Friday, April 3, 2020

Governor Cuomo Announces Highlights of FY 2021 Budget BUDGET


  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced highlights of the FY2021 Enacted Budget, which advances the Governor's Making Progress Happen agenda. The budget is balanced, includes no new taxes, continues to phase in tax cuts for the middle class, enacts the strongest Paid Sick Leave program in the nation, and advances other progressive priorities including the legalization of gestational surrogacy.

The Budget also enacts the "Josef Neumann Hate Crimes Domestic Terrorism Act" — named in memory of the Monsey stabbing victim who passed away this past Monday — defining hate-fueled murder with the intent to cause mass casualties as an act of domestic terrorism with penalties equivalent to other acts of terrorism.

The Budget closes a loophole to prohibit individuals who commit serious offenses in other states from obtaining a gun license in New York. It also allows judges to ban high-risk sexual offenders and those who assault MTA employees from accessing the MTA subway, bus and rail systems. 

The Budget promotes public health by banning the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and capping insulin co-payments at $100 per month.
The Budget also prohibits gender-based pricing discrimination by eliminating the "pink tax."

The enacted budget will also permanently ban hydrofracking in state law to ensure we protect our natural resources.

The budget also authorizes a reduction in spending by $10 billion to account for the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"This is a moment in history unlike any other, and government needs to function and deliver results for the people of this state now more than ever — and that's exactly what we did with this budget," Governor Cuomo said. "That the legislature and the Executive got this budget done with all of these policy initiatives is an extraordinary feat, and I praise Speaker Heastie, Leader Stewart-Cousins and every member of the legislature. It would have been very easy to say, 'Oh, this is an extraordinary year; let's just do the bare minimum and go home.' We did the opposite. We said there is a lot of need and there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed, and we stepped up to the plate and we got it done. That it was done this year is really extraordinary."

2021 MAKING PROGRESS HAPPEN ENACTED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Working New Yorkers: To further empower New York's workers and protect all consumers in the State, the FY 2021 Enacted Budget enacts a paid sick leave program for working New Yorkers. Businesses with five to 99 employees will provide their employees at least five days of job-protected paid sick leave per year and businesses with 100 employees or more will provide at least seven days of paid sick leave per year. Smaller businesses, with four or fewer employees, will guarantee five days of job-protected unpaid sick leave to their employees every year. Small businesses already providing paid sick leave will be able to so.

Legalizing Gestational Surrogacy in New York State: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget legalizes gestational surrogacy in New York State once and for all, helping LGBTQ couples and couples struggling with infertility. The legislation will also establish criteria for surrogacy contracts that provide the strongest protections in the nation for parents and surrogates, ensuring all parties provide informed consent at every step of the process, and will create a Surrogates' Bill of Rights, which would ensure the unfettered right of surrogates to make their own healthcare decisions, including whether to terminate or continue a pregnancy and that surrogates have access to comprehensive health insurance and independent legal counsel of their choosing, all paid for by the intended parents. The legislation included in the Budget will also create a streamlined process for establishing parenthood when one of the individuals is a non-biological parent, a process known as "second parent adoption."

Passing the "New York Hate Crime Anti-Terrorism Act":  The FY 20201 Budget establishes a "domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate" crime as a new A-1 class felony punishable by up to life in prison without parole.

Closing the Out-of-State Gun Loophole: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget includes legislation to prohibit individuals from obtaining a gun license who commit serious offenses out-of-state that would disqualify them from obtaining a gun license if committed in New York. This will provide greater consistency in New York's licensing scheme and ensure individuals who are prohibited from purchasing a firearm are not able to do so. The Enacted Budget also includes legislation to require all state and local law enforcement agencies in the state to opt in to the ATF's crime gun trace data sharing program and submit crime guns recovered through the ATF's eTrace system. Additionally, the Enacted Budget includes legislation to amend the Mental Hygiene Law to allow New York to share reports of individuals who are a danger to themselves or others with other states.

Housing and Services for People who are Homeless, Including Those with Mental Illness: New York's homeless community and those with mental illness are among the hardest populations to help. The FY 2021 Enacted Budget includes an aggressive strategy and additional support to provide housing and services to these vulnerable populations.

Enact a Comprehensive Tobacco Control Policy: Governor Cuomo has taken unprecedented steps to ensure the health and safety of all New Yorkers by combatting the use of harmful tobacco and nicotine products. The Enacted Budget prohibits the sale or distribution of e-cigarettes or vapor products that have a characterizing flavor unless approved as part of an FDA pre-market approval; prohibits the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, in all pharmacies; restricts the delivery of e-liquid products only to NYS-licensed vapor retailers; restricts the public display of tobacco and vapor products near schools; requires manufacturers of vapor products to disclose to the DOH Commissioner and the public, information regarding the ingredients, by-products, or contaminants in vapor products, whether intentional or unintentionally added; bans certain carrier oils if they are determined to be harmful; bans coupons and manufacturer discounts and displays in shops; and increases penalties for illegally selling tobacco products to minors.

Prescription Drugs: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget includes a three-part plan to lower prescription drug costs for all New Yorkers. The Budget caps insulin co-payments at $100 per month for insured patients to help address the rising cost of insulin that has resulted in diabetes patients rationing, skipping doses and not filling prescriptions. Finally, the Enacted Budget establishes a commission of experts to study the feasibility and benefits of a Canadian drug importation program and submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for review.

Banning the "Pink Tax": The FY 2021 Enacted Budget prohibits gender-based pricing discrimination for substantially similar or like kind goods and services. The legislation would require certain service providers to provide price lists for standard services upon request and notice that gender-based price discrimination is prohibited under state law. Businesses that violate the law would be subject to civil penalties.

Authorized the Creation of a $3 Billion Restore Mother Nature Bond Act: The Budget authorizes the creation of a Bond Act to fund critical environmental restoration and climate mitigation projects in every corner of the state to ensure New York is able to adapt to the intensifying impacts of climate change, and reduce emissions, while creating jobs and local economic development. As part of the larger Restore Mother Nature Initiative, the Bond Act will be a key source of funding for projects focused on reducing flood risk, investing in resilient infrastructure, restoring freshwater and tidal wetlands, preserving open space, conserving forest areas, and reducing pollution from agricultural and storm water runoff. It will also fund up to $700 million in projects to fight climate change, including green buildings. It also aims to spend 35 percent of the funds on projects to benefit underserved areas of the state. The Budget Director will assess the state's finances and the economic outlook later this year and make a determination as to whether to move forward with the Bond Act.

