MAYOR ADAMS, MTA HOLD FIRST TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT SUMMIT, ANNOUNCE PLANS TO IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE MASS TRANSIT SERVICE FOR NEW YORKERS

 

Joint Effort Will Bring Faster, More Reliable Bus Service, 150 Miles of New and Enhanced Bus Lanes, Busways Over Four Years

 

Technology Improvements Will Enhance Bus Lane Enforcement and Transit Signal Priority to Speed Up Buses

 

MTA Commits $200 Million to Expand Countdown Clocks, Upgrade Public Announcement Systems in Over 70 Subway Stations

 

City, MTA Reaffirm Collaboration on Subway Safety and Quality-of-Life Improvements

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair and CEO Janno Lieber today announced a new collaborative effort to tangibly improve transit service for New Yorkers, with an emphasis on advancing critical projects to make buses faster, more accessible, and integrated with other transportation options. The new improvements to overall transit system are the result of the first Transit Improvement Summit, a new quarterly effort from the city and the MTA to foster collaboration and continue delivering quality public transit for New Yorkers and visitors. It also builds on a successful partnership between the city and the MTA to promote public safety in the subway and provide services for New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

 

“This partnership is the definition of ‘Get Stuff Done,’” said Mayor Adams. “Together with the MTA, we are delivering the efficient, reliable bus network and transit system all New Yorkers and visitors to our great city deserve. And we will work closely with communities every step of the way to take these much-needed, bold steps together.”

 

“New Yorkers deserve a world-class transit system, and both the MTA and city leadership are committed to working together to bring real, tangible improvements for our riders,” said MTA Chair and CEO Lieber. “This is a new era of city-MTA collaboration that will speed up buses, make the subways safer and more reliable, and prioritize equity and accessibility in mass transit. I thank Mayor Adams and his team and look forward to our continued work ahead.”

 

The new collaboration will prioritize enhancements for the MTA’s bus network, a critical transportation option for millions of New Yorkers, particularly those who live or work outside of Manhattan. The MTA and New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) will complete 150 miles of new and enhanced bus lanes and busways over the next four years, beginning with 20 miles in 2022 on the following corridors, which have total daily ridership of approximately 327,000 passengers, larger than the city of Cincinnati:

 

• Fordham Road and 207^th Street, between 10^th Avenue and White Plains Road in Manhattan and the Bronx (3.0 miles);
• Gun Hill Road, between Bainbridge Avenue and Bartow Avenue in the Bronx (3.8 miles);
• University Avenue, between Kingsbridge Road and Washington Bridge in the Bronx (3.4 miles);
• Westchester Avenue at Pelham Bay Park Station in the Bronx (0.1 miles);
• First Avenue between 61^st Street and 79^th Street in Manhattan (0.9 miles);
• Avenues A and D, various segments in Manhattan (1.0 mile);
• 21^st Street, between the RFK Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge in Queens (3.4 miles); and
• Northern Boulevard, between Broadway and 114^th Street in Queens (5.4 miles).

 

Additionally, NYCDOT will make permanent the Main Street busway in Queens, which launched as a pilot in January 2021. The busway has increased bus speeds by up to 50 percent and supports 155,000 riders per day.

 

The city and the MTA will also immediately launch planning and community outreach for the next round of new bus priority projects at the following locations:

 

• Tremont Avenue in the Bronx,
• Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn,
• Livingston Street in Brooklyn,
• Northern Broadway in Manhattan, and
• Second Avenue in Manhattan.

 

These critical bus corridor priorities will complement ongoing bus network redesign projects to make service faster, more frequent, and more reliable. The Bronx Local Bus Network Redesign will be implemented on June 26, and public engagement on the Queens Local Bus Network Redesign draft plan is ongoing. The MTA will also release a draft bus network redesign plan for Brooklyn and kick-off public engagement by the end of 2022.

 

To further speed up buses, NYCDOT will expand automated enforcement and transit signal priority at traffic signals, installing 50 additional fixed bus lane cameras on new and existing bus lanes — on top of the previous commitment to install 50 cameras. The MTA will match this commitment by expanding the on-bus Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) program from the current 123 buses across seven routes on the ABLE program to another 300 buses by the end of 2022, covering an additional nine routes across all five boroughs. Current projections call for a further 600 bus addition by the end of 2023, and NYCDOT plans to add transit signal priority at 750 more intersections next year. To maximize the cameras’ impact, MTA and NYCDOT will jointly engage state lawmakers to advance future bus camera enforcement legislation in Albany that would (1) make the existing ABLE program permanent and (2) expand automated bus and stationary camera enforcement of certain city traffic rules — including double parking and illegal parking at bus stops — to speed up bus trips for riders across New York City.

