Governor Cuomo Announces More Than 8 Million People Fully Vaccinated For Covid-19 in New York State

 

More Than 40% of New Yorkers Now Fully Vaccinated

111,885 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours      

Nearly 1 Million Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days     

Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily on the State's Vaccine Program Here

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that more than 8 million people have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in New York State. 111,885 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and nearly 1 million doses have been administered over the past seven days.   

"New York State is making steady progress getting shots in arms and bringing our population to higher levels of immunity from COVID-19, but we have more work to do before everyone returns to safety and the new normal," Governor Cuomo said. "Vaccination is a privilege, and we're working day and night to make the vaccine as accessible as possible by opening new pop-up sites and expanding walk-in appointments. Eight million people have been vaccinated - which is a significant milestone - but we need even more New Yorkers to get the vaccine if we want to beat COVID once and for all."

All New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first serve basis. The walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses only with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot. In addition, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments for eligible New Yorkers. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them.                            

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 17,166,220

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 111,885

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 931,850

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 60.9%

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 50.4%

Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 48.9%

Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 40.4%

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Lowest Single-Day COVID-19 Positivity Rate Since October 10 May 13, 2021

 

Statewide Positivity Rate Drops to 1.08%

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity Rate Drops to 1.25%—Lowest Since October 22; 38 Straight Days of Decline

Hospitalizations Drop to 1,852—Lowest Since November 14

7-Day Hospitalizations Drop to 2,041—Lowest Since November 18; 42 Straight Days of Decline

ICU Patients Drop to 433—Lowest Since November 17

Intubations Drop to 258—Lowest Since November 22

22 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the statewide COVID-19 positivity rate dropped to 1.08 percent yesterday, the lowest since October 10.

"New Yorkers are making tremendous progress in slowing the spread and keeping the numbers down - we have the lowest single-day positivity rate since October 10 and that is purely a function of our resilience and discipline," Governor Cuomo said. "As our numbers continue to decline, we're reopening even more sectors of our economy and reimagining life for a new normal in a post-pandemic world. We are getting on with life, but we haven't fully conquered the COVID beast yet and we have to continue with the practices we know work to stop COVID in its tracks - wearing masks, practicing social distancing and most importantly, getting vaccinated." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 204,531
• Total Positive - 2,216
• Percent Positive - 1.08%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.25%
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,852 (-76)
• 7-Day Average Patient Hospitalization - 2,041
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -483
• Patients Newly Admitted - 240
• Number ICU - 433 (-30)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 258 (-12)
• Total Discharges - 179,098 (+241)
• Deaths - 22
• Total Deaths - 42,389

STREETS WEEK!: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW PLAN TO MANAGE TRUCKS AND FREIGHT

 

As truck deliveries skyrocket from increased online shopping, “Delivering New York” presents plans to tackle traffic safety, congestion, pollution, and damage to aging infrastructure

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Hank Gutman today released Delivering New York: A Smart Truck Management Plan, a new freight management plan to improve New York City’s freight management and truck safety. The announcement continues Streets Week!, a suite of transportation, traffic safety, and open space policy announcements to double down on the transformative Vision Zero initiative.

 

Among major initiatives, new innovative policies will reduce truck congestion; expand curbside space for delivery; encourage the transition to smaller, greener trucks; and improve the safety and efficiency of New York City’s truck routes.

 

“Rebuilding a cleaner, fairer, and greener city means rethinking the way trucks move through our streets. As more goods than ever flow through our city, it’s time for a smart, thoughtful freight management approach that keeps our communities safe and livable,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Delivering New York charts a path toward a future with fewer and smaller trucks, which will ease congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect our infrastructure.”

 

“Safer and more efficient freight management will advance New York City’s climate goals, tackle congestion and noise pollution, and make our roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “This plan will advance an important conversation for the future of our city – one made even more urgent as deliveries become even more central to our local economy.”

