You can have you no hitter up there in the Bronx, our Brooklyn Nets beat the Celtics (notice I didn't say Boston Celtics) to go ahead 2 - 0 in the NBA Finals. Go Brooklyn.
I am going upstate to talk about the COVID - 19 with those hick legislators who think they know about the virus. Let's see if my driver gets caught in one of those speed traps up there. That gives me an idea, I have to set up more speed cameras on streets that have a downward slope. Did you hear that DOT?
Three Bronx judges were simultaneously appointed to the appellate division of the Supreme Court in a first for New York State
The Bronx Democratic Party applauded the appointment of three Bronx Supreme Court Justices Julio Rodriguez, Bahaati Pitt, and John Higgitt to fill vacancies on the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the First Department of New York State yesterday. The First Department covers Manhattan and The Bronx. This marks the first time that three Bronx judges have been nominated to the Appellate Division simultaneously.
Honorable Julio Rodriguez
Julio Rodriguez is a Judge of the New York State Supreme Court in the Twelfth Judicial District when he ran for election in 2018. Prior to his service on the bench, he was a Judge of the New York City Civil Court in New York when he was appointed to this position by May Michael Bloomberg in 2013. Judge Rodriguez also served in New York City's Criminal Court. His legal career expands to his employment in the New York County District Attorney's office. Judge Rodriguez also held executive positions with the New York City Department of Investigation and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. He received his B.A. from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and his J.D. from Temple School of Law.
Honorable Bahaati Pitt
Bahaati Pitt is a Judge for the Criminal Court of the City of New York in Bronx County. Prior to her appointment on the bench, Judge Pitt served as a principal law clerk in the Civil Division of the Bronx County Supreme Court. She also served as a court attorney for the Bronx Family Court and the Bronx Civil Court. Judge Pitt worked as an attorney with the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society. Judge Pitt earned her B.A. from Morgan State University and her J.D. at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School.
Honorable John Higgitt
John Higgitt is an Acting Justice of the Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term in the Twelfth Judicial District of New York. Justice Higgitt was elevated to the Supreme Court bench in 2018 by the Honorable Lawrence Marks, Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York, and then to the Court of Claims by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Prior to joining the bench, Justice Higgitt's legal career has been with the New York State Unified Court System since 2002. He served one year as an appellate attorney for the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, and then became principal law clerk to the Honorable Joan B. Carey, Justice of the New York County Supreme Court and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the courts of New York City. In 2005, Justice Higgitt returned to the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division as principal law clerk for Honorable James M. McGuire, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. In 2009, he was appointed to Honorable Douglas E. McKeon's chambers in Bronx County Supreme Court as a court referee. He remained in this capacity until his appointment to the New York State Court of Claims. Justice Higgitt graduated with his B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York College at Cortland and his J.D. from Albany Law School.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), together with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York and Pennsylvania, has reached an agreement with a health care system operating several clinics in the Southern Tier of New York and Pennsylvania for allegedly treating patients with unsterilized and potentially dangerous tools. An agreement unsealed yesterday with the Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS) — a domestic not-for-profit corporation that operates several dental clinics in the Southern Tier — resolved claims made by a former employee alleging that UAHS billed Medicaid for dental services where it failed to sterilize dental handpieces between patients. As part of the agreement, UAHS has agreed to pay $2.7 million to the United States, New York, and Pennsylvania — $2.4 million of which will, specifically, resolve claims pertaining to New York’s Medicaid program ($1.4 million will go to New York and $1 million will go to the federal government).
“Patients visit medical offices to seek treatment, not further endanger their health by coming in contact with unsterilized tools,” said Attorney General James. “It is shocking that the Upper Allegheny Health System skirted protocols and risked the safety of its patients, but what’s worse is that we may have never known about these disturbing practices had a whistleblower not come forward. Yesterday’s agreement sends a message that real safety protocols must be followed to protect patients going forward. My office will always fight to hold accountable those who cut corners and risk patient safety.”
