Attorney General James Announces 84 Guns Turned in at Community Gun Buyback in Central New York

 

AG James Has Taken More Than 2,300 Firearms Out of Communities Since 2019

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that 84 firearms were turned in to law enforcement at a gun buyback event in the city of Rome hosted by her office and the Rome Police Department yesterday. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) accepts — with no questions asked — working and non-working, unloaded firearms in exchange for compensation on site. To date, Attorney General James has taken more than 2,300 firearms out of communities through gun buyback events and other efforts since taking office in 2019.

“Gun buyback programs are essential to protecting New Yorkers and preventing dangerous guns from ending up in the wrong hands,” said Attorney General James. “The threat of gun violence has loomed over our communities for far too long, and it is imperative that we take every step possible to eradicate this violence. My office will continue to use every tool at our disposal to keep our neighborhoods safe, and we thank the Rome Police Department for their invaluable support and partnership in this effort.”

“The Rome Police Department appreciates the partnership and support of the Attorney General’s Office and the community to make this gun buyback successful,” said the Rome Police Department’s Community Impact Unit. “We are grateful for the opportunity to get guns off the street, preventing them from falling into the wrong hands, and keeping the community safe. We are very supportive of any proactive approach to put an end to and prevent gun violence.”

The community gun buyback resulted in the collection of 84 guns, including 30 handguns, 34 shotguns and rifles, and 20 non-working guns. Since 2013, OAG has hosted gun buyback events throughout New York state and has successfully collected more than 4,300 firearms.

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

Gun violence is a public health crisis that is plaguing communities throughout New York, and this 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 14 gun buybacks across the state, and has also secured dozens of dangerous firearms through takedowns of violent groups terrorizing New York. Earlier this year, Attorney General James announced the takedown of two major drug trafficking rings in Central New York, in which 15 guns, including nine ghost guns, were seized. To date, Attorney General James has taken a total of more than 2,300 guns out of communities since 2019.

Former CEO Of Melrose Credit Union Sentenced To Nearly 4 Years In Prison For Violating Bank Bribery Statute

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ALAN KAUFMAN, who at the time of the offense was the chief executive officer of Melrose Credit Union (“Melrose CU”), was sentenced today to 46 months in prison.  KAUFMAN was previously convicted, following a three-week jury trial, of participating in a scheme in which he accepted from Tony Georgiton free housing and hundreds of thousands of dollars in financing for the purchase of his personal residence, after approving millions of dollars in loans to Georgiton’s companies at favorable terms.  KAUFMAN was also convicted for accepting lavish vacations, including to Paris and Hawaii, from CBS Radio after increasing Melrose CU’s advertising purchases at CBS Radio.  KAUFMAN’s sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. 

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Alan Kaufman accepted lavish gifts from Tony Georgiton as a reward for favorable loan rates for Georgiton’s companies.  In addition, Kaufman accepted luxury travel and hotel accommodations in return for approval of advertising spending by Melrose Credit Union at CBS Radio and elsewhere.  Kaufman shirked his duty to act in the best interests of the credit union and its account holders, exploiting his position for personal gain.  Now, thanks to the work of the FBI, Kaufman will spend time in federal prison for his crimes.”

According to the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and evidence presented at trial:

In 2010, Georgiton purchased a home in Jericho, New York (the “Jericho Residence”), and permitted KAUFMAN to live in that home rent-free for over two years.  While KAUFMAN was living rent-free at the Jericho Residence, KAUFMAN personally approved the refinancing of over $100 million worth of loans at Melrose CU held by a company owned by Georgiton with favorable terms.  The head of Melrose CU’s loan department did not sign off on the loans made to Georgiton because, among other things, he believed that the terms were too favorable and did not comply with Melrose CU’s loan policy.

In 2011, KAUFMAN sought approval from Melrose CU’s board of directors (the “Melrose Board”) for Melrose CU to purchase the naming rights to a ballroom under construction in Astoria, Queens (the “Melrose Ballroom”).  That ballroom was owned by a company that was in turn owned by Georgiton.  KAUFMAN did not disclose to the Melrose Board that he was living rent-free in a house owned by Georgiton at the time he sought Melrose Board approval for the naming rights acquisition.  Over the next five years, Melrose CU paid $2 million to Georgiton’s company for the naming rights to the Melrose Ballroom.  KAUFMAN also directed that payment for the naming rights be paid a year in advance of the Melrose Ballroom’s actual opening for operations.   