 

“Just as we are reimagining how people move to reduce our dependence on private cars, we must reimagine how goods move to reduce our dependence on large diesel trucks,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “We cannot solve this problem with more big trucks, which endanger our aging infrastructure, pollute our air and contribute to climate change. When they travel on residential streets where they do not legally belong, they present safety dangers and harm our quality of life. In Delivering New York, we show how we can and must expand alternatives to bringing goods to and from our City – from loading zones to dramatically expanded overnight deliveries -- and much more.”

 

“Managing truck congestion and safety on our streets and focusing our efforts on reducing harmful greenhouse emissions is key to this administration’s freight goals, and today’s announcement is a huge complement to our FreightNYC plan at NYCEDC,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Rachel Loeb. “We look forward to implementing these improvements in partnership with DOT and congratulate Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Gutman on this huge step as we work to change the way goods move in and out of our city!”

 

"This plan will fight climate change while making streets safer and the air cleaner for all New Yorkers — especially those in communities historically burdened by truck traffic,” said Ben Furnas, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. “COVID-19 has accelerated a transformation in the way goods move around our city, and the Department of Transportation is rising to the challenge in making sure this transformation is sustainable, healthy, and fair.”

 

New York City’s freight management challenges have become even greater during the COVID-19 pandemic. As more New Yorkers have worked remotely and shopped online in the last year, residential freight delivery has increased from 40% of all deliveries citywide to 80%. The new plan recognizes these transformative shifts and introduces dozens of new strategies and initiatives to help reduce the dependence on large trucks, especially in making “last-mile” deliveries.

 

Trucks deliver nearly 90% of the city’s goods to businesses and homes throughout the five boroughs. Without City action, freight movement is expected by 2045 to increase by 68%, potentially adding 44,000 to 75,000 more trucks to the network per day.

 

Delivering New York complements NYC EDC’s own long-term multimodal freight vision and builds on the foundation of existing freight initiatives outlined in the de Blasio administration’s OneNYC plan, and DOT’s 2016 Strategic Plan. Major initiatives of the plan target safety, efficiency, sustainability and expanding partnerships/knowledge, and include:

 

SAFETY

 

Target 70 Truck Safety Priority Corridors citywide over the next five years

• Truck-involved traffic collisions disproportionately prove fatal. Starting this year, DOT will implement safety improvements on at least 10 truck priority safety corridors each year, as well as set new design standards to enhance truck safety at intersections where a majority of serious crashes occur.

 

Strengthen Enforcement Efforts: Vision Zero Street Teams Corridor Enforcement and Education Initiatives

• DOT and NYPD will deploy a multi-neighborhood, multi-corridor strategy, targeting one high-crash corridor in all eight NYPD Patrol Boroughs. The 2021 Vision Zero Street Team Corridor program is a joint effort between NYPD and the DOT Safety Education and Outreach and Highway Inspection and Quality Assurance units.
• NYPD will engage in two-week deployments with each Precinct, no fewer than three times per year.
• DOT will safely deploy Vision Zero Street Team outreach effort for one week in every Precinct involved in the program, rotating among Patrol Boroughs. DOT will hand out educational materials to New Yorkers at intersections along the corridors.
• Teams will focus on locations with high incidences of truck-involved crashes. Their work will feature outreach to truck drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists about the obstructed views that are unique to large vehicles when interacting with vulnerable road users.

 

EFFICIENCY

 

Update Citywide Truck Network and DOT’s Truck Route Map

• Recognizing the inefficient and often inequitable patchwork quilt of route restrictions, DOT will issue new rules to identify new truck routes across New York City. New routes will fill gaps, allow better distribution, and reduce “dead-ends” that lead to truck trips onto prohibited residential streets. DOT will update its map this year and add on-street signage that better identifies both new corridors and prohibited ones.

 

Continue and Further Expand Off-Hour Deliveries (OHD) program

• The Off-Hour Deliveries program encourages delivery companies to shift their deliveries to off-peak hours. Deliveries made between 7pm and 6am can help to reduce traffic in the most congested areas of the city. In 2019, Mayor de Blasio set a goal to triple the number of Off-Hour Deliveries from 500 to 1500 locations by the end of 2021 – targeting focus areas in Midtown Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.
• DOT will work with DCAS and other City agencies to examine ways the City can lead by example through smart application of procurement policies, making its own freight supply chain cleaner, greener, and more efficient.

