Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 = DECEMBER 4, 2021

 

148,236 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours 

42 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"As we expected, we have found three additional cases of the omicron variant in New York State. Now is the time to get your flu shot, get vaccinated, and if you're fully vaccinated, get your booster if you haven't already," Governor Hochul said. "As we begin to add a layer of clothing to stay warm from the cold weather, getting your booster will give you the gift of an added layer of protection against severe illness from COVID-19. We are not defenseless against COVID-19 and its variants, we have the tools to beat it."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 207,831
• Total Positive - 9,907 
• Percent Positive - 4.77%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 4.85% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 3,198 (+91) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 494 
• Patients in ICU - 616 (+21) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 328 (+19) 
• Total Discharges - 216,980 (+371) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 42 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 46,715

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 - 59,354

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 - 30,312,870 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 148,236 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 758,165 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 86.2% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 78.6% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 91.4% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 81.0% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 74.6% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 67.0% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 78.8% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 68.8%

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's NYC Moving Forward Week in Review - 12/3/2021

Dear Friends,

I hope you and your families are doing well and in light of the Covid-19 new variants, to get vaccinated, wear a face mask while indoors and in public, and help our city beat this virus once and for all.

Last week we helped light the first candle in the Menorahs in our District from the Albert Einstein Hospital, Bronx House, Loreto Park and Pelham Parkway. The lights of the menorah serve as a reminder that despite the darkness of the world, there is hope that with each positive action we can create a brighter, stronger and more resilient world.

As Chair of the Committee on Small Business I held alongside the Committee on Veterans, and it’s chair, my friend and colleague, Councilman Eric Dinowitz, a hearing to examine the challenges facing veteran entrepreneurs and ways that the administration can support their prosperity. Out of this discussion it became clear that the city needs to make veteran-specific designations for business support and improve outreach efforts about existing programs. I’d like to thank all who testified and advocated, offering their wisdom to us, including leadership from the American Legion and District 13’s very own Lt. Col. Ron Watson, Navy veteran Gene DeFrancis and Sgt. 1st class Peter C Del-Debbio.

I am grateful that through my NYC Council funding Seniors in our District from North East Bronx Senior Center, PSS City Island and Bronx House are enjoying the Holiday Train Show and Luncheon at the beautiful NY Botanical Garden.

With the end of the year festivities approaching I am glad to sponsor Christmas Tree Lightings and Toy Giveaways around the district.

Please remember we are here for you, contact my office with issues or concerns at 718-931-1721 or email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj

District 13, Bronx

Partnerships for Parks - $3,000 for Community Groups Dedicated to Parks

 

New York Community League runs a STEM project for Chinese immigrant families at Freshkills Park  CAPACITY FUND SHOWCASE: REACHING CHINESE IMMIGRANTS ON STATEN ISLAND New York Community League (NYCL) put their Capacity Fund grant to good use, reaching out to Chinese immigrant families living on Staten Island.  With funding, NYCL created a program called “STEM through Freshkills Park.” Working with Freshkills Park Alliance, NYCL’s project is designed to destigmatize the park - which is built on top of a former landfill, to raise awareness about STEM jobs in urban green spaces, and to build a sense of belonging and local identity. Have a creative idea for your local park? We give out grants of up to $3000 to community groups dedicated to their local parks, gardens, and green spaces. Join us at our Capacity Fund Grant Info Session Webinar and learn everything you need to know to apply. Registration for this session is required and will close the day before the event. You will receive information on how to join the webinar once you register.  Wednesday, December 15th from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm. REGISTER PfP HIGHLIGHTED IN CITY COUNCIL HEARING Ted Enoch, director of the Catalyst intensive outreach program, testified recently at a New York City Council hearing of the Committee on Parks and Recreation to highlight the importance of community involvement in parks in response to the new capital funding the Mayor allocated this month to the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), which seeks to reimagine, redesign, and rebuild parks in historically neglected neighborhoods. As Ted explained, parks are critical community resources whose value became even more clear during the pandemic. The highly successful CPI program, which intentionally engages community stakeholders in the re-design process and long-term care of parks, was modeled on Partnerships for Parks' Catalyst strategy of "Build, Connect, Sustain" and the need to pair physical improvements with programming and community participation. This helps ensure that renovated parks are responsive to local needs and continue to be used and maintained by neighborhoods for years to come. Check out the video here! Get in touch with us to find out more about Catalyst. LEARN MORE COMMUNITY PARTNER IN THE NEWS: LOVING THE BRONX Our long-time community partner and Loving the Bronx founder, Nilka Martell, created a campaign to address environmental racism in the borough called #CaptheCrossBronx, which seeks to cover the toxic Cross Bronx Expressway to create green space, mitigate pollution, and reconnect the community. With the passage of President Biden's new infrastructure plan, and the support of Congressman Ritchie Torres, Assembly Member Karines Reyes, and Senator Chuck Schumer, it looks like Nilka’s vision may finally become a reality. Check out this newsclip! Interested in joining a local community group involved with parks or starting your own? We’ll connect you to an outreach coordinator who can help. LEARN MORE

NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker Retiring December 31, 2021

 

 Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced today that Benjamin B. Tucker, who has served as the Department’s First Deputy Commissioner since November 2014, overseeing several of the department’s most integral operations, will be retiring on December 31, 2021.

Under his command, Commissioner Tucker oversees the Department’s Criminal Justice Bureau, Department Advocate’s Office, Force Investigation Division, Labor Relations Office, Office of Professional Development, Risk Management Bureau, Support Services Bureau, Training Bureau, and Trials.

Commissioner Tucker’s decision to retire is a capstone to an NYPD career that began in 1969 and led to his becoming the second-highest ranking departmental official – the NYPD’s 43rd First Deputy Commissioner, and the third African American to hold that position. Born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn, his passion for justice has honed an intimate understanding of crime, drug abuse, opportunities for kids, and the fundamentals of the law. Simultaneously, his experience on the frontlines of law enforcement, over an unprecedented period of American history, has given him firsthand expertise on the challenges facing both policing and the public.

“Ben Tucker has been a singularly thoughtful leader, friend, and colleague across the arc of time in our policing profession,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “Our city, its people, and our Department have benefited for decades from his position as a beacon of integrity and public service. We’ll miss him, but we’ll all be watching with great anticipation for the next storied chapters of his life.”

Commissioner Tucker’s history of service in the NYPD spans the modern era. He worked closely with many former police commissioners, including Benjamin Ward, the city’s first African American police commissioner, who guided his career in the 1980’s including his service as assistant director of the Department’s nascent Civilian Complaint Review Board before it was carved out as an independent city agency in the early 1990s.

The Commissioner also carried out key policy and law enforcement roles in the administration of two past United States presidents – Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama – before he was appointed by former Police Commissioner William J. Bratton to lead the NYPD’s training programs at the beginning of the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio, in February 2014.

“All good things eventually come to a close,” said Commissioner Tucker. “It’s bittersweet to leave a Department I love and helped to shape. But my heart is full and I will forever stand proud as successive generations of New York City police officers step forward, on our foundations, to make even deeper and more lasting contributions to this honorable profession, for our great city and for all its people.”

Attorney General James Announces 56 Guns Turned in at Poughkeepsie Gun Buyback

 

AG James Recovered Nearly 2,100 Guns Through 18 Buybacks and Other Efforts in 2021

AG James Has Taken Nearly 2,700 Firearms Out of Communities Since 2019

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that 56 firearms were turned in to law enforcement at a gun buyback event hosted by her office and the Poughkeepsie Police Department. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) accepts — with no questions asked — working and non-working, unloaded firearms in exchange for compensation on site. Today’s event — which marks the last OAG gun buyback this year — is a part of Attorney General James’ initiative to vigorously combat gun violence and protect New Yorkers throughout the state. In 2021, Attorney General James recovered nearly 2,100 guns from 18 buyback events and other measures that were held throughout the entire state. To date, Attorney General James has taken nearly 2,700 firearms out of communities through gun buyback events and other efforts since taking office in 2019.

“Over the past year, areas throughout New York state have experienced record high levels of gun violence and devastation,” said Attorney General James. “In an effort to crack down on this violence and protect our communities, we held 18 gun buybacks and successfully took nearly 2,100 guns off the streets. Every gun that is turned in at our gun buybacks is a potential tragedy averted and a potential life saved. I thank the Poughkeepsie Police Department and our other partners in law enforcement for their invaluable support and collaboration in keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

“The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department appreciates the assistance and resources made available through New York Attorney General Letitia James for the community beneficial gun buyback program,” said Poughkeepsie Police Captain Richard T. Wilson. “Any gun that is turned in and no longer accessible to those intent on committing acts of violence is a great benefit to the community as a whole.”

