|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Bronx Jewish Community Council - Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Attorney General James Urges FDA to Take Swift Action and Set Standards to Remove Toxic Metals from Baby Food
Congressional Report Found Baby Foods Have Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury
“Right now, parents across the nation are unknowingly feeding their babies dangerous, toxic metals because these companies are not doing their due diligence to protect our children,” said Attorney General James. “This shouldn’t be controversial, this shouldn’t even be a question, unsafe levels of arsenic and other toxic metals do not belong in baby food. Period. But after four years of an administration that catered to the business community’s profits over the health and safety of our families, this report has spotlighted a disturbing issue affecting parents buying baby food every day. I’m calling on the FDA to do its job and ensure the health and safety of every child in America by setting uniform standards related to toxic metals across all baby foods. Our families cannot accept any less.”
The House Oversight and Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy recently published a report that determined that there are high levels of toxic heavy metals — including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury — in baby foods being sold by at least four of the nation’s seven largest manufacturers. Notably, three manufacturers — including Walmart (Parent’s Choice), Campbell (Plum Organics), and Sprout Organic Foods — refused to cooperate with the congressional investigation. Though the FDA does set limits on toxic metals in other consumable products — like bottled water, juice, and candy — the agency has failed to adequately regulate baby food.
In fact, after years of effort, the FDA only recently regulated the level of inorganic arsenic in rice cereal for infants at a maximum of 100 parts per billion, which notably is still 10-times greater than what is allowed for bottled water.
In the absence of FDA leadership and oversight over the last four years, baby food manufacturers have been able to set their own internal standards for levels of toxic metals. But the congressional report highlights how some companies regularly do not even comply with their own guidelines — which can contain ingredients with toxic metals already several hundred times the maximum levels recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Reports, and the Environmental Defense Fund.
Attorney General James notes that the cumulative impact of dangerously high levels of these heavy metals poses serious risks for the health and development of infants and young children. Continued exposure can affect a child’s brain development, behavior, and intelligence quotient (IQ) over the long-term.
Attorney General James calls on the FDA to take immediate action to protect children by implementing the recommendations set forth by the congressional report and setting uniform standards related to toxic metals in all baby food. Attorney General James is simultaneously exploring all legal options.
Governor Cuomo Announces New Yorkers with Comorbidities and Underlying Conditions Can Make Appointments at State-Run Mass Vaccination Sites Beginning February 14
First Appointments Will Be Scheduled for February 15
Local Health Departments Determine How, Where, When to Schedule Appointments in Their Jurisdictions, as Early as February 14, With Vaccinations Beginning February 15
New Yorkers With Comorbidities and Underlying Conditions Must Provide a Doctor's Letter or Medical Information Evidencing Comorbidity or A Signed Certification Determined by A Local Government; State Will Audit Local Systems
NYS DOH Will Host a Call with County Executives and Local Health Departments to Review Vaccinating New Yorkers with Comorbidities and Underlying Conditions
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions can make appointments at state-run mass vaccination sites beginning February 14, with the first appointments scheduled for February 15. Excess vaccine supply meant for hospital workers can be used to open eligibility for New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions. Local health departments will determine how, where and when to schedule appointments in their jurisdictions, and those appointments will begin as early as February 15. No local jurisdiction should accept appointments until the allocations are known, and no earlier than February 14.
"As the state's effort to vaccinate health care workers nears completion this week, we are now shifting those doses to prioritize those New Yorkers with comorbidities and pre-existing conditions - a group which has felt the brunt of COVID's destructiveness first-hand," Governor Cuomo said. "While this is a great step forward in ensuring the most vulnerable among us have access to this life-saving vaccine, it's no secret that any time you're dealing with a resource this scarce, there are going to be attempts to commit fraud and game the system. That's why it's been critically important that we put safeguards in place to prevent bad actors from slowing the distribution process and we have done just that. Again, I want to remind newly eligible New Yorkers to please be patient when beginning to schedule appointments - we can only administer as many doses as the federal supply allows and we're continuing to fight for more every day."
To show they have comorbidities or underlying conditions, New Yorkers must provide documentation as required by the facility where they are getting vaccinated which must be either:
- Doctor's Letter, or
- Medical Information Evidencing Comorbidity, or
- Signed Certification
New York State will audit local systems. The New York State Department of Health will host a call with county executives and local health departments to discuss strategies and compliance associated with vaccinating New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions.
The full list of comorbidities and underlying conditions is available below. The list is subject to change as additional scientific evidence is published and as New York State obtains and analyzes additional state-specific data.
Adults of any age with the following conditions due to increased risk of moderate or severe illness or death from the virus that causes COVID-19:
- Cancer (current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Pulmonary Disease, including but not limited to, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma (moderate-to-severe), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and 9/11 related pulmonary diseases
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, including but not limited to heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, or hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) including but not limited to solid organ transplant or from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, use of other immune weakening medicines, or other causes
- Severe Obesity (BMI 40 kg/m2), Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease or Thalassemia
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Neurologic conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease or dementia
- Liver disease
Governor Cuomo Announces New York City Indoor Dining Can Reopen Early on February 12 and COVID-19 Stats FEBRUARY 8, 2021
New York City Restaurants Can Now Open on Lunar New Year Day; Guidance Available Here
7,716 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide
1,454 Patients in the ICU; 961 Intubated
Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.28%
114 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York City indoor dining can reopen at 25 percent capacity on February 12, Lunar New Year Day. The reopening was previously scheduled for Valentine's Day, but restaurants requested an earlier reopening date to allow staff to prepare and the request has been granted. The reopening is subject to strict state guidance, which can be found here.
"We're in a footrace with COVID, and the footrace is clear--it's rate of vaccination versus rate of infection and we're continuing to make progress on both fronts," Governor Cuomo said. "Not only have we administered more than two million doses of the vaccine, but the infection rate continues to decrease and New Yorkers should feel good about that. After all, this was possible because of their actions, their discipline and their sacrifice. As we move forward, we're continuing to respond to the facts and data every day, and when the enemy changes tactics, we change with the enemy. We were planning to open the restaurants in New York City to indoor dining on Valentine's Day, but they've made the point that they'd like to open a couple of days earlier so they can prepare for Valentine's Day. That's a reasonable request, so we'll start indoor dining on Friday at 25 percent so the restaurants can get ready."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Test Results Reported - 197,183
- Total Positive - 8,448
- Percent Positive - 4.28%
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 4.42%
- Patient Hospitalization - 7,716 (+67)
- Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -287
- Patients Newly Admitted - 729
- Hospital Counties - 57
- Number ICU - 1,454 (-5)
- Number ICU with Intubation - 961 (-18)
- Total Discharges - 133,470 (+565)
- Deaths - 114
- Total Deaths - 36,339
RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO RELEASES GUIDELINES FOR “OPEN CULTURE” PROGRAM
Cultural organizations can apply to produce performances and arts programming in designated streets starting March 1
Mayor Bill de Blasio today released guidelines for the City’s Open Culture program, which will permit outdoor cultural performances on designated city streets this spring. Open Culture will provide stages for artists and cultural groups in all five boroughs, putting artists back to work and providing New Yorkers the opportunity to enjoy the arts safely in their neighborhoods.
“Arts, culture, and live events are the heart of New York City. Today, we’re bringing them back,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “From Open Streets, to Open Restaurants, to Open Culture, New York City has found creative and sustainable ways to connect New Yorkers to their neighborhoods while staying safe from COVID-19. I’m honored to support the cultural institutions who make our city great, and I can’t wait to see our creative community in action.”
"Art and culture make New York's communities stronger, more vibrant places and they provide jobs for cultural workers across the five boroughs," said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Gonzalo Casals. "The pandemic has hit the cultural community hard, particularly the performing arts sector which thrives on live, in person experiences. With Open Culture, we're thrilled to raise the curtain on dozens of streets across the city as new sites for culture, community, and engagement, and we look forward to seeing our artists and cultural groups bring them to life later this spring."
“New York City can't come back without the creative economy, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic with so many live music and performing arts venues unable to operate since March of last year,” said Anne del Castillo, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “The Open Culture program allows people to safely experience our performing arts offerings while supporting the venues, cultural institutions and talented performers who make our great city the creative capital of the world.”
“Open Culture will provide critical revenue and recovery opportunities for hundreds of arts and entertainment organizations, while giving New Yorkers brand new ways to enjoy their neighborhoods. We are proud to work across city agencies to write the playbook on creatively using public space to meet needs during this time,” said Ellyn Canfield, Executive Director, Citywide Event Coordination and Management.
Modeled on the City’s successful and nation-leading Open Streets program, Open Culture is a new permit type available from the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) allowing for ticketed performances, rehearsals, classes, and workshops. Arts and cultural institutions, as well as entertainment venues, can secure a permit for single day, socially distanced performances at over 100 street locations throughout all five boroughs. Following the release of these draft guidelines, applications will open to eligible organizations March 1, 2021 and will extend through October 31, 2021. Eligible organizations include:
- Arts and Culture Institutions: Members of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG); recipients of Cultural Development Fund (CDF) support; recipients of borough arts council funding in 2019 or 2020; or other groups are eligible for CDF grant funding but haven’t received before.
- Cultural Venues (Performance Venues): Entertainment facilities designed to be used for a performance in front of a live audience; this could include concert venues, theaters, and other establishments.
SAPO will accept applications on a rolling basis starting March 1, 2021. For complete guidelines, visit SAPO’s website.
"The Bronx Council on the Arts is proud to be a partner in this initiative that will help bring back arts and culture to the City, and particularly to the Bronx, where artists and the community have been so disproportionately impacted by the pandemic," said Viviana Bianchi, Executive Director, Bronx Council on the Arts.