 

Improving Curb Management

• Expansion of Dedicated Commercial Space in Commercial Areas: The increase in truck deliveries has heightened the need for safe and efficient curb access. DOT will increase the number of commercial loading zones citywide with a focus on high-demand Central Business District and outer borough areas. Increased curb access will reduce conflicts between vulnerable road users and double-parked trucks.
• Expansion of Neighborhood Loading Zone (NLZ) program to residential areas: With a primary focus on narrow streets with bus and bike routes, DOT will double the number of Neighborhood Loading Zones citywide to accommodate the growing market share of e-commerce deliveries in residential areas. To date, 111 zones have been installed in neighborhoods citywide. First introduced in 2019, NLZs discourage double parking by giving delivery and non-commercial vehicles dedicated space at the curb for expeditious loading of goods and passenger pick-up/drop off activity in residential areas.

 

SUSTAINABILITY

 

Creation of a permanent Commercial Cargo Bike Program

• As announced last week, DOT will expand and make permanent its pilot program incentivizing the use of cargo bikes for deliveries in some of the City’s most congested neighborhoods. The program expanded dramatically during the pandemic, growing to over 350 cargo bikes. It will be made permanent by:

• Creating an annual permit for businesses operating five or more cargo bikes for commercial purposes
• Creating an annual permit for businesses operating three or more cargo bikes for commercial purposes
• Pursuing legislative changes to ensure that wider e-cargo bikes are compliant with State law.

 

Designate “Green Loading Zones”

• New zones would be dedicated to particular vehicle types and/or reserved for use by particular companies to incentivize electric vehicles, including “Cargo Bike Loading Only” curb regulations.

.

Continue to expand the NYC Clean Truck Program to industrial business zones citywide

• Begun in 2012, DOT’s Hunts Point Clean Truck program has grown into one of the agency’s great success stories, as companies in the South Bronx replaced over 500 trucks to cleaner and greener vehicles. Under this initiative, DOT will invest $9.8 million in advanced transportation technologies and alternative fuel trucks for other industrial areas, including expanding the use of electric trucks.

 

PARTNERSHIPS AND KNOWLEDGE

 

Develop “Smart Urban Freight Lab”

• DOT will begin a new internal group to study, test and evaluate innovative last-mile freight strategies, including through the collection of continuous freight data.

 

Establish off-street freight distribution and consolidation hubs in partnership with private garage operators

• By removing the ‘last mile’ truck delivery from the logistics chain, off-street consolidation helps to reduce roadway congestion and competition for curb access and deliveries during the most congested times of the day. DOT will also continue to work with private property owners throughout the city to develop off-street delivery hubs.

 

Expand Bridge Strike Reduction Program through signage, pavement markings, & ITS technology

• DOT has worked closely with state partners to reduce bridge strikes, where errant truck drivers can cause millions of dollars of infrastructure damage and traffic congestion when they strike low-clearance overpasses, especially on parkways. DOT will:

• Leverage and strengthen multi-agency coordination with regional enforcement and infrastructure partners (NYPD, MTA, NYSDOT, and PANYNJ)
• Develop digital truck driver resources, targeted radio ad campaigns, and increase awareness through truck associations, rental companies, owner-operators, and conduct outreach to routing and mapping companies.
• Prioritize top 10 frequently hit low bridges citywide, where new signage and pavement markings will be implemented
• Add an over-height detection system along the Belt Parkway, which has some of the most frequently hit low bridges.

 

“COVID has reminded us of the critical role the trucking industry and our drivers play in the daily lives of New Yorkers,” said Kendra Hems, President of the Trucking Association of New York (TANY). “Our members are essential in providing food, fuel, medicine and much more, every day to millions of New Yorkers. The Smart Truck Management Plan strikes a balance in improving the efficiency of freight delivery while preserving the quality of life and safety of New Yorkers. I commend Mayor de Blasio and the leaders at the New York City Department of Transportation for their vision and commitment to safety.”

