Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 -FEBRUARY 3, 2023

 

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

25 Statewide Deaths Reported on February 2

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating 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 28, shows influenza remaining widespread throughout the state for a seventeenth consecutive week, with a total of 308,279 positive cases across 57 counties reported to date. The report found that confirmed cases statewide dropped 34 percent to 2,937 for the week, while overall hospitalizations were down 35 percent from the previous week, at 304 hospitalizations across the state.

Additionally, there were 6 outbreaks in acute care and long-term care facilities, the report determined. There was one influenza-associated pediatric death reported this week, bringing the total to nine 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 - 16.41
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 14.57
• Test Results Reported - 48,960
• Total Positive - 3,206
• Percent Positive - 6.33%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.55%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,470 (-93)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 362
• Patients in ICU - 254 (-16)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 99 (-12)
• Total Discharges - 396,812 (+414)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 25
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 61,406

** 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 - 78,037

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.

• Total vaccine doses administered - 43,707,866
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 6,670
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 44,349
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 85.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 90.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older who are up to date - 15.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series - 74.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 who are up to date - 6.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed vaccine series - 40.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 40.8%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 5-11 who are up to date - 3.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 with completed vaccine series - 7.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 0-4 who are up to date - 7.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 76.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 80.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers who are up to date - 13.6%

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

Borough	Tuesday,   January   31, 2023	Wed.   February   1, 2023	Thursday,   February   2, 2023
Bronx	5.68%	5.65%	5.58%
Kings	3.66%	3.26%	3.33%
New York	4.71%	4.63%	4.57%
Queens	5.50%	5.24%	5.19%
Richmond	5.46%	5.36%	5.17%

WITH ARCTIC BLAST ON THE WAY, NYC ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES REMINDS NEW YORKERS THAT -- EVEN IN COLD WEATHER -- INFANTS SHOULD NEVER SLEEP WITH BLANKETS OR IN BEDS

 

To Keep Warm, Caregivers Should Put Babies to Sleep in Sleep Sacks or In an Extra Layer of Infant Clothing

Ahead of the arctic blast expected to hit New York City this weekend, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) is reminding parents and caregivers with infants how to keep their babies warm and safe while sleeping. There is serious danger associated with babies less than a year-old sleeping with parents, siblings or others in adult beds, or sleeping with blankets or quilts, which can create a risk of suffocation. To keep babies warm and safe, parents and caregivers are urged to dress babies in an extra layer of infant clothing or in a wearable blanket, such as a sleep sack.

“With freezing temperatures set to hit New York City this weekend, ACS is helping make sure that all New Yorkers caring for infants know how to put their babies to sleep in a way that will keep them both safe and warm,” said ACS Commissioner Jess Dannhauser. “Out of the best of intentions to keep our beloved little ones warm, we can unintentionally put them in danger. We’re reminding parents and caregivers that infants should sleep alone, on their backs, and in their own cribs free of blankets or other items.”

ACS’s cold weather reminder is part of an ongoing effort to help parents prevent unintentional injuries to their children. In 2021, ACS created a brand-new office, The Office of Child Safety and Injury Prevention, which supports ongoing child safety campaigns, including those related to unsafe sleep practices, hot car tragedies, window guards, unsafe storage of prescription medications and, most recently, pediatric exposures to cannabis edibles. Every year about 40 or more babies in New York City die from suffocation and other preventable sleep-related injuries. A sleep-related injury death is the sudden death of an infant less than 1 year old that occurs because of where and/or how they were placed to sleep. Sleep-related infant injury death is not the same as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or “crib death.” SIDS is the natural death of a baby that cannot be explained after a careful medical review of the case. Unlike SIDS, sleep-related infant injury deaths are mostly preventable.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to learn the ABCs of safe sleep. Infants should sleep Alone, on their Backs, in a safety-approved Crib. Parents should also remember the following five things during the winter weather:

1. Avoid bringing the baby into bed with you, even if you think it will keep the baby warmer. A baby must never sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair with anyone. Babies may suffocate if another person accidentally rolls on top of them or covers their nose and mouth.

