Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MAY 16, 2022

 

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

30 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

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

"The best way to prevent serious illness and hospitalization from COVID-19 is by getting fully vaccinated and staying up to date on your booster doses," Governor Hochul said. "We need more New Yorkers to use this important tool so we can continue to protect our loved ones from COVID-19 and move forward safely through this pandemic."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Cases Per 100k - 35.37
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 48.98
• Test Results Reported - 66,348
• Total Positive - 6,912
• Percent Positive - 10.01%**  
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 7.34%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,497 (+124)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 396
• Patients in ICU - 233 (-2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 91 (-1)
• Total Discharges - 301,835 (263)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 30
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,792

** 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 - 71,200

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 - 38,672,134
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 15,246
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 150,723
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.6%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.9%  
• 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) - 87.2%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 83.3%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.3%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.1%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.3%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90.4%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.2%  

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

Borough	Friday, May 13, 2022	Saturday, May 14, 2022	Sunday, May 15, 2022
Bronx	3.68%	3.63%	3.76%
Kings	3.92%	3.75%	4.01%
New York	5.65%	5.49%	5.62%
Queens	4.94%	4.98%	5.16%
Richmond	5.77%	5.89%	6.02%

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation Into Civilian Death in the Bronx

 

 The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Rameek Smith, who died on May 11, 2022, following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

On the evening of May 10, a member of NYPD pursued Mr. Smith on foot along Third Avenue, Claremont Parkway, and Bathgate Avenue in the Bronx. Mr. Smith fired a handgun, injuring the officer. That officer and a second officer fired their service weapons, wounding Mr. Smith, who was later pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital. The injured officer was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital and was later released. The NYPD recovered a handgun at the scene.

Pursuant to New York State 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.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change. 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Announces Availability of Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program

 

Repair of Historic Barns Can Qualify for 25% New York State Tax Credit

 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation announced the launch of the revitalized Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit program. The new program allows state taxpayers who rehabilitate their historic barns to earn a credit against state income tax owed.

“New York’s rural landscapes are characterized by historic barns, forming the identities of many communities,” said Erik Kulleseid, Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “Retaining these historic structures, are among the state’s most threatened historic resources, contributes to heritage tourism and expands opportunities for the state’s agricultural economy. State Parks is pleased to add this program to its existing historic tax credit programs.”

The amount of the tax credit is equal to 25% of the expenditures incurred to rehabilitate a historic barn. To qualify, a barn must have been built prior to 1946, and the work must be approved by the Division for Historic Preservation. Taxpayers can begin to claim the credit on their 2022 New York State taxes.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation reinstating and improving the barn tax credit program, which had been limited in availability due to 2018 federal tax code changes. The legislation was sponsored by State Senator Michelle Hinchey of the 46^th District, and Assemblymember Didi Barrett of the 106^th District.

“New York’s historic barns are emblematic of our agricultural heritage and a testament to upstate’s economic leadership as the original breadbasket of America,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey. “Thanks to our bill to revive the Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit program, we are making it more affordable for New Yorkers to give these beloved buildings a new shot at life. Historic preservation is an important driver of rural revitalization, and I am so proud to have sponsored the legislation that will help save thousands of historic barns from disrepair, boosting local economies and local pride in the process.”

“I was proud to sponsor legislation to resurrect the New York State Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit, and I am delighted that the statewide application process is now open,” said Assemblymember Didi Barrett. “In the Hudson Valley – once the breadbasket of our young nation – historic barns are an iconic testament to our region's deep agricultural roots. This tax credit will incentivize the next generation of farmers and small business owners to grow their businesses here in New York State, while preserving some of our most picturesque and historic structures!”

“The Preservation League of NYS is grateful to Governor Hochul for signing the Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit into law, and to Senator Hinchey and Assemblymember Barrett for their leadership on this important preservation issue,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo. “This credit is a much-needed resource for barn owners across the state, who thanks to this program, will be able to make vital repairs and bring countless barns back to life – either reinvigorating their agricultural function or adaptively reusing them for innovative new purposes.”

Program information and staff contact information can be found on the Division for Historic Preservation’s website www.parks.ny.gov/shpo/tax-credit-programs/. Applications can be mailed to 1 Delaware Avenue North, Cohoes, 12047 (for express mail services) or to P.O. Box 189, Waterford, NY 12188 (for USPS mail service).

On Wednesday May 18, 2022 at 6:00 PM, a Historic Barn Tax Credit Information Session will be held at Glimmerglass State Park, Lakeview Pavilion, 1527 County Road 31, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Olivia Brazee from the State Historic Preservation Office and Ellen Pope, executive director of Otsego 2000, will walk participants through the requirements for receiving the credit. The event is free but registration is recommended at: https://forms.donorsnap.com/form?id=315d40c2-8bcc-4086-87c6-df061aeed264

Join Manhattan BP Levine for traditional food and entertainment at the MBPO's Jewish American Heritage Month Celebration

 

Join BP Levine Tomorrow for Traditional Jewish Food and Entertainment!

Jewish American Heritage Month Event

 Tuesday, May 17, 2022
 6:00pm-8:00pm (Doors Open 5:30pm program promptly starts at 6pm)
 Surrogate’s Court, 31 Chambers Street

Register for our Event HERE

March & Rally Bronx to Yonkers w/ the #PassNYHealth Care-avan on Friday, May 20

 

Hello Bronx Progressives,  Hope you're all having an awesome May. We are thrilled to share with you the invite below on behalf of Northwest Bronx Community, Clergy, and Coalition, and Campaign for New York Health Act. The end of the legislative session is fast approaching, while the New York Health Act remains stalled in the legislative process, with little hope to going to a vote for this session. Well, this campaign is not giving up without a good fight!  Join Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, Campaign for NY Health and partners at our state lawmakers’ offices in the Bronx and in Yonkers to demand a vote this session on the New York Health Act — comprehensive, affordable, universal healthcare. The physical, mental and financial lives of their voters are needlessly suffering because of their inaction! March and Rally to Demand Universal Healthcare Now!  Join at points that make sense for you. Transportation and refreshments available. 9:00AM   Transportation available from Northwest Bronx to East Bronx 10:45AM March & Rally at Assembly Speaker Heastie’s Bronx office 12:00PM Care-avan from Bronx rally to Yonkers rally 1:45PM   March & Rally at Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins’ Yonkers office RSVP for more details: https://bit.ly/May20Actions Wear your organization’s regalia, wear RED, wear your scrubs or white coats! Rally signs will be available, but we welcome homemade signs!  *Negative COVID test results within 24 hours of using our transportation is required. Masks are required on the bus and throughout the actions. Invite your community by forwarding this email to 3 of your friends or organizations!

MAYOR ADAMS TAKES STEPS TO TRANSFORM NEW YORK CITY INTO GLOBAL HUB FOR DIGITAL GAMES INDUSTRY

 

Announces CUNY’s First-Ever Game Design Bachelor’s Degree With $2 Million Investment

 

Introduces NYC’s First-Ever Game Development Industry Council

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams today took steps to transform the city into a global hub for the digital games industry by announcing that the City University of New York (CUNY) is creating and funding a Bachelor’s Degree program in Digital Game Design at City College of New York (CCNY). The creation of the gaming design degree is expected to drive inclusive growth by providing college students a public and affordable option for careers in the rapidly growing digital games industry and related fields. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) has partnered with City College to offer the first-ever degree. Making New York City a leading hub for digital game development was a vital piece of Mayor Adams’s “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,” announced in March.

 

Mayor Adams — joined by Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer, MOME, and members of New York City’s digital games community — also today introduced the first-ever Game Development Industry Council, created to advise the city’s policies and programs in the games development sector.

 

“New York City has always been the center of innovation, but it is time that New York City level up and finally became a leader in the digital gaming space,” said Mayor Adams. “It’s time to take advantage of all the talent we have here in New York by investing in the future of gaming. This $2 million investment will help us reach more than 1,000 students over the next three years and diversify the gaming field. This is how we get stuff done for our young people and for New York City!”

 

“With these announcements today, this administration affirms its commitment to New York City’s digital games industry, a sector that plays a major role in our city’s economy, supporting 7,600 jobs, $762 million in wages, and $2 billion in economic output,” said Deputy Mayor of Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “Our new industry council will inform future economic development and inclusion efforts, while our partnership with CUNY will provide New York City students a strategic pathway to careers in these fields. This is a milestone moment in this city’s mission to drive inclusive growth and write the next chapter for New York City’s tech sector.”

 

“The creation of the city’s first-ever Bachelor’s Degree program in game design, coupled with a pipeline to career and workforce development, is a holistic approach to equip New Yorkers with the necessary tools to join and transform the gaming industry,” said Deputy Mayor of Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “I am thrilled for today’s announcement and for the cross-sector partnership that taps into New York City’s innovators, entrepreneurs, and creative minds by providing a space for them to succeed.”

“We are proud to announce the CUNY Game Design Bachelor Program at City College and the city’s first-ever digital games industry council as part of the ‘Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,’” said MOME Commissioner Anne del Castillo. “By cultivating local talent at City College and working with industry leaders to identify growth opportunities in this sector, we are making strides to establish New York City as a hub for digital games development that builds on the strength of our city’s creativity, education, and technology.”

