Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - OCTOBER 1, 2021

 

48,015 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

37 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"New Yorkers are continuing to make progress in the fight against COVID," Governor Hochul said. "While trends remain positive, it is important we remain cautious and do our part to stop this pandemic. Wash your hands, wear a mask, and get vaccinated - it's as simple as that." 

  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 220,916
• Total Positive - 5,187 
• Percent Positive - 2.35%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.52% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,169 (-101) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 251 
• Patients in ICU - 520 (-10) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 295 (+3) 
• Total Discharges - 201,079 (+308) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 37 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 44,587 

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 - 56,758 

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 - 25,279,437 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 48,015 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 378,747 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 81.7% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 73.6% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 84.2% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 69.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 62.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 71.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 63.8% 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Bond Calendar for Fourth Quarter

 

Tentative Schedule Includes $5.05 Billion of New Money and Refunding Debt Sales

 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced a tentative schedule for the planned bond sales for New York State, New York City and their major public authorities during the fourth quarter of 2021.

The planned sales of $5.05 billion include $3.06 billion of new money and $1.99 billion of refundings and reofferings as follows:

• $4.08 billion scheduled for October, of which $2.26 billion is for new money and $1.82 billion for refunding or reoffering purposes;
• $967 million scheduled for November, of which $796 million is for new money purposes and $171 million is for refunding purposes; and
• no issuances have been scheduled for the month of December at this time.

The anticipated sales in the fourth quarter compare to past planned sales of $6.75 billion during the third quarter of 2021, and $6.28 billion during the fourth quarter of 2020.

The State Comptroller’s office chairs the Securities Coordinating Committee, which was created by Gubernatorial Executive Order primarily to coordinate the borrowing activities of the state, New York City and their respective public authorities.  All borrowings are scheduled at the request of the issuer and done pursuant to their borrowing programs.

A new schedule is released every quarter and updated as necessary. The schedule is released by the committee to assist participants in the municipal bond market. It is contingent upon execution of all project approvals required by law. The collection and release of this information by the Office of the State Comptroller is not intended as an endorsement of the proposed issuances it contains, many of which will be subject to approval by the Office of the State Comptroller.

The prospective fourth quarter calendar includes anticipated bond sales by the following issuers: the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the Environmental Facilities Corp, Empire State Development, the Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corporation, New York City Housing Development Corporation, New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, New York Liberty Development Corporation, the State of New York Mortgage Agency, and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.

Calendar:

Securities Coordinating Committee (SCC) Forward Issuance Bond Calendar

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE(VNNA) OCT MONTHLY MEETING –7PM–10.4.21 IN-PERSON MEETING

 

Welcome old and new members! Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance –

October Monthly Meeting– Monday October 4, 2021 – 7PM

October Mtg Guest — Aleksander Mici (R) November Mtg Guest — Marjorie Velázquez (D)

October Meeting will be Nominations, so members please attend.

Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 9/27/21-10/01/21

 

Dear Community,

Earlier this week on Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio allocated $27 million in financial relief for undocumented New Yorkers who experienced damaging flooding during Hurricane Ida. The funding will be distributed by New York State’s Office for New Americans to New Yorkers who are not eligible to receive storm recovery assistance through the FEMA Individual Assistance Program or other means. To apply, call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 and visit the Hurricane Ida Recovery section below for more information.

This week, I was also proud to join the New York Taxi Workers Alliance at their rally Wednesday night to demand true debt relief for New York’s taxi workers. Thousands of New York City’s taxi drivers were deceived into believing they were buying into a prosperous and better life by purchasing a medallion, but instead were burdened with hundreds of thousands in debt due to artificially inflated medallion prices.

Instead of protecting taxi drivers, the City government profited off of them, making over $850 million off of medallion-owning drivers, while drivers barely made enough to survive, were forced to file for bankruptcy, and some even felt compelled to take their own lives due to the insurmountable debt that they faced.

Earlier this year, NYC announced a $65 million taxi relief fund to help debt-burdened drivers restructure their loans. However, taxi workers believe that this plan was not enough, as it would still leave drivers in debt, with large monthly payments. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is now demanding that the City take more significant steps to remedy this crisis and give taxi workers debt relief now. 

The City has a responsibility to offer a city-backed guarantee to lenders to restructure the loans to terms that the drivers can afford and implement the demands made by the NY Taxi Workers Alliance. No longer should drivers be forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying off their medallion debt. 

