DEC Announces Start of 2024 'NYHABS' Online Notification and Reporting System for Harmful Algal Blooms

 

Interactive Map Displays Bloom Locations DEC Encourages New Yorkers to "Know it, Avoid it, Report it"

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald remind New Yorkers to learn about and be aware of harmful algal blooms, or "HABs," as the 2024 HABs notification season starts. DEC's New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) is now active, providing New Yorkers, including trained citizens, to send reports of HABs to DEC electronically via a simple user- and mobile phone-friendly form.  

“As New York experiences warming temperatures, DEC is working closely with the State Department of Health and our local partners to investigate harmful algal blooms and make significant investments to prevent excess nutrients and other contaminants from negatively affecting water quality,” DEC Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “DEC’s updated map and reporting system allows for more effective monitoring of potential threats to the health or recreational use of waterbodies, and we encourage New Yorkers to be on the lookout for HABs and report any sightings.” 

DEC and DOH evaluates HABs reports and once confirmed, reports are posted to the NYHABS page. The system features an interactive map of current and archived bloom locations to help keep New Yorkers informed about potential HABs. With resources such as the online HABs map and reporting system, New York continues to be a national leader in supporting initiatives to address HABs across the state and to ensure effective communication to the public. DEC works with DOH, the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), and other State and local partners in leading the most comprehensive HABs monitoring and reporting program in the nation. In cooperation with its partners, DEC monitors hundreds of waterbodies annually and works with DOH and OPRHP to ensure the public and environment are protected. 

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Exposure to harmful algae blooms can cause health effects in people and animals, including pets, when water with blooms is touched, swallowed, or when airborne droplets are inhaled. New York State is aggressively proactive in monitoring and combatting these blooms to protect public health, and this new map and reporting system will allow New Yorkers to better ‘Know it, Avoid it, and Report it.’”

While cyanobacteria are naturally occurring in the environment, certain conditions lead to accumulations that become HABs. Blooms are likely triggered by a combination of factors that include excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, lots of sunlight, low-water or low-flow conditions, calm water, and warm temperatures. HAB occurrence and reporting typically increase throughout the season with the most reports received during the warmest months of August and September. Regardless of the presence of toxins, HABs can pose a risk to public health. 

 

When it comes to HABs, DEC encourages New Yorkers to “KNOW IT, AVOID IT, REPORT IT.” 

 

KNOW IT - HABs vary in appearance from scattered green dots in the water, to long, linear green streaks, pea soup or spilled green paint, to blue-green or white coloration.  

 

AVOID IT - People, pets, and livestock should avoid contact with water that is discolored or has algal scums on the surface.  

 

REPORT IT - If members of the public suspect a HAB, report it through the NYHABs online reporting form available on DEC's website. Symptoms or health concerns related to HABs should be reported to DOH at harmfulalgae@health.ny.gov. 

For more information about HABs, including bloom notifications, which are updated daily through fall, visit DEC’s Harmful Algal Blooms webpage. The HAB Program Guide, which includes information and links to resources regarding bloom prevention, management, and control, can also be downloaded from the DEC website. Visit DOH's website for DOH’s public health information.

 

DEC water quality monitoring programs such as the Lake Classification and Inventory Program conduct HAB monitoring statewide to complement data and information generated by NYHABS. These programs carry out monitoring surveys that generate datasets to characterize statewide conditions. These monitoring strategies are well established, recommended, and utilized by DEC’s federal partners such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and help identify occurrences of HABs that inform statewide HAB trends analyses. Surface water quality data generated by DEC is reviewed according to standard quality assurance procedures and made publicly available through the Division of Water Monitoring Portal. These data, along with applied research efforts, provide insight into management of HABs and water quality issues across New York. DEC’s Harmful Algal Blooms webpage provides access to these research efforts targeting management of HABs in addition to information on understanding HABs, potential health risks, and efforts to develop plans to reduce nutrients as the main controllable factor driving HABs. Additionally, DEC published its HABs Research Guide to inform statewide research priorities. 

 

Using the most up-to-date research on controllable causes, DEC established a holistic approach to managing and reducing HABs in the state. DEC’s approach includes:

• Deliberate Clean Water Planning to improve nutrient reduction efforts;
• Funding to implement nutrient reduction;
• Applied research on HABs; and
• Short-term HAB mitigation efforts.

Combining these long- and short-term strategies along with advancing research and understanding of HABs provides a strong and foundation for HAB reduction and management in New York State.  