Between April 1, 2010 and May 31, 2015, UAHS allegedly conducted dental services with dental handpieces that had not been heat sterilized between patient use and subsequently billed Medicaid for these services. Not only did the use of these unsterilized tools pose a health hazard to patients, but the billing of these services to Medicaid was a violation of both New York state and federal laws. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, and the manufacturer of the dental tools require that dental handpieces be heat sterilized between patient use.
The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) and USAO’s investigation commenced after a whistleblower complaint was filed by a former UAHS employee under the qui tam provisions of the New York False Claims Act as well as the federal False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The New York False Claims Act allows individuals represented by counsel to file actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.
Yesterday’s agreement forces UAHS to pay a total of $2.7 million in damages to the United States, New York, and Pennsylvania.
MFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $53,413,761 for federal fiscal year (FY) 2021, of which $40,060,324 is federally funded. The remaining 25 percent of the approved grant — totaling $13,353,437 for FY 2021 — is funded by New York state. Through MFCU’s recoveries in law enforcement actions, it regularly returns more to the state than it receives in state funding.
The OAG wishes to thank the USAO from the Western District of New York and Pennsylvania for their joint effort to resolve this matter.
90,710 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours
788,145 Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days
Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily on the State's Vaccine Program Here
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. 90,710 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and 788,145 doses have been administered statewide over the past seven days.
"We continue to put more shots in arms every single day and urge vaccination as the key to defeating COVID-19 for good, but vaccination rates are dramatically slowing and to continue moving our numbers up, we need to get creative," Governor Cuomo said. "That's why we've implemented new incentives—including passes at New York State parks, a lottery and transportation tickets—and are opening pop-up sites in locations convenient to New Yorkers. The future is looking up, but there's a lot of work to be done rebuilding our state after this devastating pandemic, and the more New Yorkers who get vaccinated, the faster we'll be able to reimagine our society for a new, brighter and more prosperous future."
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 - 18,528,624
Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 90,710
Total doses administered over past 7 days - 788,145
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 63.9%
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 55.2%
Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 52.3%
Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 44.3%
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the New York Knicks are offering tickets as vaccine incentives for New Yorkers. Individuals 16 and older, who get their COVID-19 vaccine at The Pennsy Food Hall, located outside of Madison Square Garden, will have a chance to win tickets to Wednesday night’s Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks playoff game or to a later game.
Former Town of Potter Clerk Julie Brown was sentenced to six months in Yates County jail today for stealing nearly $27,000 in public funds for her personal use. Her thefts were discovered during a joint investigation by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office, Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella’s office and Yates County Sheriff Ronald Spike’s office.
Brown, 49, of Penn Yan, stole cash payments made to the town for property taxes and fees for marriage licenses, dog licenses, hunting permits and building permits. She used the money to support her personal lifestyle, including trips to casinos and gambling websites. The thefts took place between January 1, 2018, and May 21, 2019, when Brown resigned. She agreed to pay $26,729 in restitution as part of her plea agreement in March, of which she has already paid $20,000.
“When a public servant steals taxpayer funds, it damages the public’s trust in government,” DiNapoli said. “Ms. Brown took advantage of the trust placed in her and now has been held responsible for her crimes. My thanks to Yates County District Attorney Casella and Sheriff Spike for partnering to bring Brown to justice.”
"A public office is a public trust and regrettably this town clerk acted contrary to their oath,” said Yates County Sheriff Spike. “I thank all involved in this criminal investigation, prosecution, and conviction, especially the New York State Comptroller’s office for their forensic work.”
Brown pled guilty in March to corrupting the government in the second degree (class C felony); grand larceny in the third degree/ public servant (class C Felony); two counts of tampering with public records in the first degree (class D felony); scheme to defraud in the first degree (class E felony) and official misconduct (class A misdemeanor). Brown was initially arrested in November 2020 and released on her own recognizance.
1,357 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide
307 Patients in the ICU; 181 Intubated
Statewide Positivity Rate is 1.00%
16 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 hard work of New Yorkers combined with the vaccine have helped us prevent the spread of COVID and keep our state's numbers trending in the right direction," Governor Cuomo said. "While we are containing the COVID beast, our fight is not over. I want to encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of our greatest tool against COVID - the vaccine."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