Lastly, I will be attending the Women’s March this Saturday in Westchester to demand that we protect reproductive rights for all. Marches will be held nationwide. Find one near you at https://womensmarch.com/. I hope to see the community there! 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Financial Assistance for Undocumented New Yorkers: Undocumented New Yorkers impacted by Hurricane Ida who are ineligible for storm recovery assistance through the FEMA Individual Assistance Program can now apply for financial relief through the state. To apply, call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 or visit any of the locations below. The application period will close on Friday November 26, 2021. 

The following organizations will provide assistance:

• Bronx - Catholic Charities Community Services, 402 East 152nd Street, Bronx, NY 10455 
• Brooklyn - Chinese American Planning Council, 4101 8th Ave, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232 
• Queens - 
  • MinKwon, 133-29 41st Avenue, Suite 202, Flushing, NY 11355
  • Make the Road, 92-10 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 
• Staten Island - Make the Road, 161 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302
• Nassau - Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, 134 Jackson Street, Hempstead, NY 11550
• Suffolk - Make the Road, 1090 Suffolk Ave, Brentwood, NY 11717 
• Westchester & Rockland - NeighborsLink, 27 Columbus Ave, Mount Kisco, NY 10549  

✦✦✦

Apply for FEMA financial assistance: New Yorkers may be able to receive funds for other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property or funds for moving and storage, or medical, dental, and child care. The last day to apply for FEMA assistance is November 5th. 

Federal disaster assistance is not just for homeowners. It’s also available to eligible renters, and can cover such expenses as furniture, job-related equipment, vehicle repair, even disaster-caused medical and dental bills.

If you have renter’s insurance, first call your insurance provider to file a claim. Then apply with FEMA. If you are insured, you must provide FEMA with information from your insurance provider, which may include a settlement or denial. FEMA rental assistance is intended to cover the monthly rent and cost of essential utilities (i.e., gas, electric and water). FEMA grants may also be used for security deposits but not for telephone, cable or internet service.

The link to apply for FEMA financial assistance can be found here: www.disasterassistance.gov. 

The phone numbers to call are 1-800-621-3362 and TTY 1-800-462-7585.

You will need the following to complete your FEMA claim:

• Social Security Number (SSN) OR the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien
• Annual Household Income
• Contact Information (phone number, mailing address, email address*, and damaged home address)
• Insurance Information if you have (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
• Bank Account Information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)

*Note: You must provide an email address if you want to review your registration status online. If you do not provide an email address, you will be required to contact FEMA for any updates to your registration.

92 Days and Counting - de Blasio and Diaz

 

Ruben, eleven openings on Community Board 11 and you don't put on the man who took this picture. He had six years experience on your best community board. He was a vice chair of two committees and the chair of the Budget Committee, where he put my agencies through the ringer. I even heard that one of your District Managers asked him what he was doing at the budget negotiations, then said at the end of the day that it was a good thing he was there, because he knew what he was talking about. 

By the way Ruben, I had Dr. Chokshi give me a booster shot the day after your Bronx Democratic Party Dinner. You have to learn how to be independent, and not a party puppet.

Attorney General James Sues Syracuse Landlord For Exposing Children to Lead Hazards

 

Endzone Properties Failed to Maintain Lead-Safe Conditions in Rental Properties, At Least 18 Children Poisoned With Lead While Living in Endzone Properties

Third Major Action by AG James in Recent Weeks to Protect NY  Children From Lead Paint, Hold Bad Landlords Accountable

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a lawsuit against landlord John Kiggins and his company, Endzone Properties, Inc., for repeatedly violating lead paint laws and failing to address lead paint hazards, which resulted in the lead poisoning of 18 children living in Endzone properties in Syracuse. Attorney General James’ investigation found that over a period of more than 6 years, at least 18 children were poisoned by lead paint while residing in 17 of Endzone’s estimated 89 properties. During this same period, at least 32 Endzone properties were flagged by the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County to have had conditions conducive to lead poisoning. Kiggins and Endzone also failed to disclose their knowledge of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards at these properties to tenants and buyers. The lawsuit marks the third action by Attorney General James in recent weeks to address childhood exposure to lead paint in low-income and communities of color throughout New York state.

