Governor Cuomo Announces Over $90 Million for Supportive Housing for Homeless Individuals and Families Across the State

 

Awards will Create 670 Units of Housing for Veterans, Survivors of Domestic Violence, Older Adults, New Yorkers with Mental Illness; and Individuals Living with AIDS

Nearly $38 million In Capital Funding Still Available for Supportive Housing Projects Statewide

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that $90.4 million in state funding has been awarded for 20 projects to house New Yorkers experiencing or at risk of homelessness and provide supportive services aimed at addressing the root causes of housing instability. The projects, supported through New York State's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, will create 629 units of permanent supportive housing, 30 units of transitional housing and 11 units of emergency housing that will serve veterans, survivors of domestic violence and individuals with mental illness.

"Homelessness and housing insecurity are not just isolated issues that can be addressed with a one-shot solution - we need a holistic approach which connects vulnerable New Yorkers to housing options, but also to the services which help ensure they can once again be contributing members of their communities, especially in the age of COVID," Governor Cuomo said. "Thanks to these significant investments, we are continuing to grow these types of supportive housing options statewide and we will not rest until every New Yorker has a safe, stable place to call home."

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said, "Every New Yorker deserves a roof over their head and the decency of a good home. This project will create over 600 housing units across New York State that will serve veterans, survivors of domestic violence and individuals with mental illness. As we battle this pandemic, New York State remains committed to combating homelessness and providing supportive services to all New Yorkers."

The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program made available $128 million in capital funding for projects to build supportive housing units or to repair emergency shelters - an amount double the allocation in 2020. An additional $37.6 million remains available for projects through the program, which is administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

The Governor's 2022 Executive Budget continues funding for HHAP at $128 million, underscoring the state's commitment to the importance of supportive housing in combating homelessness.

• West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, Inc., Bronx County - $4.8 million

Fischer Park includes 32 units of supportive housing serving individuals experiencing homelessness who suffer from serious mental illness and are over 55. This is part of a larger 105-unit project, which includes the construction of a nine-story building in the Bronx on vacant land owned by New York City

• Community Access, Inc., Bronx County - $7 million

Baez Place will include 86 units of supportive housing to serve individuals experiencing homelessness who suffer from serious mental illness or are frail and elderly. This is part of a larger project with 154 units in two high-rise buildings connected on the ground floor by a corridor.

CITY FINANCES NEARLY 30,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES IN 2020, KEEPING NATION-LEADING HOUSING PLAN ON TRACK

Second-highest calendar year total in New York City history

About 178,000 affordable homes secured and over 150,000 jobs created since 2014 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) today to announce that the City financed the construction or preservation of 29,521 affordable homes in calendar year 2020 – the second-highest calendar year total in New York City history. These homes keep the City on track to meet its nation-leading goal to provide 300,000 affordable homes by 2026. Fifty-seven percent of affordable homes created in 2020 will serve families of three earning less than $52,000 per year.

 

“Nothing will stop New York City from keeping its promise to create a more livable and affordable city – not even a pandemic,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “By leading the nation in financing affordable housing construction and preservation, New York City will remain a place that welcomes everyone and keeps families in their homes – all while delivering a recovery for all of us.”

 

Creating and preserving affordable housing is a critical pillar of Your Home NYC, the Mayor’s comprehensive housing plan. Your Home NYC helps to: protect tenants by offering free legal advice and representation, emergency rental assistance, and other eviction prevention measures; ensure housing quality through code enforcement and home fix programs; and provide affordable housing by financing the construction and rehabilitation of public and income-restricted private housing. New Yorkers can access all these resources via the City’s housing portal: nyc.gov/housing.

 

"The Administration doubled down during the pandemic to finance affordable housing that secures safe, quality, affordable homes for the New Yorkers most at risk of housing instability. These investments will do triple duty – providing affordable homes, stabilizing neighborhoods suffering in the pandemic, and creating jobs to fuel our economic recovery," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “The HPD and HDC teams have done Herculean work during the pandemic to keep making New York City stronger, fairer, and more affordable.”

 

“This Administration’s ambitious affordable housing commitments remain on track and we’re charging full steam ahead,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “We are focused on projects that deliver on the key commitments of Your Home NYC and will serve the most vulnerable communities while also driving economic recovery through this challenging time.”

 

“The nearly 30,000 homes financed demonstrate the incredible commitment of the teams at HDC and HPD to serving New Yorkers during an unprecedented moment of need. Despite the extraordinary challenges of this past year, we advanced an aggressive program of affordable housing development that will provide greater stability for New Yorkers as we navigate the ongoing health and economic crisis,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Congratulations to the Administration and all our partners on this achievement. As we continue this important work together, it’s imperative we advocate for more resources from the federal government to ensure we provide the support New Yorkers need and deserve.”

 

Highlights from the City’s actions in 2020 include:

• The City delivered on the Mayor's 2020 State of the City commitment to provide more newly constructed affordable housing for the lowest income New Yorkers. More than 65% of new construction rentals financed will serve families earning less than $52,000 (50% of Area Median Income for a family of three), and more than 50% will serve families earning less than $31,000 (30% of Area Median Income).
• HPD financed 1,117 supportive homes in 2020, bringing the total number of supportive homes financed under the plan thus far to 7,413.
• The City created or preserved more than 1,000 affordable homes for seniors, bringing the total number of senior homes financed under the plan thus far to 10,350.
• More than 2,000 affordable homes were financed for homeless New Yorkers, bringing the total number of apartments restricted to formerly homeless households to 14,985.
• The City preserved the affordability of 22,068 homes, bolstering housing stability for approximately 55,000 New Yorkers.
• The City created a record 18,125 homeownership opportunities by preserving 17,573 Mitchell-Lama homeownership apartments.

 

Despite delays during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City doubled down to have a record-breaking second half of the calendar year, prioritizing projects that serve the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Flagship projects from the second half of the year include:

• 90 Sands is a former Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel that will be transformed into 491 affordable homes in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. Over 300 of these apartments are set aside for formerly homeless New Yorkers, who will also receive on-site supportive services.
• Bronx Point A is the first of two phases of development that will bring 542 affordable homes, of which 271 will serve families earning less than $52,000. It will also include approximately 2.8 acres of public open space to the South Bronx. Located along the Harlem River waterfront, this first phase is a mixed-used development that will provide a permanent home for the Universal Hip-Hop Museum, an early childhood space run by BronxWorks, and an outdoor science programming run by the Billion Oyster Project.
• Rockaway Village 3 is the third phase of a multi-phase mixed-use development located in Downtown Far Rockaway, Queens that is replacing a derelict shopping mall with affordable housing along with commercial space, public plazas, a new library and other infrastructure improvements. This third phase includes an additional 354 affordable homes, and nearly half of which will serve families of three earning less than $52,000; the remaining units will serve those earning less than $82,000.
• Soundview Homes will provide 72 affordable co-ops across 10-four-story townhouses on NYCHA’s Soundview campus in the Bronx, including 27 one-bedroom apartments, 33 two-bedroom apartments, and 12 three-bedroom apartments.
• Concourse Village is a Mitchell Lama Co-op in the Bronx with affordability now guaranteed through the year 2060. It features 1,874 homes serving approximately 5,000 residents, including a significant number of families earning under $52,000, including many senior citizens.
• East Harlem / El Barrio CLT is the city’s newest community land trust project. The CLT will operate four formerly city-owned buildings in East Harlem and Central Harlem as a 36 home affordable mutual housing association rental project.

 

Since 2014, the City has financed 177,971 homes through the Housing New York plan, leveraging $7.4 billion in city capital subsidy to drive a $39.4 billion in investments for New York City’s five boroughs. The full 2020 affordable housing numbers are available here.

 

As the City takes comprehensive steps to address the need for safe and secure affordable housing, simultaneous efforts are underway to protect our aging public housing stock under the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. PACT is a key component of the NYCHA 2.0 strategy to repair 62,000 apartments, while preserving affordability and maintaining strong rights and protections for residents.

 

To date, approximately 9,517 apartments have been renovated under PACT at 50 NYCHA campuses across New York City, with another 12,000 apartments at 35 additional developments slated for comprehensive repairs and upgrades that are in active planning. In 2020 alone, $817 million in capital repairs was approved for financing, which will benefit approximately 4,343 apartments across 25 sites in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

 

Nos Quedamos BRONX PEOPLE'S CANDIDATE FORUM — Council District #11 — February 10th at 6:30pm

 

THE BRONX PEOPLE'S CANDIDATE FORUM — COUNCIL DISTRICT #11 — Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 6:30pm

On behalf of We Stay/Nos Quedamos, Inc., thank you for joining our Bronx Wide Platform event on Friday, January 22, 2021. At the launch we talked about the issues that matter to us like racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, etc and how as a community we need to make sure that we hold future elected officials accountable for upholding our concerns and principles as well as making sure they understand and support our vision.    Our vision is to co-design and implement a bold, long-term, and living plan for The Bronx that is grounded in racial justice and economic democracy. This vision should be driven by and reflective of the diverse range of Bronxites who live, work, and pray here--those who should be shaping The Bronx in their collective imagination so that it is a more sustainable, equitable, healthy, and thriving borough.   Your participation and engagement only makes each event more successful.    SAVE THE DATE City Council Candidate Forum - Council District 11 (The Bronx) Wednesday, February 10th, at 6:30pm   This is your chance to voice your concerns. Ask questions to members running for City Council seats in CD 11. Be heard and be part of the new changes that are coming within the New York City Council.    Let these candidates know what matters to you! The candidate forum will be held virtually.    Registration Link: HERE (and by clicking on flier graphics).

Spanish interpretation will be provided. EDITOR'S NOTE: We are wondering why a South Bronx and a Clergy organization that is outside of the 11th District are involved in this forum.  We know that LAAL is a Bangladeshi-American community organization in Norwood led by Bengal women towards racial, environmental, and political justice.

Bronx Jewish Community Council - Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

 

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Here is a list of where you can drop off items: 1. SAR ELEMENTARY 2. Doorman at 630 W 246THST (attention Niti Minkove) 3. Westchester Day School 4. BJCC Food Pantry at 2157 Holland 5. JCC of Harrison in Mamaroneck 6. 265 Overlook Rd in New Rochelle (front porch)

SAVE THE DATE  Project HOPE Passover Sunday March 14, 2021 9-11:30 AM There will be Distribution Sites: Riverdale, AmPark and Pelham Parkway Please email Niti to sign up to volunteer

Donate Bronx Jewish Community Council   2930 Wallace, Bronx, NY 10467 7137285297

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 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James has urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action and protect the health and well-being of babies across the United States by setting uniform standards across all baby foods. In a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock, Attorney General James urges the FDA to follow recent congressional recommendations that would set standards for all baby food, not just rice cereal, and that would require all food manufacturers to test their finished products for toxic metals rather than just their separate ingredients.

“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.

326 Days and Counting

 

I still have 326 days left in office.

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