NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE WILLIAM'S STATEMENT ON THE 2022 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS'S

 

"In her State of the State address, the governor mentioned many of the issues facing New Yorkers, and this would represent a strong list of priorities – if the announcements on these issues demonstrated that they would be strongly prioritized. I welcome the discussion of many crucial topics including climate, housing, public safety, health care, and more. At the same time, in many areas, these intentions do not seem to be matched by the investments needed to truly renew the state, and the city I represent. Much of this speech could have been given pre-pandemic, rather than meeting the moment by envisioning a new normal. 

"The governor spoke of the affordable housing and homelessness crisis – but her proposal of 100,000 units of nominally affordable housing is not sufficient to meet the need in New York City alone, much less the entire state. That commitment, compounded with a lack of commitment to pass Good Cause legislation and keep New Yorkers in their homes, shows a failure to meet the scope and urgency of the issues New York faces, which was a philosophy reflected across the address. In the area of public safety as well, I appreciated the governor’s pledges on the supply side of gun violence as well as in community group funding, but absent was a broader, bolder vision that reimagines public safety and examines its intersections with housing, health care, education, and other issues.

"I further appreciate the governor’s stated goals on ethics reform, as it remains abundantly clear that we need to eliminate the systems, structures, and incentives that empowered and enabled the previous governor’s abuses. But I also fear that this administration will make many of the mistakes of the last, whether by failing to fully reject the ways of the past or failing to learn from them in responding to the ongoing, surging COVID-19 pandemic.

"As I and others have in the past, the governor recalled the New Deal in her remarks. But absent from this address was a solid foundation of the kind of transformative economy a Renewed Deal for New York could provide. There are common sense, broadly supported measures which would generate sustainable revenue from the wealthiest New Yorkers as a civic responsibility to support struggling New Yorkers – but the governor has not supported these critical steps which would enable the kind of investment we truly need to renew New York.

"Discussion of these issues is important, acknowledged, and appreciated – but that discussion must be accompanied by the political courage to envision and enact transformational change for New York City and across the state."

Governor Hochul Delivers 2022 State of the State 2022 STATE OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT

 

"New Era for New York" Agenda Includes 228 Bold Initiatives to Kick-Start New York's Comeback

$10 Billion Healthcare Plan Will Rebuild and Grow Workforce, Deliver Direct Payments to Workers

Major Ethics Reforms Will Limit Statewide Elected Officials to Two Terms, Ban Outside Income and Replace JCOPE with New Independent Ethics Agency

Billion Dollar Rescue Plan Will Help Small Businesses Come Back, Middle Class Tax Relief Will Lift Up Millions of New Yorkers

Infrastructure Investments Will Expand Transit in New York City and Lead the Nation in Climate Action

State of the State Book Available Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul today delivered her 2022 State of the State Address, outlining her plan for a New Era for New York. Governor Hochul outlined nine key components of her agenda: rebuilding our healthcare economy, protecting public safety and addressing gun violence, investing in New York's people, investing in New York's communities, making New York's housing system more affordable, equitable, and stable, making New York a national leader in climate action and green jobs, rebuilding New York's teacher workforce and reimagining higher education, advancing New York's place as a national equity model, and making critical reforms to restore New Yorkers' faith in their government.

"As the first woman to present a State of the State address in New York, I want to make it clear I am not just here to make history - I am here to make a difference," Governor Hochul said. "The time has come for a new American Dream. Today, we start building a better, fairer, more inclusive version that I call the New York Dream. We will create a New Era for New York by embarking on a bold, far-reaching policy agenda that advances our recovery and restores New Yorkers' trust in government. And through all of this, I will continue to collaborate with others and deliver results for New Yorkers."

Governor Hochul's A New Era for New York Agenda is comprised of nine components each geared toward carrying New York State to a brighter future.

Rebuild Our Healthcare Economy to Provide Care for More New Yorkers

$10 Billion Plan to Rebuild and Grow the Healthcare Workforce by 20 Percent

Over the next five years, Governor Hochul's plan will rebuild and grow the healthcare workforce by 20 percent. $10 billion will be invested in the state's healthcare sector, including more than $4 billion to support wages and bonuses for healthcare workers. Additionally, this plan will improve the career pipeline, expand access to healthcare training and education, recruit care workers to underserved areas, and strengthen home care.

