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Monday, October 19, 2020
Cummings for Congress - Claims - AOC CAUGHT IN A LIE
MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS MELANIE HARTZOG AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; JACQUES JIHA AS DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Mayor Bill de Blasio today appointed Melanie Hartzog as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Jacques Jiha as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget. Hartzog previously served as Budget Director and Jiha served as the Commissioner for the New York City Department of Finance. As Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Hartzog will guide the City’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the City’s social services continue to support every New Yorker, especially those experiencing homelessness. As Budget Director, Jiha will help lead New York City out of the fiscal crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic by making fiscally responsible decisions that will strengthen and protect the City’s finances for generations to come.
“I am pleased to appoint two of our City’s most hard-working and passionate public servants to take on even bigger roles as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Melanie and Jacques have the experience and vision necessary to support New Yorkers during this crisis and guide our City through financial hardship. Thanks to them, New Yorkers can expect an even brighter future.”
“From fighting to improve the lives of low-income children to balancing the city’s budgets while funding Universal Pre-K, I have spent my entire career uplifting our city’s most vulnerable,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Melanie Hartzog. “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of public health in our city’s recovery, including a robust social services sector. I thank Mayor de Blasio for the opportunity to continue to serve on behalf of 8.6 million New Yorkers.”
“Our city is facing an enormous fiscal challenge in light of the public health crisis. As we recover, I am committed to making fiscally responsible decisions to keep New York City a vibrant place to live and work. Serving as Commissioner of the Department of Finance has been the honor of a lifetime, and I thank Mayor de Blasio for entrusting me to continue to serve New Yorkers as Budget Director,” said Budget Director Jacques Jiha.
About Melanie Hartzog:
Melanie Hartzog previously served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, where she oversaw the largest municipal budget in the United States, responsible for funding all city programs and services for New Yorkers. Before joining the Office of Management and Budget, Hartzog served as Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund. Previously, she served as Family Services Coordinator for the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Deputy Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services. She also led a social services unit in the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, and was Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Human Services Council of New York City, Inc.
Hartzog holds a Master of Science degree from the New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy and Bachelor of Arts from Eckerd College. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three children.
“Mel has been an extraordinary leader in government and in the not-for-profit advocacy community for many years, and we have worked together both in and out of government to expand and improve services for low-income New Yorkers, particularly children. She will be an outstanding Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and I look forward to working with her to make sure that the most vulnerable residents of our city have access to the social services they need in these unprecedented times,“ said Steven Banks, the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services.
“Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York extends profound appreciation to Ms. Melanie Hartzog for years of steady stewardship of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget and we wish her well as she takes on the role of Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. Ms. Hartzog is incredibly well positioned to work successfully across the sector with colleagues inside and outside of government. CCC stands ready to partner with her as the strength of health and human service agencies, community based partners and workforce, and the New Yorkers depending on their care are essential to the City’s pandemic recovery efforts,” said Jennifer March Ph.D., Executive Director, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York.
About Jacques Jiha:
In 2014, Mayor de Blasio appointed Jacques Jiha as the Commissioner for the NYC Department of Finance, the agency responsible for collecting over $40 billion in revenue that make all city services possible. As Commissioner, Dr. Jiha modernized the Department by integrating new technology and data analytics to increase efficiency and make better decisions. Under his leadership, the Department also created new options focusing on customer experience, including a full-service call-center, online property tax system, parking ticket mobile app and the offices of the Taxpayer Advocate and Parking Summons Advocate. Prior to becoming commissioner of the Department of Finance, Dr. Jiha was the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Earl G. Graves, Ltd/Black Enterprise. Previously, he served as deputy comptroller for pension investment and public finance in the Office of the New York State Comptroller, deputy comptroller for Nassau County, chief economist for the New York City Office of the Comptroller, executive director of the New York State Legislative Tax Study Commission, and principal economist for the New York State Assembly Committee on Ways and Means.
Born in Haiti, Dr. Jiha immigrated to New York City in 1979 and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Fordham University. He also holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from the New School for Social Research. He lives in Queens with his wife and daughters.