 

The MTA and NYCDOT will also prioritize bicycle, micromobility, and pedestrian access to transit with improvements to bike infrastructure, additional bike parking, and siting of micromobility share systems near subway stations and major bus stops. The MTA will also ensure that pedestrian curb ramps that are impacted by capital projects are replaced by accessible curb ramps built to modern accessibility standards. This work will be formalized in the MTA’s Strategic Action Plan released at the end of 2022.

 

Building upon the successful partnership in the Subway Safety Plan, the MTA and the city will continue to address quality-of-life issues in the subway system, including cleanliness and lighting. With a $200 million commitment, the MTA will expand subway countdown clocks, improve public announcement systems, and integrate LCD signage at 71 subway stations most in need of upgrades. Currently in the design phase, this project will cover a wide range of neighborhoods, including:

 

• Tremont and Kingsbridge in the Bronx;
• Sunset Park, Brighton Beach, and East New York in Brooklyn;
• Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan; and
• Jamaica and the Rockaways in Queens.

 

In addition, the MTA and city are coordinating to combat fare and toll evasion, beginning with a crackdown on defaced and fraudulent temporary license plates, which cost the city and the MTA more than $100 million combined per year in lost revenue and are correlated to other criminal behavior.

 

As the partnership continues, the MTA and the city have agreed to collaborate in several critical areas for providing the transit system New York City deserves, including:

 

• Accessibility improvements to transit;
• Stormwater resiliency;
• Connecting transit-oriented development and neighborhood planning to transportation infrastructure investment; and
• Collaborate on fare initiatives, including the city’s Fair Fares program, Freedom Ticket, and CityTicket for Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road.

 

This new partnership comes as the city and the MTA have been successfully implementing the Subway Safety Plan with a focus on providing social services and access to shelter at end-of-line stations to New Yorkers sheltering in the subway system. As part of this effort, MTA and city staff working groups have been meeting regularly since January to craft solutions to New York City’s transit challenges and improve service for riders.

 

“A safe, high-performing, and reliable public transit system is a necessity if we are to realize a full economic recovery for the City of New York and the broader metropolitan region,” said New York City First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “This renewed partnership between the city and the MTA will elevate a solutions-oriented approach that will produce results for the millions who depend on public transit every day.”

 

“To the riding public, we are one city, and through our renewed collaboration with the MTA, we will, as one city, improve and expand transit service for millions of New Yorkers who depend on it every day,” said New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “The Transit Improvement Summit will bring tangible changes that are vital to our city’s economic, social, and environmental health.”

 

“New York City’s economic recovery and long-term vitality are inextricably tied to a successful transit system,” said New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “That is why we are eager to deepen our partnership with the MTA and proactively shape and build the jobs, housing, and transit infrastructure necessary for a stronger and more equitable New York City.”

 

“Today’s summit is another happy milestone in the welcome new era of productive relations between New York City and New York State,” said NYCDOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “With the mayor’s relentless focus on equity, we now have an ambitious plan to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for the millions of bus riders across the five boroughs. We at DOT look forward to working with our MTA partners to build a safer and more efficient system, with more new and enhanced bus lanes, expanded automated enforcement, as well as new ways that our agencies will work together to improve access for the growing number of cyclists.”

 

“This partnership is improving the customer experience for everyone who uses New York City Transit,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “The commitment of Mayor Adams and his administration to this collaborative effort will make a difference, and I am excited to see the enhancements we discussed today improve the rider’s experience in the coming months.”

 

PUBLIC ADVOCATE INTRODUCES BILL TO END SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN NEW YORK CITY

 

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams introduced legislation in the New York City Council today to truly ban solitary confinement in city jails. This bill marks the most comprehensive and concrete legislative effort to end the practice of solitary, which the United Nations defines as torture, on a citywide level. He announced the introduction at a City Hall press conference this morning– full video of the event is available here. 

"Solitary confinement is torture, and for some New Yorkers– Kalief Browder, Layleen Polanco, Brandon Rodriguez, and too many others – it has been a death sentence," said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. "We owe it to them, and to all who have suffered in isolation, to prevent future harm by passing this bill and codifying a clear, concrete ban on solitary. With Rikers Island in crisis, presenting immediate danger to people on both sides of the bars, it’s absolutely critical that we move quickly to end this deeply damaging, ineffective practice, while allowing for the possibility of short-term separation to ensure safety. I’m proud to carry this legislation forward, and together with the movement that has helped New York see progress on this issue over many years, to finally, truly end solitary confinement in our city."