2. Keep soft objects, loose bedding, or any other items that could increase the risk of suffocation out of the baby’s sleep area.

3. When worried about a baby getting cold, dress them in a wearable blanket, such as a sleep sack, or in another layer of infant clothing.

4. Place babies on their backs to sleep. Babies breathe better on their backs than on their stomachs or sides.

5. Put babies to sleep on a flat, firm sleep surface with a fitted sheet made for that specific product. Though it might seem more comfortable to put a pillow on top of the mattress, babies may suffocate on the soft surface.

 

Over the years, ACS has engaged in important campaigns to help increase awareness about safe sleep practices. ACS is working to reach families proactively with educational messages and services that can support healthy children, families and communities.

 

Pursuant to New York City’s Housing Maintenance Code, building owners are legally required to provide heat and hot water to their tenants. New Yorkers should contact 311 to file a complaint if indoor temperatures are not compliant with the Code in cold weather. New Yorkers should contact 311 to file complaint if indoor temperatures are not in compliance with the Housing Maintenance Code.

 

For more information on infant safe sleep best practices or resources in your community, visit: www.nyc.gov/safesleep or call 311 and ask for Safe Sleep.

Texas Man Sentenced For Felony Charges Related to Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

 

Defendant Carried Flagpole Into Capitol, Joined in Confrontations With Officers

A Texas man was sentenced for felony charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers, during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Joshua Lee Hernandez, 29, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison.  Hernandez pleaded guilty on November 2, 2022, in the District of Columbia, to assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers, and interfering with officers during a civil disorder. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered 36 months of supervised release, and a $2,000 special assessment.

According to court documents, Hernandez traveled from Memphis, Tennessee, to Washington, D.C. On Jan. 6, 2021, he illegally entered the restricted grounds of the Capitol, heading to the Lower West Terrace area, and inciting the crowd by waving a flag and chanting. At 2:13 p.m., he entered the Capitol through a window near the Senate Wing Doors, carrying a flagpole. Over the next 40 minutes, he moved through the Senate Wing, the Crypt, the House Speaker’s Conference Room, and the Rotunda, among various places, with the flagpole.

Between 2:35 and 2:40 p.m., Hernandez joined rioters who were confronting law enforcement officers at the East Rotunda interior door. He shouted and waved at others to join him in a group push against the officers in order for the mob to open the doors to other rioters outside. He braced and pushed with the group, causing the East Rotunda doors to open to those outside. He then moved around the group of rioters, moved his flagpole up, reached with it over top of the group of rioters surrounding the officers, and hit one officer on his riot helmet with the flagpole.  

At 2:46 p.m., Hernandez entered the Senate Gallery, carrying the flagpole.  He left the Gallery after a few minutes, exiting the Capitol at 2:52 p.m.

Hernandez was arrested on Feb. 23, 2022, in Memphis.

This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Memphis Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Hernandez as #27 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

In the 24 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 950 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 284 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.  

 Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Thruway Authority Toll Increases Should Be Last Option

 

The New York State Thruway Authority (Thruway) has proposed a multi-year schedule of systemwide toll increases to begin in 2024, but a new report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli identifies concerns with the proposal and urges the Thruway to first improve its operations and maximize non-toll revenues. DiNapoli’s office reviewed a decade of the Thruway’s finances and the toll hike proposal and found gaps in essential information necessary to evaluate the proposal.

“The Thruway Authority’s toll increase proposal comes at a time of extraordinary challenges for New Yorkers who are faced with rising costs for everything from food to shelter to gas,” DiNapoli said. “The Thruway should be more transparent with the public and disclose critical information, and identify and put in place all possible cost-savings and alternative revenue actions to minimize costs to drivers. Raising tolls should be the last option, and the Thruway has more work to do.”