To date, New York has awarded more than $428 million in grants designed to reduce the frequency of algal blooms across the state by targeting phosphorus and nitrogen pollution, controllable factors that can contribute to the occurrence of HABs, and more than $14 million to research and development, pilot projects, and advanced HABs monitoring.

As directed in Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State initiatives to protect clean water, DEC is currently developing guidance values for phosphorus to reduce the frequency of HABs that negatively impact drinking water quality and access to swimming and recreation in New York’s waters.

In addition, earlier this year Governor Hochul announced 2023 grant awards totaling $56 million to 47 planning and implementation projects aimed at nutrient reduction to help reduce the occurrence of HABs through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program and Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant (NPG). For a full list of 2023 awarded projects click this link. Grant project types that target reduction of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution include wastewater treatment, non-agricultural nonpoint abatement and control, and land acquisition for source water protection. These grants are now open for 2024 applications as part of the recently announced Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). At least $215 million in funding is available through WQIP and up to $3 million in funding is available through NPG.

Governor Hochul Meets With High School Students to Discuss Mental Health and Efforts to Address Harmful Impacts of Social Media

 

Governor Continues Pushing for Nation-Leading Legislation to Combat Addictive Social Media Feeds and Protect Kids Online in Final Weeks of Legislative Session

Governor Kathy Hochul hosted a roundtable with students from Williamsville East High School in Erie County to discuss the youth mental health crisis and the challenges posed by unhealthy and excessive social media use. The Governor reiterated her commitment to enacting nation-leading legislation addressing online safety and the harmful impacts of social media in the final weeks of the 2024 State Legislative Session.

“I've heard from young people across our state about mental health challenges and the harmful impacts of social media,” Governor Hochul said. “Inaction is not an option – we need to act now to combat addictive social media feeds and protect our kids online.”

The Governor is focused on advancing two pieces of legislation by the end of the Legislative Session in June. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act will restrict the addictive features of social media and the New York Child Data Protection Act will restrict the collection of minors’ personal data by online sites.

This commitment is part of the Governor’s broader effort to address the youth mental health crisis and ensure that young people can get the care and resources they need.

In the FY25 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul expanded mental health support for children across the state, fulfilling an agenda she outlined in her State of the State address in January. She announced $20 million in start-up funding for school-based mental health clinics and launched a rolling application to simplify the establishment of these clinics compared to the previous state procurement process. This announcement built on the $5.1 million awarded in November to support 137 new school-based clinics, including 82 at high-needs schools, bringing the total number of clinics to more than 1,200 statewide.

Last year, Governor Hochul also conducted a state-wide listening tour with young New Yorkers and hosted the first-ever state Summit on Youth Mental Health. Following the June 2023 summit, the State released a Youth Mental Health Listening Tour Report, which highlighted some of the key themes incorporated in the recommendations provided by more than 200 participants statewide.

Attorney General James Secures $15.2 Million Judgment Against Unlicensed Cannabis Store Owner in Upstate New York

 

“I’m Stuck” Dispensary Chain Owner David Tulley Fined $15.2 Million for Selling Cannabis Without a License and Ignoring Notices to Stop Operating

New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a $15.2 million judgment in disgorgement and penalties against the owner of seven unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in Cayuga, Oswego, and Wayne counties for operating these stores without a license and for illegally selling cannabis to underage customers. David Tulley, the owner of the unlicensed dispensary chain called “I’m Stuck” and “Weed Warehouse,” ignored repeated notices and orders from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to stop operating. Attorney General James, Governor Hochul, and OCM shut down Tulley’s unlicensed cannabis stores in July and secured eviction notices from the landlords where Tulley’s stores were located. The judgment secured today requires Tulley to pay $7 million in disgorgement, the illegal profits he got from selling cannabis without a license, and $8.2 million in penalties for operating without a license and ignoring OCM notices.

“David Tulley illegally sold cannabis in multiple stores across upstate and central New York and sold unregulated products to underage customers,” said Attorney General James. “These illegal and unlicensed stores are budding up throughout the state and are hurting our communities. Today, David Tulley is paying the $15 million price for his repeated illegal activity. This punishment should serve as a clear warning for all unlicensed cannabis stores in the state: we will enforce the law and shut down your operations.”

New York’s Cannabis Law requires any person who cultivates, processes, or sells any cannabis product to be registered and licensed by the New York State Cannabis Control Board (Cannabis Board).

