Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

 

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

37 Statewide Deaths Reported from September 24 to September 26

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

"As we welcome the fall, I urge New Yorkers to remain vigilant, be sure to use the tools that are available to keep themselves, their loved ones, and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Take advantage of the vaccine by staying up to date on doses. Test before gatherings or travel and if you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for anyone age 12 or older and from Moderna for those 18 or older. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations. 

In addition, Governor Hochul is encouraging New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season approaches. The flu vaccine is recommended for almost everyone 6 months and older. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 may simultaneously spread this fall and winter, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.  

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Cases Per 100k - 17.07
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 23.35
• Test Results Reported - 46,679
• Total Positive - 3,335
• Percent Positive - 6.46 %**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.52%**   
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,274 (+88)*
• Patients Newly Admitted - 897*
• Patients in ICU - 236 (+18)*
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 88 (+13)*
• Total Discharges - 344,807 (+710)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 37*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,061*

** 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 - 74,227

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	Saturday,   September   24, 2022	Sunday,   September   25, 2022	Monday,   September   26, 2022
Bronx	6.19%	6.14%	5.84%
Kings	3.76%	3.78%	3.49%
New York	5.29%	5.42%	5.42%
Queens	6.13%	6.12%	6.12%
Richmond	5.71%	5.65%	5.92%

MAYOR ADAMS AND CHANCELLOR BANKS ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF INAUGURAL CHEFS COUNCIL

 

Chefs Council Will Develop Scratch-Cooked, Plant-Based, and Culturally Relevant Recipes for the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks today announced the launch of New York City’s first-ever Chefs Council in partnership with Wellness in the Schools (WITS). The Council is chaired by Rachael Ray and includes celebrated chefs, culinary industry professionals, and food activists.

“Teaching students at a young age to eat healthy, nutritious meals is critical to setting up them up for success,” said Mayor Adams. “The new Chefs Council will develop delicious, nutritious, culturally relevant meals for schools with direct input from students and parents. Through this partnership with WITS and our tremendous staff of school food workers, we will take school meals to the next level.” 

“Healthy and nourishing meals are essential in ensuring our students can succeed both inside and outside the classroom. This initiative will help to expand our menus while making sure they follow our strict health standards and are reflective of the cultures and communities we serve,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “I’m grateful to the Chefs Council for the work they will do as part of this initiative and to our food service workers, who work day in and day out to ensure our students are well fed and cared for.”

“As the parent of two elementary school children, I know firsthand that providing healthier food choices is only half the battle,” said Kate MacKenzie, executive director, Mayor's Office of Food Policy. “Convincing them to try something new is the real challenge, and I look forward to student feedback on the new recipes this incredible group of chefs will be cooking up! Thank you to Mayor Adams for leading by example, to Chancellor Banks and all of the dedicated school food service workers who are doing the hard work to make sure our students are nourished for success.”

 

“Wellness in the Schools is grateful to Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks for prioritizing school meals,” said Nancy Easton, co-founder and executive director, Wellness in the Schools. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Office of Food and Nutrition Services’ Cook Ambassadors and local chefs to bring scratched-cooked, plant-based, and culturally relevant food to nearly one million New York City school children. Expanding our model in the largest school district in the country is a significant step forward in advancing our mission to eliminate obesity related illnesses that begin in childhood.”

The Chefs Council will develop scratch-cooked, plant-based, and culturally relevant recipes and provide hands-on training for the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) chefs. They will create over 100 recipes that will be tested in schools across all five boroughs during the 2022-2023 school year in partnership with the new OFNS Cook Ambassadors. After feedback from students and parents, the recipes will be introduced as a monthly seasonal menu and the chefs will then train school cooks on implementing the new recipes onsite in all public school locations.

In partnership with local education departments, WITS programs have served more than 86,000 children in nearly 200 schools nationwide during the 2021-2022 school year. In New York City, programs are currently implemented in 38 schools across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens. The launch of the Chefs Council will expand the programming presence to all DOE schools for the 2023-2024 school year. 

The full list of Chefs Council members is below:

• Rachael Ray, Chefs Council chair, television personality, author, and philanthropist
• Zoe Adjonyoh, chef, author, and media personality
• Kenneth Collins, chef, Kemited Kitchen
• Ricardo Diaz, chef and registered dietitian nutritionist, Wellness in the Schools
• Tyler Harvey, senior director of research and development, Sakara
• JJ Johnson, chef and television host
• Anup Joshi, chief culinary officer, Green Top Farms
• Anita Lo, chef and restaurateur
• Grace Ramirez, chef, activist, author, and television personality
• Chef Anthony T. Solano, founder and owner, ZoJu, Afro-Latino Vegan Restaurant
• Bill Telepan, executive chef and board, Ember, Wellness in the Schools/Bon Appetit Culinary Director for the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Marion Williams, national program director, Wellness in the Schools

About Wellness in the Schools

Founded in 2005, Wellness in the Schools is a national nonprofit that teaches kids healthy habits to learn and live better through partnerships with school districts to provide nutrition and fitness education, healthy scratch-cooked meals and active recess periods. WITS chefs reimagine menus and educate students and families through hands-on culinary and nutrition education to improve student outcomes, drive systemic, long-term change, and shift school cultures to turn the tide on the childhood obesity epidemic.

