SENATOR RIVERA ON VOTING IN FAVOR OF VACCINATION PACKAGE INCLUDING BILL TO ELIMINATE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS

"While I strongly believe in honoring individual rights as they are protected by our Constitution, I also believe that individual rights should not supersede the safety of the general public. That is why after taking the time to listen to both sides of this issue and after careful deliberation, I voted in favor of this vaccination package.  I understand that there are parents across the State that have concerns or religious objections to having their child vaccinated, but as the Chair of the Senate Health Committee my main responsibility is to protect our State's public health. As we face the highest number of confirmed measles cases in recent history, it is necessary to implement measures to curtail this alarming outbreak and prevent future ones from ever happening. By setting stronger, more uniform statewide vaccination standards and further educating New Yorkers about the effectiveness of immunizations, we are taking action to protect our communities' public health. I strongly believe that this is the most prudent option for families and communities across New York State."

HEALTH DEPARTMENT CLOSES TWO WILLIAMSBURG SCHOOLS FOR VIOLATING COMMISSIONER’S ORDER DURING MEASLES OUTBREAK

To date, the Health Department has issued twelve school closure orders since the April 9 measles Emergency Order

Since the April 9 Emergency Order, 51,124 MMR vaccinations have been administered to children 6 months to 18 years citywide, a 38% increase compared to the same time period last year; of those, 3,844 were administered to children from Williamsburg – a 99% increase compared to the same time period last year

588 cases have been confirmed since the beginning of a measles outbreak last October.

  The Health Department announced today that it has closed two schools in Williamsburg for failing to comply with an Order of the Health Commissioner in response to the current measles outbreak. UTA of Williamsburg – Yeshiva Torah V’Yirah (590 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, NY 11249) was closed today for failing to provide sufficient proof of immunity for a child who was present at the school and for allowing unvaccinated children and staff on site. UTA 212 (212 Williamsburg Street, Williamsburg, NY 11211) was closed for allowing 35 students who were either unvaccinated or did not have the required number of doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to attend school. The schools will not be allowed to reopen until the Health Department reviews and approves a submitted corrective action plan that addresses the lapses in complying with the Commissioner’s Order. The Health Department had previously closed ten schools—including one of the programs closed today—for failing to comply with the Commissioner’s Order. This is the second time UTA of Williamsburg – Yeshiva Torah V’Yirah (590 Bedford Avenue) has been closed for violating the Commissioner’s Order.

“The spread of measles may be slowing down but we are not,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “This is a message to all schools that have been ordered to exclude unvaccinated children -- we will not stop our enforcement until the outbreak comes to an end. School staff must do their part to help us end this outbreak and keep New Yorkers safe. We also continue to urge everyone to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities against measles.”

Current Case Count

As of June 11, 2019, 588 cases of measles have been confirmed since the beginning of the outbreak last October. 437 cases (74%) have occurred in Williamsburg (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order issued April 9 requiring those who live or work in these ZIP codes to have been vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR). A small number of cases have occurred outside of these neighborhoods but have, to date, not resulted in sustained transmission of measles.

Vaccination Progress

Since the April 9 Emergency Order, 51,124 MMR vaccinations have been administered to children 6 months to 18 years citywide, a 38% increase when compared to the same time period last year. Of those immunizations, 3,844 vaccines were administered to children in Williamsburg, a 99% increase in that neighborhood compared to the same time period last year. The Health Department credits this increase in part to partnerships with community organizations and community leaders within the Orthodox Jewish community, who have not only encouraged vaccination, but have worked with the Health Department to organize vaccination clinics and vaccine education and awareness events.

