Governor Cuomo Announces Winter Plan to Combat COVID-19 Surge in New York State

 

5 Targeted Strategies to Manage and Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19

Strategy 1: Manage Hospital Capacity to Enhance and Equalize Care

Strategy 2: Increase and Balance Testing Resources and Availability

Strategy 3: Keep Schools Open Safely 

Strategy 4: Prevent Viral Spread from Small Gatherings

Strategy 5: Operationalize an Equitable and Safe Vaccination Program

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York's plan for combating COVID-19 this winter. Over the past week, Governor Cuomo and the state's COVID Task Force has worked in consultation with global public health experts, local governments and other stakeholders to ensure that the plan builds off the lessons learned during the past nine months to anticipate and prepare for an expected increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations over the Holiday season.

Specifically, the winter plan consists of five targeted strategies focused on mitigating the spread of the virus and bolstering New York State hospital preparedness including:

• Continue and Strengthen New York's Targeted Micro-Cluster Strategy while Managing Hospital Capacity to Enhance and Equalize Care;
• Increase and Balance Testing Resources and Availability;
• Keep Schools Open Safely;
• Prevent Viral Spread from Small Gatherings; and
• Operationalize an Equitable and Safe Vaccination Program

"While the holiday season often brings joy to many, the increase in social activity and mobility will also bring an increase of viral transmission. We understand the cause and effect, and the effect is dramatic," Governor Cuomo said. "We must adapt to this reality and have a plan in place that specifically addresses the challenges that come with it. We've been through the worst, and while we're not done yet, we are moving forward with the lessons we learned in the spring to come through this together."

Strategy 1 - Continue and Strengthen New York's Targeted Micro-Cluster Strategy while Managing Hospital Capacity to Enhance and Equalize Care

Since Governor Cuomo first launched New York's micro-cluster strategy in mid-October, it has proved effective in identifying targeted areas with high infection rates and implementing additional restrictions to reduce viral spread in the micro-cluster area. This approach has allowed state and local health officials to target resources, has encouraged community members to take greater action to reduce viral spread, and helped prevent the need for larger, regional shutdowns which impact all aspects of life and the economy.

Under New York's Winter COVID-19 Plan, this strategy will be strengthened through the utilization of additional, hospital-related metrics to provide a clearer picture of where a particular zone stands in the fight against COVID and how each neighborhood, municipality, and other geographic area contributes to daily hospital admissions due to COVID. Under this improved strategy, the New York State Department of Health will include factors such as regional hospital bed capacity, ICU capacity, staffing ratios, and daily hospital admissions as part of the analysis and metrics used to determine which geographic areas qualify as micro-cluster zones. In addition to the 3 existing micro-cluster zone levels (Yellow Precautionary, Orange Warning and Red), New York will also add a new 'Emergency Stop' level, which will effectively put that area under the NY Pause guidelines, if needed to preserve hospital capacity. Hospital metrics associated with these zones will be identified in the next week to 10 days, once data from the Thanksgiving holiday is received and analyzed.

Additionally, the Department of Health today began to initiate emergency hospital measures to prepare the state's hospital system for an expected surge in new admissions over the upcoming weeks. Specifically, these measures include: 

1. Hospital systems must begin to identify retired nurses and doctors to bolster staff;
2. Hospital systems in Erie County must suspend elective surgeries to create new bed capacity for COVID patients;
3. Hospital systems must begin balancing patient loads across their individual hospital facilities;
4. Prepare plans to utilize emergency field hospitals;
5. Prepare plans to increase hospital bed capacity by 50 percent;
6. Prepare plans to implement statewide 'Surge and Flex' operations (similar to load balancing, but patient shifts would occur across all hospital systems, as opposed to within individual hospital systems)
7. Prepare plans to staff emergency field hospitals; and
8. Confirm availability of resources in existing stockpiles. 

The Department of Health will also be launching a new, statewide hospital metric tracking system.

We must adapt to this reality and have a plan in place that specifically addresses the challenges that come with it.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Strategy 2 - Increase and Balance Testing Resources and Availability

Under the Winter Plan, New York state will take steps to increase the amount of testing available statewide, but do so in a way that ensures distribution is balanced with testing sufficient across different segments of the population, including:

• Healthcare workers;
• Nursing homes;
• Schools;
• Essential workers;
• Business professionals;
• Personal services testing; and
• General population, returning students and travelers, etc.