The new bill, Intro. 549, is based in the experiences of incarcerated individuals and the need for due process, defines and prohibits the punitive practice of solitary confinement, closing loopholes previously used by the Department of Correction (DOC) to continue solitary in all but name. It allows and establishes strict guidelines for any temporary and time-specified separation in specific instances while preventing the isolation of solitary and the harm that it brings. Its introduction comes amid an ongoing crisis on Rikers Island, where six people have lost their lives in 2022, and as a federal court has required the administration to make immediate, urgent reforms. 

Under the legislation, “The department shall not place an incarcerated individual in a cell, other than at night for sleep for a period not to exceed eight hours in any 24-hour period or during the day for count not to exceed two hours in any 24-hour period, unless such confinement is necessary to de-escalate immediate conflict that has caused injury or poses a specific, serious and imminent danger to a person’s safety.”

This ban builds on 2020 legislation which received a hearing but was never brought to a vote. This new bill from Public Advocate Williams – while similar in many respects – clarifies many components critical to functionally ending solitary as we know it by expanding definitions, delineating a process for appealing DOC decisions, and granting an incarcerated individual due process rights not previously afforded. It establishes clear guidelines and a framework to implement the prohibition of solitary confinement while allowing DOC to separate incarcerated individuals when needed.

As it is introduced today, the bill is co-sponsored by Council Member Carlina Rivera, who chairs the Committee on Criminal Justice, as well as Council Members Tiffany Cabán, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, Lincoln Restler, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. 

Solitary confinement is torture. It causes significant and irreparable harm, and is seen as one of the most alarming and inconspicuous domestic human rights issues in U.S. prisons today. The lack of meaningful daily social interactions can lead to loneliness and irreversible trauma, and solitary confinement causes lifelong psychological, emotional, and physical damage.

Solitary’s impact is even greater on individuals with pre-existing mental illnesses and increases the risk of self-harm and suicide. It disproportionately affects Black and Latinx people, young people, and people with mental health needs, as well as LGBTQ+ and TGNCNBI people.

In New York City, solitary confinement can be a death sentence. Carina Montes, Jason Echeverria, Kalief Browder, Bradley Ballard, Layleen Polanco, and Brandon Rodriguez have died because of their experiences with this inhumane practice. 

The bill reinstates due process for any individual ultimately put in restrictive housing under the conditions permitted, establishing an in-court hearing process and notification of the incarcerated person and their legal representatives. It does allow for the usage of emergency lock-ins in certain, specific situations, and permits exceptions when harm may be present.

It clearly and strictly defines terms such as restrictive housing, cell, and out of cell, specifies the timeframe a person can be held in that cell, requires medical staff check-ups every 15 minutes a person is alone in their cell, and prohibits restraints on people under 22 years of age.

The legislation, which further requires extensive reporting on the use of restrictive housing, would be enacted 60 days after passage. Read the full bill here.

Broad Citywide Coalition Convened by NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Calls for Comprehensive Property Tax Reform as 421-a Sunsets

 

Bipartisan group of elected officials and housing advocates say that the expiration of luxury tax giveaway creates opportunity to bring property tax fairness to NYC residents and supports new housing construction.

 A broad coalition of bipartisan elected officials and housing advocates–convened by NYC Comptroller Brad Lander–called for comprehensive property tax reform in the wake of the June 15 expiration of the 421-a tax break. New York’s broken, opaque, inequitable property tax system relies on a patchwork of exemptions and abatements, the largest of which was 421-a. Created in the 1970’s to spur development in an era of abandonment, 421-a became a multi-billion dollar tax giveaway for largely market-rate development. The coalition aims to address the underlying problem through comprehensive property tax reform.

“With the expiration of 421-a, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair and affordable property tax system that eliminates disparities between homeowners in different neighborhoods, facilitates new rental housing development, and focuses scarce public subsidies on genuinely affordable housing,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “Our current system puts undue burden on homeowners in Southeast Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island while under-taxing my home in brownstone Brooklyn, which is neither fair nor sustainable. Now is the time to fix it. At the same time, we must eliminate the high tax rate on new rental housing to enable the building of new rental units without massive subsidy. With the 421-a luxury boondoggle gone, we can target our affordable housing dollars where they’re truly needed.”