Permanently Banning Hydrofracking: The Enacted Budget codifies Governor Cuomo's ban on the Department of Environmental Conservation approving permits that would authorize an applicant to drill, deepen, plug back or convert wells that use high-volume hydraulic fracturing as a means to complete or recomplete a well. In addition, it places a moratorium on future gelled propane hydrofracking applications until the Department can conduct an analysis of the impacts of this completion method. This will protect the health of New Yorkers and ensuring permanently that our environment is not harmed by this practice.

Continuing Middle Class Tax Cuts: This year's Enacted Budget continues to lower Personal Income Tax rates for middle-class New Yorkers. In 2020, the third year of the multi-year tax cuts enacted in 2016, income tax rates have been lowered from 6.85 percent to 6.09 percent for taxpayers in the $43,000-$161,550 income bracket, and to 6.41 percent in the $161,550-$323,200 income bracket. These cuts are expected to save 4.7 million New Yorkers over $1.8 billion this year. Furthermore, income tax rates will continue to drop to 5.5 percent for taxpayers in the $27,900-$161,550 tax bracket and 6 percent in the $161,550-$323,200 bracket. When the cuts are fully phased in, middle class taxpayers will have received an income tax rate cut up to 20 percent, amounting to a projected $4.2 billion in annual savings for six million filers by 2025. As the new rates phase in, they will be the State's lowest middle-class tax rates in more than 70 years.

Increasing and Modernizing Emergency Response Capacity: Over 60 percent of New York counties have been flooded twice in the past 10 years. We must be ready to handle these increasing, life-threatening, emergency situations. It is a new and growing challenge for our state operations. The FY 2021 Enacted Budget sustains $12 million in capital funding to increase and update the State's emergency response capacity so our brave women and men have the right equipment to do their jobs.

Addressing Veteran and Law Enforcement Suicides: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget invests $1 million to partner with organizations to help veterans, law enforcement and first responders with suicide prevention efforts. The Budget also directs state agencies to expand suicide prevention strategies for veterans, law enforcement, correctional officers and first responders, including a new campaign by the Office of Mental Health to reduce the stigma of mental illness. Additionally, the State will convene a panel of stakeholders and experts at its annual Suicide Prevention Conference to develop and implement strategies for preventing suicide among these special populations.

Adding E Pluribus Unum to the State Coat of Arms: Our founding fathers said clearly that the idea of unity was the key to America's future. In 1782, on the first seal of the United States, they said it in three simple words - E pluribus unum, out of many one. This federal government and our nation seem to have forgotten that essential American principle. In this time of turmoil, New York State will remind the nation of who we are by adding E pluribus unum to the State's coat of arms as part of the FY 2021 Enacted Budget, proclaiming at this ugly time the simple truth that without unity we are nothing.

GREEN ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT
Accelerating Renewable Energy Projects and Driving Economic Growth as Part of Nation-Leading Climate Agenda: The Enacted Budget includes the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act, which will dramatically speed up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects, combat climate change and grow the state's green economy. The State will also accelerate renewable transmission delivery. The Act will create a new Office of Renewable Energy Permitting to improve and streamline the process for environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of large-scale renewable energy projects across New York while delivering significant benefits to local communities. "Build Ready" sites will be pre-approved, permitted and auctioned to developers to prioritize the re-use of abandoned commercial sites, brownfields, landfills, former industrial sites, and otherwise underutilized sites. These actions will accelerate progress towards Governor Cuomo's nation-leading clean energy and climate goals - including the mandate to obtain 70 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources - as identified under the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. 

Banning the Distribution and Use of Styrofoam: The Enacted Budget prohibits the distribution and use of expanded polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, single-use food containers. It also bans the sale of expanded polystyrene packaging materials known as packing peanuts. This is the strongest statewide ban in the United States and will go into effect by January 1, 2022.

Enacting Comprehensive E-Bike and E-Scooter Legislation: To get more people out of cars, the FY 2021 Enacted Budget includes comprehensive legislation to legalize and expand the e-bike and e-scooter network without compromising on public safety.

Green Economy Tax Credit: The budget creates a new refundable, discretionary Green Jobs Tax Credit totaling up to 7.5 percent of wages for each net new job created fostering the expansion of green economy businesses and position New York State to further capitalize on significant projected green economic growth.  The State will also create a refundable, discretionary Green Investment Tax Credit totaling up to 5 percent of qualifying new capital investments in connection with qualifying green economy projects and increasing to up to 8 percent of eligible investment for research and development in qualifying green economy projects.

BUILDING A NEW NY
Reimagining the Erie Canal: Building on the findings of the Reimagine the Canal Task Force, the New York Power Authority, which now oversees the Canal Corporation as a subsidiary, will invest $300 million over the next five years to integrate the Empire State Trail and Erie Canal through a new program that will stimulate tourism and economic development, address environmental challenges unknown a century ago, and create an asset that will improve the quality of life in communities along the 360-mile spine of the Erie Canal. A first phase of funding will start this year that will have two parts: a $100 million economic development fund to invest in communities along the Canal and a separate $65 million investment in solutions that will help prevent ice jams and related flooding in the Schenectady area. The remaining $135 million of the plan's funding will subsequently be allocated to research recommended by the Reimagine Task Force, as well as to solutions related to flood mitigation, invasive species prevention and ecosystem restoration.

Developing an Innovative Strategy to Build High Speed Rail in New York: Governor Cuomo will convene a team of forward-thinking experts and engineers to reexamine past high-speed rail plans, question and rethink every assumption and method and recommend a new plan for how to build faster, greener, more reliable high-speed rail in New York.

Investing in Roads and Bridges: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget supports $6 billion for the Department of Transportation capital plan in FY 2021, including $2.6 billion for Upstate roads and bridges.

Regional Targeted Investments
Transferring Pier 76 Tow Pound to Hudson River Park for Reuse: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget requires the long deferred transfer of Pier 76 from its use as a tow pound for the NYPD to the operational control of the Hudson River Park Trust to integrate into the park complex, maximizing green space, recreation and community access and market potential. As part of the legislation, the NYPD must vacate Pier 76 by the end of 2020.

