MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF FIRST-IN-THE-NATION VETERANS EMPLOYMENT TOOL

 

VetConnectPro connects Veterans to City and private sector jobs, mentorship, and translates over 7,000 military occupations to civilian service titles

 Mayor de Blasio and the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) today launched VetConnectPro, a first-in-the-nation employment tool that connects Veterans looking for work in the New York City public and private sector to matching employment opportunities. A model for other cities and states, the site provides Veterans and their families access to a wide array of hiring features, including a proprietary military skills translator, a dashboard that provides job postings from city agencies as well as information on local, state, and federal benefits, civil service exams, and recommended online job training.

 

“It’s often challenging for a Veteran who has faithfully served our country to translate the highly specialized abilities and skills that they have learned in the military into the civilian sector when they leave,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’m proud that New York City is leading the way, making it easier than ever for Veterans to find employment, mentorship and resources with this first-in-the-nation tool.”

 

“When Veterans leave the service, they can feel overwhelmed trying to take the wide range of training that they received and showcase their skills to an employer,” said DVS Commissioner James Hendon. “VetConnectPro makes it easy for them to cut through the differences between the military and civilian world so these highly civically-engaged citizens can find jobs with the city and for NYC agencies to identify, reach, and hire Veterans.”

 

New York City is the first major municipality to build an employment tool for Veterans to have access to and connect to local job opportunities. The robust military translator, operated by JobPath, can translate and match over 7,000 military careers to job openings available on the site. The site also includes information about civil service exams, fee waivers for veterans, and special hiring programs for people with disabilities.

 

“Those who have served our country are proven invaluable public servants who strengthen our workforce and the fabric of our city,” said Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson. “This site is another step in our commitment to make New York City the most Veteran friendly city in the country and to help them tap into the rich ecosystem of jobs that are available here. 

 

Two city agencies, the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), are already using VetConnectPro to search for workers and assist Veterans seeking employment with additional agencies joining on an ongoing basis.

 

“SBS is thrilled to partner with DVS in offering this groundbreaking tool for our City's cherished Veterans,” said Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services Jonnel Doris. “We are committed to creating economic opportunity and security for New Yorkers, and this platform creates a holistic one-stop-shop for Veterans to connect to jobs where they can apply their valuable skills to another great purpose.”

 

“MOPD is thrilled to be a part of VetConnectPro, partnering with DVS and JobPath.com to connect all New Yorkers, including Veterans with disabilities, to jobs in city government through the 55-a program and opportunities in the private sector through our Business Development Council. By advancing NYC hiring through state of the art technology, MOPD’s NYC: ATWORK initiative and DVS finally have the system in place to engage and support the city’s largest untapped talent pipeline to obtain their career goals,” said NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities  Commissioner Victor Calise.

 

After launch, VetConnectPro will continue to open the site to private sector companies seeking to hire Veterans or spouses in the five boroughs.

 

VetConnectPro is powered by JobPath, the robust workforce development company that has developed technology to modernize how companies connect to military Veterans and their spouses. Other groups the company has worked with include Paralyzed Veterans of America, Hope for the Warriors, United Way’s Mission United, and the Air Force Association.

 

“We are very excited that the City of New York has chosen our technology as their preferred tool for Veteran hiring,” said Jack Fanous, CEO of JobPath. “JobPath was designed to serve as a technology solution for Veteran hiring, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to match employers to the most qualified candidates.”

 

VetConnectPro is the result of Executive Order 65 signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in March 2021 calling for the creation of a tool that will assist Veterans in finding employment with the city and that will aid agencies in the hiring of Veterans. 

 

Veterans who would like to know more about DVS services can call (212) 416-5250 or visit www.nyc.gov/vets.

