Councilman Mark Gjonaj's NYC Moving Forward Week in Review - 10/8/2021

 

Dear Friends,

I hope you and your families are continuing to do well. October is Italian-American Heritage Month and in honor of this month and Columbus Day, we salute and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans in our communities, our City and the US.

During this week’s NYC Council Stated meeting, my colleagues and I passed a whole slew of bills. I was a lead of six of those—including bills that will develop citywide climate plans, take steps towards electric school buses, connect 311 for NYCHA complaints, and require shelter security guards be paid prevailing wages. I also introduced my own bill that would enter procedures for the confiscation and disposal of illegal dirt bikes into the administrative code. I look forward to seeing this bill through the legislative process.

I was proud to stand in solidarity with a near-majority of my colleagues in calling on NYS to revise current state laws to curb the endemic gun violence afflicting our neighborhoods. Gun incidents rose to their peak this July with an increase of 133.5%. This violence is simply intolerable and we plead with the state to work with the city on this issue. New Yorkers deserve justice but they deserve safety too!

Illegal dirt bikes are creating havoc in our streets and I am glad to have introduced legislation to tackle this issue and addressed it again with Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison, part of a larger conversation on public safety issues.

I was also glad to address the much anticipated NYPD 45th Precinct Community Council Meeting where the main focus was the loud noise and music. Thank you to all who attended and voiced their concerns. Great to hear from Captain Isaac Soberal and as per their advice, constituents have to continue calling 311, as the more complaints the more auxiliary police can be assigned to the area. We will continue to monitor the situation and work with all players and the community to address this issue.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we hosted our first free mammogram event in Westchester Square, at the Santa Maria Church in partnership with the American Italian Cancer Foundation. Our second event will be held on October 16th in City Island. Take advantage and call our office to register by calling 728-931-1721.

I am happy to continue the tradition of bringing Free S.A.T. Prep Courses at the Bronx House. Families and College bound students should benefit from these courses and inquire and register with the Bronx House at (718) 792-1800.

Please remember we are here for you, contact my office with issues or concerns at 718-931-1721 or email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj

District 13, Bronx

NYC FAIRER Program

Free Vaccines For Dogs & Cats

Free Mammograms in District 13

District 13 Adopt-A-Trash Can Program

PPE Giveaway at the Corner of Astor Ave and Boston Rd

We had a great mask and hand sanitizer giveaway with Community Activist Christian Amato on the corner of Astor Avenue and Boston Road where we gave out over 81,000 masks, 1,000 hand sanitizers, reusable bags and more.

Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 10/04/21-10/08/21

 

Dear Community,

Election season is right around the corner! Voting is a bulwark of our democracy and one of the most effective ways to make the change you want to see for your community. Especially during local elections, it is critical that your voice is heard. Today, October 8th, is the last day to register to vote. Register to vote in New York here and check your voter registration status here.

Below are additional important deadlines to keep in mind as we approach this year’s general election: 

• The deadline to change your voting address is October 13th, 2021.
• The last day to apply online or by mail for an absentee ballot is October 18th, 2021.
• Early voting begins on October 23rd, 2021.
• Early voting ends on October 31st, 2021.
• The last day to apply for an absentee ballot in-person at your borough board of elections office is November 1st, 2021.
• Election Day is Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021. Polls will be open from 6 AM-9 PM. This will also be the final day to return your absentee ballot.

Visit elections.ny.gov for more resources and the Board of Elections’ COVID-19 voting guidance.

I would also like to wish the community a happy Navrati, which begun on Thursday. May this Navratri bring love, prosperity, and joy to your life. 

This upcoming Monday, October 11th, is Indigenous Peoples Day. This Indigenous Peoples Day, we must recognize the continuous struggles faced by our Indigenous communities, honor their leadership in protecting our planet, and recommit to advocating for their right to self-determination and justice. I encourage everyone to take the time to educate themselves on the history of our nation and its treatment of Indigenous people, and reflect on how we can do more for our Indigenous communities. 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

On October 7th, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the statewide 7-day average COVID-19 positivity rate is 2.43%. 

The application for the Excluded Workers Fund is closing. The Department of Labor will no longer accept new Excluded Worker Fund applications after October 8th at 7:30pm. Due to funding constraints, there is no guarantee applications received after September 24th will be approved. We still encourage everyone to apply. If you have any questions about your application, please contact my office.