Protect Public Safety and Take Strong Action Against Gun Violence

Three-Part Agenda to Prevent and Reduce Gun Violence and Violent Crime Throughout New York State

This public safety initiative will provide state and local law enforcement with tools necessary to keep New Yorkers safe from gun violence. The Governor's plan will invest in public safety and fund state and local policing gun safety efforts, create the Interstate Gun Tracing Consortium, and triple investment in community-based gun violence response. 

Invest in New York's People

Tax Relief Efforts for Thousands of Small Businesses and Millions of Middle-Class New Yorkers

Governor Hochul's plan will accelerate the phase-in of $1.2 billion in middle class tax cuts for 6 million New Yorkers by two years - to 2023 - and establish a $1 billion property tax rebate program to put money back into the pockets of more than 2 million New Yorkers who have had to endure rising costs as the pandemic has progressed. The Governor will also deliver a tax rebate for 2 million New York families and increase existing tax credits and create new ones to support food production. Governor Hochul'sefforts will also bring about $100 million in tax relief for 195,000 small businesses across New York State.

Strengthen New York's Workforce and Help Grow the Economy

Governor Hochul's seven-pronged initiative will overhaul workforce development to focus on regional needs, expand access to new careers and career services, and recruit the next generation of New York's labor force. As part of this plan, the Governor will create the Office of Workforce and Economic Development, help New Yorkers move between education and careers, expand access to apprenticeships, recruit the next generation of public servants, expand the state's technology talent pipeline, make New York a model for the employment of workers with disabilities, and protect and strengthen worker's rights. 

'Jails to Jobs,' A New Initiative to Improve Re-Entry into the Workforce and Reduce Recidivism

Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals are often left to their own devices upon reentrance into society. With the 'Jails to Jobs' program, these individuals will be connected with education, resources, and opportunities for job placement, which will improve public safety and reduce recidivism.

Invest in New York's Communities

Moving Forward with Major New Expansion of Transit Service in Brooklyn and Queens: The Interborough Express

The Interborough Express is a historic project that would use the existing right of way of the Long Island Rail Road owned Bay Ridge Bridge to connect transit deserts in Brooklyn and Queens. This line would connect commuters to as many as 17 subway lines, expanding access to jobs and other destinations. Governor Hochul's plan is to move forward with the expansion by directing the Metropolitan Transit Authority to begin the environmental review process.

Billion Dollar Rescue Plan for Small Businesses and to Strengthen New York's Economic Recovery

After the hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Hochul's billion dollar rescue plan will invest in the growth and retention of small businesses of the future, small business tax credits for businesses that took on COVID-related expenses, seed funding to establish new businesses, provide flexible grants to early-stage small businesses, expand small business lending, and help small businesses secure contracts. The Governor also plans to propose legislation to permanently allow the sale of to-go drinks in bars and restaurants.

$1 Billion 'ConnectALL' Initiative to Bring Affordable Broadband to More Than 1 Million New Yorkers

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how inaccessible and unreliable broadband connection was for many New Yorkers, who suddenly were forced to live their lives through the internet. It is essential that all New Yorkers have equitable access to the internet, as marginalized communities are most affected by this lack of broadband access. The $1 billion ConnectALL initiative will deliver affordable broadband to millions of New Yorkers and transform the state's digital infrastructure through new investments.

Make New York's Housing System More Affordable, Equitable, and Stable

Major Statewide Initiative to End the Homelessness Crisis and Address Longstanding Inequities in Housing

Our housing system is riddled with systemic inequalities that need to be addressed. Governor Houchul's housing plan will tackle these and use public funding to expand opportunity for all. Initiatives to expand housing include utilizing Safe Options Support (SOS) teams of trained mental health practitioners that will assist in transitioning individuals living on the street into stable housing, ending the 421-a tax abatement and establishing a new, more effective program, improving housing access for renters with criminal records or negative credit history, creating an eviction prevention legal assistance program, and creating a permanent disaster recovery and resiliency unit for home rebuilding.  

