NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND STAFFING SHORTAGES

 

 "Amid the ongoing pandemic, it's critical that students in our city have the ability to effectively learn in a safe environment. Many students, parents, teachers and staff are concerned that those standards may not be adequately met at this moment, as both the preliminary attendance numbers and anecdotal evidence across the city show. As we approach what may be the Omicron variant's peak, with increased hospitalizations across the state, questions of increased safety risk and educational effectiveness continue to be raised.

"As we push forward we must do so recognizing, responding, and adapting to the scale of the issue. We needed mandatory testing – which the city does have the authority to implement – prior to returning to classrooms, and we need it even more urgently now. Expanded vaccination efforts in schools are also essential.

"It’s crucial that we have all the tools we need to meet this surge. Prior to the winter break, the previous administration had refused to establish the infrastructure needed for a potential temporary remote shift or even a remote option, despite nearly two years of calls to at least have a plan in place. Now, the new administration needs to prepare immediately to have these measures available, and when the situation on the ground and in our classrooms calls for it, be unafraid to use them. We must continually remember that the results of whatever action we take will not be felt for days, and act accordingly to mitigate harm."

A Message from Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

 Dear Bronxites,

I want to wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy new year! Last week I took the oath of office to be your 14th Bronx Borough President.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not able to celebrate together as a community, but stay tuned for an upcoming event in which we are able to gather and celebrate this historic election together.

In the coming weeks and months ahead, my team and I will put forth our blueprint and our vision for this great borough, prioritizing issues that we know matter to you and your family, such as education, higher education, economic development, food insecurity, healthcare, housing, job creation, public safety, supporting our small businesses, seniors, veterans and youth. 

I look forward to working with all of you and traveling to every corner of The Bronx over the next several weeks and months, discussing issues and priorities that matter to you and your family.

Stay tuned for our announcements and be sure to follow me on social media:

Facebook: BronxBP

Twitter: BronxBP

Instagram: BronxBPGibson

For now, during this new year, new season and new chapter, I say thank you for the opportunity to serve, I look forward to a fruitful and productive year.

Sincerely,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

UPDATED PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR ERIC ADAMS FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2022

On Tuesday, Mayor Adams will visit Woodhull Hospital to deliver remarks. This event is open press. There will be Q-and-A. 

 

After, the Mayor will thank nurses working the night shift. This event is closed press.

 

  

Approximately 9:30 PM – Delivers Remarks and Holds Q-and-A

Woodhull Hospital

760 Broadway

Brooklyn, NY 11206

Mayor Adams, How many times have you visited Woodhull Hospital while you were Brooklyn Borough President?

Come to the Bronx at night to visit Lincoln Hospital. 

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 3, 2022

 

26,814 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours    

103 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

“Let’s celebrate the first day of school in 2022 by ensuring we are taking the proper precautions to keep them open through the rest of the year,” Governor Hochul said. “We know how to overcome this winter surge: Get the vaccine, get the booster, mask up, get tested and stay home if you're feeling sick. If we don't use these tools, many more in our communities will get sick."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported - 223,153
• Total Positive - 51,698
• Percent Positive - 23.17%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 21.49%
• Patient Hospitalization - 9,563 (+790)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1,637
• Patients in ICU - 1,208 (+75)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 597 (+30)
• Total Discharges - 234,358 (+935)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 103
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 48,689
  
  
  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 - 61,514
  
  
  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 - 33,793,621
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 26,814
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 660,230
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 89.2% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 80.6% 
• 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) - 82.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 78.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 69.8% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 84.0% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 71.8%

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine - A Day 1 plan to slow omicron

 

Today was my first full day in the Manhattan Borough President’s office. I couldn’t be more excited to get down to work, and to take on the challenges looming ahead—in affordable housing, climate, transportation, and more. 

But first we need to manage covid to the point where it’s no longer a crisis. 

Omicron is surging in NYC. Cases are now above 40,000 per day.  Hospitalizations have passed 5,000 for the first time since spring of 2020. 

We need to act now to slow this wave, to protect hospitals, and support people who are sick. 

Today I released a 16-point plan to take on covid in NYC.  You can read about it in the graphic below, here in the Daily News, or on Twitter. 

I’ll be fighting hard in the days and weeks ahead to implement these policies. It is critical that we get beyond the omicron wave as quickly as possible, so that we can turn to the important work of bringing about Manhattan’s comeback. 

Stay safe, 

Mark

TWO NEW DINOWITZ LAWS EXPAND ACCESS TO COURT SYSTEM FOR NEW YORKERS

 

The two measures will expand access to jury trials for misdemeanors and will expand admissibility of certain statements in court proceedings.

