Friday, March 11, 2022

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 11, 2022

 COVID-19 test swab

New Lowest 7-Day Average Statewide Positivity Since July 20 

Daily Statewide Positivity Has Been Under 2% for More Than Two Consecutive Weeks

17 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday


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

"We have come so far in our fight against COVID-19 and it is thanks to the tireless work of New Yorkers that we have made this incredible progress," Governor Hochul said. "Those who have gotten the vaccine have taken advantage of the greatest tool we have to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. If you have yet to get your vaccine, second dose, or booster, do so today. It's safe, effective, free, and readily available across our great state.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

  • Test Results Reported - 152,272
  • Total Positive - 2,107
  • Percent Positive - 1.38%
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.44%
  • Patient Hospitalization - 1,245 (-34)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 133
  • Patients in ICU - 199 (-14)
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 122 (-2)
  • Total Discharges - 287,957 (+188)
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 17
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 54,920   

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 - 69,689   

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 - 37,197,482
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 16,363
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 109,477
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.8%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.2%
  • 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) - 85.8%  
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.0%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.0%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.3% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.5%
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.2% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.8%
Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:  

Borough in NYC 

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 

Thursday, March 10, 2022 

Bronx 

0.73% 

0.75% 

0.72% 

Kings 

0.89% 

0.93% 

0.95% 

New York 

1.31% 

1.37% 

1.35% 

Queens 

0.90% 

0.89% 

0.84% 

Richmond 

1.16% 

1.21% 

1.13% 

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Major League Baseball Agreement

 Governor Hochul outlines investment for several transformative projects in the Finger Lakes region

“The news that the Major League Baseball season will move forward is a home run for New Yorkers. Over the past several weeks, I have been engaged in conversations with the involved parties and am grateful, on behalf of New Yorkers, that they have come to an agreement. The jobs and economic activity that baseball supports will bolster our ongoing economic recovery, and I know New Yorkers are looking forward to experiencing the hope and joy of springtime baseball.” 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We know that Governor Hochul is a Buffalo Bills football fan coming from that area of the state, but we do not know what is her favorite baseball team or if she is a fan of baseball. 

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after Major League Baseball (MLB) negotiated a collective bargaining agreement to allow the season to begin on April 7, 2022:

 

“The return of baseball means so much to New York City. It is central to our city’s spirit, and it is vital to the recovery of so many small businesses and the hard-working New Yorkers they employ, particularly in the Bronx and Queens. I am so glad to see Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reach this collective bargaining agreement, and I look forward to seeing fans both young and young and heart at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium in the weeks ahead.

 

“Let’s go Mets!”


EDITOR'S NOTE: 

Mayor Adams may be a Met fan, but it is better than our previous mayor who was a Boston Red Sox fan.


Governor Hochul Announces $232 Million in Additional Food Assistance for New Yorkers in March

 older woman grocery shopping

All SNAP Households to Receive the Maximum Level of Food Benefits this Month 

More than 2.8 Million New Yorkers Relied on SNAP to Avoid Food Insecurity in January


 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for March. All households participating in SNAP—including those already at the maximum level of benefits —will receive a supplemental allotment this month, which will result in New York State's economy receiving roughly $232 million in federal funding. 

"No New Yorker should struggle to put food on the table," Governor Hochul said. "Ensuring eligible New Yorkers get the maximum level of food benefits will bring much-needed relief to millions of New Yorkers, ensuring no one gets left behind as our economic recovery moves forward."

SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should see these extra benefits posted between now and the end of the day Thursday, March 17. Those SNAP households in the five-county New York City region should see their benefits post between Thursday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 30. 

The emergency assistance supplement is to be provided to households that do not ordinarily receive the maximum allowable benefit per month on SNAP - a federally funded program overseen by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Those households already near or at the maximum benefit level -$835 for a household of four -will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95.

New Yorkers continue to rely heavily on SNAP, with about 1.6 million households throughout the state enrolled in the program in January, a nearly 1 percent increase over the previous month. Roughly 2.8 million New Yorkers received benefits in January, the most since June 2021. 

OTDA began issuing the emergency supplemental benefits in April 2020 to those SNAP households receiving less than the maximum monthly benefit amount. When New York State's emergency declaration expired in June 2021, the agency successfully worked with the federal government to secure the maximum allotment for all SNAP households until the expiration of the federal declaration, currently expected to be extended into May.