Strategy 3 - Keep Schools Open Safely

One of the most critical aspects of managing the COVID-19 pandemic for governments and parents alike has been answering the question of how and when schools should remain open. On that point, experts from around the globe have determined that as long as a school's infection rate is under control and remains under the infection rate of the community at large, schools should remain open, particularly for students in K-8. Not only does school provide parents with support in terms of childcare, it provides a regularity to life which has been missing for so many children throughout this pandemic. 

Under New York's Winter Plan, efforts will be focused on keeping K-8 and Special Education schools are kept open as long as it can be done safely. The first step will be to establish sustainable, ongoing testing in schools so that they can continue operating in the long term. As part of this, schools located in Orange and Red micro-cluster zones will be required to conduct weekly testing. Schools in Orange Zones will be required to test 20% of in person students, faculty, and staff over the course of a month and schools in Red Zones will be required to test 30% of in person students, faculty, and staff over a month. Pool testing will be allowed as well.

These protocols represent the minimum standard required for schools to stay open and the state may adjust requirements for specific districts based on any special circumstances which may arise. While local districts are able to close at levels under the state's mandatory closure rule, they are urged to keep K-8 schools open whenever it is safe.

Strategy 4 - Prevent Viral Spread from Small Gatherings

Small gatherings have now been identified as the number one spreader of COVID-19, with at least 65 percent of all cases coming from these settings. Now that we are in holiday season, behavioral shifts must be observed by New Yorkers to mitigate the spread. Sixteen states, including New York, have already instituted gatherings limits of less than 10 people, with Kentucky recently moving to gathering limits to 8 or less. While government's ability to monitor small gatherings is limited, public education on the safety concerns of small gatherings is crucial. As New York State did with public campaigns urging mask compliance, New York State will be launching a public education campaign to highlight how small gatherings can lead to the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Strategy 5 - Operationalize an Equitable and Safe Vaccination Program

While a vaccine is expected to be released in the coming weeks, it will be months before a critical mass of available vaccinations for the general public will be available. As the state builds its plan to distribute vaccinations, it will be founded on three main pillars:

• Fairness;
• Equity; and
• Safety.

These pillars, as well as outreach to the Black and Brown communities with poor health outcomes who have been hit hardest by the pandemic, are critical to ensuring a fair distribution of the vaccine.

Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Establishing a "Right To Publicity" for Deceased Individuals to Protect Against the Commercial Exploitation of their Name or Likeness

 

Legislation (S5959D /A.5605-C) Establishes Right to Publicity Protections for Deceased Individuals, Ability to Transfer Rights to Descendants

Legislation Establishes Protections Against Revenge Porn and "Deep Fakes"

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation (S5959D /A.5605-C) that establishes a "Right to Publicity" for deceased individuals to protect against the commercial exploitation, or unauthorized use, of their personal characteristics that have commercial value - their name, picture, voice or signature after their death. Additionally, these rights can be exercised by their descendants, giving performers estates the ability to control and protect their likeness or image after they have died. The legislation also creates new penalties for publishing sexually explicit depictions of individuals, protecting people from revenge porn and "deep fakes," which are synthetic media that are increasingly being used in the digital age to create images of fake events.

"In the digital age, deceased individuals can often fall victim to bad actors that seek to capitalize on their death and profit off of their likeness after they pass away - that ends today," Governor Cuomo said. "This legislation is an important step in protecting the rights of deceased individuals while creating a safer, fairer New York for decades to come."

The "Right of Publicity" refers to every individual's inherent right to control the commercial use of his or her personal characteristics. This legislation balances longstanding First Amendment protections with the need to further protect the unauthorized exploitation of performers for commercial purposes in the digital age, after they have died.

Senator Diane Savino said, "This legislation will protect artists and their image both today and after their death for years to come. It also takes the important step of protecting them from having their image superimposed onto pornographic imagery, which only looks to damage their reputations. These important steps will make our state a safer and fairer place for artists of all levels to call home. I thank Gov. Cuomo for signing this bill into law and look forward to continuing the fight for workers' rights alongside him."

