RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO, REPRESENTATIVE MEEKS, BOROUGH PRESIDENT RICHARDS ANNOUNCE FOUNDATION FOR JFK AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION, OVER 20,000 JOBS

 

New recovery effort will boost future tourism  

 Mayor Bill de Blasio, Representative Gregory Meeks and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards today announced key elements of the foundation for the new JFK Airport construction projects that will drive a recovery for all of us by creating over 20,000 jobs, investing $10 to $15 billion in new infrastructure and boosting tourism to New York City.  

“New York City will emerge from this crisis stronger by building our recovery from the grassroots up,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I thank Representative Meeks and Borough President Richards for their partnership to ensure the JFK Airport redevelopment project will not only bring jobs, but benefits to the surrounding communities too.”

“In addition to fighting COVID-19 and addressing our health care challenges, it is critical that policymakers focus on ensuring our economic recovery is both robust and equitable.  In New York, support for the Port Authority and its ongoing redevelopment projects, including at JFK Airport, will be key to a more even economic revitalization after the pandemic. Today’s lease extension announcement will allow for deal restructuring which will ensure the long term sustainability of JFK’s redevelopment and allow us on the federal level to continue our work to address the Port’s 3 billion dollar shortfall with the Biden Administration in the upcoming Covid-19 relief bill , a real threat to job growth in New York.  Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, Borough President Richards, the Port Authority and myself have been working diligently to shore up the Port’s ongoing projects and I thank them for their hard work,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks.  

"Queens is the gateway to the rest of the country and the world because of our airports. Today’s announcement to extend JFK’s lease is a win for our borough and our city. We know this pandemic is not just a public health crisis but also an economic crisis so with the support of JFK, the city Congressman Meeks and our federal partners, I am confident we are one step closer to recovery," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr.

Today the Mayor will sign an Emergency Executive Order to extend the Port Authority’s lease at JFK Airport from 2050 to 2060 without ULURP. Working with Representative Meeks and Queens Borough President Richards, and building on the work of the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council appointed in October 2018, the leaders helped secure the community benefits package and a commitment that the Port Authority will require the projects be subject to Project Labor Agreements.  

The lease extension announced today by Mayor de Blasio, Representative Meeks and Borough President Richards, includes assurance that the massive new construction project will abide by the community benefits package, which requires at least 30 percent workers of color, ensures at least 30 percent of the contractors are Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses, establishes new apprenticeship and scholarship programs for the surrounding community, and requires the new building meets strict environmental standards.  

The community benefits package includes: 

Workforce Development, including Community Hiring: Requirement for 30 percent minority hires and 7 percent women hires across all construction trades with a higher 40 percent minority hires among Laborers; Best efforts to hire from zip codes around JFK Airport followed by all of Queens; fund new pre-apprenticeship programs prioritizing local residents in coordination with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater NY; Expand Council for Airport Opportunity in downtown Jamaica and Far Rockaway to facilitate long term local hiring; Commitment to fund an Office of Second Chance Employment to connect formerly incarcerated individuals or those with past involvement in the criminal justice system with jobs at the airport. 

Business Development: Requirement for 30 percent MWBE contracting across financing, construction, design and operations, including prioritization of local MWBE; hiring independent MWBE compliance consultants to focus on meeting, monitoring, and reporting on MWBE goals; develop a Business Development Opportunity Center to facilitate local capacity building and matchmaking focusing on local MWBEs.  

Education Programs: Continue scholarship programs for local high school students; funding for an aviation focused STEM program at York College for local middle school students; continuation and expansion of a summer minicamp in collaboration with the Eastern Queens Alliance to educate middle school students on environmental stewardship and sustainability; participation in multiple high school career fairs annually; continue a local internship program. 

Environmental Sustainability: Minimum LEED Silver at new terminals; new terminals will transition diesel fuel powered ground service equipment with electric; require lowest reasonable emissions use for construction equipment including limiting engine size, requiring electric vehicles when possible, and strict idling restrictions; implement marine-based barging of materials to reduce delivery trucks on roadways; low emissions vehicle shuttle service from Aqueduct to JFK for all construction crews. 

Governor Cuomo Announces the New York State Department of Health's Cannabinoid Hemp Program Now Accepting License Applications

 

Cannabinoid Hemp Processors, Retailers and Distributors Can Apply Here

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Department of Health is now accepting applications from businesses seeking to operate as cannabinoid hemp processors, retailers or distributors. The applications are available on the Cannabinoid Hemp Program's webpage here. In October, Governor Cuomo announced that the Department filed proposed regulations to regulate cannabinoid hemp products in New York State. Cannabinoid hemp products include many CBD products currently available for purchase, including tinctures, vaporizations, oils, topicals, pills, capsules and food or beverages. 

"Opening the application process for businesses looking to be part of the growing hemp industry in New York State is a critical step in the process of expanding our economy and building back better. Licensing gives processors, distributors and retailers the ability to help ensure the hemp industry's long-term viability," Governor Cuomo said. "This exciting opportunity to be a part of the state's regulated Cannabinoid Hemp Program is great news for farmers and consumers."