Today’s community gun buyback resulted in the collection of 56 guns, including 15 handguns, 33 shotguns and rifles, 6 assault rifles, and 2 non-working guns. Since 2013, the OAG has hosted gun buyback events throughout New York state and has successfully collected nearly 4,700 firearms.

In exchange for the firearms, the OAG offered monetary compensation, in the form of prepaid gift cards, when an unloaded gun was received and secured by an officer on site.

Attorney General James wishes to thank the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the Town of Hyde Park Police Department, and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office for their support and collaboration on today's event.

Gun violence is a public health crisis that is plaguing communities throughout New York, and today’s event is the latest action that Attorney General James has taken to combat this crisis and protect New Yorkers from harm. This year alone, Attorney General James has held 18 gun buybacks across the state and has secured nearly 2,100 guns out of communities through gun buybacks and other measures. To date, Attorney General James has taken a total of nearly 2,700 guns out of communities since 2019.

Governor Hochul Announces Three More Confirmed COVID-19 Omicron Variant Cases in New York State for a Total of Eight Cases

 

Discovery Reinforces Need for New Yorkers to Get Vaccinated, Get Boosted and Wear a Mask

Rising Cases Continue to be Traced to Delta Variant

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the detection of three more confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in New York State, for a total of eight confirmed cases. So far, the cases appear unrelated and have been confirmed through sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. All three of the new cases are from New York City, for a total of seven New York City residents and one from Suffolk County confirmed to have the Omicron variant.

"We knew the Omicron variant was coming and we expect to see more cases. But let me be clear: We are not defenseless," Governor Hochul said. "We have the tools to help prevent the spread of this deadly virus: Get your vaccine, get your booster, and wear your mask. Let's use these tools to protect ourselves and our loved ones as we approach the holidays."

Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, "The Omicron variant is here, and as anticipated we are seeing the beginning of community spread. We continue to work closely with our partners at the national, state, and local levels. At this time, we do not know how quickly Omicron will spread or how severe the symptoms of Omicron will be. What we are seeing is that the rise of cases across New York State continues to be traced to the Delta variant. We encourage all New Yorkers to use the best preventative tools we have: get vaccinated, get boosted and wear a mask." 

Three of the Omicron cases were identified at Mt. Sinai, three cases were identified at the Pandemic Response Lab (PRL), one case was confirmed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Suffolk County case was identified by PRL on December 2. While all of these cases are believed to be unrelated to the recent Anime NYC convention at the Javits Center, the Department still urges anyone who attended to get tested for COVID-19 and wear a mask in public places. 

New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center Laboratory continues to actively monitor COVID-19 virus samples selected throughout the State to compare sequences and identify circulating and new variants, including Omicron. 

The Department also monitors all data submitted to public sequence databases by the many other sequencing laboratories throughout New York State and across the US, contributing to a robust and collaborative surveillance program for variant analysis. The Wadsworth Center is currently sequencing COVID-19 virus specimens with a capacity up to approximately 100 per day. Specimens are selected at random from throughout the state to provide surveillance across all geographic locations and data analyzed across the entire sequence of the virus. The analyses include assessment for mutations that indicate variants of concern and variants of interest. 

Other laboratories in New York State are conducting similar work. These results from Wadsworth and other laboratories are uploaded into public databases, primarily GISAID. From this database, sequence data from all contributors can be downloaded and analyzed for a more complete picture of virus trends across the state and the distribution of variants from these analyses summarized over time. The State has made this data available for all New Yorkers at their COVID-19 Variant Page.

Maryland Attorney Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Over $8 Million Escrow Fraud

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging BRIAN O’NEILL, the managing partner of O’Neill & Partners LLC (“O’Neill & Partners”) with wire fraud, perjury, and making false statements.  As alleged, O’NEILL defrauded two victim companies of over $8 million that he had promised to hold in escrow.  O’NEILL was arrested this morning in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and will be presented later today before United States Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan in the District of Maryland.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Brian O’Neill violated the canons of his profession to put self-interest above the interests of his clients; to be blunt, he stole their money.  Further, as alleged, when ordered by the federal court in this District to deposit escrow funds he had failed to return to one client, O’Neill misappropriated escrow funds from a second client to make partial satisfaction of the court’s order pertaining to the first client.  In addition, as alleged, O’Neill lied to the FBI about his robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Now he faces serious criminal charges for his alleged misdeeds.” 

