Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - DECEMBER 5, 2020

 

Positive Testing Rate in All Focus Zone Areas is 6.17 Percent; New York State Positivity Outside All Focus Zone Areas is 4.59 Percent     

Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.99 Percent

69 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. 

"I understand New Yorkers may be feeling COVID fatigue, especially now that we have entered the holiday season and the first batch of vaccines is a couple weeks away, but if there was ever a time to double down and be vigilant, it's now," Governor Cuomo said. "We continue to implement our data-driven winter plan and we are laser focused on making sure New York's hospitals have enough capacity. What's troubling is we are seeing a new trend where the majority of cases are traced to households and private gatherings. The federal government continues to overlook the black, brown, and poor communities in its vaccine plan and hasn't provided the funding necessary for the states to administer it. These are real problems, and if left unaddressed they could undermine the effectiveness of the entire program. While we won't stop fighting until these problems are addressed, New Yorkers need to do their part too. They already did the best job in the country the first time around, going from the highest infection rate to one of the lowest, and I have no doubt if we continue to stay smart, we will get through this together — stronger, tougher and more loving than before."

The Governor noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state's Micro-Cluster strategy is 6.17 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 4.59 percent. Within the focus areas, 54,956 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 3,389 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 160,445 test results were reported, yielding 7,372 positives. 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization - 4,318 (+96)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 621 
• Hospital Counties - 56
• Number ICU - 825 (+30)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 435 (+32)
• Total Discharges - 87,473 (+445)
• Deaths - 69
• Total Deaths - 27,089

Attorney General James Charges Bronx Man for Sex Trafficking Children

 

Joint Investigation Led by AG’s Organized Crime Task Force and NYPD’s Human

Trafficking Team Marks First Time AG Has Charged Newly Enacted Crime

   Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrest of Paul Alexander, 57, of the Bronx, a Level 3 Sex Offender, for sex trafficking children throughout New York City. Alexander’s arrest is the result of a joint investigation between the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Vice Major Case Squad, Human Trafficking Team. This marks the first time Attorney General James has charged a defendant with the newly enacted crime of Sex Trafficking of a Child, which strengthens prosecutors’ ability to hold sex traffickers accountable.

“There is nothing more reprehensible than sexually exploiting a child,” said Attorney General James. “This individual’s alleged actions jeopardized the health and safety of our children and highlighted the critical need for these new protections that strengthen our ability to hold perpetrators accountable for these gross violations of the law. I thank the NYPD for their partnership in this investigation, and I will continue to use all the tools at my office’s disposal to hold accountable those who seek to abuse our children.”

“The NYPD and our law enforcement partners share a commitment to protect the survivors of child trafficking, and we will continue to fight on behalf of our society’s most vulnerable individuals,” said NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “I thank and commend the NYPD detectives involved in this investigation and the New York State Office of the Attorney General for their efforts to ensure child predators are taken off our streets. The NYPD will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to eradicate the trafficking of children in our city and work to bring justice to victims of these heinous crimes.”

The investigation was named “Operation Mile High” after investigators revealed Alexander was listed as the C.E.O. of Central Jet Charter, a private aircraft charter company. Through the use of covert recording devices, social media, and undercover operations, the investigative team determined that Alexander was, in fact, trafficking children across county lines for sex. The initial investigation began in March after a female minor reported Alexander to the NYPD, alleging that Alexander sexually abused her and other underage girls, and promoted them for prostitution to other men. An undercover police officer met with Alexander who charged him a total of $300 for sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old victim and a 14-year-old victim — and encouraged the undercover officer to use alcohol and marijuana to make the victims more cooperative.

The defendant was arraigned today before Bronx County Criminal Court Judge Michael Hartofilis on a felony complaint, in which he is charged with multiple counts of Sex Trafficking of a Child, Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child, related counts of First and Second Degrees of Promoting Prostitution, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Alexander faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted of the top counts. Additionally, he was remanded and ordered to return to court on December 8, 2020. Both Sex Trafficking of a Child and First Degree Promoting Prostitution are class B felonies, and Sex Trafficking of a Child is a violent felony offense.

The felony complaint charge against the defendant is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Attorney General James thanks Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark for her office’s assistance in this investigation. 

New York City Housing Authority Toy Giveaways by Councilman Mark Gjonaj and Santa Clau

 

Christmas Tree & Menorah Lightings

 

Council District 13 Holiday Lights Celebration Schedule

 

MAYOR DE BLASIO DECLARES SPECIAL ELECTION DATE FOR THE 31st COUNCIL DISTRICT IN QUEENS

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today made the following statement on the special election in the New York City Council’s 31^st District:

 

“I am declaring Tuesday, February 23, 2021 as the date for the 31^st City Council District special election to elect a Council Member to serve until December 31, 2021. This date, within the window allowed by the City Charter, will give residents the chance to make thoughtful and informed decisions about their representation.

 

Eligible Queens voters can participate with early voting, in-person voting, or by returning an absentee ballot, and I encourage everyone to make their voices heard in this special election.”

EDITOR'SNOTE:

What the mayor has left out is the fact that this election should be a Rank Choice Voting election.

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Results of State Police Thanksgiving Crackdown on Impaired and Reckless Driving

 

Troopers Issue Nearly 14,000 Tickets, Arrest 155 For Impaired Driving During Campaign Over The Thanksgiving Holiday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State Police issued 13,887 tickets during this year's Thanksgiving traffic enforcement initiative, which targeted unsafe driving behaviors during the holiday weekend. The special traffic enforcement period, which is funded by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, ran from Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29. State Troopers also arrested 155 people for DWI and investigated 757 crashes, including three fatalities, during the holiday period. The three fatal crashes that NYSP responded to occurred in Allegany, Nassau and Orange counties.

"Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs endangers every single traveler on the road, and it simply will not be tolerated," said Governor Cuomo. "Not only during the holidays, but at all times, the message is clear - be responsible and drive sober or make plans for finding a safe ride home. It's literally that simple and by following those rules, our roads will be safer and lives will be saved."

The State Police supplemented regular patrols statewide during this crackdown with fixed sobriety checkpoints, an underage drinker initiative and the "Operation Hang Up" initiative, which targets distracted drivers by utilizing Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on handheld devices. These unmarked vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

Acting State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, "I commend our Troopers and our local law enforcement partners for the work they do each day to keep our roads safe. State Police will continue to be highly visible throughout the holiday season, looking out for reckless and aggressive drivers. We urge drivers to do their part by making the right choices when they get behind the wheel - drive sober, follow posted speed limits and put away your smart phones."

GTSC Chair and DMV Commissioner Mark J. F. Schroeder said, "I applaud all law enforcement who took part in this mobilization to keep our roads as safe as possible. We want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season. No one's holiday memories should be marred by a needless tragedy. If you plan to drink as part of your celebration, please do not drive. Having a plan to designate a sober driver or arrange a ride home could save a life."

As part of the enforcement, Troopers also targeted speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. Below is a sampling of the total tickets that were issued.

Speeding                       4,871

Distracted Driving             228

Seatbelt violations         1,825

Move Over Law                188

ASSEMBLYMAN DINOWITZ CELEBRATES NEW LAW TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE SELECTION OF SUBWAY ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS

 

The newly signed law from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Andrew Gounardes establishes public criteria to select subway stations for ADA accessibility improvements.

 The fight for full compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) throughout New York’s subway system has surely taken a hit from the COVID-19 economic crisis, but it will move forward in an equitable and transparent method thanks to just-enacted legislation from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. The new law, which was also carried by State Senator Andrew Gounardes, requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to develop and make publicly available criteria to “determine how to best prioritize subway stations for accessibility improvements.” 

These criteria, which were developed in conjunction with disability advocates and transit riders with disabilities, must include at minimum:

• citywide geographic coverage,

• transit transfer options,

• annual ridership volume,

• census tract data for senior and disabled populations and percentage of those populations in poverty,

• residential density of surrounding neighborhoods; and

• proximity to medical centers, schools, parks, business districts, cultural hubs, and senior centers.

 

The current MTA capital program for 2020-24 went into effect on January 1, 2020 but it has been paused by the MTA due to a dramatic reduction in MTA revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The future of this capital program is dependent on the delivery of federal relief funding for the MTA and the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but as currently described it includes $5.2 billion for station accessibility efforts in New York City Transit subways and Staten Island Railway. The new criteria will ensure that any modifications to the 2020-24 capital program as well as all future capital programs maintain the equitable practices that are currently used by the MTA to determine where station accessibility improvements are made.

 

The enactment of this law is described as a key step forward in the fight for full subway accessibility. Dinowitz and Gounardes also carry another bill (A7753/S6150) that would codify key elements of the Fast Forward subway action plan from former NYCT President Andy Byford, including a timeline for complete station accessibility in all 472 subway stations operated by the MTA. Under the proposed bill, the MTA would have to make accessible 50 stations in the 2020-24 capital program, and 130 new accessible stations in the 2025-2029 capital program, and the remainder of subway stations would need to be completed in the 2030-2034 capital program. That legislation, which has already garnered the support of at least two dozen Assemblymembers, would also improve elevator outage communications, facilitate the provision of accessibility information to third-party smartphone apps (such as Google Maps or Apple Maps), mandate full-accessibility for any major station work that lasts longer than six months, and other key elements to help riders with disabilities gain equitable access to mass transit.

 

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “Although our fight for full mass transit accessibility is long from over, I am very proud to have secured this victory to ensure that future MTA decisions on subway station accessibility continue to be made in an equitable and transparent way. There are simply too many New Yorkers who are being left behind by inaccessible subways, especially in communities like those in the north and northwest Bronx, and for too many years. Along with State Senator Gounardes and all of the advocates who helped shape these criteria we will continue to work towards progress, but today I thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill into law.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We see this as nothing more than trying to get publicity for elected officials or those they are supporting in upcoming races. The law should have said all stations, and not just select stations. We see the sentence Annual Ridership Volume as the problem, rather than number of Disabled Ridership Volume. Some stations may be in areas where there is less Annual Ridership Volume, but more Disabled Ridership Volume.