Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - APRIL 6, 2022

 

6 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday 

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

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data — not percent positivity.

"As we approach the spring holidays of Easter and Passover, it’s important we all do what we can to protect our families and reduce the spread of COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Make sure everyone in your family who’s eligible is vaccinated and boosted. If you’re attending family gatherings or traveling, take a test before and after. And if you test positive, talk to a doctor about the available treatments." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Cases Per 100k - 22.30
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - – 18.54 (18.73*)
• Test Results Reported - 119,484  
• Total Positive - 4,358
• Percent Positive - 3.67% **
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.22%** (3.26%*,**)
• Patient Hospitalization - 904 (+19)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 171
• Patients in ICU - 120 (+6)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 52 (+6) 
• Total Discharges - 291,511 (+160)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 6
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,183  

* These figures include at-home tests which Onondaga County, unlike other counties, has provided in their daily reporting to the New York State Department of Health. Future reporting from Onondaga County will not include home test data to ensure alignment and consistency with other counties. 

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.

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 – 70,354

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 - 37,626,110
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 38,193
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 193,248
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.5%
• 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) - 86.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.3%

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:    

Borough	Sunday, April 3, 2022	Monday, April 4, 2022	Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Bronx	1.18%	1.20%	1.24%
Kings	1.98%	2.10%	2.14%
New York	3.17%	3.23%	3.41%
Queens	2.04%	2.02%	2.13%
Richmond	2.37%	2.33%	2.28%

Attorney General James Leads Multistate Coalition Calling on Consumer Banks to Eliminate Overdraft Fees

AG James Sends Letter to CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo to Eliminate Overdraft Fees 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James led a multistate coalition of attorneys general to call on the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo to eliminate all overdraft fees on consumer bank accounts. In a letter to each financial institution, Attorney General James urged each bank to eliminate overdraft fees by this summer to create a fairer and more inclusive consumer financial system. Numerous studies have shown that overdraft fees have disproportionately affected vulnerable families and communities of color by unnecessarily saddling them with additional debts that they cannot afford.

“For too long, excessive overdraft fees have hurt the most financially vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “Working families and low-income New Yorkers cannot afford to continue to be harmed by this unfair and punitive practice, while banks reap big profits. I am calling on the largest consumer banks in the nation to do the right thing and remove overdraft fees. We need a fairer and more inclusive banking system that supports all New Yorkers.”

Overdraft fees have had harmful effects on millions of consumers nationwide. In some instances, consumers can be charged as much as $35 for a purchase of $5 or less. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, a study of overdraft-related fees charged in 2019 found that more than $11 billion in fees were charged, with 84 percent of those fees assessed to consumers with the lowest average account balances. Another study by the Pew Charitable Trust noted that more than 90 percent of such fees are paid by a small subset of consumers, who generally paid three or more such fees per year while earning less than $50,000. The reports found that consumers of color were disproportionately impacted by these fees. The consequences are devastating to consumers’ financial health and, in the worst-case scenarios, result in individuals losing access to banking services. 

Despite this well-known fallout from overdraft practices, these fees remain big business for big banks, according to a recent study published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo are among the top five U.S. banks in total assets. According to CFPB, three of these institutions collected 44 percent of total overdraft and overdraft-like fees in 2019 among major banks. Elimination of overdraft fees by these four institutions alone would drastically improve access to fairer, fee-free banking options for millions of New Yorkers and consumers across the country.

Earlier this year, Citi Bank announced that it would eliminate overdraft fees, which followed a similar announcement late last year by Capital One. Citi Bank is the largest U.S. bank to take this step.

Joining Attorney General James in sending the letters are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii (along with the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection), Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina (all except Bank of America), Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. 

Attorney General James encourages all New Yorkers to be mindful of potential overdraft fees when using their debit cards and reminds them of their rights to opt out of overdraft programs directly with their banks.

Mr. Mayor Why Do Some in NYC Have Freedom of Speech, And Some Don’t? -By Former NYC Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

You should know that the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, ordered that the City of New York Pay for campaign ads in Florida. These ads, paid for by the NYC taxpayers, is a campaign to entice the Gay and Lesbian Communities to move from Florida to New York City, because according to our Mayor NYC supposedly has freedom of speech, inferring that Florida does not.

Mayor Adams is apparently upset with the State of Florida, and its Governor Ron DeSantis, because on March 28th, Governor DeSantis signed into law the "HB 1557: Parental Rights in Education Bill".  Opponents of the law, like Eric Adams, falsely call this legislation the "Don't say Gay Bill” which is purposefully false, disingenuous and misleading. You should know that what this bill does is defend the rights of parents and their children when it comes to sexual education in Florida’s Public Schools.

