RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CITY WORKFORCE HEALTH CARE MANDATE

 

Beginning September 13^th, City will require proof of vaccination or weekly COVID-19 tests for all city workers

 

City also makes official call to private sector to enact vaccine and test mandates at all offices, workplaces, and facilities

 Mayor Bill de Blasio, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner (DOHMH) Dr. Dave A. Chokshi and NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announced a new health care mandate requiring all city workers to provide one-time proof of vaccination or weekly COVID-19 tests beginning September 13^th.

 

In advance of this benchmark, the City is mandating 45,000 City workers and contractors in residential and congregate care settings by August 16^th. Both of these recent mandates are in addition to the Health Worker COVID-Safe Requirement the Mayor announced last week, requiring NYC Health + Hospitals employees and those working in Department of Health and Mental Hygiene clinical settings to provide either a one-time verification of immunization, or weekly proof of a negative COVID-19 test by August 2^nd.

 

"This is what it takes to continue our recovery for all of us while fighting back the delta variant," said Mayor de Blasio. "It’s going to take all of us to finally end the fight against COVID-19."

 

“These new requirements reflect our commitment to each other and the people we serve,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “In the tug of war between vaccines and the variants, we should continue to bet on the vaccines. But now is the time for our whole City to pull together to defeat Delta.”

 

“We’ve come a long way from once being the ‘epicenter of the epicenter’ of COVID-19, but this pandemic is not over yet,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “We have a moral responsibility to take every precaution possible to ensure we keep ourselves, our colleagues and loved ones safe. Our City’s new testing requirement for city workers provides more piece of mind until more people get their safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.”

 

The Mayor also made an official call for the private sector to enact vaccine and test mandates at their offices, workplaces, stores, and restaurants. Approximately 4.9 million New Yorkers have received at least one dose of the vaccine. This includes over 100,000 doses from mobile vaccination sites, 280,000 doors knocked by canvassers, and 20,000 doses given in-home to anyone who needs it. There have also been more than $80,000 in Referral Bonuses given to community organizations. 

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS'S STATEMENT ON NEW COVID-19 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CITY WORKERS

 

"Like so many New Yorkers, I had been excited to see our case rates declining in recent months and to return to some pre-pandemic activities with limited restrictions. But now, the speed and spread of the Delta variant has changed our trajectory, and unfortunately, must also change our mindset, our behaviors, and our policies. 

"I commend the Mayor for implementing a required vaccination-or-testing policy for city workers, and urge that, in coordination with union leadership, the proposed timeline be accelerated and requirements be expanded to twice weekly testing. Both changes would dramatically improve our ability to control the spread of the Delta variant. 

"In addition, and in accordance with the scientific guidance on current risks, public and private spaces should require masks to be worn indoors - not only for city workers, but for all New Yorkers. We know that despite some breakthrough cases, vaccinated individuals are primarily protected, but we also know that until New York can increase rates of injection and lower rates of infection, an added layer of protection is a small sacrifice to make for the safety of our neighbors. Our city and state have brought case rates down before, protecting ourselves and our fellow New Yorkers, and I am confident that we can do it again."

162 Days and Counting

 

Doctor Chokshi With the numbers going up on COVID-19 do I need a booster shot yet? You gave me the one dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and then discontinued it one week later, Three Yankee players caught the virus, and they were vaccinated. Which of the three vaccines did they receive?

You know I am going to the Bronx this week, and that borough is last in vaccinations, as the Bronx is last in everything that is good for you, while being first in things that are bad for its residents. I don't want to bring something home from the Bronx that will harm me, it can stay in the Bronx which I have dumped on for seven years.

Bronx Dominican Day Parade 2021

 

The weather was nice, but not too hot for a last minute Bronx Dominican Day parade. It was said before the parade that there are one million Dominicans living in New York City, and that their political power is growing. Several City Council members around the city, and Congressman Adriano Espaillat the first Dominican Congress member. 

Congressman Espaillat was on the stage with the latest Dominican presumed elected official 14th City Councilwoman Perrina Sanchez. Bronx Democratic Party Leader State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Outgoing Dominican Manhattan City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, Several Dominican Day Parade Grand Marshals, and Democratic candidate, and presumed next Mayor of New York City Eric Adams spoke. 

When Mayor de Blasio arrived the Bronx Dominican Day Parade began. There was no parade last year due to COVID -19, and this year there was an abbreviated parade of only a few blocks. That however did not keep people from marching, and others on either side of a closed off middle section of the Grand Concourse. 

It was a joyous winner of the 14th City Council Democratic Primary, and Presumed next Councilwoman Perrina Sanchez.

Bronx Democratic Party Leader State Senator Jamaal Bailey was all smiles, and he even said most of his speech in Spanish, with only one mistake. 

Outgoing Dominican Manhattan City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez spoke, and introduced the presumed next Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams.

Presumed Mayor Democrat Eric Adams thanked the Dominican community for supporting and voting for him.

Presumed Mayor Eric Adams with several Dominican Day Parade Princesses, and Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, and Mr. Bronx Lenny Caro.

Mayor Bill de Blasio arrived, and it was time to start the 2021 Dominican Day Parade.

The marchers set up to march behind a giant Dominican flag.

A smiling Mayor de Blasio marches with the other elected officials and Grand Marshals.

Mayor de Blasio holds his Dominican flag high, as he marches next to Councilman Oswald Feliz.