 

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE SIXTEENTH DEATH RELATED TO CITY JAILS IN 2022

 

"In a reported effort to circumvent scrutiny for the number of deaths in its custody, the city appears to be more interested in limiting a number than limiting loss. If this was an attempt at a coverup, as reported, it failed – as badly as the department has failed to meet its mandate to ensure basic safety. In this instance, it seems they were more concerned with protecting themselves than the people in their custody. 

"My office has been in contact with the family of Mr. Pondexter, working to retrieve the belongings of their loved one, and offering them condolences.

"Sixteen people have died after being held in city custody, already as many as died in all of 2021 amid what we all knew were crisis conditions. The department’s reported actions in this case do not change that, and they will only lead more to question both the ability and the priorities of the city to improve the state and conditions of city jails."

NYS OASAS ANNOUNCES NEXT MEETING OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY BOARD

 

The New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board will have a meeting on September 30, 2022 in Albany. The Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board was established to provide recommendations on how funding received by the Opioid Settlement Fund could be allocated.

WHEN: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday September 30, 2022

WHERE: The State University of New York, Zimpher Board Room, 353 Broadway, Albany, NY 12246

For more information and the link to watch online visit: https://oasas.ny.gov/opioid-settlement-fund-advisory-board

City Agency Approves Five Mixed-Use Residential Developments In Yonkers, New York

 

Rendering of Whitney Young Manor at 354 and 358 Nepperhan Avenue

The Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has approved five new residential and commercial developments across the waterfront city. The developments are projected to create more than 600 construction jobs and over 300 apartments, including affordable housing for low-income seniors.

The first development is an adaptive reuse project at 15-23 North Broadway. Known as Wheeler Block Lofts, scope of work includes the interior combination of three existing historic buildings into one continuous structure. The building will comprise 36 studios and one-bedroom apartments set above three ground-floor commercial spaces.

The 125-year-old façade will be fully restored as approved by the New York State Historic Preservation Office. Total development costs hover around $11.5 million.

Whitney Young Manor, the second approved development, represents over $79.5 million in private investment from an affiliate of Omni New York. The developer intends to rehabilitate two existing buildings at 354 and 358 Nepperhan Avenue. Together, the buildings comprise 195 rental units ranging from studios up to four-bedroom apartments, and multiple commercial businesses including a grocery store and a storage facility.

The scope of work includes a new façade with improved insulation, a full roof replacement, and a centralized heat pump system that will provide heating, cooling, and domestic hot water.

The IDA also approved Mary The Queen Senior Housing, the conversion of a former convent at 35 Vark Street, into an affordable housing community for low-income seniors. Led by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and the Finian Sullivan Corporation, the project will create 73 apartments and a lower-level community space.

Total project costs are estimated at $42.6 million.

View of Alder Manor at 1097 North Broadway, now known as The Plant Manor

The fourth and final project approved by the IDA is located at 1097 North Broadway led by The Plant Manor LLC. The developer intends to transform an existing property known as The Manor into a 70,000-square-foot venue for weddings, professional events, and media production. Accompanied by 25 guest rooms, The Manor will serve as the sister property to The Plant.

The $48.6 million project is expected to create 163 construction jobs and 55 full-time jobs.

The board also voted to increase financial incentives for Yonkers Contracting for construction of a new facility at 969A Midland Avenue. The facility will be used for storage of construction equipment with a vehicle workshop and small office. Due to COVID-related delays, the project’s original cost estimate of $2.5 million increased to $6 million. The IDA board approved the applicant’s request to increase the sales tax exemption by $350,000 to $514,000.

In total, the projects represent $182.2 million of private investments.

Former Army Reservist Convicted of Acting Within the United States as an Unregistered Agent of the People’s Republic of China

 

 A federal jury convicted a Chinese national and former Army Reservist yesterday for acting within the United States as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ji Chaoqun, 31, of Chicago, was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, specifically the People’s Republic of China, without first notifying the Attorney General; one count of acting as an agent of the People’s Republic of China without first notifying the Attorney General; and one count of making a material false statement to the U.S. Army. The jury acquitted Ji on two counts of wire fraud.

