14 Days and Counting

 

It looks like I have to do some work this Sunday, because the COVID-19 situation is getting out of hand now. Governor David Patterson, I mean Kathy Hochul doesn't know what to do even with my former Department of Health Commissioner who left before I fired her, as her health advisor. 

I will be holding a special briefing on my new COVID mandates for the city. The percentage of people testing positive is over five percent in all boroughs except the Bronx where it is just under five percent. I will lead the City and State out of this Pandemic, and be your next governor replacing David Patterson, I mean Kathy Hochul. I think I get Kathy Hochul mixed up with David Patterson, because both were never elected governor, they just got the position after scandals in the Governor's office. 

Senator Julia Salazar - Looking Ahead to 2022

 

Dear Friend,

As we close out 2021, it's important to prepare ourselves for the new year ahead. I am reminding all of our constituents that the New York Eviction Moratorium is set to expire January 15th, 2022. 

This is a final reminder to please fill out the appropriate Hardship Declaration Form below if you are either a tenant or homeowner behind on payments, and if you have experienced any financial hardship due to COVID-19.

Hardship Declaration Form

The hardship declaration form is collected by Kings County Housing Court and will protect you from eviction or foreclosure proceedings. After you fill it out, take a picture of the completed form on your phone, then send it over via email to kingshardshipdeclaration@nycourts.gov. 

For any additional support or specific questions concerning the Hardship Declaration Form please visit the NYC Housing Court website or call 718-557-1379. 

Having trouble paying for your electric bill?

NYC’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) applications are now open through HRA.

For more information, call 800-692-0557. You can also call 311 and ask for the Home Energy Assistance Program. You can visit our District Office to fill out a form, which our Constituent Services staff can assist you with. The deadline to apply for HEAP is March 15th, 2022.

COVID-19 Booster Shots

Governor Hochul recently declared a state of emergency due to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. This variant is highly transmissible, and evades existing immunity more easily than previous variants of COVID-19. Cases are rapidly increasing in our city, and health experts recommend receiving the booster shot to ensure you have the strongest available protection against COVID-19. 

Many vaccinated New Yorkers are now eligible to receive the Booster dose, which is available via walk-ins and appointments at locations across the city. Click here to find a vaccination site near you. If you still have not received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, we encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible for your safety and for those around you. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any issues or concerns. My district office can be conveniently reached by email at senatorsalazarsoffice@gmail.com or by phone at (718) 573-1726. 

I hope you and your loved ones have a Happy New Year!

Warmly,

Senator Julia Salazar, SD18

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 18, 2021

 

135,121 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours     

59 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday     

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

"This is not like the beginning of the pandemic. We are prepared for the winter surge because we have the tools at our disposal," Governor Hochul said. "Getting vaccinated, getting the booster and wearing a mask are critical to avoiding getting seriously ill from COVID-19, so don't take a chance. We will continue to work with local partners to make vaccines, boosters and testing more widely available. Let's all celebrate the holiday season with our friends and family safely this year."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported - 290,930
• Total Positive - 21,908
• Percent Positive - 7.53%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.29%
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,909 (+70)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 578
• Patients in ICU - 745 (+14)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 437 (+2)
• Total Discharges - 222,778 (+471)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 47,492

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 - 60,252

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 - 32,236,194
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 135,121
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 1,050,138
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 87.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 79.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 94.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 82.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 76.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 68.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 81.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 70.8%

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:    

BOROUGH	Wednesday, December 15, 2021	Thursday, December 16, 2021	Friday, December 17, 2021
Bronx	3.15%	3.83%	4.73%
Kings	3.41%	4.25%	5.12%
New York	3.45%	4.49%	5.45%
Queens	3.81%	4.53%	5.24%
Richmond	4.70%	5.26%	5.71%

Attorney General James’ Statement on Federal Court Order Regarding Purdue Pharma Settlement

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York rejected a settlement with opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma and the family that owns the company — the Sacklers:

“For more than two decades, Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers dealt in death and destruction, callously pushing opioids on the American people with no regard for the tens of millions of addictions and hundreds of thousands of deaths they were causing. 

“Earlier this year, we negotiated an agreement that would shut down Purdue Pharma and ban the Sacklers from ever making another opioid again, in addition to guaranteeing up to $4.5 billion in payments. 

“The appellate court will now make a determination as to whether this plan will be confirmed, but make no mistake, Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family remain named defendants in our ongoing litigation and we will hold them accountable for their unlawful behavior, one way or another. 

“We will get justice for the American people.”

15 Days and Counting

 

I hope the Brooklyn Nets have enough players for tonight's game against the Orlando Magic. If the COVID related sit out of players continues much longer I may call my friends at the Net to remind them who got them the stadium and all those tax breaks. 

I'll remind them that after January 1st I will be a free agent. I have the photos of me shooting hoops in the Bronx from that ace political reporter Robert Press, who took photos when I was shooting hoops in the Bronx with Councilman Oswald Feliz.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's NYC Moving Forward Week in Review - 12/17/2021

 

Dear Friends,

I hope you and your families are doing well and in light of the Covid-19 new variants and new rules and regulations asking everyone to get vaccinated, wear a face mask while indoors and in public, to help our city beat this virus once and for all.

Christmas is the most beautiful season of the year where we share the joy of the season, surround ourselves with friends and family and give back.

Last Saturday we started our marathon Toy, Hats and Gloves Giveaway and throughout the week between the NYCHA Throggs Neck and Pelham Parkway Houses, Jacobi Hospital, Montefiore Medical Medical Center and different neighborhoods where we gave out over 1,000 toys, hats and gloves.

Our Holiday Floater in partnership with the Westchester Square BID was a huge hit, as we drove down our commercial corridors with Santa Claus and Carolers stopping, cheering and sharing hot chocolate and donuts with shoppers and neighbors.

This week I attended the last Council Stated meeting of the year and term, I am proud to say, as your representative of District 13, that six bills were passed with my name attached. These include bills to minimize safety hazards at construction sites, improve interagency coordination during states of emergency, and to explore the versatility of vacant spaces. My colleagues and I also confirmed this year’s slate of street co-namings, enshrining the legacy of our respective districts’ heroes for the many years to come: PePe Cardona, Joe Chiodi, Conti’s Pastry Shoppe, Mario D’Agostino, Ibrahim al-Hamdi, Joseph Oddo, Carmine Palladino, Michael Prince, Dominick Schiano, Thomas Solfio.

Between regular clean ups and graffiti removals, hand sanitizer and mask giveaways, nightly meetings, budget work, legislation, case work and events, Team Gjonaj has been proudly serving you throughout these difficult times.

If you have called our office with an issue, please note we will be working on your case and they will be transferred to the new Councilmember’s office as of January 1st and you can reach out to that office using the same number.

Until than, please contact us at 718-931-1721 or email us at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj

District 13, Bronx

RIKERS ISLAND INMATE INDICTED FOR HARASSING FEMALE DOC OFFICER

 

Defendant Exposed Himself and Ejaculated on Officer

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Rikers Island inmate has been indicted for Harassment of a female Department of Correction Officer. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly harassed a DOC Officer by committing demeaning acts toward her. The victimized officer, a 53-year-old woman, has been deeply shaken by this incident. This indictment shows this behavior will not be tolerated. DOC Officers should be treated with respect and should not be subjected to repulsive incidents while on the job.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Christopher Galliego, 29, an inmate in Rikers Island, was arraigned today on Aggravated Harassment of an Employee by an Inmate, seconddegree Obstructing Governmental Administration, and second-degree Harassment before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Efrain Alvarado. The defendant is due back in court on March 18, 2022.

 According to the investigation, on May 21, 2021, at approximately 7:17 a.m. in the North Infirmary Command of Rikers Island, the defendant allegedly called the 53-year-old DOC Officer, to his cell gate. When she approached him, he exposed himself to her and ejaculated on her gloves and leg. The matter was taken in for testing and was positively identified as seminal fluid.

 District Attorney Clark thanked DOC Correction Intelligence Bureau Investigator John Cammisuli for his work on the case.

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

CONSUMER ALERT: NYS DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION PROVIDES CONSUMERS WITH TIPS FOR BUYING GIFT CARDS AND GIFT CERTIFICATES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

 

Gift Cards are More Popular Than Ever

Follow Basic Gift Card and Gift Certificate Purchasing Tips this Holiday

 The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) today released tips to inform and empower New York consumers purchasing gift cards and gift certificates this holiday season. Gift cards are increasingly popular, so it is important for consumers to understand the pitfalls surrounding gift cards in order to avoid scams.

“The convenience of gift cards makes them a very popular present to give and receive during the holiday season,” said Acting Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “If gift cards are on your holiday shopping list, the Division of Consumer Protection encourages you to know your rights when it comes to buying and using them to purchase goods.”

In New York, consumers who buy and use gifts cards have protections. Current law states that no gift card may expire earlier than five years from the date of purchase and requires businesses to prominently post the ‘Terms and Conditions’ that apply to their gift cards, including the procedure to replace a missing card.

Below are tips consumers should keep in mind when buying and using gift cards this holiday season:

• Research retailers before purchase. Verify the legitimacy of the seller. Check reviews and articles.
• Check packaging. When buying a gift card, consumers should make sure the packaging and security seals are intact.
• Use caution with third parties. Consumers should use caution when buying gift cards from third parties or online auctions, as it may be difficult to verify the dollar amount remaining.
• Review the terms and conditions. Consumers should always review the terms and conditions and check for hidden fees or restrictions on the use of the gift card. ‘Dormancy Fees’ for non-use cannot be imposed if the card is used within two years of the purchase date, and any such fees must be waived where the cardholder uses it within three years of the purchase date.
• Check unclaimed funds site for unused gift cards. Businesses should transfer any uncollected gift cards funds to the State Comptroller in the name of the purchaser. The New York State Office of the State Comptroller has an application process where consumers can search to see what funds may be available for them. Consumers can access this site at: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/ouf/
• Beware of scammers. Scammers may try to get consumers’ gift cards. Consumers should be particularly cautious about callers claiming to be from the government or utility company saying that an overdue bill or federal debt can be paid with a gift card.
• Follow up with unused gift cards in the case of bankruptcy.
  • If a business is currently going through bankruptcy, consumers can file a claim against the company for the gift card amount. For more information, consumers can reference https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/unclaimed-funds-bankruptcy to check on any unclaimed funds in their name or to file a claim against a current bankruptcy matter.
  • If a business is out of business or completed their bankruptcy filing, funds may also be available with the State Comptroller: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/unclaimed-funds.

Consumers having difficulty with an existing gift card are encouraged to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Consumer Protection. The Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation, between the consumer and business, when the consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own.

The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.