In 2013, KAUFMAN purchased the Jericho Residence from Georgiton, with financing that largely came from Georgiton.  To purchase the Jericho Residence, KAUFMAN took out a $200,000 loan from Melrose CU, co-signed by Georgiton and secured by Georgiton’s shares in Melrose CU.  Georgiton also gave KAUFMAN a $240,000 unsecured personal “loan.”  Georgiton has never made a demand for payment on that purported loan and KAUFMAN has never made a payment on that purported loan.  Rather than repay the loan, the following year, KAUFMAN purchased a used Maserati sports car valued at over $100,000 for his wife. 

In addition, from in or about 2010 through in or about 2015, KAUFMAN solicited and accepted lavish vacations and other gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars from CBS Radio and other media vendors, after KAUFMAN approved advertising spending by Melrose CU.  For example, in 2010, CBS Radio paid for KAUFMAN and his wife, who also worked at Melrose CU, to fly to Paris, France, and stay at the Four Seasons George V Paris.  In 2012, CBS Radio paid for KAUFMAN and his wife to fly to Maui, Hawaii, and stay at the Four Seasons in Wailea.  In 2013, CBS Radio paid for KAUFMAN and his wife to attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

KAUFMAN did not seek approval for these vendor-paid trips from the Melrose Board, nor did he disclose these vendor-paid trips to the Melrose Board, in violation of Melrose CU’s anti-bribery policy.

In addition to the prison term, KAUFMAN, 62, of Jericho, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit specified property, pay restitution to the National Credit Union Administration in the amount of $2 million, and pay a fine of $30,000.

On January 11, 2021, Georgiton was sentenced to three years’ probation, a fine of $95,000, forfeiture of $286,663.65, and a special condition of nine months’ home confinement.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  She also thanked the National Credit Union Administration for their efforts and ongoing support and assistance with the case.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY WILL OPERATE AND OVERSEE PANDEMIC RESPONSE INSTITUTE

 

PRI Allocated $20 Million in City Funding, Tasked with Preparing Communities Ahead of Next Pandemic 

 Today, Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) announced their selection of Columbia University to launch and operate the Pandemic Response Institute (PRI), with its key partner, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), and several community, research, and industry partners.

 

The PRI will be supported by up to $20 million in City capital funding for eligible costs and be dedicated to preparing New York City for future health emergencies and epidemics in a more effective and equitable manner, while positioning the city as a global leader to serve as a model for public health response. 

 

“The Pandemic Response Institute, operated by Columbia University with key partner CUNY SPH, will play a critical role in preparing for future pandemics, and promoting equity in public health,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Born out of New York’s quick action during the early days of the pandemic, this institute will put our hardest learned lessons to work so that when the next public health crisis emerges, New York City will not only be prepared, we will be ready to lead these global fights.”

 

“The Pandemic Response Institute will serve as our City’s anchor as we invest and ensure we have the tools we need to confront—and prevent—future public health emergencies,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “We are grateful to our partners at Columbia and CUNY SPH for putting forth an ambitious and comprehensive vision for such an urgent need for New York City.”

  

“The experience of confronting COVID-19 and recent natural disasters has proven that we must work together to prepare and respond to public health emergencies with a focus on racial and social justice,” said First Deputy Health Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer Dr. Torian Easterling. “These investments will prepare us to fight future health crises and ensure a just recovery and the opportunity to establish New York City as the public health capital of the world.” 

 

“One of the lessons we’ve learned over the last 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic is the importance of a robust public health emergency response system,” said Emergency Management Commissioner John Scrivani. “The partnership with Columbia University and the other institutions will make the Pandemic Response Institute a hub of innovation, information and planning to better prepare us for the next health crisis. A dedicated institute to analyze and plan for future crises, along with resources and collaboration with City agencies, will help minimize the impact of future disasters and strengthen our public health responses.”

 

“Our commitment to building a recovery for all of us includes ensuring a robust public health response to any future emergency,” said the City's Senior Advisor for Recovery Lorraine Grillo. “We look forward to working with Columbia and CUNY to bolster our city's infrastructure so we are better prepared to swiftly and equitably address any threat to the well-being of our communities.”

