Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - AUGUST 1, 2022

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

26 Statewide Deaths Reported on Friday, July 29

 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.

Important Note: HERDS data collection from health care facilities is not currently required on weekends or holidays. The survey will resume today and the facility/death data will be displayed in tomorrow's report. The numbers below with an asterisk were reported on Friday, July 29.

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

"As we continue to monitor new variants and prepare for potential surges in the fall, be sure to use the tools that help protect against and treat COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "The vaccine and booster are the best tools we have to prevent serious hospitalization from COVID-19, and I encourage those who are not up to date on their vaccine and booster doses to get caught up immediately. Take a test if you feel unwell and if you do test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 20.64
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 31.53
• Test Results Reported - 41,231
• Total Positive - 4,034
• Percent Positive - 9.28%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 8.69%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,665 (-92)*
• Patients Newly Admitted - 432*
• Patients in ICU - 259 (-4)*
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 85 (-6)*
• Total Discharges - 326,108 (+459)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 26*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 57,066*

** 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 - 72,841

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.

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, July 29, 2022	Saturday, July 30, 2022	Sunday, July 31, 2022
Bronx	9.14%	9.28%	9.32%
Kings	7.46%	7.52%	7.34%
New York	7.11%	7.08%	7.07%
Queens	9.49%	9.61%	9.47%
Richmond	8.92%	8.59%	8.42%

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - FREE Movie Night! The Birds - Thursday, August 4

 

The Birds (1963) • Thursday, August 4

This iconic Hitchcock classic embodies the Nature’s Revenge theme best! Tippi Hedren is Melanie Daniels in her career-defining role. (Hollywood royalty, Tippi is also Melanie Griffith’s mom and Dakota Johnson’s grandma!).  It’s a scary one, so parents be aware that this may not be appropriate for the littlest ones.  Rated PG-13   Pack a picnic and head over to the Parade Ground (past the Nature Center). Movie starts at the last light of day – that’s ~ 8:30 PM on August 4. Arrive at 7:30 PM for movie-themed fun:  Groove to 60s tunes with DJ Neil Nice.  Make your very own FRIENDLY bird creation! See why birds are actually cool (not scary!). BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket). It’s hot out there – set up an umbrella and buy a soft drink at the VCPA merch table.  Pack some bug spray to fight off ants, mosquitoes, and other crawlies.    The best part? It’s all FREE!  Thanks to Council Member Eric Dinowitz, NYC Parks, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, and optimum.    Our friends at Lloyd’s Carrot Cake will be open late. Grab a slice for dessert on your way over.    Join us for the whole series!    Aug 4      The Birds (1963) Aug 11    MOVIE TBD* We were all set to show Jurassic Park, but due to license issues, it is not available.  Rest assured that we are working on bringing you the PERFECT movie!    Arrive early! Make a movie-themed craft. Meet VCPA’s Nature Nerds.   RSVP Encouraged.   Our Contact Information Van Cortlandt Park Alliance 80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1 Bronx, NY 10463 718-601-1460 http://vancortlandt.org

The Hypocrisy of the Democratic Leadership With Undocumented Migrants

 By Former NYC Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz

You Should Know that when Republican President Donald J. Trump took action to protect America’s Southern Borders and began building the Border wall to prevent illegal entry into the United States, the Democrats denounced him. They labeled him a “Racist”, a “Xenophobe” and they launched at him many other derogatory terms.

 

When President Trump was replaced by President Joe Biden, our nation’s Borders immediately were wide open. The construction of the Border wall was terminated and now we can safely say that America’s Borders are practically non-existent.  This has resulted in the illegal entry of approximately two million people, under The Biden Administration, coming from more than 106 different countries from all over the world. The Democrat Governors and Mayors from “Blue” States and cities have designated their cities "Sanctuary Cities” for all undocumented immigrants.

 

The Democrats established “Sanctuary Cities” even though it violates America’s Immigration laws and ignores The United States Constitution. Democrats declared that their cities would provide safe refuge for all those coming across our Borders illegally.    With “Sanctuary Cities” the Democrats promised the undocumented, all sorts of social benefits providing them with health care, education, housing, and other social services free of charge, among them free Health Insurance, welfare funds, food stamps, etc., and all paid for by the American taxpayers.

 

Democrats with the promises of a “Sanctuary City” imply that they are the saviors of the undocumented immigrants, and that the Republicans are the Xenophobes, and racist enemies of the undocumented.