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, Brian O'Neill didn’t just hold his clients’ money in escrow, he held it hostage, and eventually lied to the FBI about his unlawful deeds. His alleged actions weren’t only unethical, they’re punishable by federal law. Today’s charges reflect our ongoing commitment to weeding out criminals who use other people’s money for their own personal gain.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

Beginning at least as early as August 2020, O’NEILL engaged in two related fraudulent schemes.

First, O’NEILL engaged in a scheme to defraud a medical equipment company headquartered in Pennsylvania (“Victim-1”) by falsely promising to hold over $5 million of the company’s funds in escrow.  Specifically, in August 2020, Victim-1 entered into an agreement with a Florida-based medical wholesale company (“Seller-1”) for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”).  Victim-1 sought to purchase PPE from Seller-1 in order to donate the PPE to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.  Contemporaneously with the execution of the Purchase Order, Victim-1 and Seller-1 entered into an escrow agreement (“Escrow Agreement-1”) with O’Neill & Partners.  Pursuant to Escrow Agreement-1, O’Neill & Partners was to act as escrow agent for the transaction and hold $5.1 million deposited by Victim-1 in escrow.  Instead of holding the deposited $5.1 million in escrow, however, O’NEILL secretly used the funds to execute personal deals for the purchase of PPE; O’NEILL dissipated the $5.1 million by approximately November 2020. 

In November 2020, Victim-1 served a cancellation notice on O’Neill & Partners and Seller-1 cancelling the transaction (the “Cancellation Notice”).  In light of the Cancellation Notice, counsel for Victim-1 sent a letter to O’Neill & Partners requesting that the $5.1 million in escrowed funds be returned to Victim-1 within 48 hours, pursuant to the terms of Escrow Agreement-1.  When O’Neill & Partners refused to return Victim-1’s deposited funds, Victim-1 filed a civil action in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Civil Action”).  In connection with the Civil Action, the Court ordered O’Neill & Partners to deposit the $5.1 million of escrowed funds with the Clerk of the Court.  On September 22, 2021, O’NEILL deposited $3.3 million with the Clerk.  Because O’NEILL’s deposit was $1.8 million short of the full $5.1 million he had been ordered to deposit, the Court held O’Neill & Partners and O’NEILL in civil contempt and ordered O’NEILL’s arrest.     

Relatedly, O’NEILL engaged in a second scheme that defrauded a Hong Kong-based investor (“Victim-2”) out of over $3 million.  Specifically, on April 19, 2021, a Delaware-based company involved in the PPE market (“Buyer-2”) entered into a sale and purchase agreement to purchase certain PPE from an Australia-based medical supply company (“Seller-2”).  Funding for the deal was to be provided by Victim-2.  At the same time that Buyer-2 and Seller-2 entered into the Sale and Purchase Agreement, they, along with Victim-2, entered into an escrow agreement (“Escrow Agreement-2”) with O’Neill & Partners.  Pursuant to Escrow Agreement-2, O’Neill & Partners was to hold certain funds associated with the transaction in escrow.  Instead of holding the funds deposited by Victim-2 in escrow, however, O’NEILL used $3.3 million of the funds to attempt to satisfy the Court’s order in the Civil Action by Victim-1 directing him to deposit $5.1 million with the Clerk of the Court.     

In an effort to conceal his wrongful conduct, O’NEILL made false statements to the FBI and submitted a false declaration, sworn to under penalty of perjury, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with the Civil Action.  In particular, on or about September 10, 2021, O’NEILL stated to FBI agents that the $5.1 million placed in escrow pursuant to Escrow Agreement-1 remained in an escrow account.  Similarly, on or about October 1, 2021, O’NEILL submitted a declaration in the Civil Action stating, under penalty of perjury, that he “still [had] control of the $1.8 million of the subject escrow funds . . . remaining to be deposited pursuant to the interpleader ordered by [the] Court.”  Neither of those statements was true.    

O’NEILL, 48, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, is charged with two counts of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count each of false statements and perjury, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI. 

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - Bronx Christmas Tree Lighting