OTDA Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said, "We continue to see strong demand for SNAP benefits, underscoring the economic struggles so many households are experiencing throughout our state. These supplemental benefits play an important role in helping households make ends meet and avoid food insecurity as our state continues to recover from the pandemic." 

OTDA distributed roughly $2.5 billion in supplemental benefits last year alone, underscoring the integral role this federal funding is playing in New York's economic recovery. Every federal dollar invested in SNAP is estimated to generate up to $1.54 in economic activity, according to a federal study quantifying the impact of SNAP on the U.S. economy.  

As with the prior months, the payments will be delivered directly to recipients' existing Electronic Benefit Transfer accounts and can be accessed with their existing EBT cards. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Any unused SNAP benefits will automatically carry over to the following month.   

Find more information on the emergency supplemental SNAP benefits, including answers to frequently asked questions, here. New Yorkers can check their eligibility for SNAP and apply online by visiting mybenefits.ny.gov

MATERNAL HEALTH BILL OF RIGHTS INTRODUCED FOR NEW COUNCIL TERM

 

 New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams re-introduced two bills aimed at combating the maternal mortality crisis in New York City and supporting maternal health and wellness. The legislation, which is particularly focused on reducing Black maternal mortality and deep disparities in maternal health, includes measures for both during and post-pregnancy. The bills were originally introduced in 2021, and can now be considered, heard, and voted on by the current City Council. Together, they are a model for the ways in which local legislatures can address maternal health inequities and injustices.

“Birth equity is a social justice issue – one too often ignored, facing people too often unheard. It’s one that is personal to so many New Yorkers – I never knew how personal it would be for me and my family,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “Creating a maternal health bill of rights with dedicated and sustained outreach to inform people of those rights, we can help ensure that rights are respected, requests heard, and resources granted. When someone is ready to return to work, we need to make that pathway clear and minimize barriers to reentry. These bills are common sense, their impact could be lifesaving, and we need to pass them this year."


Last month, after a long fertility struggle, a difficult pregnancy, and premature delivery, the Public Advocate and his wife welcomed their newborn daughter, Amani Elisadora. They have shared their story publicly in recent weeks and months in the hopes that it helps other New Yorkers feel supported, heard, and receive the care they need. 


The Public Advocate’s office has long been engaged in efforts to combat maternal health inequity. His office released a report on the issue last year, entitled Equitable Pregnancy Outcomes for Black and Brown New Yorkers, which analyzes systemic issues and outlines potential policy solutions.


In New York City, Black women are 8 to 12 times more likely to die during childbirth than their white counterparts. This is often rooted in medical personnel overlooking, minimizing, or dismissing the health concerns of Black patients. The first of the two bills, Intro. 86, establishes a maternal health bill of rights, and provides that pregnant individuals are informed of those rights through a public education campaign. Information is essential to body autonomy and empowering people to seek the care they deserve, and being informed of one's rights gives power to pregnant individuals as patients and as employees.


The second, Intro. 84, is aimed at addressing inequities and issues that primarily arise post-pregnancy during re-entry into the workplace. It would require employers, under guidance from the NYC Commission on Human Rights, to hold an onboarding meeting to discuss an employee's reintegration back into the workplace after parental leave. Employees returning from parental or medical leave often struggle during their return to work, lacking critical information about changes to the workplace or projects that have occurred while they were away. This bill would help correct that information gap.


Maternal health is an issue of racial inequity. Action on these issues is decades overdue, and while the current administration has taken some steps to address this inequity, maternal mortality and morbidity remains a problem – especially for Black women and pregnant persons.


Need Help With Your Taxes - Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez 80th Assembly District

 


Nathalia Fernández's avatar
Nathalia Fernández
@Fernandez4NY
Need help filing your taxes?

Our office is here to assist with tax prep and filing!

📆Every Tuesday - Thursday
⏱3:00pm - 7:00pm
🏢District Office
2018 Williamsbridge Road, 10462

Call us at (718) 409-0109 to schedule an appointment!

