Speaker Corey Johnson, Finance Committee Chair Daniel Dromm, and Mayor Bill de Blasio Announce Agreement on FY 2022 Budget

 

The $98.7 billion budget includes $500 million in new reserves and major investments in education, housing and quality of life

 City Hall, NY – Speaker Corey Johnson, Finance Committee Chair Daniel Dromm, and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $98.7 billion budget agreement for the Fiscal Year 2022 that includes major investments and restorations in education, seniors, youth and quality of life enhancements like sanitation services. The budget will baseline successful Council programs that have been shown to help New Yorkers, and will reverse painful cuts felt across the City, including in our parks, cultural institutions and libraries.  

The FY 22 budget, which was on time and goes into effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, was negotiated with a focus on rebuilding, recovering, and reimagining the City in a more fair and equitable way. It will be voted on at the Council’s stated meeting on June 30. This will be the first in-person Council stated in 16 months.

The FY 22 budget includes over $426 million in city-wide initiates, a welcome increase from last year’s $331 million. This allowed the Council to not only restore many programs to pre-pandemic levels, but also launch new initiatives and increase support for key programs in areas such as alternatives to incarceration, housing, foreclosure prevention, senior services, community development and help for small businesses.  

The Council also fought for and won an additional $500 million in budget reserves. That money will be deposited in the new Rainy Day Fund Balance to bring it up to almost $1 billion. This fund was created in 2020 by the Council in response to recommendations from the Charter Reform Commission. This is the city’s first multi-year reserve account. It was created to allow the city to build up reserves in a more transparent way.  

“No one could have predicted the challenges this city has faced since our last in-person stated 16 months ago, nor the progress we have made to overcome the pandemic and reopen. This budget is focused on rebuilding, recovering and reimagining our City in a more fair and equitable way. Once again, this Council negotiated a fiscally-responsible budget that helps all New Yorkers now and in the future. That was our commitment three and a half years ago when I became Speaker and I’m proud of this legislative body’s work to pass on-time and balanced budgets every year in good times and bad,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.  

“I’m very proud of this budget and what it will do to help NYC recover from the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This budget will help us fortify our health care systems and allow our local nonprofits to continue serving those in need. Additionally, this budget restores almost every funded organization back to FY20 funding levels. I am also proud of the funding I was able to secure in the budget for LGBTQ organizations which for years have been overlooked and underfunded. Most importantly, we put $500 million in the new Rainy Day Fund to offset any future crisis. On a personal note, this is my last budget as Finance Chair and I would like to thank Speaker Corey Johnson for all the faith he has placed in me. I also want to thank all the members of the Council Finance Committee team for putting in long days and nights to make this happen.” said Council Member Daniel Dromm, Chair of the Committee on Finance.   

The FY 2022 budget includes:

Major investments in education and youth  

·         One hundred percent Fair Student Funding: This historic level of resources will provide $607 million in additional Fair Student Funding so that every single public school in the City will receive 100 percent of their Fair Student Funding allocation. 

o    Fair Student Funding is the primary funding source for school budgets and allows school principals the discretion to spend these funds on school essentials such as pedagogical staff, enrichment programs, and support staff. 

·         Additional Education Investments:   

o    $18 million for a class size reduction program;  

o    $24 million to increase the rate paid to the Summer Rising providers;  

o    $9 million to make community schools whole and $5 million to add ten new community schools;  

o    $2 million for the LGBTQ curriculum;  

o    and $10 million for the education equity curriculum;  

o    and $26 million for a citywide literacy curriculum to help students read at grade level and address the learning loss created by virtual learning.  

·         Support Students for a Better Tomorrow: The budget will include $160 million for universal summer school, $22 million to expand special education pre-kindergarten, $19.7 million to restore College Access for All, and $500 million to support programs such as small group tutoring to help our students recover from the impact of the COVID-19 education setbacks, and to set them up for success going forward. 

·         Expand Social Workers in Schools: The FY 22 budget adds $81.1 million for 650 positions to the Department of Education to ensure that every school has access to a mental health professional.  

·         Mental Health Continuum: DOE will provide $5 million for direct mental health support to students in a mental health continuum as recommended by the Mayor’s Leadership Team on School Climate and Discipline. This continuum of services in high need schools would give students with significant mental health needs access to direct mental health services and behavioral supports so they can remain in school. 