In March, Comptroller Lander released A Better Way Than 421-a: The High-Rising Costs of New York City’s Most Unaffordable Tax Exemption, an analysis of the 421-a program, which creates very few genuinely affordable units at an extremely high cost, and the need for structural property tax reform to address the issues 421-a purports to solve. The Comptroller’s office proposes structural changes to the property tax system, building on the recommendations of the New York City Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform, and taking them further by addressing the disparity in taxation between condominium and rental buildings that constrains the development of multifamily rental housing. The median effective tax rate on rental buildings is roughly double that of condo buildings, a strong disincentive to developing rental housing. The Comptroller’s report finds that lower, uniformly, and broadly applied tax rates could largely eliminate the need for 421-a as a development incentive.

At the time, Comptroller Lander called on the State legislature to allow 421-a to expire as scheduled on June 15, 2022, and urged policymakers to set a deadline of the end of the calendar year to adopt a framework for comprehensive property tax reform. Now, following the expiration of 421-a, this coalition of elected officials and housing advocates kicked off a campaign for property tax reform that would:

1. Achieve tax fairness for homeowners by implementing the recommendations of the NYC Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform (summarized below), along with targeted homeowner relief and deferral programs to protect vulnerable New Yorkers.
2. Level the tax playing field between new rental and condo development to eliminate the need for costly tax exemptions for market-rate development and support the creation of new multifamily rental housing.
3. Allow the NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development to underwrite targeted tax incentives for buildings that match the benefit granted to the level needed to achieve the specific, genuine affordability, costs, and labor standards of the project without double-dipping or excessive subsidy.

The proposal builds on the work of the NYC Advisory Commission of Property Tax Reform, which released its proposal in December 2021, adding an additional targeted tax deferral program to insure that working- and middle-class homeowners in affected neighborhoods don’t lose their homes. Those recommendations include:

• Creating a new tax class for small residential property owners: 1-3 family homes, condos, coops, and 4-10 unit rental buildings, ensuring that rules are applied uniformly regardless of property type;
• Valuing property in this new residential class based on sales-based market value, thereby ending the statutory requirement to value coops and condos based on comparable rental buildings;
• Replacing the complicated class shares system with a simple, more transparent system where individual tax class rates are fixed for five-year periods, unless deliberately changed by the City Council and the Mayor;
• Removing assessed value (AV) growth caps, widely recognized as one of the primary drivers of inequity, and phasing in market value changes over five years instead;
• Creating targeted homeowner relief programs for “house-rich, cash-poor” homeowners and devising a targeted tax deferral program available to those with increased taxes but limited ability to pay.

“It’s time that we see real reform when it comes to property taxes in New York City that unfairly target homeowners in the Northeast Bronx and in Staten Island that currently pay the highest citywide. It’s a broken system and I applaud NYC Comptroller Brad Lander for making use of the June 15th expiration of 421-a — which provides tax giveaways to developers for the creation of affordable housing — to equalize taxation between new rentals and homeownership buildings, and to equalize taxation between homeowners and address the structural inequities that impact my constituents, as well as those in South Brooklyn, East Brooklyn, Southeast Queens, and Staten Island,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. 

“The expiration of 421-a marks an opportunity to create comprehensive property tax reform that is more equitable for tenants and all low-income New Yorkers.  Albany must act to equalize taxation between rentals and homeownership in new developments, as well as between existing homeowners in New York City. We look forward to working with the Comptroller and other advocates to bring about meaningful changes,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. 

“New York City’s outdated property tax system is a driver of inequality, particularly for low- and moderate-income homeowners of color holding onto the generational wealth they earned. Instead of a tax giveaway for developments in gentrifying Harlem and Bed-Stuy, the city and state should fix the tax system that right now makes Black and brown residents in the Bronx and Southeast Queens pay more of their fair share in property taxes than other affluent, waterfront neighborhoods. There’s a trend across the country for America’s poorest neighborhoods to pay the highest effective tax rate compared to the richest neighborhoods who are paying the lowest, and at times nothing at all, and it’s time to end that uncivil practice here in New York City,” said Derek Perkinson, NYS Field Director at the National Action Network.

“We commend Comptroller Brad Lander for bringing together a diverse coalition calling for comprehensive tax reform by the State Legislature,” said Rabbi David Niederman, President of the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn. “The current system is unconscionable, up-adjusting valuations for low- and middle-income non-luxury condo families in Central Williamsburg and taxing them at much higher rates than their luxury neighbors – as much as $20,000 per condo. Condo owners are even denied requests for the data and formulas determining those adjustments. We join the coalition in calling for comprehensive tax reform and – in the interim –  the unjust adjustments must be corrected and the complete formulas and data used in property taxation must be released.”

CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General James Reminds New Yorkers of Mandatory Gas Tax Suspension to Save Money at the Pump

AG James Advises Gas Stations That They Must Comply with Tax Suspension,

Encourages Consumers to File Complaints with OAG if They are Wrongly Charged 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today reminded New Yorkers of efforts taken to save money at the pump as Americans across the country are facing record high fuel prices, and advised gas stations of their obligation to suspend taxes on fuel through the end of the year. The Gas Tax Holiday Act of 2022 requires gas stations to suspend excise tax, prepaid sales tax, and state sales and use taxes on motor fuel and highway diesel motor to address the rising cost of fuel. In letters to gas station associations, Attorney General James informed gas stations of their legal obligation to comply with the statewide requirements and any local tax rate change. Attorney General James encourages any New Yorker who believes they are wrongly charged this tax to report it to her office.

“As gas prices surge nationwide, we are doing all we can to provide some financial relief for New Yorkers,” said Attorney General James. “New York’s gas stations are required to suspend state and local taxes through the end of the year to help working families because every penny off will help offset the rising costs of gas. I encourage consumers who suspect that their gas station is not following the rules to contact my office.”

The Gas Tax Holiday Act went into effect on June 1, 2022 and expires on December 31, 2022. Attorney General James encourages consumers to file complaints online with her office if they believe their gas stations are not complying.

MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS LAUNCHES $2 MILLION INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT NEWLY ARRIVED UKRAINIAN NEW YORKERS

 

The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro today launched New York City’s Ukrainian Response Initiative and announced the non-profit organizations that will be contracted to help currently residing and newly arrived Ukrainian New Yorkers access immigration legal assistance, translation services, social services, and other resources. 

“As a city of immigrants, New York City is home to the largest Ukrainian population in America, and that is why we stand ready, with open arms, to provide all the support we can to Ukrainian New Yorkers,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “These non-profit organizations will ensure critical resources are available to both currently residing and newly arrived Ukrainians, and we are eager to help.”  

  

“As Ukraine experiences an ongoing war there is increasing urgency to provide support where possible to our growing New York City Ukrainian community,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “I am proud to stand with MOIA in their continued efforts to ensure services, including legal support, are available to those in need and welcome all new neighbors to our city with open arms.”    

“From accessing immigration legal services to connecting families to health services and school enrollment, we will continue to respond to the immediate needs of New York City’s Ukrainian community,” said Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA). “As more Ukrainians continue to arrive, we look to achieve this critical work by working hand in hand with community groups that have a demonstrated ability to connect immigrants and refugees to legal resources and city services in a culturally and linguistically responsive way.” 

“I know firsthand the pain of having to leave your home as a refugee and I applaud Mayor Eric Adams’ commitment to supporting the Ukrainian community in New York City and those people who will arrive in our City due to the continued hardships they face as a result of this unjust war, said Edward Mermelstein, Commissioner, NYC Mayor's Office for International Affairs. “My office ensures New Yorkers, including foreign-born nationals, have access to New York City services and resources through strong collaborations with sister agencies and Consulates. I look forward to working closely with members of the Adams Administration, including Commissioner Castro, the representatives of non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure these services and resources reach all the people that need them."  

Initially announced in April 2022, the Ukrainian Response Initiative will include community outreach, immigration legal assistance, comprehensive case management, direct emergency cash assistance, language access, benefits navigation, and community-based organization capacity building.       

Legal services will include but are not limited to comprehensive immigration legal screenings, and application assistance for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).  

  

Services provided directly or by referral will include but are not limited to health care, health insurance enrollment/NYC Care, mental health services, housing support, IDNYC, non-immigration legal services, school enrollment and education system navigation, English language education, workforce support services, and food security assistance.  

Information and services will be provided both in person and remotely through a variety of formats including resource fairs and legal clinics at trusted sites citywide, and individual consultations at community-based organizations. Information on how to access services provided through this initiative can be found on nyc.gov/ukraineresources or by calling NYC’s immigration hotline at 800-354-0365.  

