Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 30, 2023

 

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

30 Statewide Deaths Reported on January 27

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19 and outlined basic steps they can take to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that become more common in the winter season.

"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. "Be sure to stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel. 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 the flu and COVID-19 and reduce the patient burden on local hospitals. The Governor reiterated these basic steps when she updated New Yorkers on the state's winter health preparedness efforts last month.

The New York State Department of Health's weekly flu surveillance report for the week ending January 21, shows influenza remaining widespread throughout the state for a sixteenth consecutive week, with a total of 305,354 positive cases across 61 counties reported to date. The report found that confirmed cases statewide dropped 39 percent, while overall hospitalizations were down 44 percent from the previous week, with the week, at 465 hospitalizations across the state.

Additionally, there were 5 outbreaks in acute care and long-term care facilities, the report determined. There were no influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported this week, leaving the total at eight statewide.

With flu season continuing and infections remaining widespread,Governor Hochul encourages all New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine. 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 Health Department 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. For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Governor Hochul also continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. Last month, the New York State Department of Health announced new guidance for bivalent COVID-19 booster doses, which are now available for eligible children down to 6 months of age.

The updated boosters are the first to be targeted to the original virus strain and recently circulating variants and are recommended for young New Yorkers and all those eligible. 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.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 9.80
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 15.59
• Test Results Reported - 30,848
• Total Positive - 1,915
• Percent Positive - 5.66%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.84%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,711 (-69)*
• Patients Newly Admitted - 417*
• Patients in ICU - 295 (-9)*
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 109 (-4)*
• Total Discharges - 394,789 (+435)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 30*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 61,261*

** 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 - 77,908

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,   January   27, 2023	Saturday,   January   28, 2023	Sunday,   January   29, 2023
Bronx	6.30%	6.17%	6.16%
Kings	3.85%	3.83%	3.75%
New York	5.03%	4.92%	4.82%
Queens	5.97%	5.71%	5.63%
Richmond	5.06%	5.12%	5.29%

U.S. Attorney Announces Settlement Of Civil Fraud Lawsuit Against Former Hunter College Professor And Hunter College For Fraudulently Using Federal Research Funds

 

Jeffrey Parsons-Hietikko to Pay $375,000 and Admits to Seeking Reimbursements for Personal Travel. Hunter College to Pay $200,000 and Admits to Using NIH Funds to Pay Parsons’ Staff for Time Spent Working on Projects Unrelated to the NIH Grants.

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that the United States has filed and settled a civil fraud lawsuit against HUNTER COLLEGE (“HUNTER”) and JEFFREY T. PARSONS-HIETIKKO (“PARSONS”), a former HUNTER psychology professor who served as Director of Hunter’s Center for HIV Educational Studies (“CHEST”).  The lawsuit resolves the United States’ allegations that for many years: (i) PARSONS improperly invoiced personal expenses to National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) funds, including expenses related to scuba diving trips, international flights for his family, a tropical birthday celebration, and travel for his work as a private consultant; (ii)  HUNTER used NIH funds to pay PARSONS over $90,000 in retention bonuses without disclosing these payments to NIH as required; and (iii) PARSONS and HUNTER submitted false timekeeping records that misrepresented the time that CHEST staff spent working on NIH grant-related projects, resulting in the use of NIH grant funds to compensate CHEST staff for work performed for private clients.  The lawsuit alleges that these impermissible uses of NIH funds violated HUNTER’s certifications to NIH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) that the NIH funds would be used only for allowable research and academic purposes.

Under the settlement approved by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, PARSONS, 55, of Teaneck, New Jersey, and HUNTER agreed to pay $375,000 and $200,000, respectively, to the United States and made detailed factual admissions regarding their conduct.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “NIH provides funding to academic institutions for the purpose of furthering important research that impacts communities and improves lives.  For years, Jeffrey Parsons-Hietikko obtained these funds under false pretenses, then used them to cover his personal expenses and for other purposes totally unrelated to research.  Hunter College improperly used NIH funds to pay undisclosed bonuses to Parsons and for other expenses unrelated to NIH-funded work.  When individuals and institutions abuse federal grant money, this Office will hold them accountable.”

