REP. NADLER ENDORSES ALESSANDRA BIAGGI FOR STATE SENATE

  Rep. Jerry Nadler announced today that he is endorsing Alessandra Biaggi in the Democratic primary for State Senate in District 34 on Thursday, September 13.

“We can’t afford to have the New York State Senate allied with Trump and the Republicans,” Rep. Nadler said. “The stakes for all New Yorkers are just too high when it comes to health care, public education, women’s reproductive rights, workers’ rights, immigrant rights and just about every issue we care about. We know that Alessandra Biaggi will always stand with Democrats, and be that true progressive leader that the people of her district and the people of our State deserve. That’s why I’m endorsing Alessandra and urge everyone in District 34 to vote for her.”

“Jerry Nadler has for many years been a progressive leader throughout his career and a model for how to be a progressive legislator. And right now, he is a key leader in Washington in resisting the Trump agenda,” Biaggi said. “I couldn’t be prouder to have his endorsement and pledge to follow his example in the New York State Senate.”

Biaggi has previously been endorsed by City Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Assemblymember Yoh-Line Niou, former Mayor David Dinkins, former Rep. Charles Rangel, former Rep. Lester Wolff, former Attorney General Oliver Koppell, 32BJ SEIU, UAW Region 9A and more than 80 progressive, political and community organizations.

Democrat Amanda Septimo Pledges to Prioritize Funding to Increase Access to After School Programs

Amanda Septimo, a Democrat running for State Assembly, has pledged to prioritize funding to create universal access to after school programs. She is calling for an expansion of the state's Advantage After School Program (AASP) in the South Bronx as a way to increase access in a high-need area.   "There are so many programs in our communities that provide kids with a place to go and be involved in athletics, get academic help, or learn an instrument. In the midst of the opioid epidemic and with gang violence plaguing our communities, our state government needs to do more to ensure our young people have options for safe and fun programs that will steer them away from trouble and drugs," said Septimo.   The funding would be allocated to expand the the Office of Children and Family Services's Advantage After School Program, which partners with community-based organizations to run after school programs. Septimo is proposing to expand the budget as part of a pilot in the South Bronx since there are only two AASP programs there currently.   "After school programs should be an option for all students, regardless of their families' income. When I was growing up, after school programs were instrumental in giving me the skills and passion to be where I am today. I am committed to creating opportunities for our students. Advantage After School Programs are great resources for families, and I want to ensure that more families in the South Bronx have access," said Septimo.   Born and raised in the South Bronx, Septimo has been involved in community activism since she was teenager as a member of A.C.T.I.O.N., THE POINT Community Development Corporation's teen activism platform. She has worked with the Legal Aid Society, with a specific focus on cases involving domestic violence and Spanish-speaking immigrants. She also worked as the District Director for Congressman José E. Serrano (D-15th Congressional District), making her one of the youngest senior staffers in Congress. Most recently, Amanda worked to help working and middle-class families by fighting for stronger worker protections with the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators.   The Democratic Primary will be on September 13th. The 84th District includes Mott Haven, Port Morris, Melrose, The Hub, Longwood, Concourse, Highbridge, and Hunts Point.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES DR. MARY T. BASSETT STEPPING DOWN AS CITY’S HEALTH COMMISSIONER

Dr. Bassett will accept role at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, First Deputy Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot to serve as Acting Health Commissioner

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that Dr. Mary T. Bassett will step down as Health Commissioner at the end of August and will be succeeded by First Deputy Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot, who will serve as Acting Health Commissioner.

Dr. Bassett will become director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, and will be appointed the François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights in the department of Social and Behavioral Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

Dr. Barbot will assume the role of Acting Health Commissioner on Sept. 1. A native New Yorker, Dr. Barbot has served as First Deputy Health Commissioner since early 2014. In this role, she has led the agency’s blueprint for achieving health equity, Take Care New York 2020, and has led the agency’s efforts to bridge the gap between public health and health care delivery. She also oversees the Department's budget, contracting and emergency preparedness divisions, and leads the group responsible for agency performance measurement and policy development. 