Assemblymember Helene E. Weinstein said, "At present, tens of thousands of performers and broadcasters who call New York home have no protection from unscrupulous operators who steal their image and persona for commercial gain to use after their death. This bill creates significant legal protections against such wrongful conduct, and also protects those in the acting community from those who would use "deep fakes" to falsely depict them as engaging in sexual activity."

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - NOVEMBER 30, 2020

 

Positive Testing Rate in All Focus Zone Areas is 6.22 Percent; New York State Positivity Outside All Focus Zone Areas is 4.02 Percent     

Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.57 Percent

54 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.

"All the experts spoke about what was going to happen when we reach the fall—there's colder weather, more people are indoors and more people are now traveling. While there has been a change in behavior amongst the majority of people who understand and follow protocols, it's as critical as ever we continue our work and focus on preparing this state, and its residents, for winter," Governor Cuomo said. "We are already in the holiday season, and that is going to have a profound effect. It already has. It had an effect when people started to travel for the holiday season, when they started to travel for Thanksgiving, when students to go home, when people started to shop, and when they started to move around. Increased mobility and social activity equals increased viral infection rate. It is directly proportionate. And we talked about this before Thanksgiving, you are not just going into the Thanksgiving weekend, you're starting a 37-day holiday period. It's not a one- or two-day affair—it's going to be the entire holiday season. New Yorkers need to stay vigilant, wash their hands, wear masks, socially distance and follow the rules as we move through the next 37 days and beyond."

The Governor noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state's Micro-Cluster strategy is 6.22 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 4.02 percent. Within the focus areas, 37,632 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 2,341 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 111,342 test results were reported, yielding 4,478 positives.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

·         Patient Hospitalization - 3,532 (+160)

·         Patients Newly Admitted - 457

·         Hospital Counties - 54

·         Number ICU - 681 (+14)

·         Number ICU with Intubation - 325 (-1)

·         Total Discharges - 85,556 (+269)

·         Deaths - 54

·         Total Deaths - 26,747

NYC Restaurateur Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Tax Evasion Scheme

 

 Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ADEL KELLEL, owner of Raffles Bistro, formerly a restaurant located in New York City, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to two years in prison for perpetrating a tax evasion scheme.  KELLEL previously pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein to one count of tax evasion for the calendar years 2011 through 2015.  U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe, who accepted KELLEL’s guilty plea, imposed today’s sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Adel Kellel cooked his books to conceal income from the IRS and his own accountants.  He spent the ill-gotten gains on personal luxuries like a Mercedes, a Porsche, and a Maserati.  Now he will spend two years in federal prison.”

According to the allegations contained in the Information to which KELLEL pled guilty, court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings:    

In 2011, KELLEL was the President and a 45 percent owner of K&H Restaurant, Inc. (“K&H”), which operated Raffles Bistro (“Raffles”), a restaurant then located in a hotel (the “Hotel”) in Manhattan.  From 2012 through 2015, KELLEL was the 100 percent owner of K&H.  The gross receipts of K&H consisted primarily of: (a) credit card payments by Raffles’ customers; (b) cash payments by Raffles’ customers; and (c) check payments by the Hotel for various services that Raffles provided to hotel guests and patrons, including room service, banquets, and catering.

KELLEL perpetrated a scheme to evade income taxes by diverting and failing to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) a substantial portion of K&H’s gross receipts for the calendar years 2011 through 2015.  As part of his tax evasion scheme, KELLEL diverted over 150 Hotel checks, totaling over $2.1 million in gross receipts, which he hid from his accountants and the IRS.  KELLEL concealed these receipts – representing approximately 43 percent of this particular revenue stream for the restaurant – by depositing them into more than a dozen bank accounts that KELLEL did not disclose to his accountants.  KELLEL also diverted cash income received from Raffles’ customers, a portion of which he deposited into personal bank accounts or spent directly on personal expenses, without disclosing it to his accountants or paying taxes on it. 

KELLEL used the diverted income for various personal expenses, including overseas transfers; condominium fees; rent for a high-end Manhattan apartment; college tuition payments from his children; shopping at luxury retailers, such as Hugo Boss and Saks Fifth Avenue; payments for luxury cars manufactured by Mercedes, Porsche, and Maserati; and payments for domestic and international travel.