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

 

34,123 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

7 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"COVID-19 continues to spread in New York State and new variants are cause for concern, so it's absolutely vital that every New Yorker who hasn't gotten vaccinated yet does so immediately," Governor Cuomo said. "The vaccine is available for free at a wide range of sites across the state, and you can get it today without an appointment. Getting vaccinated keeps your family, friends and community safe, so get your shot today."

 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 88,877
• Total Positive - 1,982
• Percent Positive - 2.23%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.76%
• Patient Hospitalization - 505 (+11)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 94
• Patients in ICU - 120 (+2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 38 (-4)
• Total Discharges - 186,291 (+75)
• Deaths - 7
• Total Deaths - 43,055
• Total vaccine doses administered - 22,032,734
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 34,123
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 242,929
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 71.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 66.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 74.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 59.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 55.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 62.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 56.5%

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - They know that we can win.

 

  

It goes without saying that there's a great deal of dark money involved in the fight against climate change right now. That dark money is intended for us to not act in this situation. 

We have lobbyists from companies like Exxon Mobil who are bragging about their role in shaping our federal legislation, curtailing our ambitions, and fighting against key provisions to draw down our carbon emissions. 

So many of the people that are in charge of blocking action on climate will not see the world that they’re leaving to generations to come. 

We have a moral responsibility to leave this world better than we found it. This is not about theory anymore, this is not about challenging the science anymore. 

In New York City just this week, people woke up having a harder time breathing and a harder time seeing on the horizon because of the smoke from the Bootleg Fires out in Oregon coming out to our city. 

Wildfires will come and impact all of us. 

Floods and waters will come to impact all of us. 

But they will not impact all of us equally. The most vulnerable communities will be left behind, but we can stop it. 

It doesn’t have to be this way. Not only can we stop it, and not only can we draw down our emissions, but we can create millions of jobs doing so – millions of good, union jobs. 

We can create a Civilian Climate Corps. 

We can transition to renewable energy. 

We can build infrastructure that all people can enjoy that’s not just attuned to the wealthy. 

We can restore our lands. 

We can live in harmony with an economy where we can care for one another instead of extracting off of each other. 

We can build this world, and this world is close. So close. And that is why we see dark money mobilizing the way it is right now. Because they know that we can win.

Hopefully in this reconciliation package that we’re debating, we will continue to win. But this fight does not stop now. It does not stop with this infrastructure package. It will not stop throughout the course of our lives. 

So we're going to keep fighting. 

Thanks for being a part of this,

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Attorney General James Takes 342 Guns Off the Streets at Syracuse Gun Buyback

 

Largest Gun Buyback in OAG History to Combat Gun Violence 

AG James Has Taken Nearly 2,000 Firearms Out of Communities Since 2019 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that 342 firearms were turned in to law enforcement at a gun buyback event hosted by her office and the city of Syracuse. Today's gun buyback — the largest gun buyback in the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) history — comes as Syracuse has experienced an increase in gun violence and sought to curb this devastation by accepting — with no questions asked — working and non-working, unloaded firearms in exchange for compensation on site. To date, Attorney General James has taken nearly 2,000 firearms out of communities through gun buyback events and other efforts since taking office in 2019. 

“Gun violence continues to claim lives and threaten communities throughout our state,” said Attorney General James. “With the spike in gun violence ravaging neighborhoods in Syracuse, it is more important than ever that we use every tool at our disposal to protect our families and children. Whether it is taking down the violent drug rings fueling this crisis, hosting gun buybacks, or supporting community groups that are addressing this violence — we are vigorously combating this crisis from every angle. Every gun that was turned in today represents a potential tragedy averted and a potential life saved, and we are grateful to our partners for their support.”

Today’s community gun buyback resulted in 342 guns being collected, including 176 handguns, 119 shotguns and rifles, 11 assault rifles, and 36 non-working or antique guns. Since 2013, OAG has hosted gun buyback events throughout New York state and has successfully collected nearly 4,000 firearms.

In exchange for the firearms, OAG also offered monetary compensation, in the form of prepaid gift cards, and Apple iPads when an unloaded gun was received and secured by an officer on site. 

“I thank Attorney General James for bringing this gun buyback program to the city of Syracuse. I also commend the people in our community who are taking the initiative to turn in weapons that need to be off our streets and out of our homes,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “Gun violence is a crisis facing cities around the country, including Syracuse. We need to use every strategy available to reduce it. After this gun buyback, I'm confident our city will be safer. And our work to address gun violence on every front will continue.” 

Gun violence is a public health crisis that is plaguing communities throughout New York, and today’s event is the latest action that Attorney General James has taken to combat this crisis and protect New Yorkers from harm. This year alone, Attorney General James has held 10 gun buybacks across the state, and has also secured dozens of dangerous firearms through takedowns of violent groups terrorizing New York. Two weeks ago, Attorney General James announced the takedown of two major drug trafficking rings in Syracuse, in which 15 guns, including nine ghost guns, were seized. To date, Attorney General James has taken a total of nearly 2,000 guns out of communities since 2019. 

163 Days and Counting

 

It will be off to the Bronx once again to march in the Bronx Dominican Day Parade, I want to march with my friend Congressman Adriano Espaillat, to congratulate him for putting in two members to the city council. Pierina Sanchez who held a closed victory party last night, but she can't close off the Grand Concourse for today's parade. Then there is the other new member of the city council Oswald Feliz, who reminds me of myself when I was elected Mayor, I was totally unprepared for the office. I was able to keep most of my predecessors staff, but Congressman Torres took his entire council staff with him. See you later on the Grand Concousre.