Address Housing Affordability Crisis in New York State 

The Governor will implement a comprehensive 5-year housing plan, a $25 billion effort to create and preserve 100,000 affordable homes, including 10,000 homes with support services for vulnerable populations. To increase access and affordability in New York's housing market, Governor Hochul will also take major steps to construct new housing and increase density in appropriate urban areas. These steps include permitting accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods, kick-starting transit-oriented development, giving New York City the authority to encourage densification, and easing restrictions on converting hotels and offices to housing.

Make New York a National Leader in Climate Action and Green Jobs

Achieving 2 Million Climate-Friendly Homes by 2030

Buildings account for more than a third of New York's climate pollution. Governor Hochul's plan to achieve a minimum of 1 million electrified homes and up to 1 million electrification-ready homes is anchored by a series of legislative and policy actions. These include requiring zero on-site greenhouse gas emissions for new construction no later than 2027, providing the training programs necessary to ensure that the state has a skilled workforce to deliver these services, establishing a dedicated green electrification fund and electrifying low-income homes through the housing capital plan, among others.

Nation-Leading $500 Million Investment in Offshore Wind

Governor Hochul announced plans to invest in offshore wind infrastructure, procure enough wind energy to power at least 1.5 million homes, initiate planning for an offshore wind transmission network, and launch the offshore wind Master Plan 2.0 Deep Water. This will ensure that the state has the strongest offshore wind energy market along the Eastern Seaboard. The Governor's plan for offshore wind will support more than 6,800 jobs, a combined economic impact of $12.1 billion statewide, and more than 4.3 gigawatts of energy, enough to power nearly 3 million homes in New York.

Rebuild New York's School System and Reimagine Higher Education

Invest in New York's Students, Teachers and Schools

To rebuild New York's teacher workforce, Governor Hochul plans to emphasize recruiting and retaining teachers throughout the state. The Governor will also take action to accelerate the teacher certification process and increase funding for K-12 education. This plan also includes providing incentives to attract teachers and school workers, providing learning and mental health grants, creating a state teacher residency program, and upskilling teacher support workers to earn their certifications.

Increase Access to Childcare for 100,000 Families and Invest $75 Million in Wages for Childcare Workers

Affordable childcare is essential to give children the best possible chance at success while providing parents the ability to participate in the workforce. While Governor Hochulbelieves that the federal government must pass Build Back Better to expand childcare coverage for New York families, if they do not she will propose an expansion of access to childcare. This would impact 100,000 families across New York by increasing eligibility from 200 percent of the federal poverty line to 225 percent. The Governor's plan also includes a $75 million in better pay for childcare workers.

Revitalizing SUNY and Secure Its Place as a Globally Recognized Higher Education Institution

Governor Hochul's plan to revitalize the State University of New York System is wide ranging and extensive. The plan includes making the institution a global leader on research and innovation, ensuring SUNY serves students well, and prioritizing equality within the SUNY system. This transformation will set students on a path to economic success and focus on equity so that all may thrive with a SUNY education.

Advance New York's Place as a National Equity Model

Equity Agenda to Promote Anti-Hate, Racial Equity, and Justice for All New Yorkers  

The Equity Agenda will advance a wide-ranging plan to promote and support gender equity, racial equity, anti-hate, social justice, the LGBTQIA+ community, immigrants and new arrivals, and veterans with the goal of protecting the health, safety, economic opportunities, and fundamental dignity of every New Yorker—in short, to make the New York Dream into a reality. 

Make Critical Reforms to Restore New Yorker's Faith in Their Government

Propose Constitutional Amendment to Limit All Statewide Elected Officials to Two Terms and Ban Outside Income

By introducing a constitutional amendment, Governor Hochul plans to limit the roles of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller to two consecutive terms. The Governor will also propose legislation to impose a ban on earned outside income for the same statewide elected officials, with an exception for academic positions that must receive ethics board approval. 

Replacing JCOPE with a New Independent Ethics Agency

To restore the people's trust in their government, Governor Hochul plans to introduce legislation to repeal and replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) with an ethics entity that is truly independent and transparent. This entity will be subject to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests and the Open Meeting Laws, increasing and improving transparency. This plan will also ban outside communications so that members of the entity will be prohibited from participating in ex-parte communications regarding any potential or ongoing investigation.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF HIS SENIOR TEAM

 

Today, Mayor Eric Adams announced members of his senior staff who will oversee operations at City Hall and advance his strategic policies and priorities.

