Friday, November 13, 2020
Governor Cuomo Announces $10 Million New York Climate Progress Program to Support Technologies That Lower Carbon Emissions
Economic Recovery Initiative Supports Startups Advancing Climate Technology Including Clean and Energy-Efficient Solutions
Supports Governor Cuomo's Nation-Leading Climate and Clean Energy Goals Under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the $10 million New York Climate Progress Program to bolster the state's clean energy economy. The Program will provide capital investments to support startups that create low-carbon goods and services, allowing them to continue to scale decarbonization products in market. This announcement supports Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate and clean energy agenda, including the mandate for an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
"A greener future is a brighter one, and New York is leading the way forward on protecting our environment while creating new jobs and bolstering our economy," Governor Cuomo said. "The New York Climate Progress Program will help us support innovative startups that are generating new economic activity with clean, low-carbon products and services. The technologies created by these companies can help us fight climate change and support New Yorkers' livelihoods as we work to make communities across the state more resilient."
The $10 million Climate Progress program is open to early-stage startup firms focusing on climate technology that have raised less than $25 million in private capital, have less than $10 million in annual revenue, and have fewer than 50 employees--with at least one employee in New York State. Applicants must have a product in market that aligns with the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and must demonstrate one of the following:
- New York State-based supply chain partners, vendors, investors or service providers in the state;
- New York State-based research, development, manufacturing or sales operations; or
- A current or future market of customers within New York State.
Doreen M. Harris, Acting President and CEO, NYSERDA, said, "This funding will be a catalyst for some of the most talented innovators seeking to bring climate and clean energy products to New York State that will help to realize Governor Cuomo's vision for economy-wide carbon neutrality. It will enable these innovative companies to reach commercial milestones that are necessary to successfully advance low carbon products, raise more capital, and scale solutions for all New Yorkers to utilize as we shrink our collective carbon footprint and increase resiliency across the state."
Applications are due January 6, 2021 and up to $500,000 in funding is available per project. NY Green Bank will work in collaboration with NYSERDA's Technology to Market team to service the funds issued under this program. Applications can be submitted here.
Climate technology companies scale innovation to support decarbonization by applying hardware, software, technology-enabled services, data analytics, and/or novel processes to broadly reduce energy consumption, increase resource efficiency, and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Funding the next generation of climate technology companies through this program will stimulate local economies, create jobs and advance clean energy products as part of New York's growing green economy.
Louella Hatch Democratic Club - Join Senator Jamaal Bailey for Our November General Board Meeting
Yes join Senator Jamaal Bailey the Bronx Democratic County Leader, and ask him if he supports District Leader Marcos Sierra after what Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has called a racially charged statement by District Leader Marcos Sierra against a veteran member of the media who District Leader Marcos Sierra expected to join his campaign for city council but did not.
Senator Jamaal Bailey and Bronx Borough President Candidate Nathalia Fernandez Food Giveaway
Please come and ask Bronx Democratic County Leader Jamaal Bailey and Bronx Borough President candidate Nathalia Fernandez if they support District Leader Marcos Sierra after what Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has called a racially charged statement by District Leader Marcos Sierra against a veteran member of the media who District Leader Marcos Sierra expected to join his campaign for city council but did not.
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Second Bronx Gang Member Charged With 2015 Murder
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Peter C. Fitzhugh, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Raymond Donovan, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced the return of a superseding indictment charging KYLE MULLINGS, a/k/a “Kase,” with murder in aid of racketeering and murder through the use of a firearm in connection with the murder of Daquan Cooper on June 25, 2015, in the Bronx. MULLINGS was already in federal custody on other charges. On November 5, 2019, an indictment was unsealed charging co-defendant Jose Rodriguez, a/k/a “Hov,” a/k/a “Hov Goon,” in connection with the murder of Daquan Cooper.
MULLINGS will be presented at a later date. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged in the indictment, Kyle Mullings and others were responsible for the murder of Daquan Cooper in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx in 2015. We commend the extraordinary efforts of our law enforcement partners to bring Mullings to justice.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said: “HSI and our partners have demonstrated a tireless commitment to dismantling this gang’s complex criminal enterprise through multi-agency cooperation, resulting in these indictments. This case highlights that, as alleged, Mullings and other violent perpetrators in our communities are well organized in their criminal pursuits. However, law enforcement in New York continues to be successful in apprehending these pugnacious offenders allegedly responsible for numerous senseless deaths.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan said: “Great police work and multi-agency cooperation has brought an alleged murderer to justice. I applaud all of our partners for their steadfast diligence throughout this investigation.”
According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:
MULLINGS was a member or associate of a racketeering enterprise known as the Beach Avenue Crew, a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in, among other things, murder, attempted murder, and narcotics trafficking.
On June 25, 2015, MULLINGS orchestrated the murder of Daquan Cooper and provided the firearms that others used to shoot and kill Cooper in the vicinity of 1595 Unionport Road in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx.
MULLINGS, 26, from the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; and one count of murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. The statutory maximum and mandatory minimum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of a defendant would be determined by the Court.