On October 7th, Governor Hochul launched a $125 million fund to give landlords the financial relief they need to pay their basic bills and mortgages. The new Landlord Rental Assistance program ensures landlords whose tenants have declined to participate in tenant rental assistance programs or who vacated with arrears (unpaid rent) are able to receive help. If you are a landlord who hasn’t been able to access funding, visit otda.ny.gov/lrap to learn more and apply.

As a reminder, Governor Hochul announced an implementation of booster doses into the State's COVID-19 vaccination program for eligible New Yorkers. There are four groups of New Yorkers who are now eligible for their COVID-19 booster dose: 

• New Yorkers who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine SHOULD receive their booster dose at least six months after their primary vaccine series IF:
  • They are 65 years and older or residents in long-term care settings.
  • They are 50 - 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions. 

• New Yorkers who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine MAY receive their COVID-19 booster dose at least six months after their primary vaccine series IF:
  • They are 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions, based on your individual benefits and risks.
  • They are 18-64 years and are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of your occupational or institutional setting, based on your individual benefits and risks. 

As a reminder, Governor Hochul announced a vaccine incentive program in partnership with all three New York professional football teams to support vaccinations among currently unvaccinated New Yorkers. Eligible New Yorkers 18 and older can enter to win prizes for the whole family from the Buffalo Bills, the New York Giants, and the New York Jets including up to four game tickets, special in-game experiences, stadium tours, signed team gear, FaceTime calls with alumni players, and more. Eligible New Yorkers who received their first vaccine dose September 9 through October 24 can enter Here. First winners were announced September 29th, Drawing Schedule Available Here.

As a reminder, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that masks are required at state-regulated child care facilities for children ages two and up, all staff and visitors. 

• New masking requirements will also apply to congregate programs and facilities licensed, registered, operated, certified or approved by the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
• This includes but is not limited to certified residential and day programs, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, juvenile detention programs, juvenile residential facilities, congregate foster care programs, runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence and other shelter programs. These requirements apply regardless of vaccination status.

As a reminder, Governor Hochul has mandated that all healthcare workers in New York must be vaccinated by September 27th with no testing alternative. 

As a reminder, President Joe Biden mandated that all private employers with 100 or more workers require their workers to be vaccinated or tested weekly. He also mandated that all healthcare workers in hospitals, clinics and other facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments and all federal contractors must get vaccinated, with no opt out option. 

As of August 17th, people 12 and older are required to show identification and proof they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for indoor dining, indoor fitness, and indoor entertainment and certain meeting spaces. This new requirement — called the Key to NYC — also means staff at these locations must be vaccinated. If you own any of the above types of businesses, we urge you to review the requirements and make sure you are in compliance to protect your employees and patrons and to avoid fines. 

Dinowitz and Dinowitz - FREE FLU SHOTS AND FREE COVID VACCINES ON OCTOBER 13

 

FREE FLU SHOTS AND FREE COVID VACCINES ON OCTOBER 13 FREE ON-SITE SHREDDING SERVICES ON OCTOBER 10 JUST ADDED: COVID-19 Vaccines Available at Flu Shot Event on October 13  ‌  ‌  ‌ JUST ADDED: COVID-19 Vaccines Available at Flu Shot Event on October 13 New York Presbyterian has just shared that they will have Pfizer COVID vaccines (first dose) available along with flu shots at our October 13th vaccination event. There will not be Pfizer boosters available at this time, and you will have to go to the NYP Children's Hospital at West 168th Street and Broadway for the second dose. Please let my office know if you are interested in getting the COVID vaccine along with your flu shot by filling out this form: Dinowitz.us/flushot. Please note that advanced registration is required for all flu shot events. We will have the standard (quadrivalent) dose flu shot available, but if your doctor has told you that you need the stronger dose (high-dose or adjuvanted) – please contact your doctor's office or local pharmacy to schedule an appointment. Everyone will be required to maintain at least six feet of physical distancing while waiting in line and face masks must cover both the nose and mouth at all times. Vaccines will be administered indoors with the line queuing up outdoors, and we will be holding this event rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. DATE: Wednesday, October 13, 2021 TIME: 10am to 1pm LOCATION: St. Gabriel's Church (3250 Arlington Avenue) NOTE: Shots will be administered indoors and the line will be outdoors. This event will be hosted along with Council Member Eric Dinowitz and flu shots will be provided by New York-Presbyterian. Thank you as well to St. Gabriel's for hosting us. REGISTER: Dinowitz.us/flushot Please contact my office with any questions or for help registering at 718-796-5345.