 

It is important for you to know that due to President Biden and the Democrats, Open Border policies, thousands upon thousands of people have been enabled to enter the interior of the United States illegally every day.   Unfortunately, these people risk, and sadly many have lost their lives, while enriching the cayotes, human, drug, and sex trafficking cartels.  All motivated by the Democrats promise that once they cross the Border, their needs will be met when they get to “Sanctuary Cities” controlled by the Democrats.  

 

My dear reader, you should know that due to the immense frustration and lack of resources to deal with the massive influx of illegal migration, the Republican Governors in Border states have had enough. They have decided to transport the massive number of illegals entering our borders, to “Sanctuary Cities” such as New York, Washington D.C. and others.   To coin the Spanish cliche that says “Sorpresas De Da La Vida!, ¡La Vida De Da Sorpresas! Which simply means “Life hands you unexpected surprises”

 

Now that the problem of the massive number of undocumented migrants has come to the doors of the "Sanctuary Cities" the Democrat leaders and the “so-called” saviors of the undocumented have expressed their displeasure with a “Oh! Hell No!” attitude.  Democrats are calling out Republican Governors for transporting the undocumented migrants to their cities.

 

The Democrat Mayors of New York City Erick Adams and the Mayor of Washington D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser are not having it. Governor Kathy Hochul and the Democrats continuously extend invitations without thinking of the cost. Recently Gov. Hochul announced that all women wanting an abortion are welcomed to come to New York with all expenses paid, on the taxpayer’s dime.  Erick Adams invited all Gay Floridians to come to New York because here they are welcomed. They continue with their invitations when they implemented “Sanctuary Cities” for all the undocumented.  Until now.

 

Obviously, Democrat leaders speak from both sides of their faces. On the one side, they invite illegal migrants to come with the promise of safe refuge and benefits. On the other side of their faces, they complain that the Republican Governors are “cowards” because they won’t behave as a “Sanctuary City” and take in all the illegals. So now according to Mayor Adams, Republican Governors are “Cowards”. 

 

Now that the Democrats in Sanctuary Cities are forced to face the same plight that Border Cities have had to deal with, when it comes to the massive influx of undocumented immigrants, the Dems., are singing a different tune.  It appears that they have finally recognized that illegal migration is unsafe, and unsustainable due to the lack of resources, and the strain it places on the city’s economy, social programs, and public services.  As a result, “Sanctuary Cities” now must deal with the thousands of people coming in daily.  But instead of doing something constructive to help remedy this dilemma, Mayor Adams and others resort to name calling.  They whine, complain, and blame the Republicans for the chaos caused by Democrats and their “open Borders” “Sanctuary City Policies.”

 

I can’t help but remind the Democrats that it was not the Republican Governors, nor was it President Trump that opened our nation's borders to the world. It was not the Republicans that extended open invitations to the undocumented. It was not Republicans that promised free services, and benefits for all undocumented migrants. It was not Republicans that set up “Sanctuary Cities” to accommodate those entering illegally. There’s no denying that it was the Democrats and President Joe Biden that created the chaos at the border. They invited, instigated, motivated, and created the magnet that enticed people from all over the world to come to America with the promise of being welcomed into the open arms of Democrats.

 

So why the complaints? Why so much griping? Why try to dodge the commitments they made? Why hold others accountable for what they themselves promised?   There is an old cliché that says, "Be very careful what you wish for, because you might just get it."  So here you have it, my fellow Dems., you made your bed, now lie in it.  

 

I am The Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is What You Should Know.

MAYOR ADAMS “FLIPS THE SWITCH,” TURNS ON SPEED CAMERAS 24/7

 

Beginning Tonight at 10:00 PM, NYC’s 2,000 Speed Cameras Will Help Keep New Yorkers Safe Around the Clock

 

Program’s Expansion Follows Monthlong, Multilingual, Multimedia Public Education Campaign Reminding New Yorkers of Expansion and Importance of Safe Driving

 

Speed Cameras and Automated Traffic Enforcement Are Proven, Effective Safety Tools

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today flipped a ceremonial switch to mark the expansion of the city’s speed camera program that will help keep New Yorkers safe around the clock. Beginning tonight, the city’s 2,000 speed cameras in 750 school zones citywide will operate 24/7 for the first time. Throughout July, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), and other agencies and offices in the city’s Vision Zero Task Force led a multimedia, multilingual public awareness campaign to inform drivers of the coming change and remind them to drive safely and responsibly. Speed cameras and automated traffic enforcement are proven tools that prevent dangerous behavior and crashes, reducing speeding by 72 percent on average.

