Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 9/13/21-9/17/21

 

Dear Community,

I want to begin by saying G'mar Chatima Tova to our Jewish neighbors and wish the community a blessed Yom Kippur, which occurred earlier this week. I hope that everyone observing had an easy and meaningful fast. 

Earlier this week, I joined a group of elected officials to visit Rikers Island. What I witnessed was horrifying beyond words – never ending piles of garbage and feces covering the floors, water bugs and lice biting at the skin of the incarcerated, bleach poured on the walls and floors, people locked in solitary confinement in very narrow shower stalls amidst their own feces, because many of the cell doors are broken, and the list goes on. 

Under these current conditions on Rikers Island, safety is jeopardized for everyone. For anyone who visits Rikers, it is obvious the City is no longer capable of ensuring the safety of the incarcerated and staff. The conditions are hellish, and if any other country engaged in this inhumane treatment against their own people, the United States and New York State would be the first to call it out. Yet here we are, denying our fellow community members the most basic dignity all human beings deserve. 

Inaction is no longer an option, and we must begin with decarceration measures to reduce the population on Rikers Island.  

I am calling for the following measures to be taken:

1. Governor Kathy Hochul immediately sign the Less is More Act (S1144A/A5576) and direct Acting NYS DOC Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci to use his discretion to release individuals being incarcerated for technical parole violations.
2. Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Correction utilize the Early Release (6A) Program to permit people sentenced to less than one year to be released and serve the remainder of their sentence at home. 
3. District Attorneys and judges use their discretion to change the pre-trial status of incarcerated individuals, decline prosecuting cases, and avoid setting cash bail.
4. NYC must ensure that no new people are sent to Rikers Island, and instead are placed in safer facilities.

All of us are responsible for this crisis and have the power to take action today. New York State and the City must work in collaboration to immediately reduce the number of incarcerated individuals on Rikers Island and ensure no individual is forced to live in the current conditions.

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation for Special Election for Open Senate and Assembly Seats to be Held on Election Day

 

Special Election to Fill Vacancies in 86th Assembly District and 30th Senate District

Proclamation Available Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul today issued a proclamation declaring that a special election to fill vacancies in the 86th Assembly District and the 30th Senate District will be held on Election Day, November 2nd. The special election will fill vacancies created by the resignation of Victor M. Pichardo in the Assembly and the resignation of Brian A. Benjamin in Senate, who is now serving as Lieutenant Governor for the State of New York.

"We know that special elections have historically had lower levels of voter participation and higher associated costs," Governor Hochul said. "To fill the vacancies in the Senate and Assembly, we are aligning the special elections for those seats with Election Day in November. This will not only encourage more voters to get out to the polls and increase voter turnout, it will save thousands of taxpayer dollars."

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION RELEASES MAYOR'S MANAGEMENT REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

When reading this, we looked at the the numbers, and we find it strange that there are not constant comparisons, but comparisons to years that are better favorable to the mayor. 

We also question the mayor on his figures for the Homeless. when I asked the mayor why he was placing 400 single adult men into Bronx Community Board 11, more than double the DHS policy of placing no more than 25% of the homeless in any community board of Single Adult Males. Mayor de Blasio's answer was, With the new No Cash Bail Law we have many more single adult males now homeless. There is no mention of the increase in homeless single adult males when the No Cash Bail Law was passed.

The de Blasio Administration today released the Mayor’s Management Report for Fiscal Year 2021, an analysis of City agencies’ performance from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The MMR presents more than 2,000 indicators from 45 City agencies that measure the City’s performance in providing services to New Yorkers. The Fiscal Year 2021 MMR, the last of the Mayor’s tenure, features the City’s response and recovery efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the de Blasio Administration’s achievements in education, public safety, criminal justice and police reform, open space, transportation, access to healthcare, affordable housing, economic security and uplifting working families.

 

“The Mayor’s Management Report has served as the City’s report card for decades,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “From expanding Pre-K and 3K to the creation of our affordable housing plan to driving down crime, this year’s report captures trends from the past eight years that I’m proud to share with New Yorkers. This year’s report also details how City agencies rose to meet the greatest challenge in a generation, COVID-19. Together, we will continue to drive vaccination rates upward and build a recovery for all of us.”