 

“Columbia University with key partner CUNY SPH demonstrated to us a high level of expertise that was unmatched,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Rachel Loeb. “NYCEDC has every confidence these esteemed institutions and their partners will put New York City and all New Yorkers first. Keeping people safe and our economy open means we need an unprecedented public health response that is forward-looking and dedicated to addressing health disparities. NYCEDC is proud to help establish a Pandemic Response Institute that will be innovative and critical to our public health infrastructure.”

 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has opened our eyes to the critical need for strong and vibrant multi-sector partnerships to effectively protect New Yorkers from emergent health threats,” said Wafaa El-Sadr, University Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, and Director of ICAP and Columbia World Projects, who is leading the PRI. “The Pandemic Response Institute will create an unprecedented nexus for engagement, expertise, and resources from across our city and beyond that will enable us to equitably prepare, predict, prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from major health emergencies.”

 

“We are enormously excited to partner with Columbia University in this vital effort,” said Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of CUNY SPH. “Our school’s primary commitment to health equity and social justice, coupled with existing strengths in health communication, systems modeling, and community outreach will help to shape and support this initiative to advance a new vision for the health of all New Yorkers.”  

 

NYCEDC, DOHMH, and New York City Emergency Management reviewed and selected Columbia to launch this institute with a key partnership with CUNY SPH as well as other collaborators, following a Request for Proposals (RFP) in April. The university, through its Mailman School of Public Health, put forth an ambitious and compelling vision for the PRI, which was supported by an impressive and robust multi-sector group of partners, while looking to ensure all New Yorkers are prepared for future public health emergencies by having access to health solutions, information for decision-making, and the capacity to prepare and respond. 

 

The PRI will specifically focus on: 

 

·         Building or strengthening technologies and systems to support real-time data collection and sharing 

·         Driving cutting-edge research on public health innovation and creating capacity to rapidly scale technological solutions in future public health emergencies 

·         Piloting community-based partnership models and workforce training programs that improve emergency preparedness and advance health outcomes across all communities 

·         Centering racial equity in all activities of the Institute and addressing gaps in health infrastructure that have disproportionately caused harm to communities of color and others facing structural inequities. 

 

The PRI will bring together communities, nonprofit organizations, industry, and academic institutions, and coordinate with City agencies in activities related to and within the entire public health emergency cycle. These critical partnerships will help the institute to advance research, training, and innovation. 

The Institute will begin activities this year and plans to launch a community-based location in each borough.

 

State Senator Gustavo Rivera on Governor Hochul’s Appointment of Dr. Mary Bassett as the Next NYS Health Department Commissioner

 

"Governor Hochul's appointment of Dr. Mary Bassett as our State’s next Health Commissioner is a clear indication that she wants to quickly redirect the agency’s role back to its core mission— to protect and improve the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.   

Dr. Bassett, who will be the first African-American to lead the agency, has had an exemplary career focused on enacting forward-thinking, compassionate, and efficient public health initiatives and programs focused on reducing deeply rooted health disparities.

Her lifelong dedication to addressing the impacts of disparities is exactly the foundation our State must build on, particularly as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been undeniably vicious in communities of color among the other health crises our State faces.

I am incredibly excited about this historic appointment and I would like to express my wholehearted support to Dr. Bassett as she embarks on this challenging new role. I also hope that this new direction at the Department of Health will encourage capable and public health-oriented professionals to join the agency after so many departed due to the previous administration’s lack of commitment to investing in public health.”  

Governor Hochul Appoints Dr. Mary T. Bassett as Commissioner of the Department of Health

 

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH, has been appointed Commissioner of the Department of Health. With more than 30 years of experience devoted to promoting health equity and social justice, both in the United States and abroad, Dr. Bassett's career has spanned academia, government, and not-for-profit work. Her appointment is effective December 1.

"Our recovery from this pandemic requires tested leadership and experience to improve health equity and access across the state, and Dr. Bassett is perfectly equipped to lead the New York State Department of Health during this critical moment," Governor Hochul said. "When I was sworn in as Governor, I pledged to build a talented team with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to stop the spread of COVID-19, return our lives to normalcy, and move our state forward. Dr. Bassett is both a highly regarded public health expert and an exemplary public servant, and I look forward to working with her to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy." 