In December 2022, the Thruway’s Board of Directors began the process of implementing a multi-year schedule of systemwide toll increases. The proposal calls for higher toll rates that would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and again on Jan. 1, 2027, for the highway system and barriers, and annually over four years beginning in 2024 for the Governor Mario M. Cuomo (Cuomo) Bridge. It also expands the rate differential between New York-issued E-ZPass users and all others. The toll increases are expected to grow toll revenue by 28.4%, or $1.9 billion, through 2031. The last toll hikes occurred in January 2021, when tolls were increased for the Cuomo Bridge, those paying through the mail and drivers from out-of-state, and again in January 2022 for the Cuomo Bridge.

DiNapoli’s report found that the Thruway’s finances and operations have been influenced by five key factors over the last decade:

• Implementation of cashless tolling and problems with Tolls by Mail (TBM) system. The Thruway’s implementation of cashless tolling was completed in November 2020. In 2022, Thruway leadership reported this modernization effort had not yet produced cost savings or efficiencies. In addition, problems including erroneous bills and significant fines and penalties prompted calls from state officials and the public for the Thruway to make sure the system was functioning as intended. An audit of the Thruway’s cashless tolls program was engaged by DiNapoli in April 2022 and is in progress.
• Sharp declines in traffic and toll revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a significant drop in traffic which caused toll revenues to decline 16.8% in 2020 before rebounding in 2021. Ongoing uncertainty due to the pandemic along with changes in reporting due to cashless tolling make it difficult to ascertain whether traffic pattern projections, upon which the toll increases are based, are reasonable and appropriate.
• Construction of the Cuomo Bridge. Between 2012 and 2021, $3.8 billion was spent on the bridge – more than half of the Thruway’s capital spending – with an additional $254 million budgeted through 2024. The state contributed $2.3 billion toward the cost of the Cuomo Bridge and other projects, but remaining capital costs associated with the bridge have been financed with Thruway debt.
• Debt management practices. Annual debt service on the Thruway’s currently outstanding debt is projected to grow to over $419 million by 2031, up 36.1% from 2022. This debt, along with additional borrowings proposed under the Thruway’s new 2023 to 2027 Capital Plan would cause debt service to grow nearly 61% by 2031. This growing debt service burden reflects both the impact of the Cuomo Bridge and prior debt management decisions to structure debt to prioritize short-term savings at the expense of long-term finances by deferring debt repayment into future years.
• Shifting financial obligations. While the Thruway was intended to be mostly self-financing, it benefited from $2.3 billion in support from the state during the construction of the Cuomo Bridge. At the same time, however, the Executive pushed forth a toll freeze through 2020. The state has also made major shifts in responsibility pertaining to its financial and operating obligations – including those of the Canal Corporation and State Police – making effective long-term planning difficult and blurring the lines between the state and the Thruway. In addition, the state has relied on the Thruway as a “backdoor borrowing” financing vehicle with more than $5 billion in state-supported Thruway debt outstanding, hindering transparency.

DiNapoli urged that before any tolls are increased, the Thruway address the following concerns:

• Resolve systemwide cashless tolling and TBM issues. Before asking system users to pay more, the Thruway should address its implementation problems and ensure that it has a clear and accurate forecast upon which to base its revenue estimates. The Thruway should also provide better documentation and disclosure of the assumptions used to develop the revenue and traffic projections that support its proposal. State legislative proposals intended to address some of the challenges associated with cashless tolling and improve transparency should be considered.    
• Perform a comprehensive assessment of operating needs and expenses to identify costs that may no longer be necessary. Since 2012, there has been a significant decline in the number of Thruway staff, while its reliance on procurements has increased. Reporting of key performance indicators is essential to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and transparency. In addition, savings from better coordination with other state agencies or authorities should be explored.
• Maximize non-toll revenue sources, including federal funding as well as revenue streams that could be generated from its assets and infrastructure. As shown by recent major increases in revenue from its fiber optic system, the Thruway should pursue alternative revenue streams from its service areas and gasoline stations, special permits, and other property. With significant new federal infrastructure and other funds available, the Thruway should demonstrate that it has exhausted all such funding opportunities.
• Disclose capital needs assessment to justify cost projections. The Thruway’s new $1.9 billion Capital Program for 2023 through 2027 and associated debt costs are cited as part of the justification for the toll increases. However, there are significant gaps in available information related to the management and condition of its assets and its capital needs. The Thruway has not provided a comprehensive capital needs assessment that would allow policymakers and the public to understand the condition of the system and to evaluate whether it is effectively prioritizing projects and targeting funds to essential capital projects.