In accordance with legislation signed last year by the Governor, the Department has created a Cannabinoid Hemp Program. The Program is licensing cannabinoid hemp processors, distributors and retailers and setting quality control standards that all cannabinoid hemp products must meet including manufacturing, packaging and labeling and laboratory testing requirements. The Program will help organize and legitimize the growing cannabinoid hemp industry in New York State while simultaneously protecting consumers from sub-standard and potentially dangerous products.  

In 2015, the Governor launched the Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program, supporting farmers and further boosting economic development in upstate New York. Since then, New York's hemp program has expanded significantly, making New York one of the leading hemp producing states in the country. Hemp is a sustainable, carbon-sequestering crop that is capable of being transformed into hundreds of products including textiles, furniture, fuel, food, construction materials and personal care items.

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "Opening cannabinoid hemp processor, distributor and retailer applications is the first step to ensuring a safe and regulated supply chain for cannabinoid hemp products in New York State. Licensing will hold processors, distributors and retailers accountable, helping to remove sub-standard and potentially dangerous products from the marketplace." 

Any business extracting or manufacturing cannabinoid hemp in New York State, whether in intermediate or final form, must obtain a Cannabinoid Hemp Processor license. Cannabinoid Hemp Processor licenses are divided into two license types: "Extracting and Manufacturing" and "Manufacturing Only." An "Extracting and Manufacturing" license permits a processor to extract and/or isolate cannabinoids from hemp to create crude oil, distillate, isolate or other intermediary products for further refinement, and allows licensees to manufacture cannabinoid hemp products. A "Manufacturing Only" license allows processors to purchase crude oil, distillate, isolate or other intermediary product and use it to manufacture cannabinoid hemp products. 

Any business selling or intending to sell cannabinoid hemp products to consumers in New York State must be licensed as a Cannabinoid Hemp Retailer. Additionally, distributors of cannabinoid hemp products manufactured outside of New York State must obtain a Cannabinoid Hemp Distributor Permit to sell cannabinoid hemp products to Cannabinoid Hemp Retailers in New York State. 

To be sold in New York State, cannabinoid hemp products must be manufactured using good manufacturing practices, laboratory tested by an approved third-party laboratory, and properly labeled to inform consumers of the amount of cannabinoids per serving and warn of any risks associated with use of the product.

More information on New York's Cannabinoid Hemp Program can be found here.

313 Days and Counting

 

313 days left of me.

Governor Cuomo Announces Single-Day COVID-19 Positivity Rate Drops Below 3 Percent for First Time Since November 23 - FEBRUARY 21, 2021

 

Statewide Positivity Rate is 2.99%

First Case of South African Variant Identified in New York State Resident    

5,764 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide 

1,162 Patients in the ICU; 794 Intubated

75 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The statewide positivity rate, now at 2.99 percent, dropped below 3 percent for the first time since November 23.

The Governor also said the first case of the South African variant has been identified in a resident of New York State. The sequencing, involving a Nassau County resident, was conducted at Opentrons Labworks Inc's Pandemic Response Lab, a New York City based commercial lab, and verified at the Wadsworth Center in Albany. Last week, a Connecticut resident who had been hospitalized in New York City was found to have the South African variant.  

"We continue to see a reduction in positivity and hospitalizations throughout the state, which is good news, and this progress is allowing us to reopen the valve on our economy even further," Governor Cuomo said. "But with the discovery of a case of the South African variant in the state, it's more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay vigilant, wear masks, wash hands and stay socially distanced. We are in a race right now — between our ability to vaccinate and these variants which are actively trying to proliferate — and we will only win that race if we stay smart and disciplined."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 221,157
• Total Positive - 6,610
• Percent Positive - 2.99%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.44%
• Patient Hospitalization - 5,764 (-213)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -829
• Patients Newly Admitted - 602
• Hospital Counties - 55
• Number ICU - 1,162 (+0)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 794 (-7)
• Total Discharges - 142,307 (+715)
• Deaths - 75
• Total Deaths - 37,851

Bronx Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty To $3 Million Tax Fraud

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced that ROBERTO PEREZ RAMIREZ, the owner of a tax preparation business named RAP Tax Service in the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to 10 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns for the tax years 2013 to 2016.  As part of the plea agreement, RAMIREZ agreed to make restitution to the IRS in the amount of $2,974,547.  RAMIREZ pled guilty this morning before U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As he admitted in court today, Roberto Ramirez submitted false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of numerous taxpayers, often falsely claiming dependents, nonexistent charitable deductions, or bogus business expenses on behalf of clients who paid Ramirez to do so.  Now he awaits sentencing for his admitted crimes.”

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said:  “The defendant’s admissions today, at the kickoff of the filing season, are a timely reminder of the vital need for the taxpayer to do their due diligence in choosing a preparer.  A preparer who is claiming to offer an unusually large return or one who is charging exorbitant fees should automatically raise red flags with the taxpayer.”