As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:

During his time at HUNTER, where he was promoted on multiple occasions and achieved the status of Distinguished Professor in 2012, PARSONS proved himself to be singularly proficient at obtaining NIH funding to support his and CHEST’s research.  HUNTER considered PARSONS to be one of its most prized faculty members and offered him a number of perks, including discretionary spending accounts financed by NIH funds, a high level of personal control over CHEST’s federal grant funds, and special accommodations in the approval process for obtaining reimbursements from federal funds for his expenses.  PARSONS then abused his authority and influence by repeatedly drawing from these discretionary accounts to fund personal expenses.

From January 1, 2010, through May 17, 2018 (the “Covered Period”), PARSONS and HUNTER defrauded the United States by materially misusing federal funds obtained from NIH and making false certifications and statements to NIH and HHS.  First, PARSONS defrauded the Government by improperly using NIH funds that HUNTER had certified to HHS would only be used to support the facilities and administrative costs associated with HUNTER’s NIH grants (the “Indirect Cost Funds”) to reimburse himself for his personal travel expenses, including expenses relating to personal scuba diving trips, international flights for his family, and a tropical birthday celebration.  PARSONS falsely represented that these reimbursement requests all had an academic or research purpose.  PARSONS also improperly used Indirect Cost Funds to double the reimbursement he received for travel relating to his non-NIH-related work as a private consultant to external clients.

From December 2010 through December 2013, HUNTER improperly used the Indirect Cost Funds to pay PARSONS over $90,000 in undisclosed retention bonuses, even though NIH rules and regulations prohibited the Indirect Cost Funds from being used to make such payments.  HUNTER never disclosed and, indeed, took steps to hide its use of the Indirect Cost Funds to pay these bonuses to PARSONS.

During the Covered Period, PARSONS also misused CHEST’s NIH grant funds to pay CHEST staff for time they spent working for CHEST’s private consulting clients, rather than on NIH grant-related projects.  In order to obtain NIH funds for this purpose, PARSONS approved timekeeping records representing that those staff spent their time and effort working on NIH-funded research projects.  In reality, however, CHEST staff had also spent time working on unrelated projects commissioned by third parties, which were not properly reimbursable from the NIH grant funds and were not accurately reflected on the documents PARSONS submitted to obtain reimbursement.  Although HUNTER was on notice that CHEST staff performed work on outside projects, it nevertheless sought and received NIH funds to improperly pay CHEST staff for this outside work.  The third parties that commissioned CHEST to work on the outside projects separately paid for the work performed by CHEST staff.  HUNTER directed those payments into discretionary accounts to benefit CHEST and PARSONS, including one account used to reimburse PARSONS for alcohol expenses.  Moreover, even after HUNTER became aware that NIH-funded CHEST staff had been improperly utilized to perform work for PARSONS’s private consulting company, HUNTER never took steps to investigate or report to NIH this misuse of NIH funding.

As part of the settlement, PARSONS admits, acknowledges, and accepts responsibility for the following conduct:

• From 2013 through 2017, PARSONS requested reimbursement from Indirect Cost Funds for scuba diving trips to the Cayman Islands, Bonaire, Cuba, Costa Rica, Fiji, Cozumel, and Belize (the “Scuba Trips”).  As part of his request for reimbursement from Indirect Cost Funds, PARSONS represented that the Scuba Trips had a research purpose.  However, PARSONS did not create any documents, data, or records reflecting research he conducted while he was on the Scuba Trips.
• In addition to the Scuba Trips, from 2016 through 2017, PARSONS also requested reimbursement from Indirect Cost Funds for travel to Cape Town (the “Cape Town Trip”) and Puerto Rico (the “Puerto Rico Trip,” and together with the Cape Town Trip, the “Personal Trips”).  As part of his request for reimbursement from Indirect Cost Funds for the Personal Trips, PARSONS represented that the Personal Trips had an academic purpose. 
• From 2016 through 2018, PARSONS sought and received reimbursement from Indirect Cost Funds to reimburse himself for travel to Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles.  However, during these trips, PARSONS was not working on projects relating to CHEST’s NIH grants and, instead, was working as a consultant for other institutions.  PARSONS did not reimburse HUNTER or NIH for any of the Indirect Cost Funds he received relating to his travel to Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles as a consultant for other academic institutions.
• Throughout the Covered Period, PARSONS caused HUNTER to request NIH grant funds to pay the salaries of CHEST staff ostensibly working on CHEST’s NIH-funded research.  PARSONS approved a spreadsheet that purported to reflect the percentage of time and effort that CHEST staff spent working on CHEST’s NIH-funded research (the “Staff Allocation Spreadsheet”).  During the Covered Period, CHEST staff not only worked on projects connected to HUNTER’s own NIH-funded research, but also on unrelated projects commissioned by third parties (“Outside Projects”).  During the Covered Period, the Staff Allocation Spreadsheet failed to accurately reflect the time and effort CHEST staff spent working on the Outside Projects.  Instead, during the Covered Period, the Staff Allocation Spreadsheet reflected CHEST staff as working entirely on CHEST’s NIH-funded research.