The law imposes a $10,000 penalty for each day in which an individual sells cannabis without a license, and a $20,000 penalty for each day an individual continues to sell cannabis after receiving an order to cease operating from OCM. Tulley was fined $10,000 per day for selling cannabis without a license, totaling $3.89 million. He was also fined $20,000 per day for continuing to sell cannabis after receiving an order to cease from OCM, totaling $4.34 million. Tulley was ordered to pay $7.01 million in disgorgement for the illegal profits he made from the seven unlicensed cannabis stores. In total, Tulley is required to pay $15.2 million in disgorgement and penalties.

David Tulley operated retail cannabis stores in Cayuga, Oswego, and Wayne counties and was selling cannabis without a license since at least early 2022, before OCM began issuing licenses. Tulley’s stores that were fined were located at:

1. 18-20 Canal Street, Lyons, NY
2. 2020 Crane Brook, Auburn, NY
3. 1944 State Route 104, Ontario, NY
4. 4081 Ridge Road, Williamson, NY
5. 9 East Genesee Street, Auburn, NY
6. 1146 Route 31, Macedon, NY
7. 4865 Jefferson Street, Pulaski, NY

Undercover investigators from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) visited multiple “I’m Stuck” locations owned by Tulley and were able to purchase cannabis products. During the undercover operations, OAG investigators observed that multiple “I’m Stuck” stores sold cannabis to individuals under the age of 21.

Cannabis products sold by unlicensed businesses are not lab tested by OCM facilities, can be unsafe, and are not taxed. The OAG is authorized upon request by OCM to bring a proceeding against any person who violates the Cannabis Law.

Attorney General James thanks OCM for their collaboration.

In December, Attorney General James, Governor Hochul, and OCM shut down a cannabis store in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Big Chief Smoke Shop, for operating without a license. In November, Attorney General James, OCM, and DTF shut down an unlicensed cannabis store in Ontario County.

Former CIA Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Espionage

 

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 71, of Honolulu, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to gather and deliver national defense information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

According to court documents, Ma and a blood relative of his (identified as co-conspirator #1 or CC #1) were naturalized U.S. citizens who were born in Hong Kong and Shanghai, respectively. Both Ma and CC #1 worked for the CIA ­­­­— CC #1 from 1967 until 1983, Ma from 1982 until 1989. As CIA officers, both men held top secret security clearances that granted them access to sensitive and classified CIA information, and signed non-disclosure agreements that required them to maintain the secrecy of that information.

As Ma admitted in the plea agreement, in March 2001, when he no longer worked for the CIA, at the request of intelligence officers employed by the PRC’s Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB), Ma convinced CC #1 to meet with SSSB intelligence officers in a Hong Kong hotel room. Over the course of three days, Ma and CC #1 provided the SSSB with a large volume of classified U.S. national defense information. At the conclusion of the third day, the SSSB intelligence officers provided CC #1 with $50,000 in cash, which Ma counted. Ma and CC #1 also agreed at that time to continue to assist the SSSB.

As detailed in the plea agreement, in March 2003, while living in Hawaii, Ma applied for a job as a contract linguist in the FBI Honolulu Field Office. The FBI, aware of Ma’s ties to PRC intelligence, hired Ma, as part of an investigative plan, to work at an off-site location where his activities could be monitored and his contacts with the PRC investigated. Ma worked for the FBI from August 2004 until October 2012.

Ma further admitted that in February 2006, during this monitored employment by the FBI in Honolulu, Ma convinced CC #1 to provide the identities of at least two individuals depicted in photographs that were provided to Ma by SSSB intelligence officers. The individuals’ identities were and remain classified U.S. national defense information. Ma confessed that he knew that this information, and the information communicated in March 2001, would be used to injure the United States or to benefit the PRC, and he deliberately engaged in the criminal conspiracy with CC #1 and the SSSB anyway.

Under the terms of the parties’ plea agreement, Ma must cooperate with the United States, including by submitting to debriefings by U.S. government agencies. The plea agreement, if accepted by the Court, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Sept. 11.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii, Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Kevin Vorndran of the FBI, and Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill of the FBI Honolulu Field Office made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson conducted the change of the plea hearing.

The FBI Honolulu and Los Angeles Field Offices investigated the case.

Team AOC - Fighting for the Future we all Deserve

 

Alexandria and our organizing team have been connecting with voters across New York’s 14th district: registering voters, having conversations about the issues facing our communities, and holding rallies to build community.

Take a look at some of our events in the last few weeks >>

A just America is worth fighting for. Our families are worth fighting for. Our wages, our healthcare, our education, and our lives are worth fighting for.

This campaign is unique in that we are building organizing power for the long term to transform our political system. Alexandria is a fighter for the people — committed to Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, an elevated living wage, and so much more.