EDITOR'S NOTE:
This is open to residents of the 80th assembly district, and you may want to check with your local elected official if they are providing this service if you do not live in the 80th A.D.
 

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: NEW YORKERS SUPPORT MAYOR ADAMS’ BLUEPRINT FOR NYC’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY

 

“As we attempt to recover from the devastating financial impact COVID-19 had on our economy, I look forward to working with Mayor Adams, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Cooperation, and all of our industry partners in restarting the New York City economic engine,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “We need to leverage our public-private partnerships and relationships with community partners to support our businesses, business improvement districts (BIDs), entrepreneurs, cultural partners, and chambers of commerce to create a more inclusive economy. Every industry has been impacted by the pandemic, and we need to make sure we provide them with the necessary resources to come back stronger than before.”

“Following the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, New York City is in need of a plan that addresses the inequities highlighted by the pandemic. Mayor Adams' blueprint for economic recovery does just that,” said New York City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, chair, Committee on Land Use. “Activating the city’s economy through five fundamental pillars, the mayor’s blueprint focuses on investing in neighborhoods that were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Hunts Point, the economic engine of the 17th council district, will be boosted by an infusion of much-needed investment, following the hand-in-glove collaboration between the city and the community as part of the Hunts Point Vision Plan 2.0 coalition. I thank Mayor Adams and his administration for recognizing that New York City’s economic recovery begins in the zip codes that provided the essential workers who kept the city afloat during the pandemic.”

 

“As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, our focus cannot simply be on recovery but rather how we adapt, innovate, and thrive in our new normal,” said New York City Councilmember Amanda Farías, chair, Committee on Economic Development. “To achieve this, the city’s post-pandemic economy must include all boroughs, small businesses, and workers from across various sectors. That is why I am encouraged by Mayor Adams’ five-pillar plan that includes all our neighborhoods in our city’s economic future. As the chair of the committee on economic development, I am looking forward to working with Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, as we move our city toward jobs of the future and develop holistic models for skills training and reinvesting in the pipelines that connect New Yorkers to quality jobs. Now is the time to streamline our fragmented job market to create new opportunities for the next generation entering the workforce, all while growing the green jobs sector.”

 

“I applaud the administration on this impactful blueprint to spur economic development and help small businesses,” said New York City Councilmember Julie Menin, chair, Committee on Small Business. “In particular, I am thrilled that the administration included my proposal to subsidize BIDs that suffer from inequity and increase their funding. By investing in under-resourced, smaller BIDs, we can help thousands of struggling small businesses survive this pandemic. Aiding our commercial corridors is of paramount importance, and I thank Mayor Eric Adams for including this initiative in the ‘Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery.’”

 

“Last January, I stood on the front lines of the labor strike at Hunts Point Market, advocating on behalf of workers demanding fair wages and health care benefits,” said New York City Councilmember Marjorie Velázquez, chair, Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. “It’s wonderful to see Mayor Adams highlighting these same workers, as he announces his blueprint for economic recovery, which includes fundamental policies and resources our businesses and workers need to bring New York City back to its pre-pandemic vibrancy. Our city is ready to ‘Rebuild, Renew, and Reinvent’ itself for a post pandemic revitalization, and I want to thank Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, and my fellow councilmembers for prioritizing workers’ equity and economic development.”

 

“The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the hardest in low-income communities, communities of color, and the service sector, many of whom are still struggling to recover,” said New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera. “In our pursuit of a just and equitable pandemic recovery, we must invest in these communities and build pathways to high-growth industries, such as technology and life sciences, for all New Yorkers. I applaud Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, and Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer on the development of this creative and robust plan for our recovery and look forward to working closely together on key initiatives in District 2 and throughout New York City.”

 

“We’re delighted to see real investments in building a talent pipeline,” said Sandi Vito, executive director, 1199 SEIU Training and Employment Funds. “Critical workforce shortages in the healthcare sector threaten our city’s well-being. Resources to grow and train the healthcare workforce couldn’t be more important and will result in good jobs for New Yorkers.”

 

“New Yorkers deserve a comprehensive vision for an equitable economy that brings a bold, worker-led recovery from COVID-19,” said Kyle Bragg, president, 32BJ SEIU. “I commend the mayor for his leadership and commitment to our city’s comeback, and as City Hall develops the details around this plan, I look forward to partnering with them to lift up working people.”

