NEW YORK CITY LAUNCHES THREE NEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND ADVANCE BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP

 

Programs to Serve 1,500 Businesses in 2021

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris today announced three new mentorship programs, ‘Small Business Mentors NYC,’ ‘BE NYC Mentors,’ and ‘M/WBE Mentors,’ which will provide industry experts as guides for current and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow a business in a post-COVID era. These programs are expected to serve 1,500 businesses in 2021. SBS’ first mentorship program, WE Connect Mentors, has engaged women mentors to work with over 1,700 women entrepreneurs since 2019.

 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every small business in our city – but our Black entrepreneurs and Minority and Women-Owned Businesses have been hit especially hard,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These businesses will be the beating heart of our economic recovery, and New York City is committed to giving them the guidance and advice they need to succeed in this pandemic and beyond.”

 

"Small businesses are vital to the fabric of New York City and serve as the cornerstones of our communities," said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives and Co-Chair of the Racial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce. “Our economic recovery depends on the ability of small business owners to succeed, and the City is helping to ensure we recover with equity by providing critically important mentorship programs to those in underrepresented and hardest-hit communities who need them most.”

 

“Mentorship, especially from business owners who have faced similar challenges, is a key component of business success,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “Our growing list of mentors come from a range of industries including food, professional services, and financial services, and are ready to guide minority and women owned businesses, entrepreneurs recovering from COVID-19, and emerging entrepreneurs launching the businesses of tomorrow.”

 

“Networks are a crucial ingredient of small business success, and all too often, entrepreneurs of color lack access to the insider advice they need to get ahead,” said Sideya Sherman, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity and EVP, Community Engagement & Partnerships, NYCHA. “Through these new mentorship programs, entrepreneurs of color and those in the communities hardest-hit by COVID-19 will have access to industry experts who can offer technical assistance, practical advice, and encouragement as they work to adapt and grow their businesses in the wake of the pandemic.”

 

“Our landmark survey of over 1,500 Black entrepreneurs showed that less than 40% of respondents had sufficient access to mentors and supporters to help launch and scale a business,” said Ken Ebie, Executive Director of Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE NYC). “BE NYC Mentors seeks to solve this problem by connecting talented entrepreneurs with experienced mentors in various industries, positioning them for long-term success.”

 

Small Business Mentors NYC is a mentorship program for existing storefront business owners in underrepresented communities seeking to grow their businesses. The program, introduced by the Mayor’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity, will provide these businesses with specialized guidance and professional networks. The City has worked with 14 entrepreneurs who have successfully pivoted their businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, and who will mentor storefront business owners in New York City. These mentors will include:

 

• Aysha Saeed, CEO, Creative Director, Aysha New York
• Yoon Joo Lee, CEO, Janchi Myeonga
• Echo Wu, Executive, Shaxian Snacks
• Karen Mitchell, CEO, True Indian Hair
• Dorian Mercir, Founder & CEO, Dorian’s Seafood Market
• Yolanda Felder, Life Coach and TV Host, The Yolanda Felder Show
• Carmen Ferreyra, CEO, Porteñas
• Emelyn Stuart, Owner, Stuart Cinema & Café
• Kalima De Suze, Owner, Cafe con Libros
• Zhenya Globazh, Co-founder, Shiba500
• Janna Meyrowitz Turner, President, Style House
• Maria Iglesias and Cynthia Shephard, Mother/Daughter Owners, Corazon de Mexico Restaurant & Bar
• Mary Nittolo, Founder & Creative Director, The Studio
• Zachary Sharaga, Owner, Dear Mama Coffee
• Mark Connell, Owner, Botanica Bar
• Ayala Donchin, Founder & Executive Chef, Evelyn’s Kitchen
• Dawn Kelly, CEO, The Nourish Spot

 

BE NYC Mentors is New York City's inaugural business mentorship program for Black entrepreneurs in the pre-startup and early stages of operating their business. The program aims to increase the number of new Black-owned businesses in high-growth industries, with a programmatic focus on pre-startup and newly formed businesses. The growing list of Black entrepreneurs and industry leaders that will mentor emerging Black entrepreneurs in New York City includes:

 