AFTER LANDMARK DOT REPORT ON FATALITIES IN SPEED CAMERA ZONES, MAYOR DE BLASIO URGES ALBANY TO ALLOW 24/7 OPERATION

 

Nearly 30% of all roadway fatalities occur in speed camera zones after State law requires DOT to turn them off

  

Analysis from 2014-2020 shows the speed camera program continues to deter speeding

 Mayor de Blasio highlighted findings from a landmark Department of Transportation (DOT) report on the City’s speed camera program today as he urged State leaders to allow New York City to operate the cameras 24 hours a day. The DOT’s annual Automated Speed Enforcement Program report, which covers data from the speed camera program’s inception in 2014 through December 2020, highlights its continued success at curbing speeding by over 70%. However, analysis of 2020 fatalities showed that nearly 30% of all fatalities occur in speed camera zones during the hours they are not allowed to operate: overnight and on weekends.

 

“Speed cameras are an essential tool to fight back against dangerous driving, and state law should not force New York City to keep our city safe only some of the time,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We’re proud to have one of the biggest speed camera programs in the world, and it’s time for Albany to let us operate them 24 hours a day. Anything less is unfair to everyone else who uses our streets.”

 

Legislation sponsored by Senator Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick, S5602/A6681, would allow speed camera operation 24 hours, 7 day a week, and allows for escalating fines with subsequent notices of liability for drivers who are repeat violators. New York City calls for the enactment of this legislation.

 

“While 2020 brought its own set of challenges with COVID-19, it also brought a second epidemic of reckless driving,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “We know our speed camera program works to deter speeding, but we can do more. Nearly one-third of last year’s traffic fatalities occurred in school zones when cameras were not allowed to operate, so we continue to call on the state legislature to allow our cameras to operate 24/7 and for stronger consequences for dangerous drivers.”

 

In 2019, NYC DOT received State authorization to expand its speed camera program and operate cameras in 750 school speed zones, on all weekdays between 6 AM and 10 PM, and at any location within a quarter-mile radius of the school building. As outlined in this year’s report, speeding at fixed camera locations had dropped, on average, 72% as of December 2020. The program currently has 1,647 cameras in all 750 school speed zones. DOT will install an average of 60 new cameras per month, with the aim of reaching a total of 2,220 cameras in 2022.

 

Excessive speed is one of the leading factors in serious crashes in New York City. The faster a vehicle is traveling, the more time and space a driver needs to react to circumstances to prevent a crash. Speeding also worsens the damage caused upon impact when a collision happens – a pedestrian who is struck by a vehicle traveling at 30 MPH is twice as likely to be killed as a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 MPH.

 

Highlights from this year’s report include:

• A total of 4,397,375 Notice of Liabilities (NOLs) issued in 2020
• Average weekly violations in newly installed school speed zones declined by about 45% from a camera’s first week to its 18th week
• Average daily speed violations declined between 81% and 89% in school speed zones along key corridors like Grand Concourse, Union Turnpike, Hylan Boulevard, and Fourth Avenue (Brooklyn).

 

Since the speed camera program began, just under half of vehicles receiving a NOL have not received a second. In 2020, 52% of vehicles received only one violation, even as the number of cameras increased due to the program’s expansion.

  

RIKERS ISLAND INMATE INDICTED ON ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR BRUTAL ATTACK ON DOC CORRECTION OFFICER

Defendant Beat Victim, Left Him With Facial Fractures and Skull Fracture 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Rikers Island inmate has been indicted on Attempted Murder and additional charges for carrying out an unprovoked, vicious attack against a Department of Correction Officer in the jail. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly beat and stomped a Correction Officer as he lay on the floor. The attack left the victim with multiple injuries, including facial fractures. The victim had to be removed in a stretcher and was hospitalized. We will not tolerate violence against Correction Officers on Rikers Island who are simply doing their jobs. ” 

 District Attorney Clark said Marvens Thomas, A.K.A. Murda, 28, a Rikers Island inmate, was arraigned on October 7, 2021 on Attempted Murder in the second degree, Attempted Aggravated Murder, Attempted Assault in the first degree, two counts of second-degree Assault, first and second-degree Promoting Prison Contraband, and Petit Larceny before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio. Bail was continued at $150,000 cash/$150,000 bond, and the defendant is due back in court on January 11, 2022.

 According to the investigation, at approximately 9:09 a.m. on August 30, 2021, at the George R. Vierno Center in Rikers Island, the defendant went up to the officer and punched him multiple times in the head and face, causing the victim to fall to the ground. As the officer lay immobile, the defendant kicked him in the face and head multiple times. Thomas then jumped and stomped on the victim’s head and back twice. He proceeded to take the officer’s pepper spray and left the scene. 

