Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 8, 202

 

108,077 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

154 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday      

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

"There is an answer to this winter surge and it's simple: the vaccine and the booster," Governor Hochul said. "Our vaccination rate among children is still too low. parents and guardians don't delay in getting your children vaccinated and boosted, if eligible. It's safe and widely available. This is the one of the best ways to keep our numbers down, as well as wearing a mask and staying home if sick."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported - 425,782
• Total Positive - 90,132
• Percent Positive - 21.17%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 22.15%
• Patient Hospitalization - 11,843 (+295)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 2,144
• Patients in ICU - 1483 (+34)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 720 (+16)
• Total Discharges - 241,729 (+1,726)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 154
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 49,344

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 - 61,859

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 - 34,297,800
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 108,077
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 556,642
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 89.7% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 80.9%
• 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) - 83.3% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 78.6% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 70.2% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 85.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.3%

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli - Read Fine Print on Your Holiday Gift Cards

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to spend the gift cards they received this holiday season in a timely fashion. If not, the money could eventually get turned over to the Office of Unclaimed Funds. In the last seven years, the amount returned to DiNapoli’s office in unused gift cards has risen sharply from $5.8 million in 2014 to $16 million in 2021.

Attorney General James Releases Footage From Investigation Into Death of Jason Jones

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today released videos from the Catskill Police Department that the Office of the Attorney General obtained as part of its ongoing investigation into the death of Jason Jones, who died on December 15, 2021, following an encounter with members of the Catskill Police Department on October 30, 2021.  

The release of this footage follows Attorney General James’ directive that videos obtained by her office in the course of investigations conducted by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI) be released to the public in order to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these matters.

Pursuant to New York Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

The release of this footage is not an expression of any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of any party in a criminal matter or any opinion as to how or whether any individual may be charged with a crime.

Warning: These videos contain images viewers may find disturbing.

Investigation into the Death of Jason Jones

OSI is currently conducting an investigation into the death of Jason Jones, who died after an encounter with members of the Catskill Police Department in October of 2021. OSI released two videos of the police encounter with Mr. Jones.

Video 1

Video 2

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli - Read Fine Print on Your Holiday Gift Cards

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to spend the gift cards they received this holiday season in a timely fashion. If not, the money could eventually get turned over to the Office of Unclaimed Funds. In the last seven years, the amount returned to DiNapoli’s office in unused gift cards has risen sharply from $5.8 million in 2014 to $16 million in 2021.

NYPD Announces Increased Transit System Deployments

 

Integrated Approach to Surge NYPD Assets on Trains and Throughout the City’s Subway System

 Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced a set of innovative deployment strategies to reimagine the NYPD’s robust coverage of the city’s subway system across all of its portals, platforms and trains.

The new initiatives redefine the mission for officers and surge their ranks – beyond the additional layers of NYPD presence already in place throughout the transit system. The measures deploy officers to move cohesively through the entire system – particularly on subway cars, to engage with riders and to observe and document all they see to create timely, intelligence-driven responses.

“Safety throughout the subway system remains a top priority for the NYPD,” said Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. “This comprehensive new approach is centered on having more police officers on train cars talking with riders and listening to them because NYPD officers do not just respond to crime in our city – they prevent it and deter it.”

Under the initiative being rolled out today, hundreds of additional NYPD officers from the Transit Bureau will work in tandem with Patrol Service Bureau officers and other personnel to be present across the subway system, from both their street-side and underground positions. Special units will continue to augment this coverage as well, in each sector, on each tour, every day.

These officers will focus on engaging directly with riders with the mission of driving down crime upticks and also improving the ridership experience.

Department commanders will wield overtime strategically, with an imperative to flood those zones most acutely in need or more uniformed presence. Those commanders will also be directing the patrols from the above-ground precincts to integrate the coverage of transit stations in their areas of responsibility. Officers in some administrative jobs will be flexibly shifted into underground deployments when necessary.

All told, the measures put riders at the forefront of the NYPD efforts and present a new vision of operating in the days and months ahead.

Governor Hochul Announces Nominations to MTA Board

 

Governor Hochul today announced Janno Lieber has been nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the MTA Board and Elizabeth Velez has been nominated to serve on the MTA Board.

"As Governor, my first duty to New Yorkers is to ensure that those who serve our state are experienced, committed, and ready to tackle the challenges we face," Governor Hochul said. "Janno is leading the MTA forward with expert management and vision, and Elizabeth will bring a wealth of invaluable knowledge and expertise to our challenges together. These are strong, competent leaders who will help steer the MTA through this critical time. We will continue to make appointments that ensure our transit system delivers for riders."