Transforming Buffalo's North Aud Block: Supported by the FY 2021 Enacted Budget, the State will develop Buffalo Canalside's North Aud Block and improve access to the city's waterfront, featuring mixed use residential and commercial buildings and a piazza for public use, based on community and stakeholder input. This also includes the rail station that is forthcoming in Buffalo and its coordination with the new North Aud Block neighborhood.

Creating the State's First Comprehensive Education and Training Center in Syracuse: To meet the emerging science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics demands in Syracuse, the FY 2021 Enacted Budget supports the creation of the State's first regional Comprehensive Education and Workforce Training Center in Central New York. Administered by the Syracuse City School District in partnership with SUNY Empire State College and other local colleges and universities, the Center will provide specialized educational opportunities and state of the art workforce training programs in advanced technologies to students and residents throughout the region. The State will reimburse 98 percent, or $71.4 million, of the cost to renovate the building that will house the Center. The Syracuse Comprehensive Education and Workforce Training Center is scheduled to open in 2021 and will serve ultimately 1,000 students, as well as residents of the community.

Expanding High Technology Companies in Rochester: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget supports the expansion of three industry-leading high technology companies in the City of Rochester that will further grow the Finger Lakes regional economy as part of the Governor's continued commitment to growing the high-tech ecosystem in and around Rochester's Downtown Innovation Zone. The expansion of these companies will create more than 700 jobs in and near Rochester's Downtown Innovation Zone.

Job Training for the Future: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget supports first-in-the-nation Future of Work Centers that will build on the success of the Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo and establish two nation-leading Future of Work Centers. These Future of Work Centers will partner with the private sector, community organizations and SUNY/CUNY to create new short-term, non-degree credential and micro-credential programs to quickly address employer skill needs, both for existing workers as well as new workers.

COMBATING DIVISION AND ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY
Banning high-risk sexual offenders from accessing the MTA subway, bus and rail systems: The Budget includes a new measure authorizing a judge to prohibit individuals who engage in unlawful sexual conduct against an MTA passenger or employee or a crime involving assault against an MTA employee from using MTA transportation services for up to three years, or as long as on probation, if less. Anyone who violates that condition can have contempt sanctions brought against them. The Governor proposed this measure in response to a number of recent MTA incidents involving repeat sex offenders. 

Funding for State Police Hate Crimes Task Force: The State Police Hate Crimes Task Force was established by the Governor in the 2018 to address the increase in bias-motivated threats, harassment and violence throughout New York State. The FY 2021 Enacted Budget includes $2 million to support the Task Force's ongoing work, and to bolster the monitoring of digital media which promote violence, intolerance, selling of illicit substances and terrorism.

Removing Guns from Domestic Abusers: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget authorize law enforcement to remove guns from the scene of a domestic violence incident.  It would also establish a domestic violence misdemeanor to ensure abusers lose access to firearms immediately upon conviction. Further, it would authorize law enforcement officers to seize weapons from the home of an individual who becomes subject to a protective order arising out of a domestic dispute.

Banning Fentanyl Analogs: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget explicitly designates certain fentanyl analogs as controlled substances in New York State. This gives police and law enforcement the authority to prosecute the manufacturing, sale and distribution of these drugs to the fullest extent of the law. The measure also gives the State Department of Health Commissioner the authority to add additional analogs to the list of controlled substances, enabling the State to stay in front of these deadly substances as they appear on the market.

Adjustments to 2019 Criminal Justice Reform Law: The budget also makes adjustments to the 2019 bail reform law that addressed inequities in the criminal justice system. The budget clarifies the 2019 law to make sure judges know all the options available to them with respect to non-monetary conditions for release; enhances the options upon which a judge can condition release, including mental health referrals and requirements to attend counseling; and it adds several offenses that can be bail eligible, including sex trafficking offenses, money laundering in support of terrorism in the 3rd and 4th degree, child pornography offenses, repeat offenders, and those who commit crimes resulting in death.

PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY AND BUILDING TRUST IN GOVERNMENT
Requiring Automatic Manual Recounts in Close Elections: To fortify confidence in the integrity of election results in every race around the state, the FY 2021 Enacted Budget includes legislation establishing statewide standards for when automatic ballot recounts are triggered and the process for how such recounts will be carried out. The legislation requires automatic, manual recounts in all statewide elections in which the margin of victory for a candidate or ballot proposition is 0.2 percent of all votes cast in the contest. It also requires an automatic manual recount in all other elections in which the margin of victory for a candidate or ballot proposition is 0.5 percent of all votes cast.

Counting Every New Yorker in the 2020 Census: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget provides additional funding to ensure a fair and complete count of every New Yorker in the upcoming 2020 census. This funding builds on the statewide campaign to inform the public about the Census, encourage residents to complete the questionnaire and reach hard-to-count communities.

Strengthening Disclosure Laws: In June 2016, amid an increased lack of transparency in politics, Governor Cuomo advanced ethics reform legislation to address the landmark Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision that resulted in strengthened campaign finance regulations. Upon passage of ethics reform bills by both the Senate and the Assembly, the Governor signed New York Executive Law § 172, requiring disclosures of political relationships and behaviors widely recognized to be influential but which operate without exposure. The FY 2021 Enacted Budget Governor Cuomo strengthens this law by streamlining the reporting process for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations.

PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH
Establishing the SUNY Curing Alzheimer's Health Consortium: The Consortium will work to identify genes that predict an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's and collaborate with public and private research institutions on projects and studies to identify opportunities to develop new therapeutic treatment and cures for Alzheimer's. The goal of the Consortium will be to map the genetics of 1 million people, suffering from or at-risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, over 5 years. This new wealth of data will support researchers as they work towards developing new treatments and cures for the disease.

Medical Transparency Website Increasing Transparency in Healthcare Costs to Empower Patients: To enable consumers to more easily search for healthcare services, the FY 2021 Enacted Budget supports the creation of a consumer-friendly, one-stop website, called NYHealthcareCompare, where New Yorkers can easily compare the cost and quality of healthcare procedures at hospitals around the state. The website will be created by the Department of Health, the Department of Financial Services and the New York State Digital and Media Services Center.