 

“This team has the experience, knowledge, and skill to take our government — and our city — to new heights,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Our motto is Get Stuff Done — and we are already off to a flying start. Together, we will work day in and day out to make New York City safer, more equitable, and more prosperous for all.”

 

“We are at a pivotal moment in our city’s history, and we need strong leadership to bring New York back better than ever,” said Chief of Staff Frank Carone. “Mayor Adams has already proved himself in the early days of his administration to be exactly that kind of leader. I am honored to join his team and serve the city that I love. As chief of staff, I will be focused on ensuring City Hall runs smoothly, keeping our City agencies aligned, and delivering on the mayor’s vision for the city.”

 

The full list of appointees are below:

 

Frank Carone, Chief of Staff

Frank Carone will join the Adams administration as chief of staff. Most recently, he was a partner at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP. He also served as law secretary for the Kings County Democratic Committee. Carone earned a B.S. from St. John’s University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.

 

Dawn Miller, First Deputy Chief of Staff 

Dawn Miller will join the Adams administration as first deputy chief of staff. Most recently, she was Vice President for Policy and Partnerships at Coord, a mobility technology company partnering with cities across the country. She previously served as chief of staff at the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). Dawn launched TLC’s Research and Evaluation practice, serving as its first director, and worked as a researcher at the Urban Institute in Washington, DC. She has a M.P.A. from Princeton University and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.

 

Madeline Labadie, Deputy Chief of Staff 

Madeline Labadie will join the Adams administration as a deputy chief of staff. Most recently, she served as the director of strategic initiatives at TLC, where she led Vision Zero efforts and priority projects for the commissioner. She has also worked in policy and research roles for the Hotel Trades Council and Council Member Brad Lander. She holds a M.P.A. and a B.A. from New York University.

 

Ryan Lynch, Deputy Chief of Staff

Ryan Lynch will join the Adams administration as a deputy chief of staff. Before joining the Adams administration, he served as chief of staff for then-Borough President Adams, and prior to that as policy director. Lynch began as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso, and has also served as an Alternative Livelihoods Officer for WEAVE, a small, community-based organization working to support economic empowerment for Burmese refugees along the Thai-Burma border. He served as the associate director for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Lynch earned a B.S. in psychology from Mary Washington College, and his M.S. in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

 

Menashe Shapiro, Deputy Chief of Staff

Menashe Shapiro will join the Adams administration as a deputy chief of staff. Most recently, he ran his own consulting firm where he advised candidates for public office as well as companies and non-profits waging large public-facing campaigns. In 2021, Shapiro was a key advisor to Mayor Adams’ campaign and a member of the appointments committee on his mayoral transition. Prior to that, he worked on Michael Bloomberg’s presidential and mayoral campaigns, as a managing director at Tusk Strategies, and in private law practice. Shapiro earned his B.A. cum laude in economics from Yeshiva University and his J.D. from Cardozo Law School of Yeshiva University.

 

Tiffany Raspberry, Senior Advisor for External Affairs

Tiffany Raspberry is joining the Adams administration as senior advisor for external affairs, where she will be the key liaison between the mayor and key stakeholders and leaders both nationally and globally. She started her career working at the House of Representatives as a legislative assistant and scheduler, and later as a policy analyst and chief of staff at the New York City Council. Most recently, Raspberry was a senior team member of Mayor Adams’ campaign and co-led the intergovernmental committee on his mayoral transition. She earned her B.A in political science and African-American studies from Fordham University and a M.P.A in global public policy and management jointly from New York University and the University College of London.

 

Stefan Ringel, Senior Advisor to the Mayor

Stefan Ringel is joining the Adams administration as senior advisor to the mayor. He served in the same capacity to Borough President Adams and was a key advisor on media and communication to Eric Adams campaign for Mayor. Previously, he served in the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office in various capacities, first as communications director for former Borough President Marty Markowitz, and subsequently as then-Borough President Adams' communications director. Prior to that, Ringel was media relations director to then-Council Member Jumaane Williams. Ringel earned his BA in political science and international studies from the University of North Carolina, and his MA in Elections and Campaign Management from Fordham University.