Evidence presented at the two-week trial revealed that Ji worked at the direction of a high-level intelligence officer in the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security (JSSD), a provincial department of the Ministry of State Security for the People’s Republic of China. Ji, a Chinese citizen residing in Chicago, was tasked with providing the intelligence officer with biographical information on certain individuals for possible recruitment by the JSSD. The individuals included Chinese nationals who were working as engineers and scientists in the United States, some of whom were U.S. defense contractors.

In 2016, Ji enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves under the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program, which authorized the U.S. Armed Forces to recruit certain legal aliens whose skills are considered vital to the national interest. In his application to participate in the MAVNI program, Ji falsely stated that he had not had contact with a foreign government within the past seven years. In a subsequent interview with a U.S. Army officer, Ji again failed to disclose his relationship and contacts with the intelligence officer.

Ji faces up to 10 years in prison for acting within the United States as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China and up to five years for the conspiracy and false statement offenses. A sentencing date has not been scheduled yet. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. for the Northern District of Illinois; and Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army 902nd Military Intelligence Group.

Comptroller Lander: More Than 1300 Workers Are Entitled to Nearly $3 Million in Prevailing Wages

 

Bureau of Labor Law recoups unpaid wages with interest for workers regardless of their immigration status, whether or not they still live in New York City.

 New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced that more than 1300 workers are entitled to payments totaling nearly $3 million from prevailing wage settlements with several companies that worked on City-funded projects. The Comptroller’s Office Bureau of Labor Law sets and enforces prevailing wage and benefit rates on New York City public works projects and attempts to find workers who are owed wages from these settlements.

Prevailing wage laws require employers to pay workers a wage and benefit rate set annually by the New York City Comptroller when those employees work on City public works projects in construction, such as, renovating public schools, or building service contracts, which includes security guard and custodial work. When companies do not pay prevailing wage, the Comptroller enforces the law to ensure workers receive what they are due.

“Hardworking New Yorkers who were stiffed by their employers deserve every penny that they are owed. But many workers who were cheated on city contracts may not know that the Comptroller’s office fought to win back their wages and is ready to write them a check. Every week is Labor Rights Week at the Comptroller’s office, but this week you can help us by spreading the word. The workers who build our schools, care for our offices and protect our buildings deserve to be paid prevailing wages, and we will continue to fight to ensure they are,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. 

Under recent and past settlements, 1,300 workers are owed a total of $2.8 Million. The unpaid wages owed to workers who have not claimed their settlements range from a few hundred dollars to more than $86,000. One worker from Queens is owed $86,391, while another in Brooklyn is owed $64,537 and another from the Bronx is owed $51,358.

For a complete list of the workers entitled to unclaimed prevailing wages, please click here. To search by name, please click here. 

Workers who were employed on City-funded worksites like public schools, subway stations, City streets and parks and believe that our office has collected unpaid prevailing wages from their employers should call the Comptroller’s hotline at (212) 669-4443, send in inquiries via email to laborlaw@comptroller.nyc.govor check the Comptroller’s unclaimed wages mobile-friendly website.

The Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law has been conducting “Know Your Rights” workshops throughout the City in partnership with community organizations including  Mixteca Organization Inc., Catholic Charities, St. Jerome Hands, Mexican Consulate, La Colmena, N.I.C.E, among others. “Know Your Rights” materials are available on the Comptroller’s website in English and many other languages. In the last decade, the office has assessed more than $35 million in prevailing wage violations and paid over $22 million to employees who were cheated out of their wages. It has also debarred over 60 contractors who took advantage of workers.

Somerset County Woman Admits $1 Million Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Fraud Scheme

 

A Somerset County, New Jersey, woman today admitted fraudulently obtaining over $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Nivah Garcis, 51, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Garcis conspired with at least one individual to submit two fraudulent PPP loan applications to a lender on behalf of two purported businesses that she controlled, and further submitted three fraudulent EIDL loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of these businesses and another business that she owned. She then engaged in financial transactions with the loan proceeds, including for the purchase of property.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The applications Garcis submitted each contained fraudulent representations to the lender, a Federal Home Loan Bank member, and the SBA, including bogus federal tax documents purportedly from the IRS. Garcis also fabricated the existence of employees and wages paid through the purported businesses. According to IRS records, however, none of the purported tax documents that Garcis submitted in support of her loan applications were ever in fact filed with the IRS. Based on Garcis’ misrepresentations, her loan applications for her purported businesses were approved for approximately $1.05 million in federal COVID-19 emergency relief funds meant for distressed small businesses. Garcis then used the proceeds to purchase property and for various personal expenses.

The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The counts of wire fraud each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The count of money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 31, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy L Tomlins; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott; special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Donnelly; special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York; and special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard. W. Reinhold, in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.