 

“People working in the performing arts and entertainment community enrich the lives of everyone,” said Brian Stokes Mitchell, chair, Actors Fund. “Those on stage and behind the scenes play important roles in the economic health of New York City.”

 

“Mayor Adams understands that our office workers are critical to the survival of our beloved local shops, immigrant entrepreneurs, and cultural gems,” said Jessica Lappin, president, Alliance for Downtown New York. “This plan also puts a valuable premium on fostering the quality jobs that we need for our future. The planned Climate Solutions Center on Governors Island is a key piece of that puzzle and has vast potential for creating jobs in emerging industries. Moreover, the center will also be a magnet for attracting the minds and developing the technologies we need to preserve our fragile world.”


“We are enthused that this interagency approach to planning New York City’s economic recovery prioritizes inclusivity,” said Melva M. Miller, CEO, Association for a Better New York. “By focusing not only on the traditional indicators for economic growth, but also on the intersection of improving quality of life and advancement opportunities for all New Yorkers, this plan outlines a strategy to invest in our residents, communities, and industry sectors to revitalize and build a better New York.”


“Tourism is crucial to the success of Broadway as well as the greater New York City area,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president, Broadway League. “Sixty-five percent of our audiences hail from outside the tri-state area, and that represents more than 9.5 million theatergoers who visit the city to enjoy Broadway shows as well as take in all the exciting offerings that New York has to offer, from hotel stays to dining to nonstop shopping. NYC & Company is a great partner in helping us get the word out about the 41 theaters who produce spectacular year-round entertainment. We applaud the mayor’s support to enhance the great marketing done by NYC & Company to help bring the hospitality industry back from the pandemic losses.”

 

“There has been a dire need to chart a course to economic recovery for our five boroughs’ small businesses,” said Lisa Sorin, president, Bronx Chamber of Commerce. “As we move through what are hopefully the waning days of the pandemic, we are energized by Mayor Adams’ commitment to help revitalize recovery and enhance economic development efforts with a focus on underserved commercial corridors, so that small business owners can reposition for success.”

 

“We at the Bronx Museum of the Arts strongly support Mayor Adams’ plan to accelerate and revitalize the economy of New York City,” said Klaudio Rodriguez, executive director, Bronx Museum of the Arts. “Community-oriented cultural institutions like ours are pivotal to the economic health and well-being of the residents of our borough. Great cities are only as strong as its public institutions, and, with support, we are able to engage further with our community, create jobs, help drive tourism, and create opportunities. I look forward to the Bronx Museum playing a major part in helping the city’s economy come back stronger than ever before.”

 

“An equitable economic recovery will require a comprehensive approach that recognizes the fact that small businesses contribute almost half of all jobs to New York City’s economy,” said Randy Peers, president and CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “The programs and initiatives Mayor Adams outlined today represent a comprehensive approach, and they will empower many of our small businesses to move past the pandemic and establish a firm foundation to thrive in the future.”

 

“The hotel industry in New York City deeply appreciates and applauds Mayor Adams and his team for this wonderful initiative that will considerably help the hotel industry on its path to recovery from the economic damage caused by COVID-19,” said Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO, Hotel Association of New York. “We are very confident that NYC & Company will use these resources to quickly restore domestic and international travel to the levels our great city witnessed before COVID-19.”

 

“We are very excited to hear Mayor Adams’ vision of what New York City’s economy can become,” said Bruce Reingold, market manager, Hunts Point Cooperative Market. “As a major company located in the Food Distribution Center, employing thousands of Bronx residents, the Hunts Point Market supports any plan that will provide much needed help to our great city.”

 

“We are very happy to have Mayor Eric Adams here at the Hunts Point Produce Market,” said Phillip Grant, market manager, Hunts Point Produce Market. “Our merchants, who have been supporting food infrastructure for over a century, are excited by his commitment to revitalizing and updating this important food resource for millions in our city and tens of millions across the region. We look forward to working with the mayor and his economic development team on plans to allow the market to continue serving all New Yorkers and our region for decades to come.”


“Throughout the pandemic, we have heard prognostications that New York City is ‘dead’ and will never regain its position as the best city in the world,” said Jessica Walker, president and CEO, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. “But today, Mayor Adams has given us the definitive roadmap back to prosperity that should quiet the naysayers and finally put that argument to rest.” 