As part of the settlement, HUNTER admits, acknowledges, and accepts responsibility for the following conduct:

• During the Covered Period, HUNTER was aware that CHEST staff worked on Outside Projects and received payments from third parties for that work.  However, the staff’s work on many of the Outside Projects was not reflected on the Staff Allocation Spreadsheet at all, and when it was, the Staff Allocation Spreadsheet understated the time that CHEST staff spent working on those Outside Projects.  Instead, the time and effort of CHEST’s staff on the Outside Projects was incorrectly allocated on the Staff Allocation Spreadsheet to projects that NIH funded directly through NIH grants.  HUNTER, in reliance on these incorrect Staff Allocation Spreadsheets, sought and received reimbursement from the NIH for staff time and effort expended on the Outside Projects.
• HUNTER deposited the funds it received as payment for CHEST’s staff work on the Outside Projects into accounts to benefit CHEST and PARSONS, and one of these accounts was used to reimburse PARSONS for expenses for alcohol at CHEST-related events.
• From December 2010 through December 2013, HUNTER used Indirect Cost Funds to pay PARSONS over $90,000 of retention bonuses, which were never disclosed to NIH.  Throughout the Covered Period, NIH rules and regulations prohibited the use of Indirect Cost Funds to pay faculty retention bonuses not previously disclosed to NIH.

In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and settlement, the Government joined a whistleblower lawsuit that had previously been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Inspector General for HHS.

NYC Health and Hospitals FY 2023 Annual Public Meetings - May 16 in Bronx

 

The Board of Directors of NYC Health + Hospitals invites you to its Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Public Meetings. Following a report on activities of the health system, we invite the public to make oral and/or written presentations. Speakers will be allotted five minutes. We ask speakers to register in advanced by contacting Ms. Colicia Hercules at 212-788-360 or nychhcboardaffairs@nychhc.org. 

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Spend Time with VCPA in February

Forest Fridays Fridays - Meet at 10am With 640 acres of urban woodland, Van Cortlandt Park could use  your help! For February’s Forest Fridays, we’ll focus on caring for the  northwest forest. Make sure to wear long pants, sturdy  closed-toe shoes, and bring lots of water!  All other tools will be provided. No prior experience needed. RSVP Now Meet at VCPA Garden and Compost Site   29th Annual Bronx Parks Speak Up Saturday, February 25 - 11am to 5pm  Join VCPA and the Bronx Coalition of Parks & Green Spaces at  this annual event, held in person at Lehman College. This year’s  theme is, Connecting the Bronx: One Greenway at a Time! RSVP Now.   NYC Ultimate Trail Running Series in Van Cortlandt Park Saturday, March 4 at 10am Join Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and King of the Mountain Events for this  first-of-its-kind NYC Ultimate Trail Running Series, featuring 8K  (4.97 miles) filled with rolling single-track trails, mixed with stairs,  wooden boardwalks, and sections of paved and double wide paths.  Proceeds benefit the care and maintenance of the trails. Run or walk! $35 thru 1/31… then prices go up!   Register Now. Work with Us! Environmental Educators Part-Time • Seasonal Van Cortlandt Park Alliance seeks two (2) Part-time Environmental  Educators who are motivated, self directed, and energetic with  strong interest in youth development and outdoor environmental  work to lead education and volunteer programs in Van Cortlandt  Park in the Bronx. See full job description for details.   Support Our Work in Van Cortlandt Park Make a Donation The park is really big. Our staff is really small. Only with your help  can we grow our capacity, hire more staff, and take on projects to  improve Van Cortlandt Park… for YOU!  Please consider a gift to  Van Cortlandt Park Alliance today. Donate!   VCPA Merch Shop! Show your love for Van Cortlandt Park while supporting the Alliance! Shop Now!   Become a Member Members get VCPA merch and invitations to member only hikes  while supporting their favorite park! Join Now.

