Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JULY 8, 2022

 

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

11 Statewide Deaths Reported

 NOTE: Beginning June 24, 2022, the Vaccine data will be updated weekly on Fridays to align with CDC's updated data refresh schedule. For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccination Data provided by CDC, see https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total.

NOTE: Updates to the CDC's cumulative death data files are being delayed, as the CDC upgrades its system. Any questions about this should be directed to the CDC. During this time, total deaths and new daily deaths reported through HERDS will continue as normal.

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

"As we continue to monitor the numbers, I encourage all New Yorkers to keep using the tools we know that work to protect against and treat COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on your vaccine and booster doses. If you're a parent or guardian, talk to your pediatrician about getting your children vaccinated. Stay home if you feel sick and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 39.35
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 28.99
• Test Results Reported - 78,726
• Total Positive - 7,689
• Percent Positive - 9.20%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 8.89%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,253 (-2)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 411
• Patients in ICU - 222 (+13)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 79 (-1)
• Total Discharges - 318,054 (+393)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 11
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 56,664

** 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 - 72,218

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.

NOTE: Vaccine data is now updated weekly on Fridays to align with CDC's updated data refresh schedule. For additional information on COVID-19 Vaccination Data provided by CDC, see https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total.

• Total vaccine doses administered - 39,440,532
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 14,447
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 80,247
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 84.3%
• 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) - 87.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 84.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 74.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 82.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 91.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 77.9%

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

Borough	Tuesday, July 5, 2022	Wednesday, July 6, 2022	Thursday, July 7, 2022
Bronx	9.27%	9.53%	9.43%
Kings	8.31%	8.54%	8.81%
New York	8.61%	8.81%	9.08%
Queens	10.44%	10.60%	10.55%
Richmond	9.42%	9.79%	9.92%

Two Bloods Gang Members Sentenced To 30 And 35 Years In Prison For 2010 Strangling Murder And Dismemberment In The Bronx

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DENFIELD JOSEPH and KEVIN DELVALLE were sentenced to 30 years in prison and 35 years in prison, respectively, for their 2010 murder of Donnell Harris in the Bronx.  JOSEPH and DELVALLE previously pled guilty.  U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero imposed the sentences. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Almost twelve years ago, Denfield Joseph and Kevin Delvalle stabbed and strangled Donnell Harris to death in an act of senseless brutality.  Investigators and career prosecutors in my Office worked tirelessly to find and hold accountable the perpetrators of this chilling crime.  This prosecution and today’s sentences show our commitment to pursuing justice for all victims of gang and drug-related violence.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:

Harris’s murder arose out of JOSEPH and DELVALLE’s involvement in gang-related narcotics trafficking in 2009 and 2010.  JOSEPH and DELVALLE were Bloods gang members based in the Bronx.  In the months leading up to Harris’s murder, JOSEPH, DELVALLE and others committed armed robberies and sold crack, ecstasy, and marijuana near East 173rd Street and Monroe Avenue.

In about March 2010, JOSEPH, DELVALLE, and other members of their crew began spending time with Harris.  At the time, Harris was homeless and living on the roof of JOSEPH’s building.  Harris repeatedly asked to be included in the robberies that JOSEPH and DELVALLE were committing, but they declined his requests.  In late August 2010, Harris learned that JOSEPH and DELVALLE had cheated a drug customer, and that the customer had supposedly returned to the neighborhood with a gun, looking to retaliate.  Harris told JOSEPH and DELVALLE that Harris would give the drug customer their location unless JOSEPH and DELVALLE provided Harris a share of their drug proceeds. 

On or about August 31, 2010, JOSEPH, DELVALLE, and a co-conspirator decided to kill Harris.  After an aborted plan to shoot Harris at Crotona Park, the men brought Harris back to an apartment on LaFontaine Avenue in the Bronx, where they spent the evening with Harris drinking and smoking PCP.  As the night wore on, the men decided to kill Harris using knives they obtained from the kitchen of the apartment.  As Harris was walking toward the door of the apartment, JOSEPH, DELVALLE, and a coconspirator attacked him, repeatedly stabbing Harris in the head, neck, and torso with knives, and beating him with cooking pots as Harris tried to escape.  When they realized that Harris was not dead, the men moved him to the bathtub of the apartment, where they tried unsuccessfully to drown him.  Harris begged for his life.  JOSEPH and a coconspirator tried to strangle Harris with an extension cord around his neck.  Harris broke free and ran for the door, but they pulled him back.  DELVALLE then took the extension cord and strangled Harris to death with it.