Quality of life 

·         Improving Sanitation Services: The budget included $20 million in sanitation services pushed for by the Council, including $7 million to expand organic drop-off sites, $4 million to fully fund the commercial waste zone program, $451,000 to restore the syringe collection cut, and $1.8 million to start a Zero Waste organics pilot at schools and the New York City Housing Authority. 

·         Keep Streets Clean: In order to combat street litter, the budget will include $8.6 million for additional litter basket collection, $1.6 million to purchase 200 rat resistant baskets, and $935,000 for new public waste containers. 

·         Maintain our Parks: One thing that was confirmed during the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of our Parks which were widely used for recreation and exercise and just a space to breathe and relax over the past chaotic year. This year’s budget will include $25 million to restore 150 Park maintenance workers, hire 80 Park Enforcement Patrol Officers, restore 15 Green Thumb staff, hire 50 Urban Park Rangers, maintain natural forests and trails, and remove tree stumps. 

·         Honor our Cultural Institutions and Libraries: The budget will restore the $10.3 million cut to libraries and the $30 million cut to cultural programs and the Cultural Institutions Grant subsidy that had previously been announced. 

·         Help Small Business Recover: The $100 budget will fund various programs to provide a lifeline to struggling businesses, and more than $5 million to restore the Commercial Lease Assistance Program.  

·         Safeguard our Furry Friends: The budget restores $3 million for the Animal Care Center.      

New initiatives and increased support for key programs  

·         Hate crimes: In recognition of the abhorrent rise in anti-Asian hate incidents and the extreme impact of the pandemic on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, the Council will create a new $4 million initiative called AAPI Community Support which will fund Asian-led and Asian-serving organizations to provide mental health services, racial literacy programs, anti-bias and hate crime work. Additionally, the budget includes $1 million for the Hate Crime Prevention Initiative, which supports community-based work aimed at preventing and responding to hate crimes, and $250,000 for Cure Hate, a program which supports swift, individualized responses to communities and victims of hate crimes, and will serve to heal communities and those affected by hate violence. 

·         Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in Tech Initiative: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in Tech Initiative: This $700,000 budget funding supports career readiness training for residents of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) pursuing careers in the technology industry.   

·         Digital Inclusion and Literacy Initiative: The budget will fund with $4.6 million this initiative that supports programing in each of the 51 Council Districts that provide computer-based training and learning, technical skill development, improve internet access, and offer free public streaming services. 

·         LGBT Community Services: The $4.7 million funding will support the outer borough LGBT Services Consortium, which works to increase coordinated delivery of health and human services for LGBT individuals and families in the outer boroughs of the city. 

·         Trans Equity Programs: This $3.3 million allocation will support a range of services to help empower the transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) community. Funding may support education programs, employment services, workforce development, healthcare navigation, legal guidance, community workshops, or academic research, among others.    

·         Children Under Five: A total of $2 million for programs which provide mental health treatment to children aged five years and younger. Some treatment activities may include screening and clinical evaluation; individual, small group, and child-parent psychotherapy; consultation to pediatricians, preschool teachers, and child welfare workers; and trauma-informed interventions. 

·         Geriatric Mental Health: Programs funded under this $3.4 million allocation initiative support organizations that provide a range of mental health services to older adults in non-clinical settings, such as senior centers, drop-in centers, religious institutions, social clubs, homeless prevention programs, and individual homes. 

Alternatives to incarceration and investments to avoid criminal justice involvement 

·         Alternatives to Incarceration: Almost $14.5 million for programs which provide individuals involved in the criminal justice system with alternatives to pre-trial detention, jail or prison. The programs include community service and substance abuse counseling, as well as short-term and long-term housing, job placement, and vocational training.  

o    The Council enhanced the ATI initiative by $2.6 million in two years, including a $1.6 million restoration to the FY 20 level, and an additional $1 million enhancement.    

·         Over $70 million dollars have been put towards existing and new initiatives to support and expand public safety alternatives to policing and incarceration. These funds, which were announced as part of the policing reform package the Council passed in March, include: 

o    The expansion of Summer Youth Employment to a total of 75,000 slots with an addition of 5,000 new spots in summer 2021 for CUNY students. 

o    $14.5 million to fund a new mental health case management program to provide 850 people with mobile and site-based intensive, ongoing case management services in under-served communities. 

o    An additional $4.4 million to double FY2021’s available funds for Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) Teams, which serve those with recent and frequent contact with the mental health, criminal justice, and homeless services systems, recent behavior that is unsafe and escalating, and those who were poorly served by traditional treatment models. 

