Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combatting COVID-19

 

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity is 0.39%—Record Low for 22 Consecutive Days, Has Declined for 75 Consecutive Days

63,095 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours—Vaccination Rate is 70.7%

9 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combatting COVID-19.

"New Yorkers are getting a new lease on life as we defeat this pandemic and reopen our state's economy for the future," Governor Cuomo said. "Vaccination is the key to beating COVID-19, so we're offering incentives to encourage the remaining New Yorkers to take the shot. We're getting back to living, not just surviving, but I encourage anyone who hasn't been vaccinated yet to do so immediately for themselves and their families' safety."

Today's data is summarized briefly below

• Test Results Reported - 107,751
• Total Positive - 418
• Percent Positive - 0.39%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.39%
• Patient Hospitalization - 532 (-16)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 65
• Patients in ICU - 126 (-17)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 73 (-6)
• Total Discharges - 184,129 (64)
• Deaths - 9
• Total Deaths - 42,914
• Total vaccine doses administered - 20,514,127
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 63,095
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 498,084
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 68.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 61.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 70.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 62.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 56.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 50.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 58.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 51.6%

MAYOR DE BLASIO, SPEAKER JOHNSON COMMIT TO PROVIDE PREVAILING WAGES TO SECURITY GUARDS AT CITY CONTRACTED SHELTERS

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Corey Johnson announced the City will commit $40.5 million in the FY22 Budget to raise City contracted shelter security guards' wages to meet the prevailing wage rate for security guards. These security guards will see their wages increase from as low as $15 dollars per hour to approximately $18 an hour, in addition to benefits such as family health care. This investment will improve recruitment and retention and impact nearly 4,000 security guards and their families. The new wages will take effect October 1, 2021.

“A Recovery for All of Us includes supporting essential workers. Security officers safeguard some of our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are proud to invest $40.5 million to ensure the essential security officers in shelters run by private contractors stay in their jobs and receive the wages and benefits they deserve.”

 

"Security officers in shelters are protecting our most vulnerable New Yorkers, but for too long they were not getting the wages they deserve. This agreement finally guarantees these essential workers a prevailing wage. This is great news, and comes at an important time. They’ve spent the past year helping our city through its darkest hours, and now we’re looking out for them,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

 

“The challenging reality that so many shelter security officers continue to endure is changing, starting now,” said Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ. “Today marks a critical turning point for these officers and their families. We are grateful to Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Members Diana Ayala and Francisco Moya for making sure no shelter security officer goes home hungry. We will continue to fight until all security officers receive the dignity, respect, and good, family-sustaining jobs they deserve.”

Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report Related to the Death of Matthew Felix

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI), formerly known as the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit (SIPU), released its report on the death of Matthew Felix. Following a thorough and comprehensive investigation, OSI concluded that the actions that led to Mr. Felix’s death did not rise to the level of criminal conduct by officers from the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD). Based on OSI’s exhaustive review of the incident, including but not limited to, video footage from surveillance cameras, medical records, and hours of interviews with relevant witnesses, it could not be concluded that the use of deadly force by the NCPD officers in connection with this incident was unjustified beyond a reasonable doubt.

On February 25, 2020, Matthew Felix responded to an online advertisement about a car that was for sale and asked the owner if he could test-drive the car. While test-driving the car, Mr. Felix pulled a firearm on the owner of the car and forced him to get out. The owner complied and shortly thereafter called 911 to report the stolen car. Detectives from the NCPD were able to track the stolen car through a tracking app associated with a laptop that was in the vehicle when it was stolen and traced it to Mr. Felix’s home in Queens.

Several hours later, NCPD officers, who were stationed nearby Mr. Felix’s residence, witnessed him leaving the residence in a different car and began to follow him. Officers made multiple attempts to signal to Mr. Felix to pull over. Mr. Felix did not initially comply with the officers’ directives to pull over, and finally, when he did slow down the vehicle down, officers positioned their cars both in front of and behind his vehicle in an attempt to stop the car. Officers then got out of their vehicles and approached Mr. Felix, demanding that he show his hands. Mr. Felix put the vehicle in reverse, striking the NCPD vehicle stationed behind him, and then began to accelerate the car forward in the direction of an NCPD officer.  

As Mr. Felix appeared to pose an imminent threat to the officer directly in front of him and nearby civilians by driving onto a sidewalk, NCPD officers opened fire. Mr. Felix was struck by three bullets and pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time the officers pulled over Mr. Felix’s vehicle for the purpose of taking him into custody, they reasonably believed that Mr. Felix had committed an offense — namely, the gunpoint theft earlier that day. In light of the nature of the offense (armed robbery), coupled with other information suggesting Mr. Felix’s readiness to use a firearm, the officers’ decision to draw their weapons when approaching Mr. Felix, in order to protect their safety and to effect the arrest, did not appear to be objectively unreasonable.

The NCPD officers’ belief that Mr. Felix continued to present an imminent threat at each stage of the pursuit, to both the officers and nearby civilians, created a legal justification for the use of deadly force. Additionally, when Mr. Felix was directed to show his hands, it appeared as though he was reaching into the center console of the vehicle; a loaded firearm was later recovered from that center console.

In order to bring criminal charges against the officers, it must have been clear, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Mr. Felix did not pose an imminent threat to cause serious physical injury or death to an officer or others and, in this case, OSI could not determine that he posed no such threat.  

Though this matter did not rise to a criminal charge, OSI remains seriously concerned about how the incident was handled by NCPD, especially the lack of body-worn cameras (BWC) and vehicles outfitted with dashboard cameras. The Office of the Attorney General has previously recommended that NCPD outfit its officers with BWCs and is issuing this recommendation again with the understanding that Nassau County recently committed to outfitting its officers with BWCs. OSI also recommends better use of police practices when it comes to taking control of a potentially dangerous car stop. Safety policies exist to protect all involved in these incidents and failure to follow them can lead to unnecessary escalation of an encounter, such as the one we saw in this matter.

New York State Announces First-Ever Loyalty/Reward Program at State Campgrounds

 

Reservations Now Open for 2022 Camping Season

 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the first-ever Camper Loyalty/Reward Program for overnight stays at state campgrounds across New York. The introduction of the new Loyalty program coincides with the opening of the nine-month online reservation window for the 2022 Camping Season.  

The new Loyalty program will allow visitors to earn points for every dollar spent on overnight accommodations and redeem the points toward use fees on future stays. Points are awarded upon departure for all camping stays, so campers can earn points on already-booked reservations and any new reservations as soon as they enroll in the program, either online or by phone. For convenience, the user-friendly program is applied to the account without the need for a physical card. 

“We know there are many outdoor destinations and lodging options available across New York, and this new Loyalty/Reward program is a way of saying thanks to those visitors who enjoy our state campgrounds and return with their families and friends time and time again,” said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. “If an overnight stay among gorgeous parkland sounds like the perfect getaway, I encourage visitors to enroll in the program and book those vacations to start earning points!”

“DEC is thrilled to partner with State Parks to launch the Camping Loyalty/Reward Program to show our appreciation for loyal visitors to our campgrounds across the state. New York State’s new loyalty program is easy to use and encourages visitors to return to our campgrounds year after year,” said DEC Commissioner Seggos. “All DEC campgrounds will be open this summer and I encourage campers both expert and novice to experience the great outdoors with us.”  

While occupancy at state facilities remains high, there is still availability for the 2021 season, particularly on weekdays and during non-peak seasons.  Additionally, the nine-month booking window for the 2022 season advanced reservations has opened and 2022 season dates are now reservable in accordance with the nine-month window. Camping reservations can be made online at newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com or by contacting the ReserveAmerica call center at 1-800-456-CAMP.

There are currently 120 campgrounds operated by New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation including 15,000 campsites for tents and RVs, and more than 800 cabins, cottages, yurts, and a lighthouse. Campers can choose from tranquil tent sites in the woods to boat-access only waterfront sites to luxe cottages, and everything in between. Many campgrounds are conveniently located near day-use parks, trails, historic sites, golf courses and other family-friendly destinations. 

Points have no cash value and can only be used for the rewards offered by New York State campgrounds. Earning and redemption rates may be adjusted by New York State-operated campgrounds at any time. Details about the new Loyalty program and steps to enroll are available at newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which were visited by a record 78 million in 2020. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.parks.ny.gov, connect with us on Facebook, or follow on Instagram , Twitter or on the State Parks blog.

DEC operates 52 campgrounds and five day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves. The camping season runs through the summer, with some facilities remaining open during fall foliage and hunting season. For more information on DEC-operated campgrounds, including a list of campgrounds and schedules, visit DEC's website, or call DEC's Bureau of Recreation at 518-457-2500.

Governor Cuomo Announces Investigation into National Grid's Downstate Operations

 

Former Company Managers Allegedly Took Bribes and Kickbacks Worth Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Exchange for Steering of Lucrative Contracts

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Department of Public Service has commenced an investigation into National Grid's downstate gas business after several former National Grid employees were charged in a bribery and kickback scheme involving contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.

"New York has zero tolerance for utility employees who violate the law in order to line their own pockets," Governor Cuomo said. "We're launching an investigation into this allegedly egregious conduct to ensure we get to the bottom of it immediately and that justice is served. Our investigation will thoroughly examine and determine if the company failed to have the appropriate safeguards in place to prevent criminal activities on the part of employees, and if not, the utility will be held accountable."

A federal complaint unsealed in Brooklyn against five former National Grid managers employed in the company's facilities department with conspiring to violate the Travel Act by accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for steering contracts to certain Long Island-based contractors with whom the company did business. One contractor, according to the complaint, secured more than $50 million in facility maintenance contracts from the company during the time that the contractor was paying bribes to the defendants.

"As a result of this alleged criminal activity by employees of a regulated utility, the Department has launched an immediate investigation into this matter to determine if the utility's customers were financially harmed by this scheme and, if so, to seek full restitution on behalf of the customers," said DPS CEO John B. Howard. "The company stated that the contracts did not involve critical gas infrastructure, so public safety is not at risk. The Department's investigation will work to confirm that fact." 

The investigation into National Grid's contracts will likewise focus on identifying any financial impacts of the criminal activity on ratepayers, securing recovery of such costs for ratepayer benefit, determining how the activity was not uncovered for such a long period of time, and identifying changes that must be made at National Grid to ensure that such a situation does not arise again. 

The Department has conducted investigations of utilities involving similar employee misconduct. In early 2009, ten Con Edison supervisors and employees and one retired supervisor were arrested by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for arranging to have the utility pay inflated claims by a contractor in return for more than $1 million in bribes and kickbacks to the employees over a nine-year period ending in 2009. Con Edison was not aware of the illegal activities. In response to the arrests, the Public Service Commission launched an investigation. That case eventually resulted in PSC securing $171 million for Con Edison's customers. 

THE BRONX DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCES SECOND CHOICE ENDORSEMENT OF COREY JOHNSON FOR NYC COMPTROLLER

 

Today, the Bronx Democratic Party announced their second choice ranked endorsement of Corey Johnson for NYC Comptroller. The Bronx Dems previously endorsed Brian Benjamin as their first choice. 

“The Bronx Democratic Party is thrilled to support Corey Johnson for Comptroller. Corey has been a tireless leader on the City Council, taking on some of our city’s toughest challenges and getting results for all New Yorkers. As Speaker, he passed historic legislation championing food security, tenant protections, criminal justice reforms, affordable access to public transportation, and held city agencies accountable. After negotiating three city budgets that invested in our communities, Corey understands the city's finances inside and out. He has the experience and commitment necessary to lead our economic recovery as Comptroller and ensure we invest in a stronger, fairer, and more equitable economy,” said Chair Jamaal T. Bailey.

“I’m running for Comptroller with one mission: to better the lives of New Yorkers in all five boroughs. No matter your race, gender, income or zip code, you deserve a city government that works for you. That's why I'm so excited to be building a diverse citywide coalition that will power us to victory on June 22nd. I'm honored to receive the endorsement of the Bronx Democratic Party, and grateful to Chair Jamaal Bailey and all the Bronx Democrats for their ranked choice support," said Corey Johnson.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

One would have to think that the Bronx Democratic Party is giving up on its first choice for City Comptroller State Senator Brian Benjamin polling near the bottom, for someone who is polling in the top three names running for City Comptroller.

We wonder what the vote was by the executive committee with many of the district leaders not happy with their county leader for not endorsing them, and now slapping them in the face by choosing a second candidate for City Comptroller. We now wonder why the county leader Senator Jamaal Bailey did not do that in the Bronx City Council races where he passed over many of his district leaders to endorse other candidates in the districts he passed over the leaders.

197 Day and Counting

 

Tonight could be the end of the road for the Brooklyn Nets. My doctors here at City Hall told me that I have a little more than six months to go as your mayor. 

I thought my name was good enough to land me something on TV like Donald Trump had, but there seems to be only one job for me.

Yeah, and this job is taken.

Is Early Voting Working?

 

This is the second year of Early Voting in New York, with figures coming in from the Board of Elections showing that the cost may outweigh the need for it. BOE daily tallies of the number of voters is cumulative.

Day 1 - Bronx - 2,247. Day 2 - Bronx - 3,919.

Day 3 - Bronx - 5,175. Day 4 - Bronx - 7,591. 

Day 5 - Bronx - 9,848. Day 6 - Bronx - 12,241.

Day 7 - Bronx - 14,493.

Only Saturday and Sunday remain for Early Voting, Monday is an off day to prepare for Tuesday Primary Day for Democrats and Republicans. 

When you vote you will receive two pieces of paper one has on its front the citywide elections for Mayor, Public Advocate, and City Comptroller. You must turn the paper over to vote for Borough President and City Council. In the first page all these races come under Rank Choice Voting, where you can rank up to five different choices by your preference 1 - 5, but you can still vote for only one candidate by filling in the #1 circle next to that candidate. The second piece of paper contains the judicial delegates on it. for those on the West side of the Bronx there will be five judge candidates of which you may select up to two only. This sheet which contains the judicial delegates and judge candidates on the West Side of the Bronx is not Rank Choice Voting, hence the separate piece of paper. 

Now to the action outside the poll sites. 

Day one outside Bronx Science High school.

Day two at Bronx Science we ran into Judge candidate Jessica Flores and her crew who posed for this photo.

We caught up with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz at In-Tech. 

We also caught these workers outside In-Tech. 

The place to be was the Monroe College poll site where 14th City Council candidate Perina Sanchez just happen to have her campaign office on the next block. She is 2nd from the right.

This was what you saw as you went to vote at Monroe College candidate after candidate set up like street vendors.

Candidates signs everywhere, and tents set up across the street, and along the side of Monroe College below.

Monroe College on Jerome Avenue for early voting has people coming from the 11th, 14th, and 15th Council Districts to vote.