 

“For 44 years the Mayor’s Management Report has been integral to the function and efficacy of New York City’s Government. As vital as the MMR is to our government, it’s equally important for New Yorkers to see what is working, what is in progress and what needs more attention,” said Jeff Thamkittikasem, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations. “I want to thank the people of Operations for making this report possible and dedicating their lives to a more effective and equitable government, especially during this entire pandemic response.”

 

The MMR, which grew out of the 1970’s fiscal crisis, is a national model for holding City government accountable. Both the MMR and Preliminary Mayor’s Management Report (PMMR), which covers the first four months of the fiscal year and is released in January, are mandated by Section 12 of the New York City Charter. To view this year’s report, visit: http://www.nyc.gov/mmr.

 

THE DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION BY THE NUMBERS

 

MMR Administration Fiscal Year 2013 – Fiscal Year 2021 Highlights include:

 

Education

• Student enrollment in Full Day Pre-K increased over 267% from 15,917 in Fiscal Year 2013 to 58,469 in Fiscal Year 2021.
• Proficiency in English Language Arts for Grades 3-8 increased 21 percentage points from 26.4% in Fiscal Year 2013 to 47.4% in Fiscal Year 2019.
• Proficiency in Math for Grades 3-8 increased 16 percentage points from 29.6% in Fiscal Year 2013 to 45.6% in Fiscal Year 2019.
• The percentage of high schoolers taking AP exams increased 15.9 percentage points from 23.9% in Fiscal Year 2013 to 39.8% in Fiscal Year 2019.
• The four-year high school graduation rate increased 12.8 percentage points from 66.0% in Fiscal Year 2013 to 78.7% in Fiscal Year 2020.
• The School Construction authority added more than 50,000 new school seats during the administration.
• The four-year college readiness rate increased 26.3 percentage points from 31.4% in Fiscal Year 2013 to 57.7% in Fiscal Year 2020.
• The number of students enrolled in CUNY ASAP increased nearly ten fold from 2,204 students in Fiscal Year 2013 to 23,118 students in Fiscal Year 2021.

 

Personal and Community Safety

• Major felony crime decreased 13.4% from 110,099 in Fiscal Year 2013 to 95,369 in Fiscal Year 2021.

 

Core Infrastructure and Environment

• Citi Bike Trips increased 145% from 9.4M in Fiscal Year 2014 to 23.1M in Fiscal Year 2021.
• DOT has installed over 500 new miles of bike lanes since Fiscal Year 2013 including over 130 miles of protected bike lanes.
• The number of Select Bus Service miles covered increased 123% from 65 miles in Fiscal Year 2015 to 145 miles in Fiscal Year 2021.
• The cumulative estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from all DCAS energy projects is 262,285 metric tons.
• The City has added more than 13 megawatts of solar energy capacity.
• The percentage of vehicles in the City fleet that are hybrid or alternative fuel like electric vehicles increased from 26 percentage points from 41% to 67%.

 

Economic Security and Mobility

·         The Fair Fares NYC program was created, now at 235,583 qualifying low-income New Yorkers accessing half-priced rides on subways, buses, and paratransit.

 

Empowered Residents and Neighborhoods

• The IDNYC municipal ID card program has nearly 1.4 million cardholders.
• Total Registered Voters increased 19.9% from 4.6M in Fiscal Year 2013 to 5.6M in Fiscal Year 2021.

 

Housing

• Under the Housing NY program, over 194,000 affordable homes have been started either through new construction or preservation.
• Nearly 450,000 New Yorkers facing eviction and other housing-related legal challenges have received City-funded free legal assistance since 2014. 