“We’re grateful that the Mayor’s Office for Media and Entertainment is supporting the development of a digital games program at CCNY,” said City College President Vincent Boudreau. “Young people in our communities, growing up in an environment where gaming and digital consumer skills are ubiquitous, are exquisitely prepared to make gaming a pathway to solid careers for themselves and supporting economic development for the city. Moving from gaming competition to technology-driven aspects of design and game development, this program should introduce whole communities of young people to one of our most dynamic economic sectors. We’re grateful, too, to have built this program in collaboration with partners like Urban Arts, Hostos Community College, and the Harlem Gallery of Science.”

 

Mayor Adams was joined at CUNY’s City College campus by NYXL’s NY Excelsior Team, winners of two season conference titles in the Overwatch League. The team named Mayor Adams an honorary member in celebration of NYXL’s recent announcement of their Young Creator’s Program. The Young Creator’s Program provides 10 $50,000 fellowships to the next generation of integrated content developers. Applications for the NYXL Project can be found online.

 

Today’s two announcements come as the digital games industry was projected to reach upwards of $180 billion in global sales in 2021. The first-ever New York City Digital Games Industry Economic Impact Report, released in 2021, underscored the digital game industry’s significance and contribution, specifically to New York City’s economy — supporting 7,600 jobs, $762 million in wages, and $2 billion in economic output.

 

In total, MOME will be making a $2 million investment in CUNY’s Career Pathways program, which includes funding towards the digital game design Bachelor’s Degree, designed to reach over 1,000 students over the next three years and aimed at increasing diversity and equity in the digital gaming field. This holistic program creates a pathway from high school to the digital gaming industry through a collaboration with Urban Arts — using their rigorous curricula and evidence-based pedagogical approach — as well as the Harlem Gallery of Science. This new funding will expand outreach to new high school youth from Title I schools for post-secondary programs and careers in game design and other tech fields.

 

Additionally, the program’s industry partnerships will cultivate young talent among CCNY students and develop the skills and experiences sought by the industry — through internships, mentorships, college events, and eSports sponsorships. CUNY’s Career Pathways program will also guide transitions for students in the Hostos Community College Associates Degree Digital Games Program to a four-year Bachelor’s Degree program in digital game design and creative arts at CCNY by 2024.

 

Interested students may begin the process towards a degree in digital games by applying to the Hostos Digital Game Design Program online.

 

Members of the Game Development Industry Council will advise the city’s production policies and programs in the digital games sector and is made up of various leaders of New York City’s digital games sector:

• Omar Shakir, game director, Avalanche Studios
• Juno Morrow, assistant professor game design, CUNY Hostos Community College
• Rudy Blanco, director of gaming and entrepreneurship, Dreamyard; and founder, Bronx Gaming Network
• Kyra Wills-Umdenstock, CEO, EGD Collective
• Brian Carr, designer; co-organizer, Game Developers of Color Expo
• Cat Small, co-organizer, Game Developers of Color Expo
• Susanna Pollack, president, Games for Change
• Mitu Khandaker, assistant professor, New York University (NYU); and co-founder, Glow Up Games
• Stan Altman, president, Harlem Gallery of Science Founder & CCNY Professor
• Gabo Arora, founder and CEO, Lightshed
• Tammy Levine, head of gaming ecosystem engagement at Xbox, Microsoft
• Josh Reynolds, director, modern workplace, U.S. education east, Microsoft
• Harold Goldberg, president, New York Video Game Critics Circle
• Naomi Clark, department chair, NYU Game Center
• Mitchell Smith, chief content officer, NYXL
• David Grijns, studio head, People Can Fly/Liquid Swords
• Gary Conti, director, education and industry outreach, Rockstar Games
• Alan Lewis, vice president, corporate communications and public affairs, Take-Two Interactive
• Sam Kennedy, CEO, Tigertron
• Asi Burak, chairman, Games for Change; chief business officer, Tilting Point
• Philip Courtney, CEO, Urban Arts
• Sarah Denby, senior account executive, Zynga

 

“The city’s investment in CUNY's Career Pathways Program is an important step in making New York City a new mecca for the digital games industry, as education and professional development are key stepping stones to ensuring long-term careers within this thriving, multibillion-dollar sector,” said Asi Burak, chief business officer, Tilting Point; chairman, Games for Change; and member, Digital Games Industry Council. “It is also great to see the formation of the Digital Games Industry Council, which I enthusiastically agreed to join, as we continue to support and grow the games industry in New York City!”