"I am humbled and honored to return to my home state of New York to lead the Department of Health at this pivotal time," incoming Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett said. "The pandemic underscored the importance of public health, while also revealing inequities driven by structural racism. As we move to end the pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to create a state that is more equitable for all New Yorkers. I look forward to working toward this with Governor Hochul and the team at the Department of Health."

Dr. Bassett currently serves as director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University and FXB Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights in the department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

From 2014 through summer 2018, she served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she made racial justice a priority and worked to address the structural racism at the root of the city's persistent gaps in health between white New Yorkers and communities of color. Dr. Bassett also led the Department's response to Ebola, Legionnaires' disease and other disease outbreaks.

In 2002, Dr. Bassett was appointed deputy commissioner of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In this role, she led the division responsible for New York City's pioneering tobacco control interventions and food policy, including the nation's first calorie posting requirements and trans fat restrictions. Her signature program was the launch of District Public Health Offices in several neighborhoods long harmed by racial/ethnic and economic health inequities. These offices now lead targeted, multi-sectoral, multi-agency strategies to reduce excess burden of disease. From 2009 to 2014, Dr. Bassett served as program director for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's African Health Initiative and Child Well-Being Prevention Program.

Early in her career, she served on the medical faculty at the University of Zimbabwe for 17 years, during which time she developed a range of AIDS prevention interventions. Building on this experience, she went on to serve as associate director of health equity at the Rockefeller Foundation's Southern Africa Office, overseeing its Africa AIDS portfolio. After returning to the United States, she served on the faculty of Columbia University, including as associate professor of clinical epidemiology in its Mailman School of Public Health.

Dr. Bassett's many awards and honors include the prestigious Frank A. Calderone Prize in Public Health, a Kenneth A. Forde Lifetime Achievement Award from Columbia University, a Victoria J. Mastrobuono Award for Women's Health, and the National Organization for Women's Champion of Public Health Award. She has also been elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine. For many years she served as an associate editor of the American Journal of Public Health. Her recent publications include articles in The Lancet and in the New England Journal of Medicine addressing structural racism and health inequities in the United States.

Dr. Bassett grew up in New York City. She received a B.A. in History and Science from Harvard University, an M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons (serving her residency at Harlem Hospital), and an M.P.H. from the University of Washington.

"We are thrilled that Mary will be bringing her strong leadership, fierce commitment to equity, and deep understanding of public health policy to this new role as New York State health commissioner," said Michelle A. Williams, dean of the faculty at Harvard Chan School. "While we will greatly miss her presence here, we are proud that she will be in a position to advance evidence-based policies, firmly grounded in science, to protect and improve the health of every New York resident. We know she will be a champion for all people across the state."

"I congratulate Governor Hochul on her appointment of Dr. Mary Bassett as New York State's Health Commissioner. I cannot think of anyone more qualified or better suited to head public health in our state at this time," said Lilliam Barrios Paoli, Former New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. "Dr. Bassett is a superb crisis manager. Working with her during both the Ebola and the Legionnaires' disease crises was a lesson on how to manage effectively and gracefully under enormous pressure. I can state unequivocally that it was her leadership that enabled New York City to successfully navigate those difficult situations. Her commitment to end health disparities is unquestionable, as is her belief that good public health goes hand in hand with social, racial and gender equity. I firmly believe that with this appointment, Governor Hochul is putting public health in New York State in the best possible hands."

Governor Hochul Takes Bold Action to Alleviate Potential Health Care Staffing Shortages

 

Signs Executive Order to Significantly Expand Eligible Workforce and Allow Additional Health Care Workers to Administer COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations  

Directs 24/7 Command Center to Monitor and Troubleshoot Staffing Shortages

New York State First-in-Nation on Health Care Worker Vaccination Mandate — 92% of Nursing Home Staff Compliant As of Monday Evening, Up from 70%

Suspension of Administrative Reviews Will Add Additional Source of Health Care Workers

 Governor Kathy Hochul tonight signed an executive order to alleviate potential staffing shortages in hospitals and other health care facilities statewide. The executive order significantly expands the eligible health care workforce and allows additional health care workers to administer COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. 