 

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 11, 2021

 

109,334 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

39 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"We continue to closely watch the numbers across the state and while we keep our eyes open for any shifting trends, one thing that hasn't changed is this: the vaccine is our best weapon against COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers have showed the nation and the world how to beat back this virus time and time again. Now all we have left to do is make sure everyone, our children included, is getting the shot so we can end this pandemic for good."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 213,940
• Total Positive - 6,545
• Percent Positive - 3.06%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.90%
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,836 (-45)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 245
• Patients in ICU - 374 (-25)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 212 (-12)
• Total Discharges - 210,700 (+237)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 39
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 45,930

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 - 58,449

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 - 28,082,234
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 109,334
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 614,392
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 85.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 77.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 88.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 72.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 65.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 75.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.3%

52 Days and Counting The Vetrans Day Parade on Fifth Avenue

 

Welcome, everybody, to the 102nd Annual Veterans Day Parade. The parade is back in full force, New York City is back, it is a great day. This is the largest parade in the United States of America and this year we feature and salute the Air Force. Thank you, General Brown. And thank you to all the members of the Air Force.  

 

Today, we pay tribute to the men and women who serve us in the armed forces and everyone who has down through the ages. My parents served in the World War II effort, as did my wife’s parents. We know what it means to honor those who were there for us. We have also seen in our family the cost of war and all that our veterans have to carry with them, which means this -- on Veterans Day, we not only praise our veterans, we need to support our veterans. We created the Department of Veteran Services in New York City to make sure veterans have the help they need. So, everyone, if you know a veteran who needs help, if you know a veteran who needs mental health support, if you know a veteran who’s homeless, if you know a veteran who needs a job, reach out that hand and help. Hire a veteran, it would be the best thing you ever do, because they bring so much to all of us.  

 

Everyone, today, New York City stands united in support of our veterans. Thank you for all the armed forces you have done to see us through COVID. We are indebted to all of you. And now, Mr. Grand Marshal, in recognition of your extraordinary service to this nation, we thank you. Fifth Avenue, sir, is yours.  

O.K. Charlene tomorrow all I have to do is go to Belle Harbor to make a speech at the Flight 587 20th Annual Memorial Service, and then appear on the Brian Lehrer radio show at 11, and we are off for the weekend.  

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE RELEASES REPORT ON MATERNAL HEALTH INEQUITIES

 

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today released a report on maternal health inequities, analyzing systemic issues and outlining potential policy solutions. It details issues of maternal morbidity and the pervasive but underdiscussed healthcare disparities that contribute to the problem both nationally and locally.

The report, Equitable Pregnancy Outcomes for Black and Brown New Yorkers, comes as the Public Advocate has been advancing city legislation on maternal health outcomes, and after he and his family shared their personal story and struggles with maternal healthcare inadequacies and inequities. 

"When I first began working on issues of Black and Brown maternal health, and on these bills, I had no idea how personally it would affect my family– but I knew, I had met and spoken with, the families of so many who had experienced inequity and tragic loss.” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams on the release of the report. “This report details the causes of maternal morbidity, the deep disparities in who receives adequate care and who faces greatest pain and tragedy. It tells the stories behind the statistics, and highlights solutions that can save lives. It is critical, it is urgent, that we pass these bills in the City Council, and continue the work on a state and federal level, to help promote health and prevent tragedy from pre to post-pregnancy."

Maternal health inequities are a national issue, and that disparity is magnified and exacerbated in New York. Nationally, Black and Native American women are three times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy related case – while in New York City, Black women are 8 times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy-related cause, and nearly 3 times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity than white women. In 2017, Black women gave birth to 23% of New York City babies, yet accounted for 55% of maternal deaths. Black women continue to have worse outcomes than their white counterparts regardless of insurance or socio-economic status. 

These inequities, and the tragic losses they represent, stem from a number of factors detailed in the report. Causes identified include access to care, quality of care, prevalence of chronic illness, structural racism, socioeconomic inequities, and implicit biases within the healthcare system.

To begin to address these inequities, the report includes the following recommendations:

• The New York City Council needs to pass the Public Advocate’s maternal health legislative package, including bills to establish a maternal health bill of rights and require employers to hold an onboarding meeting to discuss an employee's reintegration back into the workplace after parental leave, as well as a resolution calling for passage of the federal Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021.
• New York City needs to expand its comprehensive plan to reduce maternal death from 5 years to 10 years.
• New York City’s Health + Hospitals Corporation needs to incorporate the World Health Organization’s recommendations for improving outcomes of preterm births.
• New York City Health + Hospitals needs to include information on maternal mortality rates and the number of severe maternal morbidity cases in its annual Community Health Needs Assessment report.
• New York State must enact legislation to require public and private health care facilities to incorporate a biannual anti bias training for women and birthing people of more color, as well as a training focused on creating trans-inclusive, gender affirming environments for TGNC patients.
• The state must also enact legislation that would require health insurance plans to provide free coverage of midwifery and doula services to expectant persons at a liveable wage.
• The U.S. Congress needs to pass and the President needs to sign the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. 