This law prohibits public schools from teaching a sexual curriculum that is deemed inappropriate for children in grades from kindergarten to third grade, where the subject matter deals with homosexuality, Sexual Orientation, Sexual Identity, Transgenderism, or any sexual content, where based on the age of the children, is deemed inappropriate. This Bill also protects the rights of parents to be involved in their children’s education, especially when it deals with sexual matters. 

My dear reader, ask yourself if it’s appropriate for children in grades from kindergarten to third grade to be subjected to sex education and being taught on Homosexuality, Sexual Identity, Transgenders, and other sexual content without their parents’ consent? Do you believe that this should be the parents right, and responsibility, and not the governments? Who knows what’s in the best interest of their children, the parents, or the government? 

As you know Mayor Eric Adams is an ardent and fervent advocate for the LGBTQ+ Community, and as such he has ordered an ad campaign in Florida at New York City’s expense, that will promote the Mayors’ offer to, "Move to New York City Where You Can Say Whatever You Want" which makes a false reference to the Florida Law that opponents say bans the word “Gay”.

Apparently, our Mayor believes that only Gays and Lesbians have the right to "say whatever they want" in New York."  However, this same right does not apply to anyone who has the audacity to “say whatever they want” or express an opinion that does not comport with the Left’s Progressive Agenda. But if you dare, you will be fired from your job and you will be treated as a Perahia, called names like homophobe, bigot, racist and many other choice words.

This is the recent case of Daniela Jampel, a former Employee of the NYC Law Department. Ms. Jampel, at the Mayor’s Press Conference, had the audacity to ask him, why did he continue with the mask mandates for children, after having previously said that the mask mandate would end on Monday, April 4th?

You should know that in less than one hour Daniela Jampel was removed from her job, because she had the audacity to ask a question, and expressed herself by simply asking, based on the ambiguousness of the Mayors’ masks mandates. Ms. Jampel was immediately fired from her position, as an attorney, at the City Law Department ! The message sent, with her firing, is that all municipal employees best stay quiet and stay in line. Obviously, failure to do so will cost you your job. However, the Florida Gay Community and Floridians will soon see the Mayors’ paid ads with the disingenuous message that says, "Move to New York City Where You Can Say Whatever You Want. "

Personally, as Daniela Jampel, and I are among the housands of others who have been the victims of the Oppression, Persecution, Discrimination and Ostracism that exists in the City of New York, against those of us who dare exercise our freedom of speech and who have the audacity to express our opinions.

Mr. Mayor, your paid campaign ads in Florida invite a specific group to relocate to New York, because supposedly in NYC “They can say whatever they want”. Then, why is it that this same freedom is not extended to everyone? By claiming your support for “Freedom of Expression” for some and not others, is not fair and is unjust. 

As Mayor it is your duty to be fair and impartial. As Mayor it is your duty to protect the rights of all, whether they be believers in Christ Jesus, Municipal Workers, and for all New Yorkers in general. All New Yorkers have the right to express and say whatever we want, regardless of who likes it or not. This is precisely why “Free Speech” is a protected Right guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

Like Governor Ron DeSantis, and the legislators in Florida, here too, in New York City, there are thousands, upon thousands of people who think or strongly believe that the teachings of Sexuality, Gender Identity, Homosexuality, Transgenders, and other sexual matters, are Inappropriate for our children, especially children in the primary grades, during an impressable age of development and without parental consent. 

This is unacceptable and age inappropriate, as stipulated in the Florida Law. However, many believe that sexualizing our children, in public school sex education is inappropriate for children of all ages not just kindergarten to third grade. 

Sex education is the responsibility of parents, guardians, family and should be dealt with and taught in the home. The classrooms is not the place, nor is it the responsibility of the Government to teach our children in sexual matters.

Most parents in Florida and in New York City, are against having their children indoctrinated. Such subject matters should Not be taught without parental consent, especially when it comes to the Implementation of a Sexual Curriculum. Mr. Mayor, remember, God Doesn’t Like Ugly.

 

I am Rev. Ruben Diaz, and This Is What You Should Know.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera - Virtual Webinar: Cannabis Business 101

Senator Rivera will host a panel on the Office of Cannabis Management's proposed regulations for a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary Licenses, ways to prepare your business for this license or others to come, and what to expect as a new entrepreneur or business owner in the burgeoning NY Cannabis Market. Spanish Interpretation will be available.

