Sunday, January 30, 2022

Mayor Adams Visits Jacobi Hospital to Announce New COVID Policy

 

Mayor Adams Visits Jacobi Hospital to Announce New COVID Policy

By Robert Press

Sunday morning Mayor Eric Adams visited Jacobi Hospital for the second time in a week. Last week after the Emergency Room shooting Mayor Adam visited Jacobi Hospital to ensure everything was back to normal. 


Today's visit was to announce along with Doctors Chokshi, Katz, and Long that the city is winning the fight against the COVID-19. "There has been a decrease of more than 80% in the amount of cases in the city since early January, and that 75% of all New Yorkers are fully vaccinated - way ahead of the national average" said Mayor Adams. The mayor added that the city is offering high risk New Yorkers free, at-home delivery of COVID-19 antiviral pills to prevent serious illness and keep people out of the hospital.  


On hand were NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi  who said that the city must continue to do all it can to prevent needless suffering and death caused by COVID-19 to help keep New Yorkers safe and healthy. NYC Health and Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz said that the public health care system is seeing a decline in COVID-19 admissions, but are still very busy treating severely ill patients. NYC Test and Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long said that he was waiting for the day that he could give patients a pill that could save their life to fight COVID-19, and now it can be done by calling your doctor to prescribe the new COVID-19 antiviral pill. Dr. Long added for those without a doctor they can call the hotline at 212-COVID19 to be connected to NYCHHC Virtual ExpressCare and talk to a health provider.


There was a small demonstration of about twenty Jacobi nurses and other staff holding signs that they do not feel safe anymore inside Jacobi Hospital after the shooting, that more security, and other vital supplies that are in short supply are needed. The mayor said that issue would be addressed after the press conference. Dr. Katz met with the staff afterwards to make note of the issues. 


During questioning from the media, this reporter was able to ask Mayor Adams about the Fair Share issue of siteing three Single Adult Homeless Men's Shelters in Community Board 11 by former Mayor de Blasio. The fact that the Department of Homeless Services has a policy of not placing more than 25% of a community board's homeless responsibility as Single Adult Men was being ignored, whereas the three shelters would be up to 75% of CB 11's homeless responsibility. Mayor Adams said he would check with the DHS on the matter, and they would get back to me. CB 11 has a public hearing on the third Single Adult Men's Shelter to be located at the corner of White Plains Road and Bronxdale Avenue, Thursday night February 3rd. For more information you can call CB 11 District Manager Jeremy Warneke at the board office 718-892-6262 for more information, and to sign up to speak at the public hearing to be held at Maestros on Bronxdale Avenue.


Mayor Adams speaking with Doctors Long, Katz, and Chokshi (L - R) seated. 


NYC Health Commissioner Doctor Chokshi tells of the new COVID-19 Antiviral pill.


NYCHHC President and CEO Doctor Katz speaks of declining COVID-19 cases in NYC hospitals.


NYC Test and Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Long tells of having your doctor or how to get a city doctor to prescribe the new COVID-19 anti viral pill.


Nurses and staff from Jacobi Hospital hold signs saying that they do not feel safe anymore inside the hospital after the shooting in the emergency room.


Mayor Adam answering this reporter's question.

MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEADERSHIP TEAM

 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the team who will lead his administration’s affordable housing strategy. Jessica Katz will lead the team as the city’s chief housing officer. Adolfo Carrión Jr. will serve as commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Eric Enderlin will continue serving as the president of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

During the announcement, the mayor reiterated his support for several measures that will help the city build housing and reduce costs, including:

  • Upzoning areas with robust infrastructure and around major transit hubs, as well as creating new housing supply around the five boroughs;
  • Legalizing basement apartment dwellings, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and other small units; and
  • Converting underused hotels and office buildings into affordable housing.

 

“I said from day one of my campaign that we are going to end the housing affordability crisis, and this is the team of extraordinary leaders who will do just that,” said Mayor Adams. “This team has a clear mission: To create, preserve, and maintain safe, affordable housing that will build a more equitable city. I know they will ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New York and deliver the housing New Yorkers deserve.”

 

“The city’s affordable housing crisis demands a dedicated leader and an effective team,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “This group of leaders is empowered to drive the city’s efforts to create and maintain safe, affordable housing throughout the five boroughs for all.”

