threatening complications of childbirth have persisted,” said First Deputy Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “We are excited that as a City we are prioritizing investing new resources to improve women’s and maternal health. We are confident that by aligning and coordinating efforts of our public health and public hospital systems in partnership with community leaders, organizations, and residents, we can move the needle in a positive direction.”

“Every incidence of maternal mortality is a tragedy, and we believe many such tragedies can and must be prevented,” said Machelle Allen, MD, Chief Medical Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “We believe a good number of other incidents that are life-threatening to women during childbirth, and especially women of color, are also avoidable—which is why we are excited to play an active role in embracing the steps New York City is announcing. We owe our patients nothing less than the best of care possible.”

Issues around maternal mortality rates are complex, particularly for Black women. Contributing factors to this epidemic include the health status of Black women, such as the prevalence of obesity and decreased access to care; issues of poverty, such as inadequate housing; residential segregation and lower educational attainment; and the stressors stemming from racism. Even when controlling for socioeconomic and educational status, Black women are still more likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality than women of other races and ethnicities.

Components of the plan include:

1. Creating A New City-Wide Maternal Hospital Quality Improvement Network: The Health Departmentwill create a Maternal Hospital Quality Improvement Network aimed at developing hospital-specific recommendations to reduce the number of life-threatening complications during and after childbirth. The Department will target a total of 23 of the 38 public and private maternity hospitals in NYC over a four year period, prioritizing providers in neighborhoods with the highest rates of pregnancy related complications – South Bronx, North and Central Brooklyn, East and Central Harlem, and Jamaica and St. Albans in Queens. Hospitals will collect and review severe maternal morbidity data to identify problem areas in care and incorporate best practices to improve patient outcomes. Hospital staff will participate in practice drills to help them recognize and treat these events in a timely manner.

2. Creating Comprehensive Maternity Care at NYC Health + Hospitals: Building upon the efforts already undertaken by NYC Health + Hospitals to ensure safe maternity care, the public healthcare system will implement the following initiatives:

· Embed simulation training in all hospital obstetric units to focus on identification and response to the two top causes of pregnancy-related deaths for women of color—postpartum hemorrhage (bleeding) and thromboembolism (blood clots).

· Hire maternal care coordinators to assist an estimated 2,000 high-risk women in the prenatal and postpartum periods to keep appointments, procure prescriptions, and connect women to eligible benefits.

· Co-locate newborn and postpartum appointments to increase the number of women receiving postpartum care from 60 percent to 90 percent. Postpartum care will include contraceptive counselling, breastfeeding support and screening for maternal depression.

· Establish primary care interventions to identify women who are planning to have a child within six to 12 months. Providers will assess hemorrhage risks and establish a care plan for women seeking to give birth within that timeline.

3. Enhancing Data Quality and Timeliness:

· The NYC Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, launched by the Health Department in December 2017, will drive data quality improvement by examining maternal deaths and analyzing and compiling data on severe complications experienced by expectant and new mothers.

· To address the challenge of data having historically been on a two to three-year time lag, the Health Department will provide preliminary estimates of mortality annually. The City will also request the NY State Health Department to release relevant hospital data within one year.

4. Launching Public Awareness Campaign on Pregnancy-Related Health Risks: The Health Department will expand its targeted public education campaign with community residents and providers, emphasizing safe and respectful childbirth, prenatal and post-partum care starting in 2019.

This plan builds on the City’s significant commitment to improve maternal health, including increased screening for maternal depression through the ThriveNYC Maternal Depression Learning Collaborative, which has 30 participating hospitals to screen and treat pregnant women and new mothers for maternal depression, and the creation of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, which reviews deaths and severe complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, the City became the first municipality in the nation to establish a severe maternal mortality surveillance program in 2016. The Health Department also is focused on supporting women’s health before and during pregnancy to ensure optimal outcomes. In May, the Department announced the Maternal Care Connection, a collaboration with SUNY Downstate Medical Center to improve obstetric care and chronic disease management, both of which contribute to racial disparities in birth outcomes. The Department also supports a Nurse-Family Partnership program and Newborn Home Visiting Program, the By My Side program, which provides doula support services through Healthy Start Brooklyn, and new Family Wellness Suites at the Neighborhood Health Action Centers.

BIAGGI FILING SHOWS STRONG GRASSROOTS SUPPORT

Alessandra Biaggi, candidate for State Senate in District 34, raised a total of about $260,000, including individual cash donations of more than $220,000 from 3,169 unique individuals, according to her filing yesterday with the State Board of Elections. The average individual contribution was about $70. Biaggi reported expenses of just over $50,000 for the period.

“I'm grateful to everyone who contributed to help work for a true-blue progressive Democratic State Senate that will fight for health care, affordable housing, women's reproductive rights, access to college education, ethics in government and all the other issues held up by Republican control. With broad, grassroots support, we can win,” Biaggi said.

That compares with her opponent Jeff Klein, who got more than 80% of his contributions from corporations, LLCs and PACs. He received only $95,740 from 123 individuals, an average contribution of $778, during the same period. Klein filed four reports during the period, which included expenses of more than $600,000. Klein also took $200,000 from four questionable transfers from the Senate Independence Campaign Committee starting in February of this year.