By fraudulently concealing from his accountants a substantial portion of K&H’s gross receipts, KELLEL caused K&H’s corporate income tax returns and KELLEL’s own individual income tax returns for the calendar years 2011 through 2015 to be materially false.  As a result of his conduct, KELLEL admitted to causing a combined tax loss of at least $771,195 to the IRS and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (“NYSDTF”).

In addition to the prison term, Judge Gardephe ordered KELLEL, 63, of New Hyde Park, New York, to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $613,478, and to pay restitution to NYSDTF in the amount of $157,717.  KELLEL was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, in this case.  Ms. Strauss also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division for its significant assistance in the investigation.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition Of Co-Founder Of Global Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme

 

 Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,  and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced that GUTEMBERG DOS SANTOS, a citizen of Brazil and the United States, was extradited from Panama on November 25.  DOS SANTOS is charged by indictment with co-defendants Pablo Renato Rodriguez, Scott Hughes, Cecilia Millan, Karina Chairez, and Jackie Aguilar for their roles in an internationally coordinated fraud and money laundering ring involved in defrauding individuals through investments in AirBit Club, a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading company.  DOS SANTOS was arrested on August 18, 2020, in Panama City, Panama, and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.  Rodriguez, Hughes, Millan, and Aguilar were arrested in the United States on August 18, 2020, and Chairez was arrested in the United States on October 20, 2020.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels. 

Acting United States Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, Gutemberg Dos Santos played a key role in an international investment scam that promised extraordinary rates of return on phantom investments in cryptocurrencies, defrauding victims of tens of millions of dollars.  Thanks to HSI, Dos Santos is now in U.S. custody.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said:  “The extradition of Dos Santos reflects the determination of agents from HSI New York’s El Dorado Financial Crimes Task Force to dismantle global criminal organizations, wherever the investigation takes us.  Utilizing our broad authorities and network of law enforcement partners, HSI will continue to hunt those who allegedly prey upon innocent citizens for financial gain.”

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictments:[1]   

Rodriguez, DOS SANTOS, Hughes, Millan, Chairez, and Aguilar participated in a coordinated scheme in which victim-investors (the “Victims”) were induced to invest in AirBit Club based on the promise of guaranteed profits in exchange for cash investments in club “memberships” (the “AirBit Club Scheme” or the “Scheme”).  Beginning in late 2015, AirBit Club, through its founders, Rodriguez and DOS SANTOS, as well as its promoters (the “Promoters”), including Millan, Chairez, and Aguilar, marketed AirBit Club as a multilevel marketing club in the cryptocurrency industry.  Promoters falsely promised Victims that AirBit Club earned returns on cryptocurrency mining and trading and that Victims would earn passive, guaranteed daily returns on any membership purchased.

Rodriguez, DOS SANTOS, Hughes, Millan, Chairez, and Aguilar traveled throughout the United States, and around the world to places in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe, where they hosted lavish expos and small community presentations aimed at convincing Victims to purchase AirBit Club memberships.  In furtherance of the AirBit Club Scheme, the Victims were induced to buy memberships in cash, including in the Southern District of New York.  Following a Victim’s investment, a Promoter provided the Victim with access to an online AirBit Club portal to view the purported returns on memberships (the “Online Portal”).  While Victims saw “profits” accumulate on their Online Portal, those representations were false:  No Bitcoin mining or trading on behalf of Victims in fact took place.  Instead, Rodriguez, DOS SANTOS, Millan, Chairez, and Aguilar enriched themselves, and spent Victim money on cars, jewelry, and luxury homes, and financed more extravagant expos to recruit more Victims. 

Hughes, an attorney licensed to practice law in California, had previously represented Rodriguez and DOS SANTOS in a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) investigation related to another investment scheme known as Vizinova before aiding Rodriguez and DOS SANTOS in perpetrating the AirBit Club Scheme by, among other things, helping to remove negative information about AirBit Club and Vizinova from the internet. 