NYS Office of the Comptroller - DiNapoli: Halfway Through the Year, Revenue Hole Persists
Halfway through the state’s fiscal year, state tax receipts are trailing last year by $2.8 billion, according to the September State Cash Report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
“COVID-19 had a significant negative effect on the first half of the state’s fiscal year,” DiNapoli said. “The pandemic has created a profound degree of uncertainty, but one thing is clear – Washington must get its act together and help states and local governments weather this economic storm. The state Division of the Budget’s mid-year Financial Plan update and the official start of next year’s budget process in early November will provide a clearer picture for policymakers as they prepare to address our budget shortfall.”
State tax revenues totaled $8.8 billion in September, $922.3 million higher than the latest projections by the state Division of the Budget (DOB). Total tax revenues in September were a net $364.1 million higher than those in 2019, primarily due to a $440 million increase in personal income tax collections resulting partly from an additional day in September of withholding collections and lower refunds.
September sales tax revenues were down from 2019 by $88 million. That drop of 5.4 percent was the lowest monthly decline for sales tax since the fiscal year began in April. However, year-to-date sales tax collections are still 17.2 percent lower than the same period last year.
Federal revenues through September totaled $42.7 billion, up by $10.7 billion from the same period a year earlier. Among the reasons for the increase is the $5.1 billion the state has received from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. While the U.S. Treasury Department has provided greater flexibility for state and local governments’ use of those resources in recent weeks, the extent to which such aid may offset declining state revenues remains unclear. In addition, federal Medicaid matching funding has been temporarily increased, and the state received $3.8 billion in funding for the federal Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program that was not part of collections last year.
In State Operating Funds (not including federal or capital), spending through the first six months totaled $44.7 billion, $4.3 billion, or 8.8 percent lower than last year. This was $681.7 million higher than anticipated in the Financial Plan, primarily due to local assistance grants in September.
As of Sept. 30, the General Fund held a balance of $15.4 billion, $1.6 billion higher than projected, and $6.4 billion higher than last year at the same time. The higher balance is driven partly by $4.4 billion in short-term borrowing that DOB anticipates repaying before the end of the fiscal year, as well as higher than projected tax receipts.
The “Quick Start” budget process framed in New York’s State Finance Law requires representatives of the governor, legislative leaders and the comptroller to meet annually before Nov. 15 to jointly review available financial information to help with timely adoption of a budget for the next fiscal year. They are also required to report on estimated state receipts and disbursements for the current and ensuing fiscal years by Nov. 5.
Sunday, October 18, 2020
New York City Department of Traffic Getting Tough on Those Who Park in Red Zones
If you park in a Red Zone (No Standing Anytime) you are liable to have your car booted, and then towed away by the New York City Department of Traffic.
Saturday morning I came upon a situation where I saw a NYCDOT tow truck on Pelham Parkway South at Wallace Avenue. I asked the tow truck operator what was going on, and she politely answered I am here to pick up the car that has been booted in the Red Zone.
After crossing the street I saw a boot that was placed on the front passenger tire so the car could not be moved out of the Red Zone it was in. There was also a ticket on the car's windshield.
Above - The NYCDOT tow truck at the corner of Pelham Parkway South and Wallace Avenue.
Below - The car with a boot on its front passenger wheel, which is clearly parked in a Red 'No Standing Anytime' Zone.
Governor Cuomo Outlines New Micro-Cluster Strategy to Tackle COVID-19 Hot Spots That Arise in Fall
Strategy Targets Source of COVID-19 Outbreaks Using Address-Level Data
Strategy Based on Governor's Cluster Action Initiative Used to Address Recent Hot Spots in Brooklyn and Queens as well as Orange, Rockland and Broome Counties
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today outlined New York State's new "micro-cluster" strategy to tackle COVID-19 hot spots that may come with the Fall and Winter weather. The micro-cluster strategy is predicated on three principles: refined detection, specific and calibrated mitigation, and focused enforcement.
