Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 13, 2022

 

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

98 Statewide Deaths Reported from December 10 to December 12

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

"As respiratory illnesses, the flu, and COVID-19 spread throughout our state, I urge all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue to use all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel this holiday season. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul is urging New Yorkers to take common prevention measures — like staying up to date on vaccines and practicing proper hygiene — to protect from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals. Last week, the Governor updated New Yorkers on the state's winter health preparedness efforts.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC also cleared the way for children six months of age and older to receive the bivalent booster shot to increase protection against COVID-19. Previously, these shots were only available to children ages 5 and older.

The New York State Department of Health issued a report last week showing a 64 percent week-over-week jump in lab-confirmed flu cases across New York and week-over-week hospitalizations up 58 percent. Cases of influenza have now been detected in all 62 counties across the state, highlighting the need for New Yorkers to take steps and precautions that will reduce the risk of severe illness for children and adults.

Governor Hochul previously launched a public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about the three viruses now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers.

The Governor also asked New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. 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 encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.

The State Department of Health is continuing its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month.

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 - 23.31
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 27.79
• Test Results Reported - 65,431
• Total Positive - 4,555
• Percent Positive - 5.28%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.83%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,556 (+128)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1,285*
• Patients in ICU - 331 (-3)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 138 (+8)
• Total Discharges - 373,012 (+1,029)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 98*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 59,834*

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services 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 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 - 76,219

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,   Dec.  10, 2022	Sunday,   Dec.  11, 2022	Monday,   Dec.  12, 2022
Bronx	7.88%	7.84%	7.90%
Kings	4.60%	4.56%	5.14%
New York	6.86%	6.86%	6.93%
Queens	9.05%	9.10%	9.09%
Richmond	6.34%	6.42%	6.46%

MAYOR ADAMS AND CHANCELLOR BANKS ANNOUNCE HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN PRESCHOOL SPECIAL-EDUCATION SUPPORTS AND EXPANSION OF ACCESS

 

NYC Public Schools Enhance 3,000 Special Education Seats Across 65 Early Childhood Providers, Adding 400 New Seats  

Additional Expansion Expected to Open Enough Preschool Seats This Spring to Serve All Children Living with Disabilities   

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks today announced an expansion of early childhood education special-education seats across the five boroughs, in partnership with community-based providers, that will provide an early childhood education special-education seat for every child living with a disability by the spring of 2023. Previously, the early childhood education system did not have a strategic or intentional focus on serving young children living with disabilities and their families. Through a citywide contract enhancement process, New York City public schools is addressing this historic inequity by expanding the number of seats reserved for students living with disabilities across early childhood education and increasing pay for educators and providers.

“I know from personal experience what it’s like not to have had the supports I needed to learn and thrive as child. For far too long, our young students living with disabilities have struggled in a system that hasn’t been fully able to meet them where they are,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we’re changing that. This expansion ensures not only that our youngest are provided the resources they need to succeed, but that the educators and caretakers who serve them are paid fairly and at a rate worthy of the life shaping the work they do. This investment is long overdue, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this a reality.”

“For far too long, children with disabilities and their families have been overlooked by a system that was not built with them in mind. Our vision for early childhood education sees all children,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “My team has particularly been focused on young children living with disabilities. We are deeply committed to establishing early childhood education that works for all New York City families — a truly accessible, high-quality, and sustainable program that equitably serves our children living with disabilities. Bright starts begin at birth, and I am proud that Deputy Chancellor Dr. Ahmed and the Division of Early Childhood Education are dedicated to creating a truly inclusive early childhood system that will set our children up for success for generations to come. Thank you to Mayor Adams, our partners in the City Council, our PEP members, and our devoted community providers for prioritizing our children living with disabilities and building a system that not only meets, but also understands and prioritizes their needs.”

“In an equitable society, a high-quality early childhood experience must include all children,” said Deputy Chancellor Dr. Kara H. Ahmed. “Our team envisions a comprehensive system that serves all children from birth to five, inclusive of children living with disabilities We have already begun the work necessary to provide a seat for every young child with a disability based on their individual strengths and learning needs, and we will not stop until that goal is actualized.” 