Governor Cuomo Marshals the Return of the Performing Arts to New York with "NY PopsUp"
An Expansive Statewide Festival of Pop-Up Events Delivered Right Into the Daily Life of New Yorkers, Transforming Existing New York Landscapes into Stages for World-Class Performance
More Than 300 Pop-Up Events Planned Throughout the Five Boroughs and Across New York State in 100 Days
All Made by New York Artists to Revitalize New York Audiences and Bring the Struggling Live Entertainment Sector Roaring Back to Life
Festival to Serve as a Bridge to the Full Safe Return of Live Performance Back to New York
Begins February 20th
Multi-Disciplinary Events to Grow in Scale, Volume and Geographical Footprint Through Labor Day
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of NY PopsUp - an unprecedented and expansive festival featuring hundreds of pop-up performances, many of which are free of charge and all open to the public — that will intersect with the daily lives of New Yorkers. This series of events, intended to revitalize the spirit and emotional well-being of New York citizens with the energy of live performance while jumpstarting New York's struggling live entertainment sector, is a private/public partnership overseen by producers Scott Rudin and Jane Rosenthal, in coordination with the New York State Council on the Arts and Empire State Development.
The Festival will serve as a "pilot program," creating the state's first large-scale model for how to bring live performance back safely after this prolonged COVID-related shutdown. The programming for NY PopsUp will be curated by the interdisciplinary artist Zack Winokur, in partnership with a council of artistic advisors who represent the diversity of New York's dynamic performing arts scene. NY PopsUp will launch on Saturday, February 20 and run through Labor Day. The Festival will reach its climax with the 20th Anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival and The Festival at Little Island at Pier 55, bringing the total number of performances to more than 1,000. NY PopsUp is being coordinated in lock step with state public health officials and will strictly adhere to Department of Health COVID-19 protocols.
"Cities have taken a real blow during COVID, and the economy will not come back fast enough on its own - we must bring it back," Governor Cuomo said. "Creative synergies are vital for cities to survive, and our arts and cultural industries have been shut down all across the country, taking a terrible toll on workers and the economy. We want to be aggressive with reopening the State and getting our economy back on track, and NY PopsUp will be an important bridge to the broader reopening of our world-class performance venues and institutions. New York has been a leader throughout this entire pandemic, and we will lead once again with bringing back the arts."
The events produced by NY PopsUp, in addition to being free of charge, will be staged across every type of neighborhood and district in all five boroughs of New York City, throughout Long Island and Upstate New York, and in all regions of the state. As the current realities of COVID-19 make mass gatherings and large, destination-style events impossible, NY PopsUp will meet New York City and State residents where they are, infusing their daily lives with the surprise and joy of live performance. The hundreds of free, pop-up events that constitute NY PopsUp will make stages out of New York's existing landscapes, including iconic transit stations, parks, subway platforms, museums, skate parks, street corners, fire escapes, parking lots, storefronts, and upstate venues, transforming everyday commutes, local communities, and locations never used for performances into canvases of awe and exhilaration. Instead of there being masses of audience members at a handful of events, this Festival is a mass of events, each for a safe and secure 'handful' of audience members.
As COVID restrictions begin to loosen, the model that NY PopsUp builds for holding safe live events will pave the way for the reopening of multidisciplinary flexible venues ("flex venues") throughout New York State to open and participate in the Festival. These will be the very first indoor performances since the pandemic began and will mark a major moment in New York's recovery efforts. Not only will these indoor events be a symbol to the entire world that New York is back, they will also be a key step in the long process of getting tens-of-thousands of arts professionals around New York State back to work; and a bridge to getting Broadway and all of the New York cultural world open. These Flex Venues are established performance spaces without fixed seating and are thus able to be adapted for social distancing. Examples of these venues would include The SHED, The Apollo, Harlem Stage, La MaMa, and The Glimmerglass Festival's Alice Busch Opera Theater. All indoor events will strictly follow Department of Health public health and safety guidance.
Monday, February 8, 2021
Congressman Ritchie Torres Endorses Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson for Bronx Borough President
“Throughout my time in the Council, I saw firsthand Council Member Gibson in action working everyday to address the needs of her constituents and bring important resources to her district. Together, we partnered on several projects including the expansion of the HealthBucks program to increase access to nutritious foods, and hosted food drives for families throughout the course of the pandemic. Council Member Gibson knows and loves the Bronx and its communities, and is the partner we need to push the borough forward. She’s a fighter and has the tenacity and grit to be an excellent Borough President. I’m proud to endorse her candidacy, and look forward to partnering with her to address the various crises the Bronx faces as we aim to recover from the impact of the pandemic,” said Congressman Ritchie Torres.
“Throughout our time in the City Council, I was proud to work alongside Congressman Torres on important issues like criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Together, as chairs of the Public Safety and Public Housing Committees, we worked to ensure that our NYCHA residents had safe and secure housing. He has been an important partner in helping our community get through the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting programs like HealthBucks that help improve access to healthy affordable food. I am thankful to have his support in my campaign for Bronx Borough President and look forward to continuing to work with him to make our borough a fairer, more equitable place to live,” said Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, candidate for Bronx Borough President.
In her campaign for Borough President, Gibson is focused on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing new jobs and opportunities to the borough, and ending the distinction of being the least healthy County in New York State.
Gibson was first elected to the State Assembly in 2009 and City Council in 2013, where she currently serves. While in office she has made criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and education priorities. More information can be found on her website: www.gibsonbp2021.com