Governor Hochul Announces Findings of Investigation into Subway Power Outage

MTA to Implement Mitigation Steps and Improved Protocols to Avoid Repeat of Aug. 29 Incident

 

Governor Directs Review of Operation Control Centers Across Entire MTA to Identify and Fix Any Other Potential Weaknesses 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the findings of an investigation into what caused the widespread power outage on all of the MTA's numbered lines as well as on the L train on Aug. 29. Two outside engineering firms, HDR and WSP, were tasked with investigating and determining a root cause and found that the outage was caused by human error. As a result of the investigation, Governor Hochul is directing a full review of operation control centers across the entire MTA to identify and mitigate any other potential weaknesses.

"On the night of Sunday, Aug. 29, service for subway riders suddenly and unexpectedly shut down, and immediately following the disruption, I directed the MTA to investigate the cause. The teams worked expeditiously to identify the source of the problem and recommend improvements. I am directing mitigation steps to ensure riders are not interrupted by these causes ever again," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in a fully functioning subway system, and it is our job to restore that confidence. I am also directing the MTA to review all operation control centers across the entire system to identify any further potential weaknesses and provide assurance in preventing a situation like this from happening ever again. We will deliver the modernization, enhancements, and reliability that riders deserve."

MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, "The report tasks the MTA with immediately reorganizing how we maintain and manage key systems that support the RCC.  The agency will also install additional cable connections to improve power redundancy in the building, as well as a more comprehensive Building Management System that will provide detailed visibility into the status of the building's electrical distribution, mechanical, and security systems. I want to thank Governor Hochul for really digging into these issues with us and helping to identify lasting solutions."

The reports revealed that the precipitating cause of the loss of power at the New York City Transit Rail Control Center was the byproduct of a manually-activated power-off switch on one of the building's power distribution units. Preliminary indications suggest that the emergency push button might have been accidentally pressed since a plastic guard that would prevent accidental activation was missing.

Failure to restore power for more than an hour appears to have been the result of internal organization and process flaws, with existing organizational maintenance structures at the RCC in need of revision to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The firms investigating the incident also found that the effects of the incident were exacerbated due to the RCC's lack of a power distribution monitoring system. Such a system would provide visibility of the status of key electrical components in the power distribution system.

The reports task the MTA with immediately reorganizing its maintenance management structure at the RCC. As a short-term improvement, the reports recommend that the Authority install additional equipment that will alternate electrical circuits to feed all of the electrical circuits in the building. In the long term, the reports recommended that New York City Transit install and manage a modern Building Management System that will provide detailed visibility of the status of the building's electrical distribution mechanical and security systems.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - Bronx Annual Day of Remembrance

 

Join Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and The Supreme Court of The Bronx County for a day of remembrance and September 11th memorial service 20 years later.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

56,138 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

19 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday  

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

"As we continue to fight COVID-19 and work with localities and all our health providers who are operating our vaccination sites, it is important to remember that we are all in this together - every one of us." Governor Hochul said. "That's how we got through the worst phase of this pandemic, and it's how we'll get to the end of it. The vaccine works. It is our strongest weapon in this fight, and millions of New Yorkers have already taken it and are better protected as a result. Getting vaccinated is not only essential to protect your own health, but the best way to protect everyone around you."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported - 176,675
• Total Positive - 5,402
• Percent Positive - 3.06%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.35%
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,427 (+12)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 316
• Patients in ICU - 520 (+17)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 271 (+6)
• Total Discharges - 195,182 (+277)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 19
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 43,839

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.

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 55,878 

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 - 24,130,905
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 56,138
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 342,509
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 78.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 70.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 81.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 66.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 59.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 68.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 61.1%  

Something You Don't See Everyday On Fordham Road - See Photos

 

It isn't everyday that you see an accident between a MTA bus and two cars, where the MTA bus winds up on the wrong side of the double yellow line. Two ambulances responded to the three vehicle accident but no one seemed to be injured in what seemed to be a fender bender. The accident occured right in front of the Roosevelt High School Campus.  

A front view looking east on Fordham Road, showing an MTA bus on the wrong side of the road, with a livery cab turned sideways blocking two lanes of west bound traffic. a NYC ambulance is opposite the bus.

A view from the rear of the bus with the second ambulance behind it.

The ambulance driver walks up to see if anyone needs medical attention.