Previously, early childhood seats for children living with disabilities were few and limited, and their educators were paid less than their general education peers. As part of Chancellor Banks' long-term vision to reimagine early childhood education and special-education programming in New York City public schools, it is vital that all children have access to educators and resources that meet their unique needs as soon as they enter the classroom. To ensure that early childhood education programs are prepared to meet the needs of the city’s most vulnerable children, the first set of special education contract enhancements will be implemented across 65 provider contracts. As part of this process, approximately 3,000 seats across the sector will benefit, including 400 new seats to meet needs. By this spring, an additional 400 new seats will be added for a total of 800 new seats, and additional seats will be stabilized by the contract enhancement process.

Additionally, special education contract enhancements will:

• Earmark $130 million for early childhood education special education providers over two years;
• Align early childhood education special education programs with the city’s 3-K and pre-K general education programs by extending the school day from five hours to six hours and 20 minutes and providing extended care and learning for children and support for working families;
• Extend general early childhood education site supports such as professional development opportunities to early childhood education special education providers;
• Increase access to services in the least restrictive environment by enabling providers to offer special class in an Integrated Setting (SCIS) classrooms;
• Establish funding to help programs recruit, train, and retain staff to support special education seats across the early childhood education landscape;
• Allocate funds for teacher and staff salaries in accordance with new services and lengthened school days; and
• Bring increased pay and pay parity to teaching staff in special education programs to match that of their peers in general education in 3-K and pre-K. 

NYC Public Schools is committed to strengthening and stabilizing the early childhood education landscape in close partnership with providers, educators, community members, and families. Part of this essential work is permanently incorporating preschool special education programs into the fabric of New York City communities to ensure they are exceptional and accessible for all New York families, in response to community need. This announcement comes on the heels of Chancellor Banks’s renewed vision for special education programs in New York City public schools, which celebrates and expands successful programs, provides new professional learning opportunities to students, and empowers family and community members as partners in this work.

Pan Am Flight 103 Terrorist Suspect In Custody for 1988 Bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland

 

Defendant Arrested by FBI and Brought to US for Court Appearance

 Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi (“Mas’ud”), 71, of Tunisia and Libya, made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on federal charges, unsealed today, stemming from the December 21, 1988 civilian aircraft bombing that killed 270 people.  The victims included 190 Americans, 43 citizens of the United Kingdom, including 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, and citizens from the following countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Trinidad and Tobago.

On December 21, 2020, the Department of Justice made public a criminal complaint charging Mas’ud with destruction of aircraft resulting in death, and destruction of a vehicle used in foreign commerce by means of an explosive resulting in death.  The United States subsequently requested the publication of an INTERPOL Red Notice - as is typical in cases involving foreign fugitives – requesting all INTERPOL member countries to locate and arrest the defendant for the purpose of his extradition or lawful return to the United States to face the charges. On Nov. 29, 2022, a federal grand jury formally indicted Mas’ud on the same charges contained in the criminal complaint. That indictment was unsealed today.

From the time the tragic events occurred in 1988 through the present, the United States and Scotland have jointly pursued justice for all the victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing.  The partnership will continue throughout the prosecution of Mas’ud. 

“Nearly 34 years ago, 270 people, including 190 Americans, were tragically killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Since then, American and Scottish law enforcement have worked tirelessly to identify, find, and bring to justice the perpetrators of this horrific attack. Those relentless efforts over the past three decades led to the indictment and arrest of a former Libyan intelligence operative for his alleged role in building the bomb used in the attack,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The defendant is currently in U.S. custody and is facing charges in the United States. This is an important step forward in our mission to honor the victims and pursue justice on behalf of their loved ones.”

“This action is another crucial step in delivering justice for the victims of the senseless terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Our thoughts are with the victims’ families, whose tireless work to honor the lives and legacies of their loved ones has inspired the Department of Justice and our Scottish partners throughout our investigation for the last 34 years. Let this be a reminder that the men and women of the Department of Justice will never forget the loss of innocent lives or waver in our commitment to holding terrorists accountable – no matter how long it takes.”