·         Crisis Management System: $2.9 million in Council funding will support the Crisis Management System, which supports community-based anti-violence work and helps us move away from policing as a solution to every problem. The Council funding is in addition to another $27 million, which will be added to the budget to fund Cure Violence programs as part of our agreement with the de Blasio Administration. Cure programs are part of the Crisis Management System. The $27 million is expected to double the cure violence workforce in calendar year 2021 and, with an additional administration funding in out years, triple the workforce by 2022.  

Affordability and housing 

·         Foreclosure Prevention Programs: This initiative will receive $4.25 million for programs like the purchase of distressed mortgage notes, foreclosure prevention counseling and referral services, legal assistance, outreach, education, and advocacy around subprime lending and mortgage foreclosures. 

·         Stabilizing NYC: The $4 million in funding will help combat the loss of affordable housing at the hands of predatory equity companies, and to defend low-income tenants in predatory equity building from harassment and eviction, by combining legal and organizing resources into a citywide front against predatory equity, helping tenants hold their predatory equity landlords accountable for lack of repairs, bogus eviction cases, and affirmative harassment. 

·         Community Land Trust: This initiative that supports organizations that work on a neighborhood level to develop and expand the community land trust model citywide will receive $1.5 million in the budget. Community land trusts create and preserve affordable housing through nonprofit ownership of land.    

Baselined and social safety net programs  

·         Adult Literacy Education: Fiscal 2022 baselines the Adult Literacy Initiative with $8 million. This program provides immigrant New Yorkers with the tools to achieve higher levels of literacy. There are more than 2.2 million adults in New York City without English language proficiency or a high school diploma. 

·         Work, Learn, Grown: Fiscal 2022 baselines this initiative with $9.7 million for the Council’s year-round youth employment program. Work, Learn, Grow helps participants build work skills and aptitude by launching them into the diverse work opportunities available, through direct exposure and access to a paid workforce program.   

·         Urban Advantage: A $3.5 million baselined allocation to support teaching science through partnerships with eight science-based cultural institutions.   

·         Prevent Hunger: The budget will include another $25 million for fresh food and community-based food pantries because nobody should go hungry in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. 

·         Protect our Foster Youth: In order to continue the successful Fair Futures program that is making such a difference in the lives of so many foster youth, the budget will include $12 million for this program.  

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

 

Statewide Vaccination Rate is 72% -- 54,621 Vaccine Doses Administered OverLast 24 Hours

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity is 0.40%

5 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday 

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

"From the darkest days of the pandemic and to this day, New Yorkers showed this nation and the world that if we come together, follow the science and make the necessary sacrifices to protect one another, we can defeat COVID. We have made remarkable progress and we continue to be on a good trajectory - and we should all be proud of that," Governor Cuomo said. "We still have one big job before us, and that is to continue making sure the vaccine is available to every New Yorker and getting more shots into people's arms. If you still need to get vaccinated, I urge you to do so quickly."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 80,310 
• Total Positive - 345 
• Percent Positive - 0.43% 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.40% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 364 (+2) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 59 
• Patients in ICU - 91 (0) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 47 (+5) 
• Total Discharges - 184,837 (+54) 
• Deaths - 5 
• Total Deaths - 42,972 
• Total vaccine doses administered - 21,143,431 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 54,621 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 440,613 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 69.4% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 63.8%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 72.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 65.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 57.7% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 52.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 59.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 53.9%

Man Convicted In Manhattan Federal Court For Scheme To Steal Over $1.5 Million From New York City’s Human Resources Administration

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SALIFOU CONDE was found guilty of bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud on June 29, 2021, in connection with his involvement in a years-long scheme to steal over $1.5 million from New York City’s Human Resources Administration (“HRA”), following a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Valerie E. Caproni. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Salifou Conde was a key participant in a scheme to steal more than 2,400 rent supplement checks worth over $ 1.6 million to the HRA, an agency that provides critical assistance to New Yorkers in need of rental assistance. A Manhattan jury of his peers has found Conde guilty, and he now awaits sentencing for callously targeting a much-needed support system for low income New Yorkers.”

As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:

HRA is an agency of the City of New York responsible for administering certain of the City’s public assistance programs.  Among other things, HRA provides rental assistance to low income New Yorkers.  For individuals who qualify, HRA provides rental assistance by sending monthly rent supplement checks to landlords or social services organizations that provide housing or residential treatment to cover a portion of the cost of documented expenses such as rent or storage costs.