 

“Traffic safety is public safety, and today marks the start of a new chapter for traffic safety in our city,” said Mayor Adams. “This is a promise made and promise kept: Together with Deputy Mayor Joshi, Commissioner Rodriguez, and advocates, we fought to get this done in Albany. We must ensure that everyone can share the street space safely, and 24/7 speed cameras will protect our city and save lives.”

 

“Speeding kills. With cameras on 24/7, New York City gains an important lifesaving tool against this reality,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “On behalf of all road users, I want to extend deep gratitude for all those who fought tirelessly for this important advancement in roadway safety.”

 

“We know speed cameras save lives, and, starting tonight, we expect to save even more of them,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We offer special thanks to the advocates who made today happen, especially Families for Safe Streets, who have turned their pain into purpose.”

 

The city’s 2,000 automated speed cameras were previously authorized by the state to operate only on weekdays, between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM — missing the 59 percent of traffic fatalities that occurred when the cameras were previously required to be turned off. A state law supported by the Adams administration and signed in June by New York Governor Kathy Hochul now allows the cameras to operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Nearly one-third of on-street traffic fatalities occur in camera zones at times when cameras were previously not permitted to operate.

 

The expansion of the speed camera program marks another major action of the Adams administration to keep New York City’s streets safe. Already this year, Mayor Adams has made a historic commitment to invest more than $900 million in critical street safety initiatives; laid out a plan to redesign 1,000 intersections across the city to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers; and launched a $4 million campaign targeting speeding and reckless driving.

 

“The NYPD is committed to driving down fatalities,” said NYPD Chief of Transportation Kim Royster. “Extending the hours of speed cameras in our communities is another layer of enforcement that will hold reckless drivers accountable and protect our most vulnerable road users. We support this technology and will work with our Vision Zero partners to educate the public. The message is clear: Slow down. Everyone should drive safely because traffic safety is public safety.”

 

“The Sheriff’s Department understands the urgency to take corrective action,” said New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda. “We will continue to identify these violators and hold them accountable for endangering our community.”

 

“Speed cameras are a critical component for reducing traffic-related injury and death,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “This expansion will have profound benefits for the health and safety of New Yorkers. Reducing speeds on our roads will not only save lives, but it will also spare us from preventable loss and trauma that results from traffic crashes. Thank you to the mayor and DOT for this pivotal contribution to public safety and public health.”

 

“Speed cameras are an essential tool to keep all New Yorkers, from pedestrians and cyclists to TLC-licensed drivers and passengers, safe from traffic violence — but they can’t be effective when they’re turned off,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair David Do. “We are grateful to our government and advocate partners for helping to expand the city’s speed camera program and ensuring that road users are protected from reckless drivers regardless of the time of day.”

 

“Today marks a huge victory for Vision Zero and promotes safe driving, increased accountability, and heightened focus,” said DCAS Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “With the activation of speed cameras 24/7, 365 days a year, our streets will be safer, we’ll reduce traffic incidents, and we’ll save lives. As a Vision Zero Task Force member, we believe in setting safety standards that improve quality of life and protect all New Yorkers.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

If speed cameras worked people would not be getting two, three, four, five, ten, or more speed camera tickets. Mayor Bloomberg in order to keep more police officers on patrol and out of traffic court got the speed camera program passed in Albany. There is no more a deterrent to speeding than paying a fine three times that of a speed camera, points on your drivers license, a possible suspension of one's drivers license, and increased insurance rates due to the police issued speeding ticket.

It was a street not in front of a school that was surveyed by the DOT, but a street many blocks from a school that was behind the Russian Embassy in Riverdale on a downward slope leading to the Henry Hudson Parkway South to Manhattan (and the U.N.) that was surveyed. DOT said that over ninety percent of the drivers were speeding by at least one mile over the then 30 M.P.H. speed limit. There was no breakdown of the different speeds cars were going, just at least one mile over the speed limit. 

Newly scheduled August CB11 events

 

A couple of events have been scheduled for August regarding the Just Home initiative at Jacobi Medical Center:

 

1. A joint meeting of the Health and Housing Committees for Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. via Webex.