• Ayme Sinclair, CEO & Founder, Sinclair Social
• Precious Williams, CEO, Perfect Pitches by Precious
• Tiffany Joy Murchinson, CEO, TJM & Company
• Yannize Joshua, Co-owner & Managing Partner, The Teknique Group
• Gayle Jennings-O’Byrne, CEO, WOCstar Fund
• Nekpen Osuan, Principle, WomenWerk
• Ariane Hunter, Founder, Project She Went for Her Dreams
• Mark Hayles, Founder & CEO, Better Local Business Agency LLC
• Malla Haridat, Owner, New Designs for Life Training Company
• Khalilah Webster, Co-founder & COO, Vanguarde Consulting Group and Managing Partner at Minority Venture Partners
• Celeste Morris, President, MorrisAllsop Public Affairs
• Kim Fontaine, Esq, Owner, Perry Blair Consulting
• Alain Leroy, Chief Operating and Innovation Officer, The Gentlemen's Factory
• Kofi Kankam, Founder, Admit.me
• Ron J. Williams, Head of Strategy, Citi Ventures D10X

 

M/WBE Mentors is the first peer mentorship program for NYC’s certified Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs). The program will help M/WBEs to further build their professional networks and expand their access to resources and contracting opportunities. The following entrepreneurs have successfully led their businesses through the pandemic, and will mentor certified M/WBEs to introduce them to government contracting and expand their businesses:

 

• Penda Aiken, President and CEO, Penda Aiken, Inc
• Hugo E. Almeida, CEO, Abitronix, LLC
• Denise Arboleda, Vice-President of Sales, Compulink Technologies, Inc.
• KY Chow, President, GM Printing\
• Micoy Hamilton, CEO, Nifty Concept, Inc.
• Barbara Armand Kushner, President, Armand Corporation
• Colleen Molter, President, QED National
• Nayan Parikh, Founder & President, Ashnu International, Inc.
• Rafael Perez, Jr., President, GCCOM Construction Company, Inc.
• James Peterson, CEO/ Executive Chef, E.A.T. w/ Culinary Arts Professionals
• Francilia Wilkins Rahim, CEO, R.F. Wilkins Consultants
• Elizabeth Velez, President, Velez Organization

 

You can now sign-up for ‘BE NYC Mentors’ and ‘Small Business Mentors NYC’ upcoming sessions. M/WBE Mentors will host their first kickoff event in January. For more information on each mentorship program visit nyc.gov/businessmentors.

 

"Investing, shopping and mentoring other black businesses is imperative for the economic health of all New Yorkers," said Gayle Jennings-O'Byrne, BE NYC Cabinet Member, BE NYC Mentor, and Co-Founder of the WOCstar Fund. "I am honored to do my part as a mentor for the BE NYC program to advance black entrepreneurship in New York City."

 

“Business mentorship is crucial because in times of uncertainty, knowledge is power. Mentors can help you avoid making mistakes that could cause serious consequences for your business” said Maria Iglesias, owner of Corazon de Mexico Restaurant & Bar.

 

“Mentorship is important because it’s paying it forward,” said Barbara Armand Kushner, M/WBE Mentor and President of Armand Corporation. “If a Minority Owned Business or Woman Owned Business comes to me with a business challenge and I can share some knowledge because I’ve had that problem in the past, I pay it forward by mentoring that business about how to plow through that challenge.  When I do that, then I’ve done my job as a Mentor.”

 

“I’m excited to see the BE NYC Mentors program paving the way towards a better future for Black businesses in New York City,” said Sekou Kaalund, Head of the Northeast Division for Chase Consumer Bank and BE NYC Cabinet Member. “Sharing tools, resources and advice with Black entrepreneurs will help ensure that they are positioning their businesses for success and creating legacies of wealth for future generations.”

 

“As an entrepreneur, mentorship has played a pivotal role in the success of my business,” said Jeff Lindor, BE NYC Cabinet Member and Founder of The Gentlemen's Factory Inc. “The launch of BE NYC Mentors is a great addition to the black business ecosystem in the City of New York. It will help strengthen the current entrepreneur community and help usher in the next generation of innovators.”

 

Statement from Governor Cuomo's Communications Director Peter Ajemian Regarding Ongoing Vaccination Efforts

 

"The State Department of Health has been having conversations with local governments today to discuss the ongoing COVID vaccination efforts. To summarize several points from these discussions and respond to some comments please be advised as follows:

"The rules of the COVID vaccine distribution have been clear for many weeks and agreed to by virtually all credible federal and state leaders. The first priority is "1A," healthcare workers who are on the front lines. With the increasing hospitalization rates, the new UK strain spread and hospital staff shortages, keeping hospitals functioning is essential to avoid another shutdown.