After murdering Harris, the men left his body in the bedroom of the apartment.  The next day, they bought cleaning supplies and returned to the apartment with JOSEPH’s girlfriend and DELVALLE’S girlfriend.  While DELVALLE waited outside the apartment building as a lookout, the women dismembered Harris.  JOSEPH, DELVALLE, and the coconspirator cleaned the apartment with bleach, wrapped Harris’s dismembered body in garbage bags, and removed it from the apartment in a shopping cart.

Early in the morning hours of September 1, 2010, the women wheeled the shopping cart containing Harris’s body west on 180th Street to Webster Avenue, while the three men followed them in DELVALLE’s car. After briefly stopping into a gas station convenience store with the shopping cart, the women left the shopping cart containing Harris’s chopped up body on the sidewalk at 4109 Park Avenue.  DELVALLE directed JOSEPH and a coconspirator to get rid of the evidence and gave them a red container with lighter fluid.  The men walked to where the shopping cart was left, poured the lighter fluid on the body, and lit the body on fire.

Surveillance video from that night shows JOSEPH’s and DELVALLE’s girlfriends pushing the shopping cart, and two hooded male figures walking back from the location where Harris’s body was found.  On September 1, 2010, at 3:52 a.m., firefighters called to the scene discovered Harris’s body in the shopping cart.

In addition to their prison terms, JOSEPH, 31, and DELVALLE, 35, of New York, New York, and Rochester, New York, respectively, were sentenced to four years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams thanked the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their outstanding work in the investigation and the New York City Police Department for its assistance.

Dinowitz Digest: Monkeypox, Lifeguards Shortage, August 23 Primary, & More

 

What's Happening in the 81st Assembly District?

Weekend of Violence Should Not Be The Norm August 23 Primary to Select State Senate and Congressional Nominees Monkeypox Outbreak Continues in NYC Lifeguard Shortage Impacting Pool Access Citywide Local Update: Rats Proliferate All Over Community Albany Update: Governor Signs Mayoral Control Bill, Class Size Reduction Bill Still Waiting Around the Community: Visiting the Methodist Home