 A pair of bills from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz to reform the New York State court system have been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The first bill (A4319) will take effect on July 1, 2022, and removes a fifty-year old section of law that denied New York City residents the right to a jury trial in cases where the charge carried a penalty of imprisonment for up to six months. The second bill (A8040) will take effect immediately and will bring New York’s hearsay exception into consistency with the Federal Rule of Evidence. Both bills were carried by State Senator Brad Hoylman in the State Senate. 

The expansion of jury trial access follows a New York State Court of Appeals decision (People v. Suazo, 2018 NY Slip Op 08056, November 27, 2018) that held a noncitizen charged with a B misdemeanor (which carried a penalty of deportation if he were convicted) was entitled to a jury trial under the Sixth Amendment of the United State Constitution. Class B misdemeanors in New York may carry a sentence of up to three months in jail if convicted. This Court of Appeals decision highlighted a geographical disparity in access to jury trials, which were already guaranteed to defendants outside of New York City regardless of the potential sentence. Under the new law, all New Yorkers now have the right to a jury trial for misdemeanor charges, although defendants retain their option under existing law to waive that right in favor of a bench trial. This legislation passed the Assembly by a margin of 148-1 and the State Senate by a margin of 63-0.

 

The relaxation of hearsay statements to allow a party’s agent or employee to testify in contexts where such a statement was made within the scope of an employment or agency relationship that existed at the time of the statement is a change first requested by the Chief Administrative Judge upon the recommendation of his Advisory Committee on Civil Practice. Prior analysis of several Appellate Division cases indicated that there was an overly strict view on who had speaking authority, resulting in a tendency to only allow high levels of management – even if the statement made relates to an activity that the lower-level person was directly tasked with handling. The new law allows New York courts to accept hearsay statements that are generally admissible in Federal court. This legislation passed the Assembly by a margin of 110-39 and the State Senate by a margin of 47-16.

 

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “New Yorkers deserve to have unfettered access to our court system, and these two laws help move us closer to that goal. Our core principles of justice require that everyone have access to a trial by jury of their peers and that everyone has a right to present evidence on their own behalf. I am proud to have pushed these two reforms across the finish line, and am thank you to Governor Hochul for signing them into law.”

Comptroller Lander Announces Leadership Team Appointments

 

Comptroller Brad Lander announced Monday a series of appointments to lead the bureaus of the Comptroller’s office. The leadership team includes a diverse mix of returning and new Deputy and Assistant Comptrollers, all of whom bring deep expertise in city government and in their respective fields.  

These leaders will be responsible for the core duties of the Comptroller’s office, including auditing the City’s agencies and books, serving as fiduciary to the City’s pension funds, analyzing the City’s budget, settling claims, underwriting bonds, protecting workers, and publishing policy research and proposals.  

Today’s appointments include:  

Ricky M. Da Costa, Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs
Amedeo D’Angelo, Deputy Comptroller for Administration
Naomi Dann, Director of Communications
Wendy Garcia, Chief Diversity Officer
Michael Haddad, Interim Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Comptroller for Asset Management
Charlette Hamamgian, Deputy Comptroller for Contracts and Procurement
Marjorie Henning, Deputy Comptroller for Public Finance
Alison Hirsh, Assistant Comptroller for Pensions and Senior Adviser
Annie Levers, Assistant Comptroller for Policy
Jacqueline Thompson, Deputy Comptroller for Accountancy 

These appointments join a previously announced Executive Team consisting of Executive Deputy for Management and Operations Sandra Abeles, Executive Deputy for Budget and Finance Francesco Brindisi, General Counsel Justina Rivera, and Chief of Staff Rachel Goodman. 

“This team brings a wide range of experience in and outside public service, a deep commitment to making government work better, and a strong investment building a more just and equal city,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “I’m thrilled to work with this first-rate team, and I know they will serve New Yorkers and our city well.” 

Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs Ricky Da Costa oversees the bureau that is the primary liaison between the Comptroller’s office and the public, mayoral agencies, and federal, state and local authorities. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, Mr. Da Costa served as political director on Mr. Lander’s campaign, as Assistant Vice President for Government & Community Relations at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and worked in a number of roles across the Mayor’s Office. 

Deputy Comptroller for Administration Amedeo D’Angelo is responsible for management of the agency’s expense and capital budgets, human resources, labor relations, procurement services, information systems, space management, facilities, and other auxiliary services. Mr. D’Angelo served in this and other roles under previous Comptrollers and has focused on establishing policies and processes that result in sound budget management and responsive employee services.  

Director of Communications Naomi Dann leads the work of ​​sharing information to increase transparency and trust in local government. Ms. Dann previously served as Communications Director for then Council Member Brad Lander and as Media Strategist at the New York Civil Liberties Union. 