"Once those healthcare workers who want to accept a vaccine are afforded the opportunity, vaccinations go to the "1B" category which includes essential workers including police, firefighters and 75+ year old New Yorkers (who have the highest death rate from COVID).  Police are not "healthcare workers" for 1A purposes except those who are EMS or EMT.  As everyone knows, virtually every police officer is trained in CPR, but that does not make them a 'healthcare worker' for the purpose of vaccine distribution.

"Also the state plan will not allow 1B to commence only with police; it also includes teachers, firefighters and other essential workers as well as 75+ year old New Yorkers - all eligible at the same time.  We do not, and will not allow, prioritization of one group over any other in 1B.

"The City of New York has 917,000 eligible healthcare workers in 1A and has only administered 144,000 vaccines. Many more healthcare workers are anxiously awaiting the vaccine. New York City has received 304,000 dosages beginning in December through last week and administered less than 50 percent.  We urge New York City and other local governments to get needles in the arms of the healthcare workers to avoid our frontline heroes from getting sick and our hospitals from collapsing due to increasing staff shortages.

"Any government or hospital that has offered their healthcare workers vaccines and are at their "refusal rate" (workers have been offered the vaccine but refused it) should inform DOH and we will reallocate their doses. We have many healthcare workers demanding the vaccine. There are over 1 million healthcare workers who have not yet been offered the vaccine. Also, as a reminder, herd immunity requires 70-90% vaccination and we hope healthcare workers exceed the minimum acceptance rate.

"We're all anxious to get the vaccination to 1B, 75 year old New Yorkers, and essential workers.  However, we must establish competent administration because if a government fails to administer 1A vaccines, what makes anyone think they can competently administer 1B?

"The state has previously announced plans for 1B vaccines. The 1B category includes approximately 3 million people statewide and the state will utilize a variety of non-governmental agencies to administer those vaccines including pharmacies, private doctor networks, and community groups serving underserved communities, as the state announced last week.  There will be literally thousands of distribution points statewide.

We are asking large union forces such as police, firefighters and teachers to organize their own vaccination programs, where possible, to remove volume from private providers and health departments.

"We have asked local governments to coordinate with these groups to determine if they can "self-administer" or use their own providers or will utilize the private provider network.  Again the main issue will be supply.  For example, the 1B category is over 3 million people and the state still only receives 300,000 doses per week.  There are also 1 million 1A healthcare workers still awaiting vaccines. Hopefully, we expect an increase in federal supply shortly."

These are the categories of 1A:

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/01/guidance_facilitiesreceivingcovid19vaccineweeks1-5.pdf

Eligible New Yorkers in Phase 1A are:

• High-risk hospital workers (emergency room workers, ICU staff and Pulmonary Department staff)
• Residents and staff at nursing homes and other congregate care facilities
• Federally Qualified Health Center employees
• EMS workers
• Coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers
• Staff and residents at OPWDD, OMH and OASAS facilities
• Urgent Care providers
• Individuals administering COVID-19 vaccines, including local health department staff

Beginning January 4, 2021:

• All Outpatient/Ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care
• All staff who are in direct contact with patients (i.e., intake staff)
• All front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting COVID-19 tests, handling COVID-19 specimens and COVID-19 vaccinations

This includes, but is not limited to,

• Doctors who work in private medical practices and their staff
• Doctors who work in hospital-affiliated medical practices and their staff
• Doctors who work in public health clinics and their staff
• Registered Nurses
• Specialty medical practices of all types
• Dentists and Orthodontists and their staff
• Psychiatrists and Psychologists and their staff
• Physical Therapists and their staff
• Optometrists and their staff
• Pharmacists and Pharmacy Aides
• Home care workers
• Hospice workers

• Staff of nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities who did not receive COVID vaccination through the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program

DEC LAUNCHES ICE FISHING CREEL SURVEY ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

 

Surveys Conducted through March 2021

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the launch of an ice fishing creel survey that will be conducted on the New York waters of Lake Champlain starting this week through March.

 

“Lake Champlain is one of New York’s top fishing destinations and ice fishing is a very popular component of the State’s overall fishery,” said Commissioner Seggos. “As such, there is a need to periodically monitor what anglers are targeting and catching so we can evaluate and adjust our management practices as needed.”

