Congressman Adriano Espaillat Tests Positive for COVID-19

 

Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement after testing positive for COVID-19:

"I am following guidance from my physician and quarantining at home after having tested positive for Covid 19,” said Congressman Espaillat. “I have been administered both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine and have continued to be tested regularly, wear my mask and follow the recommendation guidelines. I will continue my duties representing New York’s 13th congressional district remotely until I have received clearance from my doctor. I encourage all residents to follow public health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.”

HUNTS POINT PRODUCE MARKET WORKERS’ UNION SCHEDULES STRIKE FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 17th, AS NEGOTIATIONS ON NEW CONTRACT BREAK DOWN

 

1,400 MEMBERS OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 202 HAVE KEPT NEW YORK FED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AS EMPLOYERS CASHED MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN FORGIVABLE PPP LOANS

 The unionized workers at the Hunts Point Produce Market are scheduled to go on strike on Sunday, January 17^th, at 12:01 am after negotiations broke down when management refused to budge from a stingy offer for workers who kept New Yorkers fed through the pandemic.

The majority of the workers have an average base salary between $18 and $21 an hour. Employers in the market, who collectively bill billions of dollars in annual sales, received more than $15 million in forgivable PPP loans during the pandemic.

CAMBER PROPERTY GROUP CELEBRATES TOPPING OUT OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 913 E. TREMONT AVE. IN THE BRONX

 

  Camber Property Group (CPG) and Westhab today announced the topping out of 913 East Tremont Avenue, a 100 percent affordable rental development in the West Farms section of The Bronx. The building includes 119 housing units, with 60 percent of the apartments reserved for formerly homeless residents requiring supportive services and the balance for low income individuals and families. The development also includes 6,500 square feet of commercial space. 

“This development is transforming an underutilized lot in the West Farms neighborhood into best-in-class affordable housing, and we are thrilled to reach this milestone as we prepare to welcome more than 100 families to their new homes,” said Rick Gropper, Principal at Camber Property Group. “Our city has a critical need for affordable housing, including supportive units for the formerly homeless, and we will continue our work to fill that need across the five boroughs.”

 

Construction of the $50 million project was funded through tax-exempt bond financing, Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity provided by Wells Fargo and public subsidies from the New York State Housing Finance Agency and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). The building was designed by Aufgang Architects and is being constructed by SD Builders. 

 

“Westhab is thrilled about the topping off of 913 East Tremont, and very grateful for our partnership with Camber,” said Andrew Germansky, Senior Vice President of Real Estate at Westhab. “We look forward to opening the building in 2021, and, thanks to funding from New York's Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI), to providing residents with high-quality, affordable housing and supportive services."  

 

“This $50 million investment in 913 East Tremont Avenue is the latest example of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to expanding affordable housing opportunities and reducing homelessness in the Bronx,” said HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. I am proud that this partnership with the Camber Property Group and Westhab will provide 119 energy-efficient affordable apartments, supportive services and commercial space to the West Farms community. I look forward to that great day when we can welcome future residents to their new homes.”

 

“913 East Tremont is another example of Camber Property Group’s long-term commitment to ensuring Bronxites have quality, affordable housing,” said New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca. “With the official topping out of the building, the reality of 119 units of affordable housing, including a majority of units at the deepest affordability, is something the West Farms community is eagerly anticipating. I thank Camber and Westhab for their partnership on this project, and look forward to the building’s completion in the months ahead.”

 

“Keeping The Bronx affordable, and the development of new affordable housing units, has been a priority of mine from the day I first took office,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “The topping out of 913 East Tremont Avenue is a tremendous step towards providing much needed affordable units, including supportive units for the formerly homeless and useful amenities for the residents. I want to thank Camber Property Group and Westhab for their investment in our borough, and I look forward to the completion of this project, which will provide new homes to many Bronx residents in need.”

 

913 East Tremont Avenue will feature a garden entrance alongside outdoor recreational space, a 1,300-square foot community room, as well as dedicated space for the provision of supportive services by Westhab, a leading community development nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of housing opportunities and social services. 

 

Since its founding in 2016, Camber Property Group has made an impact developing innovative projects and preserving much-needed affordable housing in communities across New York City. In 2020 alone, the firm opened The Strand, a 132 unit mixed-use development located in the heart of Ridgewood, Queens; completed 136 affordable units for seniors at Victory Plaza in Central Harlem and another 161 units of mixed-income housing in The Bronx at the Tiffany Street Apartments. Camber is currently rehabbing more than 1,000 affordable units at two major Bronx developments, West Farms and Baychester through NYCHA’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program. The company also recently closed on a portfolio of 384 affordable housing units across eight buildings in Flatbush, Brooklyn. 

