Reminder Tomorrow!!!
SANTA is coming to town.
Monday, December 7, 2020
Nos Quedamos - Stage Garden Rumba #3 at Rincón Criollo Community Garden- Streaming TONIGHT
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Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - DECEMBER 6, 2020
Positive Testing Rate in All Focus Zone Areas is 6.22 Percent; New York State Positivity Outside All Focus Zone Areas is 4.24 Percent
Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.71 Percent
56 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-19 is spreading, and it affects all New Yorkers, Upstate and downstate. This is a war and we continue to adapt to the enemy by making decisions based on data and science — not opinion and fear,” Governor Cuomo said. “We’re closely monitoring hospital capacity and have implemented triggers to ensure hospitals have what they need. The light at the end of the tunnel is the vaccine, and one is coming, but until then we must be disciplined. Public health experts agree households and private gatherings are a major driver of transmission right now, demonstrating once again that it is our actions that determine the infection rate. We know what works: wear a mask, avoid indoor gatherings, and socially distance, and the local governments must do enforcement. We will win this war but it will take vigilance and everyone working together.”
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 4.24 percent. Within the focus areas, 49,392 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 3073 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 156,440 test results were reported, yielding 6,629 positives.
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Patient Hospitalization -- 4,442 (+124)
- Patients Newly Admitted -- 648
- Hospital Counties -- 55
- Number ICU -- 850 (+25)
- Number ICU with Intubation -- 464 (+29)
- Total Discharges -- 87,949 (+476)
- Deaths -- 56
- Total Deaths -- 27,149
Saturday, December 5, 2020
NYPD Announces Citywide Crime Statistics for November 2020
Gun arrests continue to rise in the face of increased shooting violence
The year so far has presented significant public safety challenges with gun violence continuing to afflict New Yorkers across the city. As shootings continued their upward trajectory in November, citywide shooting incidents through the first eleven months of 2020 surged to levels unseen in years.
That spike in street violence contrasts with the levels of overall crime remaining flat through the first 11 months of the year, or up a combined +0.6% (8,170 v. 8,120) in the seven major felony categories amid an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak that continues to strain the city and its police. And hate crimes, in particular, are dramatically down. Even as the pandemic prompted a spike in coronavirus-related hate crimes against those of Asian descent, it was swiftly addressed by the formation of an Asian Hate Crime Task Force that has so far helped to close 16 of 24 of those reported crimes with an arrest.
On gun violence, the NYPD’s unrelenting work to suppress it goes on. The data to date shows that our officers’ continued focus on making strong gun cases is increasingly taking hold.
Gun arrests for the month of November are up +112.3% (484 v. 228), driving a +22.2% increase in citywide gun arrests (3,793 v. 3,104) compared with the same period a year ago. Going forward, the NYPD will continue to cultivate information to arrest anyone willing to purchase, carry or sell an illegal firearm in New York City.
Still, shootings have victimized far too many. For November, there was a +112.5% (115 v. 51) increase in shootings citywide. And shootings have risen +95.8% (1,412 v. 721) through the first 11 months of 2020, compared with the same period last year. Notable in the gun violence is an emerging trend the NYPD is weaving into its precision-driven enforcement approach: 40% of those accused of a shooting have had a past gun possession arrest, while 21% of shooting victims have had one.
To serve those harmed – on both sides of the gun – our officers and citizens continue to build the kind of bonds that are essential to our shared sense of well-being. Our investigators, Neighborhood Coordination and Youth officers, as well as every uniformed officer on patrol, remain steadfast in achieving the kind of common good all New Yorkers demand.
On violent crime, homicides have also risen both for the month and the year. November saw 28 people murdered in the five boroughs, five more than were killed last November. So far in 2020, there has been a +38.4% increase (422 v. 305) in the number of victims murdered in New York City compared to last year.
“Whatever the challenge, our NYPD officers have shown innovation and determination to get the job done this year,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “Our work to reimagine the kind of policing New Yorkers deserve is always evolving, in line with our agency’s best traditions to reflect the needs of everyone in our city.”
Statistics on Index Crimes
| November 2020 | November 2019 | +/- | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 28 | 23 | +5 | +21.7% |
| Rape | 122 | 118 | +4 | +3.4% |
| Robbery | 1,114 | 1,180 | -66 | -5.6% |
| Assault | 1,574 | 1,660 | -86 | -5.2% |
| Burglary | 1,303 | 922 | +381 | +41.3% |
| Grand Larceny | 3,100 | 3,756 | -656 | -17.5% |
| G.L.A. | 929 | 461 | +468 | -101.5% |
| TOTAL | 8,170 | 8,120 | +50 | +0.6% |
Additional Statistics For November 2020
| November 2020 | November 2019 | +/- | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Transit | 110 | 253 | -143 | -56.5% |
Housing | 402 | 371 | +31 | +8.4% |
Shooting Incidents | 115 | 51 | +64 | +125.5% |
November Rape Breakdowns
| CompStat Year | Count | Occurred Same Year | Occurred Previous Year | Occurred 2 Years Prior | Occurred 3 Years Prior | Occurred 4 Years Prior | Occurred 5+ Years Prior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 122 | 96 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
2019 | 118 | 101 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
2018 | 143 | 121 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
2017 | 125 | 111 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
2016 | 98 | 88 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
2015 | 118 | 100 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Hate Crimes Statistics Summary from January 1, 2020 – November 29, 2020
These statistics represent the time period between January 1, 2020 – November 29, 2020 for the respective years of 2019 and 2020.
| Motivation | 2020 | 2019 | +/- | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Asian | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
Black | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0% |
Disability | 0 | 1 | -1 | -100% |
Ethnic | 0 | 5 | -5 | -100% |
Gender | 6 | 13 | -7 | -54% |
Hispanic | 0 | 7 | -7 | -100% |
Muslim | 4 | 11 | -7 | -84% |
Other | 21 | 14 | -7 | +50% |
Other Corona | 24 | 0 | 24 | ***.*% |
Religion | 12 | 15 | -3 | -20% |
Semitic | 105 | 208 | -103 | -50% |
Sexual Orientation | 27 | 51 | -24 | -47% |
White | 10 | 29 | -19 | 66% |
Grand Total | 245 | 391 | -146 | -37% |
Recent Coronavirus-related incidents fall under the anti-other category as there are primarily two motivating factors behind those crimes: The victim’s race (Anti-Asian) and the perception that they have Coronavirus. Also, all crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.
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.