Chief Diversity Officer Wendy Garcia is responsible for increasing contracting opportunities for Women-and Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and managing the Comptroller Office’s internal supplier diversity initiative, as well as other diversity related projects across all bureaus of the agency. Previously, Ms. Garcia served in this and other roles under Comptroller Stringer, and as Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). 

Interim Chief Investment Officer Michael Haddad leads the Bureau of Asset Management, responsible for investing the pension dollars of public sector workers. Previously, Mr. Haddad served as Deputy Chief Investment Officer, overseeing all asset classes as well as Asset Allocation. Prior to joining the NYC Comptroller’s office in 2016, Mr. Haddad worked in financial markets for three decades, including Morgan Stanley, as a US Treasury trader and Head of Canadian Fixed Income, Caxton Associates, as Senior Managing Director, and Soros Fund Management, as Senior Portfolio Manager.

Deputy Comptroller for Contracts and Procurement Charlette Hamamgian oversees the review of all contracts, contract amendments, leases and concessions between City agencies and vendors to determine whether the agreements should be registered. Ms. Hamamgian previously served as the Senior Executive Director for Contracts and Purchasing for the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”), and as Agency Chief Contracting Officer at the NYC Department of Design and Construction and the Department of Parks & Recreation.  

Deputy Comptroller for Public Finance Marjorie Henning manages City debt issuance and related policy and administration on behalf the Comptroller. Ms. Henning is a three-decade veteran of the municipal market and served under Comptroller Stringer. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, she spent five years at Citigroup as a Director in the Municipal Securities Division where she covered Northeast issuers. 

Assistant Comptroller for Pensions and Senior Advisor Alison Hirsh serves as the Comptroller’s representative to NYC’s five pension funds and leads the Comptroller’s office’s labor policy initiatives. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, she served as Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives for Mayor Bill de Blasio and Senior Advisor to Maya Wiley’s campaign for Mayor. Before that, Ms. Hirsh spent 12 years at 32BJ SEIU, most recently as Vice President and Political Director. 

Assistant Comptroller for Policy Annie Levers is responsible for the development of the Comptroller’s public policy agenda. Prior to joining the New York City Comptroller’s office, Annie served as Director of Policy and Budget to Council Member Lander and later as Assistant Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the New York City Council. 

Deputy Comptroller for Accountancy Jacqueline Thompson is responsible for overseeing all of the accounting and financial reporting functions of the Bureau of Accountancy. Previously Ms. Thompson held several other leadership positions in the Bureau of Accountancy including Division Chief, Deputy Bureau Chief, and then Bureau Chief. Ms. Thompson also served in the Comptroller’s Audit Bureau as a Staff Auditor and then Audit Supervisor. 

Read more about Comptroller Lander’s leadership team at: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/about/leadership-team/  

Additional leadership appointments will be made in the coming weeks. 

Attorney General James Secures $6 Million From Lear Capital, Ending Its Deceptive Business Practices in New York

 

Precious Metal Dealer Lear is Ordered to Reform Business Practices, Make Clear Disclosure of Fees to New Yorkers

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that she has secured $6 million from precious metals dealer Lear Capital, Inc. (Lear), resolving her lawsuit from June 2021 against Lear and its founder, Kevin DeMeritt, that alleged that Lear fraudulently failed to disclose millions of dollars in commissions the company charged consumers. As part of the consent order, Lear will modify its business practices in New York in addition to making the $6 million payment. The funds will be distributed to eligible New York customers harmed by Lear’s misconduct.

“New Yorkers must be able to invest their life savings with confidence and know that their investments will be protected,” said Attorney General James. “After years of misleading consumers, costing them millions in fees, Lear Capital’s illegal practices end now. We’ve secured $6 million for New York consumers and the company will overhaul its business practices in New York. No longer will New Yorkers be subject to hidden fees pushed by fast-talking sales associates.” 

In her lawsuit, filed in June 2021, Attorney General James alleged that Lear persuaded investors — including many elderly residents of Western New York who were seeking to safeguard their retirement savings — to invest tens of millions in precious metals. The suit alleged that Lear did this while fraudulently charging undisclosed commissions — up to 33 percent — on millions of dollars in sales, and in violation of New York laws requiring commodity broker-dealers and telemarketers to register with the state.  

As part of the consent order resolving this matter, in addition to paying $6 million, Lear has agreed to provide New York residents with clear and conspicuous disclosures of its fees and to provide a 24-hour cancellation period for retirement and certain higher fee transactions. Lear will also enhance its New York complaint tracking procedures and provide training to its personnel.