 

"Transportation is the leading contributor to climate change in the state and as freight deliveries continue to grow, any plan to green the transportation sector must address trucks and cargo,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “The Delivering New York plan will help reduce traffic and increase efficiency while also encouraging a transition to more sustainable transportation technologies. Expanding the use of cargo bikes and investing in electric trucks is a win-win for both pollution and congestion. That's why we included these types of policies in our New York City Policy Agenda. We thank Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Gutman for making our streets clearer and greener. We look forward to working with stakeholders to continue reimagining freight travel in the city." 

 

DOI RELEASES REPORT ON ITS INVESTIGATION OF DEFECTIVE ABSENTEE BALLOT PACKAGES PRODUCED BY PHOENIX GRAPHICS FOR THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION

 

 Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), issued a report today on DOI’s investigation into defective absentee ballots produced by Rochester, New York-based Phoenix Graphics, Inc., for the 2020 General Election in New York City. In late September 2020, numerous voters in Brooklyn received absentee ballot packages containing “oath envelopes” pre-printed with names and addresses that were not theirs, prompting the City Board of Elections (“BOE”) to announce that approximately 99,000 packages assembled as part of that print run would be re-printed and mailed to voters at Phoenix Graphics’ expense. DOI investigated the circumstances surrounding these faulty absentee ballots as well as whether the BOE properly awarded a contract to Phoenix Graphics. DOI found no evidence that there was intentional interference regarding the defective absentee ballot packages. DOI also determined that while there was no competitive bid process to procure the contract, the award was consistent with emergency procurement authority granted to the BOE. A copy of the full report follows this release and can also be found at the following link: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doi/newsroom/public-reports.page 

 DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “DOI found no intent or motivation to intentionally disrupt Phoenix Graphics’ print run of the absentee ballots; nor did DOI find that the BOE improperly awarded a contract to Phoenix Graphics. DOI also found no evidence that a data deletion during a software installation was purposeful. The facts determined during this investigation are consistent with some deficiencies in Phoenix Graphics’ quality controls and a lapse in the company’s operation of a complex printing process. Although we found no wrongdoing, DOI is issuing this public report in the interests of transparency and the importance of the public’s confidence in the City’s voting process and overall election integrity.”

 DOI’s Report found that in April 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.15, which made mail-in absentee voting temporarily available to all New York voters for the June primary. The State legislature subsequently passed legislation that similarly made mail-in absentee voting available to any eligible voter in the November 2020 general election. Because the demand for absentee ballots increased dramatically, the BOE required assistance from outside vendors to print those ballots. The BOE reached out to three printing companies with which it had existing relationships to determine if they could assist in printing these ballots on short notice. Two of the three companies, one of which was Phoenix Graphics, agreed to take on the work. In a May 2020 internal memo, BOE Executive Director Michael Ryan certified that there was insufficient time to conduct a competitive bid process in connection with the printing of absentee ballots for the 2020 elections and directed the BOE’s Agency Chief Contracting Officer “to negotiate with the Board’s current Election Day Ballot printers to provide printing and mailing services.” The BOE’s June 2020 contract with Phoenix Graphics referenced gubernatorial Executive Order 202.26, which allowed county boards of election to procure absentee ballots “without the usual advertising for bids and offers and compliance with existing procurement policies and procedures.” Phoenix Graphics was awarded a contract valued at $4.6 million to print absentee ballots for voters in Brooklyn and Queens.

 DOI interviewed the president of Phoenix Graphics Salvatore DeBiase under oath, who explained in detail the company’s printing and assembly process for absentee ballots, including during the several day timeframe in September 2020 that the mismatched ballots were produced. The Report indicates that DeBiase explained the machine has no mechanical parts that can be controlled remotely and that in September 2020 he was informed by the BOE that hundreds of voters in Brooklyn had complained of receiving oath envelopes with someone else’s name and address printed on them. DeBiase also told DOI that the cause of the faulty ballot packages was not immediately clear; that his staff tried to re-create different scenarios and found two mechanical parts that, if not adjusted properly before the print run, could result in oath envelopes pushed onto an incorrect pile. During the affected print run in September 2020, there was an employee operating the machine who recalled observing one oath envelope fall on top of the wrong pile, but he did not see any more oath envelopes drop into the wrong pile. The employee conducted spot checks throughout the run but did not identify any additional mismatched oath envelopes.