 

Andrea Shapiro Davis, Senior Advisor for Talent and Appointments

Andrea Shapiro Davis will join the Adams administration as senior advisor for talent and appointments. She had been serving as CUNY’s interim vice chancellor for university advancement since August 2019. Since 2013, she has served as CUNY’s associate vice chancellor for Corporate, Foundation and Major Gift Development, a role in which she has spurred the growth of initiatives for women’s rights and diversity. Shapiro Davis also served in the administration of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in which she served as special adviser to the mayor, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Appointments, and executive director of the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues. She also spent four years as an assistant district attorney in Queens County and was an attorney in private practice. Shapiro Davis is a proud graduate of Queens College and Hofstra University School of Law.

 

Eric Ulrich, Senior Advisor to the Mayor

Eric Ulrich joins the Adams administration as senior advisor to the mayor. He served as a member of the New York City Council for 12 years, representing the diverse communities of southwest Queens. He was instrumental in passing legislation that established the New York City Department of Veterans Services (DVS), and following Superstorm Sandy he organized relief efforts that helped displaced residents rebuild and recover. He is the product of New York City public and parochial schools, and is the first member of his family to earn a college degree. Ulrich earned his B.A. from St. Francis College and his M.P.A. at Baruch College School of Public Affairs.

 

Edward Mermelstein, Commissioner, Mayor’s Office of International Affairs

Edward Mermelstein joins the Adams administration as the director of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs. He joins the administration after as career as an attorney and an investment advisor with a broad range of international clients.  Fluent in English and Russian, Mermelstein emigrated as a refugee to the United States in 1976. He holds a B.A. from NYU and a J.D. from Western Michigan Law School. In addition to his work, he is involved in numerous charitable organizations supporting local as well as national causes rooted in culture, politics, education, and the arts.

 

Fred Kriezman, Commissioner, Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit

Fred Kreizman will join the Adams administration as commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU).  From 2002 to 2014, Kriezman worked at CAU serving Mayor Bloomberg, rising through the ranks from Brooklyn director to deputy commissioner. He also served on the board of directors of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation from 2005 to 2016.  Recently, he worked at Capalino, serving as a managing director. Kriezman earned an M.P.A in government from Pace University, and a B.S. from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business.

 

Roberto Perez, Director for Intergovernmental Affairs

Roberto Perez is joining the Adams administration as director of intergovernmental affairs (IGA). Most recently, he served in the de Blasio administration as commissioner of CAU, where led efforts to connect communities with the City’s COVID -19 recovery efforts. Prior to that role, Perez was senior executive director of intergovernmental affairs at the New York City Department of Education (DOE) where he managed city, state, and federal legislative affairs on behalf of the chancellor.

 

Dan Steinberg, Director, Mayor’s Office of Operations

Dan Steinberg will join the Adams administration as director of the Mayor's Office of Operations. Steinberg is an urban planner with degrees from the University of Chicago and Columbia University. He recently served as Chief of Data Analytics for the NYC Vaccine Command Center (winner of the Citizen's Budget Commission Prize for Public Service Excellence), and played a number of instrumental roles throughout the City's pandemic response. He previously served as the deputy director of project and performance management at the Mayor's Office of Operations. Steinberg originally began his career as State Senator Liz Krueger's first legislative aide, and also worked as a researcher and advocate.

 

Rachel Atcheson, Special Assistant to the Mayor

Rachel Atcheson will join the Adams administration as senior assistant to the mayor, and will also be the at-large director of the SUNY Downstate Committee on Plant-Based Health and Nutrition. She most recently worked as deputy strategist for Borough President Adams, working on plant-forward nutrition initiatives such as launching NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue’s Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program, and expanding healthy and sustainable food options in New York City schools. Previously, Atcheson served in the Office of the Mayor as the animal welfare liaison. Outside of government, she was senior campus outreach director for The Humane League, growing the organization’s campus outreach program from 18 to 52 campuses. She received a B.A. from Boston University.

Office of NYS Comptroller DiNAPOLI: NYC'S RESTAURANT, RETAIL AND RECREATION SECTORS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE DURING PANDEMIC

 

Ongoing Aid Programs Necessary; Better Information Needed to More Effectively Target Businesses

 New York City’s restaurant, retail and recreation (RRR) sectors continued to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic, even before the latest surge in cases, with 169,700 fewer jobs in November than from two years ago, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The losses accounted for 41% of total private sector jobs lost in the city during the pandemic.

