Governor Cuomo Announces COVID-19 Hospitalizations Statewide Drop to Lowest Level Since Pandemic Began

 

371 Hospitalizations Statewide—Previous Record-Low Was 410 on September 5, 2020

Less than 100 Patients in ICU, Less than 50 Patients Intubated Statewide

117,760 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

5 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

"We're finally putting the COVID-19 pandemic in the rear-view mirror, and more New Yorkers are getting vaccinated every single day as the numbers continue to come down," Governor Cuomo said. "Getting shots in arms is the key to our future, and we're offering several exciting incentives to New Yorkers across the state who haven't yet been vaccinated. Taking the shot protects your family, friends and community, so if you haven't been vaccinated, please walk into a site or make an appointment today."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 97,020
• Total Positive - 385
• Percent Positive - 0.40%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.36%
• Patient Hospitalization - 371 (-44)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 46
• Patients in ICU - 92 (-2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 45 (-6)
• Total Discharges - 184,613 (83)
• Deaths - 5
• Total Deaths - 42,957
• Total vaccine doses administered - 20,945,467
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 117,760
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 431,340
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 69.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 63.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 71.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 64.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 57.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 52.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 59.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 52.8%

Joseph Meli Sentenced To 37 Months In Prison For Participating In Broadway Ticket Resale Investment Fraud Scheme

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSEPH MELI was sentenced today to 37 months in prison in connection with MELI’s participation in a fraudulent Broadway ticket investment scheme wherein MELI purported to use investor funds to purchase tickets to Broadway shows for resale on the secondary market, but instead misappropriated those funds for his personal use.  MELI previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed today’s sentence. 

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Joseph Meli, a recidivist fraudster, spun the web of lies that buttressed this scheme while on pretrial release in a prior theatre ticket investment fraud case in this District.  With today’s sentencing, the curtain has come down on Joseph Meli’s act.”   

According to the Complaint, the Indictment, and other court documents, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:

Beginning in at least March 2017 through in or about June 2018, MELI falsely represented to partners in a business entity, Indio Entertainment, LLC (“Indio”), that MELI owned a large number of tickets to live events, or intended to purchase a large number of tickets to live events.  MELI further falsely represented that he would sell those tickets to Indio in exchange for investor money that Indio had solicited for the purpose of reselling the tickets on the secondary market for profit.  MELI, in turn, caused Indio principals to represent to investors that investor funds would be used to purchase bulk tickets to live shows without disclosing MELI’s involvement, and promised investors a share of these profits.  In fact, MELI failed to invest the investor monies as promised, and failed to supply Indio with bulk tickets, but rather diverted investor monies to his own personal use, including sending $455,000 to a close relative of MELI’s in part to pay off credit card debt incurred by MELI, $500,000 to an individual completely unrelated to the entertainment or ticket industry, and $220,000 to a residential management company that managed an apartment MELI was leasing.

This was not MELI’s first involvement in such a scheme.  MELI is currently serving a 78-month sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood in September 2018, resulting from MELI’s involvement in a similar Broadway ticket investment scheme.  Indeed, MELI participated in the present scheme while on pretrial release in the case in front of Judge Wood.

MELI, 46, of New York, New York, will serve 25 of the 37 months of the prison sentence concurrently with the prison sentence he is already serving.  In addition to his prison sentence, MELI was sentenced to three years of supervised release, two years of which will run concurrently with the term of supervised release previously imposed by Judge Wood.  MELI was also ordered to pay a forfeiture penalty of $2,082,425 and restitution in the amount of $1,909,146.

Ms. Strauss praised the work of the Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance.  

Attorney General James Reminds New Yorkers of Child Tax Credit Payments Beginning July 15

 

Starting July 15 and Continuing for Rest of Year, Millions of Americans With at Least One Child Under Age of 17 Will Get a Minimum Monthly Payment of $250 from Federal Government

Non-Tax Filers Can Use IRS Portal to Register for First Child Tax Credit Check

 New York Attorney General Letitia James reminded New Yorkers that, starting July 15, 2021, families across New York will gain access to new, expanded child tax credit benefits. Families with qualifying dependents could receive up to $300 monthly for each child under the age of 6, or $250 monthly for older dependents. Half of the total credit will arrive monthly between July and the end of 2021, and the rest of the amount will be included in tax refunds after 2021 filings are made next spring.

To help families through the process of receiving the funds, the IRS has opened up an online portal to make sure non-filers receive their first check on July 15.

“The expanded Child Tax Credit is an important resource for parents in the fight against child poverty,” said Attorney General James. “Children from our poorest communities bear the brunt of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that we’re still facing today. I encourage all families who have experienced hardship during this crisis to take advantage of the tax relief.”

The expanded Child Tax credit is an advance on the child care tax credit, temporarily increased in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help families battered by the COVID-19 economic meltdown.

Some important details to note are:

• For eligible families, the Child Tax Credit has been increased from $2,000 to $3,000 per child between ages 6 and 17 ($250 monthly per child). The amount has been raised from $2,000 to $3,600 for every child under age 6 ($300 monthly per child);
• Adjusted gross eligible income levels are $150,000 or less for married couples filing jointly, $112,500 or less for heads of household, and $75,000 or less for single taxpayers;
• Half of the credit will be paid in monthly installments through December, with the rest paid next spring after 2021 taxes are filed;
• The first payment will take place on July 15, followed by August 13, then on the 15^th of each subsequent month; and
• Families that sign up for the Child Tax Credit will not see a reduction of other federal low-income benefits they utilize, such as SNAP.