 

“As a lifelong advocate for safe, affordable housing, I’m grateful to Mayor Adams and incredibly honored to be leading his housing agenda,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “From expanding our housing supply across the city to ensuring families have easier access to stable homes and finally fixing NYCHA with resident voices at the center of the conversation, there’s a lot to do. It is our responsibility to ensure all New Yorkers have an affordable place to live, and I’m ready to get to work, fighting to achieve this for every one of our neighbors.”

 

“Thank you, Mayor Adams, for the opportunity to return to public service and work with you, the great team you have assembled, and the dedicated public servants at HPD, so we can build a city that works for everyone. There is no greater responsibility we share than to build nurturing communities that provide families an affordable and safe place to live and an opportunity to move up the economic ladder,” said incoming HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “My parents came from Puerto Rico in the 1950s and moved into a tenement basement apartment in Williamsburg, then into NYCHA’s Jacob Riis Houses and HUD-assisted Haven Plaza on the Lower East Side, and then, with the help of an FHA mortgage, to our first home in the North Bronx. This was all possible because our city and country invested in us. Now we must do the same for this generation. We’re going to work hard to create neighborhoods of opportunity, where families have a chance to get ahead.”

 

“I want to thank Mayor Adams for appointing me to lead the incredible team at HDC,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “We look forward to bringing our deep experience in innovative finance to help create more housing and preserve our city’s existing affordable and public housing stock. Safe, high-quality, affordable housing is crucial to the success of our city, and I am extremely proud to be a part of this team that will work tirelessly toward the goal of ensuring every New Yorker has a stable place to call home.”

 

Mayor Adams’ full list of appointees is below:

 

Jessica Katz, Chief Housing Officer

 

Jessica Katz will serve as chief housing officer, overseeing the city’s housing agencies and affordable housing strategy. Her portfolio will include HPD, HDC, NYCHA, the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO), and the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT). She will report to First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo.

 

Katz was most recently the executive director of the Citizens Housing & Planning Council (CHPC), an 80-year-old research and advocacy organization focused on housing and planning issues in New York City. At CHPC, she led a policy and research agenda that included projects, such as basements apartment conversions, a New Lens for NYC’s Housing Plan, Resident Decision-Making at NYCHA, Equitable Code Enforcement, and many other initiatives.

 

Before CHPC, Katz was with HPD, where she most recently served as the associate commissioner for New Construction. In that role, she oversaw the creation of affordable and special needs housing. She has held a variety of roles at HPD, including as assistant commissioner of Special Needs Housing, senior advisor to the commissioner, and assistant commissioner for Preservation Finance. Katz began her career with HPD in 2003 and started as the production manager for Special Needs Housing, gaining in-depth experience in the creation of housing for seniors and New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. She left HPD in 2009 to become the executive director of Lantern Group, a not-for-profit that operates social service programs across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as 1,000 units of permanent supportive housing.

 

Katz received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Geography from McGill University and went on to receive a Masters in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 

Adolfo Carrión Jr., Commissioner, Department of Housing Preservation and Development

 

Adolfo Carrión Jr. is the CEO and founder of Metro Futures LLC, a real estate development and consulting firm, whose focus is the development of affordable housing, mixed-use and economic development projects, and strategic planning in the New York City Metro Area.

 

Carrión has spent his professional career working to build and improve historically marginalized communities in the Bronx, in other areas of New York City, and around the country. Before starting Metro Futures, Carrión served as regional administrator for Region II of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, deputy assistant to President Barack Obama, and director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs. Carrión’s work resulted in the establishment of a White House Urban Policy Working Group and the first interagency review in 30 years of federal government policy and funding in U.S. urban and metropolitan areas. Prior to his tenure in the federal government, Carrión served as Bronx Borough President and as a member of the New York City Council. His work as Borough President ushered in a new era of building and growth in the Bronx that increased investment in housing, schools, millions of square feet of commercial space, the new Yankee Stadium, and new businesses. Carrión also served as president of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), is an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellows alumnus, and has served on numerous boards for non-profit and government entities. He also served as executive vice president of Stagg Group, a housing development and management firm, and senior advisor for Corporate Development to the CSA Group, the largest Hispanic-owned architecture and engineering firm in the U.S.

 

Carrión received his Bachelor of Arts from the King’s College and a Master’s in Urban Planning from Hunter College.