“Exposure to lead paint is undoubtedly dangerous and disproportionately impacts Black and brown children,” said Attorney General James. “This company took advantage of low-income families of color, failed to provide them with the protections required by law, and knowingly put children in harm’s way. No family should have to fear for their health while living in their own homes, and my office will continue to hold individuals and companies responsible for putting our communities at risk.”

The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in Onondaga County, alleges that from January 1, 2015 to July 31, 2021 at least 32 Endzone properties were cited by inspectors from the Onondaga County Health Department and the City of Syracuse Division of Code Enforcement for chipping, peeling, deteriorating paint, and other conditions conducive to lead poisoning, which are prohibited by county and city laws. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) discovered that during this time, at least 18 children were poisoned by lead while residing at one of the Endzone properties. All of the children poisoned were children of color.

The OAG began its investigation into Endzone in late 2020, and found that from 2015 on, Endzone failed to follow laws requiring the company to maintain its properties in a lead-safe condition, and instead, allowed lead paint to deteriorate. Endzone frequently allowed paint on its properties to deteriorate to the point of being a lead hazard instead of preventing deterioration of paint, as required by local and state building codes. Kiggins and Endzone also engaged in repeated illegal and fraudulent acts by either not providing federally required lead disclosures, or providing materially false and deceptive lead disclosures to tenants and purchasers of Endzone properties.

In the lawsuit, Attorney General James seeks to enjoin the illegal conduct and dangerous housing practices of Kiggins and Endzone, and compel them to provide lead-safe housing and complete truthful lead disclosures to tenants of properties they own or manage, and to any purchasers of Endzone properties. The lawsuit also asks the court to order disgorgement of all profits that Kiggins and Endzone have realized from their repeated and persistent violations of the law and their fraud in carrying out their property management business, and order them to pay fines and penalties in an amount to be determined by the court.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that can cause serious and irreversible adverse health effects. Children who have been exposed to even very low levels of lead are at risk for neurological and physical problems during critical stages of early development. In fact, no safe lead level in children has been identified. Children under the age of 6 are more likely to be exposed to lead than any other age group, as their normal behaviors could result in them chewing lead paint chips; breathing in or swallowing dust from old lead paint that gets on floors, window sills, and hands; and lead can be found in soil, toys, and other consumer products. A recent study has shown that more than half of the 1.1 million children younger than 6 years old who underwent lead testing had detectable levels of lead in their blood.

Lead paint in residential housing has been a pervasive problem for decades, particularly in New York. Beginning in the 20th century, paint with dangerously high levels of lead was used on both exterior and interior surfaces of housing in the United States. Lead paint has been found in approximately 43 percent of all of New York dwellings. Although New York banned the use of lead paint in 1970, with the federal government following suit in 1978, buildings constructed prior to 1978 often still have lead paint. Over 90 percent of Syracuse’s housing stock was constructed prior to 1978. The vast majority of these dwellings were constructed before New York banned lead paint in 1970.

Lead poisoning in Onondaga County occurs predominantly within Syracuse, and disproportionately harms low-income communities and communities of color. Since 2012, 87 percent of all lead poisoned children in Onondaga County were from Syracuse. Data also shows that Black children are twice as likely as white children to have elevated blood lead levels — 22.7 percent of Black children in Onondaga County tested for lead had dangerous levels of lead in their blood, while 10.8 percent of white children tested had dangerous blood lead levels. Additionally, children from households living at or below the federal poverty line are at a greater risk of exposure to lead than children from households above the federal poverty line.

Attorney General James thanks Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse for their partnership and for providing critical information for this complaint. The OAG will continue to work with them and other dedicated local partners to continue to make progress in combatting childhood lead poisoning in the region.

Attorney General James is continuing to pursue legal actions across New York to end the scourge of childhood lead poisoning by holding accountable landlords that allow lead paint-related hazards to proliferate in low-income rental properties. Just last week, the Attorney General announced an agreement in her lawsuit against Chestnut Holdings of New York, Inc. (Chestnut Holdings), a property management corporation, over its failures to protect children from lead paint hazards in New York City. Two weeks ago, she reached a pre-suit agreement with A&E Holdings to ensure that children living in its NYC apartments are protected from dangerous lead-based paint. Additionally, in September 2020, she sued a group of Buffalo individuals and companies for repeated violations of city, county, state, and federal laws by illegally allowing lead paint-related hazards to proliferate in their rental properties.

During National Drive Electric Week, Governor Hochul Announces New High-speed Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Mirabito Convenience Stores in Syracuse

 

Two New High-Speed Electric Vehicle Charging Hubs to

Expand City's Fast Charging Infrastructure

Eight Chargers Now Complete at Mirabito Locations in Central New York and Mohawk Valley; 11 More Coming By Early 2022 to Grow New York Power Authority's EVolve NY Network and Make Fast Charging More Convenient

Emission-free Electric Charging to Help Advance the State's Ambitious Clean Energy Goals, Including Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 85% by 2050

Photo Available Here

 During National Drive Electric Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State's high-speed charging network has expanded in and around the City of Syracuse where fast, affordable, and reliable charging will be offered at two Mirabito convenience stores to encourage more New Yorkers to drive electric vehicles (EVs). The site in southern Syracuse, with four stations, is currently open for use and the northern location, with three stations, is expected to be available in late-October. The latest installations by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will help New York State meet its ambitious nation-leading clean energy goals, including decarbonizing the transportation-sector and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050.

"Encouraging more widespread use of emission-free transportation and making fast charging more accessible throughout Central New York will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions along our State's roadways," Governor Hochul said. "The New York Power Authority's partnership with a well-established regional business, Mirabito, combined with the 'smart city' savvy of Syracuse is a surefire solution to increase awareness about how easy it is to drive clean and help the state achieve its ambitious green energy goals."

NYPA's statewide EVolve NY program is strategically deploying fast chargers at prime locations along travel corridors and in urban areas throughout the state so drivers can travel long distances without having to worry about where to get their next charge.

EVolve NY will have installed nearly 100 chargers across New York by the end of 2021, which will give the state the third largest open access (available to all EVs) 150kW+ fast charging network in the U.S. After this EVolve NY buildout phase is complete, New Yorkers will be able to drive any EV across the state using fast chargers capable of recharging their vehicles in 15-30 minutes located every 50 miles or less.

"These latest high-speed EV charging hubs tie the Central New York region into the growing EVolve NY network and offer convenient fast charging to zero-emission vehicle drivers," said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. "MirabitoConvenience Stores are a valued partner that has offered up multiple key sites to expand charging opportunities within its network. Mirabito shares NYPA's commitment to move towards a decarbonized future and a healthier environment for all New Yorkers."

The new EVolve NY charging hubs in Syracuse include a total of seven chargers located at Mirabito convenience stores at 415 East Brighton Avenue (serving the south side of Syracuse) and 414 7th N Street (serving the north side). Mirabito, a family-owned and operated energy retailer based in Binghamton which operates more than 100 convenience stores throughout Central New York, will have a total of 19 chargers at five sites, including Castle Creek and Binghamton. An Oneonta site opened in May. NYPA will construct, own and operate the EVolve NY charging network in coordination with Mirabito site hosts.

Mirabito Convenience Stores CEO Joe Mirabito said, "The goal of our partnership with NYPA and EVolve NY is to help provide New Yorkers with the charging station options they need to confidently drive electric vehicles. We support and understand the importance of reducing carbon emissions and appreciate the opportunity to be part of the solution.  Working together on projects like these will be key to moving the mission forward."

With other investments from the New York State Thruway Authority and Electrify America, Syracuse will have added fourteen charging stations at five locations in 2021, increasing access to electric vehicle charging along the major routes into and out of the city, and making cross state EV travel much easier.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $21 billion in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2019, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. With the Climate Act as its guide, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

About EVolve NY

EVolve NY is the New York Power Authority's initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) throughout the state. The program creates private-sector partnerships to expand fast-charging infrastructure and make EVs more user-friendly for all New Yorkers. NYPA is installing fast chargers along major interstate corridors, in five major cities and at New York City airports. EVolve NY supports New York State's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and is a key pillar of the Charge NY 2.0 program to launch 10,000 public EV charging stations by 2021. For more information, contact evolveny@nypa.gov or visit www.nypa.gov/innovation/programs/evolveny.

Permits Filed For 4180 Carpenter Avenue In Wakefield, The Bronx

Permits have been filed for a five-story mixed-use building at 4180 Carpenter Avenue in Wakefield, The Bronx. Located between East 232nd and East 233rd Streets, the interior lot is one block west of the 233rd Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Mark Stagg of RYTY Home Builders LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 53-foot-tall development will yield 62,566 square feet for residential space. The building will have 92 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 680 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and sub-cellar, a 30-foot-long rear yard, and 68 enclosed parking spaces.

Marin Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet for the parking lot on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.