Using New York State's approach to track cases by address with the help of nation-leading levels of testing, the State will identify outbreaks and implement mitigation measures tailored to the precise areas where outbreaks occur. The State will implement rules and restrictions directly targeted to areas with the highest concentration of COVID cases, known as red zones, and put in place less severe restrictions in surrounding communities, known as orange and yellow zones that serve as a buffer to ensure the virus does not spread beyond the central focus area. Enhanced focused testing and enforcement will follow.
"One of the lessons we learned in New York is to look ahead and stay ahead. It's not checkers; we're playing chess with this virus. In the fall you're going to see an increased viral transmission rate — that's just a fact," Governor Cuomo said. "Until now, we have been targeting all our actions either on a statewide level or a regional level. That worked fine and frankly was our only option because we didn't have any more sophistication than that.
Governor Cuomo continued, "We now have more sophistication because we've been at it for seven months. So rather than looking at COVID-19 data on the state level, regional level, county level or even neighborhood level, we are now going to analyze it on the block by block level. The micro-cluster strategy is not just to calibrate the state or the region, but to calibrate just those specific geographic areas. Target it and target your strategy down to that level of activity. It requires more testing, more targeted testing, and then you have to be responsive to the situations in that specific locality with mitigation measures. It has the advantage of causing less disruption."
This strategy is based on the Governor's Cluster Action Initiative, which he announced on October 6, to address COVID-19 hot spots that have cropped up in Brooklyn, Queens, and Broome, Orange and Rockland Counties. That plan was developed in consultation with national public health experts including Dr. Noam Ross of EcoHealth Alliance, Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota and former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden.
Additional Members Of 59 Brims Gang Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Racketeering, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Peter C. Fitzhugh, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging three members of the 59 Brims gang with racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Robert Baley, Augustus Ingram, and Quaveon Ross participated in the activities of a violent gang, conspired to sell significant quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine, and unlawfully possessed firearms. Now they face significant charges in federal court. We commend our partners at the NYPD and HSI for their outstanding work on this ongoing investigation. This Office, working with our law enforcement partners, continues its efforts to prosecute gun violence in New York City.”
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “Gang violence puts all of us in peril – not simply the vicious gang members. I commend our NYPD detectives and our law enforcement partners for using all of our lawful tools to ensure that the New Yorkers we serve can live free from the threat of it.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said: “HSI and NYPD continue to relentlessly dismantle violent gangs in the New York Metro area. The gangsters we take off the street are responsible for numerous murders, deadly drug distribution, and senseless violence throughout our communities. As alleged, we cut the 59 Brims at their roots, arresting the ‘Godfather’ of New York. This was the culmination of the systematic and successful indictment of the entire 59 Brims’ top leadership across all 5 boroughs. Our agents and officers have done outstanding work during the course of this investigation and I applaud their tireless commitment to public safety.”
As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
ROBERT BALEY, a/k/a “Dead Eye,” AUGUSTUS INGRAM, a/k/a “Elevator,” and QUAVEON ROSS, a/k/a “Bullet,” are members of the 59 Brims gang, a criminal organization whose members engaged in, among other activities, acts involving murder, robbery, fraud, and the distribution of controlled substances.
The 59 Brims operate in and around Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, New York. Members of the 59 Brims engaged in a series of violent disputes with rivals of the 59 Brims, including those within the 59 Brims who were deemed disloyal. During these disputes, members and associates of the 59 Brims committed multiple murders, shootings, robberies, and assaults against their rivals and against fellow members of the 59 Brims. Members of the 59 Brims sold heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana, and committed, or attempted to commit, acts of violence to protect and expand their narcotics business.
Today’s Superseding Indictment follows initial charges brought in February 2020 against 18 members and associates of the 59 Brims gang, who were charged with racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses, including murder and attempted murder.
BALEY, 43, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested on October 15, 2020, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. INGRAM, 49, of New York, New York, was arrested on October 14, 2020, in New York, New York. ROSS, 23, of New York, New York, remains at large. This case is assigned to United States District Judge George B. Daniels.