 

Eric Enderlin, President, Housing Development Corporation

 

Eric Enderlin has served as president of HDC since October 2016. In this role, Enderlin is tasked with leading the nation’s largest municipal Housing Finance Agency to help ensure a fairer and more equitable city through the creation and preservation of affordable housing. He also recently led HDC through an expansion of its mission to now serve as the key financing partner in efforts to rehabilitate New York City’s public housing stock, while guaranteeing affordability and resident protections.

 

Enderlin brings more than 20 years of experience in public policy and affordable housing to HDC. He most recently served as deputy commissioner for Development and special advisor at HPD. Prior to joining HPD, he was assistant director for Asset Management and Private Market Operations at NYCHA, worked as a consultant with the Louis Berger Group in its Economics Department, and served as principal planner and land use mediator with the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (NJ COAH).

 

Enderlin holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a Master of Science in urban planning and policy, both from Rutgers University.

 

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 30, 2022

 Clinical research for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Wadsworth Laboratory

Statewide Cases Have Dropped 90% Since January 7 Peak

Hospitalizations Declined by More than 550 in Past 24 Hours; Down Across All Regions and Among All Age Groups

124 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday


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

"New Yorkers are doing the right thing - getting vaccinated and receiving their booster, wearing their masks, and staying home when they're sick," Governor Hochul said. "The winter surge plan, too, is working to ensure we manage COVID-19 after the peak of Omicron and keep New Yorkers healthy and safe. The vaccine is safe, effective, free, and readily available all over the state. If you haven't taken advantage of it yet, I encourage you to do so immediately - it's the best weapon we have in this fight against the pandemic."   

Today's data is summarized briefly below:    

  • Test Results Reported - 173,385
  • Total Positive - 8,781
  • Percent Positive - 5.06%
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.92% 
  • Patient Hospitalization - 7,117 (-558)   
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 727
  • Patients in ICU - 1,177 (-9)
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 709 (-6)  
  • Total Discharges - 272,065 (+1,209)
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 124
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 52,873

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 - 65,427

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 - 35,872,379
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 40,478
  • Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 405,739
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 90.9%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 82.0%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%
  • Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 84.5% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 80.1%   
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 71.8% 
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 87.5%   
  • Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 74.0%   

Long Island Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking

 

 Earlier this week, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Donta Riddick pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute on September 15, 2020.  Riddick also admitted to the distribution of heroin and fentanyl on September 13, 2020 that caused the death of a 21-year old resident of Massapequa, New York.  As part of his guilty plea, Riddick agreed to a sentence of 198 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years’ supervised release, subject to the Court’s approval.  Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Timothy Foley, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the guilty plea.

“Today, the defendant admitted to trafficking heroin laced with fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a young woman on Long Island,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “The opioid epidemic and the tragic overdose deaths of so many have had a devastating impact on our communities. This Office, together with our federal and local partners, will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute and hold accountable those who contribute to this serious problem.”

“The facts of the case clearly demonstrate fentanyl’s lethal nature.  Today’s guilty plea culminates one of many DEA investigations targeting drug trafficking rings whose illegal actions contribute to the rising drug-related overdose rates. I commend the investigators and prosecutors involved in this case,” stated DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Foley.

“Defendant Donta Riddick did intentionally sell illegal drugs to a young woman who ultimately passed from an overdose of those drugs which were laced with deadly fentanyl. The multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of the defendant which removes a dangerous drug dealer from our communities.  I would like to thank and congratulate all of the investigators and those respective agencies for a job well done,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder.

According to court filings and statements made by the defendant at the guilty plea proceeding, on the night of September 13, 2020, Riddick sold fentanyl-laced heroin to the victim, who suffered a fatal overdose at a motel in Massapequa the following morning.  A review of the victim’s cell phone by law enforcement revealed text messages she exchanged with Riddick in which she appeared to be ordering heroin from the defendant.  On September 15, 2020, during the subsequent investigation by the DEA and NCPD, Riddick was arrested in possession of street-level quantities of the same fentanyl-laced heroin that had caused the death of the victim the day before.

Statement from NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy on Democrats’ Brazen & Outrageous Gerrymandering of New York’s Congressional Districts

 

“These maps are the most brazen and outrageous attempt at rigging the election to keep Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. Voters spoke loud and clear in rejecting their partisan power grab last year and in 2014, but Democrats are circumventing the will of the people. They can’t win on the merits so they’re trying to win the election in a smoke-filled room rather than the ballot box. Governor Hochul herself admitted she would collude with Washington Democrats to ensure that Joe Biden has the votes for his failed, socialist agenda. For all of their phony protestations about transparency and fairness in elections, what they’re doing is textbook filthy, partisan gerrymandering that is clearly in violation of the New York State Constitution. We are reviewing all of our legal options to protect the voices of millions of New Yorkers.” 