 

More information on Camber Property Group can be found at www.camberpg.com.

 

Governor Cuomo Announces State Vaccination Sites Now Open - Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - JANUARY 13, 2021

Additional Cases of UK Variant Identified; 15 Total Known Cases Statewide

8,929 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,501 Patients in the ICU; 924 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 7.40% 

165 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday 

Vaccination Sites at Jacob K. Javits Center, Westchester County Center, and New York State Fair Expo Center Opened January 13

Jones Beach Site Opening on January 14 and SUNY Albany Opening on January 15

Over 7 Million New Yorkers Are Currently Eligible But the State Only Receives 300K/Week From the Federal Government

All Vaccines Are By Appointment Only; Appointment Scheduling for Second Dose Occurs Immediately Following First Dose

Click Here to Determine Eligibility and Schedule Appointments with Administrating Providers

Click Here for Photos

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the first three state-run vaccination sites are now open and vaccinating eligible New Yorkers against the COVID-19 virus. The sites - the Jacob K. Javits Center, Westchester County Center and New York State Fair Expo Center - all opened on January 13 at 8 a.m. Vaccinations are by appointment only. To determine eligibility and schedule an appointment to receive their first dose, New Yorkers can utilize the state's 'Am I Eligible' app or call the New York State Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829). Appointments to receive the second dose at these sites are scheduled in-person after receiving the first dose. New Yorkers should not attempt to book their second appointment online.

Sites at Jones Beach and SUNY Albany will also open on January 14 and 15, respectively, with more vaccination sites to be announced in the coming days. 

New York State's vaccine supply is determined by the federal government. Over 7 million New Yorkers are now eligible for the COVID vaccine, but the state only receives 300,000 doses per week from the federal government. Due to the federal government's limited allocation, appointments have filled up quickly. Please call your local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital for additional information and to schedule appointments. 

"Our singular focus is getting shots into arms and with the opening of these state-run sites today, we are doing just that," Governor Cuomo said. "We are making the vaccine available based on federal guidance and are continuing to push it out the door quickly and efficiently, but due to the federal government's limited allocation, appointments are filling up fast. At the end of the day, this is a supply issue and we need the federal government to provide us with more vaccine as quickly as possible because there is simply not enough and this is the weapon that will win the war."

Since federal supply severely limits the ability to distribute vaccine, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment. New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals far exceed the vaccine supply coming from the federal government, which is arriving at a rate of approximately 300,000 doses per week. As such, eligible New Yorkers should be prepared to receive an appointment date as far as 14 weeks or further in the future. 

To further accelerate the vaccination rate of priority health care workers, and begin the vaccination of newly eligible New Yorkers. New York has established a network of distribution sites that will supplement the work being done in hospitals to prevent any one hospital from becoming overburdened. This network includes the five state-run sites opening this week, as well as 15 more which will be announced in the coming days. This new network will also utilize doctors' offices, Federally-Qualified Health Centers, county health departments, ambulatory centers and pharmacies to get doses in the arms of eligible New Yorkers. More than 1,200 pharmacies have already committed to participating in this network, with nearly 400 scheduled to come on-line this week. Pharmacies will be provided vaccines for New Yorkers aged 65 and older, while hospitals will continue vaccinating 1a healthcare workers, and local health departments and union-organized efforts will serve essential workers in 1b. 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Three additional cases of the UK variant have been identified in Warren County, bringing the total number of cases in New York to 15. Specifically, four cases in Saratoga County and two cases in Warren County have been identified as part of the cluster connected to a jewelry store in Saratoga Springs. Three additional cases in Warren County are under investigation for their link to this cluster, but have yet to be confirmed. A second cluster has also been identified and includes two cases in Suffolk County, two cases from Nassau County and one from Queens. The final case was identified in Manhattan and is not connected to either cluster.