Under Dr. Bassett, the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene refocused its efforts to tackle issues of health inequity in New York’s most under-served neighborhoods.

“Dr. Bassett brought equity to the forefront of public health in New York City,” said Mayor de Blasio. “She led the push to bring health centers to underserved neighborhoods and helped ensure New Yorkers struggling with opioid addiction received the care they needed. Her approach to public health is helping make New York City a better, fairer and more just city.”

Dr. Bassett first served in the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from 2002 to 2009, as Deputy Commissioner of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. She was appointed Commissioner in January 2014. 

As Commissioner, she oversaw the City’s public health response to several disease emergencies, including Ebola, Legionnaires, Zika and leptospirosis. She also played key roles in the design and execution of major City plans, including ThriveNYC, HealingNYC and NYC End the Epidemic, and oversaw the development of a comprehensive legislative package to further curtail tobacco use. 

Dr. Bassett shifted the focus of the Health Department to health equity. She created the Center for Health Equity, as well as the Neighborhood Health Action Centers. These centers are housed in under-utilized Department of Health buildings and serve as resource centers that offer health and social services to communities in need, with the goal of increasing services to help reduce disparities in chronic conditions and premature mortality. Dr. Bassett also started Race to Justice, an effort to re-train the Health Department in implicit bias, which eventually expanded to other City agencies.

“As City Council Health Chair, I had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Bassett in key health initiatives and legislation so I saw firsthand her depth of knowledge and commitment to making this city a better place,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “It was an honor to see someone with so much expertise in health and medicine up close in action, and I learned a lot in that time. I know she will do great work at Harvard University and I look forward to working with First Deputy Commissioner Barbot on the city’s health concerns.”

“It’s been an honor to work with Mary. Her hard work and vision to create a city where race, ethnicity and ZIP codes do not determine people’s health outcomes will have a lasting impact on the way we carry out our public health policies,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “I wish her much success at the Harvard Center for Health and Human Rights, and thank her wholeheartedly for her leadership, passionate commitment to health equity, and the legacy of professional excellence she leaves at the Health Department.”

“I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for giving me the opportunity and the honor of leading the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene over the last four and a half years. With unflagging support from the Mayor and Deputy Mayors Barrios-Paoli and Dr. Palacio, we have confronted Ebola and Legionnaires disease, strengthened our City's tobacco laws, and addressed the ongoing opioid epidemic,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “We have made family and child heath a priority, helped enroll tens of thousands of New Yorkers in health care, and reduced HIV infections to record lows. For the first time, we have made improving mental health a real priority, thanks to the incredible vision and effort of First Lady Chirlane McCray. Most importantly, we have infused all of this work with an unwavering focus on racial equity and social justice, creating a legacy that will improve our City's health in the years to come. I thank the outstanding and dedicated people who make our Health Department the best public health agency anywhere. And I thank Dr. Oxiris Barbot, who has been a great partner and will be a superb leader of the Department.”

“I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for giving me the opportunity to serve as Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It has been a privilege to work alongside Commissioner Bassett, an inspirational leader whose contributions to public health and racial equity will be felt in this Department and this City for many years,” said First Deputy Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “I look forward to continuing the great work done every day by our incredible senior leadership team and more than 6,000 dedicated, talented and creative Health Department employees to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.” 

A graduate of Yale University, Dr. Barbot received her medical degree from New Jersey Medical School, and she completed her pediatrics training at DC Children’s Hospital. She served as Baltimore’s Health Commissioner from 2010 to 2014. She previously worked for the Health Department from 2003 to 2010, as the Medical Director for the Office of School Health.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE VOTE TO APPROVE INWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD REZONING

  “Today’s committee vote is the first step to ensure Inwood becomes a fairer and stronger neighborhood. It means security for families who deserve to stay in the neighborhood they love, and new education, employment and community investments that will open opportunities for lifelong residents and new immigrants alike. We’re building and protecting affordable homes at a record pace. Today’s vote means thousands more families in Inwood will have the security of affordable housing, and rent they can afford. We’re adding new resources for tenants across Inwood to fight harassment and evictions. This new plan will bring significant new investments in community enrichment, including two waterfront parks, a new library, and a new Pre-K facility, along with key infrastructure projects. Councilmember Rodriguez has shown true leadership in supporting this proposal and members of the Inwood community will benefit for generations to come. I also thank Speaker Johnson and Land Use Committee Chair Salamanca for joining us in our fight for affordable housing and strong neighborhoods.”