According to the allegations contained in the Information to which RAMIREZ pled guilty, RAMIREZ’s plea agreement, and statements made in court:

Through his Bronx tax preparation business, RAP Tax Service, RARMIREZ prepared and filed nearly 3,000 individual income tax returns on behalf of taxpayers for the tax years 2013 to 2016. 

On many of the returns that he prepared for the tax years 2013 to 2016, RAMIREZ falsely claimed dependents who were not in fact dependents of the named taxpayers.  The false dependents included real persons located in Puerto Rico, among other places.  By including false dependents, RAMIREZ fraudulently inflated the refunds that could be obtained on the named taxpayers’ returns.  RAMIREZ sometimes charged clients a $1,000 fee to add a false dependent. 

In addition to reporting false dependents, RARMIREZ also reported false Schedule A deductions, such as gifts to charity or unreimbursed employee business expenses, and false Schedule C business expenses.  By including false Schedule A deductions and false Schedule C expenses, RAMIREZ fraudulently inflated the refunds that could be obtained on the named taxpayers’ returns. 

For the tax years 2013 through 2016, RAMIREZ’s scheme caused an estimated tax loss to the IRS of approximately $3 million.

RAMIREZ, 59, of Hackensack, New Jersey, pled guilty to 10 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns for the tax years 2013 to 2016.  Each count carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.  As part of the plea agreement, RAMIREZ has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $2,974,547.  RAMIREZ is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Carter on June 25, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.

The maximum potential 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 the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI in this case.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Li is in charge of the prosecution.                  

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State Vaccination Program

 

As of 11 AM today, New York's Health Care Distribution Sites Have Administered 92% of First Doses Received

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 updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. As of 11AM today, New York's health care distribution sites have administered 92 percent of 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 89 percent of total doses so far delivered.

"From establishing new mass vaccination sites in partnership with the federal government to working with community and faith leaders to bring the vaccine directly into underserved communities, New York is leaving no stone unturned in terms of finding ways to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine quickly and fairly," Governor Cuomo said. "Through our expansive network of vaccine providers, New York is ready to administer as many as 100,000 doses a day. However, for that to happen, it's not only going to require continued supply increases from the federal government, but we also must keep working to build trust in the vaccine, especially in communities of color. The fact is the vaccine is the key to reaching the light at the end of the tunnel - it's safe, it's effective and it will defeat COVID, just as long as everybody buys in and we will keep doing everything possible to make that happen."

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 60 percent of the week 10 allocation.

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

First Doses Received - 2,406,535

First Doses Administered - 2,206,988

Second Doses Received - 1,337,275

Second Doses Administered - 1,126,128

Friendly Reminder Join our Bronx Progressives February Annual Virtual Meeting

 

Friendly Reminder Join Fellow Progressives for our February Annual Virtual Meeting! Topic: Bronx Progressives February Annual Virtual Meeting  Time: Feb 24, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89063327145 Meeting ID: 890 6332 7145 Greetings Bronx Progressives Members!   We're now in February! Hope this email finds you well and that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. And hope we're still breathing sighs of relief now that you know who is out of the White House.     Yet, we're still reliving the pain and harrowing images of what happened on January 6 on the news and in the current impeachment trial.   As we mentioned at our January meeting, the Working Group to Reactivate Bronx Progressives agreed to push our January Annual meeting (as inscribed in our bylaws that should happen in January) to February. We made this decision because we needed more time to thoughtfully plan out the Annual meeting, as we focus on revising the bylaws, and discussing ideas on issues and movements we should be involved with as a group; and once we reached consensus, we would then present them to you--our members, to collectively discuss and vote on the issues we should get involved with.   The Working Group is recommending that we focus on two or three issues for 2021. One of the idea is to join the Campaign for New York Health, and support that movement. Another idea is to join the Tax the Rich Campaign. And lastly, supporting the Homes Guarantee Movement. But we also want to hear from you, and get feedback on what other issues you think we should get involved with.    We will also be joined by Omar Suarez, Director of Partnerships and Outreach at NYC Votes, who will give us a presentation on Ranked Choice Voting. RCV is  a newly implemented electoral system that will only apply for local city elections.  Join us Wednesday, February 24 at 7pm, for our Annual Virtual General Meeting. Link below: Agenda: Greetings and Welcomes (2 Mins.) Quick review of the agenda (3 Mins.) House Rules (3 Mins.) Introducing Omar Suarez (3 Mins)  Omar Suarez gives presentation (20 Mins.) Q&A (10 Mins.) EC Roles/Priority in forming an EC (15 Mins) Working Group Proposes Issues we should focus on (20 Mins) NY Health Act Movement Tax the Rich Campaign Housing Justice for All Campaign What else? New Business/Announcements (20 Mins.) Meeting with Bronx Indivisible and Concerned Citizens Groups and Orgs that reached out to us Meeting with Our Bronx Revolution  Other? BylawsReminder https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dupzQcNBbEhBbSAZBe5GF24vAIeMMBEdYHLcTwvE_gA/edit?usp=sharing    Adjourn Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89063327145 Meeting ID: 890 6332 7145

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's Four Page Statement, Why He is Not Seeking Re-election

 

The full four page statement by Councilman Mark Gjonaj.