Charlene we have only three weeks left in Gracie Mansion. Have you packed all of our things up yet? You know we have to take anything that is not nailed down. Leave the photos of those mayors who came before me, especially the last two ones.
I don't have to much more time to put off those pesky reporters, so I am going to have to tell them what my decision is about running for governor. I can wait for my last Media briefing for that. Let me enjoy the weekend now.
It was a cool Thursday evening at Joyce Kilmer Park opposite the Bronx Courthouse, but it would be the last Christmas Tree there that current term-limited Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. would light as the BP. A beautiful tree with over one thousand lights on it, but before there would be some entertainment thanks to LAX96.3 radio, and the NYPD La Jara band and singers.
Lax96,3 gave out to one lucky young girl an autographed New York Giants football, and handed out dozens of Giants cups to members of the crowded audience inside the pen. Borough President Diaz Jr. came out to inform the crowd this is the last time he will be lighting the Bronx Christmas Tree as the Bronx Borough President due to term limits ending his twelve plus years as Bronx Borough President. Ruben Diaz Jr. was elected Bronx Borough President on April 21, 2009 in a special election to replace previous Bronx Borough President Carrion who took a position in the Obama Administration.
What: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) 13-member Climate Justice Working Group, established under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), will hold a meeting on Monday, Dec.13. The Climate Justice Working Group is tasked with establishing criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities for the purposes of co-pollutant reductions, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, regulatory impact statements, and the allocation of investments pursuant to the CLCPA.
During this meeting, the CJWG will be voting on the draft disadvantaged communities (DACs) definition and criteria. The meeting will be conducted by teleconference. Members of the public are welcome to listen to the meeting via webcast.
Additional Information:
This meeting will also be recorded and posted on the Climate Act website within three days, or as soon as practicable.
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report on the death of Mark Gaskill of Rochester. After conducting an exhaustive investigation, OSI concluded that the actions that led to Mr. Gaskill’s death did not rise to the level of criminal conduct by officers from the Rochester Police Department (RPD). OSI’s review of the incident included footage from multiple police body-worn cameras, street surveillance videos, interviews with relevant witnesses, ballistics testing, and other forms of evidence.
In the early morning hours of May 14, 2021, members of RPD were summoned to a neighborhood in the City of Rochester following alerts of gunshot activity from ShotSpotter, an automated gunshot detection technology. Using street surveillance video, RPD was able to view and track a car leaving the scene of the gun activity in real time.
The car pulled over a few minutes later and members of RPD approached it. They spoke to Mr. Gaskill, who was in the back seat, and another passenger who said they were going to a hospital because the driver of the vehicle was unwell. An officer asked for their identification and Mr. Gaskill provided him with a false identity and date of birth. While on scene, officers received additional information indicating the car likely had been involved in the gunshot activity of a few minutes earlier, detected by ShotSpotter. Officers returned to the vehicle to speak to Mr. Gaskill. As they were attempting to open the vehicle door, the two officers allegedly saw Mr. Gaskill reach to the right side of his waistband and draw a gun with his right hand. Footage from both officers’ body-worn cameras show the officers retreating from the car and repeatedly directing Mr. Gaskill to drop the gun. While both officers continued to retreat from the vehicle, Mr. Gaskill allegedly opened the rear passenger-side door, and, as he appeared to get out of the car, the officers ordered him to show his hands, and then discharged 11 shots, striking Mr. Gaskill six times. After the shooting, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, found near Mr. Gaskill’s right hand, was recovered from the car. Firearms analysis confirmed that the gun was the same gun that fired the gunshots detected by ShotSpotter earlier that morning.
Under New York’s justification law, in order to sustain charges against the officers for causing Mr. Gaskill’s death, OSI would need to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officers were not justified in their use of deadly, physical force against Mr. Gaskill. In order to meet that burden, OSI would need to prove that the officers’ belief that Mr. Gaskill was about to use deadly, physical force was not reasonable or, alternatively, that the officers could have avoided using deadly, physical force by retreating with complete safety to themselves and others. In light of the facts and circumstances of this case, including but not limited to the fact that a loaded handgun was recovered from Mr. Gaskill after the shooting, OSI cannot meet that burden.
“My office is committed to conducting fair and thorough investigations into every case we review,” said Attorney General James. “Based on an extensive review of the facts of this case, OSI determined that the officers involved were not unjustified in their use of deadly force, as the law requires for bringing criminal charges. Despite the conclusive evidence in this case, I know Mr. Gaskill’s family is still coping with the loss of a loved one, and I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Gaskill family.”
142,265 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours
55 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.
"As the weather gets colder and New Yorkers gather indoors with friends and family to enjoy the holiday season we must ensure that we remain vigilant and keep COVID-19 infections from moving in the wrong direction," Governor Hochul said. "The way out of this pandemic is clear — get the vaccine if you have not yet, get your second dose if you've only had one, and get the booster if you've had both. Encourage your loved ones to get vaccinated and mask up and we'll be enjoying a post-pandemic New York in no time."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
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.
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.
It was already a dark Wednesday night when the crowd gathered outside Loreto Park to see that some construction work was going on, and to light the Annual Morris Park Christmas Tree.
Councilman Mark Gjonaj was joined by State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Santa Claus, and the Grinch that stole Christmas. Also on hand was the girls choir from St. Francis Xavier under the guidance of Ms. Phyliss Nastacio. The girls Choir' sang some Christmas Songs, as the Grinch tried to steal the Christmas spirit, but Santa saved the night from being stolen by the Grinch.
"Throughout the pandemic I’ve encouraged masking requirements – masks work, and they’re a simple measure we can take to protect ourselves and one another. Today’s policy is an important measure to limit the spread of the virus, particularly as people travel and gather indoors for the holidays. Vaccination screening requirements in indoor venues not only protect people in these establishments and encourage them to patronize businesses, but incentivize people to get vaccinated. They’ve worked extremely well in New York City, and the Governor should expand screening requirements statewide.
"At the same time, we know that amid the rise of Omicron and the prevalence of Delta, breakthrough cases are a real risk. I urge New Yorkers to be diligent in masking up indoors, regardless of the vaccination requirements of the venue. As we have seen, we cannot delay and risk greater harm or additional restrictions which could have been prevented and avoided. We must take the precautions now to prevent New York from again becoming the epicenter of the epicenter of a deadly surge."
It was getting colder Wednesday as darkness began to set in at the Christmas tree on Pelham Parkway off White Plains Road. Students from PS 83 were proud to show off their singing talent before the tree lighting, as they sang several Christmas songs as the crowd waited for the lights to go on. PS 83 Principal Brandon Muccino was so proud of his students who were singing as if they were on the stage at Rockefeller Center.
Councilman Mark Gjonaj, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, and Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez were set. Assemblywoman Fernandez thanked her fellow elected officials and had to redo her speech when she left out co-sponsor Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association as a co-sponsor. One more song from the PS 83 Glee Club and then the Pelham Parkway Christmas tree was lit.
The students from PS 83 sang various Christmas songs while everyone waited for the Christmas tree to be lit.