 The printing and insertion machine can usually generate a detailed report about every print job, but DeBiase stated that by the time he learned of the problem and sought to generate such a report, the machine’s history had been deleted as a result of a software installation. DOI’s investigation revealed no evidence that the data deletion, as a result of software installation, was purposeful or done with any knowledge of the ballot printing errors.

 DeBiase and two other Phoenix Graphics employees testified that they had no reason to believe that anyone at Phoenix Graphics had deliberately caused the envelope mismatch. In addition, DeBiase indicated he has implemented new procedures to prevent similar problems from happening in the future, including: having multiple employees check the layout of the machine to ensure it is set up correctly, extracting the data after each print run so it can no longer be accidentally deleted, conducting more spot checks by opening envelopes at random, inspecting diverted packages, and having employees observe the area where the oath envelope lands to ensure they are landing on top of the correct piles.

 Commissioner Garnett thanked the BOE for its cooperation in this investigation.

New York City Council Votes to Restrict Use of Plastic Straws and Reduce School Food Waste

 

With plastic waste wreaking havoc on our planet, the New York City Council is further proving its commitment to reducing plastic waste in our City landfills. Members will vote on a bill to prohibit food service establishments from providing single-use plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks to customers who don’t ask for them. Plastic straws, which people with disabilities often need, would still be available to those who ask. By making customers pro-actively ask for straws, we will dramatically reduce the amount of single use plastic being used in the largest city in the country. Each year, at least eight million tons of plastic leak into the ocean. If we don’t change our behavior, the World Economic Forum predicts there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.

The Council will also vote on a bill to create food waste prevention programs in our public schools. The bill would require the Chancellor of the Department of Education (DOE) to work with school sustainability coordinators to craft food waste production plans, consistent with a bill the Council recently passed to require that all city agencies with food procurement contracts develop and implement plans to do the same.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Reduces single-use plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks

Int. No. 936-A, sponsored by Council Member Helen Rosenthal, will reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our city’s landfill. Each year more than 320 million tons of plastic are consumed worldwide. Plastic in landfills can take centuries to break down and finds its way into our oceans each year at an estimated rate of one garbage truck full per minute, endangering fish and aquatic wildlife. This bill would restrict food service establishments in the City from providing plastic straws, stirrers and splash sticks, all of which typically go to landfill and are not effectively recycled.

Providing single-use plastic stirrers and splash sticks of any kind would be prohibited. Providing plastic straws would also be prohibited. However, to balance the environmental benefits of reducing plastic with the needs of people with disabilities who use plastic straws to consume food and beverages, the bill requires that all food service establishments maintain a sufficient stock of plastic straws to provide free of charge, upon request.  To further accommodate those who use plastic straws based on medical need, signs will be posted in self-service stations where customers typically retrieve their own utensils, informing the public that they may request a plastic straw. 

Providing single-use plastics in violation of this bill would result in civil penalties, while refusing to provide a plastic straw upon request could constitute a violation of the City’s Human Rights Law.

The bill would permit distribution of compostable plastic straws for use on-premises, but only if the food service establishment properly separates and disposes of those straws through a commercial composting provider.

“Plastic waste is gravely polluting our oceans and waterways, threatening the health of wildlife and humans alike. This includes millions upon millions of straws, and limiting their use is a simple but very important step. At the same time, it is absolutely fundamental that we protect the civil rights and independence of our disability community. The ability to request a plastic straw is a critical protection for disabled customers who need them to eat and/or drink. Our disability community worked closely with environmentalists, the restaurant industry, and the City Council to ensure that the legislation being voted on today protects the rights of all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

This bill would go into effect on November 1, 2021.