Families are encouraged to visit the White House’s website to learn more about the program.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's NYC Moving Forward Week in Review - 6/25/2021

 

Dear Friends, I hope you and your families are doing well. Today is the last day of school for a lot of schools in NYC and as our office has attended many graduations and awarded citations to the Class of 2021, we wanted to take the time to say thank you to all the students, teachers, principals and administrators for their diligence and hard work navigating through this unprecedented time. Thank you for keeping education at the forefront for our NYC public school students. June is PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Month. There are currently about 8 million people diagnosed with PTDS in the US. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans, survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—they need to know that treatments really do work and resources can lead to a better quality of life. I was proud to kick start the 4th of July celebration with New York Salutes America Fireworks Extravaganza in Orchard Beach, brought by my office, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr, Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Last week I was honored to be recognized at the Westchester Square BID’s Fair at the Square, a yearly event that brings together so many residents and local merchants as well as an event that I have proudly supported yearly. As always we are here for you, so please do not hesitate to contact my office with issues or concerns at 718-931-1721 or email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov. Sincerely, NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj District 13, Bronx

Facade Work Progresses On Bankside’s 2401 3rd Avenue Complex In Mott Haven,

 

Exterior work is continuing to shape up on 2401 Third Avenue, a three-tower complex designed by Hill West Architects in Brookfield Properties‘ Bankside master plan in Mott Haven, The Bronx. The 4.3-acre development is a combination of two sites along the northern side of the Harlem River. 2401 Third Avenue is located on the western side of the Third Avenue Bridge, and 101 Lincoln Avenue is the larger counterpart found on the opposite side. Bankside will provide seven residential buildings, 15,000 square feet of retail space, a community facility run by nonprofit Project Destined, and 34,000 square feet of public waterfront space. Brookfield purchased the two parcels for $165 million in September 2018 from Somerset Partners and The Chetrit Group. Ground was first broken on 2401 Third Avenue in the fall of 2019, and construction on Bankside is expected to cost $950 million and yield 1,370 units.

Since topping out in the fall of 2020, the buildings have progressed rapidly with their curtain wall installation.

New photographs looking east show 2401 Third Avenue making a large presence over the Harlem River. The envelopes are made with a mixture of red brick masonry walls, dark steel columns, and floor-to-ceiling glass panels arranged in grids. The rising reinforced concrete superstructures of 101 Lincoln Avenue can also be spotted.

2401 Third Avenue’s L-shaped configuration is comprised of two 25-story towers and one 17-story building that all rise from an eight-story podium. Inside will be 450 rental apartments. Meanwhile, 101 Lincoln Avenue’s trapezoidal perimeter is the larger of the two halves, measuring around 133,000 square feet with four towers with the tallest around 250 feet high. Approximately 900 apartments are planned and should accompany the majority of the communal facilities and ground-floor retail space. The closest subway from Bankside is the 6 train at the 3rd Avenue-138th Street subway stop to the north.

Previously seen renderings by ArX Solutions depict the complex from above, from across the Harlem River, and include how the MPFP-designed waterfront esplanade will be landscaped.

2401 Third is reported to open later this year, while 101 Lincoln Avenue would probably be completed in early 2022.

190 Days and Counting

 

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I have no public schedule. I had none on Saturday, or Friday. If I didn't have to deal with those pesky reporters on Monday, I would enjoy a four day weekend working only Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. After all I am a Lame Duck Mayor, not being able to run again for mayor. 

It should be about one week after the 4th of July (enjoy the Macy's Fireworks thanks to me) that you know who your new mayor will be, Yeah I know there is a November general election, but as my Department of Homeless Services commissioner Steve Banks says, that is a mere formalityNow let me enjoy my weekend.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19

 

Number of Patients in ICU Statewide Falls Below 100 For First Time Since Pandemic Began

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity is 0.36%

68,342 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

5 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.  

"We have come far in our fight against COVID, and thanks to the sacrifices of our essential workers and all New Yorkers who came together to flatten the curve, our metrics continue to show a promising outlook," Governor Cuomo said. "The best weapon that we have to fully defeat this virus is the vaccine, which is why we continue to work with our partners across the state to get more shots into people's arms and to make sure the vaccine is accessible in every community. If you still need to get your shot, I urge you to do so quickly, so we can build on our progress and finally turn the page on this pandemic."  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported - 95,628
• Total Positive - 343
• Percent Positive - 0.36%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.36%
• Patient Hospitalization - 415 (-27)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 57
• Patients in ICU - 94 (-9)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 51 (-9)
• Total Discharges - 184,530 (75)
• Deaths - 5
• Total Deaths - 42,952
• Total vaccine doses administered - 20,827,707
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 68,342
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 376,675
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 68.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 62.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 71.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 63.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 57.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 51.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 59.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 52.7% 

Town Hall with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman on Gun Violence Awareness Month

 

Congressional Members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman held a joint Visual Town Hall meeting on public health approaches to Community Safety. 

With increasing gun violence, and rising crime rates, what are the answers on how to lower and stop these shootings and crimes of violence. Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez was very frank about what she thought about the solutions to the problem. She said some people want to bring back 'Stop & Frisk', but that is not the answer. She said that young people of color get traumatized from an encounter like that. Congressman Bowman said that he worries about being stopped by the police in certain areas where the police think he does not belong, even now that he is a member of congress. 

Both agreed that more intervention is needed, with more youth programs for teens, while more mental health programs are needed for the adults. It is not the mayor's job alone, Congressman Bowman said, but it is on all of us and everyone in the community who must do it. They have given $400,000.00 to the Jacobi Hospital for the Stop Violence Unit at the hospital, 

You can contact either Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez or Congressman Bowman at the phone numbers or email addresses above if you have any questions.