 

Health and Wellbeing

• Metroplus membership has increased 44.9% from 427,830 in Fiscal Year 2013 to 620,041 in Fiscal Year 2021.
• NYC Care enrollment reached 69,309 in Fiscal Year 2021.
• NYC Well was created, providing mental health service connections to all New Yorkers, increasing 45% from 152,600 connections in Fiscal Year 2017 to 372,900 connections in Fiscal Year 2021 and more than 1 million connections since the beginning of the program.
• The Co-Response teams of NYPD and DOHMH have expanded ten-fold from 53 engagements in Fiscal Year 2016 to 661 engagements in Fiscal Year 2021, with more 2,000 engagements since the program was created.
• The percentage of adults who smoke has decreased 4.6 percentage points from 15.5% in Fiscal Year 2013 to 10.9% in Fiscal Year 2021.
• The number of children under the age of 18 with blood lead levels of 5 micrograms per deciliter or greater has decreased 55.2% from 6,734 in Calendar Year 2015 to 3,015 in Calendar Year 2020.
• The average number of children in foster care has decreased 41% from 12,958 in Fiscal Year 2013 to 7,639 in Fiscal Year 2021.

 

Diverse and Inclusive Government

• The number of MWBEs certified increased 188% from 3,700 in Fiscal Year 2013 to 10,665 in Fiscal Year 2021.

 

Highlights from the Fiscal Year 21 MMR include:

 

Health and Wellbeing

 

·         H+H: MetroPlus membership increased 10.7% from 560,212 to 620,041. 

·         H+H: NYC Care enrollment increased 146.2% from 28,151 to 69,309.

·         H+H: eConsults completed increased 87.8% from 171,569 to 322,229.

·     H+H: Individuals who received clinical services from Mental Health Service Corps behavioral health clinicians increased 113.7% from 2,749 to 5,874.

·         DOHMH: New tuberculosis cases (CY) (preliminary) decreased 20.0% from 556 to 445.

·         DOHMH: New HIV diagnoses (CY Preliminary) decreased 54.2% from 1,772 to 812.

·         DOHMH: Childhood blood lead levels - number of children less than 18 years of age with blood lead levels of 5 micrograms per deciliter or greater (CY) decreased 19.4% from 3,739 to 3,015.

·         DOHMH: Childhood blood lead levels - number of children less than 6 years of age with blood lead levels of 5 micrograms per deciliter or greater (CY) decreased 14.7% from 3,050 to 2,603.

·         DOHMH: Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) (CY) decreased 7.1% from 4.2 to 3.9.

·         DOHMH: Supportive connections provided by NYC Well, a behavioral health helpline increased 42.2% from 262,200 to 372,900.

 

 Empowered Residents and Neighborhoods

 

·         ACS: Children in foster care decreased 2.4% from 7,827 to 7,639.

·         ACS: Total admissions to detention decreased 31.6% from 1,442 to 987.

·         ACS: Average daily population (ADP), detention decreased 7.6% from 128.7 to 118.9

·         DHS: Single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the DHS shelter services system within one year decreased 2.4% from 14.2% to 11.8%.

·         DHS: Adult families entering the DHS shelter services system decreased 52.8% from 1,118 to 528.

·         DHS: Adult families in shelters per day decreased 19.2% from 2,455 to 1,983.

·         DHS: Adult families who exited to unsubsidized permanent housing and returned to the DHS: shelter services system within one year decreased 4.1% from 7.7% to 3.6%.

·         DHS: Families with children entering the DHS shelter services system decreased 39.5% from 10,087 to 6,107.

·         DHS: Families with children in shelters per day decreased 16.2% from 11,719 to 9,823.

·         DHS: Families with children who exited to unsubsidized permanent housing and returned to the DHS shelter services system within one year decreased 3.9% from 19.5% to 15.6%.

·         DVS: Veterans and their families given assistance to access resources increased 215.7% from 2,715 to 8,572.

·         DVS: Veterans, family members and caregivers who were successfully connected to care, services or resources through VetsThrive increased 52.7% from 1,402 to 2,142.

 

Public and Community Safety

 

·         NYPD: Forcible rape decreased 13.7% from 1,136 to 980.

·         NYPD: Robbery decreased 3.0% from 13,438 to 13,030.

·         NYPD: Grand larceny decreased 9.6% from 39,524 to 35,735.

·         NYPD: Major felony crime in transit system decreased 38.9% from 2,378 to 1,452.

·         NYPD: Murder related to domestic violence decreased 17.2% from 64 to 53.

·         NYPD: Rape related to domestic violence decreased 8.4% from 645 to 591.