"We're dealing with high numbers of COVID cases across the state as we move through the dark days of winter, and although I understand COVID fatigue has set in, we need New Yorkers to remember that we aren't out of the woods yet," Governor Cuomo said. "The vaccine is the weapon that ends the war, but we're locked in a footrace between its quick distribution and the spread of new cases. New Yorkers can get through this together, but it will require a willingness to take precautions not just for themselves, but for others. Wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay socially distanced. New York State is working to expand testing capacity and hospital capacity, but it will take all of us to get to the light at the end of the tunnel."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported - 196,868
• Total Positive - 14,577
• Percent Positive - 7.40%
• Patient Hospitalization - 8,929 (+3)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1,116
• Hospital Counties - 56
• Number ICU - 1,501 (+9)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 924 (+15)
• Total Discharges - 112,023 (+882)
• Deaths - 165 
• Total Deaths - 32,175 

DINOWITZ: “DOE APPROACH TO G&T IS BACKWARDS”

 

The Mayor announced today that the Department of Education will end the Gifted & Talented exam starting next year.

 In response to tweets from NYC Department of Education Richard Carranza on January 12 and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement on January 13 that the gifted and talented admissions exam will no longer be offered after this year, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz issued the following comment:

 

“The elimination of top academic programs in our public school system has long been a goal of the DOE Chancellor, and it is most unfortunate that he is using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to ram through changes without adequate public input. This is a significant change to how our school system operates that is being unilaterally imposed on New York’s families and it rightfully should be discussed and acted upon by a legislative body such as the New York City Council. I urge Chancellor Carranza and Mayor de Blasio to rescind this decision and refer it instead to the representatives of the people of New York City.

 

“The DOE approach to Gifted & Talented programming is completely backwards. We need to be expanding the availability of programs so that every school has the ability to serve academically gifted children. Students should have the opportunity to take the G&T exam every year so that growth and development can be rewarded with more challenging coursework. There needs to be increased emphasis on addressing academic inequities in early childhood so that testing performance is more reflective of ability.

 

“The changes proposed by Chancellor Carranza and Mayor de Blasio will only chase away families of students with specific needs such as academic rigor. Continually lowering our academic standards will not result in students who are better prepared to participate in society. It only enables so-called leaders to feel like they are doing something, while our students and schools continue to struggle.”

 

Senior NASA Scientist Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements Related To Chinese Thousand Talents Program Participation And Professorship

 

 Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (“USAO”), William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Mark J. Zielinski, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Field Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (“NASA OIG”), announced that MEYYA MEYYAPPAN, a senior NASA scientist, pled guilty today to making false statements to the FBI, NASA OIG, and the USAO.  MEYYAPPAN pled guilty in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Meyya Meyyappan held a trusted position at NASA, with access to valuable intellectual property.  In violation of the terms of his employment and relevant laws and regulations, Meyyappan failed to disclose participation in a Chinese government recruitment program, and subsequently lied about it to NASA investigators, FBI agents, and our Office.  Now, having admitted his crime, Meyyappan awaits sentencing.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Members of U.S. government agencies are strictly prohibited from maintaining undisclosed affiliations with foreign entities, especially those that are actively seeking our intellectual property and technological advances.  Meyyappan violated this sacred rule, and then lied to FBI agents about it.  Actions like those carried about by Meyyappan can have security implications, and his charges should serve as a warning to others thinking about engaging in the same type of activity.”

NASA OIG Special Agent in Charge Mark J. Zielinski said:  “Certain NASA employees are required to disclose affiliations with foreign entities in order to protect NASA’s intellectual property.  Failure to do so could allow malicious foreign actors unauthorized access to American taxpayer funded technologies.  We thank the FBI and the USAO, SDNY for their assistance throughout this investigation.”

According to the allegations in the Information filed today in Manhattan federal court and other proceedings in this case:

Since in or about 1996, MEYYAPPAN, the defendant, has been employed by NASA, an independent U.S. government agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.  Since in or about 2006, MEYYAPPAN has been Chief Scientist, Exploration Technology at the Center for Nanotechnology, at NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in Silicon Valley, California.

In his position at NASA, MEYYAPPAN was subject to certain statutory, regulatory, and agency restrictions and reporting requirements regarding, among other things, outside employment, travel, and compensation.  Notwithstanding these prohibitions, MEYYAPPAN participated in China’s Thousand Talents Program, a program established by the Chinese government to recruit individuals with access to or knowledge of foreign technology or intellectual property, and held professorships at universities in China, South Korea, and Japan, and failed to disclose these associations and positions to NASA and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. 

On or about October 27, 2020, MEYYAPPAN was interviewed by the FBI, NASA OIG, and the USAO, in New York, New York.  During that interview, MEYYAPPAN falsely stated, among other things, that he was not a member of the Thousand Talents Program and that he did not hold a professorship at a Chinese university.  In truth and in fact, MEYYAPPAN was a member of the Thousand Talents Program and held a professorship at a Chinese university, funded by the Chinese government.