Student Mental Health Program: The Budget provides $10 million in funding for grants to school districts to address student mental health in light of recent school closures. These grants are intended to improve student access to mental health resources and assist students who have experienced trauma that negatively affects their educational experience. This program will be administered by the Office of Mental Health, and developed in consultation with the State Education Department.

INVESTING IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND PROTECTING STUDENT BORROWERS
Investing in Opportunity Programs: More than just developing programs to assist with tuition, the Governor supported and created additional programs to address the cost of attendance and help students with unique educational challenges. This includes a significant increase in opportunity programs in Open Educational Resources to reduce or eliminate some of the costs of textbooks and expanding food pantries at SUNY and CUNY. The FY 2021 Enacted Budget will make $213 million available for higher education opportunity programs and training centers, a 57 percent increase since FY 2012.

Requiring Transparency and Accountability for For-Profit Colleges: The FY 2021 Enacted budget includes for-profit college accountability initiative that is focused on transparency and outcomes to ensure that our students are well served in these schools. Numerous studies have found that for-profit colleges correlate to negative outcomes for students, especially low-income, minority and female students. For the $45 million in taxpayer funds going to these institutions, we need a higher level of accountability and transparency. The Budget will require for-profit schools to demonstrate positive outcomes for their students and include basic disclosure of funding and financing, including compensation packages of senior leadership and ownership, including any relevant bonuses and incentives. In addition, to further protect New York's veterans from unscrupulous schools that target them for their education benefits, the Governor will work with the Department of Veteran Services to bring more transparency to for-profit schools, identify opportunities to clarify state and federal commitments to education and ensure New York State's veterans will be protected in the for-profit education space.

Expanding College Student Enrollment in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits: The Governor has acted to reduce food insecurity among college students, so they are better able to focus on their studies and successfully graduate. To continue these efforts, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance will establish policy to make more community college students eligible for essential SNAP benefits by establishing a state policy that community college students engaged at least half-time in career and technical education courses of study are exempt from the requirement to work 20 hours weekly to qualify for SNAP. This policy change will increase the participation of low-income college students in SNAP, providing them with essential nutritional benefits so they are more likely to obtain their college certification or degree.

Stopping Abusive and Deceptive Practices from Student Loan Debt Relief Companies: Governor Cuomo has championed financial assistance and debt relief for New York students, establishing the Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness Program—the nation's only state-sponsored need-based loan forgiveness program and enacting regulations prescribing standards of conduct for student loan servicing companies. However, additional protections are needed to protect New Yorkers from student debt relief companies that have had a poor record of serving their customers.  These companies typically charge student loan borrowers substantial upfront fees and promise to assist them with consolidating multiple student loans into a single loan or alternative repayment arrangements. Borrowers, however, can often achieve the same results through free government programs. The Budget includes legislation setting standards for the student loan debt relief industry in New York.

CONTINUING OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL PROGRESS
Prevailing Wage: Requires that workers on private projects receiving a significant public subsidy will be paid a prevailing wage. Private projects larger than $5 million where at least 30 percent of construction expenses are supported by public grants, tax credits, or certain other incentives will be required to pay prevailing wage, extending important worker protections to even more components of New York's largest-in-the-nation building program.

Making the "New York Buy American" Act Permanent: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget makes the Buy American Act, which is set to expire in April 2020, a permanent fixture in New York State. The Buy American Act requires State agencies to use high-quality American-made structural iron and steel, continuing to support the State's steel and iron industry, create union jobs and ensure our infrastructure projects will last long into the future.

Expanding Access to Safe and Affordable Banking Services, Credit and Financial Education: The FY 2021 Enacted Budget invests $25 million in new funding over five years to support New York's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI). CDFIs are often the sole providers of banking services in low-income areas and underserved communities across the state. CDFIs will leverage this funding to an aggregate $30 million in targeted investment in these communities. This funding is part of the Governor's sweeping financial access and inclusion agenda that builds on the work his administration has done to expand access to safe and affordable banking services, credit and financial education. The Budget also creates a statewide Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment, based at the Department of Financial Services, to meet the financial services needs of low- and middle- income New Yorkers across the state.

FY 2021 ENACTED BUDGET FACT SHEET
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented negative impact on the global economy, the Enacted Budget maintains vital services and programs, while ensuring sustainability to weather this downtown, authorizes a reduction in spending by $10 billion and empowers the State Budget Director to develop a plan for across the board reductions and implement that plan as necessary over the course of the year. The budget also puts in place mechanisms to control spending through the year if revenues fall even further, and raise spending if either revenues come in higher than expected or the federal government delivers support that offsets the state's revenue losses. All funds spending is estimated to total approximately $177 billion and state operating spending is authorized up to $105.8 billion, however in the absence of additional federal assistance or a faster than anticipated economic recovery, spending will initially total $95.8 billion.

Realigning School Aid
Due to the extraordinary challenges from our COVID-19 health crisis, creating a $10 billion loss in revenue to the State, support for schools will remain nearly flat for a total of $27.9 billion in school aid.

Redesigning Medicaid and Health Care
The FY 2021 Enacted Budget advances reforms to the Medicaid program that will ensure it remains financially viable for the future so it can continue to provide high-quality care to more than six million New Yorkers.
Medicaid spending will increase by 3%, or about $500 million ensuring continuing high-quality care for the 30 percent of New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid for health care. Spending growth is now back in line with targets established by the Governor in 2012 that kept New York State's Medicaid spending growth to less than half the national average, saving taxpayers more than $19 billion.
Many of these reforms were developed and unanimously endorsed by the Medicaid Redesign Team II, a cross section of health care providers, labor, local government and other industry stakeholders. They were tasked with reforming the system, and their recommendations stuck to the Governor's guidelines that they must have zero impact on local government and zero impact on beneficiaries.
The reforms included in the FY 2021 Enacted Budget include a transformation of the hospital reimbursement structure to better support services to the uninsured, increases investments in primary care to avoid more costly hospitalizations, and new requirements that enhance oversight of managed care and transportation.
The reforms also address managed long-term care, by far the fastest growing sector of Medicaid. These include aligning New York State's eligibility requirements with those of other states for new applicants for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program and Personal Care Services and enhancing reporting requirements for both programs; capping statewide enrollment in managed long-term care to incentivize plans to assist in ensuring appropriate enrollment; and creating a statewide independent assessor to achieve efficiencies by removing duplicative efforts to determining eligibility and enrollment in the managed long-term care program.
 