Register on Zoom at: bit.ly/bxcannabis101.

El Senador Rivera organizará un foro sobre las regulaciones propuestas por la Oficina de Administración de Cannabis sobre las licencias condicionales para dispensarios de venta para el uso adulto de cannabis, formas de preparar su negocio para esta licencia u otras por venir, y qué esperar como nuevo empresario o dueño de negocio en el creciente mercado de cannabis en Nueva York. Habrá interpretación en español disponible. Regístrase en zoom en: bit.ly/bxcannabis101. NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera | rivera.nysenate.gov  ‌  ‌  ‌

Russian Oligarch Charged With Violating United States Sanctions

 

Konstantin Malofeyev Hired American Citizen Jack Hanick to Work for Malofeyev’s Television Network in Russia and Illegally Transferred $10 Million U.S. Investment to Business Associate

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today the unsealing of a criminal indictment charging a violation of United States sanctions arising from the 2014 Russian undermining of democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine. KONSTANTIN MALOFEYEV is charged with conspiracy to violate United States sanctions and violations of United States sanctions in connection with his hiring of an American citizen, Jack Hanick, to work for him in operating television networks in Russia and Greece and attempting to acquire a television network in Bulgaria. MALOFEYEV also conspired with Hanick and others to illegally transfer a $10 million investment that MALOFEYEV had made in a United States bank to a business associate in Greece, in violation of the sanctions blocking MALOFEYEV’s assets from being transferred. Along with the Indictment, the United States Attorney announced the seizure of MALOFEYEV’s United States investment.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Konstantin Malofeyev is closely tied to Russian aggression in Ukraine, having been determined by OFAC to have been one of the main sources of financing for the promotion of Russia-aligned separatist groups operating in the sovereign nation of Ukraine. The United States sanctions on Malofeyev prohibit him from paying or receiving services from United States citizens, or from conducting transactions with his property in the United States.  But as alleged, he systematically flouted those restrictions for years after being sanctioned. The Indictment unsealed today shows this Office’s commitment to the enforcement of laws intended to hamstring those who would use their wealth to undermine fundamental democratic processes. This Office will continue to be a leader in the Justice Department’s work to hold accountable actors who would support flagrant and unjustified acts of war.”

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “Kremlin-linked Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev played a leading role in supporting Russia’s 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine, continues to run a pro-Putin propaganda network, and recently described Russia’s 2022 military invasion of Ukraine as a ‘holy war.’  The FBI works tirelessly to protect our national interests, and we will continue to use all the resources at our disposal to aggressively counter Russia’s malign activity around the world.”

According to the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

In 2014, the President issued Executive Order 13660, which declared a national emergency with respect to the situation in Ukraine. To address this national emergency, the President blocked all property and interest in property that came within the United States or the possession or control of any United States person, of individuals determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be responsible for or complicit in, or who engaged in, actions or policies that threatened the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine, or who materially assist, sponsor, or provide financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to, individuals or entities engaging in such activities. Executive Order 13660, along with certain regulations issued pursuant to it (the “Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations”) prohibits, among other things, making or receiving any funds, goods, or services by, to, from, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked. 

On December 19, 2014, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated KONSTANTIN MALOFEYEV as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) pursuant to Executive Order 13660. OFAC’s designation of MALOFEYEV explained that he was one of the main sources of financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea, and has materially assisted, sponsored, and provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, a separatist organization in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

As alleged in the Indictment, MALOFEYEV hired a United States citizen named Jack Hanick in 2013 to work on a new Russian cable television news network (the “Russian TV Network”) that MALOFEYEV was creating. MALOFEYEV negotiated directly with Hanick regarding Hanick’s salary, payment for Hanick’s housing in Moscow, and Hanick’s Russian work visa, and MALOFEYEV paid Hanick through two separate Russian entities through the end of 2018.

After OFAC designated MALOFEYEV as a SDN in December 2014, MALOFEYEV continued to employ Hanick on the Russian TV Network, in violation of the Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations. MALOFEYEV also dispatched Hanick to work on a project to establish and run a Greek television network and on efforts to acquire a Bulgarian television network. At MALOFEYEV’s direction, Hanick traveled to Greece and to Bulgaria on multiple occasions in 2015 and 2016 to work on these initiatives, and reported directly back to MALOFEYEV on his work. For instance, in November 2015, Hanick wrote to MALOFEYEV that the Greek television network would be an “opportunity to detail Russia’s point of view on Greek TV.” In connection with MALOFEYEV’s efforts to acquire the Bulgarian television network, MALOFEYEV instructed Hanick to take steps to conceal MALOFEYEV’s role in the acquisition by conducting the negotiations through a Greek associate of MALOFEYEV (the “Greek Business Associate”), so that it would appear the buyer was a Greek national rather than MALOFEYEV.

MALOFEYEV also employed Hanick to assist MALOFEYEV in transferring a $10 million investment in a Texas-based bank holding company (the “Texas Bank”) to the Greek Business Associate in violation of the Ukraine-Related Sanctions Regulations. In 2014, MALOFEYEV had used a shell company to make the investment, and beginning in or about March 2015, MALOFEYEV began making plans to transfer ownership of the shell company to the Greek Business Associate as a means to transfer the investment in the Texas Bank. In or about May 2015, MALOFEYEV’s attorney drafted a Sale and Purchase Agreement that purported to transfer the shell company to the Greek Business Associate in exchange for one U.S. dollar. In June 2015 MALOFEYEV had Hanick physically transport a copy of MALOFEYEV’s certificate of shares in the Texas Bank from Moscow to Athens to be given to the Greek Business Associate. MALOFEYEV signed the Sale and Purchase Agreement in June 2015, but the agreement was fraudulently backdated to July 2014 to make it appear that the transfer had taken place prior to the imposition of United States sanctions. MALOFEYEV’s attorney then falsely represented to the Texas Bank that the transfer had taken place in July 2014, even though MALOFEYEV and his attorney well knew that the transfer of the shell company was executed in June 2015.

Along with the unsealed Indictment, the United States Attorney announced the issuance of a seizure warrant for MALOFEYEV’s Texas Bank investment, which had been converted by the Texas Bank in 2016 to cash held in a blocked United States bank account. The United States recovered those funds pursuant to the warrant and will seek forfeiture of those funds as property that constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses alleged in the Indictment.

MALOFEYEV, 47, of Russia, remains at large, and is believed to be in Russia. Each of the two sanctions charges in the Indictment carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the support and expertise of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs in the conduct of this matter.

On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.  The task force will leverage all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

[1] The entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Demands NFL Address Gender-Based Discrimination

 

AG James Leads Multistate Coalition of Attorneys General in Letter Urging NFL to Take Action Following Allegations of Discrimination

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today continued her fight against gender-based discrimination, calling on the National Football League (NFL) to address recent allegations of workplace inequity. In a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Attorney General James — leading a coalition of six attorneys general — expressed grave concerns about recent reports of the NFL’s hostile workplace culture. Recent reports indicate that more than 30 former employees have now come forward and described a pervasive culture of sexism and widespread workplace discrimination within the NFL, including but not limited to, sexual harassment, targeted retaliation, and harmful stereotyping. Today’s letter demands the league to take swift action to improve workplace conditions and protect its female employees.

“In 2014, we watched in horror as the video of Ray Rice brutally attacking his fiancé was made public,” said Attorney General James. “In the aftermath of that disturbing incident and too many others, the NFL promised to do better, take gender violence seriously, and improve conditions for women within the league. We now know that they did nothing of the sort. No woman should ever be subjected to the sort of harassment, disrespect, discrimination, and abuse these brave women have described. The NFL must finally make good on its promise and do better — pink jerseys are not a replacement for equal treatment and full inclusion of women in the workplace.”

In February 2022, the New York Times published reports from more than 30 former employees of the NFL, describing a hostile workplace for women. Female employees reported that they were subjected to repeated viewings of the Ray Rice video, with commentary by coworkers that the victim had brought the violence on herself. In a training intended to improve sensitivity on the issue, women were reportedly asked to raise their hand to self-identify if they had been victims of domestic violence or knew someone who had.

Female employees described experiencing unwanted touching from male bosses, attending parties where prostitutes were hired, facing unfair criticism based on stereotypes, being passed over for promotions based on their gender, and being pushed out for complaining about discrimination. Following their departure, some employees even learned that discrimination complaints had never been recorded.

In their letter, Attorney General James and the coalition warned Commissioner Goodell that the NFL must address its seeming continued inaction to address these issues. If true, the NFL’s failures may violate local, state, and federal antidiscrimination laws, which prohibit employers from discriminating against women, people of color, and domestic violence victims, or subjecting them to a hostile work environment. Tasked with enforcing all antidiscrimination laws, Attorney General James and the coalition promised to use the full weight of their authority to investigate and prosecute all allegations of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation by employers throughout their states.

