New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Flies to Houston Texas to Help in Relief Effort

 New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined with Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas to volunteer at the Houston Food Bank. These Fierce Latina Leaders joined forces to motivate local Houston community leaders, elected officials, local business owners, citizens, and neighbors to step-up and take action to help during this still unraveling crisis. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez traveled across the country to volunteer alongside Houston Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, both Latina members of Congress are dedicated to sticking together to uplift their communities and do the work that must be done to recover. 

Tomorrow they invite everyone who can to give back to those still struggling to survive past this devastating event. A few photos are below.

Above- Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez helps unload much needed supplies.

Below - Congress members Ocasio-Cortez and Garcia help fill bags with groceries to give out. 

Above - Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez checks to see what supplies are needed.

Below - She carries a case of bottled water to the trunk of this car.

315 Days and Counting

Let's see if Governor Andrew Cuomo leaves office before me. I still have 315 days left in office.

Governor Cuomo Announces Nursing Home Visitations to Resume in Accordance with CMS and CDC Guidelines - and COVID-19 Indicators - FEBRUARY 19, 2021

 

DOH Recommends Nursing Home Visitors Take a Rapid Test Before Entry; DOH Will Provide Rapid Tests to Nursing Homes at No Cost

New York City Indoor Dining Can Expand to 35 Percent Capacity on February 26; Reopening Subject to Strict State Guidance

Hospitalizations Drop to 6,155—Lowest Since December 17

7-Day Average Positivity Rate Drops to 3.60%-42 Straight Days of Decline

6,155 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide

1,199 Patients in the ICU; 834 Intubated

Statewide Positivity Rate is 3.49%

116 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Department of Health will allow visitation of residents in nursing home facilities in accordance with CMS and CDC guidelines. The Department of Health recommends that visitors take a rapid test before entry into the facility, and DOH will provide rapid tests to nursing homes at no cost. Guidance on visitations will be available beginning Monday, February 22.

The Governor also announced that New York City indoor dining can expand to 35 percent capacity next Friday, February 26. The reopening is subject to strict state guidance and aligns with New Jersey's 35 percent limit.

Governor Cuomo also announced that the FDA has allocated 4,610 doses of the therapeutic bamlanivimab to New York. Bamlanivimab was shown in trials to reduce COVID hospitalization or ER visits in high-risk patients within 28 days after treatment when compared to a placebo.

COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped to 6,155, the lowest level since December 17. The 7-day average positivity rate has declined for 42 straight days.

"New Yorkers should be commended for how they have continued to beat back this invisible enemy and as we continue that progress, we're working to reopen parts of our lives that we've had to give up because of COVID," Governor Cuomo said. "One of the most devastating aspects of this virus has been how it separated families from their loved ones, making an already difficult situation even harder to bear. Thanks to the dedication of New Yorkers, we're now at a point where we can begin to resume nursing home visitations under strict guidelines to protect the health and safety of residents. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer, but we are not out of the woods yet. New Yorkers have been through so much this past year and as long as we continue to follow the science and remain united, we will finally win this war."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 249,248
• Total Positive - 8,710
• Percent Positive - 3.49%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.60%
• Patient Hospitalization - 6,155 (-279)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -913
• Patients Newly Admitted - 664
• Hospital Counties - 56
• Number ICU - 1,199 (-59)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 834 (-29)
• Total Discharges - 140,968 (+753)
• Deaths - 116
• Total Deaths - 37,675

Governor Cuomo Announces 12 Percent of New Yorkers Have Received at Least One Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine

 

As of 11 AM today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 98% of First Doses Received Week 1-9

Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker; Dashboard Now Includes Demographic Data

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced 12.1 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. As of 11AM today, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 98 percent of first doses received for week 1-9 first doses. The week 10 allocation from the federal government has been delayed due to winter storms impacting much of the country - New York continues to monitor the situation and work with providers and federal partners to address these shipping issues. New York's health care distribution sites have administered 88 percent of doses so far delivered.

"We've bounced back from the post-holiday surge and our infection rate is at the lowest rate since before the holiday season - that's great news, but we must remain vigilant because this war isn't won until every New Yorker has been inoculated and New York is COVID-free," Governor Cuomo said. "Despite the limited weekly supply, New York's vast distribution network and community efforts have been working to get shots in arms as quickly and fairly as possible, we've administered over 3.5 million shots, but we simply need more doses. We're now also seeing delays in the week 10 shipment of vaccines due to extreme weather conditions and are working with the federal government and our distribution sites on the ground to minimize the impact this has on New Yorkers."

Approximately 10 million New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. The federal government has increased the weekly supply by more than 20 percent over the next three weeks, but New York's vast distribution network and large population of eligible individuals still far exceed the supply coming from the federal government. Due to limited supply, New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment.