"The only way we can move past this pandemic is to ensure that everyone eligible is vaccinated, and that includes those who are taking care of our vulnerable family members and loved ones," Governor Hochul said. "On Saturday I released a comprehensive plan in advance of the deadline for the vaccine mandate that keeps New Yorkers safe, and tonight I am adding even more provisions to take bold action to alleviate potential staffing shortages. To monitor developments on the ground, I am also directing an around-the-clock operations center to assist local partners and troubleshoot staffing issues in real time." 

Governor Hochul has directed a 24/7 Operations Center, led by the New York State Department of Health, to constantly monitor staffing operations and trends statewide, provide guidance to healthcare facilities and help troubleshoot acute situations with providers as necessary. The Governor is engaged in ongoing outreach with local elected officials, hospitals, labor leaders, and other health care organizations to check-in on staffing status and offer State assistance. 

Latest Vaccination Rates for Health Care Worker Populations 

• The percentage of nursing home staff receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose increased to 92% as of Monday evening, up from 70% on August 15 before the vaccine mandate was announced.

• The percentage of adult care facilities staff receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose increased to 89% as of Monday evening, up from 76% on August 15 before the vaccine mandate was announced.

• The percentage of hospital staff fully vaccinated is 84% as of September 22, up from 77% on August 10 before the vaccine mandate was announced. Preliminary self-reported data shows that hospital staff receiving at least one dose of vaccine is 92% as of Monday evening.

Expanding Eligible Health Care Workforce to Meet Staffing Needs  

To remove barriers to allow additional categories of health care workers to provide care in order to meet staffing needs in New York, the executive order includes a series of provisions, including: 

• Allowing out of state and out of country health care workers including physicians, RNs, LPNs, NPs, PAs, midwives, clinical nurse specialists, licensed master social workers, and licensed clinical social workers to practice in New York;

• Waiving re-registration fees, creating an expedited re-registration process, and eliminating barriers to re-enter the workforce for retirees;

• Allowing practitioners to work or volunteer in other facilities;

• Allowing physician visits in nursing homes to be done using telemedicine;

• Ensuring removal of barriers for EMTs and Advanced EMTs to practice and assist in additional settings, allowing basic EMTs to vaccinate and test for COVID-19, extending all EMS providers' certification period by one year, modifying certification requirements, and permitting out of state providers to operate in the New York State EMS System;

• Allowing New York State-licensed providers without current registrations to practice without penalty for lack of registration;

• Allowing graduates of SED-registered programs (NP, Lab, RN, LPN) to practice in a hospital or nursing home for 180 days following graduation; and

• Providing flexibilities for clinical labs to increase testing capacity

The executive order also expands the scope of practice for additional health care workers to allow for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, including an expansion of the ability of midwives, registered nurses, physicians, and nurse practitioners to more easily administer and order COVID-19 vaccinations and testing as well as flu vaccinations.  

To aid in facilitating faster efficient patient transfers to mitigate any staffing issues, the executive order also permits facilities to discharge, transfer, or receive patients quickly, provided they are protecting the health and safety of patients and residents and complying with federal law. Additionally, the executive order suspends requirements for preauthorization review for scheduled surgeries in hospital facilities, hospital admissions, hospital outpatient services, home health care services following a hospital admission, and inpatient rehabilitation services following a hospital admission, as well as suspends concurrent and retrospective review of claims during the duration of the order.

Additionally, Governor Hochul plans to work with the federal government and other state leaders to explore ways to expedite visa requests for medical professionals and is monitoring whether the deployment of medically-trained National Guard members may be necessary to execute at any point. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO LAUNCHES THE NYC PUBLIC HEALTH CORPS

 

The NYC Public Health Corps will reimagine and bolster the public health workforce across New York City, focusing on neighborhoods that were most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic  

 Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that the City has established the NYC Public Health Corps (PHC), a new, innovative effort to expand the public health workforce, strengthen community health infrastructure, and promote health equity for the communities hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Health Department and NYC Health + Hospitals will lead the initiative.

 

“COVID-19 hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “As we recover and move forward as a city, we’re going to ensure all New Yorkers have access to health care, especially in the neighborhoods most impacted by this crisis. Today is a monumental step towards universal health care in New York City.”

 

“In New York City, community health workers have been essential to our COVID-19 response,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “The vision of the Public Health Corps is rooted in this model, taking advantage of our once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine public health and redress inequities. The NYC Public Health Corps will not only have immediate impact for a just recovery from COVID-19—it will also be a bulwark against future emergencies and a leap forward for community health in the times in between.”

