Change is needed now in Albany, the governor is in crisis mode, and where is the investigation of vaccine supply to political support. He better not try that on me.
Monday, March 15, 2021
Statement from Speaker Corey Johnson Calling on Gov. Cuomo to Resign
“I applaud the courage of the women who have come forward. Previously, I expressed my support for the investigation being led by Attorney General Letitia James. I still believe that independent investigation must continue. But I also believe that the number and the nature of the allegations against Gov. Cuomo has made it impossible for him to govern. Gov. Cuomo should resign.”
DEC AND VOLUNTEERS PREPARE FOR ANNUAL SALAMANDER AND FROG MIGRATION
Spring Thaw and Warm Rains will Soon Lure Amphibians to Woodland Pools for Breeding
Community volunteers throughout the Hudson Valley are getting out their flashlights, reflective vests, and raingear in anticipation of annual breeding migrations of salamanders and frogs, which typically begin in mid-March, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. Volunteers in the Hudson Valley will record their observations as part of DEC’s Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project, coordinated by the Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University.
“Amphibians contribute to a healthy, functioning ecosystem and during this time of year, road mortality poses a significant threat to forest species that migrate to woodland pools for breeding,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “DEC is grateful to the many volunteers who venture out each year to assist salamanders and frogs that encounter roads during their migration. I encourage all New Yorkers and visitors traveling the state’s roads to be on the lookout for these vulnerable amphibians and the dedicated volunteers keeping them safe and remind our volunteers to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
The timing of this migration is weather-dependent. In the Hudson Valley, activity typically starts on the first warm, rainy nights in mid-March to mid-April, after the ground has thawed and night air temperatures remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The suitability of migration conditions varies locally throughout the Hudson River Estuary watershed, but when just right, can result in explosive "big night" migrations with hundreds of amphibians on the move.
In the coming weeks, as temperatures rise and snow melts, forest species like wood frog, spotted salamander, and Jefferson blue-spotted salamander complex will emerge from underground winter shelters and walk to woodland pools for breeding. Woodland pools are small, temporary wetlands in the forest that are critical breeding habitat for this group of amphibians. The pools hold water until summer, so the adult amphibians gather, breed, and deposit eggs early to ensure their aquatic young can hatch, grow, and leave the pools before they dry up. On the journeys between upland forest habitat and breeding pools, the amphibians often need to cross roads, where mortality can be high even when traffic is low.
Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project volunteers document Hudson Valley road locations where they observe migrations, record weather and traffic conditions, and identify and count the amphibians on the move. Volunteers also carefully help the amphibians to safely cross roads. Due to COVID-19, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program held virtual training programs in February and March for 115 participants. New volunteers can also train themselves by using materials on the project website.
Safety is critical, and volunteers are expected to take all necessary precautions. Volunteers should wear reflective safety vests and headlamps to increase their visibility on dark roads, and should not interfere with passing vehicles. By participating with members of the same household or COVID-19 “pod,” or by wearing a mask and maintaining a six-foot distance from others, volunteering can be a safe, socially distanced activity. Amphibian safety is also important, and frogs and salamanders should only be handled with clean hands free of hand sanitizer, lotion, and other substances that can be toxic to amphibians’ skin.
Now in its 13th year, DEC’s Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project’s 552 volunteers have counted 20 species of amphibians and helped more than 17,000 amphibians cross roads. Species reported most frequently during migration nights include spotted salamander, spring peeper, and wood frog. To a lesser degree, volunteers have also observed Jefferson blue-spotted salamander complex and four-toed salamander, species of greatest conservation need in New York, as well as more common species like American toad and redback salamander.
DEC supports programs like the Amphibian Migration and Road Crossings Project to educate New Yorkers about the importance of wetlands and healthy, connected forests, and encourage proactive conservation planning. These habitats are carbon storage and sequestration powerhouses, making them an invaluable tool in New York’s nation-leading fight against climate change. These habitats are also critical for maintaining the state’s rich diversity of plants and animals, and especially the woodland-pool breeding amphibians that are of conservation concern throughout their range.
Since the project started in 2009, volunteers have counted more than 21,000 live amphibians and 9,500 migrating amphibians killed by passing vehicles. For more information, including a short video about amphibian migrations, visit DEC’s website.
Since the project started in 2009, volunteers have counted more than 21,000 live amphibians and 9,500 migrating amphibians killed by passing vehicles. For more information, including a short video about amphibian migrations, visit DEC’s website.
Project volunteers are encouraged to use the hashtag #amphibianmigrationhv in their photos and posts on social media.
News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
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Sunday, March 14, 2021
293 Days and Counting
Is Andrew Cuomo still Governor? Why won't he just resign now so I can announce that I will be running for governor next year.
Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers On State Vaccination Program
182,584 Doses Administered Across New York State in the Last 24 Hours
More than 1 Million Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days
Vaccine Dashboard Will Update Daily to Provide Updates on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. 182,584 doses have been administered across New York's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than1 million doses have been administered over the past seven days. The week 13 allocation from the federal government continues being delivered to providers for administration.