EDUCATION

Requires the Department of Education to develop a plan for reducing food waste

Int 1681-A, sponsored by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer would require the Chancellor of the Department of Education (DOE) to work with school sustainability coordinators to develop a plan for reducing food waste. This plan would be submitted to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) for recommendations, as well as the Speaker of the Council. The bill would require DOE to submit an annual report with information on DOE’s actions to implement its food waste prevention plan and the Chancellor’s updates to such plan. DSNY shall include the information contained in the report as part of the department’s March 1, 2022 annual recycling report.

“The Department of Education must confront food waste in order to create a more environmentally sustainable City,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “Food waste prevention plans will help cut the amount of excess food our schools and city sends to land fill, finding ways to instead donate, compost, and reduce surplus. These plans are a step towards more sustainable schools system and a less wasteful New York.”

This bill goes into effect 90 days after it becomes law.

Attorney General James Issues Consumer Alert Against Possible Gasoline Price Gouging

 

Fuel Sellers Are Prohibited from Excessively Increasing Prices to Take Advantage of Fuel Shortages Resulting from the Colonial Pipeline Shutdown

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued an alert to New Yorkers concerning potential gasoline price gouging following the interruption of a major fuel pipeline serving the eastern half of the United States — urging consumers to report dramatic gasoline price increases to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for investigation. The current disruption to the fuel market occurred after computer hackers illegally hacked into the computer system that is used to control the Colonial Pipeline, which transports fuel to numerous locations along the eastern half of the U.S., including the New York City area. The hack caused a temporary shutdown of the pipeline, creating the threat of a fuel shortage that could potentially affect hundreds of millions of Americans. In response, numerous consumers on the East Coast have reportedly engaged in panic-buying of fuel, and some sellers appear to have increased their prices in an attempt to profit from the increased demand. 

“As New Yorkers continue to suffer the economic impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis, the last thing their wallets can afford is the price gouging of fuel from those seeking to unconscionably take advantage of another crisis,” said Attorney General James. “To be clear, the price gouging of fuel in New York state will not be tolerated for a moment. If our office sees profiteers take advantage of consumers by boosting prices to excess levels, we will not hesitate to take legal action. Last year, the state granted our office additional authority to stop those seeking to unlawfully profit off an emergency, so we will use every tool at our disposal to stop illegal actors and secure relief for consumers who have been overcharged for gasoline.” 

New York law prohibits sellers of fuel and other vital and necessary goods from excessively increasing their prices during an abnormal market disruption, including disruptions caused by energy shortages. During such times, sellers may be allowed to increase prices to cover their own cost increases, but it is illegal for them to unconscionably raise prices simply to profit from increased consumer demand. 

Additionally, last year, in response to an influx in price gouging as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis, a law was passed that substantially strengthened Attorney General James’ ability to bring charges against those violating New York state’s price gouging statute, as they sought to excessively increase prices on essential goods and services during pandemics or other emergencies.

When reporting price gouging to the OAG, consumers should report the specific increased prices, the dates and places that they saw the increased prices, and the types of fuel being sold. Consumers should also provide copies of their sales receipts and photos of the advertised prices, if available. Gas stations that appear to have engaged in price gouging must have evidence to justify their price increases.    

The OAG also advises consumers to buy only as much fuel as they need and not to stock up out of fear of a potential future shortage, as such panic buying may reduce the supply of fuel available for other consumers and could encourage sellers to engage in illegal price gouging. The OAG also advises consumers that it is not price-gouging for gas stations to limit the amount of fuel they sell to individual consumers. Reducing the quantities of sales can help avoid a small number of consumers from hoarding fuel and can, instead, ensure that there is still fuel available (even in smaller quantities) for other consumers.   

234 Days and Counting Free Shake Shake Fries if you get shot.

 

We are giving you more and more to get vaccinated, soon we will be giving you the Key to the City, which many are trying to take. Today you get Shake Shack French Fries if you get vaccinated. It is full of bad things for you so if COVID-19 doesn't get you these Shake Shack Burgers and fries will. It tastes delicious, (sound of Mayor de Blasio chocking) Dr. Chokshi where are you?

