Monday, November 22, 2021

42 Days and Counting - Those Pesky Reporters Tomorrow

 


Six more weeks with New Years Day coming on a Saturday this year or is it next year? Tomorrow is my daily media advisory where I take questions, and I wonder who will be asking me, Mr. Mayor when are you going to declare that you are running for Governor? 


Or will they ask me vaccination questions such as do I support the Dinowitz/Hoylman Mandatory COVID vaccination for children ages 2 - 18, when the CDC has only allowed children as young as age 5 to be vaccinated. Then that idiot Assemblyman Dinowitz said: “As New York continues working to prevent another measles outbreak". Maybe it's time to say I want to introduce term-limits for all state elected office. That should get me many votes to get rid of those who think they have a lifetime job like Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.  

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 20, 2021

 Clinical specimen testing for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Wadsworth Laboratory

122,235 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours   

23 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday   


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

"The booster is safe, free and widely available, and a critical way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as we head into the colder months," Governor Hochul said. "Both the vaccine and booster are available at pharmacies, doctor's offices, local health departments and other locations across the state - visit vaccines.gov to make an appointment. There is one simple solution to ensure New Yorkers can enjoy a safe holiday season - get vaccinated if you haven't already and get a booster shot if you have."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

  • Test Results Reported - 201,469
  • Total Positive - 7,097 
  • Percent Positive - 3.52% 
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.73% 
  • Patient Hospitalization - 2,249 (+85)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 370 
  • Patients in ICU - 455 (+31) 
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 234 (+15)
  • Total Discharges - 212,864 (+262)
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 23
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 46,189 

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 - 58,789

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 - 28,990,768
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 122,235
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 707,762
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 85.3% 
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 77.9% 
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.7% 
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 80.1% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 73.3% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 66.0% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 76.7% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.9%

Former Law Firm Partner Arrested For Cyberstalking Multiple Victims

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging WILLIE DENNIS with cyberstalking partners of DENNIS’s former law firm.  DENNIS, a U.S. citizen, was arrested this week in the Dominican Republic and will be presented today in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Lorna G. Schofield.

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

From at least in or about 2018, up to and including in or about November 2020, WILLIE DENNIS, a former partner at a prominent national law firm (the “Firm”), engaged in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats against multiple individuals, including other partners, who worked at the Firm.  As part of that campaign, DENNIS sent the victims thousands of harassing, threatening, and intimidating emails and text messages. 

DENNIS, 59, of New York, New York, is charged with four counts of cyberstalking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2261A(2)(b).  Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.             

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Comptroller Stringer Announces Procurement Reform Plan to Protect Human Service Providers Supporting Children, Families, and Seniors

 

Calls on the Procurement Policy Board (PPB) to address the issues plaguing the City’s procurement process that cause disproportionate harm to human service providers by ensuring that contracts are executed and implemented on time

 New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer outlined a comprehensive plan to reform the City’s inefficient procurement process and address longstanding issues harming human services providers that deliver essential programs and support to children, families, and seniors. In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Stringer and Deputy Comptroller for Contracts & Procurement Lisa Flores called for reforms to ensure that contracts are executed and implemented on time, that individuals providing services under those contracts are paid fairly, and that technology tools are implemented with all their promised functionality.  

“Human service providers are supporting the most vulnerable among us during one of the most challenging periods in our City’s history,” said Comptroller Stringer. “It’s vital that that the goods and services that New Yorkers rely on are delivered on time and on budget—but our current procurement process is plagued with inefficiencies and bureaucratic backlogs. The reforms we are proposing today will streamline the contracting process, ensure that our human services providers are paid fairly, and connect our children and seniors to the resources they need without disruption and delay.”

“Procurement reform is about good government and common sense,” said Deputy Comptroller Flores. “Human service providers are on the frontlines of the City’s pandemic response, and yet are forced to navigate an opaque and inefficient process that compromises their ability to help those most in need.  This procurement reform agenda will make contracting in New York City more accountable, more transparent, and more effective for vendors and the New Yorkers they serve. In FY21, human services represented 40%, or $12 billion, of the City’s contracting portfolio–far exceeding any other sector the City contracts with–and it is time for the contracting process to work for the nonprofit partners the City depends on.”

“The nonprofit human services sector shows up for New Yorkers every day, and during COVID-19 demonstrated how essential it is to the fabric of our city,” said Michelle Jackson, Executive Director, Human Services Council. “Unfortunately, the human services workforce is going on two years of egregious payment delays and without a necessary cost-of-living increase–jeopardizing the very organizations that millions of us rely on. The Human Services Council believes the reforms included in Comptroller Stringer’s Procurement Reform Plan are important guiding lights to highlight the worst failures of the system. HSC and our members our excited to partner with Mayor-Elect Eric Adams and Comptroller-Elect Brad Lander to tackle these issues and are grateful to Comptroller Stringer for his partnership with the sector.”
 
Contract Continuity

  • Automatic, Short-Term Extensions for Human Services Contract

The PPB should explore the feasibility of adopting a new rule allowing nonprofit human service providers to automatically activate limited-time extensions for continuity of services when a formal extension or renewal process has not been initiated by an agency.

In many instances when contract processing and submission of contracts for registration are delayed, vendors will take on excessive risk and begin work before contract registration. This is common in human services, especially for contract renewals or extensions, where the provider will continue to deliver services to clients while waiting for the contract to be submitted for registration and for payment to be received.  Although the City offers interest-free bridge loans to nonprofit human services providers awaiting contract registration, this is a patchwork solution that still incurs costs, negatively impacts cashflow, and does little to encourage agency accountability in timely processing of contracts – in particular, the foreseeable renewals and extensions regarding existing services.

The new rule for limited-time extensions should require agency public reporting through PASSPort and implement financial consequences if agencies delay in initiating the formal extension or renewal process. The PASSPort system was established with the ability to automatically track applicable dates and this functionality should be used to enforce existing and new rules regarding timely extension, renewal, or potential re-letting of contracts.

  • Agency Procurement Timeframes
The PPB should set a standard 60-day timeframe for all mayoral agencies to conduct oversight duties from the point of award to submission of a contract for registration.  The new PPB rule should require the PPB to review timeliness as required by the City Charter. 

Complying with this mandate would prevent contracts from languishing, keep parties accountable, and reveal areas in the process that require improvement.  The explicit timeframes would provide a publicly available metric to measure performance in moving contracts, programs, projects, and vendor payments towards implementation and completion.  The City Council has proposed a Local Law that seeks to create a public-facing procurement database that would include “the procurement timeline, including, but not limited to, the anticipated start date for new contracts, anticipated solicitation release date, approximate proposal submission deadline and anticipated award announcement date.”
  • Key Performance Indicators

Monthly updates of key performance indicators, to be published by MOCS through PASSPort on the City’s website, should be required going forward.  Currently, § 2-04 of the PPB requires the City to centralize agencies’ human service contract plans to inform the public and the sector of new contracts and contract continuations. However, a broader requirement is necessary because the City does not leverage the plans or procurement metrics to drive down retroactivity. Key performance indicators that should be published to drive accountability in the procurement process include the number of days for each oversight agency to complete its review and approval, and data on agency’s preparation and finalization of the budget, legal review and approval, etc.

  • Publishing Agency Compliance with PPB Rules

Currently, pursuant to PPB § 4-12(a)(ii), agencies wishing to replace, renew, or extend an expiring contract under certain PPB provisions must notify the selected vendor no later than 90 days prior to the expiration of the contract.  Additionally, this section requires agencies wishing to replace a contract by means of a new RFP award to publish a Notice of Solicitation no later than 250 days prior to the expiration of the contracts to be replaced. 

With the roll out of PASSPort and promised increase in accessible procurement data as a result, PPB §§ 2-04 and 4-12 should be amended to require recording and publishing of agency compliance with the 90- and 250-day deadlines.  Properly tracking agency compliance with PPB rules and deadlines prevents untimely submission of contracts for Comptroller registration and allows MOCS to institute penalties and remediation of these issues.

  • Emergency Contract Riders

In the aftermath of an emergency, all too often, the City calls upon the nonprofit sector. The City depends on the sector to provide hands-on recovery services such as the distribution of food and provision of support service to vulnerable communities.  The sector always steps up, even though their contracts do not automatically allow for the provision of these services and do not contain funding to reimburse vendors. 

New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer outlined a comprehensive plan to reform the City’s inefficient procurement process and address longstanding issues harming human services providers that deliver essential programs and support to children, families, and seniors. In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Stringer and Deputy Comptroller for Contracts & Procurement Lisa Flores called for reforms to ensure that contracts are executed and implemented on time, that individuals providing services under those contracts are paid fairly, and that technology tools are implemented with all their promised functionality.  “Human service providers are supporting the most vulnerable among us during one of the most challenging periods in our City’s history,” said Comptroller Stringer. “It’s vital that that the goods and services that New Yorkers rely on are delivered on time and on budget—but our current procurement process is plagued with inefficiencies and bureaucratic backlogs. The reforms we are proposing today will streamline the contracting process, ensure that our human services providers are paid fairly, and connect our children and seniors to the resources they need without disruption and delay.”“Procurement reform is about good government and common sense,” said Deputy Comptroller Flores. “Human service providers are on the frontlines of the City’s pandemic response, and yet are forced to navigate an opaque and inefficient process that compromises their ability to help those most in need.  This procurement reform agenda will make contracting in New York City more accountable, more transparent, and more effective for vendors and the New Yorkers they serve. In FY21, human services represented 40%, or $12 billion, of the City’s contracting portfolio–far exceeding any other sector the City contracts with–and it is time for the contracting process to work for the nonprofit partners the City depends on.”“The nonprofit human services sector shows up for New Yorkers every day, and during COVID-19 demonstrated how essential it is to the fabric of our city,” said Michelle Jackson, Executive Director, Human Services Council. “Unfortunately, the human services workforce is going on two years of egregious payment delays and without a necessary cost-of-living increase–jeopardizing the very organizations that millions of us rely on. The Human Services Council believes the reforms included in Comptroller Stringer’s Procurement Reform Plan are important guiding lights to highlight the worst failures of the system. HSC and our members our excited to partner with Mayor-Elect Eric Adams and Comptroller-Elect Brad Lander to tackle these issues and are grateful to Comptroller Stringer for his partnership with the sector.” Contract Continuity

  • Automatic, Short-Term Extensions for Human Services Contract

The PPB should explore the feasibility of adopting a new rule allowing nonprofit human service providers to automatically activate limited-time extensions for continuity of services when a formal extension or renewal process has not been initiated by an agency.In many instances when contract processing and submission of contracts for registration are delayed, vendors will take on excessive risk and begin work before contract registration. This is common in human services, especially for contract renewals or extensions, where the provider will continue to deliver services to clients while waiting for the contract to be submitted for registration and for payment to be received.  Although the City offers interest-free bridge loans to nonprofit human services providers awaiting contract registration, this is a patchwork solution that still incurs costs, negatively impacts cashflow, and does little to encourage agency accountability in timely processing of contracts – in particular, the foreseeable renewals and extensions regarding existing services.The new rule for limited-time extensions should require agency public reporting through PASSPort and implement financial consequences if agencies delay in initiating the formal extension or renewal process. The PASSPort system was established with the ability to automatically track applicable dates and this functionality should be used to enforce existing and new rules regarding timely extension, renewal, or potential re-letting of contracts.

  • Agency Procurement Timeframes
The PPB should set a standard 60-day timeframe for all mayoral agencies to conduct oversight duties from the point of award to submission of a contract for registration.  The new PPB rule should require the PPB to review timeliness as required by the City Charter. Complying with this mandate would prevent contracts from languishing, keep parties accountable, and reveal areas in the process that require improvement.  The explicit timeframes would provide a publicly available metric to measure performance in moving contracts, programs, projects, and vendor payments towards implementation and completion.  The City Council has proposed a Local Law that seeks to create a public-facing procurement database that would include “the procurement timeline, including, but not limited to, the anticipated start date for new contracts, anticipated solicitation release date, approximate proposal submission deadline and anticipated award announcement date.”
  • Key Performance Indicators

Monthly updates of key performance indicators, to be published by MOCS through PASSPort on the City’s website, should be required going forward.  Currently, § 2-04 of the PPB requires the City to centralize agencies’ human service contract plans to inform the public and the sector of new contracts and contract continuations. However, a broader requirement is necessary because the City does not leverage the plans or procurement metrics to drive down retroactivity. Key performance indicators that should be published to drive accountability in the procurement process include the number of days for each oversight agency to complete its review and approval, and data on agency’s preparation and finalization of the budget, legal review and approval, etc.

  • Publishing Agency Compliance with PPB Rules

Currently, pursuant to PPB § 4-12(a)(ii), agencies wishing to replace, renew, or extend an expiring contract under certain PPB provisions must notify the selected vendor no later than 90 days prior to the expiration of the contract.  Additionally, this section requires agencies wishing to replace a contract by means of a new RFP award to publish a Notice of Solicitation no later than 250 days prior to the expiration of the contracts to be replaced. With the roll out of PASSPort and promised increase in accessible procurement data as a result, PPB §§ 2-04 and 4-12 should be amended to require recording and publishing of agency compliance with the 90- and 250-day deadlines.  Properly tracking agency compliance with PPB rules and deadlines prevents untimely submission of contracts for Comptroller registration and allows MOCS to institute penalties and remediation of these issues.

  • Emergency Contract Riders

In the aftermath of an emergency, all too often, the City calls upon the nonprofit sector. The City depends on the sector to provide hands-on recovery services such as the distribution of food and provision of support service to vulnerable communities.  The sector always steps up, even though their contracts do not automatically allow for the provision of these services and do not contain funding to reimburse vendors. To address this problem, the City should include comprehensive “emergency contract riders” in all contracts.  These riders will allow the City to access services that are needed in emergency situations from existing vendors that have been previously vetted by City agencies.  In addition, the City should budget for “emergency contingencies” and include this funding in providers’ contracts so that it is accessible immediately in the event there is a citywide, statewide, or nationally declared emergency. Contract Payments

  • Prompt Payment

The slow pace of New York City procurement can cause nonprofit human service vendors to provide service before payments can be issued, making it difficult for these vendors to cover their expenses.  Although PPB § 4-06 already allows vendors to receive interest on non-prompt payments, an amendment that ensures interest is paid on late payments under City contracts with nonprofit human service providers is necessary.  The amendment should allow agencies to implement a system of electronic invoicing, while requiring them to report dates of receipt and payment of invoices on PASSPort.To ensure agency compliance, MOCS should be required to make quarterly reports on PASSPort regarding invoice receipt and payment dates, as well as payment on interest.  Also, interest payments should be automatically paid to providers through vendors’ human service contracts and not from the programmatic budgets. Vendor Pay

  • Cost of Living Adjustment for Human Service Workers

The City should re-introduce a cost of living adjustment (“COLA”) for human service workers.  In Fiscal Year 2018, the City introduced a three-year COLA for human services workers.  The COLA expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2020 and was not renewed.  This left frontline workers without a COLA increase in the middle of a pandemic.Anticipating regular wage increases to keep up with cost of living increases is customary for City workers, and the City should do the same for its contracted public sector workforce.  COLAs should no longer be the subject of a protracted annual negotiation that is implemented through retroactive contract amendments.  The City should amend the standard human services contract to expressly include annual COLAs.  This can be modeled after the City’s construction or professional services contracts which allow for annual increases to certain titles that are tied to published pay indices, e.g. using the consumer price index (CPI) for escalation.

  • Fair Pay for Human Service Workers

Compensation for those providing human services must be examined and addressed.  The human services workforce is predominantly comprised of women and people of color who are already facing larger issues of pay parity and equity.  Low compensation in the sector sometimes means the individuals who are providing critical services are also entitled to receive those services.  This inequity must be addressed.  Continued Use of the Technology Solutions – Remote Access to Public HearingsPPB § 2-11 should be amended to specifically establish a virtual public hearing option to complement the traditional in-person format using the infrastructure put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The clear advantages are increased public access to government, increased transparency in the procurement process, and greater civic engagement To read the full letter, click here.


43 Days and Counting

 


Charlene, now that I am going to be a free agent in 43 days, and with the loss of Noah Syndergaard do you think I should try out for the New York Mets? At least they are in the other league than my favorite baseball team the Boston Red Sox. 


Even lousy pitchers make millions of dollars these days so why should I put myself through a campaign for governor when I can at least get a minor league contract for the Mets, and who knows I could be pitching at Shea, oh wait a minute he was my NYPD Commissioner, it's Citi-Field now.


Eric Adams Rally at Fordham Plaza

 

It was a cold afternoon, and the second rally for many of those who arrived at Fordham Plaza to support Mayor Elect Eric Adams. Sheikh Musa Drammeh, Bronx African organizer, led the rally saying that there are high hopes that Mayor Eric Adams will bring the city back to where it once was. He mentioned that no one feels safe in New York City including what were once considered the most safest areas. He also mentioned the meeting with Mayor Elect Adams and Black Lives Matter leader Hawk Newsome where Mayor Elect Adams said to Newsome, "Do not threaten me that there will be violence and blood in the streets, I won't give into those threats". That was in response to the announcement of Mayor Adams of the return of the NYPD Anti Crime Task Force.


Others who spoke were activist Eunice Ukwuani, activist Cabenga Subiat, and Assemblyman Jose Rivera who also videotaped the Fordham Plaza rally, and entertained everyone with stories about when he was the Bronx Democratic Party Chair, and how times have changed. 


(L - R) Activist Cabenga Subiat, Activist Eunice Ukwuani, Assemblyman Jose Rivera, Sheikh Musa Drammeh Bronx African organizer, and Chris Tabicof.


(L - R) Activist Cabenga Subiat, Activist Eunice Ukwuani, Sheikh Musa Drammeh Bronx African organizer, Chris Tabicof, and Boswell Shippie. with Assemblyman Joe Rivera at the video camera.


Friday, November 19, 2021

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

medical professionals preparing vaccine shots

129,085 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

33 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday 


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

"Getting the booster is a critical way to protect ourselves and our loved ones that goes hand in hand with washing our hands and wearing a mask," Governor Hochul said. "80 percent of New York's adults are vaccinated, but COVID-19 is surging in regions with lower vaccination rates. If you remain unvaccinated, get vaccinated. Get your children vaccinated. If you've had your vaccination, get your booster. Take every precaution necessary to keep your community safe as we head into the holiday season."  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

  • Test Results Reported - 207,467
  • Total Positive - 7,558 
  • Percent Positive - 3.64%
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.68% 
  • Patient Hospitalization - 2,164 (+24) 
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 351 
  • Patients in ICU - 424 (+4) 
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 219 (+4) 
  • Total Discharges - 212,602 (+305) 
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 33 
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 46,165

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 - 58,789 
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 - 28,868,533 
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 129,085 
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 689,644 
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 85.2%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 77.8%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.5% 
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 80.1% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 73.2% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 65.9% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 76.5% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.8% 

VNNA 8TH CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING & CHRISTMAS PARTY 2021!

 

COME JOIN VNNA FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON!