Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz - Standing up for Reproductive Rights in New York

 

We Will Always Protect a Woman's Right to Choose in New York

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Dear Neighbor:

You likely have heard about the leaked draft decision from the Supreme Court of the United States which would overturn nearly fifty years of precedent on a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. This decision, which is not official at this time, would allow each state to once again determine their own policies on the termination of pregnancies.

I am absolutely incensed at this apparent decision from the Supreme Court, which follows years of overt politicization of our Supreme Court appointment process. Let's not forget that the US Senate, then led by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, refused to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2016 thus blocking the confirmation of President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland. Then in 2020, McConnell switched gears and rammed through with lightning speed a Trump Supreme Court nominee to fill the vacancy caused by the untimely death of the great Ruth Bader Ginsberg, giving Donald Trump a total of three nominations to the Supreme Court.

The language in this draft decision evokes a dystopian, misogynistic worldview that would seem to regard the role of women as it is described in the Handmaid's Tale — that women ought to produce offspring, consent be damned.

While New York State continues to have some of the strongest laws in the nation protecting a woman's right to choose whether or not to terminate her pregnancy, I know that many people are justifiably anxious about the fate of millions of people throughout our country. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 58% of women aged 13-44 live in a state hostile or extremely hostile to abortion rights.

These fears are well-founded. Prior to the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, later upheld by Casey v. Planned Parenthood in 1992, hundreds of thousands of illegal abortions were performed in the 1950s and 1960s every year. This resulted in thousands of women experiencing medical complications that would otherwise have been preventable under the proper care of a medical professional, and hundreds of women died each year from their lack of access to safe and legal abortions.

However, New York will always remain a safe haven for people who seek reproductive rights. Less than 24 hours after the draft decision was leaked, rallies were organized around the state in opposition to this odious decision. I attended the rally in Albany, which was also attended by Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and advocates from Planned Parenthood as well as many other allied organizations.

I am ready to get to work alongside my colleagues to ensure that we make it as easy as possible for New Yorkers and all Americans to access safe, high-quality reproductive healthcare in our communities. The right to choose to terminate a pregnancy is already enshrined in state law, but we can take one step further by amending our state constitution to protect this right. We can establish a fund to offer practical support and expand reproductive healthcare infrastructure, create a public directory of in-state abortion providers, protect New Yorkers from discrimination based on pregnancy or pregnancy outcomes, require public universities to provide abortion pills in campus health centers, ensure that reproductive health services (including abortion) are available via telehealth, establish civil protections for abortion providers against money judgments arising in another state, and more.

We will get through this difficult time, but the road ahead is not going to be easy. There are federal elections coming up in 2022 and again in 2024. We will need Americans all over the country who care about reproductive rights to make their voices heard at the ballot box, especially in states such as Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio — all of which will be electing a US Senator this year in addition to Members of Congress.

Please contact me if you have any ideas or thoughts on how New York can continue to protect a woman's right to choose whether or not to terminate her pregnancy, as well as reproductive rights overall.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Dinowitz

Member of Assembly

EDITOR'S NOTE: There is Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz having replacement Governor Kathy Hochul's back, by voting to change the Election Law so she can replace her indicted choice for Lieutenant Governor with someone else who has not been vetted. Dinowitz is standing right behind her.

AOC Organizing Team - Get trained with Team AOC

 

With just over six months until Alexandria’s reelection, we need as many volunteers as possible to talk to voters in our district about Alexandria and her accomplishments in Congress.

We’re also facing uncertainty around the state’s new congressional maps, so we need to be ready to mobilize on a moment’s notice and meet whatever new threshold is established to keep Alexandria on the ballot. Together, we must make sure our community turns out and has their voice heard at the polls.

That’s where deep canvassing comes in.

Deep canvassing is about having real, quality conversations with voters. It's a tried and true method that emphasizes personal stories, empathy, and asking questions in order to find common ground. These skills are indispensable for organizing and communication in any scenario!

We’re hosting a virtual deep canvassing training this Saturday, May 7 and we want you there. Please sign up for the training here and our organizing team will schedule you for events around the district where you’ll work with us to put your new skills into practice!

Here are the training details:

VIRTUAL Deep Canvass Training!
Saturday, May 7
1 - 3pm ET
ZoomGet more info or RSVP

Thank you so much for all your support, and we hope to see you on Saturday.

In solidarity,

Team AOC

New York State Office for New Americans and CanCode Communities Announce Summer 2022 Schedule for Digital Literacy Training

 

New Americans Can Code Offers Digital Literacy and Advanced Computer Training for Immigrants 

New Americans to Gain Essential Computer Skills Through Program Developed in Partnership Between ONA and CanCode Communities 

Remote Classes begin Week of May 16 – Register Online or by Calling (518) 238-6808

 The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) and CanCode Communities today announced the opening of registration for the Summer 2022 session of Digital Literacy Training. Known as New Americans Can Code, the program provides digital literacy training to assist newcomers to New York State in gaining basic computer skills and software training for career opportunities to New York’s immigrant communities.

New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “In a rapidly evolving digital era, having computer training is a necessary skill to be better positioned to succeed in today’s job market. The ONA and CanCode Communities partnership offers new Americans the opportunity to learn new skills and have necessary tools to be prepared for an economic environment based on computer literacy and be ready for enhanced career opportunities and to better contribute to New York’s future.”

The New Americans Can Code Digital Literacy course is available to all immigrants living in New York, regardless of status, who meet income eligibility requirements. It is designed to serve students with a wide range of computer experiences and competencies, and will ensure each student receives the skills they need while moving at their own pace.

The course will cover basic computer usage skills; a survey of software usage, including word processing and spreadsheet use; use and management of email; and using the web to conduct productive internet searches to find reliable information and learning tools.

CanCode Communities Founder and CEO Annmarie Lanesey said, “We are thrilled to extend this exceptional partnership with the New York State Office for New Americans, and to assist in preparing immigrants to succeed in today’s digital economy. This computer education and training will ensure more New Yorkers gain the knowledge and skills to pursue fast-growing tech careers, while also building a diverse and inclusive talent pipeline critical for the state’s employers.” 

The course will cover basic computer usage skills; a survey of software usage, including word processing and spreadsheet use; use and management of email; and using the web to conduct productive internet searches to find reliable information and learning tools.

Delivered remotely, the course provides real-time instruction and hands-on learning. Classes will begin the week of May 16 and will run for 10 weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information and to register, visit https://cancode.org/course/newamericanscancode-virtual-digital-literacy-summer-2022/, email info@albanycancode.org, or call (518) 238-6808.

New Americans Can Code was first launched in 2020 as the Immigrants Can Code program to ensure low-income immigrants, particularly those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have access to digital literacy education and more advanced software training that are essential to building careers in the Empire State’s fast-growing innovation economy. ONA and CanCodeCommunities expanded the program in response to the continued need created by the pandemic, which illustrated how important digital literacy is for those who are now working from home, or who are seeking new employment that requires them to work remotely.

This program is supported with approximately $150,000 through Federal CARES Act funding and is open to any immigrant with a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This program is also supported by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $150,000 with 100 percent funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements. 

Launched in 2016 as AlbanyCanCode and rebranded as CanCode Communities, the organization now includes 7 entities: AlbanyCanCode, KingstonCanCode, NewAmericansCanCode, SaratogaCanCode, HerkimerCanCode, NewYorkCanCode, and BerkshiresCanCode. More than 300 students have graduated from its courses, securing tech jobs with leading employers – including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, New York State Office of Information Technology Services, MVP Healthcare, and Zones, among others – and receiving average annual salary increases exceeding $18,000.   

The New York State Office for New Americans, founded in 2012, is the nation’s first statutorily created immigrant services office. ONA assists all new Americans with accessing and navigating a variety of free services and support through its statewide network of community-based providers.

For any immigrant in need of assistance, or to connect with ONA’s programs, call the New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 9:00am to 8:00pm, Monday through Friday. All calls are confidential. Assistance is available in over 200 languages. For more information, visit https://dos.ny.gov/office-new-americans or follow ONA on Twitter at @NYSNewAmericans or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYSNewAmericans.

CanCodeCommunities is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2016 to develop non-traditional talent and advocate for a vibrant, inclusive tech talent pipeline in New York State. The organization designs and delivers workforce training courses, hands-on K-12 coding programs, and community code literacy workshops, in alignment with the needs of employers, educators, talent and the community in general. Its mission is to shift mindset about who can work in technology, remove cultural and economic barriers to joining the tech workforce, and establish and promote pathways to tech careers throughout the region. For more, visit www.cancode.org.

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

 

Finger Lakes 7-Day Average Case Rates Continue to Plateau

Milestone Reached: More Than 75 Million Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests Provided to New Yorkers in Recent Months as Part of the State's Ongoing At-Home Distribution Plan

Governor Hochul Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment 

Central New York Case Rates Continue to Decline, Finger Lakes Case Rates Continue to Plateau

13 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19, while also announcing that the State has now distributed more than 75 million over-the-counter COVID-19 tests as part of the administration's ongoing efforts to keep communities safe during the Spring and Summer months. At-home rapid tests continue to be distributed at regular intervals to New Yorkers, including at schools and nursing homes, throughout the state.

"We have the tools to move forward safely through this pandemic - vaccines, boosters, tests and treatments," Governor Hochul said. "If you haven't already, schedule your vaccination and get boosted for additional protection as soon as you're eligible. Remember to get tested if you're feeling sick, and if you are positive, talk to your doctor about treatments. Let's continue looking out for each other so we can keep our loved ones safe and healthy."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 46.77
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 39.21
• Test Results Reported - 115,263
• Total Positive - 9,139
• Percent Positive - 7.66%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.94%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,119 (+69)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 430
• Patients in ICU - 204 (-2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 71 (+1)
• Total Discharges - 297,547 (+336)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 13
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,536    

** 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.    

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.  

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 70,915

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 - 38,414,764
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 24,887
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 159,417
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.4%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.8%  
• 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) - 86.9%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.1%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.1%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.9%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.2%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.2%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.9%  

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, May 1, 2022	Monday, May 2, 2022	Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Bronx	2.69%	2.73%	2.92%
Kings	3.76%	3.64%	3.72%
New York	4.49%	4.82%	5.32%
Queens	4.85%	5.03%	5.41%
Richmond	4.31%	4.28%	4.55%