“While it has been nearly 34 years since the tragic bombing of Pan Am 103, the FBI and our partners throughout the U.S. government have never forgotten the Americans harmed and we will never rest until those responsible are brought to justice,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Our reach and our memory are long, as this investigation shows. The progress we have made would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of the men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department, and the assistance of our Scottish partners. My thoughts today are focused on those lost and their loved ones as the work to achieve justice continues.”

“We never forget an act of terrorism against American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “This defendant is charged with making the fateful decision to carry out a callous, cold-blooded act of terrorism, one that left behind devastation and despair for so many. Thanks to the vigilance, skill, and dedication of this team of investigators and prosecutors, and so many who preceded them in working on this case, the families of the victims will finally see a defendant face charges in a U.S. courtroom for his role in this heinous attack. This prosecution may bring little solace to those who have lost a child, a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a relative, or a friend. But we hope, today, the victims feel the embrace of the people who have poured their hearts and souls into bringing them a few steps closer to achieving some sense of justice for them and their loved ones.” 

“The Justice Department has worked for more than three decades to seek justice for the 270 innocent victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today, Mas’ud is charged for his alleged role in this heinous act of terror and he will appear in an American courtroom to answer for those crimes. To those who would seek to harm Americans anywhere in the world, know that we will find you however far you run and we will hold you accountable however how long it takes.” 

“We cannot heal the wounds left nearly 34 years ago, but we can and will continue to work to bring the justice that we can to the families of the victims of Pan Am 103. The lawful arrest and presentment in court of the alleged bombmaker, Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, is a product of hard work and partnerships across the globe,” said Acting Assistant Director in Charge Michael H. Glasheen of the FBI Washington Field Office. “He will now face justice in the U.S. for the crimes he is charged with having committed decades ago against citizens of 21 countries. Thank you to the investigators, prosecutors, and victim advocates who have diligently and tirelessly continued to work for decades and across the globe to find answers about the horrific bombing of Pan Am 103. Most importantly, thank you to the families of the victims for showing us your perseverance and strength for decades. The U.S. government will also persevere in our quest to bring justice, on your behalf, for those we so tragically lost.”

December 21, 1988

At 7:03 pm (GMT), on Dec. 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed, almost instantaneously, 38 minutes after takeoff, when a bomb in the forward cargo area exploded. The plane was at 31,000 feet over Lockerbie, Scotland. It had taken off from London-Heathrow and was en route to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.

Citizens from 21 countries were killed. Among the 190 Americans lost were 35 Syracuse University students returning home to the United States for the holidays after a semester studying abroad. Of the 43 victims from the United Kingdom, eleven residents of Lockerbie, Scotland perished on the ground as fiery debris from the falling aircraft destroyed an entire city block of homes. The international terrorist attack, planned and executed by Libyan intelligence operatives, was considered the largest international terrorist attack in both the United States and the United Kingdom at the time.

Immediately after the disaster, Scottish and American law enforcement undertook a joint investigation that was unprecedented in its scope and, in November 1991, it led to criminal charges filed in both countries charging two Libyan intelligence operatives - Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi (Megrahi) and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah (Fhimah) - for their roles in the bombing. They were tried in a Scottish court sitting in The Netherlands. Fhimah was acquitted. Megrahi was found guilty.

Planning and Executing the Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103

The December 2020 criminal complaint alleged that from approximately 1973 to 2011 Mas’ud worked for the External Security Organization (ESO), the Libyan intelligence service which conducted acts of terrorism against other nations, in various capacities including as a technical expert in building explosive devices. In the winter of 1988, Mas’ud was directed by a Libyan intelligence official to fly to Malta with a prepared suitcase. There he was met by Megrahi and Fhimah at the airport. Several days later, Megrahi and Fhimah instructed Mas’ud to set the timer on the device in the suitcase for the following morning, so that the explosion would occur exactly eleven hours later. Megrahi and Fhimah were both at the airport on the morning of Dec. 21, 1988, and Mas’ud handed the suitcase to Fhimah after Fhimah gave him a signal to do so. Fhimah then placed the suitcase on the conveyor belt. Subsequently, Mas’ud boarded a Libyan flight to Tripoli schedule to take off at 9:00 a.m.