A chart containing the charges and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and HSI. Ms. Strauss also praised the New York City Department of Correction, Correction Intelligence Bureau, and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation. Ms. Strauss also thanked the Pennsylvania State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigations - North East and South Central Drug Enforcement Divisions and Blooming Grove Barracks for their assistance in the arrest of Baley.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Longyear, Jacob Warren, Adam S. Hobson, and Peter J. Davis are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT | DEFENDANT(S) | MAX. TERM OF IMPRISONMENT |
Count One: Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)) | All Defendants | Life imprisonment
|
Count Two: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances (21 U.S.C. § 846) | All Defendants
| Life imprisonment; Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 10 years |
Count Three: Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2) | All Defendants | Life Imprisonment; Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 5 years |
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Governor Cuomo Announces Most Movie Theaters Outside of New York City Can Reopen on October 23
Theaters Must Open at 25 Percent Capacity; No More Than 50 People in Front of Each Movie Screen
Theaters in Certain Counties Outside of New York City Do Not Meet State Requirements and Cannot Reopen
159,972 Test Results Reported to New York State Yesterday—New Record High
Statewide Positivity Rate is 1.11 Percent
Positive Testing Rate in Hot Spot Areas is 4.34 Percent; New York State Positivity Without Red Zone Focus Areas Included is 1.02 Percent
9 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that movie theaters outside of New York City can reopen at 25 percent capacity under state guidance starting October 23. No more than 50 people are allowed in front of each screen in each movie theater at once. Theaters can only open outside of New York City in counties that have COVID-19 positivity rates of less than 2 percent on a 14-day average and do not have any cluster zones. Theaters will be subject to rigorous state guidance and enforcement.
The governor also announced that 159,972 test results were reported to New York State yesterday—a new record high.
"We hit 160,000 tests in one day, which is a record number and the highest we've ever done. When you're doing that level of tests you get down to the block level. And then, when you start to see a cluster, you oversample in that cluster, so you get even more data," Governor Cuomo said. "Beginning October 23, movie theaters outside of New York City will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity with up to 50 people maximum per screen. This is outside of New York City in areas that have infection rates below 2 percent on a 14-day average and have no cluster zones."
Theaters cannot reopen in the following counties:
- Allegany
- Broome
- Cattaraugus
- Chautauqua
- Chemung
- Cortland
- Greene
- Orange
- Rockland
- Schuyler
- Steuben
- Tioga
State guidance on the reopening of theaters includes the following conditions:
- Masks will be required at all times except when seated and eating or drinking.
- Assigned seating will be required in all theaters.
- Social distancing between parties will be required at all times.
- Additional staffing will be required to control occupancy, traffic and seating to ensure compliance.
- Enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards must be met by theaters.
In "Red Zone" focus areas included as part of the Governor's Cluster Action Initiative, the positivity rate for test results reported yesterday is 4.34 percent - down from 4.84 the day before.
Within the "Red Zone" focus areas, 4,305 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 187 positives or a 4.34 percent positivity rate. In the remainder of the state, not counting these "Red Zone" focus areas, 155,667 test results were reported, yielding 1,597 positives or a 1.02 percent positivity rate. The state's overall positivity rate is 1.11 percent with focus areas included. The "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of the state population yet had 10.5 percent of all positive test results reported to the state yesterday, and 11.6 percent of all positive case results reported to the state this current week.
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Patient Hospitalization - 929 (+11)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 139
- Hospital Counties - 41
- Number ICU - 195 (-5)
- Number ICU with Intubation - 103 (+6)
- Total Discharges - 78,235 (+118)
- Deaths - 9
- Total Deaths - 25,637
Governor Cuomo Announces Actions to Expand Eligibility and Ease Access to Food Assistance for New Yorkers
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility Boosted for Up to Nearly 75,000 Community College Students
Elderly and Disabled New Yorkers Can Now Use New Simplified Application for Food Benefits
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced actions aimed at reducing food insecurity among community college students, older adults and disabled New Yorkers. These actions include expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility to up to nearly 75,000 low-income college students enrolled in career or technical education course work and shortening the SNAP application for those on fixed incomes in an effort to encourage greater enrollment among eligible older adults and disabled individuals.