After having worked on addressing Black maternal health throughout his first two years in office, and introducing legislation on the issue this summer, the Public Advocate and his wife, India Sneed-Williams, publicly shared their personal experiences with health inequities earlier this week. After struggles with fertility, miscarriage, cancer diagnosis, and healthcare providers who failed to listen to or provide crucial options for the couple, they announced Monday that they are expecting a ‘miracle baby.’ Learn more about their journey here. 

They hope that by sharing their story, they can help empower individuals to self-advocate for and receive more culturally responsive, equitable reproductive healthcare, and help to advance systemic change to confront ongoing inequities in New York City and beyond through solutions detailed in this report.

View and download the full report here.

NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez - Happy Veterans Day!

Office of Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

Today we honor the brave women and men that have sacrificed so much for this country. We must continue to support our troops abroad as well as those at home. Many of our soldiers are still struggling to recuperate from the after-effects of war. Let us continue to ensure that all of our soldiers and veterans across our country receive the services and resources they need!

I hope you and your family have a happy Veterans Day!

Sincerely,

Ydanis Rodriguez

Council Member, District 10

Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Meeting - A Farewell to Councilman Mark Gjonaj

 

It was a happy, but sad Tuesday evening for the November Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association, it's President Edith Blitzer, and Councilman Mark Gjonaj. It was the final meeting in his ten year political career. Six as an Assemblyman and four as a City Council member. 

PPNA  President Edith Blitzer said 'we will miss you Mark', and Councilman Gjonaj said 'It was on this very spot Barnes and Lydig Avenues) where my political career began, and this is the last PPNA meeting I will be attending as your councilman. Also at the meeting was Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez who took over from Gjonaj in the State Assembly from the 80th A.D.

State Senator Biaggi was also invited to the meeting, but her office said the senator was still recovering from a bout with the COVIC virus she had gotten. It was the Mark Gjonaj show when it came to taking questions from the audience, as it has been, with Councilman Gjonaj trying to give all the answers including a question on the state's passage of new laws concerning the possession and sale of Marijuana. Before Assemblywoman Fernandez could answer, Councilman Gjonaj was on to the next question. She had to return to the question to give her answer. Mark Gjonaj said that he will still be Councilman Gjonaj until the end of the second day of January, and that he will still be very active in the community.

PPNA President Edith Blitzer thanking Councilman Mark Gjonaj for his ten years of service to the Pelham Parkway community, where he was always a friend of. L - R are PPNA Treasurer Elio Morales, Secretary Louis Lutnik, President Edith Blitzer, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, Councilman Mark Gjonaj, and PPNA Vice-President Steve Glosser.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj said that he was still in office until the end of January 2, 2022, and that he was going nowhere, thanking Ms. Blitzer and her late husband for their support in his first race for the 80th Assembly.

As usual Mark Gjonaj wanted to answer all questions.

Assemblywoman Fernandez had a hard time getting a word in on some of the questions that related to the state assembly. 

The last matter of business was to raffle off turkey vouchers to the extra large crowd in attendance. 

Governor Hochul Announces More Than 100,000 Vaccines Administered in Last 24 Hours - NOVEMBER 10, 2021

 

29 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

New Vaccine Data Added to Health Data NY

Parents Encouraged to Visit State Website For Helpful Info About Child Vaccination

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

"I'm proud of New Yorkers for stepping up, with over 100,000 people being vaccinated in the last 24 hours," Governor Hochul said. "Every day and with each vaccination we get closer to beating this pandemic. We need every New Yorker, especially children who are now eligible, to get vaccinated - so sign up for your shot today." 