You can see the blue paint from the MTA bus clearly on the smashed door of this car, and an MTA employee talking to the driver.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Unemployment Taxes on Employers Poised to Increase to Repay $9B Owed to Federal Government

 

The historic surge in unemployment claims at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly depleted the New York State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund, resulting in the state borrowing from the federal government to pay claims. State UI tax rates have already risen to the highest level permissible under law in 2021. Unless the state or federal government takes significant action, federal UI tax rates on employers will also increase in 2022 and beyond, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“The pandemic put many New Yorkers out of work and forced the state to borrow heavily from the federal government to meet their urgent unemployment claims,” DiNapoli said. “The state currently owes Washington $9 billion and the obligation to pay back this money and rebuild the trust fund balance presents a serious challenge for the state and businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic. Action is needed to avoid hiking costs for New York businesses and slowing the state’s economic recovery.”

The pandemic had a crippling effect on some state businesses and their workforce, causing a historic surge in layoffs and claims for UI benefits. From the fourth quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2020, regular state UI benefits paid increased from $530 million to $6.5 billion – a staggering increase of 1,124%.

New York’s UI trust fund account was not well-positioned to weather the crisis. On January 1, 2020, the balance was $2.65 billion, below the standard recommended by the U.S. Department of Labor. When the pandemic hit, the state began to borrow from the federal government to pay claims in May 2020. As of September 2, 2021, the amount owed to the federal government was $9 billion, down from a high of $10.2 billion at the end of March 2021. The current balance is more than double what was owed during the Great Recession.

Rate Increase

UI benefits are paid for with federal and state taxes collected from employers. State UI tax rates are determined for each employer based on their length of time as a liable employer, utilization of UI benefits by former employees and prior UI tax contributions, and the balance of the UI fund. Rates can grow with increased employee UI claims or a low UI fund balance.

Given the current negative balance in the state unemployment trust fund, 2021 UI rates for New York employers increased to a range of 2.1% to 9.9% of taxable payroll, up from 2020 rates that ranged from 0.6% to 7.9%. As a result, employer tax payments grew between 26% and 160% in 2021. Until the balance in the state account returns to a positive level, employers will continue to make state UI contributions between 2.1% and 9.9%.

If New York continues to hold a negative balance on Jan. 1, 2022 and does not meet certain federal rules by Nov. 10 of this year, employers’ federal tax rates will also go up from 0.6 % to 0.9% for 2022.  The federal tax rates will continue to grow by 0.3% each year until the maximum rate of 6% is hit for as long as New York continues to hold an outstanding balance.

DiNapoli recommended state lawmakers advocate for additional federal support that would relieve employers of new costs that could hamper recovery efforts; monitor existing pandemic relief programs to determine if resources may be available to repay federal advances; and avoid the issuance of state debt to repay the outstanding balance.

Report

Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund: Challenges Ahead

119 Days and Counting

 After my morning briefing, I rushed up to the Bronx to be with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Councilwoman and future Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Councilman Kevin Riley, Community leaders Alonzo de Castro and Shirley Fearon, Sharon Greenberger YMCA of greater NY President & CEO, Meishay Gattis Executive Director of this new Bronx YMCA, and former New York Knick John Starks, to cut this ribbon for this new YMCA that we helped make a dream, come true. 

After all I didn't do for the Bronx while I have been your mayor, it made everyone feel much better that this new YMCA has the hopes as speaker after speaker said will give Northeast Bronx children opportunities they did not have before. 

 

On First Ever NYS Opioid Overdose Awareness Day, Governor Hochul Announces Receipt of $4.25 Million for the Prevention of Prescription Drug and Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths HEALTH

 

Funding Will be Used to Promote Prevention, Increase Education and Awareness, and to Purchase and Distribute Naloxone to Help Save Lives

 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the receipt of grant of $4.25 million over a five-year period from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help prevent prescription drug and opioid overdose-related deaths and adverse events. The grant will fund training for first responders, overdose prevention and other community-based service providers and partners, as well as individuals and families. 

The announcement of this award coincides with the first ever NYS Opioid Overdose Awareness Day. This observance, organized by the NYS Department of Health, honors people who have died of overdoses and celebrates families and frontline workers who are dedicated to saving lives.

"The opioid epidemic is personal for me, having lost a family member to an overdose," Governor Hochul said. "In New York, we are expanding our efforts to combat the crisis by increasing education and awareness and promoting prevention and treatment services. On New York State's first Opioid Overdose Awareness Day, I encourage those struggling with substance abuse to not be discouraged to reach out for help and support. We will continue to work together to end this crisis and help save lives."

The NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports will focus on expanding the knowledge of overdose prevention strategies to "Key Community Sectors" that work with pregnant and postpartum persons and their families, and individuals and families impacted by intimate partner violence. The agency will also work closely with the Native American/Indigenous community and with the LGBT+ community. 