According to the allegations in the complaint, three or four days after returning to Libya, Mas’ud and Megrahi met with a senior Libyan intelligence official, who thanked them for a successful operation. Approximately three months after that, Mas’ud and Fhimah met with then-Libyan leader Muamar Qaddafi, and others, who thanked them for carrying out a great national duty against the Americans, and Qaddafi added that the operation was a total success.

If convicted, Mas’ud faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case along with prosecutors from the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. National Central Bureau provided valuable assistance in this matter.

Victims of this crime and their families may contact the Department of Justice on the VNS website at https://www.notify.usdoj.gov or the VNS Call Center at 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968) (TDD/TTY: 1-866-228-4619) (International: 1-502-213-2767).

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DOI INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN GUILTY PLEA BY A CITY CORRECTION OFFICER FOR MISREPRESENTIONS ABOUT HIS ABSENCE FROM HIS POST

 Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the arrest and guilty plea of a Correction Officer with the City Department of Correction (“DOC”) on an Official Misconduct charge. DOI’s investigation was prompted by a DOC report to DOI that the Correction Officer filed internal documentation in which the Officer stated that he failed to show up at post in March 2021 because a supervisor followed him into the men’s locker room while shouting at him. The Office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is prosecuting this matter.

 GORETTI BOYER, 37, of Baldwin, N.Y., was charged with Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, and pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement. Upon conviction, a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail. The plea agreement requires that BOYER resign from DOC. 

 DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “This soon-to-be former Correction Officer falsified a document in an effort to excuse his failure to do his job. This misconduct and lack of integrity on the part of a City employee is unacceptable and the plea agreement appropriately requires Boyer to resign from his position at the Department of Correction. I thank the Department of Correction for bringing this matter to our attention, and for partnering with us, and with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, on this investigation.”

 According to the criminal complaint and DOI’s investigation, BOYER did not report to his post on the morning of March 19, 2021 and was instructed to provide an explanation. BOYER told his Captain that he did not show up at post because a supervisor was screaming and shouting at him. BOYER also filed with DOC an official intradepartmental report known as a “600AR” in which BOYER stated that he went to the men’s locker room and was followed by a supervisor who was screaming and shouting at him. A correction officer may be directed to complete a 600AR to account for a breach of discipline or a failure to perform his or her duties. DOI investigators reviewed video footage of the incident which showed, contrary to BOYER’s statements, that BOYER spoke with a female supervisor for just over a minute, and subsequently walked down a hallway and into the men’s locker room; the supervisor did not follow BOYER.

 BOYER was employed by DOC since August 2009 and receives an annual base salary of approximately $92,073.

 Commissioner Strauber thanked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his staff for their prosecution of this matter; and DOC Commissioner Louis A. Molina, and his staff, for their cooperation in this investigation.

Attorney General James Protects Queens Tenants from Illegal Lockouts

 

BlueSky Management Threatened to Change Tenants' Locks After Buying Adjoining Buildings in Ridgewood, Queens 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced action to stop Queens property manager BlueSky Management NY LLC (BlueSky) from threatening to lock tenants out of their homes in violation of New York’s housing laws. In June 2022, BlueSky purchased two adjoining buildings in Ridgewood, Queens, one of which was definitively rent stabilized, and immediately sent lease termination notices to tenants. They followed the notices with letters, emails, and text messages illegally threatening to lock the remaining tenants out of their apartments. As a result of the settlement announced today, all tenants who received these threats will receive $1,000 in restitution, and additional apartments will be returned to rent stabilization. 

“My office stood up to BlueSky when tenants did not know where to turn, and we will continue to fight against bad faith attacks on affordable housing in New York City and across the state,” said Attorney General James. “BlueSky’s greedy and aggressive behavior left tenants frightened, confused, and unsure of their rights under the law. As New York City continues to battle this housing crisis, we must spare no effort in protecting tenants and defending affordable housing.”

“In Ridgewood, companies such as BlueSky are purchasing more and more rent-stabilized buildings with the purpose of de-regulating units and charging high market rents. BlueSky thought they could break the law in these Onderdonk Avenue buildings, but tenants acted quickly with the help of their local tenants' union and the swift action of the Office of the Attorney General,” said Gina Lee, coordinator, Ridgewood Tenants Union. “We applaud the quick action taken by Attorney General James. When this matter was brought to the attention of her office, she ensured the rights of tenants were not violated by BlueSky. We know we can count on the Attorney General to protect the stock of rent stabilized units in a neighborhood like ours, where working class tenants are rapidly being priced out due to gentrification.”