Our Contact Information Van Cortlandt Park Alliance 80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1 Bronx, NY 10463 718-601-1460 http://vancortlandt.org

Councilmember Rafael Salamanca - News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

WORKING FOR OUR SENIORS   Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. visits  Rain Senior Center to discuss senior services throughout the Bronx and building affordable senior housing.

SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH BRONX  "Our community is in pain." Council Member Salamanca attends the vigil of Josue Lopez-Ortega, 15, who was killed by senseless gun violence.   Over the last year, three beautiful souls, teens who had their whole lives to live, have been taken from us because of gun violence in the South Bronx. To heal, we came together as one to remember their lives, and demand change & justice in their names.

Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

ICYMI: DEC Commissioner Seggos and NYSERDA President and CEO Harris Op-Ed in the Buffalo News: Energy Affordability is at the Forefront of New York’s Climate Agenda

 

On Sunday, the Buffalo News published an op-ed by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos and NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen Harris about New York’s nation-leading climate agenda to reduce pollution, combat climate change, and ensure energy affordability for all New Yorkers. Text of the op-ed is available below and can be found online at the Buffalo News website. 

It’s easy for New Yorkers to lose track of the number of severe weather events labeled “once in a generation.” In the past decade, there have been many, including Hurricanes Irene and Lee, Superstorm Sandy, the record droughts of 2022, and the “once-in-a-generation blizzard” that dumped 80 inches on Buffalo in five days.

Climate change caused by carbon emissions has increased the frequency and severity of these “once-in-a-generation” storms, both here in New York and across the nation. Since 1980, the U.S. has sustained 310 weather and climate disasters with a cumulative cost exceeding an estimated $2.15 trillion.

That’s why Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent State of the State address prioritized several climate actions that will pave the way for critical investments in a clean energy future, while tackling affordability.

New York State is home to one of the most ambitious climate laws in the country. To build on that strong foundation, Gov. Hochul announced an economy-wide Cap-and-Invest Program that establishes a declining cap on greenhouse gas emissions, generating revenue directly from those responsible for pollution, while limiting the impacts to consumers. The program will limit potential costs to economically vulnerable New Yorkers, invest proceeds to reduce pollutants across communities in an equitable manner, and ensure industries thrive in New York.

DEC and NYSERDA will design a regulatory program setting an annual cap on pollution that will be set lower each year to align with our climate goals, further protect the health of New York’s citizens, and safeguard our environment for years to come.

The revenue will be used to invest in clean, affordable energy across the state, prioritizing the communities that have disproportionately felt the effects of climate change. Money will support the state’s critical investments in climate mitigation, energy efficiency, clean transportation and other innovative projects.

Importantly, a portion of Cap-and-Invest revenue will go right back into New Yorkers’ pockets and be distributed to all New Yorkers to help cover utility bills and energy-efficiency upgrades.

Gov. Hochul also announced near-term relief for New Yorkers struggling to cope with rising energy prices. This includes $200 million in relief for high electric bills to more than 800,000 New York households.

We are also establishing the EmPower Plus Program to help 20,000 low-income families update their homes by adding insulation, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, and switching from inefficient fossil fuel heating to clean, efficient electric alternatives. New Yorkers that participate will also have access to an Energy Affordability Guarantee, so they never pay more than 6% of their incomes on electricity.