If you have experienced or witnessed similar discrimination at the NFL or any other employer, please file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General.

Joining Attorney General James in signing this letter are the attorneys general of Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.

Governor Hochul Announces $34 Million in Federal Funds to Improve Energy Efficiency for Over 1,000 Homes

 

Awards Through New York’s Weatherization Stimulus Program Will Reduce Energy Costs for Low-Income Homeowners and Renters; Advance Governor's Target of Two Million Electrified or Electrification-Ready Homes by 2030

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $34 million in federal funding awards for over 1,000 homes to become more energy efficient and climate friendly. Awarded through the state’s Weatherization Stimulus Program, the funding will support electrification and electrification-ready upgrades that will lower energy costs and improve health outcomes for income-eligible renters and homeowners. 

“New York’s nation-leading clean energy goals require that we reduce harmful building emissions across all communities,” Governor Hochul said. “Our comprehensive decarbonization strategy includes resources to ensure low- and moderate-income New Yorkers are not left behind in the transition. This $34 million will bring us closer to our goal of reaching two million climate-friendly homes by 2030 and achieving a better and greener future for the next generation of New Yorkers.” 

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allocated additional funding to states to support heat and energy conservation programs for low-income households, including the federally-funded Weatherization Assistance Program. Administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the Weatherization Assistance Program helps reduce energy costs for income-eligible homeowners and renters by providing free services that help conserve energy and improve safety and health standards. 

The $34 million made available for the Weatherization Stimulus Program is intended to reach households that otherwise would not be eligible for deep decarbonization assistance. Using the existing network of Weatherization Assistance Program sub-grantees, 31 awards were granted to nonprofit community developmental organizations and local municipalities to support project scoping and complete work to improve energy efficiency and decrease carbon emissions in income-eligible single and multi-family homes throughout New York State.

Additionally, a portion of the funds will be used to train and enhance existing sub-grantees capacity to deliver these services in the future, supporting the Governor’s goals of investing in and developing New York State’s workforce for climate-friendly activities.

The potential scope of work through the Weatherization Stimulus Program includes:

• Cold climate heat pump installation;
• Electrification readiness (e.g. improvements to electrical service);
• Ventilation cleaning, sealing and balancing;
• Health and safety building repairs and improvements;
• Building envelope improvements including enhanced insulation and air sealing.

The Governor’s unprecedented commitment to electrification-ready homes will help meet the State's carbon reduction target set by the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which requires an 85 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050 and eventually net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy.  

The awards announced today build upon the state’s Clean Energy Initiative and the $6.8 billion already devoted to reducing the carbon footprint of New York's building stock, including in HCR's affordable housing portfolio.  

View a complete list of awards here. 

Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “The $34 million in awards allows us to expand our existing Weatherization Assistance Program in order to meet the ambitious targets set by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. By making energy-efficient upgrades accessible to more than 1,000 income-eligible households, we can help lower energy bills for cost-burdened New Yorkers, address disparate health outcomes, and advance Governor Hochul’s goal of achieving two million climate-friendly homes by 2030.” 

Vlada Kenniff, Vice President for Energy and Sustainability at the New York City Housing Authority, said, “Many of NYCHA’s stand-alone buildings require significant investments. The partnership with HCR and Weatherization Assistance Program service provider Association for Energy Affordability will allow us to address long-standing unfunded needs such as window replacements, making these buildings electrification ready, and electrifying space heating and hot water where feasible.” 

Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, “For New York to achieve the goals in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, we need to address the largest source of energy use across the state: buildings. More energy efficiency results in less overall energy use, which reduces emissions and costs. This program is important to support building decarbonization and electrification across the state, which will ultimately provide significant benefits for both the climate and public health, while supporting low-income residents.” 

Lisa Dix, New York Director, Building Decarbonization Coalition, said, “Today’s announcement is a great step forward toward Governor Hochul’s bold commitment to achieve two million electric-ready and electrified homes by 2030. Providing efficiency, weatherization, electric upgrades and clean heat investments to benefit New Yorkers who face disproportionate health impacts from climate pollution and increased energy burden due to volatile fossil fuel price spikes, is also a good example of equitable climate policy mandated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”

Rich Schrader, New York Policy Director at Natural Resources Defense Council, said, “Weatherization is critical to the fight against climate change and to clean up the air we breathe,” said Rich Schrader, New York Policy Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “As we move towards a more sustainable future, programs that advance an equitable transition, like the Weatherization Stimulus Program, are necessary to ensure that all communities are able to get the health, economic, and climate benefits of cleaner energy.”