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES COVID-19 CASES DOWN, VACCINATIONS UP, AND ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT-HOME DELIVERY

 

NYC COVID-19 Cases Down Over 80 Percent Since Early January 

More Than 75 Percent of All New Yorkers Now Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19, More Than 11 Percent Ahead of National Average

 

Different Treatment Options Available to New Yorkers With COVID-19, Including Free Same-Day Delivery of Antiviral Medications

 

COVID-19 Antiviral Therapeutics and Monoclonal Antibody Treatments Effective at Preventing Severe Outcomes, Especially for High-Risk New Yorkers

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced multiple new milestones in the fight against COVID-19, which includes a massive decrease in COVID-19 cases, a landmark milestone met in vaccination rates, and free at-home delivery options of COVID-19 treatments. Mayor Adams was joined by city health officials at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx to make clear that New Yorkers are winning in the fight against COVID-19, and encouraged them to take advantage of available options to reduce transmission rates and help them quickly recover from COVID-19. One treatment for COVID-19 — oral antiviral pills — is now available for free, same-day, at-home delivery through the Health Department’s pharmacy partner, Alto Pharmacy. Both oral antiviral pills and monoclonal antibodies have been proven to be effective at reducing severe outcomes, like hospitalization and death, and are available for those who test positive for COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms.

 

“Not only is New York City winning in the fight against COVID-19, but we are bringing even more help right to New Yorkers’ front doors to continue beating this pandemic,” said Mayor Adams. “We’ve not only decreased the amount of cases by more than 80 percent since early January, but hit a new milestone with 75 percent of all New Yorkers fully vaccinated — way ahead of the national average. We’re also offering high-risk New Yorkers, free, at-home delivery of COVID-19 antiviral pills to prevent serious illness and keep people out of the hospital. I urge all eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of this service, and for every New Yorker to stay up to date with their vaccines and boosters.  This is about saving lives and getting our city moving again.”

 

Treatment is most effective when started soon after symptom onset, so the Health Department recommends that New Yorkers get tested right away if they feel sick. Due to limited supply of both monoclonal antibody treatments and antiviral pills, these treatments are prioritized for those who have tested positive and are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. New Yorkers who test positive should contact their doctor or call 212-COVID19 to be connected to care and to discuss treatment options available to them.

 

“We must continue to do all we can to prevent needless suffering and death caused by COVID-19,” said New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “These treatments — combined with high-quality masks, vaccination, testing, and our other public health precautions — help us to defang the virus and keep New Yorkers safe and healthy.”

 

“Our city’s public health care system is seeing a decline in COVID-19 hospital admissions, but we are still very busy treating severely ill patients,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Free, at-home delivery of these antiviral pills will keep high-risk New Yorkers out of the hospital so we can immediately free up critical resources.”

 

“As a primary care doctor right here in the Bronx, for the past two years I’ve been fighting to help my patients with COVID, and dreaming of the day when I could give them a pill that could save their life,” said Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Care and Population Health at New York City Health + Hospitals and NYC Test & Trace Corps Executive Director Dr. Ted Long. “Today, that day is finally here — and we’ll even deliver that pill to your home to remove all barriers to New Yorkers getting this life-saving treatment. As always, if you don’t have a doctor that can prescribe these medicines for you, Test & Trace is here to help. Anyone can call our hotline at 212-COVID19 to be connected to NYC Health + Hospital’s Virtual ExpressCare and talk to a healthcare provider.”

 

“We’re honored to be able to support the city in the fight against COVID-19,” said Matt Gamache-Asselin, co-founder, Alto Pharmacy. “Our team is working around the clock to get antivirals to New Yorkers who need them.”

 

About Treatment Options

Oral antiviral pills — taken daily for five days — help to stop the virus from reproducing, which reduces the amount of virus in the body and prevents symptoms from getting worse. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two oral antiviral pills to treat COVID-19: Paxlovid and Molnupiravir.