 

“With today’s announcement, Mayor Adams has once again demonstrated that he understands the needs of small businesses and is administering ever resource necessary for pandemic recovery,” said Arelia Taveras, president, New York State Latino Restaurant Association. “It is clear that Mayor Adams is administering every resource necessary and has a vision to bring back our city.”

 

“New York City and NYU’s trajectories are inextricably tied together,” said Andrew Hamilton, president, New York University. “We not only recognize that, but we also consider it a point of pride. Every sector of New York City’s economy needs to be ready to do its part to contribute to our economic revival, and we are grateful for the city’s leadership in bringing higher education into this effort. NYU looks forward to playing an active role in shaping New York City’s next chapter.”


“Rebuilding our economy after the pandemic cannot be a matter of restoring conditions to the way they were, because those conditions were unacceptable and made Hunts Point more vulnerable to the public health threat posed by COVID-19 and exposed longstanding inequities in our economy,” said Maria Torres, president and CEO, The Point Community Development Corporation. “We need to do better — by addressing enduring economic and environmental justice challenges that have held our community back.”


“A robust economic recovery for New York City will require us to be firing on all cylinders,” said James Whelan, president, Real Estate Board of New York. “Mayor Adams’ plan does just that. We are committed to working closely with the Adams administration and other stakeholders to support the mayor’s comprehensive plan for New York’s economic recovery.”

 

“Our regional and national economies cannot recover or reach their full potential if New York City does not lead the way,” said Tom Wright, president and CEO, Regional Plan Association. “The Regional Plan Association commends Mayor Eric Adams and his administration for developing a blueprint for economic recovery that focuses on the needs of all New Yorkers, including workforce development, improvements to the public realm, and improving public transit. We look forward to working with the Adams administration to ensure this plan lifts the city’s economy and, with it, the fortunes of the entire region.”

 

“New York City needs to fully reopen for business, but that also means strengthening worker protections to ensure that the jobs that are created are good jobs,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. “The pandemic also highlighted the injustices built into certain jobs — like app-based work — and we need reforms to expand protections for app-based delivery workers. We look forward to working with the mayor as he develops and implements his blueprint for economic recovery.”


ay of New York City supports the mayor’s blueprint for the economic recovery of New York City,” said Amy Sananman, senior vice president, United Way of New York City. “We are especially excited for the pillars centered around small business supports and workforce development, as these are timely and essential areas of focus for the communities we serve. We look forward to collaborating with the mayor’s office in the equitable and inclusive economic rebuilding of our city for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”


Thursday, March 10, 2022

Governor Hochul Announces The Office of Cannabis Management Seeding Opportunity Initiative

 cannabis plants

First-In-the-Nation Initiative Positions New York Farmers and Individuals with Prior Cannabis-Related Offenses to Comprise Early Adult-Use Cannabis Supply Chain  

Initiative Furthered by Cannabis Control Board’s Advancing to Public Comment Regulations for the Initiative's Adult-Use Dispensaries  

Initiative Advanced by the Board’s Approval of the Conditional License Applications for Hemp Farmers to Grow Adult-Use Cannabis in Spring 2022, Application Portal Set to Open March 15 


 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the first-in-the-nation Seeding Opportunity Initiative, which will position individuals with prior cannabis-related criminal offenses to make the first adult-use cannabis sales with products grown by New York farmers. This farm-to-store initiative makes sales in New York possible before the end of 2022, jumpstarts New York’s Cannabis Industry, guarantees support for future equity applicants, and secures an early investment into communities most impacted by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition.   

"New York State is making history, launching a first-of-its-kind approach to the cannabis industry that takes a major step forward in righting the wrongs of the past," Governor Hochul said. "The regulations advanced by the Cannabis Control Board today will prioritize local farmers and entrepreneurs, creating jobs and opportunity for communities that have been left out and left behind. I'm proud New York will be a national model for the safe, equitable and inclusive industry we are now building."

The Cannabis Control Board at its meeting today advanced two components of the Seeding Opportunity Initiative.  