Primary Update - Who is on the Ballot?

   There was little suspense at the Board of Elections this morning when the 'Challenge Phase' of getting on the ballot was heard for the Bronx. Almost every candidate who filed petitions was placed on the ballot with enough valid signatures. The few exception were that of a few County Committee candidates, and the challenger to incumbent Assemblyman Jose Rivera. The Board ruled that Jose Padilla Jr. did not have enough valid signatures to be a candidate for the 78th Assembly District. 

  As usual King Stanley Schlein, the Bronx Democratic County organization lawyer for the past up teen years was heard not saying his usual 'We will see them in court', but was heard speaking to another lawyer representing an opposing candidate 'make sure you bill your candidate for all the hours you will be working in the court'.

  In the afternoon at the courthouse (where no photographs were allowed to be taken) the excitement was that the challenge of the Sergeant John Perez petition was dropped. It seemed with all the other claims that the Board of Elections does not reule on Sergeant perez would still have more than enough valid signatures to be on the ballot for the currently vacant 87th Assembly seat. The other eleven court challenges will begin at the Board of Elections tomorrow at 10 AM, winding up next on August 9th. 

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION AND NYC COUNCIL ANNOUNCE NEW EFFORT TO CONFRONT TAXI AND FHV SERVICE REFUSALS

New office will address refusals of service by taxis and FHVs that affect people of color and outer borough residents in New York

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced the creation of a new office within the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, the sole purpose of which is to ensure that all passengers receive the service they expect, and to which they are legally entitled. The new Office of Inclusion, originally proposed by Council Members Donovan Richards, will focus on the development and implementation of anti-discrimination training for drivers, and will expand on its public education campaign, encouraging passengers to file complaints with the TLC when denied service, so that their experience may be investigated, and appropriate actions taken.

“Service refusal is real, unacceptable and we’re going to fight it in every way we can,” said Mayor de Blasio. “These new steps will help ensure that anyone considering this unfair and illegal practice knows that it's wrong, it carries severe consequences, and it has no place in this industry.”

“We take a major step forward in ending service refusal once and for all in the taxi and for-hire vehicle industry,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “I congratulate my colleague Council Member Donovan Richards on this vital idea becoming a reality and I look forward to working with the TLC Office of Inclusion to ensure that there is zero tolerance for service refusal in our city.”

"There is nothing more fundamental to what we do than making sure New Yorkers are welcomed and served into our city's yellow cabs," said TLC Chair Meera Joshi. "Service refusal in general, and bias-based refusal in particular, is a terrible experience for its victims -- it is visceral, hurtful, and just wrong."

The bulk of TLC’s service refusal violations are in response to passenger complaints.  TLC’s prosecution unit investigates each complaint thoroughly. Drivers face significant fines if cases are substantiated, and ultimately license revocation if they continue refusing service. Service refusal violations lead to penalties of $500 for the first violation; second violation in 24 months is $1000 and possible 30 day suspension; third violation within 36 months is $1000 and revocation prehearing.