MEYYAPPAN, 66, of Pacifica, California was charged with one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  MEYYAPPAN is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Castel on June 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the FBI and NASA OIG.

Governor Cuomo Outlines 2021 Agenda: Reimagine | Rebuild | Renew

 

In 11th State of the State Address, Governor Advances Bold Agenda for Building the Green Economy in New York State  

The State's Green Energy Program Will Create a Total of 12,400 Megawatts of Green Energy; to Power 6 Million Homes; Directly Create More Than 50,000 Jobs, and Spur $29 Billion in Private Investment All Across the State

Largest Off-Shore Wind Program in the Nation Anchored by the Two Largest Offshore Wind Projects in the Nation 

Initiative to Make New York a Global Wind Energy Manufacturing Powerhouse Include Upgrades to Create Five Dedicated Port Facilities in Albany, Coeymans, South Brooklyn, Port Jefferson and Port of Montauk Harbor

Construction of a Green Energy Transmission Superhighway to Bring Clean Energy Generated Upstate to Needed Areas Downstate; Involves Several Project in Western New York, Mid-Hudson, and the Capital Region

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today delivered his 2021 State of the State address. The Governor's 2021 agenda - Reimagine | Rebuild | Renew - features a suite of initiatives to not only begin reopening New York as the state continues its work to defeat the COVID-19 virus, but also becoming a leader and growing the green energy economy. As part of these efforts, Governor Cuomo has put forth a number of proposals focused on creating the largest offshore wind program in the nation, make New York State a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse, and create a green energy transmission superhighway, all while creating green jobs to support communities and small businesses as we face the global threat of climate change. 

Earlier this week, the Governor announced proposals to win the war against COVID-19, by addressing New York's short-term economic issues, ensure social and racial justice, and reopen the state. Proposals focused on building a new New York will be announced in the coming days.  

"Our planet is in crisis. By every metric it is clear: Sea levels are rising; ice caps are shrinking. California is burning, the Arctic is melting and deserts are flooding." Governor Cuomo said. "We are proposing the largest wind programs in the nation and advancing our green manufacturing capacity and the jobs that go with it. Our new energy superhighway will be optimized by state-of-the-art battery storage facilities, so we can store renewable energy to be used when needed. These projects will not only create power but bring needed economic opportunity to struggling parts of our state, create green jobs, and make New York State a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse."

Governor Cuomo continued, "Green energy is a pressing moral imperative and a prime economic opportunity. New York can and will be the nation's leader for renewable energy innovation and production, all while securing jobs of the future for New Yorkers. Our entire green energy program will create a total 12,400 megawatts of green energy to power 6 million homes, directly create more than 50,000 jobs, and spur $29 billion in private investment all across the state." 

2021 REIMAGINE | REBUILD | RENEW HIGHLIGHTS 

Largest Offshore Wind Program in the Nation: In 2021, New York will continue to build out its nation-leading green economic recovery and accelerate renewable energy development programs. The state will contract with Equinor Wind US LLC for the development of two new offshore wind farms more than 20 miles off the shore of Long Island, in what is the largest procurement of renewable energy by a state in U.S. history. Upon completion, the two offshore wind farms will yield a combined 2,490 megawatts of carbon-free energy, bring another $8.9 billion in investment, and create more than 5,200 jobs.  

Once the large-scale renewable and offshore wind farms are complete, more than half of New York's electricity will come from renewable sources, putting the state ahead of schedule toward reaching its goal of 70 percent renewable energy by 2030. 

Global Wind Energy Manufacturing Powerhouse: New York has secured commitments from companies to manufacture wind turbine components within the state and build the nation's largest offshore wind program. Plans to make New York State a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse include upgrades to create five dedicated port facilities, including: 

• The nation's first offshore wind tower-manufacturing facility to be built at the Port of Albany. 
• An offshore wind turbine staging facility and operations and maintenance hub to be established at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. 
• Increasing the use of the Port of Coeymans for cutting-edge turbine foundation manufacturing, and
• Buttressing the ongoing operations and maintenance out of Port Jefferson and Port of Montauk Harbor in Long Island. 

The projects will leverage almost $3 of private funding for every $1 of public funding, for a combined $644 million investment in these port facilities, and will ultimately yield 2,600 short- and long-term jobs in the offshore wind industry.