Report

Assessment of New York State Thruway Authority Finances and Proposed Toll Increases

Permits Filed For 1647 Popham Avenue In Morris Heights, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a six-story residential building at 1647 Popham Avenue in Morris Heights, The Bronx. Located between West 175th and West 176th Streets, the lot is closest to the 176th Street subway station, serviced by the 4 train. New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 59-foot-tall development will yield 16,693 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 17 rentals, most likely five one-bedrooms and 12 two-bedroom units, with an average unit scope of 981 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and a 33-foot-long rear yard.

John Coogan of OCV Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

General Contractor And Real Estate Developer Plead Guilty In Connection With Worker Death On Construction Site In Poughkeepsie

 

Onekey, LLC, and Finbar O’Neill Convicted on Charges of Willfully Violating OSHA Regulations Resulting in Death of Construction Worker

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ONEKEY, LLC, a New Jersey construction company, and its principal, FINBAR O’NEILL, pled guilty to willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) regulations, resulting in the death of a construction worker (“Victim-1”) in Poughkeepsie, New York, on or about August 3, 2017.  The defendants pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison, to whom the case is assigned.  The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Onekey, a construction company, and its principal, Finbar O’Neill, endangered the safety of their workers by willfully disregarding regulations and taking shortcuts to sidestep their safety obligations.  This conduct led to the tragic death of a worker on a construction site.  Today’s guilty plea should serve as a reminder to all businesses that failure to comply with safety regulations endangers their workers and unfairly disadvantages business that are following the rules, and this Office will hold you accountable.”

According to statements and filings in federal court:

In 2017, ONEKEY and O’NEILL implemented a soil compaction plan at a construction site at 1 Dutchess Avenue in Poughkeepsie.  The soil compaction plan involved piling large quantities of dirt, called “surcharges,” on top of the sites of three future buildings.  An engineering firm designed a plan for the use of the surcharges.  ONEKEY and O’NEILL did not follow this plan.  Instead, they built a wall to hold back one of the surcharges, so workers could get started on the buildings next to it.  ONEKEY and O’NEILL did not consult with any qualified person to see if the wall could withstand the weight to be placed on it by the surcharge. 

While people were working next to the wall, ONEKEY kept using construction machinery to add dirt to the surcharge pressing up against the wall.  The people working near the wall were not warned about the dangers it created.  ONEKEY and O’NEILL heard from people working at the site that the wall was not safe.  They did not fix the wall.

On August 3, 2017, workers complained that construction machines were driving on top of the surcharge, adding dirt to it.  Later that day, the wall collapsed.  As it fell, Victim-1 ran away from the wall, but he could not get away in time and was killed.

ONEKEY, LLC, a New Jersey corporation, pled guilty to one count of willful violation of OSHA regulations resulting in death.  The foregoing count carries a maximum fine of $500,000.  FINBAR O’NEILL, 57, of Paramus, New Jersey, pled guilty to one of count of willful violation of OSHA regulations resulting in death.  The foregoing count carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.  

The maximum potential penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of OSHA and the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”).

VCJC News & Notes 2/3/23

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 2/3/23 @ 4:57 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  VCJC is sponsoring a special Tu B’Shevat Kiddush right after morning services.  Everyone is welcome.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 2/4/23 @ 6:02 pm   Sisterhood Meeting February 5th Sisterhood meeting at 10:30 am in the game room.  Refreshments will be served   Tuesday, February 6th is Tu B’Shevat Jewish Arbor Day. Van Cortlandt Jewish Center 3880 Sedgwick Ave Bronx, NY 10463