Friday, December 3, 2021

Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 11/29/21-12/03/21


Senator Alessandra Biaggi 

Dear Community,

I hope you are all well and staying safe. I want to bring your attention to important new information about the COVID-19 Omicron variant, and reaffirm the importance for every member of our community to be protected and vaccinated at this time.

The Omicron variant is the latest strain of the COVID-19 to be designated a "variant of concern" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases of the Omicron variant have been reported around the world, and experts are still determining the transmission rates and severity of this variant compared to other COVID-19 strains.

As of December 2nd, five cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in the New York City metropolitan area, with one case discovered in Suffolk County and four in New York City. While this is news of concern, experts recommend that the best way to continue to protect yourselves and your loved ones against COVID-19 is to get your booster dose, get vaccinated, and continue to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. 

New York has approved booster shots for all adults in the state, and I strongly encourage everyone to get their booster dose if they have not already done so. Clinics with vaccines can be found through this vaccine finder tool. While walk-up vaccines are available at City-operated vaccination sites, appointments can still be made by using vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. Westchester residents can find state-run vaccination sites here

Additionally, New York City offers in-home vaccinations to all New Yorkers age 12+. These may be requested through nyc.gov/homevaccine or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC. NYC Mobile Vaccine Buses are still providing vaccines throughout the Bronx, and the full schedule of mobile vaccine locations can be found online here. Walk-ups are welcome and you can also book in advance through the Vax4NYC website.

Getting our communities vaccinated is the best and only way to protect our loved ones from the Omicron variant, and I urge us all to stay diligent on how to best prevent COVID-19 spread.Please continue to use your discretion so that we can all do our part to protect our communities this winter.

I would also like to wish our Jewish neighbors a happy Hanukkah, which started last Sunday evening and concludes Monday evening. I hope everyone has a joyful holiday! 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

3 Men Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Kidnapping And Torturing Government Informant

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EDWARD HERNANDEZ was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 10 years in prison for his role in kidnapping and torturing a Government informant.  WALKIN FRANCISCO ARIAS VILLAR and JOSIEL GUSTAVO MARTINEZ GUZMAN were each sentenced, on September 16, 2021, and September 22, 2021, respectively, to 10 years in prison for their roles in the offense.  HERNANDEZ and ARIAS VILLAR pled guilty on April 6, 2021, and MARTINEZ GUZMAN pled guilty on March 23, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, who also imposed the sentences.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Edward Hernandez now joins his codefendants in being sentenced to spend a decade in federal prison for his admitted role in the brutal and violent kidnapping, torture, and extortion of their victim.  This case illustrates yet again how violence goes hand in hand with the illegal drug trade.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court proceedings: 

ARIAS VILLAR and MARTINEZ GUZMAN forced a Government informant (the “Victim”) into their car after the Victim – who was acting at the direction of law enforcement – arrived at a meeting in the Bronx, purportedly to retrieve $178,000 in narcotics proceeds to be laundered.  HERNANDEZ, who was driving, sped away after the Victim was forced into the car. 

MARTINEZ GUZMAN and ARIAS VILLAR physically assaulted the Victim in an effort to extort the Victim into transferring money to their co-conspirators.  MARTINEZ GUZMAN burned the Victim with cigarettes, beat him with a handgun, and threatened the Victim’s life.  ARIAS VILLAR pointed the handgun at the Victim repeatedly, threatened the Victim’s life, and demanded that the Victim pay them.  ARIAS VILLAR broke the Victim’s nose when he threw a laptop computer at his face.  HERNANDEZ, ARIAS VILLAR, and MARTINEZ GUZMAN apparently did not know that the Victim was a Government informant, but sought repayment for narcotics proceeds lost to law enforcement seizures.  The Victim, fearing for his life, transferred approximately $16,000 of his own money to accounts his abductors supplied. 

Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agents located the car in Fairfield, Connecticut, approximately three hours after the Victim was abducted.  MARTINEZ GUZMAN, ARIAS VILLAR, and HERNANDEZ were arrested and the Victim was brought to a hospital for treatment.

HERNANDEZ, 42, ARIAS VILLAR, 31, and MARTINEZ GUZMAN, 29, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion.  In addition to their prison terms, HERNANDEZ, ARIAS VILLAR, and MARTINZ GUZMAN were each sentenced to three years of supervised release.  Charges remain pending against Dacheng Zhen.

Mr. Williams praised and thanked the DEA for its outstanding work locating and safely recovering the Victim.

Governor Hochul Announces Construction of $15 Million Affordable and Supportive Housing Development in Onondaga County

 Housing for Serving Veterans, Individuals With Serious Mental Illness, And The Elderly

Monarch Commons Will Provide 50 Affordable Apartments for Older Adults and Homeless Veterans in Highly Energy-Efficient Building

Investment Complements 'CNY Rising' - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Design Image Available here


 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction on a $15 million affordable and energy-efficient housing development with 50 apartments in the town of Cicero in Onondaga County. Monarch Commons will include 35 apartments for adults aged 55 and older, and 15 apartments for veterans experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. 

"As we focus on helping New Yorkers recover from the pandemic, boosting affordable, sustainable, and supportive housing is one of our best strategies to fight homelessness and ensure that everyone has a roof over their head," Governor Hochul said. "Monarch Commons not only helps our most vulnerable residents in Onondaga County, including our veterans, it is a model for energy efficiency as we work to create a cleaner, greener future."

Monarch Commons will consist of a single two-story building with 48 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments. All apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income.

Fifteen of the apartments will be reserved for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These individuals will have access to on-site supportive services provided by Soldier On, a national organization specializing in supporting veterans. Services and rental subsidies will be funded by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Development Assistance.

Monarch Commons has been designed to adhere to energy efficiency and green building standards required under the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's New Construction - Housing Program (Tier 3) and the project will pursue LEED certification. Other energy efficient features include LED lighting, low flow plumbing fixtures, continuously operating bath fans, and all Energy Star or equivalent appliances, equipment, lighting, and fixtures. 

Each apartment will have ample storage space, modern kitchen amenities and a patio or balcony. Bathrooms will be equipped with grab bars and emergency pull cords. Building amenities will include a lounge, community room, exercise room, and computer room. The building will also include a dedicated office space and separate meeting area for the supportive service provider. The project's developer is CDS Monarch, Inc. 

State financing includes federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $12 million in equity and $2.5 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. NYSERDA will provide $175,000 in support. Additional financing is being provided by the CDS Wolf Foundation and the Central New York Community Foundation. 

Monarch Commons is part of the state's unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan to make housing accessible and to combat homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 homes with supportive services. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested $190 million in Onondaga County, which has created or preserved nearly 2,800 affordable homes. Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction on a $15 million affordable and energy-efficient housing development with 50 apartments in the town of Cicero in Onondaga County. Monarch Commons will include 35 apartments for adults aged 55 and older, and 15 apartments for veterans experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. 

"As we focus on helping New Yorkers recover from the pandemic, boosting affordable, sustainable, and supportive housing is one of our best strategies to fight homelessness and ensure that everyone has a roof over their head," Governor Hochul said. "Monarch Commons not only helps our most vulnerable residents in Onondaga County, including our veterans, it is a model for energy efficiency as we work to create a cleaner, greener future."

Monarch Commons will consist of a single two-story building with 48 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments. All apartments are affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income.

Fifteen of the apartments will be reserved for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These individuals will have access to on-site supportive services provided by Soldier On, a national organization specializing in supporting veterans. Services and rental subsidies will be funded by the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Development Assistance.

Monarch Commons has been designed to adhere to energy efficiency and green building standards required under the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's New Construction - Housing Program (Tier 3) and the project will pursue LEED certification. Other energy efficient features include LED lighting, low flow plumbing fixtures, continuously operating bath fans, and all Energy Star or equivalent appliances, equipment, lighting, and fixtures. 

Each apartment will have ample storage space, modern kitchen amenities and a patio or balcony. Bathrooms will be equipped with grab bars and emergency pull cords. Building amenities will include a lounge, community room, exercise room, and computer room. The building will also include a dedicated office space and separate meeting area for the supportive service provider. The project's developer is CDS Monarch, Inc. 

State financing includes federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $12 million in equity and $2.5 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. NYSERDA will provide $175,000 in support. Additional financing is being provided by the CDS Wolf Foundation and the Central New York Community Foundation. 

Monarch Commons is part of the state's unprecedented $20 billion, five-year Housing Plan to make housing accessible and to combat homelessness by building or preserving more than 100,000 affordable homes and 6,000 homes with supportive services. Since 2011, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has invested $190 million in Onondaga County, which has created or preserved nearly 2,800 affordable homes. 

30 Days and Counting

 


Maybe I will try out for the Brooklyn Nets, or audition for Saturday Night Live where I can play that famous Sesame Street character, you know that big yellow bird. Anyway I have less than one month left in office as your mayor, and I was not able like my predecessor to get the term limit law changed.


It's funny though, as the members of the city council want to overturn the will of the people who voted against giving non citizens of the city the right to vote. They have said they have a super majority to get the bill passed. I believe in the will of the people, and that will be my platform for my run for governor. 


By the way watch out for the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and I will leave it up to Governor Hochul to screw that up. 

Permits Filed For 170 W 225th Street In Marble Hill, The Bronx

 

170 W 225th Street in Marble Hill, The Bronx via Google Maps

Permits have been filed for a seven-story mixed-use building at 170 W 225th Street in Marble Hill, The Bronx. Located between Teunissen Place and Adrian Avenue, the lot is within walking distance of the Marble Hill-225 Street subway station, serviced by the 1 train. Michel Perle is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 87,812 square feet, with 78,112 square feet designated for residential space and 9,700 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 115 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 679 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, a 43-foot-long rear yard, and 50 enclosed parking spaces.

Marin Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This property is not in the Bronx, but in the borough of Manhattan, as Manhattan is not just an island. Marble Hill may have a Bronx zip code, be serviced by Bronx Community Board 8 and Bronx School District 10, and have other Bronx services, Marble Hill has Manhattan representatives in elected office, serve on Manhattan juries, and are residents of the borough of Manhattan.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Governor Hochul Announces Five Confirmed COVID-19 Omicron Variant Cases in New York

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

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the first confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in New York State. So far, the five cases appear unrelated and have been confirmed through sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One case is from Suffolk County with a history of travel to South Africa. The individual was asymptomatic while traveling home and after returning became symptomatic. Sequencing performed at the Pandemic Response Lab (PRL) confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant. The other four cases are New York City residents. Two cases from Queens and one from Brooklyn were confirmed at PRL, while the other case, whose borough of residence is still being determined, was confirmed by the New York City Public Health Lab.

"As I've said since we first became aware of the emergence of the Omicron variant and said earlier today, it was only a matter of time before it was detected here in New York State," Governor Hochul said. "I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and his team for working closely with us in this effort to detect the Omicron variant and for our joint pandemic efforts. I also want all New Yorkers to know that we are prepared for this and will continue to communicate openly with New Yorkers as we work closely with our partners at the national, state and local level. Thanks to the life-saving tools at our disposal, like vaccines and boosters, we have the tools in our arsenal to fight this pandemic - including the Delta and Omicron variants. I urge every New Yorker to take the necessary steps to keep themselves and their communities safe: get vaccinated, get boosted and wear a mask."

These New York State cases come after Governor Hochul's morning announcement, alongside Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett, that the Omicron variant had been detected in a Minnesota resident who spent time in New York City at a recent anime convention at the Javits Center. The Governor and Health Commissioner urged anyone who attended to get tested for COVID-19. These cases are believed to be unrelated to that convention.

"As I said earlier today at the Governor's briefing, the most important advice we can give New Yorkers at this time is to get vaccinated, get a booster shot if you are already vaccinated and wear your mask," said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. "We urge the public not to panic, as we are still learning more about this variant and are prepared to handle it. Labs across New York State, including our world-renowned public health lab, the Wadsworth Center, have ramped up sequencing efforts to detect and study the Omicron variant and we will continue to work with our premier public health experts to protect New Yorkers."

New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center Laboratory continues to actively monitor COVID-19 virus samples selected throughout the State to compare sequences and identify circulating and new variants, including Omicron. The Department also monitors all data submitted to public sequence databases by the many other sequencing laboratories throughout New York State and across the US, contributing to a robust and collaborative surveillance program for variant analysis. The Wadsworth Center is currently sequencing COVID-19 virus specimens with a capacity up to approximately 100 per day. Specimens are selected at random from throughout the state to provide surveillance across all geographic locations and data analyzed across the entire sequence of the virus. The analyses include assessment for mutations that indicate variants of concern and variants of interest.

Other laboratories in New York State are conducting similar work. These results from Wadsworth and other laboratories are uploaded into public databases, primarily GISAID. From this database, sequence data from all contributors can be downloaded and analyzed for a more complete picture of virus trends across the state and the distribution of variants from these analyses summarized over time. The State has made this data available for all New Yorkers at their COVID-19 Variant Page.

MAYOR DE BLASIO, GOVERNOR HOCHUL UPDATE NEW YORKERS ON THE OMICRON VARIANT

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good evening, everyone. A very important moment as we're getting information about the first Omicron variant case here in New York City. Governor Kathy Hochul has joined me here at City Hall, and I'd like to welcome her to offer the first remarks on this development. Governor?
 
Governor Kathy Hochul: Thank you, Mayor de Blasio for first of all, hosting us here as we make sure that we share information real time with the constituents of our city and our state. Also, I want to make sure everyone understands this is about unity. There's a reason we're here together to signal that this is a challenge that we're going to tackle together. And ensure that everyone knows that we are focused on transparency, which means we will provide information as we get it, as well as a coordinated response from the City and the State to deal with whatever lies ahead.
 
As I mentioned this morning in my briefing, we still don't have specific information on how the vaccines are holding up, how the boosters are holding up to this variant, but it is real. We said it would be coming here shortly. We announced this morning that a case from Minnesota was directly tied to the City of New York for individuals who participated in a convention at the Javits Center between November 18th and the 22nd. That individual has already recovered from their symptoms. They tested positive but are already feeling well. And it was a very minor case. So, that's something I want to put an exclamation point on. While this may be highly transmissible, at least from the early evidence, and again, more information is still forthcoming. We want people to know that the early cases that have arisen are not life-threatening. They seem to be minor cases. And that is a source of good news for us right now.
 
But in terms of the information we received, literally, there are five cases identified today in the State of New York. The first one was in Suffolk County. I've been in communication with the County Executive Steve Bellone to alert him. This came out of a lab that is in Suffolk, and it was a 67-year-old female who had symptoms, mild symptoms of a headache and a cough. There is some vaccination history. We don't know if it's one vaccination, two, or a booster shot. And that information will be shared with the public as soon as we receive it. But there's at least one vaccination involved. This is an individual who traveled from South Africa, who tested negative upon returning to the U.S. on 11-25. And on November 30th, they took a point of care test and they did test positive. and Northwell sent the results to the – the individual, to a lab. And that person did test positive. Again, a traveler from South Africa who arrived here and is a Suffolk County resident, a 67-year-old woman. Our second case is Queens based. The vaccination status is unknown to know whether or not this person had been vaccinated or not. Third case, similar situation, no other for further personal details, but the vaccination status is unknown, Queens based. And another case is from Brooklyn, unknown vaccination status. And we just received word of another suspected traveler case here in the city that was identified in the city and in one of the five boroughs.
 
So, we knew this was coming, Mayor. We talked about this. You and I have been in communication already. No cause for alarm. We just want to make sure that the public is aware of information when we receive it. We don't have more information at this time, but we suspect there'll be more cases emerging. And the best thing that everyone can do is realize we're not defenseless against this variant at all. That vaccine we know is going to ensure that there's less severe symptoms. The booster is something I would highly recommend. If you're not vaccinated, get vaccinated. If you have vaccinations, both series, get the third dose, which is your booster. Ensure that our children are masked up as well as making sure that they get their vaccinations if anyone above five years old. And also recommend that people continue to wear their masks indoors. And when you can avoid large gatherings at this time.
 
This is not a cause for major alarm. I need to say that because we do not have enough information. We're not having shutdowns. We're not changing our protocols. We are continuing where we are, but making sure that we work in concert together and encourage people to get tested. Get tested often. Get the vaccination. And that again is our best defense. Again, Mayor, I thank you for the continued relationship that we've had since the beginning of my term. Short time, but a lot's been happening and I appreciate your leadership as we work through these issues together.
 
Mayor: Thank you so much, Governor. And thank you for there's been tremendous communication, you and I directly, but also your team and my team. I want to thank you for that. A very cooperative, collegial atmosphere, a lot of unity of purpose. And I want to say that to all New Yorkers, we are working together to protect you. We have a new situation, but we also know there's a lot of information we do not yet have about Omicron. We know we now have cases here in New York City. We have to assume that means there's community spread. We have to assume that means we're going to see a lot more cases. But we also have tremendous tools as the Governor said. We have a massive vaccination apparatus. And that is by far our best capacity to protect everyone against this variant or any other form of COVID.
 
So, the message today is let's do the thing we know works with COVID. Let's get vaccinated. To all the parents out there of the youngest New Yorkers who have not yet gotten your kids vaccinated, the five to 11-year-olds, we need you to get your kids vaccinated right away. To everyone who qualifies for a booster and has not yet gotten it, we need you to do that, to protect yourself and your family and everyone in this city. We know vaccination works. It limits the impact. We know this. It limits the impact of COVID. It helps reduce the spread of COVID. We need that more than ever. We are going to keep the public informed. Governor's made a commitment. I make the same commitment to transparency. We'll be constantly updating the public, but as the Governor said right now, the good news is there's a very strong health care team for the City and the State working to protect you. And that will be every single hour of every single day.
 
As for what we learned about this conference at the Javits Center and these additional cases, our Test and Trace team is out there immediately working with each individual who was affected to figure out who else they came in contact with. That contact tracing is absolutely crucial. We have the strongest test and trace team in America. Thousands of extraordinary, extraordinary committed individuals out there protecting you. They're going to make sure we identify who needs any support, anything in the way of medical support, quarantining, et cetera. Also, we're going to use every tool at our disposal. Earlier in the week, we announced a vaccine mandate for childcare employees, about 102,000 childcare employees. Earlier today, a vaccine mandate for employees of non-public schools. That's about 56,000 additional employees. Both of those go into effect December 20. There will be more new initiatives coming to protect people.
 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: MTA Needs to Refocus Attention on Overdue Upgrades and Preparations for Extreme Weather

 

Vital Subway Car and Signal Upgrades Lagging Behind Schedule


 The MTA should publish a new assessment of its long-term capital needs that pays particular attention to the growing threat climate change poses to transit, and its most recent 20-year needs assessment shows many capital needs are overdue for attention, according to Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s latest report.

“The MTA is getting a large infusion of federal infrastructure funds, but its long-term finances are still in trouble as it wrestles with an overdue list of repairs and upgrades and growing debt,” DiNapoli said. “It needs to reassess and focus its priorities to get money where it is most needed to restore the system and bring riders back. Protecting against the growing threat of climate change must also be among its top priorities because climate change threatens all aspects of our regional transit system.”

To prepare for the release of its five-year capital programs, the MTA creates a 20-year capital needs assessment detailing long-term infrastructure priorities for maintaining and improving its system. The last assessment, covering 2015-2034, was published in 2013 and is overdue for an update. The MTA is now required by state law to produce a needs assessment every five years starting in 2023.

The MTA’s 2013 assessment did not include any recovery and resiliency work beyond what was already planned to recover from Superstorm Sandy and mitigate against similar storms. Climate change impacts are intensifying and the increased risk of flooding, storm surges and other damage to transit need to be incorporated into the plan as soon as possible before the October 2023 deadline to inform public debate and ensure targeted investment.

Although the 2013 assessment is out of date, it serves as a measuring stick for the MTA’s capital investments and its progress in maintaining the safety and reliability of its assets. DiNapoli’s report notes that in some areas — such as important upgrades to stations, tracks and switches — the MTA either has gone beyond its 2013 assessed needs or is near meeting its targets, but in many others, the MTA has barely addressed important goals:

  • Subway flooding is increasingly disruptive and destructive, yet since 2015 the MTA has only spent $56 million on pump rooms and other line equipment with another $189 million committed, out of the $1.7 billion called for in the needs assessment for 2015 through 2024.
  • The MTA said it needed to invest $4.9 billion in new subway cars from 2015 through 2024, but it only spent $700,000 on subway car projects since 2015. It did order 460 subway cars during its 2015-2019 capital program — to replace those over 40 years old and prone to break downs — but the new cars are not expected until 2025.
  • The MTA has spent just half of the $3.4 billion it said it needed to replace buses and keep fleets in good working order.
  • Upgrading antiquated subway signals was the top priority for long-term capital needs in the last assessment. The signals overhaul — budgeted at $8.7 billion through 2024 — was needed to resolve signal malfunctions that regularly disrupted service and to address overcrowding by allowing trains to run closer together. MTA has completed only $900 million in signals work through Sept. 2021. A recent presentation by the MTA showed that communication-based train control projects are continuing to suffer delays and budget overruns. Signals, along with critical track and switches, are areas vulnerable to flood damage from extreme weather or storm surges brought on by climate change.
  • Metro-North train cars have needed replacement going back to 2013, but just $7 million has been spent to date on completed projects to bring in new cars. Another $741 million was committed but that’s still only 41% of what it assessed was needed through 2024. All projected work needed through 2024 on Metro-North’s tracks and structures, however, was completed.
  • The MTA put nearly $1.3 billion toward LIRR track projects since 2015, but that’s just 66% of the amount it said was needed by 2024.
  • Replacing aging LIRR train cars that have been in use since the mid-1980s was a need identified in 2013, but remains behind schedule, although some new cars are starting to be delivered now.

DiNapoli recommended improvements to the MTA’s online capital program dashboard, which tracks spending. The report suggests tracking spending on projects as they progress and can demonstrate benefits to the system, not just when they’re completed; tracking how completed projects change the MTA’s state of good repair measurements for various system assets; and showing how spending on capital projects affects riders’ experience such as safety and reliability of service.

DiNapoli also urged the MTA to improve reporting on capital spending to better align its public data with the Governor’s recent transparency initiative. The transparency plan that the MTA submitted to the Governor did not address capital spending as it should. Improved reporting will help riders, and all stakeholders in the transit system, better understand how the MTA is progressing in its efforts to make transit safer and more resilient.

Report