Construct New York's Green Energy Transmission Superhighway: As New York builds substantial capacity to generate clean energy Upstate, the next challenge is to create a modern transmission system capable of delivering this electricity efficiently to high-demand areas Downstate. Last year, New Yorkers utility bills reflected approximately $1 billion in unnecessary "congestion costs" because of bottlenecks on our antiquated transmission grid. 

In 2021, New York State will construct a new green energy superhighway of 250 miles. The $2 billion project will create opportunities to maximize the use of renewable energy for the parts of the state that still rely on polluting fossil-fuel plants. Construction has already started on the New York Power Authority's 86-mile Smart Path project from Massena to Croghan, and construction will soon start on several key projects in Western New York, Mid-Hudson, and the Capital Region.  

Today, New York will issue a Request for Proposals for transmission arteries to bring renewable energy from Upstate and Canada to New York City. Supercharging the new transmission superhighway will be vital to completing New York's nation-leading green economic recovery and accelerating renewable energy development programs. Current and planned investments will result in more than 1,000 jobs and $5 billion of public and private sector investment. 

Public-Private Partnership to Build Nearly 100 Renewable Energy Projects: New York's clean energy transformation has accelerated rapidly over the past five years. During this period, the State has contracted for the construction of 68 new large-scale renewable energy facilities including solar farms, onshore wind farms, and three offshore wind farms that are among the largest in the nation. These investments in renewable energy have brought economic activity to 34 distinct counties, will add 6,100 megawatts of clean energy capacity to the state's infrastructure, and generate investment of more than $12 billion.

To build on this remarkable progress, New York will contract for another 24 large-scale renewable energy generation projects in 2021, to bring the State's total clean energy build-out to nearly 100 projects. The 23 solar farms and one hydroelectric facility will be the most cost-efficient clean energy construction to date in New York, producing more than 2,200 megawatts of clean power, generating more than $2.9 billion of investment and creating 3,400 jobs in 16 counties Upstate

Energy Storage Projects: New York will continue to develop and deploy state-of-the-art renewable energy storage technology and facilities to generate electricity, build the capacity for storage, and help the state achieve its ambitious climate plans. To that end, the New York Power Authority has already begun construction on a large-scale, 20-megawatt battery storage project in Northern New York, one of the largest storage projects in the State's growing portfolio of almost 1,000 megawatts of contracted storage projects. These projects will help meet the electricity demands of 1.2 million New York homes using renewable energy. In addition, these projects will help continue propelling this fast-growing job sector. 

Train the Green Energy Workforce: New York's accelerated renewable energy development program is creating thousands of well-paying jobs. To make sure all New Yorkers benefit directly from growth in this sector, the State is investing $20 million in a new Offshore Wind Training Institute based at SUNY Stony Brook and Farmingdale State College. The Institute will train at least 2,500 New Yorkers for good-paying jobs in wind and renewable energy. Today, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the State University of New York will issue the first solicitation for advanced technology training partners to leverage our SUNY system and train the first group of workers beginning in the summer of 2021. 

New York is also investing $700 million in building electrification solutions for approximately 130,000 buildings in the state, including a variety of heat pump technologies, and the training of 14,000 workers for the new heat pump markets. Approximately 25 percent of the workers trained will be from disadvantaged communities or priority populations.  

Combined with our efforts in the buildings and transportation sectors, our entire green economy recovery will create 12,400 megawatts of green energy to power 6 million homes, directly create over 50,000 jobs, and spur more than $29 billion in public and private investment, while delivering to environmental justice communities and benefiting all New Yorkers by securing our carbon-free climate future.

PUBLIC ADVOCATE RESPONDS TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A GREEN ENERGY MANUFACTURING HUB IN SOUTH BROOKLYN

 

 "I am grateful that today, Governor Cuomo listened to our calls to build an offshore wind turbine manufacturing hub at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. As I have consistently said-- alongside an incredible coalition of activists and local, state, and federal elected officials-- we can and must revitalize our coastline and support the Sunset Park community in a way that is environmentally and economically beneficial. We made this argument in opposing the Industry City rezoning, and I am glad it is now being heard in favor of alternatives. 

 

"This project presents an incredible opportunity for the revitalization of the New York City industrial waterfront that will create good jobs and clean energy at the same time - part of a just transition for New York City and State. In the immediate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, and the long term economic and environmental sustainability of our city, this project is crucial and this announcement a victory for climate justice."