·      FDNY: End-to-end average response time (minutes:seconds) to life-threatening medical emergencies by ambulance units decreased 8.3% from 10:19 to 9:34

·  FDNY: End-to-end combined response time (minutes:seconds) to life-threatening medical emergencies by ambulance & fire units decreased 9.3% from 9:31 to 8:44.

·         FDNY: Structural fires decreased 6.3% from 25,993 to 24,359

 

Housing

·         HPD: New construction starts under Housing NY (units) 64.9% from 6,867 to 11,322.

 

Diverse and Inclusive Government

·         SBS: Annual MWBE recertification rate increased 4.1% from 62.6% to 66.7%.

·         SBS: MWBEs that were certified increased 6.3% from 10,034 to 10,665.

 

Core Infrastructure and Environment

·         DOT: Citi Bike trips increased 21.1% from 19,050,000 to 23,080,000.

·         TLC: Active medallion taxis that are accessible increased 81.9% from 1,052 to 1,914.

·         TLC: Active FHVs that are accessible increased 101.9% from 1,113 to 2,247.

Assemblymember Nathalia Fernandez - Green Day of Action at Pelham Parkway, September 25th

 

On Saturday, September 25th at 12:00pm, I will be hosting a Green Day of Action in partnership with Friends of Pelham Parkway! I invite you all to come out and volunteer as we do our part to protect our environment and keep our community green with this day of action! If you and/or your organization are interested in participating please fill out this attached form by using the link below: https://bit.ly/3CqK8wW   Please See The Attached Flyer *Cleaning Supplies, Snacks, and Water Will Be Provided*   Best Regards, New York State Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez

Three Defendants Plead Guilty To 2011 Murder Of Joshua Rubin

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that KEVIN TAYLOR, GARY ROBLES, and MICHAEL MAZUR pled guilty to participating in the October 31, 2011, murder of Joshua Rubin.  After shooting and killing Rubin in Brooklyn, New York, the defendants drove Rubin’s body to rural Pennsylvania, where they doused his body in lighter fluid and set it on fire.  TAYLOR and ROBLES pled guilty today.  MAZUR pled guilty on July 1, 2021.  All three defendants will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, to whom the case is assigned. 

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “On October 31, 2011, Kevin Taylor, Gary Robles, and Michael Mazur participated in the murder of Joshua Rubin after they tried to rob Rubin of a quantity of marijuana.  Not only did the defendants kill Rubin, they then drove his body to rural Pennsylvania where they set it on fire in an attempt to conceal the murder.  Thanks to the relentless, nearly decade-long efforts of our law enforcement partners to find the individuals who cut short Joshua Rubin’s life, the defendants now face significant prison time for their crimes.”

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

On or about October 31, 2011, TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR agreed to rob Joshua Rubin of a pound of marijuana.  TAYLOR arranged by phone to purchase the marijuana from Rubin.  ROBLES agreed to bring a firearm to the robbery.  That night, TAYLOR and ROBLES waited inside an apartment while MAZUR served as the lookout.  Rubin entered the apartment, and TAYLOR and ROBLES demanded that Rubin give them the marijuana.  When Rubin refused, ROBLES shot and killed Rubin.

After the murder, TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR put Rubin’s body into the trunk of a car and drove to rural Pennsylvania.  There, TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR put Rubin’s body in a garbage can, poured lighter fluid over the body, and set the body on fire.  TAYLOR, ROBLES, and MAZUR then drove back to New York in the early morning hours.

In 2019 and 2020, prior to federal charges being filed in this case, TAYLOR paid cash bribes to a potential witness in an attempt to prevent the witness from speaking with law enforcement.

TAYLOR, 28, ROBLES, 38, and MAZUR, 27, each pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  In connection with his guilty plea, each defendant admitted his role in the murder.

TAYLOR also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and one count of conspiracy to commit witness tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

ROBLES also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

MAZUR is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2021.  TAYLOR and ROBLES are each scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2022.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.  She also thanked the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the South Whitehall Township Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

Attorney General James Secures $380,000 From Fraudsters Who Crashed Hoop Dreams of Unsuspecting Youth

AAUCONNECT Ordered to Pay Nearly $380,000 in Restitution and Penalties 

Additional Consumers Affected Should File Complaint With OAG  

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a judgment secured against an Endicott-based high school and post-graduate basketball program and its owners for defrauding consumers by misrepresenting their program and services. AAUCONNECT falsely advertised itself as a premier basketball training program across the state, and took money from families, but never actually provided the training, housing, and education it promised attendees of the program. The judgment directs AAUCONNECT and its owners — Chris Bevin and Hazel Ward — to pay a total of nearly $380,000 in restitution and penalties, nearly $239,000 of which will go directly to the already identified 27 families that were duped by the program and its owners. The court has also granted any additional consumers to submit their claims by December 9, 2021 to receive restitution. 

“Instead of connecting young people with real opportunities and providing them access to a premier basketball training program, AAUCONNECT and its owners cheated students out of their money and their futures,” said Attorney General James. “While so many have now lost a shot at their hoop dreams, we’ve ended AAUCONNECT’s fraudulent practices and run out the clock on their illegal operation. This judgment should serve as a loud and clear message that we will never tolerate anyone who preys on the hopes and aspirations of young New Yorkers to line their pockets. My office is committed to protecting individuals from deceptive practices, and we will continue to hold those accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” 

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) filed a lawsuit in September 2018 against AAUCONNECT.COM and its owners, alleging they advertised unverified claims that their program was the top post-graduate boys and girls basketball program in the northeast, “the best in New York,” and that it had “the very best coaching, training & educational facilities and college placement service.” However, AAUCONNECT never operated a female post-graduate basketball program and failed to provide coaching staff with the training, background, or experience that consumers paid for and expected. Consumers also complained that Bevin and Ward — who held the roles of CEO and Admissions Counselor for the company — were absent owners that lived outside of the U.S. and were never present to supervise the program or address problems that arose.  

Additionally, AAUCONNECT failed to clearly disclose to consumers that any payments were non-refundable or that they charged significant fees for late payments. Finally, the company failed to pay refunds after consumers left the program due to Bevin and Ward’s inability to provide the advertised services and accommodations.  

In May 2020, Attorney General James secured a victory in her lawsuit against AAUCONNECT, forcing the company and its owners to shut down their fraudulent program and issue refunds to consumers who were affected.  

This judgment directs AAUCONNECT, Bevin, and Ward to pay $238,833.49 in restitution to the 27 identified victims and $141,000 in civil penalties and costs. The court also granted any additional consumers to submit validation of their restitution claims by December 9, 2021. 

Attorney General James encourages any additional consumers who believe they may have been deceived by Bevin, Ward, or AAUCONNECT to file a complaint online with the OAG’s Binghamton Regional Office or by calling (607) 251-2764.   

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

 

64,055 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

34 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

"New Yorkers continue to battle COVID-19 every single day in hospitals and homes across our state, and we have to vaccinate more people to curb the spread of this terrible virus," Governor Hochul said. "We're taking decisive action to keep New Yorkers safe in schools and other facilities, but increasing the vaccination rate will push us across the finish line for good. The vaccine is safe, free and effective, and millions of New Yorkers have taken it, so I urge everyone who hasn't yet received their shot to do so right away."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 213,002
• Total Positive - 5,781
• Percent Positive - 2.71%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.09%
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,395 (+21)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 313
• Patients in ICU - 567 (+5)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 314 (+9)
• Total Discharges - 197,326 (+256)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 34
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 44,104

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 56,184

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.

• Total vaccine doses administered - 24,563,158
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 64,055
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 374,115
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 79.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 72.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 67.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 60.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 69.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 62.1%

110 Days and Counting Governor Hochul or is it Hochul-Cuomo

 

Look I don't care what Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law today, whatever it is called. 'Less is More or More is Less' bill. She has been the lieutenant Governor for seven years we did not hear a peep out of her about Riker's Island. Now that she will be running for Governor next year Kathy Hochul is full of comments and answers about New York's problems.

Governor Hochul is just like Governor Cuomo, she placed on JCOPE the same person Governor Cuomo did, and JCOPE led by this new Governor Hochul-Cuomo, led his fellow judicial branch members to say that Andrew Cuomo can keep the five million dollar he is expected to receive from the book. Then Governor Hochul says she could not find anyone better, Come on Kathy, how much is Andrew Cuomo going to donate to your campaign next year?