NYPD Announces Citywide Crime Statistics for March 2020


For the month of March 2020, major index crime in New York City saw an overall 4.2% decrease when compared to the same period in 2019, with the steepest declines realized amid the citywide Coronavirus protections of the last two weeks. Between March 12 and March 31, overall crime fell in every borough and within the transit system and across public housing. In that two-week period, there was a 25% decrease in the number of murders (12 v. 16); a 10% decrease in robberies (551 v. 612); and a 37% decrease in grand larcenies (1,334 v. 2,115).

The shift from the time the city declared a state of emergency is clear: From March 1 through March 11, overall index crime increased by 27.8% (2,934 v. 2,296) when compared to the same period a year ago. From March 12 through March 31, overall index crime decreased by 19.9% (3,740 v. 4,670) when compared to the same period in 2019.

Amid all the hard work police officers are doing to protect and educate New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NYPD is continuing to leverage multiple crime-fighting strategies to combat the victimization of New Yorkers. The department has redeployed resources in real time to areas seeing an uptick in crime in addition to increasing police presence as needed. Our investigators and officers are doubling down in their work to gather timely intelligence, analyze crime trends and disseminate timely preventive measures.
"In times of crisis, the men and women of the NYPD rise up and give their all for those they serve," said NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. "This is our proud history - whether on Sept. 11 and its aftermath, during Hurricane Sandy or through debilitating city blackouts - and this is how we are again responding in the face of this unprecedented public health emergency. We stand strong, on the front lines, to ensure a common good for all and to continue to relentlessly drive down crime, deliver justice for every crime victim and maintain a sense of safety we believe all New Yorkers deserve."
Focus on Domestic Violence victims during this time of physical distancing: NYPD's team of committed domestic violence officers are working vigorously to take reports and check in on New Yorkers in all five boroughs amid this ongoing Coronavirus crisis. These skilled officers are conducting phones calls, to supplant face-to-face visits, sharing safety plans and cell phone access with them and carefully setting code words for them to use as they survive in close quarters. Our officers are continually following up with domestic violence assault victims as well as in cases where children are at risk and where there are elderly victims. The NYPD remains committed to working with all of the NYPD's government partners to ensure that no one feels disconnected or vulnerable during this period of emergency physical isolation.
NYPD is carrying out moment-by-moment analyses of Hate Crimes: At no time is hate and discrimination of any kind ever tolerated in New York City, but amid its ongoing Coronavirus response, the NYPD is reinforcing the importance of reporting all hate crimes and bias incidents. The NYPD is monitoring and responding to reported hate crimes and bias incidents resulting from fear and stigma related to COVID-19. Our message is clear: If you are the victim of a hate crime, or witness what you believe to be a hate crime, please call 911 immediately. Language assistance is available. No questions about immigration status are asked. Recent Coronavirus-related incidents fall under the anti-other category as there are two motivating factors behind these crimes: The victim's race (anti-Asian) and the perception that they have the Coronavirus (anti-disability). Since the outbreak, the Hate Crime Task Force has investigated 11 cases where all the victims were Asian and targeted due to discrimination based on the Coronavirus pandemic. To date, investigators have apprehended the wanted subjects in seven of these cases.
Key highlights from this month's crime statistics:
  • Murder is down 10.7% (67 v. 75) for the First Quarter of 2020 when compared to the first three months of 2019.
  • Year-to-date, through March 31, domestic violence crime is down 0.6% (2,809 v. 2,826); and is down 15.3% (902 v. 1,065) for the entire month of March; and is down 23.8% (539 v. 707) over the two weeks from March 12 through March 31, compared to the same period last year.
  • Arrests in domestic violence crimes are down 15.6% (3,104 v. 3,678) for the 28-day period ending March 29.
  • There were 56 shooting incidents in March 2019, compared to 56 shooting incidents in March 2020.
  • New York City is experiencing a 12.4% increase in overall crimes for the First Quarter of 2020 (22,949 v. 20,410).
  • For the month of March, rape decreased by 37.3% (99 v. 158). Rape continues to be underreported. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, please come forward. The NYPD Special Victims Division's 24-hour hotline is 212-267-RAPE (7273).
  • Year-to-date, through March 29, citywide hate crimes are down 20.0% (90 v. 112).

Statistics on Index Crimes

 Mar-20Mar-19+/-%
Murder222114.80%
Rape99158-59-37.30%
Robbery935888475.30%
Assault1,5461,664-118-7.10%
Burglary94274619626.30%
Grand
Larceny2,6403,186-546-17.10%
G.L.A.49030318761.70%
TOTAL6,6746,966-292-4.20%

First Two Weeks of March 2020: March 1 through March 11
 March 2020March 2019+/-%
Murder105-5+100%
Rape4753-6-11.3%
Robbery384276+108+39.1%
Assault637544+93+17.1%
Burglary365252+113+44.8%
Grand
Larceny
1,3061,071+235+21.9%
G.L.A.18595+90+94.7%
TOTAL2,9342,296+638+27.8%

Last Two Weeks of March 2020: March 12 through March 31
 March 2020March 2019+/-%
Murder1216-4-25.0%
Rape52105-53-50.5%
Robbery551612-61-10.0%
Assault9091,120-211-18.8%
Burglary577494+83+16.8%
Grand
Larceny
1,3342,115-781-36.9%
G.L.A.305208+97+46.6%
TOTAL3,7404,670-930-19.9%

GrowNYC - A Message from Our CEO




Nothing feels more frightening than the unknown and in these unprecedented times, GrowNYC is standing with you to try and bring a little comfort and normalcy to strange days. New Yorkers have always stood with us and now we want to be there for you.

Our food access points remain open with a few exceptions. We recognize that during this long term confinement, people need to eat and we are doing everything we can to ensure safety and social distancing are top priorities for staff, farmers, and customers. We’ve also developed a guide to online order options offered by many of our 235 producers to allow for low touchpoint shopping. We continue to try and innovate on a daily basis knowing that so many are relying on us.