We deserve a future where everyday people are at the center of the table of policy making, where our lives and futures aren’t determined by corporate greed.

Alexandria is committed to fighting for the future we all deserve.

Pa’lante,

Team AOC

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: NYC Tourism Approaches Full Recovery, Still Top Major U.S. Tourist Destination

 

Visitor Spending, Tax Revenues Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels Tourism Related Jobs and International Visitors Still Lag

New York’s tourism sector is approaching a complete recovery as visitor spending and related tax revenue have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The city estimates it will exceed pre-pandemic levels and welcome a record 68 million visitors by 2025.

“The number of tourists is nearly back to pre-pandemic numbers in New York City,” DiNapoli said. “Visitor spending and the tax revenue this industry generates already exceed pre-pandemic levels, but the industry’s recovery won’t be complete until we see a full return of international and business travelers, and a full recovery of local jobs. Our city and state leaders need to focus on keeping New York a desirable and safe destination for individuals and families from around the world.”

In 2023, 62.2 million people visited New York City, about 7% fewer than the 66.6 million who visited in 2019. Though fewer, these visitors spent over $48 billion in 2023, up 1.3% over 2019, as prices have risen over that time, including average daily hotel room rates, which exceeded $300. The uptick is projected to generate a record $4.9 billion in sales and other tourism-related tax revenue for the city in fiscal year (FY) 2024, a 16% jump since FY 2020. This is significant for the city, as the tourism sector’s record $53.8 billion in economic impact in 2022 accounted for 4.5% of the city’s gross product that year.

Domestic travelers, especially those making leisure trips, have led the city’s tourism sector recovery. The 50.6 million U.S. visitors to the Big Apple in 2023 were 7% more than in 2022, equivalent to 95.3% of those who visited in 2019.

International travelers make up about 20% of the city’s visitors, but their return has been slower. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic amid travel restrictions, their numbers fell 82.2% to just 2.4 million. Their numbers grew to 11.6 million in 2023, an increase of 23.4% over the previous year, but down 14.1% from 2019.

Changing patterns among international travelers have affected visitor spending and the city’s tax revenue. Visitors from China, who in 2019 accounted for the largest share of total international spending in New York City, was topped by the United Kingdom in 2023 with $1.9 billion or 9% of international tourist spending in the city. In addition to a decline in the number of visitors from China, their average spending in New York City dropped from $3,000 in 2019 to $2,036 in 2023. Overall international tourism-related spending was down 20.4 percent in 2023 from pre-pandemic levels.

In both domestic and international tourism, business travel has recovered more slowly than leisure travel due in part to the impact of remote work. International business travel to the city declined from 3.4 million visitors in 2019 to about 400,000 in 2021, but has since risen to about 2.3 million in 2023.

New York city led other major U.S. tourist destinations with over 33 million overnight visitors in 2023 driven by domestic travelers. Las Vegas and Los Angeles followed with over 26 million and 21 million overnight visitors respectively. Tourism in New York City is not expected to slow down with over 39 million overnight visitors projected in 2025, compared to Las Vegas and Los Angeles at just over 29 million and 25 million, respectively. Overnight domestic visitors to the city are expected to increase by 12.9 percent from 2023 to 2025, the strongest growth among other major U.S. tourist destinations.

Despite the tourism industry’s ongoing recovery, there are still nearly 30,000 fewer workers in the sector compared to pre-pandemic levels, and the return of jobs has been uneven. Comparing 2023 to 2019, jobs in restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment venues are still down by over 16,500 (10%) with tourism-related retail jobs down by 9,172 (16.8%). From 2019 to 2022, wages among tourism-related jobs grew more slowly than other private sector wages.

DiNapoli’s report notes that major upcoming events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, New York City’s 400th Birthday, and the 250^th anniversary of the nation’s founding are expected to draw record crowds in the coming years.

Report

Tracking the Return: The Tourism Industry in New York City

Other related work

The Tourism Industry in New York City: Reigniting the Return

New York City Restaurant, Retail and Recreation Sectors Still Face Uphill Recovery

Tourism Sector Dashboard

NYC Taxable Sales and Purchases: Resilient Amid Economic Uncertainty

NYC CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION - NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING - MAY 29, 2024

NYC Charter Revision Commission

First Public Meeting of the Charter Revision Commission

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 1 p.m.

Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute Auditorium 

47-49 East 65^th Street, New York, NY 10065

 

FORWARDING: NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING 

The New York City Charter Revision Commission will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 1 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Auditorium at 47-49 East 65^th Street, New York, NY 10065. The Commission will consider proposals for revisions to the New York City Charter for presentation to the voters of the November 5, 2024 general election, and such other matters as may be necessary. 