Ms. Strauss praised the investigative work of the NYPD, HSI, and DEA.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - NOVEMBER 12, 2020
Positive Testing Rate in All Focus Zone Areas is 4.86 Percent; New York State Positivity Outside All Focus Zone Areas is 2.53 Percent
Statewide Positivity Rate is 2.95 Percent
29 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"COVID is raging nationally, setting record numbers of cases and hospitalizations with each passing day," Governor Cuomo said. "While New York is doing better than just about any state in the United States, we are not immune from the national trend. Now it's up to what we do. There is no pre-destined future here. It's a pure consequence of our actions. If we stay New York Tough and don't fall subject to COVID fatigue and we stay smart through the holidays, through Thanksgiving, through Christmas, through Hanukkah, we'll keep it under control. New Yorkers just have to continue to take it seriously. I know it has been a long time, but these next weeks are going to be key and we really need people to buckle down to fend off the tide."
The Governor noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state's Micro-Cluster strategy is 4.86 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 2.53 percent. Within the focus areas, 28,906 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 1,406 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 133,721 test results were reported, yielding 3,391 positives.
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Patient Hospitalization - 1,677 (+49)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 261
- Hospital Counties - 52
- Number ICU - 308 (+4)
- Number ICU with Intubation - 136 (+1)
- Total Discharges - 81,198 (+178)
- Deaths - 29
- Total Deaths - 26,055
An Update from State Comptroller DiNapoli: NY's Economy & Finances in the COVID-19 Era
Varies Across New York
Total employment in New York State fell in March, and again—much more sharply—in April, with a combined loss of more than 1.9 million jobs. After five months of partial employment recovery since then, figures for September show significant if not severe lingering damage to job counts in every one of the State’s fifteen metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).
New York City, an early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to feel the sharpest loss, with a net decline of 648,000 jobs, nearly 14 percent of its February total. Figures for the Orange-Rockland-Westchester MSA also show a large decline of 10.7 percent. But the bad news is not confined to downstate regions, with net losses of more than 10 percent also occurring in the Rochester, Syracuse and Glens Falls MSAs.
The Elmira area, where employment lagged most of the State’s other regions during the expansion that ended in February, has suffered proportionally smaller losses in recent months.
DEC ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION POLICE OFFICER HIGHLIGHTS
Recent ECO Actions
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) enforce the 71 Chapters of NY Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York. In 2019, the 288 ECOs across the state responded to 25,704 calls and worked on cases that resulted in 16,855 tickets or arrests for crimes ranging from deer poaching to solid waste dumping, illegal mining, the black market pet trade, and excessive emissions violations.
Two-thousand-and-twenty marks 50 years for DEC and 140 Years for New York’s Conservation Police Officers. In 1880, the first eight Game Protectors proudly began serving to protect the natural resources and people of New York State.
"From Montauk Point and Brooklyn to Buffalo, the ECOs patrolling our state are the first line of defense in protecting New York's environment and our natural resources, ensuring that they exist for future generations of New Yorkers," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "Our ECOs have worked arduous hours, both deep in our remote wildernesses and in the tight confines of our urban landscapes, for far longer than the 50 years since DEC was created. These officers are critical to achieving DEC's mission to protect and enhance our environment and I am confident they will continue this important mission for the next 50 years and beyond."
If you witness an environmental crime or believe a violation of environmental law occurred, please call the DEC Division of Law Enforcement hotline at 1-844-DEC-ECOS(1-844-332-
Tiger (Tooth) King - Queens County
On Sept. 11, a Queens County man was fined for his role in the illegal sale of a tiger tooth. Wildlife parts of endangered species like tigers are prohibited from sale in New York. The tooth was offered for sale on Craigslist for $500. On Aug. 17, ECOs Lovgren and Traynor went undercover to arrange “buying” the tooth pendant and met with the seller in Queens. Igor Mukhin was issued a Notice of Violation for selling endangered wildlife parts and the case was closed with a fine of $500, with $250 suspended. The tiger tooth was forfeited to the State of New York and will be used for educational purposes.
K-9 Deming Assists in Poacher Bust – Sullivan County
On Oct. 27, two Sullivan County men appeared in the Town of Bethel Court to answer charges related to a poaching incident earlier this year. On Mar. 24, ECOs Wood, Parker, and Doroski received reports from a concerned citizen who advised officers he saw fresh blood in the snow and on the back of a white van just up the road in Bethel. ECO Wood deployed K-9 Deming and located a spent shell casing while ECOs Parker and Doroski investigated the van and noticed what appeared to be deer hair on the back of the van and blood inside of it. Officers interviewed residents at that location, Oscar Casas and Julio Dubon. When questioned, the men admitted to shooting a deer from a vehicle. Casas stated he shot the deer the previous night from his vehicle after the sun had set with the aid of a spotlight and Dubon, a passenger in the car, admitted to assisting with the take of the deer. Dubon showed ECOs where the deer was located inside a shed behind the residence. Officers seized the deer and the rifle and charged Casas with taking deer except as permitted, possession of a loaded long gun in a motor vehicle, and taking deer with the aid of an artificial light. Dubon was charged with being an accessory to the illegal take of a deer, taking deer except as permitted, and taking big game out of season. Both Casas and Dubon agreed to a civil compromise in court and were fined $2,200 plus applicable court fees.
Injured Owls Rescued – Columbia and Rensselaer Counties
On Nov. 8, ECOs Curinga and Davey responded to reports of two injured barred owls struck by motor vehicles in two separate locations. One of the owls was struck in the town of Copake, Columbia County, while the other was struck in the town of Brunswick, Rensselaer County. The ECOs successfully captured the owls and transported them to Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center in Greene County. Both owls appeared to respond well to treatment and will hopefully be released back into the wild soon.