The TLC recognizes the continued challenge many Black, Latino, other communities of color and outer borough residents face when hailing taxis and getting service to their destination in NYC. The TLC has provided outreach and education to drive down service refusal numbers. The proposed TLC Office of Inclusion will be tasked with:

·         Encouraging service refusal complaints (based on a protected class including ethnicity or race or gender, or destination) to be submitted to the TLC;

·         Prosecuting service refusal complaints provided by the public;

·         Increasing and insuring taxi service in outer boroughs;

·    Aggressive outreach to the TLC's regulated driver communities on NYC’s zero tolerance for service refusals, and the significant penalties they face if they make the wrong choices. Refusals include not stopping when hailed, refusing to go to location requested, and not accepting passengers;

·   Outreach to community groups whose members have experienced service refusals, to stress the importance of reporting service refusals;

·   Overseeing production and roll-out of a ride refusal awareness campaign, including a Public Service Announcement that will be distributed citywide to venues outside of taxis to ensure robust exposure to the public. This PSA will also be incorporated into new and existing training for drivers. The awareness campaign will also be shown on local TV, heard on local radio, and transformed into images for digital and printed outreach materials;

·   Develop and provide mandated Continuing Driver Training prior to license renewal. Training includes diversity training and review of zero tolerance rules and penalties;

·    Recruitment efforts focused on encouraging members of underrepresented communities to become drivers;

·   Encourage extensive citywide coverage by TLC drivers in all communities and ensure that the public has data on service levels in their local community by providing metrics on service levels by geography.

RAND CORPORATION STUDY CONFIRMS: NEW YORK HEALTH ACT "COULD EXPAND COVERAGE WHILE REDUCING TOTAL HEALTH SPENDING"

Think tank concludes: New York Health would cover all New Yorkers

with net health care savings

 

Bill sponsors Senator Rivera and Assembly Member Gottfried will continue to push for passage during the next legislative session

 

  State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried, sponsors of the New York Health Act in the New York State Legislature, welcomed the findings of a study of the bill by the highly-regarded, independent, non-profit RAND Corporation. The study confirms that New York Health would reduce total health care costs, while increasing spending on actual care rather than administration and insurance company profit; provide full health coverage to every New Yorker; save substantial money for almost all New Yorkers; and generate a net increase in employment due to increases in disposable income.

 

In December 2017, the New York State Health Foundation commissioned the RAND Corporation to assess the savings, costs, and feasibility of the New York Health Act. Using conservative estimates, the RAND study establishes that New Yorkers would use more health care services under the new single-payer plan than under the current system, even as total health care spending would be slightly lower in 2022 growing to a savings of $15 billion annually by 2031 due to administrative efficiencies.

 

The study highlights that the majority of New Yorkers would pay less under the New York Health Plan - New Yorkers in the bottom 90% of household incomes would save an average of $2,800 per person annually - thanks to an equitable distribution of taxation based on the ability to pay. In addition, premiums, deductibles, copays, out-of-pocket payments, and out-of-network charges would be eliminated.

 

"This is an important validation of the New York Health Act by one of the most prestigious analytical firms in the country," said Assembly Health Committee Chair Gottfried. "RAND shows we can make sure every New Yorker gets the care they need and does not suffer financially to get it; save billions of dollars a year by cutting administrative costs, insurance company profit, and outrageous drug prices; and pay for it all more fairly. Even though RAND thinks the net savings back in the pockets of New Yorkers will be less than I think we'd actually get, this is still a terrific deal for New York. The study also shows it's feasible to include long term care - home health care and nursing homes - in the bill."

 

"The RAND study makes it clear that the New York Health Act is not only feasible, but the most fiscally responsible option for our State", said State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Ranking Member of State Senate Health Committee. "While we estimate that the benefits to New York State will be greater than those outlined in the study, we all agree that the implementation of the New York Health Act translates into more savings and jobs, while expanding critical health care coverage and access for all New Yorkers regardless of their wealth. I will continue to work with Assembly Member Gottfried and the many advocate organizations that support the bill as we stand up for what is right and work to implement an efficient and universal healthcare system in New York State."

 

The RAND study estimates that New York Health would lead to an estimated 2 percent net increase in employment - approximately 150,000 jobs in 2022 - due to increased disposable income for almost all New Yorkers and lower costs for employers.

 

Senator Rivera and Assembly Member Gottfried concur with RAND that New York Health would have substantial benefits to New York by fostering job creation, increased access to health care, wages, long term care, and overall savings compared to the current system.