First, it advanced to public comment regulations for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries. As part of the Seeding Opportunity Initiative, this subset of dispensaries must be owned by equity-entrepreneurs with a prior cannabis-related criminal offense who also have a background owning and operating a small business. They will be the first to open and make sales in New York State, establishing equity-owned businesses at the front-end of New York’s adult-use market.  

Second, the Board approved a license application for hemp farmers seeking to grow adult-use cannabis this spring – called the Adult-Use Conditional Cultivator License. The license was made possible by legislation Governor Hochul signed last month. The Board designated March 15 as the opening date for the application portal.  

Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said, “Our state’s Cannabis Law sets a high goal for creating an equitable industry that puts New Yorkers first. The Seeding Opportunity Initiative puts us on a path for achieving that goal and hopefully models a way forward for reaching those goals while building a stable market. I am thankful for the support of Governor Hochul and the Legislature, which made it possible for us to get this initiative off the ground quickly, establish a supply chain from our farmers to equity, retailers, and generate the resources to help revitalize communities that were harmed by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition.”  

Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Executive Director Chris Alexander said, “With the Seeding Opportunity Initiative, we are now on the path to doing what no state has done before: Put our farmers and equity entrepreneurs, not big, out of state businesses, at the forefront of the launch of our adult-use cannabis market. Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul and the action taken by the Board today, we’ve made a huge advancement in our efforts to prioritize New York’s small farmers, our equity entrepreneurs, and ultimately our goal to generate the resources that will support future equity applicants and drive investments into our communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition. We aren’t stopping here and work is already underway across all license types to open access to capital and develop supporting networks to build an equitable New York Cannabis Industry and setup our small businesses for long-term success.” 

The Seeding Opportunity Initiative is composed of three programs: 

  • Equity Owners Lead Program: Provides a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License to eligible equity-entrepreneur applicants, putting them at the front-end of the adult-use market. This first-round, equity-licensing opportunity will be supported with renovated or renovation-ready retail locations and wraparound services with dispensaries sited in high-traffic areas.  

Applications for these priority licenses will open in the Summer of 2022. The first licenses are expected to be distributed by late summer or early fall 2022. This positions equity-entrepreneur-owned dispensaries to make the first adult-use cannabis sales in New York State by the end of 2022 while speeding the delivery of investments into communities across the state that were most impacted by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition. 

The Board today directed the OCM to post for public comment the proposed regulations for the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License. Under the proposed regulations, to be eligible for this initial license, applicants must:  

  • Have a cannabis-related offense that occurred prior to the passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act (MRTA) on March 31, 2021 , or had a parent, guardian, child, spouse, or dependent with a pre-MRTA cannabis offense in the State of New York.  
  • Have experience owning and operating a qualifying business in the State of New York.  

Additionally, the regulations include information for what application materials will be needed to apply for a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License and sets the parameters for how the Office will review and evaluate applications. A subsequent regulation package will outline the requirements for safely operating a retail dispensary. 

  • Farmers First Program:  Provides an Adult-Use Conditional Cultivator License to eligible New York cannabinoid hemp farmers, giving them the first chance to grow cannabis for New York’s adult-use market. Farmers must adhere to quality assurance, health, and safety requirements developed by the OCM. They must also take part in sustainability and equity mentorship programs that will help build the first generation of equity cannabis owners across the entire supply chain. These conditional licenses make it possible for farmers to grow cannabis in the 2022 growing season. 

The Board today approved the application for the Adult-Use Conditional Cultivator License and set the opening of the application portal for March 15. The license was made possible by legislation recently signed by Governor Hochul on February 22. Further information on eligibility requirements and what’s allowed with the license can be found here.  

  • The New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Program: Governor Hochul proposed this $200 million program in her FY 2023 Executive Budget, the nation’s first to make funding available for equity entrepreneurs at the forefront of the adult-use cannabis market. Through the program, industry licensing fees and private equity would support the development of dispensary facilities for equity-entrepreneurs with a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License.  Under the proposal, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) would provide support with its leasing and construction services to site dispensaries at prime locations and renovate them to meet health, safety, and security requirements. The Social Equity Cannabis Investment Program’s funding and accompanying services would reduce barriers to entry and position these equity-entrepreneur owners for long-term success. The proposal remains under discussion with the Legislature.