   

The non-profits contracted to achieve this work represent a combination of citywide service providers and community-based organizations rooted in Ukrainian and immigrant neighborhoods:  

    

• Razom will provide comprehensive case management support, outreach and public education, interpretation and translation services, and a variety of services both directly and through referral  
• Shorefront YM-YWHA of Brighton-Manhattan Beach will provide comprehensive case management support and a variety of services both directly and through referral  
• New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) will provide immigration legal services including but not limited to comprehensive immigration legal screenings, and application assistance for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Employment Authorization  
• New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) will coordinate coalition communications and activities, conduct outreach and awareness campaigns, plan and operate clinics, and develop a web-based tool to facilitate intra-group referrals  
• Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) will help Ukrainian New Yorkers navigate federal, state, and other benefits available to them, distribute cash assistance, and provide community-based organizations with technical assistance and capacity building  
• CAMBA will provide comprehensive case management support and a variety of services both directly and through referral    

MOIA in partnership with the Research Foundation of the City University of New York and the Department of Social Services will be actively involved in the initiative by listening and responding to the needs of Ukrainians resettling in New York City and the organizations supporting them.    

 

For more information, visit nyc.gov/ukraineresources or call NYC’s immigration hotline at 800-354-0365.  

“We stand every-ready to honor NYC’s legacy as a safe haven for disenfranchised and marginalized communities, including refugees and immigrants in need,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “MOIA’s Ukrainian Response Initiative exemplifies this City’s commitment to upholding the fundamental values of American democracy and always leading with compassion. As we welcome these newly arrived Ukrainians to our diverse community, our agency is proud to partner with MOIA and support this initiative in every which way we can.”  

 

“The University couldn’t be prouder to partner with MOIA and DSS on the Ukrainian Response Initiative,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez.  “The impact of the crisis in Ukraine is palpable for many in New York, which is home to the largest Ukrainian community in the nation. This effort manifests CUNY’s unique mission to welcome and educate immigrants from all over the globe and aligns with New York City’s historic role as a place of refuge and renewal.”  

“With this initiative, I am confident we can address the critical needs of newly arrived Ukrainians and help to mitigate the impact being felt in our city from the horrific invasion of Ukraine. I applaud Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, Commissioner Manuel Castro, and the non-profit partner organizations for working to make this possible,” said

NYC Care Executive Director Jonathan Jiménez, MD, MPH. “By providing culturally responsive care across a number of service areas, including healthcare access through NYC Care, the Ukrainian Response Initiative will set the model for how cities can support and uplift new arrivals. Health care is a human right; that means that from the first day newly arrived Ukrainians are in our city, they are eligible for NYC Care.”  

"The NYIC is proud to be a partner in The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs '(MOIA) Ukrainian Response Initiative. Thousands of Ukrainian families have fled their war-torn country in search of safety here, in New York City, and around the country, but are in need of friendship and support to successfully integrate into their new communities. By working with community groups like ours, Ukrainian families can expect language and cultural competency, as well as trusted partners to ensure these families are able to access the services and programs they need to build a home and thrive in New York City. We thank Mayor Adams and Commissioner Castro for working to ensure the well-being of all newcomer families in New York City," said Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director of New York Immigration Coalition.   

“We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Adams and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, Commissioner Castro, who invited Razom to City Hall when the news about the grant was announced. We applaud their leadership for launching this important initiative to help displaced Ukrainians and for their generous grant to Razom for Ukraine,” said Mariia Khorun, Esq. Razom's NYC Ukrainian Response Initiative (NYCURI) Co-Lead. “This Initiative will allow for a coordinated system to seamlessly refer thousands of displaced Ukrainians, who are especially vulnerable, to legal clinics and resource workshops so they can receive immigration aid, assistance with navigating available benefits, job opportunities, and more, to provide them with a chance to rebuild their lives in this country. Razom is a hands-on partner that has already worked with displaced Ukrainian families before this grant. Because of this funding, we will now be able to improve our operation to assist even more Ukrainians who are fleeing this brutal and unjust war. As an organization focused on amplifying the voices of Ukrainians, we are greatly encouraged by this initiative as it reaffirms New York City’s unwavering support and love for Ukraine.”   

"Like all immigrant communities, Ukrainian nationals in New York City are seeking safety for themselves and their families, and should be welcomed and supported with compassionate, culturally- and linguistically appropriate services to help them thrive. The Ukrainian Response Initiative will enable NYLAG and our fellow service providers to harness our deep connections to New York's Ukrainian community to support those resettling in understanding their rights, navigating the immigration services available to them, obtaining employment and identity documents, and connecting with support services,” said Jodi Ziesemer, Director of the Immigrant Protection Unit at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). “We thank Commissioner Castro and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs for strengthening New York City's support for immigrants and for helping our city live up to its name as a place that welcomes and supports all."    