“While communities across the nation felt the impacts of the pandemic on their restaurant, retail and recreation sectors, New York City was hit especially hard,” DiNapoli said. “As economic activity returns, foot traffic in key corridors should improve and reinvigorate market demand, but policy makers should recognize that many of these businesses, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, are likely to need continued support, especially in light of the recent severe surge in positive cases. The governor and mayor need to work together to help these businesses keep their doors open.”  

Currently, New York City’s overall economic recovery continues to lag behind the rest of the country. The city lost a higher share of jobs between the second quarter of Calendar Year (CY) 2019 and the second quarter of CY 2021 than any of the other five most populous counties in the nation. Approximately 10% of the jobs lost in the nation over the period and 62% of the jobs lost in the state were based in New York City.

DiNapoli’s report found that while some of the jobs lost during the pandemic have returned, the restaurant subsector still employs 30% fewer workers than in 2019. The arts, entertainment and recreation sector was 24% smaller, and retail trade had 14% fewer jobs. Nationally, those sectors overall were just 3.4% smaller.

Between the second quarter of CY 2019 and the second quarter of CY 2021, the RRR sectors were hit hardest in Manhattan, where jobs declined by 40% compared to an average of 13% for the other boroughs. While slow growth can be attributed to lower rates of foot traffic and overall economic activity in the borough, resignations in the overall national workforce were also concentrated in these sectors.

The federal government provided a range of COVID-19 relief options to businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) totaling nearly $1.3 trillion. These include the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) program.

Businesses in the city received at least $45 billion dollars in federal funding that, in turn, helped many small businesses manage payroll and operating expenses, pay rent, bolster protective equipment and cleaning materials, and construct outdoor dining structures. However, not all eligible businesses received funding. The SBA was so overwhelmed with applicants for RRF awards, for example, that the money ran out quickly, leaving many restaurants across the nation unfunded. In New York state, only 35% of the restaurants that applied for RRF funding received it before the program ran out of money.

DiNapoli’s report also assesses distribution of aid in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and historically underutilized business (HUB) zones, where past distributions for small businesses have lagged high-income areas and established business corridors. LMI status serves as a proxy for funding minority communities, since the average LMI census tract in the city is over three-quarters minority.  

The Comptroller found that while data remains limited for a comprehensive analysis of the distribution of aid and its success in reaching LMI communities, the information available for RRF funding shows these restaurants received a proportionately smaller share of loans when compared to the percentage of all city restaurants. For example, in Manhattan’s Chinatown and the Lower East Side, only 30% of RRF dollars made it to the 59% of businesses located in LMI communities, whereas the remaining 70% of RRF dollars went to businesses in more affluent parts of the neighborhood.  

While the state and city have expanded relief efforts targeted at businesses in the tourism industry and support businesses, the recent surge in COVID cases and the new Omicron variant pose a risk to the ongoing recovery. Better targeting of distribution of aid will be necessary going forward; a slump in market demand due to the decimation of the tourism industry led to a 5.5% rise in vacancies across premier shopping corridors over the first half of 2021 alone.

Even with the numerous programs and partnerships geared to help businesses survive, the city will face challenges in identifying neighborhoods and businesses in need due to a lack of information. The city and the state should make every effort to gather data on the results of the programs meant to close the gaps in the federal relief programs for small businesses. This data is especially important for program evaluation. As aid is disseminated to struggling communities, the city and the state must regularly assess their approach to identify any barriers to reaching those communities and improve results and ensure the efficient use of funds.

Report

New York City Restaurant, Retail and Recreation Sector Still Faces Uphill Recovery

DEC ANNOUNCES $11 MILLION FOR CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY PROJECTS

 

Grants Help Support State’s Climate Goals through Green Infrastructure, Greenhouse Gas Reductions, and Storm Resiliency

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that DEC's Climate Smart Communities Grant program awarded $11 million to municipalities across the State as part of the $196 million in Regional Economic Development Council awards announced by Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this month. The projects will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the ongoing impacts of climate change, including reducing flood risk, increasing natural resiliency, and relocating or retrofitting critical infrastructure.