 

This ice fishing survey is part of a larger, two-year effort to survey both ice and open water anglers. Data gathered during these surveys will serve as a baseline to help DEC Fisheries biologists better understand angler use and expectations, while also informing management actions on Lake Champlain.

 

The 2021 ice fishing survey will take place at four access points: Plattsburgh Boat Launch on Cumberland Bay; Willsboro Bay Boat Launch; Bulwagga Bay Campground; and South Bay Boat Launch. Anglers coming off the ice will be asked to participate by providing information about their day of fishing and allowing DEC creel agents the opportunity to collect biological data on their catch. Collected data will include target species, number caught, and size. Voluntary participation in the survey gives anglers the opportunity to contribute to future Lake Champlain management decisions.

 

A copy of the Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Creel Survey plan can be found on DEC’s website. A report summary of the survey results will be made available later in 2021.

 

Anglers are reminded to always follow best practices for ice safety.

 

While enjoying outdoor spaces, please continue to PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL and follow the Centers for Disease Control / Department of Health guidelines for preventing the spread of colds, flu, and COVID-19.  

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - JANUARY 6, 2021

 

8,665 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,408 Patients in the ICU; 877 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 8.41%

161 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Today is day 312 and it is a bright sunny day in the State of New York, all across the State of New York, even if the sun isn't shining. The metaphorical sun is shining in the State of New York today. It was a late night last night, but it was a good night for the State of New York, which I'll mention in a moment. 

Numbers today, 8.13 without the micro-clusters, 8.41. Micro-clusters are 9 percent. 161 deaths, and those people and their families are in our thoughts and prayers. Terrible way to start the New Year. Hospitalizations are up 75, discharges 940, and admissions, 1,161, ICU up 16, intubations up 26. We're seeing the continued increase from celebration of the holidays. It's the holiday COVID hangover. Celebrate smart, you reduce the infection rate. If you don't celebrate smart, you have a hangover. COVID hangover is increasing infection rate, increasing positivity rate, increasing hospitalization rate. And that's what we're seeing, that's what we're seeing all across the country. 

In this state, Finger Lakes is still the highest percent hospitalized. Highest positivity, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley and Capital Region. In New York City, Staten Island has the highest infection rate. In New York City, Manhattan still at 3.9 percent. That variance is just incredible to me, and really shows how personal behavior can make a dramatic effect. The numbers, the variance all across the state makes that point also. Why is the Southern Tier 5 and Finger Lakes is at 10? Why is Western New York, which had a real problem, at 8, and Finger Lakes is at 10? It is a function of personal responsibility. There's a basic truth to this. It's not about government. It's personal responsibility.

This situation we're in I describe as a footrace between the infection rate going up, the hospitalization rate going up and our ability to vaccinate. What wins? Does the infection rate go up so far, so fast, that it closes down hospitals and then we close down the economy, or can we slow the infection rate until the vaccinations can kick in? that's what this is all about. You add to that the UK strain, and it's a dramatically different proposition. Once you say the infection rate can go up double or triple or quadruple, then it's no longer a race. Then we lose the race. Because the vaccine supply is what is the limiting factor on the vaccine, not the distribution. And if you dramatically increase the infection rate, the race is over. If you dramatically increase the infection rate, the next step would be overwhelming the hospitals. And that's the very real fear that we're dealing with now. 

So three priorities. Slow the spread, increase the vaccination rate, and stop viral mutations, which his something that we're not paying enough attention to in this nation, in my opinion. On the vaccinations, there's two sides of the equation. There's the supply of vaccine, there's the distribution. Federal government is doing the supply. Distribution is done basically by the state with the federal government participating in the nursing home distribution. We are not satisfied with the federal government program to do nursing home distribution. State has stepped in, we're expediting it. We believe we'll have all nursing home residents vaccinated over the next two weeks, and that is s a very big deal. It's on the first dosage, but that is a very big deal because they are the most vulnerable population and finishing that is extraordinarily important. 

Second, it's about protecting the hospital capacity in the hospital staff, okay. If the hospital staff get sick, then you hurt the hospital capacity. Many hospitals are now complaining that they have the beds, they don't have the staff. why don't they have the staff? Because the staff is stretched, the nurses are stretched, because the capacity is so high, and because they're getting sick from COVID. The UK strain now complicates that issue because if more nurses get sick, if more doctors get sick, it reduces your hospital capacity. And if you reduce your hospital capacity, then you have the worst-case scenario. 