As part of Governor Hochul's transparency plan designed to dramatically increase access to data and information and continue the process of rebuilding New Yorkers' trust in State government, new data has been published on the Health Data NY website. The data includes:

• Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHA) Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs) Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Hospice Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Nursing Home and Adult Care Facility Resident & Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations
• COVID-19 Testing by Zip Code  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 153,396
• Total Positive - 5,138 
• Percent Positive - 3.35%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.78% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,881 (+3) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 279 
• Patients in ICU - 399 (+21) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 224 (+9) 
• Total Discharges - 210,463 (+255) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 29 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 45,891

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 - 58,449 

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 - 27,972,900 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 109,257 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 580,548 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 85.0% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 77.2% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 88.5% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 72.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 65.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 75.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.3%

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS NEW COMMISSIONERS TO COMMISSION ON GENDER EQUITY

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the appointment of three new Commissioners to the Commission on Gender Equity (CGE), an agency tasked with supporting City agencies in dismantling institutional barriers for women, girls, transgender, and gender non-binary New Yorkers.

These new appointees are community leaders, advocates, founders, and creators of organizations that break down gendered barriers across New York City. The new Commissioners will work with CGE and the current Commissioners as partners and ambassadors for CGE's work and the broader gender equity efforts of the de Blasio Administration. The newly appointed Commissioners.

Imara Jones, Creator of Translash Medi

Kiara St. James, Founder and Executive Director of New York Transgender Advocacy Group

Shyama Venkateswar, Senior Director of Learning, Seramount   

“Building a recovery for all of us means ensuring every New Yorker is guaranteed opportunities, acceptance, and support,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These new members will help us ensure we never go back to the status quo and instead create a fairer, more equitable city for every resident, regardless of gender.” 

 

“When we launched the Commission on Gender Equity, our mission was to make sure government represents, serves, and supports ALL New Yorkers, no matter their gender, ethnicity, income or who they love,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “Over the past six years we have reached historic milestones becoming the first city in the nation to enforce a Salary History Ban, to implement Paid Sick and Safe Leave and to create a Pay Equity Cabinet. Under the leadership of these new commissioners, we will build on that foundation and continue the fight for gender equity.”

 

“The only way to create a just society and a better, stronger New York is through gender equity,” said Imara Jones. “The legacy of the patriarchy is still a fact for too many New Yorkers and it causes violence in all its forms—physical, political, financial and cultural—to be an unnecessary reality. By righting these wrongs of the past today, specifically by creating a city and country where all genders can thrive, we will foster a world where we can all live freely.”

“As a Black woman of trans experience it is with extreme honor to be part of such a progressive and intentional committee that will work hard to uplift the voices of all women,” said Kiara St. James. “It is my honor to further this work on behalf of the de Blasio Administration and help build a fairer, more equitable, and more inclusive city for New Yorkers.” 

"I am thrilled to be working with the other members of the Commission on Gender Equity to bring thought leadership to intentionally advance an equity-based public policy agenda that makes critical investments in families and communities,” said Shyama Venkateswar. “Committing our collective efforts towards gender parity can help to transform the lives of millions of New Yorkers - women, girls, transgender and gender non-conforming persons - towards greater well-being and inclusion. We have a rare opportunity at this moment to make transformational change, and it is an honor to be asked to serve by the Mayor in an advisory capacity on issues so close to my heart and to which I have been deeply committed for more than three decades.” 

 

“I am pleased to welcome Imara, Kiara, and Shyama to the Commission on Gender Equity as we work to advance economic mobility and opportunity, health and reproductive justice, and safety for all New Yorkers, regardless of gender identity, gender expression or background,” said Jacqueline Ebanks, Executive Director, NYC Commission on Gender Equity. “I am confident that their tremendous professional and personal knowledge, insight, and experience will contribute greatly to our efforts.” 

 

“COVID-19 has shown us just how central advancing gender and racial equity is to our overall goal of a New York City that works for all,” said Silda Palerm, Co-Chair, NYC Commission on Gender Equity. “I am confident that the dedication, relationships, and knowledge that these new Commissioners bring will prove most critical in advancing our agenda. I look forward to getting to work.”