In many instances, as early as 2016, Victims who attempted to withdraw money from the AirBit Club Online Portal and complained to a Promoter were met with excuses, delays, and hidden fees amounting to more than 50% of the Victim’s requested withdrawal, if they were able to make any withdrawal at all.  In one instance, Aguilar told one Victim of the AirBit Club Scheme who was complaining about her inability to withdraw AirBit Club returns that she should “bring new blood” into the AirBit Club Scheme in order to receive her returns.

In April 2020, another victim received a notice on the AirBit Club Online Portal that his account was closed – and principal investment lost – due to “execution of financial sustainability Reserve, policy #34 of the Airbit Club Terms and Conditions, due to the economic and financial crisis caused by (Covid-19).”

Rodriguez, DOS SANTOS, Hughes, Chairez, and Millan sought to conceal the AirBit Club Scheme, as well as their respective control of the proceeds of that Scheme, by requesting that Victims purchase memberships in cash, using third-party cryptocurrency brokers, and by laundering the Scheme’s proceeds through several domestic and foreign bank accounts, including an attorney trust account managed by Hughes (the “Hughes Trust Account”).  The Hughes Trust Account was ostensibly intended to maintain custody of Hughes’s law practice’s client funds.  Instead, the Hughes Trust Account was used by Rodriguez, DOS SANTOS, Hughes, and Millan to conceal the nature and origin of the AirBit Club Scheme’s illicit proceeds.  Through that account, Hughes directed Victim funds to the personal expenses of Rodriguez, DOS SANTOS, Millan, and himself, and funded promotional events and sponsorships designed to further promote the AirBit Club Scheme.  In total, the defendants laundered at least $20 million in proceeds of the Scheme through these various methods.

DOS SANTOS, 45, of Panama City, Panama, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, and the bank fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. 

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force, HSI Panama, the HSI Panama City Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, and HSI New Orleans.  Ms. Strauss further thanked the attorneys and investigators at the SEC whose expertise and diligence were integral to the development of this investigation.

The charges contained in the 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 Indictments and the description of the Superseding Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Wins Green Light Appeal, Protecting Immigrants’ Ability to Legally Obtain Drivers Licenses

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a district court decision that dismissed a lawsuit brought by Erie County Clerk Michael (Mickey) Kearns that would have blocked the Green Light law from taking effect last year:

“The Green Light law is legal and enforceable, and today’s decision marks the third federal court to dismiss challenges brought seeking to enjoin the law. This law provides protections to all New Yorkers by making our roads safer, growing our economy, and allowing immigrants to come out of the shadows to sign up as legal drivers in our state. As the state’s attorney and chief law enforcement officer, I am proud to have vigorously defended this law and will continue to do so against all who oppose it.”

Last November, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford granted a motion by Attorney General James to dismiss this lawsuit, which was the subject of this appeal.

Additionally, last December, Attorney General James won dismissal of a separate lawsuit brought by Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola — who also sought to block the Green Light law from taking effect — in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

New York City Comptroller Stringer Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Popular Annual Financial Report

 

 New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today released the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for Fiscal Year 2020, a complementary guide to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) released last month. The PAFR distills important information about local government and its finances for use by City residents from the CAFR, using dozens of explanatory graphs, charts, and images to provide New Yorkers with an easy-to-understand 30-page roadmap to City government.

“Transparency and accountability are the foundation of good governance. The PAFR is an important document that makes the City budget accessible to all New Yorkers to understand how our city works and the facts and figures that guide everyday policymaking,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “This year’s PAFR, amid a global pandemic and unprecedented economic crisis, offers a straightforward look into how taxpayer dollars are generated and spent in all corners of municipal government to keep the city running and provide essential services. I continue to take pride in our office’s work in delivering this critical information to the public.”

This is the sixth year the Comptroller’s office has released the PAFR report. This Fiscal Year 2020 report will be submitted for consideration for the Government Finance Officers Association’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting, which recognizes conformance with the highest standards for preparation of state and local government popular reports. The City of New York has received this national award for the last five consecutive fiscal years.

The majority of the data in the PAFR comes from the Comptroller’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which is released every year on October 31st. This year’s PAFR highlights:

New York City Economy Upended by COVID-19 Pandemic 

• The City’s economy broke records for the first eight months of Fiscal Year 2020, with more jobs (4.1 million in the private sector), and lower unemployment (3.4 percent in February), than ever previously recorded.

• Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, between February and April, the City also broke records as the economy shed nearly 900,000 private jobs. By June, more than 1.4 million New Yorkers had filed for unemployment benefits, and the unemployment rate had risen to 20.3 percent.

• Job losses were most acute in the generally low-wage service sectors, where remote work was not feasible and where the lack of visitors and commuters was felt most acutely.

• Hotels, retail stores, bars and restaurants, arts and entertainment venues, were all shuttered from March through most of the summer. June jobs in those sectors were still down almost 41 percent from February.

• In contrast, jobs in generally higher-paid office-worker sectors such as financial activities, information, and professional, scientific and technical services were down just seven percent.

• Unemployment rates in communities of color skyrocketed during this period, with roughly one in four Black, Hispanic, and Asian workers out of work.

• White unemployment rose from two percent before the pandemic to 14 percent in June, an increase of 12 percent. In comparison, Asian unemployment increased from roughly three percent in February to nearly 26 percent in May, implying nearly 23 percent of Asian workers lost their jobs between February and May. Similarly, Hispanic unemployment increased from five percent in February to 25 percent in May, implying over 20 percent of Hispanic workers lost their jobs between February and May.

COVID Spending 

• In response to the pandemic, the City incurred approximately $2.6 billion in expenditures in Fiscal Year 2020.

City Expenses 

• City expenses, including all related personnel and applicable pension and benefit costs, were more than $99.9 billion in FY 2020, a decrease of roughly $0.6 billion from the previous year.

City Revenue 

• Overall, the City brought in about $95.8 billion in revenues in FY 2020, which comes from two major sources: program revenues, such as State and Federal grants, and general revenues, like taxes.

• In FY 2020, program revenue accounted for over $32.2 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion from the previous year. Program revenue primary comes from grants received for education programs in the form of State and Federal aid ($13.4 billion), followed by general government ($5.9 billion).

• In FY 2020, general revenues were over $63.6 billion, an increase of almost $0.4 billion from the previous year. Real estate taxes were the greatest single source for the increase, totaling over $29.6 billion, largely due to growth in billable Assessed Value during the fiscal year.

Roadmap to the City Budget 

• The PAFR includes an explanation of the City budget process as well as an explanation of the difference between the City’s “General Fund” – the main operating fund of the City – and other types of financial resources such as Capital and Debt.

• The PAFR also includes information on “Component units” such as the Health and Hospitals Corporation (H+H), Water and Sewer Authority, and the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) – legally separate organizations for which the City is financially accountable. This information is presented separately from the financial data of the City’s “primary government.”

City Capital Project Commitments 

• New York City funds its capital projects using the Capital Budget, which is separate from the General Fund. The Capital Budget is exclusively used to fund capital projects and includes spending on City construction, purchases of land, buildings, and equipment. It is generally financed by the sale of government bonds.

• Capital Authorized Expenditures were sufficient to address the capital needs of The City for both current and future projects.

Peer-City Comparisons

• In 2019 – the most recent comparison available – New York City had 66.6 million tourists, outpacing Chicago, which had 60.8 million, and Philadelphia, which welcomed 46 million.

• Each City provides different types and levels of service for its residents. In FY 2020, New York City spent over $12,748 per resident, while Chicago spent $3,054 and Philadelphia spent about $4,551.

• This year, New York City’s bond rating remained the same by the ratings agency Moody’s at Aa1 rating. New York City also has an AA rating from both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch.

To read the full Popular Annual Financial Report for 2020, click here.

To view the interactive webpage, click here.

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everybody. I hope everyone had a really restful and positive holiday weekend. I hope you had a chance to spend time, whether in-person, or virtually with family and friends. And really get a break from everything we've been through. And I hope that you are taking the opportunity now in the holiday season to support our small businesses, our local businesses. I had a great opportunity to go to the Strand Bookstore on Saturday and do some of our holiday shopping there. Chirlane and I went to support an amazing New York City small business. And there's so many more like it. So again, it is holiday time. People don't have as much as we had last year, obviously. And a lot of families won't be able to buy much this year, but if you are going out to do holiday shopping, please focus on those local stores. And let's help keep the money in our community. 