Community Outreach

The Health Department will continue to expand outreach to the affected community to provide education about the dangers of measles and the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. Since the beginning of the outbreak, the Health Department has:

• Published ads and distributed educational materials specific to the Orthodox community in both English and Yiddish.
  • Starting last month, ads have been running on bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks, and in newspapers and online publications.
• Met with rabbinical and community leaders, health care providers and local elected officials to highlight the importance of getting vaccinated and the dangers of measles.
• Worked with community leaders and community-based organizations on vaccine education.
• Distribution of approximately 29,000 pro-vaccination booklets (Tzim Gezint and A Slice of PIE) each geared to the Orthodox community in both English and Yiddish.
• Conducted 25 rounds of robocalls that have gone out to about 30,000 households each.
• Individual calls to 16,000 households will be made reminding people in the community of the importance of vaccination.
• Sent text messages to almost 16,000 numbers.
• Sent letters to parents who have not vaccinated their children to remind them to make an appointment with their doctor and schedule a vaccination.
• Sent emails to medical providers with unvaccinated children in their practice encouraging immediate vaccination 
• Hosted a tele-Town Hall on April 30, 2018 to counter anti-vaccination propaganda.

To stop the spread of measles in New York City, the Health Department on April 9 ordered adults and children ages 6 months and older who live, work or go to school in ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211 and 11249 receive a measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine within 48 hours. If non-compliant, the Health Department announced it would issue a civil summons to those in the affected ZIP codes who had not been vaccinated as of April 12. For more information, New Yorkers can visit the Health Department’s Measles page.

SCIENCE PREVAILS AS DINOWITZ VACCINE BILL PASSES LEGISLATURE

As New York’s measles outbreak approaches one thousand confirmed cases, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Brad Hoylman are poised to eliminate non-medical exemptions to school vaccine requirements.

  After months of increasingly urgent demands from the medical community and families of immuno-compromised children for action to combat the ongoing measles outbreak, controversial legislation from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Brad Hoylman appears to be on the precipice of becoming state law. On Thursday, the Assembly and State Senate both approved a measure which would repeal all non-medical exemptions to school vaccine requirements. The legislation follows California’s lead, who enacted a similar repeal of non-medical exemptions after a measles outbreak in 2015 and saw their statewide vaccination rates rise almost 5% in just three years. Once signed, New York would become the fifth state to ban all non-medical exemptions joining California, Mississippi, West Virginia, and most recently Maine.

The non-medical exemption repeal effort in New York has been ongoing since 2015, but was infused with new urgency as New York has become the epicenter of the largest measles outbreak in the United States since 1992. Since the current outbreak began in September 2018, New York State has confirmed over 850 measles cases, predominantly in New York City and Rockland County – accounting for the vast majority of the 1,022 confirmed measles cases nationwide (through June 6). While the United States officially eliminated measles in 2000, the recent outbreak has put that status in jeopardy and reignited a bitter fight over the efficacy of modern medicine between anti-vaxxers and public health experts.

While there is ardent opposition to vaccination efforts among a small group of anti-vaxxers, the legislation has 84% support among all New Yorkers according to a recent Siena College poll. Joining the vast majority of New Yorkers in their support are numerous medical and health policy organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, New York State Academy of Family Physicians, Medical Society for the State of New York, March of Dimes, Kids v. Cancer, and many more.

Governor Cuomo has publicly stated that he will sign the bill if it passes both legislative chambers and is expected to do so quickly.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “I am incredibly proud that science has won with the passage of this bill. We should be taking medical advice from medical professionals, not strangers on the internet spreading pseudo-science misinformation. This will not be the end of our efforts to combat the ongoing measles outbreak, but it is an important step.

The vitriolic language coming from those in the gallery who opposed the bill highlights the depths to which the rhetoric around this conversation has fallen. Those of us who have been advocating for increased vaccination have frequently been on the receiving end of their vitriol for many months, but now it has been laid bare in their breach of decorum. I hope that we can move forward from here, with level heads, and work together to protect the health of New Yorkers – particularly those with compromised immune systems and those who are too young to be vaccinated. Thank you to Speaker Carl Heastie for his leadership in helping steward this legislation through the Assembly, to Senator Hoylman for leading the charge in the State Senate, and to all the advocates who fought for this important public health policy change.”

State Senator Brad Hoylman said: “Today, the legislature is sending a strong message to New Yorkers that vaccines are safe and effective. We’re putting science ahead of misinformation about vaccines and standing up for the rights of immunocompromised children and adults, pregnant women and infants who can’t be vaccinated through no fault of their own. With our actions today, we can help avoid future outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles. I’m exceedingly grateful to the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, my Assembly co-sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz, and my Senate colleagues for their support of our legislation ending non-medical exemptions for vaccinations in New York.”

Temple Hatikva Special Father's Day Service. Friday June 14

 We’ve just take the time to honor our mothers and the matriarchs of our people. Now it’s time to give proper due to the fathers! Its a fitting time to honor our fathers and patriarchs, Now we can rejoice further in our heritage and the unbroken chain of study and tradition that has been passed down to us, from one father to the next, (of course made possible by the mothers whom we celebrated last month!) until here we are continuing to share these teachings and paving the way for our children as well. Let us gather and daven, hear the words of the Torah, and celebrate the fathers in our community.

 Temple Hatikva is a Reform / Conservative synagogue serving all those of the Jewish faith. We invite you to join us for our traditional, yet modern services, All religious services and Adult Education sessions are FREE to attend. Services will be Friday June 14, 2019 at Bronx House 990 Pelham Parkway South at 7:30 pm

6/15/19 Bronx Rally Play Fair with Parks

The Bronx Democratic Party County Dinner - 2019 Honorees

The Bronx Democratic Party is happy to present our 2019 County Dinner Honorees, each have made notable contributions and accomplished key victories throughout their respective industries that resonate throughout Bronx County & the Great State on New York.

Chairman Marcos A.Crespo along with The Bronx Democratic Party hope that this coming Wednesday, July 17th at 6PM, you join us in recognizing our esteemed honorees.

If you have not already, below please find buttons linking you to our official invitation, sponsorship/ journal opportunities and contribution forms.

OFFICIAL INVITATION 2019 BRONX DEMOCRATIC PARTY DINNER CLICK HERE FOR CONTRIBUTION FORM (required w/ payment) CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP INFO & JOURNAL AD OPPORTUNITIES

BP DIAZ FIGHTS FOR INCREASED MWBE PARTICIPATION IN NEW YORK CITY’S PENSION FUND

Two resolutions introduced today would require the NYCERS to significantly increase its business with Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises

 This morning, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. introduced two resolutions designed to increase diversity at the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), which administers the retirement benefits for over 350,000 members, by increasing the pension fund’s contracting with Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE).

“Our city is the most diverse in the world, and our investment decisions should reflect that diversity,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who serves as a trustee on the NYCERS board. “For too long, NYCERS has failed to provide enough opportunity to MWBE fund managers, and these two resolutions are the first step towards providing true equity at the largest pension management system in the world.”

The first resolution will empower NYCERS to hire a consultant specifically to vet qualified MWBE fund managers in order to consider them for future pension fund management. A second resolution would require NYCERS to dedicate 20 percent of all investments with MWBE managers, eventually rising to 50 percent.

The total estimated value of NYCERS funds is roughly $194 billion. Currently, NYCERS only contracts roughly 10 percent of all of its assets with MWBE fund managers.

“We cannot accept limited MWBE participation in any form of City investment, and that includes at our pension fund,” said Borough President Diaz. “It is incumbent upon NYCERS to recognize the diversity of this city and do everything it can to reflect that diversity in its own hiring and contracting processes.”

Borough President Diaz first announced this package of resolutions in his February “State of the Borough” Address.

“And we must promote equity and opportunity, not just in housing and education, but in all areas. That is why, as a trustee on the New York City Employees Retirement System Board, I will be introducing a resolution mandating that NYCERS allocate double the percentage of its funds currently managed by MWBEs,” said Borough President Diaz in his speech. “My resolution requires that diversity increase until our fund managers better represent the diversity of our city. Women are 60 percent of NYC’s workforce, and minorities comprise approximately 55 percent. Together, we will level the playing field at our pension fund.”