“As the tragic conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold, Catholic Charities has welcomed and supported refugees and local Ukrainian communities with direct assistance over the past months. With a long history of helping refugees, Catholic Charities stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. We are especially pleased to join with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and New York City in this coordinated response to provide direct assistance and case management support to those seeking protection and temporary refuge here. This important city-wide initiative, which joins experienced partners in the effort, is evidence once again of New York’s unique leadership in welcoming newcomers to our nation,” said Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, New York.    

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS DEBUTS OBSTETRICS VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF ITS ONGOING, COMPREHENSIVE MATERNAL HEALTH SIMULATION TRAININGS

 

Providers will hone their skills to earlier detect and successfully address life-threatening conditions that can present during labor

 

The simulation technology allows OB providers to more easily access skills-trainings

This effort builds on the health care system’s commitment to combatting maternal mortality disparities present among people of color

NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the introduction of new virtual reality (VR) technology to its course library of obstetrics (OB) simulation trainings. Co-developed with Health Scholars, a provider of innovative VR healthcare simulations, OB providers across the City’s health care system will be able to hone in on skills to earlier detect and successfully address rare but life-threatening health conditions that can present during labor and delivery. The new VR technology will complement the training OB providers, including attendings, midwives, physician assistants, and residents, received from in-person training to experience simulated life-like scenarios through a VR headset, improving competencies and promoting knowledge retention at their convenience during shifts. The new VR OB training technology builds on the municipal health care system’s commitment to combatting maternal mortality disparities present among people of color, often perpetuated by implicit bias.

 

"We must do right by all expecting families and close the significant pregnancy-related health disparities that Black and Brown moms face," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "By investing in technology to train health care providers on how to safely deliver babies in life-threatening scenarios, we are ensuring that all expecting parents and babies have access to the quality care they deserve."

 

“We know that Black women are affected disproportionately related to maternal mortality and morbidity and we must utilize every opportunity to close those equity gaps,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “I am excited to see NYC Health + Hospitals leveraging technology in service and support their obstetricians and the New Yorkers they serve. These new tools are yet another part of how the city is working to provide safe, healthy births for every expectant person and family.”   

 

“I am proud to say that NYC Health + Hospitals is a leader in virtual reality simulation training,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Women’s Health Officer Wendy Wilcox, MD, MPH, MBA, FACOG. “Thankfully, serious and life-threatening conditions during childbirth, labor, and the postpartum period are uncommon. However, ensuring that our providers have the skills necessary to deal with these critical situations is paramount.”

 

“Being able to provide convenient, easily accessible, on-site, and realistic simulations is imperative when you want to both provide these important skills-building opportunities without disrupting any patient care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Director of Nursing Simulation Kimberly Campbell-Taylor, MSN-Ed, RN, CHSE. “Being able to offer a diverse suite of high-tech simulations that not only realistically portray the medical scenario, but also reflects what our workforce and patients look like is an important part of training our staff to provide the highest quality, expert care no matter the situation the arises in the delivery room.”

 

The VR technology transports providers to a labor and delivery suite where they can virtually interact with their patient and team members using voice communications and real-time interactions. They are required to direct the clinical team to perform all appropriate managements according to their hospital’s protocol, allowing them to realistically practice critical cognitive skills like communication, teamwork, critical thinking and decision-making during an emergency. The municipal health care system will acquire 22 VR headsets, two for each hospital, where OB providers will be able to check them out to complete their training when time permits during shifts. This training will be another arm added to the ongoing obstetrical simulation training and maternal home pre and post-natal care as part of a larger Maternal Mortality Reduction Program.  The new VR technology will be available to all OB providers within NYC Health + Hospitals in the near future.

 

The introduction of the new VR simulation technology allows OB providers across the health care system to more easily access skills-trainings on their time, being able to sign-out the VR headset and joysticks during downtime in their shifts. Prior to the introduction of the VR technology, whole OB teams had to schedule time to travel to simulation labs across the system to complete individual scenarios.

 

Once the VR technology is signed out, the OB provider dons a headset and completes a short orientation on how to use their voice to interact with virtual team members and manage care. The provider is also given a brief of the patient, like they’d receive in real life through a patient’s chart. Transported to a labor and delivery suite, providers can virtually interact with their patient and team members using voice communications and real-time interactions. They are required to direct the clinical team to perform all appropriate managements according to their hospital's protocol. The scenario itself takes 8 to 12 minutes to run through, which is comparable to the time allotted to safely triage the emergency during labor to avoid adverse outcomes. Once the OB provider completes the scenario, they’re immediately given a grade to summarize how they reacted to the situation. They’re provided a debrief that highlights what could have been done better.