"From the community college student seeking to advance their career to the senior living on a fixed income, food insecurity and hunger are a reality for a wide breadth of low-income New Yorkers and we have an obligation to help them during their time in need," Governor Cuomo said. "These measures will help a greater number of individuals and families access benefits that will prevent them from facing the dire reality of food insecurity."
Under Governor Cuomo's direction, the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance worked with the State University of New York and City University of New York to implement a new policy expanding SNAP eligibility to low-income college students engaged at least half-time in career and technical education courses. The expanded eligibility will help students avoid food insecurity while advancing their education.
Income-eligible students enrolled at least half-time in a career or technical education program offered at a SUNY, CUNY, comprehensive, technical, or community college will now be eligible for SNAP. Additionally, income-eligible individuals attending any of the 10 Educational Opportunity Centers in New York State and enrolled at least half-time in a career and technical education program, remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy, or English as a second language will be also be included in this new policy. Previously, these students did not qualify for SNAP assistance, unless they met certain criteria such as working at least 20 hours per week, or caring for a child, or were unable to work, among others.
This policy change adds another criteria that would allow certain college students and EOC participants to meet the student eligibility requirement for SNAP. Through SUNY and CUNY community colleges, technology campuses, EOCs, and Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking centers, nearly 75,000 students attend part time to take career and vocational courses. At SUNY, about 31,000 students are in those programs and may be eligible. At CUNY, about 42,000 students may be eligible.
Governor Cuomo also directed OTDA to seek permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer a simplified application for SNAP benefits in an effort to encourage greater enrollment among eligible elderly or disabled individuals. SNAP applicants on a fixed income or with limited financial resources can complete a single sheet application, front and back, which will greatly reduce the amount of time and effort required to apply or recertify for benefits.
Although New York is the national leader for the rate of SNAP participation among adults age 60, older, or disabled, this rate is still lower than the state's overall average. About 70 percent of eligible seniors and disabled individuals are enrolled to receive benefits, which is significantly lower than the statewide participation rate estimate of roughly 93 percent.
One leading reason proposed for this lower participation is the length and complexity of the application forms to apply for SNAP. The regular application includes nine pages of questions and information geared at determining a household's eligibility. Because many elderly and disabled individuals live on fixed incomes and generally experience far fewer household changes, much less information is required to verify their eligibility and calculate benefits.
Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State has made a strong commitment to fighting hunger and SNAP has been a key part of those efforts. The Governor has launched several groundbreaking initiatives to bring healthier foods to underserved communities, including expanding SNAP, eliminating unnecessary requirements and simplifying the application process, removing key barriers to reducing hunger for children and adults, while continuing efforts to maximize benefits for all those who are eligible.
In his 2018 State of the State address, the Governor announced a five-point plan to combat hunger for students in kindergarten through college. As part of that plan, the Governor tasked SUNY and CUNY with the establishment of physical food pantries on campus or stigma-free access to free food, which was completed that year.
At SUNY, in addition to the expansion of and access to food pantries, a task force helped establish and grow innovative intervention programs on campuses, including mobile food trucks, local farm crop sharing, a subsidized on campus grocery store, and programming that allows students to "pay" a campus parking ticket in food donations to an on-campus pantry.
The Healthy CUNY program employs a multifaceted approach to address food insecurity on CUNY campuses. To date, food pantries or food vouchers are available at 18 CUNY 2- and 4-year campuses.
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Mike Hein said, "Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, we continue to help an increasing number of low-income individuals and families avoid the crushing feeling of food insecurity. These changes will help numerous college students and older New Yorkers qualify for SNAP, ensuring they can more easily afford healthy, nutritious food."
SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said, "Food insecurity continues to be a significant struggle for far too many Americans, and New York State has been a leader in our approach to getting resources to those most in need—through food banks on every college campus or nearby, and through innovative programs like mobile food trucks, local farm crop sharing, and even gardens on campus. And today by expanding eligibility for SNAP benefits, we are telling students your course work is vitally important and we want you to stay on track to get the credentials you need. My thanks to Governor Cuomo for leading our state's efforts to provide food security, and to Commissioner Hein and CUNY Chancellor RodrÃguez in this collaboration to get additional benefits to our students most in need."