Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State Vaccination Program

175,311 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours    

More Than 1.4 Million Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days    

Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily 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. 175,311 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1.4 million doses have been administered over the past seven days. The week 18 allocation of 1,538,650 first and second doses is expected to finish arriving today.        

"Our providers are working around the clock to get more shots into arms, and we remain focused on making sure the vaccine distribution is equitable and our vaccination sites are accessible," Governor Cuomo said. "Our progress is strong and steady, but so is the capability of this virus, which is why we cannot afford to lose any of the tremendous progress we've made. We are fortunate to have a trusted partner in the White House that has been instrumental in helping to maintain our vaccination supply here in New York, and if we all continue to get vaccinated and practice safety guidelines, we will defeat this beast once and for all."  

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.

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 11 AM today is as follows.                                                  

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 13,297,331

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 175,311

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 1,438,340

Percent of New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 41.4%

Percent of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 28.1% 

  

Assemblywoman Fernandez Clean Up in Bronx Park East.

Saturday Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez spearheaded a clean up of Bronx Park East which had volunteers go out with plastic bags and grabbers to pick up any trash and put it in the bag. 

Over 800 pounds of trash was estimated by the Parks Department to have been collected and hauled away in two Parks Department trucks.

 

259 Days and Counting

 

April 10th was 100 days in office for President Joe Biden. Everything was to have changed by that time, almost every American was to have been vaccinated by then, and America was to be on its road to recovery. 

The newest vaccine, the Johnson and Johnson use was halted as some Americans and people worldwide were having reactions to it, I myself had no reaction to Dr. Chokshi giving me the Johnson and Johnson and  Johnson and Johnson and Johnson and Johnson and Johnson and Johnson. 

The microphone has been cut off and a voice can be heard 'He's become a babbling fool, was it the vaccine'? Another voice can be heard 'No Dr. Chokshi only gave the mayor a placebo'.

Governor Cuomo Announces COVID-19 Positivity Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since November 7

 

Statewide Positivity Rate is 2.35%

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity Falls Below 3.00% For First Time Since November 24

3,754 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide — Lowest Since November 29

849 Patients in the ICU — Lowest Since December 4

520 Intubated — Lowest Since December 7

35 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday — Fewest Since November 22

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the COVID-19 positivity rate dropped to 2.35 percent, the lowest since November 7.

"New York is making tremendous progress in our goal to vaccinate every New Yorker while keeping the infection and hospitalization rates down, but variants of the virus remain a concern across the state," Governor Cuomo said. "It's going to take everyone working together, as individuals and in communities, to protect each other and defeat this virus once and for all. Until we get to that point, we must stay vigilant and continue with the behaviors we know slow the spread - washing your hands, staying socially distanced and wearing a mask."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 243,171
• Total Positive - 5,704
• Percent Positive - 2.35%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.92%
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,754 (-80)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -329
• Patients Newly Admitted - 478
• Hospital Counties - 54
• Number ICU - 849 (-17)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 520 (-15)
• Total Discharges - 170,778 (+511)
• Deaths - 35
• Total Deaths - 41,485

Comptroller Stringer Testimony to Board of Correction: End Solitary Confinement and Redirect Resources to Ensure Health, Safety and Rehabilitation

 

As New York City spends $447,337 per incarcerated person, rates of violence and use of force continue to rise, even as the jail population has fallen to all-time lows

Board of Correction proposed rules would keep people in City jails in isolation indefinitely

 New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer delivered testimony to the Board of Correction on newly proposed rules concerning restrictive housing in correctional facilities. Comptroller Stringer repeated his call to the Board to eliminate the inhumane practice of solitary confinement in all its forms and advance an approach that centers safety, health, and rehabilitation, as envisioned in the NYC Jails Action Coalition and #HALTsolitary Campaign’s blueprint to end punitive segregation.

Comptroller Stringer underscored that the Board’s proposed rules fall short of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act recently passed by the New York State legislature. Comptroller Stringer recommended changes to the new proposed rules, including providing at least 14 hours of out-of-cell time with meaningful congregate programming and human interaction, providing individuals at risk of placement in the Risk Management and Accountability System (RMAS) with legal representation, limiting placement in RMAS, and immediately abolishing restraint desks.

In March, Comptroller Stringer released an analysis that found that New York City spent an average of $447,337 per every incarcerated individual in FY 2020 – a 30 percent increase over the previous year – even as rates of fight and assault infractions in City jails rose by 27 percent. Comptroller Stringer underscored the need to redirect resources to social services, programming, and treatment that can prevent incarceration and help people succeed in their communities after they leave.

Governor Cuomo Announces More than 13 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Have Been Administered in New York State

 

249,255 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours  

Nearly 1.5 Million Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days 

More Than 3 Million Doses Administered at New York State-Run and FEMA-Partnered Mass Vaccination Sites To date     

Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily on the State's Vaccine Program; Go to ny.gov/vaccinetracker

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than 13 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in New York State. 249,255 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and nearly 1.5 million doses have been administered over the past seven days. To date, more than 3 million doses have been administered through New York State-run and FEMA-partnered mass vaccination sites.            

"Thanks to our dedicated health professionals and the effectiveness of our robust distribution network, our mission to get everyone vaccinated quickly and equitably continues to be a success," Governor Cuomo said. "As we continue to see steady progress in our vaccination rate all across the state and more than 40 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one dose, we cannot afford to get cocky or comfortable. The virus is still with us, and we need to stay ahead of the infection rate so we can continue our hard-earned progress. It is imperative therefore that we stay vigilant, and I urge everyone who has not yet scheduled a vaccination appointment to do so quickly."      