The 'Am I Eligible' screening tool has been updated for individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions with new appointments released on a rolling basis over the next weeks. Starting next week, local health departments will also receive vaccine allocations for these individuals. New Yorkers can use the following to show they are eligible:

• Doctor's letter, or
• Medical information evidencing comorbidity, or
• Signed certification

Vaccination program numbers below are for doses distributed and delivered to New York for the state's vaccination program, and do not include those reserved for the federal government's Long Term Care Facility program. A breakdown of the data based on numbers reported to New York State as of 11AM today is as follows. Beginning week 9, allocation totals are inclusive of some excess vaccine doses that have been reallocated from the federal Long Term Care Facility program. The allocation totals below include 40 percent of the week 10 allocation which is expected to finish being distributed to New York provider sites on Sunday.

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

First Doses Received - 2,335,250

First Doses Administered - 2,147,076

Second Doses Received - 1,284,300

Second Doses Administered - 1,033,367

Senator Alessandra Biaggi's Week in Review: 2/15/21 - 2/19/21

 

Dear Community,

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has accumulated an outsized level of power that is no longer appropriate or necessary. In early March 2020, the Legislature voted to expand the Governor's powers under an emergency declaration right before a state of emergency was first declared. The COVID-19 health and economic crises have necessitated certain expedited directives by the Executive, but these powers have been overused and now threaten our co-equal branches of government  

In the first 6 months of the Governor’s expanded powers, he issued 65 executive orders and suspended more than 250 laws. The number and nature of these directives demonstrate an overreach of power, and the lack of oversight of the Governor threatens the health of our representative democracy. There are three branches of government for a reason. The duty of law-making should belong to the Legislative branch as it continues to serve as the strongest connection to New Yorkers and our local communities. Yet many of the Governor’s directives have disregarded the legislative process all together and undermined the power of the Legislature – and the voices of the people. 

The Governor’s handling of nursing homes throughout the pandemic illustrates his dangerous overreach. In March 2020, the Executive issued guidance requiring nursing homes to re-admit COVID-19 positive patients. The Governor’s office further failed to provide nursing homes with the support they needed in the early days of the pandemic. According to a report issued by the Attorney General, this guidance may have put nursing home residents in harm's way. During the summer, the Legislature demanded that the Health Commissioner provide us with full and accurate data on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. But only after Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation reported that the Department of Health had undercounted as much as 50% of nursing home deaths, did the Governor’s office provide those details to the Legislature and the public. 

The Administration's decision to withhold the accurate number of people who died of COVID-19 in nursing homes demonstrates their lack of transparency and unwillingness to hold themselves accountable. If this is how the Governor chooses to use his expanded powers, it is no longer in the public’s best interest to allow his emergency powers to remain unchecked. 

This week I introduced legislation (S4888) to revoke Governor Cuomo’s expanded emergency powers. With the growing support to roll back the Governor’s expanded emergency powers, I am hopeful we will restore the Legislature's role in our democracy and deliver New Yorkers the relief they so desperately need.

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE WILLIAMS LEADS RENEWED CALL FOR DOJ CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION OF STATE, CITY COVID-19 RESPONSE

 

 Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams and Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams called on the United States Department of Justice today to open a civil rights investigation into the city and state's handling of  the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to deep racial disparities - first in rates of infection and death, and now in access to vaccination. The two elected leaders first made this call with a group of local officials from across the country in 2020, but it was largely ignored by the Department of Justice under Donald Trump. This new ask renews the original request, now calling for the Biden administration to take action.

This week, it was revealed that the FBI and US Attorney's Office in Brooklyn are currently probing the Cuomo administration's policies and practices concerning nursing homes during the first months of the pandemic. The Public Advocate and Borough President's request is for an additional investigation, or an expansion in its scope, to probe actions by city and state leaders that may constitute civil rights violations, including "the failed decisions and systemic inequities that led to the disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color." He further discussed the renewed request in a Wednesday press conference with Council Members Adrienne Adams and I. Daneek Miller, co-Chairs of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus in the City Council. Video is available here.

"We are asking the Department of Justice, under new leadership and with new mandate, to investigate the systemic failures and misguided decisions that have led to disparate harm in communities of more color throughout the city and state," said Public Advocate Williams. "We make this new call with the same moral obligation and with renewed moral outrage at the arrogance that leaders like Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio  continue to show in making dangerous, misguided decisions and refusing to face the consequences."

Across the country, communities of more color are seeing a disproportionate and deadly impact of the coronavirus outbreak, a result of policy decisions and longstanding systemic inequities. Nationwide, Black and Hispanic individuals are roughly 3x as likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than white persons, and twice as likely to be killed.

Now, the rollout of vaccinations in New York has seen similarly egregious and inexcusable levels of disparity, with preliminary data showing Black and Brown New Yorkers vaccinated at a rate roughly half their population share. Newly released data by zip code shows that in New York City, wealthier and whiter communities have a much greater percentage of adults vaccinated than communities of more color.