 

Monoclonal antibody treatments are a one-time injection or intravenous treatment that offer antibody protection while the body works to produce its own antibodies. Monoclonal antibody treatments, such as Sotrovimab, are effective against the Omicron variant and are for patients who have mild to moderate symptoms for 10 days or less but are at high-risk for severe illness.

 

New Yorkers who have symptoms and test positive should contact their health care provider or call 311 to be connected to medical care, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. New Yorkers can also talk to a NYC Health + Hospitals doctor by visiting ExpressCare and clicking on “Talk to a Doctor Now,” or by calling 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

 

About Alto Pharmacy

Alto is a leading telehealth pharmacy with pharmacist support and free same-day delivery across the five boroughs to ensure New Yorkers have access to treatment regardless of location or access to transportation. Alto is currently the city’s exclusive provider of oral antiviral pulls until supply increases to sufficiently stock multiple pharmacy providers. They provide care seven days a week on their app, over text and on the phone: (800)-874-5881.

 

Get Vaccinated and stay up to date!

A fully vaccinated person is much less likely to get sick or spread the virus that causes COVID-19, especially if they have their booster shot. To find a vaccination site, visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692).

 

Get Tested!

Testing remains an important part of reducing the spread of COVID-19. If you are feeling ill, believe you have been exposed, or have recently traveled or attended a gathering, visit nyc.gov/covidtest, text “COVID TEST” to 855-48, or call 311 to find a testing site near you.

 

Mask Up!

All individuals, regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, should wear a mask at all times when indoors and in public settings. All masks should cover the nose and the mouth and rest snugly above the nose — below the mouth — and on the sides of the face. Higher quality masks — such as KN95s, KF94s, or N95s — offer an additional layer of protection.

 

Stay Home!

If you are feeling sick, you should stay home and leave only to seek appropriate medical care and testing. If you are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 infection — such as those with underlying health conditions — avoid crowded settings, particularly indoor gatherings. Gathering with others increases the risk of COVID-19, especially if not everyone is vaccinated.

 

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on Winter Storm

 

Governor Hochul: "I want to thank New Yorkers for listening to us and literally staying off the roads, staying home at a critical time when we needed to be out there with the early salting and then the removal of snow while the snow is coming down at such a rapid pace. We're in a much better place than people would have anticipated. And it sure helped to have it happen on a weekend as opposed to during our normal commuting days. So, this was a fortunate circumstance, but it's all about preparation. You can't control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are. We were extremely prepared with our response, and we have a lot of seasoned professionals."

  We had no service disruptions based on weather from the MTA, the LIRR, the Metro North line. It was really quite incredible. I just got off a zoom call with the head of the MTA, Janno Lieber, as well as the head of the DOT, and our emergency response team. Our State Police have been in constant communication with them, and everyone just because they were prepared, they knew what to do. We were ready for the worst case scenario, you prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And yes, it was a disruption. But again, luckily we didn't need these lines, they were not as heavily used because it was a weekend as opposed to a regular commuting days. So that was a real blessing as well, to get the the big storm to hit on a weekend. Can't always count on that.

But you can't control the weather, but you can control your preparation and your response. And that's where I give our team high marks, as well as like I said, if New Yorkers hadn't listened to us, and they were all over the roads and driving around, there would've been a lot more stranded people and cars off the road. I've lived through this, through major, major storms in Buffalo, managing emergency response efforts up there. So, this was very well handled and it looks like the sun is out there shining now and shining on everyone.

We have in terms of how high it had been, just literally earlier this month, we had a 23 percent statewide infection rate. And now, that infection rate is down to about 6.9%. Extraordinary drops, still much higher than we were in early December or November before Omicron hit. So we're watching in comparison to what we've been in the fall. During most of the fall, New York City was at about a one or two percent infection rates. So we're getting there, and this, is people needed just need to hang on. We are absolutely turning the corner. Tremendous progress has been made. The more people get vaccinated, especially our children, I'm so looking forward to the day when we don't have to have masks on anybody, and our kids don't have to deal with this, but one way that we can help get to that day sooner is keeping the infections down, and the other one is getting more people vaccinated, and especially our kids.

So, to everybody who's been anxious, everyone I know is anxious to feel some sense of normal, we are going to have to continue to be vigilant. This is not over. But in the meantime people should be proud of the accomplishments we have. We are far better off than many other states right now. So those numbers are trending in a great direction, also watching very closely our hospitalization rates. Those are down, down another you know, down 2,700, just from last week alone. We are now at a much lower number than we were. We had 12,000 people in the hospital, literally two weeks ago. So we are doing much better and I liked the way the numbers are looking. And we're going to get there.