During the period charged in the Indictment, HRA rent supplement checks that were undeliverable were sent back to the same P.O. Box at a United States post office in New York, New York.  From there, couriers took the undeliverable checks from the post office and delivered the checks back to HRA.  CONDE worked as one of the couriers and stole checks out of the mail. 

Between approximately 2016 and 2019, CONDE and his co-conspirators were responsible for stealing a total of over 2,400 HRA rent supplement checks worth more than $1.6 million, and fraudulently depositing them into more than 40 bank accounts.  CONDE was a key member of the scheme.  He helped to steal undeliverable HRA rent supplement checks, deposit the checks into a network of bank accounts, and then quickly withdraw the stolen cash. 

CONDE, 31, of New Jersey, was convicted of one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison; one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance.

Comptroller Stringer Audit: Widespread Deficiencies in DOB’s Efforts to Combat Illegal Curb Cuts and Driveways

 

Audit shows widespread deficiencies in Department of Buildings’ (DOB) processing of complaints of illegal curb cuts and driveways, oversight and training of field inspectors, and inspections of curb cuts and driveways

City potentially failed to assess and collect as much as $462,618 in penalties due to DOB’s failure to adequately respond to complaints and additional errors

Today, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released an audit revealing the Department of Buildings (DOB) failed to adequately oversee complaint intake, inspection, and disposition processes for illegal curb cuts and driveways. The audit showed widespread deficiencies in DOB’s processing of complaints of illegal curb cuts and driveways, oversight and training of field inspectors, and inspections of curb cuts and driveways. The audit also found that based on a sample of 1,024 complaints made during the audit scope period, the City potentially failed to assess and collect as much as $430,014 in penalties due to DOB’s failure to adequately respond to 502 (49 percent) of those complaints. Based on a review of the total population of complaints received by DOB in the audit scope period, the audit showed that the City may have foregone as much as an additional $32,604 due to additional errors by DOB in its handling of re-inspections and filing of violations with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings’ (OATH’S) Environmental Control Board.

“New York City’s streets and sidewalks are among our greatest public resources,” said Comptroller Stringer. “Illegal curb cuts and driveways negatively impact safety and quality of life for pedestrians and drivers alike and take away much needed sidewalk space when our city most needs it. Our audit identified significant weaknesses in the Department of Buildings enforcement of the rules that apply to curb cuts and driveways, which also cost the city tens of thousands of dollars. I urge DOB to implement our recommendations immediately and ensure that our streetscapes can serve as the public amenities they are intended to be.”

For the audit scope period, Comptroller Stringer obtained from DOB a complaint listing with 7,256 entries, of which 5,783 were individual complaints associated with 3,874 properties of potentially illegal curb cuts, driveways, and carports according to DOB’s internal reporting. For the 5,783 individual complaints received during the audit scope, DOB performed 3,238 inspections for 3,020 properties. Of these 3,238 inspections, DOB issued 1,435 OATH violations related to 1,203 properties.

Comptroller Stringer’s audit found that with respect to curb cuts and driveways, DOB did not adequately oversee its processes for responding to complaints and for issuing permits for their installation as well as deficiencies in all aspects of DOB’s complaint intake, inspection, and disposition processes. DOB lacked training for its field inspectors regarding curb cuts and driveways and did not provide sufficient supervisory oversight of their inspections. Additionally, DOB lacked controls over the issuance of violations for illegal curb cuts and driveways and DOB field inspectors did not appropriately refer all complaints that fall under other agencies’ jurisdictions to those agencies.

The audit also found that DOB reports generated from its databases in response to auditor inquiries of curb cut complaints, dispositions, and supervisory reviews contained inadequate and/or inconsistent information and were therefore unreliable. DOB also inappropriately issued permits in situations where the curb cut applications did not meet all the required conditions set forth in the City’s Zoning Resolution. By issuing these permits, DOB facilitated the installation of illegal curb cuts and driveways.

To address the issues raised by this audit, Comptroller Stringer made 27 recommendations including:

In connection with deficiencies in processing complaints of illegal curb cuts and driveways, DOB should enhance its procedures to ensure that:

• Triage officers correctly identify curb cut and driveway complaints that merit a field inspection and forward them to the Construction unit;
• Allegedly illegal curb cuts and driveways referenced in the complaints are inspected timely, according to its standards; and
• All assessed OATH violations are filed prior to the pre-set hearing date as required.