 

Brooklyn Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 20 Years In Prison For Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS

 

Zachary Clark Disseminated ISIS Propaganda and Bomb-Making Instructions in an Effort to Incite Acts of Terrorism and Violence in New York City and Elsewhere

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced that ZACHARY CLARK, a/k/a “Umar Kabir,” a/k/a “Umar Shishani,” a/k/a “Abu Talha,” was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”).  CLARK pled guilty on August 10, 2020, in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald, who sentenced Clark today.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Zachary Clark pledged allegiance to ISIS and posted calls for attacks on the public and institutions in New York City on encrypted pro-ISIS chatrooms, along with detailed instructions for carrying out those violent acts.  Thanks to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Clark’s efforts to incite deadly violence on behalf of ISIS have been silenced.  Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who seek to further ISIS’s campaign of terror and violence, no matter the method, will face serious consequences.”

Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers said:  “Today’s 20-year sentence recognizes the gravity of Clark’s conduct, including his calls for other ISIS supporters to carry out lone wolf terrorist attacks in New York City. Having pledged allegiance to ISIS, Clark provided others with specific instructions on knifing and bomb-making for use in such attacks. We remain vigilant to the threat of terrorism and committed to identifying and holding accountable those who threaten our communities through their support for foreign terrorist organizations.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Zachary Clark will no longer spend his time in chat rooms supporting terrorist ideals, but behind bars in federal prison for the next 20 years. The successful ending in this case is a result of the dedication of the FBI’s JTTF here in New York and our partners around the world. We will continue to work together to protect the people of New York from anyone who wishes to do us harm.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “Zachary Clark, using encrypted social media platforms became the facilitator for the voice of ISIS in America. He controlled a private channel, communicating with ISIS followers, posting terrorist attack manuals and bomb making instructions and making statements in support of suicide attacks. He also affirmed his own ambitions of becoming a martyr for ISIS on US soil. His arrest comes out of the tight-knit partnership of the Joint Terrorism Task force agents and detectives as well as the NYPD’s Intelligence Bureau. It is another example---among many---of protecting New York City from terrorist violence through intelligence sharing, joint investigation, and prosecution, which results in prevention.”

According to the Indictment, Complaint, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:

CLARK pledged allegiance to ISIS twice, first in July 2019, to ISIS’s then-leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and then in October 2019, to ISIS’s new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Sashemi al-Qurayshi, whom ISIS promoted after al-Baghdadi’s death.  Beginning in at least March 2019, CLARK disseminated ISIS propaganda through, among other avenues, encrypted chatrooms intended for members, associates, supporters, and potential recruits of ISIS.  CLARK’s propaganda included, among other things, calls for ISIS supporters to commit lone wolf attacks in New York City.  For example, on August 3, 2019, CLARK posted instructions about how to conduct such an attack, including directions on how to select an attack target, how to conduct preoperational surveillance, how to conduct operational planning, and how to avoid attracting law enforcement attention when preparing for and conducting the attack.  On another occasion, CLARK posted a manual entitled “Knife Attacks,” which stated, among other things, that discomfort at “the thought of plunging a sharp object into another person’s flesh” is “never an excuse for abandoning jihad” and that “[k]nives, though certainly not the only weapon for inflicting harm upon the kuffar [non-believers], are widely available in every land and thus readily accessible.”  CLARK urged the participants in encrypted chatrooms to attack specific targets, posting maps and images of the New York City subway system and encouraging ISIS supporters to attack those locations.  CLARK’s guidance also included posting a manual entitled “Make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom,” which was issued by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and included detailed instructions about constructing bombs using readily available materials.    

In addition to his prison sentence, CLARK, 42, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to lifetime supervised release.  

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies.  Ms. Strauss also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gillian Grossman, Matthew Hellman, and Sidhardha Kamaraju are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Jason Denney, Justin Sher, and Chad Davis of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.