In June 2022, BlueSky purchased 402 and 404 Onderdonk Avenue, two adjoining buildings in Queens. Shortly afterward, BlueSky sent termination notices to tenants, informing them that their tenancies were not covered by Rent Stabilization Laws. BlueSky represented that because 404 Onderdonk had undergone renovations to combine two units in 2012, the entire building was no longer rent stabilized, which was false. In early October 2022, the remaining tenants received letters, emails, and text messages threatening to lock them out of their apartments if they did not respond to management.  

Ridgewood Tenants Union shared the communications with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and OAG immediately notified BlueSky that threatening to change tenants’ locks constitutes unlawful eviction and demanded they rescind the threats. BlueSky complied.  

As part of the settlement, BlueSky will send an official letter to each tenant informing them that BlueSky is rescinding the termination notice, formally apologize to each tenant in writing, and pay $1,000 to all tenants who were threatened with an illegal lockout. By December 31, 2022, BlueSky will also provide rent stabilized leases reflecting the proper regulated rent to tenants of 404 Onderdonk Avenue whose rent did not reach the high rent decontrol threshold. Within three months, BlueSky will hold a mandatory training for all employees that will cover illegal lockouts and unlawful evictions. The training will be led by a nonprofit organization. 

This agreement is the latest in Attorney General James’ efforts to protect tenants. Earlier this month, she stopped real estate company Compass from denying housing to low-income New Yorkers. Last month, the Attorney General and the Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force announced a settlement with Greg Fournier and his real estate company, Greenbrook Holdings, for harassing tenants and engaging in unlawful practices in managing its buildings in Brooklyn. In September 2022, Attorney General James secured $4 million from landlords after uncovering an illegal kickback scheme to deregulate apartments, cracked down on tenant blacklisting, secured more than $400,000 for tenants harassed by Ink Property Group, along with up to $1.75 million for affordable housing and joined New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas in preserving an affordable housing cooperative development in Rockland County. In July 2022, she recovered nearly $300,000 of illegally withheld security deposits for Brooklyn tenants. In June 2022, Attorney General James delivered $50,000 to Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA), a tenant organizing project, from law firm Kucker, Marino, Winiarsky & Bittens LLP after they unlawfully provided improper and damaging legal advice to New York tenants and shut down a landlord for exposing children to lead paint hazards in Syracuse. In April 2022, she sued Brooklyn-based eviction lawyers for engaging in deceptive rent collection practices and initiating frivolous lawsuits against New York tenants. 

Governor Hochul Announces New Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Stations Along Major Travel Corridor Between Mid-Hudson and Western New York Regions

 

EVolve NY EV Infrastructure Helps Advance State Plan To Electrify Transportation Sector and Reduce Greenhouse Gases 85 Percent by 2050

View Hancock Site and Extended Travel Route to Hudson Valley

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that a dozen new electric vehicle fast chargers have been deployed along the primary travel corridor from the Southern Tier to Western New York. The new chargers will ensure that one of New York State's "fast charging deserts" is more accessible to EVs and that all regions across the state offer more convenient charging opportunities. The installation of new high-speed charging sites, led by the New York Power Authority, currently includes Jamestown, Salamanca and Bath, and will soon be supplemented by Olean, Friendship, Castle Creek and Hancock that will help support more convenient and accessible EV travel along Interstate 86 and Route 17 between the Hudson Valley and Lake Erie. New York State's fast charging infrastructure investment further supports its ambitious plan to transition to clean transportation and reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions that come from the transportation sector.

"New York State is charging forward toward a greener and cleaner future by making electric vehicles more accessible to everyone," Governor Hochul said. "These new charging stations are sited along the most traveled corridor in the southern region, which will be pivotal towards encouraging drivers in the Southern Tier and Western New York to make the transition to greener vehicles."

Through its EVolve NY program, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) maintains the largest open-access high-speed charging network in New York State with more than 100 ports at 30 sites along major travel corridors, helping ensure that EV drivers in New York do not have to worry about running out of charge. The program aims to eliminate "fast charging deserts" and encourage the development of public charging infrastructure that is available to all New Yorkers and visitors.