 

However, based on consultation with several health economists and policy experts, Senator Rivera and Assembly Member Gottfried believe the benefits of the New York Health Act will be greater than highlighted in the RAND study in certain areas, such as:

• Greater Administration Savings: RAND estimates an administrative cost of 6 percent for running New York Health, which is much higher than the administrative cost of traditional Medicare. The cost items that RAND says would raise the rate are actually costs Medicaid already incurs, and are highly automated. Two to three percent is a more reasonable estimate. This additional savings would double RAND's savings estimate.
   
• Greater Pharmaceutical Savings: RAND's model bases pharmaceutical prices on what Medicaid is able to negotiate today on behalf of a fraction of the State's population. The State negotiating for its entire population - three times more consumers - would result in lower drug prices and greater savings.
   
• Greater Health Care Provider Administrative Savings. RAND's estimates for the administrative costs providers bear for dealing with multiple insurance bureaucracies, and the savings from a single-payer system, are not clearly justified and are much lower than savings projected by other studies.

The findings of the RAND study validate assessments made by Senator Rivera, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Health Committee, and Assembly Member Gottfried, the chair of the Assembly Health Committee, that a universal single-payer health care system under the New York Health Act would benefit the health of New Yorkers and the State's economy.

 

A copy of the report can be found here or at https://tinyurl.com/y8tae83b

 

Cynthia Nixon, Survivors of Sexual Harassment Call for Change to Cuomo’s Albany

Following revelations that sexual harasser James Kiyonaga is still on the Governor’s payroll, women harassed and intimidated by top Cuomo officials and state legislators, come together with other survivors, to call for change

  Today, Democratic candidate for Governor Cynthia Nixon stood with Erica Vladimer of the Sexual Harassment Working Group, and Zenaida Mendez, Former President, National Organization for Women NYS, in Manhattan to call on Governor Cuomo to take real action to combat the sexual harassment that has plagued his administration and permeated in workplaces across the state. They were also joined by other survivors of sexual harassment from workplaces across New York.

Governor Cuomo drafted new sexual harassment legislation this year without a single female legislator in the room and without allowing any public testimony from the survivors. Full video of the presser is available here.

“New Yorkers deserve better than a governor who ignores the survivors and, instead, chooses to shield and even promote those who have been accused,” said Cynthia. “I stand with the Sexual Harassment Working Group to demand public hearings on sexual harassment in Albany. People like Jeff Klein and Jay Kiyonaga have been given a free pass under Andrew Cuomo. He has allowed a culture of harassment, silence, and retaliation to permeate in Albany and across the state.”

While the Governor claims he takes action against sexual harassers in his administration, WCNY reported last week that a senior administration official, Jay Kiyonaga, who the Inspector General found guilty of sexual harassment is still on Cuomo’s payroll.

Zenaida Mendez also spoke at the press conference. When Mendez was President of the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), she was pressured by Joe Percoco to endorse Cuomo over Zephyr Teachout in 2014. When the organization did not endorse Cuomo, Percoco orchestrated Mendez's removal from her leadership position.

"The buck stops with Governor Cuomo. He, who is the employer of all state employees, colluded with the other three men in the room earlier this year, to create legislation that protected their own status as men in power to the detriment of women in this state and to the men of this state that they were elected to protect," said Mendez. "We are sick and tired of inaction on this issue."

The Sexual Harassment Working Group was also present at today’s event. The campaign was launched by seven former New York State legislative employees who experienced, witnessed, or reported sexual harassment by former Assembly Members Vito Lopez and Micah Kellner, former Counsel to Speaker Sheldon Silver Michael Boxley, and Senator Jeff Klein.

"Holding public hearings on how best to protect workers all over New York is shear common sense," said Erica Vladimer, a Sexual Harassment Working Group leader. "By listening to victims, our elected officials will be able to strengthen the laws passed in April, and we will be one step closer to a harassment free Albany."