In connection with DOB’s inadequate oversight and training of field inspectors, DOB should:

• Ensure that DOB supervisory field inspectors (supervisors) review the results of all field inspections prior to finalizing their results;
• Ensure that field inspectors complete and submit a checklist as part of their inspections;
• Ensure that field inspectors use appropriate measurement tools during inspections to ensure that homeowners are adhering to the proper dimensions of a curb cut and driveway; and
• Establish specific training for curb cut and driveway inspections to ensure that field inspectors have the requisite knowledge to assess the legality of curb cuts and driveways.

In connection with DOB field inspectors’ inadequate inspections of curb cuts and driveways, DOB should:

• Ensure that inspectors’ comments related to inspections of curb cuts and driveways are relevant, complete, and appropriate with respect to the complaint;
• Ensure that field inspectors correctly identify violating conditions and issue violations as appropriate; and
• Ensure that potentially violating conditions under DOT’s jurisdiction are referred and forwarded to DOT so that it may appropriately follow up.

In addition, DOB should:

• Verify that information submitted on site surveys is accurate and reflects the existing condition of a property prior to approving a curb cut application.
• Verify that the information submitted in support of curb cut and driveway permits contains all required documentation;
• Confirm that applications submitted include all necessary detailed information, including: the purpose of the curb cut (access to a garage or parking lot); measurements of the curb cut; the number of garages and parking pads to be accessed via the curb cut(s); the location of the garage or the parking lot (on which side of the property); and the actual location of the curb cut to be installed (at the back or front of the property);
• Maintain a complete and accurate list of all user access rights for all employees who handle curb cut approvals, inspections, and dispositions; and
• Automate the detection of invalid BINs and addresses and their dispositions as such.

To read Comptroller Stringer’s audit of DOB’s controls over illegal curb cuts and driveways, click here.

185 Days and Counting - Six Months Left.

 

Charlene we have only six months left in charge of New York City. I think I am going to take you around with me now to introduce me, because nobody does it better than you. 

Andrew Cuomo looks like he is gearing up for a fourth term as Governor, and I really want to have the absolute power he had during the Pandemic. Anything he wanted he could do, as the state legislature gave him absolute power during the pandemic. He got his family and friends vaccinated when they shouldn't have been vaccinated, and he still hasn't been prosecuted for the nursing home scandal. People want me to run for governor, what do you think, would I be a better governor than Andrew Cuomo?

Third Avenue Business Improvement District - Taking Care of Business

 

Annual Meeting of Membership to be Held July 28, 2021 If you are a registered member of the HUB / Third Avenue Merchants District Management Association, Inc. This memorandum serves as notice for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Membership. The Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 10:00am via Zoom. During the meeting we will ratify changes to the Bylaws and BID policies, fill vacant Board positions, and vote on the annual budget. Additionally, we will hear about new developments in the area which positively impact your business and / or property. 2021 Annual Meeting Notice

NYS OASAS AND NYSED ANNOUNCE OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT HEALTH SURVEYS

 

Youth Development Survey Engages Students in Grades 7-12 To Assess Risks of Underage Drinking, Substance Use, and Problem Gambling

 

Youth Risk Behavior Survey Measures 9th-12th Grade Students’ strengths and risks Related to Unintentional Injuries and Violence, Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Use, Dietary Behaviors, and Other Health Topics

Surveys Will Help School Districts and Local Communities Target the Specific Health and Prevention Needs of their Student Populations.

 The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and New York State Education Department (NYSED) today announced the opportunity for school districts across New York State to participate in the Youth Development Survey (YDS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The YDS will assess substance-related risk and protective factors of students in grades 7-12 regarding underage drinking, substance use, and problem gambling. The YRBS measures 9th-12th grade students’ strengths and risks related to unintentional injuries and violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, dietary behaviors, physical activity, sexual behaviors, obesity and weight control and other health topics.

“We have a responsibility to keep our kids safe, and New York is focused on engaging with young people to assess substance-related health risks,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Youth Development Survey directly engages students, and will help schools and communities target their services and prevention methods to combat these risks.”

OASAS and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) monitor student risk factors that impact health, safety, and academic success through voluntary student surveys. This information allows both agencies to identify student health and prevention needs and develop resources to help reduce and prevent future and current behavioral health issues.