Agenda: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/bronxcb11/downloads/pdf/meetings/agendas/2022/08/health-housing.pdf.

 

2. A public hearing called forth by the CB11 Chairman for Tuesday, August 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Maestro’s Caterers, 1703 Bronxdale Avenue.

Board members are not required to attend the hearing, which is an in-person-only event.

Agenda: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/bronxcb11/downloads/pdf/meetings/agendas/2022/08/public_hearing.pdf.

 

Please be advised that the Fortune Society has agreed to attend both events below. The board is waiting on Jacobi Medical Center or someone from a City agency other than the Community Board to confirm attendance. This email you are receiving is the first formal notice to go out to the public, CB11’s elected officials and/or others regarding these events. We expect RSVPs from some of our elected officials/their offices and others to be forthcoming as a result. 

Reminder on how CB11 conducts meetings:

1. We have our conduct statement attached to the hyperlinked agendas below. Please read the statement, if you plan on attending either event.
2. For the meeting, the chat and certain emoticons will be disabled. (Both tools have been abused and/or have proven to be disruptive in the past.)
3. The Fortune Society will be given the opportunity to present for at least five minutes before they are asked questions by committee members on the 9th.
4. The gallery session and public hearing are where members of the public are allowed to speak. (Register to guarantee your place in the queue.)
5. The public hearing is not the place for dialogue. It’s simply a space for the community board and/or others to hear from the public regarding the particular topic of Just Home.

 

Rep. Jamaal Bowman Votes Yes on and House Passes Ban on Assault Weapons Ban

 

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 will: 

• Prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines and, 
• Require that semiautomatic assault weapons be securely stored so that they are not accessible to those who are prohibited from possessing them.

 

However, this ban does not apply to the possession, sale or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon lawfully possessed on the date of enactment, and allows for the transfer of grandfathered semiautomatic assault weapons through a federal firearms licensee following a background check using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). 

 

“We’ve had 373 mass shootings this year resulting in the loss of 383 loved ones,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman. “Studies have also shown that since the Assault Weapons Ban that was enacted from 1994-2004 ended, mass shooting deaths rose by 483%. We passed the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 out of the House to save lives. We live in a society where purchasing a weapon of mass destruction is easier than receiving a driver’s license. We also live in a society where people are able to purchase assault weapons to wreak havoc which in far too many cases results in mass shootings and the senseless killings of friends and loved ones. People deserve to feel safe going to school, the grocery store, getting on a train, watching a movie, enjoying a concert and living their lives. At no point - should anyone in our society feel as if they are at risk of losing their life to gun violence. I’m proud to support this assault weapon ban and will continue working with my colleagues to continue and pass common sense gun law reform such as HR 8 and HR 1446 - two bills that would make firearms harder to get by instituting new background check requirements to address the dangers and prevalence of ghost guns and gun trafficking.” 

To read the full bill text, please click here. 

STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF NYC ENDORSES SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA FOR RE-ELECTION

 

This week, the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, the oldest LGBT organization in NYC, announced their support for Senator Gustavo Rivera’s re-election campaign. 

This endorsement is the latest in a growing list of progressive organizations supporting Senator Rivera for re-election in the final weeks of the primary. These organizations include the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Make the Road Action, New York Immigration Coalition Action, and the Working Family Party.

NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DECLARES MONKEYPOX A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today declared a public health emergency due to the monkeypox outbreak and released the following statement: 

 

“Today, we are declaring monkeypox a public health emergency in New York City. Over the past few weeks, we have moved as quickly as possible to expand outreach and access to vaccines and treatment to keep people safe. This declaration, which is effective immediately, will allow DOHMH to issue emergency commissioner’s orders under the New York City Health Code and amend provisions of the Health Code to provide for measures to help slow the spread. We are also working with partners at every level of government, to obtain as many additional doses as possible, as quickly as possible, so that we can protect New Yorkers during this growing outbreak.  

 

“New York City is currently the epicenter of the outbreak, and we estimate that approximately 150,000 New Yorkers may currently be at risk for monkeypox exposure. We will continue to work with our federal partners to secure more doses as soon as they become available. This outbreak must be met with urgency, action, and resources, both nationally and globally, and this declaration of a public health emergency reflects the seriousness of the moment.”