  

So we've talked about buying local on Saturday. Yesterday, I outlined the plan to start reopening our schools next week. Today, we are going to focus on the thing we need the most to get us through to the vaccine. And that's testing. Testing from the very beginning has been the core to every effective strategy. And testing is what we are doubling down on now in New York City. We have the highest testing capacity we've ever had since the coronavirus began. We're going to talk about how important it is to get tested and then what to do after you get tested. So look everyone in the aftermath of Thanksgiving. if you traveled and obviously, I kept discouraging people from traveling. But if you did travel, it's important to really follow the State rules now. If you went through the procedure to test out of quarantine, that meant you got a test wherever you traveled to. You're going to get another test now upon your return within the right time frame. If you go through all that, you get negative tests, that's great. You don't have to quarantine. But for everyone who doesn't do that, you do have to quarantine. And it's really important. And we take it very seriously. We're going to be constantly focusing on educating people on the importance of following the quarantine if you traveled. But there also will be consistent enforcement and consequences for anyone who doesn't follow the quarantine rules. But again, the best way to address everything is through testing. So, whether you traveled or you didn't travel, we're encouraging people to get tested. 

  

And to make it easier. We have more and more Health + Hospitals testing locations, more mobile sites that were moving around, 25 new locations opened in the last week. We're continuing to make it easier. One of the things I've heard from so many people is they really want to get tested, but they're concerned about long lines and the turnaround time for the test. Well, again at our public hospitals and clinics and mobile sites, the Health + Hospital sites have been really good about quick turnaround times and providing people great service. But we do want to address the wait time. So now H + H will be posting updates three times a day on Twitter. You can follow at @NYCHealthSystem and get updates about each site. And it will direct people to where the waits are the least. So, you can go to the place that works best for you. Also, later today, there'll be a new online tool, TestAndTrace.nyc, will give you wait time updates at 51 Health + Hospitals sites. So, you can really plan carefully where you want to go get tested. 

  

But the bottom line is get tested. There's still so many people who have never been tested or only been tested once. This is how we fight back this second wave by getting tested. Now, what happens when you get tested? Well, if you test negative, that's great. If you test positive, you get to work with the nation's largest and best Test and Trace Corps. That's going to help keep you safe, your family safe, your friends safe, everyone you came in contact with safe. And it really works. And making sure that when people do test positive, that they know how to safely separate. That is the key. But we're not just telling people, Hey, go figure it out. We're saying no, we're going to help you every step of the way. We're going to be right there with you and provide you all the support you need. And it's free. Here to talk to you about this amazing effort and how it continues to grow. And I want to thank her and her team for all they do, and thank her for leadership, the director of the Take Care of division of Test and Trace, Dr. Amanda Johnson. 

  

Director Amanda Johnson, Take Care New York: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good morning, New Yorkers. I'm pleased to be back here to talk to you a little bit about COVID-19 and household transmission. As well as how the Take Care program can help you prevent the spread of the virus as we face the second wave. COVID-19 transmission is common in households, and it happens fast among families and roommates who are living together. As I mentioned before, emerging evidence from the CDC shows us that the vast majority of secondary infections occur within the first five days. Household transmissions will continue to be a significant factor in the spread of COVID-19 here in New York City where people live together in small spaces, and where we are going to be spending even more time indoors as we approach the colder months. At least one in five cases investigated by our own contact tracing program in recent weeks has been found to be due to household transmission. The implication of this is clear and urgent. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19, don't wait, separate. The Take Care program can help you with either a free hotel room, which includes free meals, medication delivery, and onsite clinical supports. Or the resources that you need to safely separate at home. Call 2-1-2-COVID-19 for assistance now. 

  

And in these challenging economic times, as we've mentioned before, don't let concerns about missing work be the barrier. If you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed, you have the right to seek paid sick leave without fearing consequences from your employer and regardless of your immigration status. Again, call 2-1-2-COVID-19 to learn more. As a city, we've done a good job. We've been wearing masks and more New Yorkers are getting tested all the time. We need to add a third step to this equation, to protect each other from the spread of COVID-19. Keep wearing your mask, continue getting tested often. And if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who was sick, don't wait, separate. 