New York Power Authority Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "Electric vehicles are more efficient and less expensive to drive, and they're key in reducing air pollutants from the transportation sector. NYPA's role in the clean transportation transition is to build infrastructure in urban hubs and along well traveled corridors, making it more convenient to travel long distances through every region in New York. Our EVolve NY program has made great strides in installing more charging hubs and will continue its industry-leading work into 2023."

New Fast Charger Sites - Jamestown, Salamanca, and Bath

The City of Jamestown in Chautauqua County recently installed chargers supported by the state Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Volkswagen settlement fund to expand charging stations in New York. The municipal utility operates four ChargePoint DC fast chargers: two at West 2nd St. and North Main St. and two at East 4th St. and Prendergast Ave.

New York State's EV Charging Infrastructure Initiatives

Governor Hochul recently called for major regulatory action that will require all new passenger cars, pick-up trucks and SUVs sold in New York State to be zero-emission by 2035. Governor Hochul has also proposed that all school buses be zero-emission by that the same year. Proposing draft regulations is a crucial step to further electrify the transportation sector and help New York achieve its climate requirement of reducing greenhouse gases 85 percent by 2050.

New York is investing more than $1 billion in zero-emission cars and trucks over the next five years. Active light-duty vehicle initiatives include zero-emission vehicle purchase rebates through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's Drive Clean Rebate Program, zero-emission vehicle and charging infrastructure grants through DEC's Climate Smart Communities Municipal Grant Program, as well as the "EV Make Ready" initiative, NYPA's EVolve NY program, and the Department of Transportation's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to help expand EV use.

New York State has seen record increases in the number of EVs sold in 2021, bringing the total number of EVs on the road to approximately 120,000 and the number of charging stations in the state to more than 10,000, including Level 2 and fast chargers. Increasing EV sales will help the state reach its aggressive clean energy goals as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The goal is to reach 850,000 zero-emission vehicles in New York by 2025.

New York State hosts 1,087 public fast chargers at 252 locations, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center, although they range in speed from 25kW to 350kW which equates to varying charging times. More than 600 are Tesla-only chargers.

EV owners can locate public chargers using smartphone apps such as Shell Recharge, Electrify America, PlugShare, ChargeHub, ChargeWay, EV Connect, ChargePoint, Google Maps, or the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center. For a map showing EVolve NY chargers, click here. Note that the EVolve chargers operate on the Electrify America and Shell Recharge networks. Credit cards are accepted to charge; no subscription or membership needed.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2021, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

Bronx Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Fatal Shooting Of A Bystander At A Father’s Day Barbecue

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RALPH BERRY was sentenced today to life in prison for the June 2000 fatal shooting of innocent bystander Caprice Jones in the Bronx, New York.  Jones was left paralyzed from the shooting and died from his injuries 10 years later, in November 2010.  BERRY was convicted following a jury trial on September 30, 2021, before then-U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan.  Judge Nathan, now a U.S. Circuit Judge sitting by designation in Manhattan federal court, imposed today’s sentence.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Ralph Berry callously ordered the shooting of a rival drug dealer that resulted in the senseless murder of Caprice Jones.  Jones was simply enjoying a Father’s Day barbecue when his life was changed forever.  As a result of Berry’s actions, Jones was left paralyzed and ultimately died from his injuries 10 years later.  Berry has now been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.”  

According to the Indictment and evidence presented at trial:

In the summer of 2000, BERRY was the head of a violent drug crew that operated in the McKinley Housing Development in the Bronx.  On June 21, 2000, BERRY ordered one of his subordinates to shoot a rival drug dealer with whom BERRY had been feuding over drug territory.  That subordinate followed BERRY’s order and fired multiple shots into a Father’s Day barbecue being held on the McKinley Houses basketball courts.  Caprice Jones, an innocent bystander who was not involved in the drug dispute, was struck in the spine by one of the bullets.  The gunshot injury Jones sustained that day left him paralyzed from the waist down and ultimately caused his death ten years later, in November 2010, at the age of 42.

In addition to the prison term, BERRY, 55, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years’ supervised release and a $200 mandatory special assessment.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.