Nothing makes already small urban living spaces seem even smaller than being cooped up inside. No worries: GrowNYC has you covered no matter how old you are. We have activities specifically designed for K-12 and distance learning opportunities for any age. Kids can take a virtual trip to Inwood Hill Park or Deadhorse Bay. Or how about downloading our Spring Activity Book and doing a puzzle or trying a new recipe? Not your thing? You can upcycle a shirt in no time so it’s a bag or turn an egg carton into a wreath.

Think you have to be outside to garden? Guess again. GrowNYC can help you make world’s best windowsill salad. We also know that our current circumstances dictate that we want to make food last as long as possible, we can help you with that. Whether it’s extending the life of your produce or implementing home composting, it’s all right here.

GrowNYC has been here for fifty years providing education and opportunities to live sustainably – and we will be here when this is over. And be assured, this will pass and when it does, we will all need to work together (as we are now even if apart) to make this city and this planet a better, safer, greener place.

So, take a moment and breathe – we will take every day as it comes knowing that all over the world, each of us is full of hope for small gains and joys and that together we will create something good.

None of our work happens without you, so If you are inspired by our work and in a position to give, we would be grateful to accept a contribution at any level. You can simply visit our donate page. And if you give by April 12, 100% of your gift will be matched by the FJC - A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds.

With all good wishes for continued safety and health,

Marcel Van Ooyen
President/CEO

MAYOR DE BLASIO ON COVID-19 - April 2, 2020


  Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, there’s a lot to report on and a lot to tell you about today. But the first thing I want to talk to you about is something we all need to focus on this crisis – and that is hope. And I'm going to be talking about it a lot, because there's a lot of reason to hope. No matter how tough it's going to get, there are so many reasons to be thankful for all of the people who are helping our city, all the good people around the city, all the good people around this nation who are helping us. We are not alone in the least. And I got an incredible, incredible experience today this morning in Queens. It was two parts, really. The first part was visiting our EMS Station 50, meeting some of our extraordinary EMT’s and paramedics. They have literally in the last few days gone through the biggest surge in 9-1-1 calls in the history of New York City. And I’ve got to tell you, these brave individuals, they were so strong in the way they were dealing with this crisis. They were confident. They believe that their training and their partnership, their comradery, were going to serve them in this crisis no matter what. They let me know they were up for any challenge and they were also very grateful that help was arriving.

And that's the second part of what I experienced this morning at Fort Totten in Queens. It's a FEMA staging area now. And I met EMT’s and paramedics, came from all over the nation to help us in our hour of need – folks from states all over. You know, at one point, I was talking to these EMT’s and paramedics. I was thanking them on behalf of all 8.6 million New Yorkers. I was telling them what it meant to us that they had driven from all over the country in their ambulances and how powerful that was to us and how that gave us such a good feeling in this city – what it meant to our brave EMT’s and paramedics that this help was coming. And at one point I said to them, please call out the states you're from. And I just had – a shiver went up my spine. I felt this sense, this really profound sense of appreciation and faith as I heard this roll call of States. You know, Kentucky, and Alabama, and Indiana, and Illinois, and California, and Michigan, one after another, people called out the names of their states with pride, and they were so proud to be here in New York City, and they knew that New York City had often been there for them. The FDNY have been out many times around the country helping other parts of this country during natural disasters and that is appreciated, and people wanted to return the favor.

So, it was really something stirring about our nation at this moment that people are rising to the call in such a powerful way. And that helped, those hundreds of EMT’s and paramedics, and the 250 ambulances that are coming or here already. And I got to watch so many of them roll out of Fort Totten. That's amazing what that's doing immediately to help us to deal with all the emergencies we're facing around this city. Want to give a special shout out to two guys from Kalamazoo, Michigan. I had a good talk with them, Andrew and Jeff, and they literally gotten their rig and had gotten their ambulance in Kalamazoo and drove all the way to New York City, and they were just ready to go to help us out. And so special thank you to our friends from Kalamazoo for being a part of this.

I spoke earlier today with the President and a group of key members of his administration that he had gathered. They were having a strategy session and they called to ask me what was going on in New York City and how the federal government could continue to help. So, it was the President, Vice President Pence, the FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor, Dr. Deborah Birx, the Coronavirus Response Director, Admiral Giroir, who's the head of the Public Health Service, the equipment czar, Peter Navarro, the President's senior advisor, Jared Kushner, who's obviously a New Yorker, and knows a lot about the city and cares about this city. So, we got into a very detailed conversation about where we stand. First of all, I thank them deeply for what they did for the NYPD and they called it operation blue bloods. I think that's a great name. Helping the NYPD to have the protective gear they need at this moment. Deeply appreciate that special effort the White House made. But the real difficult part of the conversation was talking about the days ahead.

We went into great detail about a number of New Yorkers in ICU’s. The number we projected coming up this Sunday and Monday. The facts that were so powerful and challenging about what we're going to face next week. I talked to the president about the need for ventilators. I talked to them about the need for N95 masks and other PPE’s. I talked to them in detail about the personnel reality, and the whole group of leaders assembled, the fact that even with the equipment, you always need the personnel all these doctors and nurses and extraordinary healthcare workers, we need more and more help. I talked to the president about the expansion of beds, and I will say the president knows something about real estate in New York City. And I talked to him about the fact that we had 20,000 hospital beds just a month ago, and we're going to be adding up to 65,000 more to handle this crisis. And that's going to happen all in the course of about four weeks. And I think he understood that that will be a herculean effort. But I said to him, we believe we can do that, taking a huge number of public spaces, converting them, hotels by the dozen, that we can actually build out that capacity, but it won't save us unless the personnel is there.

So, we had a very good conversation. I was thankful for the help we’ve received, and I immediately told them just how much more we're going to need. And I told them we will fight every minute of this crisis to get through it, and then we will turn around and give everything we have and send our heroes to other parts of the country to help. And I really appreciate the conversation because it was detailed, and it was sober about the facts. But I was also clear with them that I believe at this point we have to come to a recognition that anything short of a full mobilization of our military will not serve this nation sufficiently. Just going over the situation in New York City and pointing out, imagine for a moment we had 20,000 hospital beds, we're talking about needing three times more that, just to get through the next four weeks or so. Imagine that pattern in other parts of our nation. What that's going to mean for the ability to build out our healthcare system and protect our people in many places simultaneously. The only way that can be achieved is with the leadership of the United States military. They have the talent, the logistical capacity, the professionals that can play a crucial role. There's no other way it will happen.