 Other inmates in the jail assisted the victim by bringing him towels to help with the blood loss. The victim was taken to the hospital where he received 20 stitches to his forehead. He also sustained facial fractures and a skull fracture.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau Community Coordinator Lourdes Galindez and BXDA Detective Investigator Fernando Nunez for their assistance.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

85 Days and Counting Last Minute Appointments

 

I have 85 days left in office, and I intend to use them to male as many last minute appointments that I can. I am also going to make as many last minute changes in policy that I couldn't do earlier in my term. by the time anyone can build up enough opposition there will be a new mayor, and a new city council.

Now as for that 49 page DOI report that I used my NYPD detail for political purposes, for my aborted Presidential run, to help move my daughter and chauffer my son around are a pure political witch hunt to stop me from running for governor of New York. I am appealing the ruling from the Conflict of Interest Board that says I must pay for the NYPD detail, because myself, and each member of my family have received threats of harm to them. It is the duty of the city to protect its Mayor and his or her family. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS ANNABEL PALMA AS COMMISSIONER AND CHAIR OF THE NYC COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

 

 Mayor de Blasio today appointed Annabel Palma as the next Commissioner and Chair of the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Palma most recently served as the Chief Equity Officer of the City's COVID-19 Test & Trace Corps, where she worked to fight disparities laid bare by COVID-19 and get New Yorkers across the five boroughs vaccinated. Palma also worked closely with the City’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity (TRIE) to support response and recovery efforts in the hardest-hit communities. As Commissioner and Chair of NYC Commission on Human Rights, Palma will lead enforcement of New York City’s Human Rights Law—one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the nation.

“From fighting inequities laid bare by COVID-19 to her work launching critical programs at the Department of Social Services to representing her community in the City Council, Annabel has dedicated her career to making government work better on behalf of the most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “As Commissioner and Chair of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Annabel will continue to use her talents to protect the civil rights of all New Yorkers.” 

 

“Whether as a nursing assistant, a union organizer, or Council Member, Annabel has a proven track-record of fighting on behalf of communities. Her experience and commitment in this fight make her the perfect choice to lead the City's Commission on Human Rights,” said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives. “In her role as Chair and Commissioner, I am confident that Annabel will work tirelessly to ensure all New Yorkers are aware of and protected by the City's Human Rights Law. New Yorkers are lucky to have a civil rights champion like Annabel on their side.”

 

“Annabel’s career has been dedicated to fighting for a diverse and just City for all New Yorkers,” said Melanie Hartzog, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. “From fighting disparities exposed by COVID-19 as part of NYC’s Test and Trace Corp to pushing forward strategic initiatives at the Department of Social Services, Annabel’s passion makes her the right voice to lead the NYC Commission on Human Rights. I look forward to working with her in her new role.”

“It is truly humbling to be appointed to serve as Chair and Commissioner of NYC Human Rights Commission. Throughout my life I have faced many of the issues that the Human Rights Commission handles,” said Commissioner and Chair of the NYC Commission on Human Rights Annabel Palma. “Those life experiences have driven me to work tirelessly to serve the most vulnerable, empower communities, and bring about change. Change is not accomplished overnight but through hard work, dedication and perseverance we can bring about the change we need to continue to build stronger communities. I am immensely grateful to Mayor de Blasio for the opportunity to continue to build on the great work that has been done and look forward to continue serving all New Yorkers.”

 

“Annabel Palma is a distinguished public servant, with great depth of knowledge of community needs, a proven track record of community service, and broad experience that comes from decades of work in a range of roles,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “I congratulate her on this appointment and I know she will continue to be a strong advocate for effective government and positive change on behalf of all New Yorkers.”

 

“When COVID-19 struck, Annabel led the NYC Test and Trace Corps as our Chief Equity Officer to narrow the pandemic’s devastating health disparities,” said Dr. Ted Long, Executive Director of the NYC Test & Trace Corps and Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Care and Population Health at NYC Health + Hospitals. “We are grateful for her incredible contributions to our fight against the largest public health crisis of our generation. Equality and human rights have been the central focus of all her work. From her service in the City Council advocating for the Bronx, to her time as Deputy Commissioner at NYC DSS helping those experiencing homelessness, she is a champion of equity and opportunity. I congratulate Annabel on her appointment as Commissioner of CCHR. New Yorkers are fortunate to have her as an advocate in this new role!”