And the worst-case scenario is a very real possibility. This is not overly cautious or overly dramatic. We're cautious, but we're realistic in New York. And this is a realistic possibility. We know that because we're seeing the situation develop all across the nation, all across the globe. You overwhelm the hospitals, people die. That's what happens. You overwhelm the hospitals, you have to close down the economy again. There is no choice. Once the hospitals say we're at capacity, you have to close down the economy. We have a warning track, if you will, where when we get to within 21 days of overwhelming the hospitals, we start to close down the economy. So, it's game over when the hospital is going to be overwhelmed. 

That is California. The California the hospital system is overwhelmed, and more people will die. In the spring when we saw Italy overwhelmed with the hospital system and people die on gurneys in the hallway. I lived through these nightmares. So did every New Yorker and we're seeing it happen around the globe. The UK closed down because of the UK strain. In several weeks, the UK strain took over the original COVID strain. That's how strong it is. We see it in Germany. We see it in Italy, again they have to close down because they are overwhelming the hospital system. So, this is a very real possibility that we are worried about. 

Vaccinating hospital staff is vital. They should be vaccinated because, first of all, they are the frontline. Everybody talks about, "our heroes, our nurses, our doctors." New Yorkers have celebrated nurses and doctors, we're celebrating nurses and doctors, and they deserve that celebration. You know what they deserve more than celebration? They deserve a vaccination. That's what they deserve, and they deserve it because they are the frontline workers. And they deserve it because selfishly, if our hospital staff gets sick it's going to reduce our hospital capacity. 

We need an acceptance rate of between 70 to 90 percent of this vaccine society-wide. Herd immunity is somewhere between 70 to 90, if you listen to the experts, if you listen to the Dr. Faucis of the world, they'll say the goal is 90 percent, but you have to hit at least 70 percent society-wide. And society-wide, there are going to be a lot of people who don't want to take this vaccine. You have a lot of cynicism and skepticism. You have it especially in the black community, you have it in the antivaxxer community. Ninety percent is incredibly high. If you were giving out cash to New Yorkers, you wouldn't hit 90 percent, but the hospital staff, they're informed. They have to be above 70 percent and they want to be. 

We have done a survey of hospital staff across the state. We're still in the midst of it but about 85 percent of the hospital staff say they want the vaccine. That is, by the way, hospital staff without doctors. Doctors are an even higher percentage, so the hospital staff want the vaccine, and they deserve the vaccine. We just have to get it to them, and hospitals are doing a better job. 

The daily rate of vaccination over the past three weeks was about 10,000 hospital staff per day. Since Monday, they've been doing 30,000 per day. So, the vaccination rate has tripled since Monday. So, I'm glad they heard me, but you have to keep it up, because we need that hospital staff vaccinated. We need them vaccinated quickly. When you get to the point where your hospital staff says, "the only people left won't take it," fine. Tell us and we'll move the allocation to another hospital or nursing home. 

This is again the top ten performing hospitals in terms of vaccinations and the bottom ten, and you see the gross disparity. Highest performing New York Langone 100; Oswego 100; Richmond, St. Barnabas, SUNY Downstate- Congratulations Chancellor. Chancellor Malatras was at SUNY Downstate yesterday. One day and it went to 100 percent. The Chancellor did 7,000 vaccinations himself yesterday and he's not even authorized to do them. New York Presbyterian 99; Kaleida-Buffalo, SUNY Upstate also 94 percent. That's a turn-around. Adirondack Medical Center, Lenox Hill 87 percent. On the other end, Montefiore Mount Vernon 11 percent; Montefiore New Rochelle 23 percent; Brookdale Hospital 24 percent; Wyoming 26; New York City Health + Hospitals/Queens 29; Catholic Health - Saint Josephs 29; Catholic Health - Saint Charles 33; New York City Health + Hospitals/Coney Island 34; and Vassar Brothers 37; Carthage Hospital, 39. So, you see the variant. Performance has increased. We want it to stay increased more Congratulations to those that are doing well. For those that are not doing well, pick up the performance or let's get another hospital to help you get it done more quickly. 