Weekend of Violence Should Not Be The Norm

Over the Fourth of July weekend, our beloved city and our nation were wracked by heartless acts of gun violence. In New York City, more than 50 people were shot during this period - including at least seven reported fatalities. I am aware of at least one shooting shooting in our own community this past weekend, where an off-duty NYPD auxiliary officer was shot and robbed of his motorcycle early Sunday morning (late Saturday night). Nationally, headlines were dominated by a devastating mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. There, a young man fired dozens of rounds into a crowd attending a Fourth of July parade — killing at least seven people and wounding at least two dozen more. This was the 313th mass shooting event in the United States this year (defined as an incident where at least four people are shot). According to the Gun Violence Archive, the seven fatalities are the third most in a mass shooting event this year, trailing only the tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde. There have been nine additional mass shootings in our country since the Highland Park massacre, resulting in six fatalities and forty-one injuries (excluding shooters). I am proud of the legislation that we passed in New York to try and defend ourselves against pro-death extremists on the Supreme Court who overturned our 110-year-old law regarding concealed carry permits. I am proud that Congress finally took some action on gun legislation, including expanded background checks for young people (such as the suspect who was arrested for and apparently confessed to the Highland Park shooting) as well as funding to implement red flag laws (such as should have been able to prevent many mass shooters from acquiring legal firearms in the first place. However, we continue to need federal action to limit the types of deadly weapons that are available for people to buy. There is simply no reason for any civilian to purchase a semiautomatic weapon unless their goal is to commit an act of mass harm. I know some of the more ardent gun advocates may disagree with me on this point, but we are fooling ourselves if we think that allowing civilians to access high-powered weapons of war will somehow prevent our country from being taken over by tyrants. Frankly, I think we are more likely to succumb to tyranny by having gangs of heavily-armed political extremists storm the US Capitol than by limiting the types of firearms we are allowed to purchase. The Second Amendment to our US Constitution reads as follows: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." In my opinion, this amendment is intended to defend each individual state's right to organize their own independent militia that could conceptually defend against a tyrannical federal government. It seems obvious that an individual citizen owning a stockpile of weapons does not meet the definition of a "well-regulated militia". We have organizations in New York that would seem to meet this standard, such as the National Guard and the New York Guard. We have police who are supposed to keep us safe, and we have courts which are supposed to dole out justice when wrong has been done. We do not need vigilantes carrying machine guns through our neighborhoods to keep us safe, and it is ludicrous to suggest that such a societal change would do anything except turn our community into the Wild West. August 23 Primary to Select State Senate and Congressional Candidates There will be another primary election for our community on August 23, 2022. This primary is to select party nominees for State Senate and the US House of Representatives, and was separated from the standard June primary because of a court decision made by a judge in Steuben County which overturned district maps that had been approved by the Legislature. Here are the positions which may appear on your primary ballot in August: STATE SENATE • District 31 (covering Northern Manhattan, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, Part Of Riverdale, and Van Cortlandt Village) » The incumbent in this race is State Senator Robert Jackson.   » State Senator Jackson is being challenged by Ruben Dario Vargas, Francesca M. Castellanos, and Angel I. Vasquez. • District 33 (covering Bedford Park, Belmont, Part of Fordham, Little Yemen, Morris Park, Norwood, Pelham Parkway, Riverdale, Part of Tremont, and Van Nest) » State Senator Gustavo Rivera is the current five time State Senator from the 33rd State Senate District. He is therefore the incumbent in this race. » State Senator Gustavo Rivera is being challenged by Miguelina Camilo. District 34 (Covering Parkchester, Castle Hill, Parts of The East Bronx, Pelham, and Parts of New Rochelle) » There is no incumbent since State Senator Biaggi is not running. » The Three candidates are. Christian Amato, Nathalia Fernandez, and John Perez. US HOUSE • District 13 (covering Northern Manhattan, Bedford Park, Part of Fordham, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Marble Hill, University Heights, and Van Cortlandt Village) » The incumbent in this race is Congressman Adriano Espaillat. » Congressman Espaillat is being challenged by Francisco A. Spies and Michael Hano. • District 16 (covering Part of Wakefield in the Bronx, and Lower Westchester County) » The incumbent in this race is Congressman Jamaal Bowman. » Congressman Bowman is being challenged by Vedat Gashi, Catherine F. Parker, and Mark Jaffe. Please note that State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey in Senatorial District 36 (covering part of Wakefield and Woodlawn, among other parts of the Bronx and Westchester County), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Congressional District 14 (covering Parts of the Bronx, and Parts of Queens), and Congressman Ritchie Torres in Congressional District 15 (covering Norwood, Riverdale, and Woodlawn among other parts of the Bronx) are not contested and will not appear on a primary ballot. Additionally, please note that the only contested Republican primary in the Bronx is for House District 14, which is not in the 81st Assembly District. As such, the only people in the 81st Assembly District who will be eligible to vote on August 23 are registered Democrats. Early voting will begin on Saturday, August 13 and will continue through Sunday, August 21. Early voting sites have not been finalized yet, however you will be able to find your assigned early voting poll site here: findmypollsite.vote.nyc. To request an absentee ballot for this primary election, you can do so online here: nycabsentee.com. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for this primary is August 8. Monkeypox Outbreak Continues in NYC You may have heard about a recent uptick in monkeypox (orthopoxvirus) cases in New York City. I wanted to share some relevant information from the NYC Department of Health that may be of interest to you. According to the NYC Department of Health (DOH), there were 141 people who tested positive for orthopoxvirus as of July 7. NYC DOH has said that most of these cases resulted in mild illness and did not require hospitalization. Although anyone can get and spread monkeypox, DOH has said that current cases appear to be primarily spreading among social networks of men who have sex with men. The monkeypox virus is most often spread through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has the virus, and can also spread through contact with clothing, bedding, and other items used by a person with monkeypox. Additionally, it can be transmitted through prolonged face-to-face contact (such as would occur while kissing or cuddling). The DOH does not know at this time whether monkeypox can spread through semen or vaginal fluids. Symptoms of monkeypox usually start seven to fourteen days after exposure, and may take up to twenty-one days to appear. The most common symptom is a rash or sores that can look like pimples or blisters, which can appear all over the body or just in certain parts (including face, hands or feet, as well as on or inside the mouth, genitals, or anus). These sores can last for two to four weeks. Additionally, people may have flu-like symptoms (fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, and tiredness). New York City has access to an FDA-approved vaccine against monkeypox. This vaccine is available to eligible New Yorkers, as defined by the following conditions: gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men, and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary; age 18 or older; and have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days. Vaccination is free and available regardless of immigration status. If you are eligible to be vaccinated, the DOH suggests that you especially consider getting vaccinated if your partners are showing symptoms of monkeypox, if you met recent partners through online platforms or at large gatherings, or if you have a condition that may increase your risk for severe disease (such as HIV). Vaccine supply is currently low, but appointments will be made by DOH on a rolling basis. For more information about monkeypox, please visit the Department of Health's webside here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/monkeypox.page Lifeguard Shortage Impacting Pool Access Citywide Public pools are an important lifeline for many Bronxites, including children seeking a recreational outlet and adults looking for a way to get exercise. Unfortunately, the City of New York has struggled to find enough lifeguards to staff every public pool and beach we have. This has resulted in the shortening of available hours at outdoor pools as well as the cancellation of all swim programs for the summer, including lap swim, senior swim, and Learn to Swim. I am deeply concerned with the cancellation of this vital programming, especially as we continue to work hard to ensure that the Bronx is able to stop being the least healthy county in New York State. It is also very important that all young people have access to swimming lessons, not least of which so that we can prepare the next generation of lifeguards. This week, Mayor Adams did announce that the City would be increasing wages by 22% (up to $19.46 per hour) for this summer only. The City is also offering a $1,000 retention bonus to lifeguards who work every week of the summer season. In addition, the City is developing a less intensive training program to help staff so-called mini pools, which require less lifeguard experience and skill to monitor as compared to olympic-sized pools and beaches. I think this is a good start, but I would like to see additional efforts to ensure that all Bronxites (and New Yorkers) have easy and convenient access to swimming pools as well as swim programs this summer. There are nine outdoor pools in the Bronx, including one in our community and several that are nearby. The main pool which serves our community is at Van Cortlandt Park, which offers an olympic-sized pool as well as a wading pool. Nearby, the Edenwald Houses Pool offers a mini pool, and Haffen Pool and Mapes Pool both offer an intermediate pool and a wading pool. For a list of all outdoor pools offered by NYC Parks, please see their website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/outdoor-pools Local Update: Rats Reported All Over Community As you may have noticed, there appears to be a surge in the number of rat infestation reports throughout our community. My office has received these reports from every people in neighborhood, and although New York City has always had its share of rat problems — it seems clear that we have more rats than we used to. If you are concerned about rats in your neighborhood, please report them to 311. We need our City agencies to step up their efforts to combat the spread of rats, and we need all of your help to document the scope of the problem. To report rats to 311, you can do so online here: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01107 Albany Update: Governor Signs Mayoral Control Bill, Class Size Reduction Bill Still Waiting Last week, Governor Hochul signed into law the bill which extends mayoral control for two more years. As part of an agreement to sign this legislation, she added something called a chapter amendment which will delay the expansion of the Panel for Education Policy (PEP) by five months to allow NYC Department of Education more time to prepare for it. A chapter amendment is essentially an agreement between the Executive and Legislative Branches to make minor changes to bills which are already passed, and they are formalized in the subsequent legislative session by passing a second bill which contains the revised language. I am somewhat disappointed that our legislation to reduce class sizes did not also get signed, but I am still optimistic that it will receive approval from the Governor before the year ends. In my opinion, the class size reduction legislation is one of the most impactful policy changes we can make to improve academic outcomes. Will it cost more money? Yes. Is investing in our children's education worthwhile? Yes. I was pleased to tour the Methodist Home in our district, as they showed off the new Rogosin Institute Hemodialysis Center at Methodist Home, which is a non-profit organization that operates in the tri-state area. We met with Maria Perez, CEO of Methodist Home, as well as board members. Our community is home to many nursing homes and adult care facilities, and it is vital that each and every one of them is able to provide the high level of care that Bronxites need and deserve.

NY State Senator Gustavo Rivera - Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union Stands With New York State Senator Rivera For Re-election

 

Earlier today, the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, a progressive union that for 80 years has been protecting and advocating for the rights of retail workers, released their support of New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera on his path to re-election as District 33’s state Senator:

“The RWDSU is proud to endorse Gustavo Rivera for re-election to the State Senate. As an advocate and legislator, Gustavo Rivera has been a leading voice for labor in the community and in Albany. From championing laws to set safe staffing rates in nursing homes to standing up for workers organizing at Housing Works, Gustavo Rivera is a staunch ally of the RWDSU and our members are ready to work towards his re-election to the State Senate,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).”

In response to receiving their endorsement, New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera shared the following statement: 

 

“I’m humbled to receive the endorsement of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union as I continue building momentum on my campaign for re-election. Workers from these industries were among some of the hardest hit with reduced hours and resource shortages during the pandemic, and their workers handled everything with resilience. I am immensely humbled in receiving their support. New York City wouldn’t run like we’re used to without them–and I’m honored that they trust me to continue uplifting their voices as I serve the district.”