OASAS will work with International Survey Associates (ISA), a national youth survey organization, to conduct the survey in November 2021. ISA will process and analyze the results and provide district-specific estimates of substance use and risk, as well as potential protective factors to address these risks. The reports are designed to enable districts to determine how their students compare to the surrounding area, as well as the rest of the state.

NYSED contracts with its technical assistance center, the NYS Center for School Health (NYSCSH), to administer the YRBS to 30 high schools randomly selected by the CDC. The schools selected will be notified in August. The YRBS measures 9th-12th grade students’ strengths and risks related to unintentional injuries and violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, dietary behaviors, physical activity, sexual behaviors, obesity and weight control, and other health topics. Only one to four classes in the selected high schools take the survey, which provides both New York State and National YRBS trend data.

District participation is voluntary and free of charge, and OASAS and NYSED will be reaching out directly to superintendents to solicit participation in the survey. Districts are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to assess the behaviors of New York’s youth in order to implement policies geared toward improving the health of students and reducing the chances that they will engage in risky behavior. In addition, the youth population data collected through the surveys will enable the agencies to better evaluate and monitor state-funded local community and school-based prevention efforts.

“These surveys provide an excellent opportunity to assess the most critical needs of children in school districts across New York State, and will allow us to target our services where they are needed most,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “I urge all districts to participate and help us determine the risks and challenges they are facing, and the best ways to address these issues.”

“A comprehensive and coordinated approach with students, families, schools and communities is so important in helping our youth with decision making,” Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said. “If information from these surveys can help even one student, it’s worth it for districts to take part.”

“This year has seen increased stress, anxiety and trauma for our students and families and now, more than ever, we must help our children avoid harmful behaviors any way we can,” State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said. “I encourage districts to participate in these important surveys to ensure they receive the proper resources to support students in making good choices.”

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

CONSUMER ALERT: THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION REMINDS PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO MAKE WATER SAFETY A PRIORITY FOR CHILDREN

 

Summertime Brings Water Activities and Children’s Safety Must Be a Priority

Child Drownings Remain Leading Cause of Unintentional Death in Children 1-4 years old

DCP Offers Water Safety Tips to Help Prevent Drownings

 The New York State Division of Consumer Protection today reminded parents and guardians to make water safety a priority for young children as summertime water activities begin. A new U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report revealed that child drownings remain the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages one to four years old. The report also indicated that from 2018 to 2020, 78 percent of all nonfatal drowning injuries occurred among children younger than five years old. There are basic safety tips New Yorkers can take to help prevent drowning in children.

“As families enjoy water activities, it is imperative to pay close attention to the safety of our children,” said New York State Secretary of State, Rossana Rosado. “The New York Division of Consumer Protection is providing safety tips so parents and guardians can best safeguard children when they are near the water. This knowledge saves lives, and I urge all New Yorkers to follow these basic tips to ensure this summertime is safe and fun for all.”

"In a matter of minutes, children can succumb to the dangers of drowning if left unsupervised or without the proper training necessary to become strong swimmers," said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. "I urge all New Yorkers to enjoy the water responsibly this summer and to remember to put the safety of our youngest swimmers first to ensure a happy recreational season for all."

Safety tips to help prevent drownings:

• Adult Supervision. This is the number one way to prevent drowning. Never leave a child unattended in or near water, and always designate a Water Watcher. This person should not be reading, texting, using a smartphone, drinking alcoholic beverages, or otherwise distracted.
• Swim Lessons.Multiple studies show swim lessons prevent drowning. Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
• Life Jackets.Put life jackets on kids anytime they are on a boat or participating in other open water recreational activities. Personal flotation devices should always be used for children that do not  know how to swim. NYS Law requires that children under 12 wear a Coast Guard-approved life vest on a boat or water vessel. For more information on proper life jackets, go to the United States Coast Guard site at: https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php
• Learn CPR.Every second counts and CPR can help in an emergency.
• Put Up Barriers. Install appropriate safety barriers around in-home pools and spas. This includes fences, gates, door alarms and covers.
• Pool Alarms. Install a pool alarm to detect and provide notification of unattended pool access.
• Small Pools. Drain and put away smaller portable pools when not in use.
• Cover Drains. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid them getting stuck. Also, ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards, which include drain shape, drain cover size, and rate of water flow. Learn more here.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. Consumers can file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. 

For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm or visit the DCP website at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.