 

“As the City continues to recover from the pandemic, we have an opportunity to rebuild our healthcare system to make New York City stronger and healthier than ever before,” said NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director and Senior Vice President for Ambulatory Care at NYC Health + Hospitals Dr. Ted Long. “Drawing from our contact tracers who have been working with the communities where they live for the past year and know their communities well, we are building a new team of community health workers who will become a part of our healthcare system to extend the care that we offer patients beyond the four walls of our clinics. We are acutely aware of the historical disparities among communities and populations that all came to a head during this pandemic. Our Public Health Corps will prioritize health equity in these communities, with our new community health workers being a foundational and permanent pillar of our public healthcare system.”

 

"The Public Health Corps is a step towards repair and healing, grounded in principles of health equity, for New Yorkers most-impacted by COVID-19," said Deputy Commissioner for the Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. "Working hand-in-hand with communities, we will build a stronger, healthier city together."

 

“Overall, strong health often requires a personalized combination of physical, mental, and community services, all of which our Public Health Corps workforce is prepared to help New Yorkers access,” said Chief Population Health Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals Dr. Nichola Davis. “This approach, coupled with our focus on culturally competent, community-based outreach will ensure we’re not only connecting with a maximum number of New Yorkers, but also connecting them to the care and services needed to live a healthy and full life.”

 

PHC initiatives target a broad spectrum of public health needs—from helping people get vaccinated to counseling residents about diabetes and depression. But each initiative shares a common goal: promoting the health of New Yorkers. Building on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, the PHC will strengthen community health across NYC by empowering a knowledgeable workforce that has the trust of the residents they serve, in part because they often come from the same neighborhood. 

 

Collaboration between Health + Hospitals and the Health Department—clinicians and public health working together—is also key to the initiative’s success and distinguishes New York City in its ability to integrate this important workforce. 

 

The PHC will include 100 community-based organizations, including those already working with the City on vaccine education and outreach through the T2CBO program and the COVID-19 Vaccine Partner Engagement Project in partnership with the Fund for Public Health in NYC.

 

New initiatives under the PHC will include:

 

•     COVID-19 Disparities Initiative—Gives grants to CBOs to build Community Health Worker (CHW) teams with lived experience in the communities they serve to increase access to COVID-19 prevention, treatment and vaccination services and address social needs of neighborhoods who have been most impacted by the pandemic. 

•     COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Educators—Educators address goal of improving vaccine confidence among residents and staff at Department of Homeless Services congregate facilities.

•     Expanded Access to Care—Funds FQHCs to increase access to primary care services and COVID-19 vaccinations in communities with less healthcare infrastructure. 

•     Community Health Worker Training and Apprenticeship—Vaccine for All Corps members will be trained in a partnership with CUNY, Department of Small Business Services and multiple community-based organizations to become CHWs.

•     Assisting Patients to Meet Health Goals—Over 200 CHWs will be based in NYC Health + Hospitals out-patient clinical sites to provide quality healthcare for patients – care that will extend into NYC communities to address patients’ social needs, like food, income, housing, that are essential to achieving health and well-being.

 

Individuals will be placed across community-based organizations, FQHCs, the Health Department and NYC Health + Hospitals. The initiatives will be supported by over 500 CHWs by December. Staff will serve 20 priority neighborhoods, and some will have borough-wide and city-wide focus. $235 million will support PHC activities, including a two-year $35 million grant from the CDC.

 

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez Sponsors Green Day on Pelham Parkway

 

On Saturday Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez joined volunteers on Pelham Parkway for a Green Day Clean Up of the area by Wallace Avenue. The assemblywoman first toured the area, met with volunteers from Einstein College of Medicine, and presented the head of the Friends of Pelham Parkway a proclamation for her work in the area. 

An area of the Pelham Parkway North Island where there is a flower garden and lush trees around it. 

Assemblywoman Fernandez reads the Bulletin Board by the rose garden on the Wallace Avenue Walkway.

Assemblywoman Fernandez speaks with one of the regulars of this area. 

Assemblywoman Fernandez has the grippers in her hands, which are used to pick up any garbage or trash that may wind up on the grass or walkway. The volunteers from Einstein College of Medicine are ready to go.

The proclamation from Assemblywoman Fernandez is given to the head of the Friends of Pelham Parkway.