  

To reach as many New Yorkers as possible, and with our simple message of don't wait, separate, we've launched a city-wide campaign, including digital broadcast and print in multiple languages. Many New Yorkers have already headed this call. To date more than 3,000 New Yorkers have been served by our hotel program. We've sent over 65,000 Take Care packages to people's homes. And our resource navigators have reached out to more than 51,000 New Yorkers who are quarantined or isolating in their homes to help them connect to resources such as food, medication delivery, including methadone delivery, medical care, and paid sick leave. We still have work to do. And it all starts with you. Remember, if you feel sick or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 the Take Care program urges you don't wait, separate. Thank you. 

  

Mayor: Thank you very much, Dr. Johnson. And listen to everyone. I mean, what the doctor went over is a very compassionate, kind approach to helping folks. And this is the New York way. We don't just leave people out there on their own. We're really going the extra mile to make it possible for people to get all the support they need and get through this very brief period of time when they have to separate. But here's what it's doing. We already know Test and Trace Corps has saved thousands and thousands of people from getting infected. And it's more important than ever. But what really matters is your cooperation. So again, if you feel those symptoms, if you go and get tested and it's positive, the important thing is to reach out, to get the help you need, to accept the help when it's offered, to communicate. Because Test and Trace Corps and the Take Care initiative are there to help you and make this go well so we can all turn the page and move past the coronavirus. 

  

All right, before we go to our daily indicators, just a quick update, something that New Yorkers care about a lot, and we love a lot. And it's part of our tradition, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. This is something that in normal years, we all go to see in-person. This year, I'm going to tell you to watch a different way. And on December 2nd, live and on television, this coming Wednesday, you're going to see the ceremony, the tree lighting. And that's the best way to see it. To feel that moment that we cherish every year when the lights go on, and it's another reminder of the beauty of the holiday season. And this is going to be a challenging holiday season in a lot of ways, but it's still going to be a beautiful one in so many ways. Because so many people care for each other and are looking out for each other and are taking that spirit of holidays and making it come alive in so many ways. So tune in on Wednesday to see the tree lit. Now that's the best way to do it. I know some people are going to still want to go in-person. And I'll tell you up front, please if you can make the decision to watch it on TV, that's so much better. But if you choose to go in-person, there's going to be a lot of specific rules in place to make it much safer than normally would be the case in a typical year. There will be a reservation system, groups of no more than four people at a time will be able to go up and view the tree. It's a timed socially distanced approach. And obviously it means it will be limited, the number of people that can get close. This is what we got to do to protect everyone. And if you want to see the wait times there'll be available at rockefellercenter.com. A different approach, but an approach that will keep people safe. And I keep saying it, I'll say it again so we can get through the next year. Next year, I look forward to so many of our traditions coming back so we can be there in-person and enjoy them the way we always have, and that we cherish. But let's stay safe this year. So everyone can get through to next year and enjoy those traditions together. 

  

Okay, let's go over our indicators. And I will say at the outset, we had lower testing levels over the last few days, meaning many fewer New Yorkers went to get tested. So some of our numbers may be skewed by that. I just want to offer that caution up front. We had a few days with much, much lower testing levels, obviously because of the holidays. We'll get a better sense in the course of this week, as testing levels return to normal. But let's go over the indicators. Number one, daily number of people admitted to New York City hospitals for suspected COVID-19, threshold 200 patients, today's report is 96 patients. Confirmed positivity level for COVID of 47.06 percent. Number two, new reported cases on a seven-day average, threshold 550 cases. Today's report 1,620 cases. And number three, percentage of the people testing positive citywide for COVID-19, threshold five percent. Again, knowing that we had some abhorrent testing levels today's report for the daily 4.69 percent, for the seven-day rolling average 4.03 percent.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

If 3 percent was used as a standard to close schools Mr. Mayor How are you reopening schools with over a 4 percent average? 

Was the closing of school not based on scientific data, so how can you change that data now?

The United Federation of Teachers is more worried that their teachers (who are more vulnerable to COVID-19) will catch COVID-19 from carrier students of the virus. 

Admit it Mayor de Blasio that you and Governor Cuomo do not know what both of you are doing.

You and the governor should postpone all special election to the June primary day as was done earlier this year by the governor.