These initiatives demonstrate Gov. Hochul’s commitment to avoiding the costly impacts of climate change, lowering energy costs for hardworking New Yorkers, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing harmful emissions to improve air quality and public health for all.

For more information about the Climate Action Council Scoping Plan and New York’s climate agenda, visit the Climate Act website.

MAYOR ADAMS HELPS NEW YORKERS SAVE UP TO $150 MILLION ON OVERDUE WATER BILLS

 

Limited Time Only Program Offers Relief to Nearly 200,000  Customers With Unpaid, Late Water Bills to Avoid Enforcement Actions 

  

$1.2 Billion Owed Poses Threat to NYC’s Water Infrastructure and 

Could Lead to Additional Rate Hikes 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala today launched a temporary water bill amnesty program to help New Yorkers save up to $150 million of interest when they pay their overdue water bills. The limited time program will forgive up to 100 percent of interest when customers pay a portion or all of their outstanding water bills. With nearly 200,000 customers owing a combined $1.2 billion in water bill charges to DEP, this program will help New Yorkers both clear their debt and save money, while ensuring that the city can continue to invest in and maintain the city’s critical water infrastructure. 

  

“As New Yorkers continue to recover financially from the pandemic, we are helping almost 200,000 of our city’s water customers keep up to $150 million in their pockets when they resolve their debts through this water bill relief program,” said Mayor Adams. “This water amnesty program will enable property owners to settle their debts at a reduced cost, while providing the Department of Environmental Protection with the necessary funds to operate the city’s vital water supply and treatment system. I encourage all eligible customers to take advantage of this limited-time savings program we’re proud to offer.” 

  

“This water bill amnesty program gives people the breathing room needed to make back payments manageable.” said Deputy Mayor of Operations Meera Joshi. “These payments are also critical to supporting our overall water system that provides clean water and the infrastructure to protect the entire water system in the face of climate change.”

  

“This program allows customers to save money and start fresh in the new year,” said DEP Commissioner Aggarwala. “At the same time, it should serve as a reminder to those who have chronically delinquent accounts and have been withholding payment — that won’t be allowed to continue.” 

  

The amnesty program, authorized by the New York City Water Board, will only run for 90 days, from Jan. 30, 2023 to April 30, 2023. To receive amnesty and confirm eligibility, or for more information, customers should visit DEP’s water amnesty website or call (718) 595-7000. 

  

There are nearly 200,000 DEP customers with delinquent water bills, owing a combined $1.2 billion, and approximately 85 percent of that debt is from residential properties. For customers with a seriously delinquent balance of more than $1,000 for over a year, DEP will offer three amnesty options: 

• If 100 percent of the principal bill is paid, 100 percent of interest will be forgiven; 
• If 50 percent of the principal bill is paid, 75 percent of interest will be forgiven; or 
• If 25 percent of the principal bill is paid, 50 percent of interest will be forgiven. 

Customers who owe less than $1,000 are still eligible to receive amnesty on 100 percent of their interest if they pay their total bill. All customers who participate in the water amnesty program and leave a remaining outstanding balance will be required to enter into a payment agreement with DEP. Data shows that 85 percent of customers who set up a payment plan stay on it and successfully clear their debt. 

  

To help low-income customers that already participated in New York State’s Low Income Homeowner Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), DEP is offering up to an additional $30 million to assist these homeowners with forgiveness of up to $5,000 of their remaining delinquent balances. 

  

“Nearly one in four customers is behind on their water bill. This program gives those New Yorkers who fell behind during the pandemic a way to catch up and save money,” Alfonso L. Carney Jr., chairman, New York City Water Board. “The money collected from this program is critical to helping us pay for the vital operation and maintenance of the city’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as funding the critical investments and upgrades we need.” 

  

DEP supplies more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water and treats 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater for more than 9 million New Yorkers every day. The water system’s expenses — which include maintenance, repairs, and capital upgrades — are directly funded by revenue collected from water bills. DEP is facing a growing receivable balance of delinquent accounts, threatening the operations and capital needs of a service the city could not survive without. Customers pay about $0.01 per gallon in both water and sewer charges, and the average New York City household uses about 70,000 gallons of water per year.