Providers identified will be eligible to receive up to $20,000 to provide overdose prevention trainings to individuals and families and other community-based services providers, and to train others to become overdose prevention providers. Specific providers receiving funding will be identified at a later date.

OASAS will also partner with the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to provide training and naloxone kits to their frontline staff in programs such as OCFS managed domestic violence shelters, the Healthy Families New York home visiting program, and the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaboratives. Additionally, these funds will be used to distribute overdose prevention kits and naloxone to individuals and families receiving training either from OASAS or one of the selected community-based partners.

OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, "We know that fatal overdoses increased last year during the pandemic and we recognize the tremendous stress that people continue to experience. We are very pleased that we were awarded this grant because it will bring resources to the state and add to our efforts to prevent overdoses. Together with our partner agencies, we are developing innovative approaches to reaching vulnerable populations that we may not be able to reach otherwise." 

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "The Department of Health and OASAS have always worked together to combat the devastation of addiction and help prevent overdoses. With this funding, we can continue our commitment to keeping families and loved ones from experiencing loss, while empowering all New Yorkers with the tools necessary to help others and themselves live healthy lives."

A total of 750 individuals will be trained in overdose prevention in the first year of the funding. In year two, this number will increase to 3,000, and thereafter 4,000 people will be trained per year for a total of 15,750 individuals trained by the end of the fifth year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPE line at 1-877-8-HOPENY, 1-877-846-7369, or by texting HOPENY, Short Code 467369.  

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard here or through the NYS OASAS website.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or e-mail.

U.S. Army Reservist Sentenced To 46 Months For Fraud And Money Laundering Scheme Involving Theft Of Millions Of Dollars From Elderly Victims And Businesses

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSEPH IORHEMBA ASAN JR. was sentenced to 46 months in connection with a scheme to commit romance fraud scams and business email compromises against dozens of victims across the United States, defraud banks, and launder millions of dollars in fraud proceeds to co-conspirators based in Nigeria.  ASAN was arrested on October 31, 2019, and pled guilty on December 23, 2020, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud.  Today’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Among the many victims of the internet scamwere engaging online with potential romantic interests. This former serviceman and his co-defendant even laundered money stolen from a U.S. Marine Corps veteran’s organization in one of the conspiracy’s email spoofing schemes. Asan’s crimes have indeed led to his own reversal of his fortune, as this former defender of this country now becomes a federal prisoner.”

According to allegations in documents filed in Manhattan federal court:

From at least in or about February 2018 through at least in or about October 2019, ASAN and his co-defendant CHARLES IFEANYI OGOZY were members of the U.S. Army Reserves who participated in a scheme to commit fraud against dozens of victims across the United States, defraud banks, and launder millions of dollars in fraud proceeds in bank accounts that they controlled.  The funds laundered by ASAN and OGOZY were obtained primarily through: (a) romance scams, in which members of the scheme deluded unsuspecting older women and men into believing they were in a romantic relationship with a fas facilitated by Joseph Asan Jr. were elderly women and men who were callously fooled into believing they ke identity assumed by members of the scheme, and used false pretenses to cause the victims to transfer money to bank accounts under the control of members of the scheme, including ASAN and OGOZY; and (b) business email compromises, in which members of the scheme gained unauthorized access to or spoofed email accounts and impersonated employees of a company or third parties engaged in business with the company in order to fraudulently induce the victims to transfer money to bank accounts under the control of members of the scheme, including ASAN and OGOZY.  Notably, one of the victims of the defendants’ business email compromise scheme included a U.S. Marine Corps veteran’s organization.

In order to launder proceeds from those fraud schemes, ASAN and OGOZY opened several bank accounts in the names of fake businesses called Uxbridge Capital LLC, Renegade Logistics LLC, and Eldadoc Consulting LLC.  In total, ASAN opened at least 10 business bank accounts at eight different banks in the names of these fake businesses, and he used those accounts to receive and transfer to co-conspirators overseas over $1.8 million in fraud proceeds from at least 69 identified victims.  In connection with the opening of the business bank accounts, ASAN made multiple false statements to banks about the purported business of his companies, including misrepresentations that the companies were involved in shipping, real estate, and public relations.  In addition, a significant portion of the laundered funds was deposited and withdrawn in cash that was not able to be traced by law enforcement.

ASAN, 24, of Daytona Beach, Florida, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.  In addition, ASAN was ordered to forfeit $184,723, and to pay restitution of $1,792,015 to victims.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit.  Ms. Strauss also thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in the investigation.