So, I had a good and respectful conversation with the President, but I also had an urgent conversation with him. I told him, I just think this is the only way we're all going to be able to get through this and save as many lives as possible is to use the military much more deeply. I reiterated to the President what I talked to him about several times last week. The fact that we need personnel right now, and we need military medical personnel right now. And that I had asked repeatedly, and in writing many times for help by this Sunday. We had asked for military medical personnel, 1,000 nurses, 300 respiratory therapists, 150 doctors. These numbers, I've been over with the President, with the Secretary of Defense, and with General Milley numerous times. They are quite familiar with request. I had a follow-up conversation with Secretary Esper, and General Milley again this afternoon. I'm going to be talking to the FEMA administrator again to reiterate that this is crucial, and he will have the ultimate say over whatever military medical personnel are made available.

But again, it comes down to this. This is a wartime dynamic, and everyone in Washington has to understand that right now, too much of what's happening is on a peacetime basis. There's a disconnect, and I want to just be blunt about that. We're in the middle of a war. We can feel it here in New York City. I could feel it this morning when I stood with those good men and women, those EMT’s and paramedics went all over the nation. It didn't feel like business as usual. It felt like we were in a war and people were coming to save us. We need a lot more of that, and other parts of the country will need the same. It's not going to happen unless we get on a war footing. So, it's the mobilization of the military for sure, but I also think we have to remember in the wars of the past when we were really fighting for the survival of our nation and our ideals, we called upon all Americans to serve, and I think it's time for that in a different way now. I think it's time for our nation to enlist our medical personnel on a national basis. We don't have the same kind of draft we used to have, but we're going to have to create something new right now at this moment in history to enlist all available medical personnel around the country, and I mean civilians. Anyone with medical training anywhere in the country who can be spared by their city, their town, their state to come to the front. And right now, it's New York City, and we see it starting in some other cities as well. But I guarantee you, all 50 States will have their own battle. The only way we're going to get through this truly, if we're going to save every life we can save, it means taking health professionals of every kind with every skill, every training, no matter where they are in their career, and enlisting them in a national service, creating something we just don't have right now, but we could have, and we need to have.

So, that's what I talked to the President about it, the secretary of defense, General Milley, going to a place we've never been before, because we are actually dealing with a crisis we've never experienced before, and we have to innovate. We have to see possibilities that we just didn't see before, if we're going to really protect and serve the American people. So, I hope these conversations will lead us to another place, because right now I've been really honest about the numbers. I do want to give the president credit. I told him the numbers, and I could tell there were some real silences during the conversation, and some real acknowledgement of just how tough it's going to be in the weeks ahead in New York City. But we know there's other places about to face this same reality. If we're all starting to fully, deeply recognize the extent of the crisis, then let's act like one nation. Fight this crisis together, enlisting everyone possible into this cause whether they be the men and women of our military and our reserves, or whether it be civilians who could bring their extraordinary skills to bear where needed most, it's time for that in this country.

I did talk to the President about the ventilator situation, as I mentioned, and the 400 ventilators that we found out late yesterday would be coming in time and be in place by Sunday morning. That was the number I mentioned yesterday that we absolutely have to have to ensure we could protect everyone in need. Those ventilators came out of the federal allotment that went to New York State, I want to thank both the federal government and FEMA and New York State for quickly making those 400 ventilators available. So, the good news is we will get through Sunday, but the tough news is what I told you yesterday is still true, we will need 2,500 to 3,000 more ventilators next week, during next week to get through next week. I explained this to the President and his entire leadership and everyone heard it and everyone took it seriously and I said, I'm not going to sugar coat this, it's a very tough number to reach. I know everyone's fighting to get more ventilators, create more ventilators, and manufacture them. But for all those folks who are about to arrive in hospitals around the City whose lives we must save their simple need is not for us to talk about it, but to find those ventilators somewhere, somehow. And I put that clearly on the table and said to the leadership of our Nation that it is, I think a National priority to find those 2,500 to 3,000 ventilators and get them to New York City over the next seven days. So, we talked to also here in New York City about other tools we're going to use the BiPAP machines, which are something that could be really helpful ensuring that for some patients they can be kept off the ventilators or at least for a period of time. We're getting some of those in, we're training staff and how to use them – that will be a part of the equation that will help as well. The fact is people want to help us, as I said, from all over the country. If you can help anyone out there, if you can help please go to our website, nyc.gov/helpnow or call 833-NYC-0040. Folks all over the nation that want to help, we're particularly – if there's anybody anywhere who has a ventilator they can get to us that is particularly important to anyone who's a medical professional wants to come here and help us, we have the accommodations, we will immediately plug you in, we need your help right now.