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 11 AM today is as follows.                                                

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 13,122,020

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 249,255

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 1,452,849

Percent of New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 40.9%

Percent of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 27.6%  

Attorney General James Calls on Congress to Increase Funding for Public Housing

 

AG James Pushes Congress to Go Beyond $40 Billion in President Biden’s $2.3 Trillion Infrastructure Plan to Retrofit Existing Public Housing

AG James Urges Federal Government to Commit Dedicated Fund for Lead Abatement

 New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 14 attorneys general in strongly urging Congress to invest in the nation’s public housing systems. In a joint letter to congressional leadership, Attorney General James and the coalition express concern that the $40 billion in funding for public housing allocated as part of President Joseph Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan — although a good start — is insufficient to address the years of neglect and underfunding towards the nation’s public housing systems. The coalition, instead, estimates that the nation’s public housing portfolio requires at least $70 billion for capital needs to return to a good state of repair, growing to $90 billion through 2030. Additionally, Attorney General James and the coalition urge the federal government to commit to providing a dedicated fund for Public Housing Authorities (PHA) that need lead abatement.

“The right to safe and adequate housing is a human right, and our nation’s public housing stock plays a critical role in granting low-income families access to that right,” said Attorney General James. “But adequate housing requires adequate funding, and for far too long, our nation’s policy towards public housing has been one of neglect. The time for change is now. While $40 billion is a good start, it’s simply not enough. We are calling on Congress to renew its commitment to supporting public housing and the individuals that rely on it for stability by finally giving public housing the actual funding it needs and deserves.”

Because of its reach and its ability to serve low-income families that might otherwise become homeless, public housing is a vital resource for cities, neighborhoods, and the 1.2 million families that call it home. In order to keep public housing units affordable for low-income families, federal regulations cap rents at 30 percent of a family’s income. While this cap ensures affordability, the amount of rent collected by the nation’s 3,300 PHAs is insufficient to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the properties they oversee.

When the federal public housing program was created in 1937, it was understood that PHAs would need ongoing operating and capital support from the federal government to close the gap between the rents charged to those in public housing and the actual cost of building operations and maintenance. The amount that each PHA is entitled to receive from the federal government is set each year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through a formula. However, it is Congress that appropriates money to these funds, and, in most years, the appropriation does not match the total amount that PHAs require for maintenance and operation under the formula.

In recent years, especially, as Attorney General James and the coalition notes, the political will has not existed to fully fund the gap between public housing rents paid and the cost of building operations and maintenance. For example, the amount appropriated by Congress has only matched the need, as stated by HUD, twice between 2000 and 2018, and, in some years, the amount has been less than 85 percent of the need. Further, in the past 10 years alone, the Public Housing Operations budget has been reduced by nearly $1 billion. This has resulted in a massive backlog in necessary repairs and maintenance and has led to deteriorating and damaging conditions for the families living in public housing.

In today’s letter, Attorney General James and the coalition call on Congress to allocate sufficient funds to address the repair backlog, a forward-facing commitment to fund capital funding gaps, and a dedicated fund for lead remediation.

Specifically, the coalition also notes that HUD estimates that 62,000 public housing apartments need lead abatement, but the amount of funding made available to PHAs for abatement has been a mere drop in the bucket. For example, in 2019, $27.8 million was awarded to 38 public housing agencies, but these grants came out of funds, which are already insufficient to meet existing capital needs. Attorney General James and the coalition urge the federal government to commit to providing a dedicated fund for PHAs that need lead abatement to ensure the health and safety of children living in public housing.

Joining Attorney General James in signing the letter today are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Comptroller Stringer Urges U.S. Department of Transportation to Make Immediate Investments in New York City Transportation Infrastructure to Jumpstart Economic Recovery

 

Comptroller called for scaling back highway infrastructure, investing in annual operating grants to transit agencies, and dedicating a federal funding stream for integrating commuter lines into urban transportation networks

 New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging immediate investments in New York City’s transportation infrastructure that will jumpstart local and economic national recovery. Comptroller Stringer underscored that investments in transit, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure are critical for a more sustainable, healthy, and equitable future. Comptroller Stringer highlighted that these various transit modes are not only central to New Yorkers’ daily life and the vitality of our city, but that a joint effort to make necessary investments in public transit and sustainable infrastructure would cause significant, positive ripple effects.

Comptroller Stringer called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to take swift action to:

• Scale back highways, rebuilding neighborhoods that have been divided by highway infrastructure, and convening a joint taskforce with the State and the City to develop a comprehensive plan for the five boroughs. Comptroller Stringer has proposed scaling down a section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (Interstate-278), limiting it exclusively to truck access and building a two-mile linear park. Federal funding is needed for this type of planning citywide, particularly in neighborhoods where highway infrastructure is linked to poor air quality, high asthma rates, and related environmental and health inequities.
• Invest in annual operating grants to transit agencies. The Federal DOT should extend operating funding to agencies as large as New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and require service standards reform to improve service during off-peak times.
• Reevaluate Port Authority’s AirTrain proposal given recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rule changes and strongly consider extending the N Train subway line to LaGuardia.
• Implement Federal DOT’s Draft Strategic Plan on Accessible Transportation as soon as possible. Creating a simple, streamlined grant program for subway station ADA retrofits would be transformative in New York City, where three-quarters of stations are inaccessible to those with long-term disabilities and injuries, as well as parents with young children.
• Dedicate a Federal DOT funding stream for integrating commuter lines into urban transportation networks, with unified fares across rail, subway, and bus systems and regular all-day service. Integrating and modernizing commuter rail is one of the quickest and most cost-effective methods for radically improving urban transit in the United States.

The full letter is available here.