"We are seeing a lot of progress in our daily numbers in the fight against COVID, and the long-term sustainment of this hard-earned progress will depend on our efficiency in getting people vaccinated," Governor Cuomo said. "The White House has moved up dramatically the amount of vaccines available, and we are set to significantly increase our capacity for getting shots into arms - a logistical undertaking unlike anything we have done before. Our goal is to be the first COVID-safe state, and we will do that by continuing to prioritize the hard-hit communities and the most vulnerable New Yorkers that bore the brunt of COVID."
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. 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.
STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN
Total doses administered - 6,446,720
Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 182,584
Total doses administered over past 7 days - 1,104,458
Percent of New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 21.7%
Percent of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 11.0%
Dear Friends,
As the weather is warming up and Spring is in the air, I hope you and your families are doing well.
To mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, I stopped by to salute and thank the over 90 NYPD women officers, sergeants and detectives of the 49th and 45th Precincts for all their dedication and service to our District.
While more vaccines are coming to NYC and more categories are becoming eligible, I hope you are taking the opportunity to take the vaccine. I am proud that my office has helped over 350 constituents during these weeks to get vaccination appointments at Jacobi Hospital, Yankee Stadium, the NYCHA developments and elsewhere. To intensify the vaccine education and awareness, we are glad that in partnership with Jacobi Hospital and Community Board 11 we hosted a Covid-19 Vaccination Informational Session with Dr. Gabriele S. de Vos, Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology at Jacobi Hospital.
As we have started to hear on the FY22 City Budget, during this week’s NYC Council Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relation Committee Budget Hearing, I inquired on the status of the completion of the Westchester Square Library Branch adjacent building construction. I was assured by NYPL President Tony Marx that the building will finish on time to serve the community.
Also during the NYC Council Parks Committee Budget Hearing, I stressed that I will continue to fight to secure the resources (staffing, maintenance equipment and public programs) to make sure that our residents and families are able to enjoy and appreciate our parkland and public shorefronts.
We have been with you throughout this pandemic and will continue to be with you. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any issues or concerns at 718-931-1721 or email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov.
Sincerely,
NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj
District 13, Bronx
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Comptroller Stringer Analysis: CUNY Graduates Earn Combined $57 Billion Annually, Highlighting CUNY’s Significant Contributions to Local and State Economies
79 percent of CUNY graduates work full time in New York State after graduation, earning a combined $57 billion annually in 2019 and paying an estimated $4.2 billion in State income taxes in 2019
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released a new analysis highlighting the City University of New York’s (CUNY) significant contributions to the City and State economies. The report provides a comprehensive overview of CUNY’s economic impact, showing that 79 percent of CUNY graduates work full time in New York State after graduation, earning a combined $57 billion annually in 2019 and paying an estimated $4.2 billion in State income taxes in 2019. Nearly 850,000 CUNY graduates work full time in New York State, representing approximately 10 percent of the total private-sector workforce in the state and 17 percent of the workforce with a higher education.
“As a CUNY graduate myself, I know first hand how CUNY opens up opportunities for its students,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “CUNY is an engine of social mobility and must be at the heart of any plans for our recovery from the devastation of COVID-19. Few institutions better reflect New York’s incredible diversity and it is time that we as a city recognize the power of CUNY and adequately invest in its students and its teachers. There is no economic recovery for New York without a strong and well-funded CUNY system.”
Drawing on data provided by the CUNY Office of Institutional Research and Census data on Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), this new analysis revealed the following findings:
CUNY Graduates in the Workforce
More than 1 million graduates from CUNY in the last thirty years (1991 through 2020).
- The number of graduates increased by almost 150% in the last three decades (54,500 in 2020 compared to 22,400 in 1991).
- The number of graduates increased by 42% just in the last decade.
- 64 percent of CUNY graduates are persons of color
- 64 percent of CUNY graduates are women
79 percent of CUNY graduates work full time in New York State after graduation.
- Nearly 850,000 CUNY graduates work full time in New York State, representing:
- Approximately 10 percent of the total private-sector workforce in the state;
- 17 percent of the workforce with higher education;
- One third of those with an Associate’s degree and 18 percent of those with a Bachelor’s.
Earnings of CUNY Graduates
- CUNY graduates working in New York earned a combined $57 billion annually ($67,000 on average) in 2019 — $28.6 billion more than students would have earned without a postsecondary degree.
- CUNY graduates working in New York paid an estimated $4.2 billion in State income taxes in 2019.
According to the Fall 2019 CUNY Student Data Book, over 80% of CUNY students are New York City high school graduates. 85 percent of students are people of color and 35 percent are foreign-born. Half of students come from households with incomes below $30,000.
In October 2020, Comptroller Stringer proposed a comprehensive overhaul of workforce development in New York City, including making CUNY community colleges free for all to build a more competitive and inclusive post-pandemic economy and to better align training with the jobs of tomorrow. With COVID-19 displacing hundreds of thousands of workers and rapidly accelerating long-standing trends in e-commerce, telework, digitization, and automation, Comptroller Stringer’s report called for the City and State to dramatically expand the scale, quality, accessibility, and affordability of education and job training programs. Comptroller Stringer outlined a series of proposals to upskill millions of New Yorkers, dramatically diversify high-wage industries, and generate career opportunities during the current economic crisis and beyond to spur New York City’s recovery. To read the report, click here.