Now, I want to talk about some new guidance. And I want to emphasize that I start and— we'll talk more about it with the questions with the media, with our Health Commissioner, Dr. Barbot – but I want to emphasize that we, throughout these last few months, this city, this state, this nation, the global community of nations, the global medical community, everyone has been trying to learn as rapidly as possible everything they can about the coronavirus. And we still know there's a lot we don't know, and that's a really challenging reality one of our heroes at this moment, our Nation, someone I'm very, very proud of as a New Yorker is Dr. Anthony Fauci. And even with that wonderful, reassuring voice and that knowledge and that wisdom, he’s first to say there's a lot we don't know, but we are learning every day and every week more. We're trying to act rapidly on what we learn, sometimes you reach that point when there's just enough confirmation, enough new information to say, okay, it's time to do something different. So, there've been studies recently on people who are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic and whether they could transmit the coronavirus to others. One particularly important study coming out of Singapore yesterday, our Health Department, our health care leadership have looked at these studies. There's been several in the last week or so, and I've come to a conclusion that it's time to advise New Yorkers to do something different. I want to emphasize what I'm about to tell you is very, very important, but it does not in any way change the basic guidance that you've received now over many weeks. The most important things are still the basic hygiene covering your mouth when you cough and sneeze, wash your hands a lot, use hand sanitizer still that's the frontline way to protect yourself. The social distancing that’s the way to protect yourself and everyone around you and that must be observed no matter what. And we've obviously put shelter in place here in place in New York, and we have strong enforcement through the NYPD and other agencies and we're even now at the point of finding people who do not abide by social distancing. So, all of that is just as important as it was before, but now we're adding a new important point we're advising New Yorkers to wear a face covering when you go outside and will be near other people. So, let's be clear, this is a face covering, and again, we'll talk about the details in a moment, but it could be a scarf it could be something you create yourself at home, it could be a bandana, it does not, not need to be a professional surgical mask. In fact, we don't want you to use the kinds of masks that our first responders need that our health care workers need. Don't use those can't be clearer, leave those alone, leave those to the people who need them the most who are saving lives. But you can create a face covering with anything you have at home right now any piece of cloth— and that will give the protection to others. And I want to emphasize this I think there's been, you know, a certain amount of misunderstanding and we're all dealing with so much information and so many things that are kind of tough to understand and confusing. The reason for this guidance is because the studies are showing that some asymptomatic people, some pre-symptomatic people appear to actually be transmitting this disease. We don't have perfect evidence it doesn't conform with what the initial showed us weeks ago, but it does seem to be more and more evident. What that means is when you put on that face covering you're protecting everyone else. You're making sure that, you know, you don't inadvertently, if you happen to have this disease and you may not even know it, you don't end up giving it to someone else. Now, remember, with community spread with the projections, we've told you over half New Yorkers will contract this disease for everything we know. It means that a lot of people are out there right this minute don't even know they have it, we want to make sure that anyone who doesn't have to get it doesn't get it. So, face covering is just a simple way to protect other people and to reduce the speed of that community spread, and hopefully keep a number of people from being affected who don't have to be affected. Again, you can create your own version you can be creative and put whatever decoration you want on it. It can be as homemade as you want, but that's what we want you to do something homemade, not something professional, not something from the supplies we need for our heroes and that's going to help protect everyone.

And a few other updates, we've talked a lot about the fact that there are more and more people need food because let's face it, even though thank God there is some federal help coming now through the stimulus bill, there's still so many who people lost their jobs, lost their income, don't yet have that help, are struggling to pay for food. We can't have that in New York City we have to help people more and more, I named a few weeks ago our foods [inaudible] Kathryn Garcia who's done an amazing job for the city on many other crucial missions. And her job is to make sure that food is available to everyone who needs it and to build out a bigger plan for the weeks ahead. She's working, especially now with Department of Education that had feeding sites up for our students, even though there weren't schools the way they've normally been, they were turned into sites to provide meals to kids in need of them.

So, we've got about 435 sites around the five boroughs where young people can go and get meals for free. They can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner all to go, grab and go, and they can bring them home and eat them when they're ready. If other people at home need food, they can get it for them as well. So what we're doing starting tomorrow is we're welcoming adults, anyone who needs food, anyone who's hungry can come to these 435 sites— you can get all three meals for yourself and your family for free. No one will be turned away, I want to really emphasize that there's no charge and no one will be turned away. You can go online nyc.gov and get the sites you can call 311, 24 hours a day and get the sites. But we know people are hurting, we don't want anyone to go hungry in the City, so there's 435 places starting tomorrow, not just for kids, but for adults as well everyone, everyone who’s hungry, has a place to go to get food. Just to tell you for kids and for families with kids, we're going to do the, the early morning hours for pickups at 7:30 to 11:30 AM and then from 11:30 to 1:30 for any adults who don't have kids with them you can go in that timeframe. So again, 7:30 to 11:30 AM for children and families with children, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM each day for adults. And if you want to find a school in your area, you can text the word FOOD or if you speak Spanish, the word COMIDA to 877-877 and they'll get you to location.

Okay, couple of quick things. Small businesses this is a heads up to all the small business owners that starting tomorrow, the Federal Paycheck Protection Program opens up is a key part of the stimulus $350 billion loan program. It's for businesses and for nonprofit organizations that have employees up to a number of 500 people. So, it's a lot of businesses will qualify and we know how hard hit our small businesses and our nonprofits have been these last weeks – it’s been horrible. You deserve this opportunity to get these loans to keep afloat - build for the future. But here's the punchline; this is a first come first serve basis. So, first come, first served. Therefore, you need to apply as early in the morning tomorrow as possible. So, New Yorkers, the early bird gets the worm here – go to sba.gov – sba.gov. And these are loans on very good terms and they are forgivable loans and there's specific categories that you can get going online. They’ll talk to you about all the ways that these loans had been made flexible and forgivable, and they cover a lot of different things, not just costs related to your payroll, but also interest on mortgages, your rent, your utility payments, a very flexible program to help people through this crisis – so please sign up immediately.

I'm going to close now and I talked to you about a lot of reasons to hope, but I also always owe it to you to tell you when we've lost a friend and, and to mourn with. Particularly all of us in public service, when we lose one of our own, it hits home, especially. Our Department of Citywide Administrative Services, they've been doing so much work these last few weeks to help everyone else to get the help they need. Well, now, they've lost a dear colleague and a leader in that agency, Lenin Fierro, Director of Safety and the Vision Zero Director for Fleet Management at DCAS. This is an amazing story – he immigrated from Ecuador, a total New York story and American success story – immigrated from Ecuador, served 10 years in the United States Navy joined our team five years ago, helped get Vision Zero off the ground in its beginning to protect people and save lives; personally trained thousands of city drivers on how to drive safely – amazing contribution. To his wife, Brenda and his two daughters – we grieve with you and we have truly lost a great man.

And every New Yorker right now, we all have a story. We all know someone who we've lost or someone who's sick. Pretty much everyone could say that right now. We are doing all we can to help those who are sick and we are grieving for those we've lost and, and mourning with their families. But, as much pain as we're going through and, and even though the worst weeks are ahead, we, we just don't give in in this city; it's not who we are. I have to tell you with those EMTs and paramedics today I saw a resolve, I saw a toughness, I saw a belief that we were going to get through it and the same is true with our frontline heroes, our healthcare workers, same is true with the folks who work in the grocery stores and the pharmacies to make sure their communities are safe and have what they need. So many New Yorkers – by the way, the vast, vast majority of New Yorkers who are practicing social distancing, who are doing it right, who are looking out for each other – everyone has shown an incredible spirit of perseverance. I'm very, very proud of all you. I have no question we will see this through together. I have no question, in the end, New Yorkers will watch out for each other and every time that someone comes to our aid from around the country it’s going to give us that boost we need to fight our way through this crisis and come out together.