"I am honored and grateful to be nominated by Governor Hochul, who has been a supporter from day one of a smart transit system that serves all New Yorkers. I look forward to working with the governor, her team and our partners in the legislature to ensure that subways, buses and commuter railroads continue to be an engine fueling the region's economic recovery," Janno Lieber said. "Elizabeth Velez has a deep understanding of the value of transportation to New Yorkers, will be an excellent addition to the board and I'm eager to work with her on important issues facing the MTA, including a historic capital program that will modernize and expand the transit network and provide enhanced equity and accessibility to New Yorkers in the years ahead."

"I am thrilled to be nominated by Governor Hochul to the MTA Board," Elizabeth Velez said. "The MTA is a crucial connection point for New Yorkers throughout our city. With the impending influx of infrastructure dollars, the MTA is central to not only improving essential transportation, but also to creating opportunities both in workforce and procurement that affects our communities."

Janno Lieber will be nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. He has been Acting Chair and CEO since July 2021.

In his role at MTA Construction and Development, Mr. Lieber oversaw the agency's $55 billion five-year capital program, including State of Good Repair investments in infrastructure and facilities of New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and MTA Bridges and Tunnels. He is responsible for upgrades to signals and other major systems, system expansions, and mega-projects such as East Side Access, the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway and the Third Track expansion of the Long Island Rail Road main line. He is also responsible for upgrading and professionalizing the MTA's project management capacity and for integrating real estate planning and economic development into MTA infrastructure projects.

From 2003 to 2017, Mr. Lieber served as President of World Trade Center Properties LLC, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of the Silverstein organization's efforts to rebuild the World Trade Center site, including planning, design, and construction issues; business, financing, and legal matters; and public affairs, government, and community relations.

Earlier in his career, he held positions in the administrations of President Bill Clinton and NYC Mayor Ed Koch and worked as an attorney in private practice.

Elizabeth Velez will be nominated to serve on the MTA Board. She is currently the President of the Velez Organization, a second generation construction firm started in

1972 by her father, Andrew Velez. To her credit are hundreds of projects which have come to fruition under her direction, including over 600 units of housing made affordable by State and Federal grants in the Bronx and Harlem, and over ten billion dollars of significant educational, healthcare and large-scale projects throughout New York.

She is a Trustee of Boricua College; an accredited private institution serving primarily Latinas through three campuses in New York. She serves on the advisory boards of numerous New York City and New York State agencies, industry non-profits, and groups supporting mentorship and scholarships for youth. She is a member of the Board for Catholic Charities and the New York City Police Foundation. She is currently serving as a Commissioner of the New York City Property Tax Reform Commission. Following Hurricane Maria's disastrous landfall, Elizabeth was appointed to the NY Stands with Puerto Rico Recovery & Rebuilding Committee, the NY Memorial Commission for Hurricane Maria, and has spearheaded numerous workforce and economic development programs - including a satellite corporate office in Ponce Puerto Rico. On the international front, Ms. Velez is Co-Chair of Iran 180 - an organization that advocates for human rights and the end to Iran's nuclear threat. She is a contributor to media outlets such as Matter of Fact TV with Soledad O'Brien, Fox News Latino, The Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, El Diario La Prensa, Hispanic Business, ENR, City & State and Crain's New York Business. She is an outspoken advocate for diversity and empowerment of women, and a sought after speaker on women's leadership and work/family balance issues. In addition to numerous awards and recognition, Ms. Velez was recognized by City & State as one of the "Manhattan Power 50".

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli - NYC's Restaurant, Retail and Recreation Sectors Continue to Struggle During Pandemic

 

New York City’s restaurant, retail and recreation 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 by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The losses accounted for 41% of total private sector jobs lost in the city during the pandemic.

Permits Filed For 2385 Tiebout Avenue In Fordham, The Bronx

 

2385 Tiebout Avenue in Fordham, The Bronx 

Permits have been filed for an eight-story residential building at 2385 Tiebout Avenue in Fordham, The Bronx. Located between East 184th and East 187th Streets, the lot is near the Fordham Road subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Artan Prelaj is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 75-foot-tall development will yield 23,838 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 38 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 627 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, a 68-foot-long rear yard, and 11 open parking spaces.

Fred Geremia Architects & Planners is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in July 2021. An estimated completion date has not been announced.