Supply is still going to be the issue. Just to give you an idea, we have received about 900,000 so far. We have 2.1 million health care workers and nursing home people. So, nurses, doctors, nursing homes, which are the first priority, 2.1 million. We haven't even received have the number of dosages yet. So, we're pushing on the distribution side and I'm pushing the hospitals hard, but we don't even have half the dosages that we need to do all the hospital staff and nursing home staff. We're still receiving about 300,000 dosages per week from the federal government, and that means we still need about 1.2 million dosages just to get through the health care workers and the nursing home. Everyone asks me the same question: when can I get vaccinated? And I hear this all day long. I hear it from my mother Matilda, who is 75+, let's say, let's leave it at that. But, she would be eligible for vaccination when we get to 1b. So, everybody wants to know when will they get vaccinated. 1a is the health care workers, that's what we're doing now. 1b are the essential workers and 75+. 1b, just to give you an idea of the numbers, there are about 870,000 teachers, 200,000 first responders, 100,000 public safety workers, 100,000 public transit workers, 1.3 million 75+, which is surprisingly large, but it's good news. 

So, we're getting 300,000 dosages per week. Obviously it would take us weeks to work through this population if not months. In 1b there are about 5 million essential workers and that 1.3 million 75+, so that's over 6 million people in 1b. You're getting 300,000 dosages per week, it takes a long time. Flip side is that the federal government will be increasing production. They say they will, I believe they will, and frankly the private market is increasing production. Pfizer and Moderna will be increasing. Johnson & Johnson, we're keeping our fingers crossed for their efficacy test, that would be then available and that's only one dosage, it would be a pleasure. Oxford-AstraZeneca. So, there are other vaccines that are coming online. The supply will go up. I can't say to my mother or to any New Yorker right now how long until we know what the supply actually is going to be, and we talk to everyone all day long. As soon as we have a more definitive answer I will tell you. The experts are talking about March/April for large scale general population distribution. We will have a truly extensive distribution network with literally thousands of distribution points across the state, plus drive-through vaccination centers, just like we did drive-through COVID tests, that the state will put up. We're going to be using SUNY facilities, CUNY facilities, but we will have thousands of points of distribution. We need the supply, that's what it comes down to and that's what we're working on.

Another issue, news flash: viruses mutate. We know that. We've known that. 1918 pandemic, we know that. We know that recently because we paid a terrible price when the Wuhan Virus left China, went to Europe, mutated and came here from Europe. The virus that arrived in New York last Spring was a mutation from Europe, it was not the Wuhan Virus. Now, you see the UK strain, you see a South African strain, they're now finding a Nigerian strain, and the COVID virus mutates every couple of weeks and there have been hundreds of mutations of the COVID virus. This country is playing mutation roulette. "Well the virus is going to mutate." Well, is the next mutation going to be more lethal? Is it going to kill more people? Is the next mutation going to affect children in a way COVID-19 didn't? Is the next mutation going to be vaccine resistant, which means you'd have to go back to the whole vaccination development process all over again? Is the next vaccine going to create organ damage? They don't even know what the long-term consequences of this COVID virus is, right? They're still doing studies of the long-term effects of COVID-19. Are we sure that the next mutation won't be more dangerous or more transmittable, which we found out it is in this UK strain? That is what is happening now every day, and we are literally playing Russian Roulette with it. Many countries around the world have said, "the virus is mutating, before any international travelers come into our country they need to be tested." Not a ban on travel, but they need to be tested. That makes all the sense in the world. This country hasn't done it. We talked about the UK strain days before this country took any action, New York State took action before this country took action, 140 countries took action before this country took action, And now we have the UK strain - surprise, surprise - which is creating a real complication for us. Where is HHS? Where is the President? Where is the Vice President? Technically they're in office until they're not in office and they should do their job but if they're not going to do it at least let New Yorkers protect themselves. We have the airports here. The flights from Europe come here. They come to JFK, they come to Newark, people in the LaGuardia Airport. Let us protect ourselves.

As Governor I don't have the legal authority to say international travelers must be tested. When it came to the UK strain, I called the airlines myself and asked them to voluntarily agree and they did. But the gateway, the entrance, is handled by the federal government Customs and Border Patrol. The State runs through the Port Authority the airport facility but Customs and Border is all done by the federal government. I am asking today the Customs and Border Patrol to either require in New York airports that the person shows that they were tested before admission, or allow the Port Authority staff to request that people coming through customs whether or not they were tested. But we don't want tens of thousands of people coming through our airports every day from countries around the world who were not tested. It's just that simple and it makes total common sense.