 

Co-developers, Health Scholars, partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals due to the municipal health care system’s comprehensive and high-tech approach to OB simulation trainings. Combining Health Scholars’ expertise in VR technology and voice technology with NYC Health + Hospitals’ expertise in OB trainings, both groups developed an immersive approach to competency trainings that will facilitate clinical skills building in health systems across the country. The simulations are also configurable so healthcare organizations can teach and validate competencies against national evidence-based guidelines from American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC).

 

“Moving OB simulation into VR provides educators an affordable, efficient, and easy way to deliver students and healthcare providers the practice required to provide safe and effective care to OB patients,” says Health Scholars Medical Director Pam Martin, MD, FACS. “Our VR training enables any size organization to scale readiness and, in a time where healthcare professionals are stretched to the brink, it’s time to rethink how we prepare our providers to deliver the very best care possible.”

 

Significant racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related mortality exist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black patients have a pregnancy-related mortality ratio approximately three times as high as that of their white counterparts. The first scenario available to OB providers will simulate postpartum hemorrhage, which is the leading cause of maternal mortality. Additional scenarios, such as maternal code, shoulder dystocia, and fetal heart monitoring will be developed and added to the VR curriculum in the coming months.

 

The cast depicted in the VR scenario includes a pregnant patient of color, a partner, and a diverse care team. Previously, OB simulations carried out by NYC Health + Hospitals utilized specially-designed, high-tech, full-body mannequins-of-color.

 

In 2018, NYC Health + Hospitals maternal mortality rates were lower than New York State’s rate of 20.9/100,000 live births.

 

Learn more about Obstetric Hemorrhage VR Training and all of Health Scholars VR simulation solutions.

 

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Creating New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust

 

Legislation S.9409-A/A.7805-D Forms Public Benefit Corporation to Help Fund Much-Needed Capital Projects in NYCHA Apartment Buildings

Law Will Improve Apartments While Protecting Residents' Rights

Bill Signing Follows Governor Hochul's Announcement of Historic $25 Billion Housing Plan in FY 2023 Budget

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed new legislation S.9409-A /A.7805-D establishing the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust and paving the way for the overdue repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of 25,000 apartments under control of the New York City Housing Authority. Governor Hochul signed the bills today alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz, and Senator Julia Salazar.

"Today is a major win for all New Yorkers who call NYCHA home," Governor Hochul said. "This legislation will unlock additional federal funding and lead to billions of dollars in renovations — after decades of federal disinvestment — and provide for critical improvements for 25,000 apartments in NYCHA developments across the city. I thank Assembly Member Cymbrowitz and Senator Salazar for sponsoring this bill and commend NYCHA leaders for their advocacy. By partnering together, we have taken an important step to ensure residents have the safe, livable, and quality affordable housing they deserve."

The new law will unlock the authority's ability to invest billions of dollars in capital to stabilize its buildings by establishing the Trust as a public benefit corporation able toissue bonds and raise capital for comprehensive building renovations and improvements.

As a result, basic environmental health and safety issues, such as lead, mold, heating, elevators, pests, as well as other systems work, apartment rehabilitation, and grounds improvements, will be better funded and completed more quickly.

Under the plan, NYCHA - which oversees the nation's largest public housing system- will now draw hundreds of millions of federal dollars in new support per year by utilizing federal Tenant Protection Vouchers that receive a higher per-unit subsidy than traditional Section 9 public housing. This additional subsidy will permit NYCHA to raise debt off the increase for vital capital improvements.

Importantly, the Trust will guarantee homes are kept permanently affordable while also preserving all current rights and protections for residents, including:

• Residents will pay only 30 percent of income towards rent;
• Residents will maintain all current succession rights;
• Apartments will continue to be restricted to low-income residents; and
• Apartment vacancies will continue to be filled using NYCHA waitlists.

In addition, residents will have the right to vote and decide whether to opt-in to the Trust. Residents will also play an active role in determining which vendors are chosen to complete renovation work at their developments.

Today's bill signing is a critical part of Governor Hochul's sweeping plans to make housing more affordable, equitable, and stable. In her State of the State address, Governor Hochul announced a $25 billion, five-year Housing Plan - later passed in the FY 2023 Enacted Budget - that will create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes in urban and rural areas across New York including 10,000 homes with supportive services. The governor also recently signed into law more flexible rules for converting underutilized hotel space into permanent housing.