 

This meeting is open to the public. Because this is a public meeting and not a public hearing, the public will have the opportunity to observe the Commission’s discussions, but not testify before it.  

If you are not able to attend, but wish to watch the meeting, all public hearings and meetings will be livestreamed at the Commission’s website found here: www.nyc.gov/charter. 

 

What if I need assistance to observe the meeting?

 

This location is accessible to individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. With advance notice, American Sign Language interpreters will be available, and members of the public may request induction loop devices and language translation services.  Please make induction loop, language translation or additional accessibility requests by 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, 2024 by emailing the Commission at charterinfo@citycharter.nyc.gov or calling 212-748-0205.  All requests will be accommodated to the extent possible. 

 

Find out more about the New York City Charter Revision Commission by visiting us at our website: www.nyc.gov/charter.

New Renderings Revealed For ‘The Coney’ Casino Master Plan In Coney Island, Brooklyn

 

New renderings have been revealed for The Coney, a massive casino, hotel, and entertainment complex proposed for Coney Island, Brooklyn. From developers Saratoga Casino Holdings, Global Gaming Solutions, Legends, and Thor Equities, the project is the latest in the slew of New York City casino proposals vying for the coveted downstate gaming license. If realized, it would also bring a 32-story, 500-room hotel tower, a 2,500-seat concert venue, 90,000 square feet of meeting and event space, retail and dining establishments, and a public green space to the proverbial People’s Playground.

The Coney’s development plot is bound by Surf Avenue to the north, Jones Walk and the iconic Wonder Wheel to the east, and West 15th Street to the west. Multiple thoroughfares, including West 12th Street, Bowery Street, and Stillwell Avenue/Ruby Jacobs Walk would traverse the property beneath skybridges.

The below dusk and nighttime renderings show Ruby Jacobs Walk, as noted by the presence of the original the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs location and the pinwheel sculpture from the entrance to Luna Park. Floor-to-ceiling windows would clad the lower levels around new tree-lined sidewalks. Above, the buildings’ façades are shown enclosed in a diamond-patterned screen illuminated with colorful lights. A welcome sign adorns one of the skybridges and new amusement rides and landscaped terraces sit atop the buildings’ roofs.

Below is a view looking east at the Wonder Wheel and Cyclone roller coaster in the background, likely situating the point of view by the end of West 12th Street.

The following aerial perspective shows The Coney’s location in relation to the adjacent boardwalk and beach. The hotel tower’s massing is composed of multiple rounded rectangular volumes of various heights, and its glass curtain wall features a prismatic design with triangular panels, complementing the diagrid structure of the casino buildings below. The pinnacle of the tower is enclosed in a colorful mosaic reminiscent of stained glass.

Visitors would have panoramic vistas of the entire Coney Island beach, Luna Park, and the Atlantic Ocean from the outdoor terrace space atop the podium. Views from the hotel rooms would be even more expansive.

The below rendering depicts The Coney from the elevated Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway terminal, which is served by the D, F, N and Q trains. The hotel tower and property signage would dominate the view from the platforms. 

The master plan must first be reviewed by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, followed by further public input from local residents and a study of the neighborhood impact before becoming an eligible candidate for the gaming license. The latter decision, while accounting for the other proposed casino sites in New York City, is expected to occur sometime next year.

The Coney is anticipated to create nearly 4,000 jobs, and the developers plan to establish an on-site resource center to combat gaming addiction and enforce proper staff training to ensure a “welcoming, fun, and responsible environment for all” visitors.

“For two years we have been speaking with the residents of Coney Island and Southern Brooklyn about the need for a project that creates careers, supports local businesses, and centers entertainment around the idea of a playground that is truly accessible to the people,” said Sam Gerrity, CEO of Saratoga Casino Holdings, in a statement. “We have heard time and time again that Coney Island needs a project that provides year-round economic support while also lifting up the infrastructure in one of the most densely traveled areas of the community.”

“The Coney will be a world-class destination with activities for locals and tourists alike,” said Dan Boren, board chairman for Global Gaming Solutions and secretary of commerce for the Chickasaw Nation. “We have worked closely with the community and local business owners to put together a proposal that is designed to create thousands of good paying jobs and lift the entire local economy, benefitting Coney Island and all of Brooklyn.”

A handful of low-rise food and retail structures currently line Surf Avenue and several park attractions cover the general development area. All or most of these will likely require demolition should The Coney win approval for construction. An architect has yet to be revealed for the project.