So, the State of the State is coming up Monday. Given what happened in Georgia I now have to rewrite the State of the State, because it's going to be a totally different State of the State. My State of the State was talking about the issue we had closing a 15 billion dollar deficit when we couldn't count on Washington for any help, because Washington has been an enemy of the state for many years. So how do you close a 15 billion dollar deficit, the largest deficit in the history of the state, that's what I've been working on for weeks. Just to give you an idea of how big 15 billion dollars is. If you raised the income tax in this state to to the highest rate in the nation, which is now California. If you raised the income tax rate higher than California, and you taxes billionaires, multimillionaires, any income over one million dollars, just plain old millionaire, like a millionaires' tax would suggest, highest rate, any millionaire, it only raises about 1.5-1.6 billion dollars. We have a 15 billion dollar gap. That tax increase only raises 1.5. It just shows you how difficult closing the 15 billion dollars was going to be.  

So the good news is it's a good, very good development for the state of New York. The bad news is I'm going to have to rewrite the State of the State. And the really bad news is since I'm going to rewrite the State of the State, I'm not going to be able to get to the Bills game this weekend, which is going great. We started the drive through testing this morning, four thousands people will be tested in twelve hours, five minutes per car. It just gives you an idea of what you can do to scale in terms of testing. And again this is a model for us to see how testing works to open venues, because we have to get the economy moving. 

But, I'm going to give my Bills ticket to a nurse from Eerie County Medical Center, ECMC, as a way of saying thank you and honoring all healthcare heroes, and I will be doing that, so I'll be here working on the State of the State, which will be a labor of love actually, because it's going to be better news, and we deserve better news.

Attorney General Letitia James Condemns EPA’s Adoption of Anti-Science Rule

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued the following statement on the Trump Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final so-called Science Transparency Rule, a regulation that hamstrings EPA’s ability to use the best available science in ensuring the protection of public health and the environment: 

“For the past four years, Trump’s EPA has unrelentingly sought to undercut the use of scientific evidence, which serves as the foundation of our federal environmental and public health laws. The so-called Science Transparency Rule serves as a capstone to this cynical, dangerous, and illegal campaign. The only thing ‘transparent’ about this rule is its clear intent to censor, exclude, and undermine science at the expense of our health and environment. This anti-science rule arbitrarily restricts the use of the best available science in agency decision-making, which is blatantly illegal, and I am committed to working with states, counties, and cities across the county to overturn it in the courts.”  

In May 2020, Attorney General James led a 26-member coalition of states, counties, and cities in comments blasting the proposed version of the rule as a “damaging and unsound” proposal that “would lead to a decrease in protections afforded to public health, safety, and the environment.” Echoing comments the Office of the Attorney General and a similar coalition of states, counties, and cities made on a prior iteration of the proposal, the coalition further charged that the proposed rule “violates controlling federal law, is arbitrary and capricious, contains clear errors in reasoning, and is contrary to best scientific practices.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo Deploys 1,000 Members of New York National Guard to Washington, D.C.

 

"At the request of United States National Guard officials, I am deploying 1,000 members of the New York National Guard to Washington, D.C. for up to two weeks to aid and facilitate the peaceful transition of presidential power. This deployment will not impact our state's ongoing efforts to contain and combat the COVID virus. For 244 years, the cornerstone of our democracy has been the peaceful transfer of power, and New York stands ready to help ensure the will of the American people is carried out, safely and decisively. God bless our brave men and women in uniform, and God bless the United States of America."

Statement from New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on Standby Cohort for Vaccination

 

“New Yorkers deserve a vaccine rollout that is fast, transparent, and equitable. We have had months to prepare for the rollout. New York City must lead the nation in the vaccination effort — there’s no excuse for delay.

“Yesterday I sent Mayor de Blasio a letter with recommendations to expedite COVID-19 vaccine rollout and reach as many New Yorkers as possible. I specifically called on the City to gather names for a standby cohort of high-risk individuals in case of bottlenecks and delays to immediately vaccinate as soon as the City gains permission.

“I am pleased that the Mayor has now announced they will begin pre-registering seniors shortly, but I remain troubled that the City did not plan for this earlier. We can’t reopen our economy or get people back to work without widespread vaccination. Lives and livelihoods are at stake.