Wednesday, new data revealed that life expectancy in the United States in the first half of 2020 dropped by a year overall, but by 2.7 years for Black Americans, driven by these inequities in COVID-19 impact.

In a letter, Public Advocate Williams and Borough President Adams implored the Department of Justice to investigate these issues, find any wrongdoing, and "show our constituents and the American public that awareness of inequities is not enough. We must act and bring those accountable for these inequities to justice."

The original submission to the Department of Justice further detailing the request can be found here.

OCASIO-CORTEZ CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION OF CUOMO ADMINISTRATION’S HANDLING OF NURSING HOMES DURING COVID-19

 

Today, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued the following statement in solidarity with elected officials asking for a full investigation of the State’s handling of the nursing homes during the pandemic.

“I support our state's return to co-equal governance and stand with our local officials calling for a full investigation of the Cuomo administration's handling of nursing homes during COVID-19. Thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers lost their lives in nursing homes throughout the pandemic. Their loved ones and the public deserve answers and transparency from their elected leadership, and the Secretary to the Governor's remarks warrant a full investigation.”

 

Serial Con Artist Charged With Embezzlement Scheme

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Kathy A. Michalko, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“USSS”), and New York Police Department (“NYPD”) Commissioner Dermot Shea, announced the arrest today of TRACII SHOW-HUTSONA on wire fraud and identity theft charges.  Specifically, SHOW-HUTSONA is charged with embezzling more than one million dollars as part of a confidence scheme.  SHOW-HUTSONA used her position as a personal assistant to funnel money from her victim’s financial accounts, including the victim’s children’s college savings accounts, into her own spending account in order to fund a lavish lifestyle.   SHOW HUTSONA was arrested on February 17, 2021, and was presented in federal court in the District of Arizona before United States Magistrate Judge Michelle H. Burns.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss stated:  “Traccii Show-Hutsona, a personal assistant and founding partner of Elite Lux Life, branded her concierge service as the ‘VIP Concierge Company (SPECIALIZING IN THE GOOD LIFE) Jets-Yachts-Vacation Rentals-Exotic Vehicles.’ As alleged, Show-Hutsona afforded herself the same swanky accommodations she promised her clientele – only she did so with their money.  Thanks to our partners at the NYPD and U.S. Secret Service, Tracii Show-Hutsona’s alleged high-flying confidence scheme has now been grounded, and she faces embezzlement charges in federal court.”

USSS Special Agent-in-Charge Kathy A. Michalko stated:  “The U.S. Secret Service remains focused on bringing those who commit financial crimes to justice.  The accused was employed by the victim and allegedly used her position to embezzle over one million dollars for her own personal gain.  Due to the tireless investigative efforts of the Secret Service and the New York City Police Department, the accused will answer the charges against her in the Southern District of New YorNYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea stated:  “As alleged in this federal complaint, Tracii Show-Hutsona turned her clients into victims, betraying their trust to carry out her own embezzlement scheme. I applaud the work done in this case by our NYPD investigators and our partners in the United States Secret Service and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York to make sure this individual would be brought to justice.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today[1]:

TRACII SHOW HUTSONA, a/k/a “Tracii Show,” a/k/a “Tracii Show Vician,” was the “founding partner” of Elite Lux Life, a full-service concierge firm that “accommodates the most discerning traveler” and is the “go-to service for wanting to enjoy the very best life has to offer.” In its social media posts, Elite Lux Life markets itself as a “VIP Concierge Company (SPECIALIZING IN THE GOOD LIFE) Jets-Yachts-Vacation Rentals-Exotic Vehicles.”

From in or around 2015 until late 2019, SHOW HUTSONA engaged in a long-running confidence scheme to embezzle money.  SHOW HUTSONA used the confidence she gained from her position as a personal assistant to gain access to financial accounts.  In connection with one victim of the scheme (“Victim-1”), SHOW HUTSONA stole and spent over $1 million of Victim-1’s money in order to finance her own luxury lifestyle.  When Victim-1 confronted her about the scheme, SHOW HUTSONA promised to make amends.  In fact and in reality, SHOW HUTSONA continued to spend Victim-1’s money without permission or authorization, including transferring money from the college savings accounts of Victim-1’s children.  

SHOW HUTSONA was previously convicted in federal court in 2008 for committing fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the submission of fraudulent invoices for a staffing agency in Japan, in another fraud scheme.  See United States v. Show Vician, 08 Cr. 0058 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 16, 2008).

SHOW HUTSONA, 52, of Phoenix, Arizona, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison.  The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

Ms. Strauss praised USSS and the NYPD for their outstanding work on this case and noted that the investigation is ongoing.  

This matter is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy V. Capozzi and Michael C. McGinnis are in charge of the prosecution.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.