“Municipalities that become Climate Smart Communities serve as models for others across the State by taking local action to reduce pollution and protect residents from severe weather and other consequences of our changing climate,” said Commissioner Seggos. “Governor Hochul recognizes the severity of the challenges before us and these Climate Smart grants demonstrate New York State’s ongoing commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping all cities, towns, and villages, especially environmental justice communities, become stronger and more resilient.” 

Established in 2016, this 50/50 matching grant program supports municipalities seeking to become certified Climate Smart Communities and implement projects that advance that State’s climate change goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating flood risk, and helping to prepare for extreme weather. The program is jointly sponsored by seven state agencies: DEC, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority, Department of State, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, and Department of Public Service. It supports the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which requires New York reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Since the program’s inception, DEC awarded more than $50 million to municipalities in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects. More information about the grant program is available on the DEC website.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy-wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 4, 2022

 

76,279 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

99 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"The best way to protect ourselves and our children from getting hospitalized with COVID is with the vaccine and booster," Governor Hochul said. "As we continue to fight the winter surge, let's continue to use these tools: Get your second dose and booster when eligible, get your children vaccinated, remember to wear a mask and stay home if you're not feeling well. If we don't, many more New Yorkers will continue to get sick."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported – 236,904
• Total Positive – 53,276
• Percent Positive – 22.49%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 21.81%
• Patient Hospitalization – 10,411 (+848)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 1,758
• Patients in ICU – 1,302 (+94)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 625 (+28)
• Total Discharges – 235,245 (+887)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 99
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 48,798
  
  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 – 61,607
  
  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 – 33,869,900
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 76,279
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 640,460
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 89.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 80.7%
• 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 – 78.2% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 69.9%
• 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%

Attorney General James Issues Warnings to EZ Test NY and Keep Health Safe to Stop Misrepresenting Turnaround Times for COVID-19 Test Results

 

New Yorkers Complain of Waiting More Than a Week for Test Results From Both Companies

Two Letters Follow Similar Letters to LabQ, Labworq, Sameday Health, and ClearMD Health

 New York Attorney General Letitia James yesterday issued two warning letters to two companies facilitating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing — EZ Test NY (a Brooklyn-based collection center) and Keep Health Safe (a Fort Lee, New Jersey-based collection center) — for not meeting promised turnaround times for test results. Both companies have testing sites throughout New York City where they are advertising the delivery of results within 24 hours (EZ Test NY) or 48 to 72 hours (Keep Health Safe), yet both companies have made customers wait in excess of seven days for results, with some complaints to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) detailing wait times as long as 11 days. The two letters notify both companies that New York law prohibits false advertising and instructs the companies to immediately update their websites and any signage at test sites to accurately reflect how long individuals can expect to wait before receiving COVID-19 test results.

“Across the city, labs and collection centers continue to make false promises about turnaround times for COVID-19 test results when there is no way for them to actually fulfill those promises,” said Attorney General James. “Both EZ Test NY and Keep Health Safe must immediately stop their false advertising and give New Yorkers realistic turnaround times for COVID-19 test results. Waiting more than 11 days when results were promised in 24 hours is completely unacceptable. We are demanding both companies to immediately update their websites and signage and to notify patients of realistic timelines in which they will receive results. Positivity rates have skyrocketed due to Omicron and holiday gatherings, so any company conducting COVID-19 tests must do so with realistic timeframes. Any New Yorker who continues to see misrepresentations about COVID-19 test turnaround times is encouraged to file a complaint with my office immediately.”

In addition to warning EZ Test NY and Keep Health Safe to update their websites and signage and to instruct their employees to provide accurate information concerning turnaround times, the letters issued by Attorney General James request that both companies contact all of their customers who are currently awaiting COVID-19 test results to let them know when they can realistically expect to receive those results.

Yesterday’s letters follows four separate letters Attorney General James sent last month to LabQ, Labworq, Sameday Health, and ClearMD Health demanding that the companies take similar steps to update their websites and their signage, and to inform consumers about realistic wait times for COVID-19 test results.

Attorney General James asks any consumer who believes a lab or other testing facility is making misleading statements about turnaround times for COVID-19 test results to file a complaint online with the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau or call the office at 1-800-771-7755.

FREE COVID-19 PCR Testing at Borough President Levine’s Northern Manhattan Office