“The City should also develop a database to help hospitals and health care providers track demand and usage and potentially redistribute doses, and we need to double down on outreach to New Yorkers. Time and again we have seen that transparency and communication are our best public health tools. The City must invest in public education and work with community leaders to ensure New Yorkers know who is eligible, where to receive vaccinations, and how to register in advance.

“We must waste no time and waste no dose. This is the city that never sleeps. Let’s act like it.”

Consumer Alert: The Division of Consumer Protection Urges New Yorkers to be Aware of COVID-19 Scams Tied to Federal Economic Impact Payments

 

Scammers Using A Variety of Methods Tied to COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments to Target Consumers 

 The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is alerting consumers about scammers taking advantage of COVID-19 economic stimulus payments. With another round of economic stimulus payments approved by Congress, scammers will be sending phishing emails, texts and phone calls and using social media to try to steal economic impact payments and your personal information. Consumers are reminded that it’s important to stay vigilant and aware of unsolicited communications asking for your personal or private information.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have been hard at work trying to steal money from unsuspecting New Yorkers,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. “With this latest round of stimulus funding on its way, I urge all New Yorkers to be extra diligent and follow simple steps to keep your money and personal identity safe.”

 New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt said, “We all must remain especially vigilant against scam artists trying to steal this latest round of stimulus funding from New Yorkers. We’re sharing valuable information so you can learn how to spot red flags and where to find reliable information so you won’t be caught off guard by con artists.”

 New York State Office of Information Technology Services Chief Information Officer Angelo “Tony” Riddick said, “New Yorkers are being challenged like never before by a global pandemic, and to make matters worse, we’ve seen unscrupulous individuals use technology in a desperate and dishonest attempt to scam them out of their own money. Fortunately, New Yorkers can protect themselves against these COVID-related scams if they are armed with the right information. Always be wary of unsolicited phone calls, texts, emails, links or attachments, even if the sender appears to be known. And, never send your personal information via email or text.”

 What You Need to Know about Economic Impact Payments

On December 27, 2020, the federal government passed a pandemic relief package. An important component of individual relief, Economic Impact Payments, will be issued to New Yorkers from the IRS.

You don’t need to take any action to automatically receive your stimulus payment if you:

• filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return and are eligible; or
• received one of these benefits (unless claiming a qualifying child under age 17):

- Social Security retirement benefits and survivor benefits

- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and survivor benefits

- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits

- Railroad Retirement and survivor benefits

- Veterans Administration compensation (disability, death benefits etc.) or retirement benefits 

While most people will receive their payment automatically, if you otherwise have not filed taxes recently, you may need to submit a simple Federal tax return to get your check. For more information on the Economic Impact Payments, New Yorkers should visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance at Economic Impact Payment information: what you need to know or the IRS at Economic Impact Payments. 

Below are tips to help keep your economic impact payment and personal information safe from scammers:

• Rely on trusted sites for information. Visit legitimate, government websites—for up-to-date, fact-based information about COVID-19. Visit the IRS website directly for the latest information on the economic impact payments. Remember, the government will never call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.
• Delete emails asking you for personal information to receive an economic stimulus check. Government agencies are not sending unsolicited emails seeking your private information in order to send you money.
• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments. See Using Caution with Email Attachmentsand Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Scams for more information.
• Don’t provide personal or banking information. Scammers may ask by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up your economic impact payment.
• Do not agree to sign over your economic impact payment check. Scammers may ask you to sign over your stimulus payment check to them.
• Be wary of bogus checks. Scammers may mail you a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.
• Do not cash unsolicited checks. Scammers use this tactic to get your bank account information, and you will incur fees when the check is found to be insufficient.
• Be aware that scammers are also able to replicate a government agency’s name and phone number on caller ID. It’s important to remember that the IRS will never ask you for your personal information or threaten your benefits by phone call, email, text or social media.
• Hang up on illegal robocallers. If you receive a call about economic impact payment scams, hang up. Don’t press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.
• Notify the IRS if you are contacted by a potential scammer. If you receive an unsolicited email, text or social media attempt that appears to be from the IRS or an organization associated with the IRS, like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, notify the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
• Verify a charity’s authenticity before making donations. Review the Federal Trade Commission’s page on Charity Scamsfor more information.
• Review CISA Insights on Risk Management for COVID-19for more information.

With assistance from ITS, the Department of Health continues to maintain up-to-date “Stay Cyber Safe” tips and active warnings at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/stay-cyber-safe.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm or visit the DCP website at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer