Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 26, 2021

 

29,046 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours         

60 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide on Dec. 24  

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

“As we come home from holiday gatherings, it is as important as ever to take precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 this season,” Governor Hochul said. “Wear your mask, wash your hands, and if you haven’t yet, get vaccinated and boosted. The vaccine is the best tool we have to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe as we head into the new year. Take advantage of having it readily available and get yours today.”

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

* Numbers with an asterisk were last updated as of Dec. 24 as the HERDS system was down in observance of the holiday. 

** Vaccination numbers compiled by the CDC as of Dec. 24.

*** Due to the Holiday, today's report has data from Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, where available.

• Test Results Reported – Dec. 24: 400,030/Dec. 25: 257,325***
• Total Positive – Dec. 24: 49,708/Dec. 25: 36,454***
• Percent Positive – 14.17%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 11.70% 
• Patient Hospitalization – 4,891*
• Patients Newly Admitted – 839*
• Patients in ICU – 880 (-4)*
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 501 (+6)*
• Total Discharges – 226,474 (+676)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 60*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 47,929*
  
  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 – 60,751
  
  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 – 33,105,549
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 29,046
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 732,953
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 88.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 80.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 95.0%**
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 82.6%**
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 77.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 69.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 82.9%**
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 71.3**

Street Co-Naming for Miguel A. Melenciano

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez was joined by neighbors, friends, and family members for a street co-naming ceremony to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Miguel A. Melenciano. Melenciano was a Journalist and community leader, who dedicated his life to lifting the lives of Dominicans in the Diaspora.

Melenciano was born on July 5, 1964 in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and from an early age, Melenciano displayed a restless, proactive, and friendly attitude towards those with whom he interacted. He enjoyed a childhood full of love and community values, which allowed him to connect well with others and to succesfully navigate any political or social environment.

 

He graduated with a Doctor of Law degree from the prestigious Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) in 1984, where he joined movements in defense of students’ rights. Upon graduation, he installed a law office in his hometown and offered legal services to those in need in his community, often free of charge.

 

In 1999, he immigrated to New York City where he opened the first Central Electoral Board (JCE) overseas office, where he served, among other roles, as inspector and supervisor of Dominican electoral processes conducted in several U.S. states. He excelled as a JCE official during the 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2016 Dominican elections and was later transferred to the headquarters of that body in New Jersey, where he was appointed to supervise all U.S. states, and Canada.

 

Miguel Melenciano had many interests and a true passion for journalism and communication, managing to write in different relevant media in the Dominican Republic and in New York and later founding and directing the newspaper El Nacional USA. He took his first steps in media communication with the program "Enlace," which he produced and co-led alongside Elías Barreras Corporán and Miguel Cruz Tejada, on a radio station and on channel 35 of Time Warner Cable. Working together, they pioneered one of the first community FM radio stations to broadcast from CULTURARTE on Audubon Avenue in Upper Manhattan.

 

Due to his charisma and commitment to objectivity, Melenciano achieved a true connection with viewers through his many programs, including the “Carlito de la Vega” show, “Opción New York” and “Registro Semanal.” Melenciano also collaborated with several national media including El Nuevo Diario and was one of the first publishers on the European platform Globedia. 

 

Due to his great sense of humor and “don de gente,” Melenciano was respected and loved by an entire community to which he gave himself entirely and supported unconditionally. On October 28, 2019, Miguel A. Melenciano lost his battle to cancer at the Presbyterian hospital in New York City. His partner Iglis Aquino continues his legacy of love by creating the Miguel A. Melenciano Aquino (M.A.M.A) foundation; an endeavor that Melenciano started during the course of his illness to educate others about cancer and help those patients most in need.

Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez was joined by Congressman Adriano Espaillat to stand with family and friends of Miguel A. Melenciano.

The sign at the corner of Broadway and West 213th Street is covered as Councilman and soon to be New York City Commissioner of Transportation Ydanis Rodriguez speaks about the man for whom the street corner will be co-named.

Congressman Espaillat added some words to the community gathered. 

The cover comes off of Miguel A. Melenciano Way at Broadway and West 213th Street.

7 Day and Counting

 

Let me get ready for my last Monday Media Availability, because it should be a real fun one. Do I blame Kathy for the Omicron surge. She is calling every new case of COVID, Omicron, just like Andrew called every death a COVID death. I have to position myself right so I can use this against her when I run for governor.

It's good that the schools are closed for the rest of my time as your mayor, be it only one week to go until Mayor Adams takes over, and this is his problem to deal with Kathy. No matter what Mayor Adams does he will be blamed, just as Mayor Lindsay was blamed when he became mayor during a snow storm, and the sanitation workers went on strike so there was no snow removal on the city streets. Those were the good old days when it snowed big by New Years day, and there was no talk of Global Warming.

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Merry Chirstmass and Happy New Years

 

DiNAPOLI: FORMER VILLAGE OF BEMUS POINT CLERK-TREASURER PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZELING VILLAGE FUNDS

 

Former Official Pays Restitution of Over $58K

 State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt and Chautauqua County Sheriff James B. Quattrone today announced that former clerk-treasurer of the village of Bemus Point, Jennifer Jaegar, pleaded guilty to the theft of more than $58,000 in village funds.

Jaeger, 39, of Bemus Point, admitted that from 2015 to 2020 she wrote village checks to herself using forged signatures of officials and had village officials sign blank checks, which she then cashed.

“Former Clerk-Treasurer Jaeger disregarded the distinction between public funds and her own pocketbook,” DiNapoli said. “Thanks to our partnership with Chautauqua County District Attorney Schmidt and Sheriff Quattrone, we have held her accountable for her violation of the public’s trust and recovered the stolen funds.”

“This is not a victimless crime,” said District Attorney Jason Schmidt.  “The Village of Bemus Point, like many of our local municipalities here in Chautauqua County, is engaged in an every-day battle to service its residents with precious little money.  Every dollar stolen is a dollar not spent on the community.  Here, we secured full restitution to the Village for the money which was stolen.  The plea resolution was conditioned on full repayment up front, and this is the only reason why a reduction in the charge was put on the table, to guarantee that Bemus Point gets all its money back now, and in one shot, rather than face the uncertainty of pursuing repayment through the civil judgment enforcement mechanisms available under the law.  This was our number one concern.”  

Jaeger pleaded guilty to petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor, today in Town of Ellery Court and was sentenced to pay back $58,100 in restitution to the village.

The arrest was a result of a joint investigation between the State Comptroller’s Office, the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office, and the Chautauqua County Sherriff’s Office.

DEC ENCOURAGES ANGLERS TO SAFELY ENJOY ICE FISHING THIS WINTER

 

Review Ice Safety Guidelines before Heading Out

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today encouraged outdoor enthusiasts to consider ice fishing this winter season.

“Winter in New York provides outdoor adventurers with some of the very best opportunities to get outdoors, like ice fishing, when conditions are right,” Commissioner Seggos said. “With proper preparedness and safe ice, anyone can enjoy the state’s abundant ice fishing opportunities. Many fish species are still quite active during the hard water season, including perch, sunfish, lake trout, and northern pike, leaving something for every type of angler to get out on the ice.”

Safety is essential during ice fishing season and anglers should make sure the ice is thick enough before venturing out. Four inches of solid clear ice is usually safe for anglers accessing ice on foot. Ice thickness can vary on waterbodies and even within the same waterbody. Anglers should be particularly cautious of areas of moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice formation. Ice can easily be tested with an auger or spud bar at various spots. DEC also encourages anglers to fish with a family member or a friend for safety. In addition, local bait and tackle shops are great resources for learning where ice is safe and what other anglers are catching.

Anglers interested in trying ice fishing for the first time should mark the Feb. 19-20, 2022, weekend on their calendars. DEC has designated this weekend as a Free Fishing Weekend, which means the requirement for a fishing license is waived. Free fishing weekends are great opportunities to try fishing for the first time and for experienced anglers to introduce friends to the sport.  

Beginning ice anglers are encouraged to download the Ice Fishing Chapter of DEC's I FISH NY Beginners Guide to Freshwater Fishing for information on how to get started ice fishing. Additional information, including a list of waters open to ice fishing, can be found on DEC’s ice fishing webpage. A new video for beginners interested in ice fishing are now available on DEC’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oACfgpZzsnE

The use of fish for bait is popular when ice fishing. Baitfish may be used in most, but not all, waters open to ice fishing. Anglers are encouraged to follow these steps when using baitfish while ice fishing:

• Review and follow the DEC baitfish regulations on page 79 of DEC’s Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide;
• Make sure the use of baitfish is permitted in the waterbody by checking the special regulations by county section of the guide;
• Use only certified disease-free baitfish purchased from a local tackle store (buyers should retain the receipt provided while in possession of the baitfish);
• Use only personally collected baitfish from the same waterbody they were caught; and
• Dump unused baitfish and water in an appropriate location on dry land.

DEC reminds anglers to have a valid fishing license before heading out on the ice. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.

WILLIAMS' STATEMENT IN CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS

 

"Merry Christmas! Today I join Christians across the city and world in marking the birth of Jesus Christ, may peace be unto his name.

 

"His story of humble birth in challenging times, his teachings of justice, of standing with the oppressed and against the oppressor, are as resonant today as they were thousands of years ago. It has sustained and inspired across millennia, and I have learned from his model of revolutionary agitation for transformational change. 

 

"Christmas is a moment of joy and peace as we celebrate time-honored traditions and enjoy the company of our family and friends. Amid the current surge in COVID-19 cases, I want to caution New Yorkers to celebrate safely, adapting traditions where necessary but carrying the same spirit of love and kindness. No matter where and how we are celebrating, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season."

8 Day and Counting

 

I got this shirt from my favorite Basketball team, since I gave them millions of dollars in tax breaks. Now that I have time t watch the games in person the games are cancelled because more than half the team is out with COVID. I wanted to play, but the team says I have to wait until I am out of office.

Governor David Patterson, I mean Kathy Hochul, my doctor explained to me why I say that. Since I will be running for Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul can not say re-elect me, because just like David Patterson were never elected governor of New York State. Back to COVID and the Omicron variant. Kathy Hochul is counting every positive COVID test as if they are all the Omicron variant. That is what former Governor Andrew Cuomo did when people died. All death were Covid related, no matter what the person died of. Get it straight Kathy, you are making me as mayor look foolish.