 Well, people are doing the smart things. Everywhere people go, they're wearing the masks. I'm seeing a lot more in N95s on people, which are a little higher level of protection. The restaurants and establishment where you have to be vaccinated to go into, or wear a mask, I mean, this is why, one of the reasons why we have a low infection rate. So continue. I was out for dinner and, you know, as we shoveled a little bit and got out, we were out at a restaurant last night, I just wanted to show support.

Please continue to support our restaurants and Broadway, and all of our cultural attractions, because there is a smart way to do it. You have any symptoms, stay home. Do you have any concerns? Get a test kit. Otherwise, if you're a vaccinated and boosted and masked up, there's no reason not to get out there. Our businesses really need the help. I'm going to be continuing to be out there supporting all the institutions that make the City in this region so fantastic, letting people know, I believe it's safe, because we're all taking the right precautions. We cannot stop living our lives. They can not let our businesses be hurt.

And as I said, from the very beginning, My job is to protect the health of New Yorkers, but also the health of the business community. And we all have a part to play to help them get back on their feet.

Saturday, January 29, 2022

American Woman Who Led ISIS Battalion Charged with Providing Material Support to a Terrorist Organization

 

 A criminal complaint filed in 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, which is now unsealedalleges that Allison Fluke-Ekren, a United States citizen, organized and led an all-female military battalion on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), and charges Fluke-Ekren with providing and conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Fluke-Ekren was previously apprehended in Syria and transferred into the custody of the FBI yesterday, at which point she was first brought to the Eastern District of Virginia. She is expected to have her initial appearance at the federal courthouse in Alexandria on Monday at 2:00 p.m.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, Allison Elizabeth Fluke-Ekren, aka “Allison Elizabeth Brooks,” aka “Allison Ekren,” aka “Umm Mohammed al-Amriki,” aka “Umm Mohammed,” and aka “Umm Jabril,” 42, a former resident of Kansas, traveled to Syria several years ago for the purpose of committing or supporting terrorism. Since her departure from the United States, Fluke-Ekren has allegedly been involved with a number of terrorism-related activities on behalf of ISIS from at least 2014. These activities allegedly include, but are not limited to, planning and recruiting operatives for a potential future attack on a college campus inside the United States and serving as the appointed leader and organizer of an ISIS military battalion, known as the Khatiba Nusaybah, in order to train women on the use of automatic firing AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, and suicide belts. Additionally, Fluke-Ekren allegedly provided ISIS and ISIS members with services, which included providing lodging, translating speeches made by ISIS leaders, training children on the use of AK-47 assault rifles and suicide belts, and teaching extremist ISIS doctrine.

The complaint details the eyewitness observations of six separate individuals who collectively observed Fluke-Ekren’s alleged terrorist conduct from at least 2014 through approximately 2017. For example, Fluke-Ekren allegedly told a witness about her desire to conduct an attack in the United States. To conduct the attack, Fluke-Ekren allegedly explained that she could go to a shopping mall in the United States, park a vehicle full of explosives in the basement or parking garage level of the structure, and detonate the explosives in the vehicle with a cell phone triggering device. Fluke-Ekren allegedly considered any attack that did not kill a large number of individuals to be a waste of resources. As alleged by the same witness, Fluke-Ekren would hear about external attacks taking place in countries outside the United States and would comment that she wished the attack occurred on United States soil instead.

The complaint further describes Fluke-Ekren’s alleged leadership role in the Khatiba Nusaybah. According to a witness, in or about late 2016, the “Wali” (or ISIS-appointed mayor) of Raqqa, Syria, allegedly permitted the opening of the “Khatiba Nusaybah,” which was a military battalion comprised solely of female ISIS members who were married to male ISIS fighters. Shortly thereafter, Fluke-Ekren allegedly became the leader and organizer of the battalion. Fluke-Ekren’s alleged main objective in this role was to teach the women of ISIS how to defend themselves against ISIS’ enemies. According to another witness, ISIS allegedly mandated women who were staying in Raqqa during the 2017 siege to attend the training. The siege was launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS with an aim to seize Raqqa, the former de facto capital of ISIS in Syria. The battle began on or about June 6, 2017 and concluded on or about October 17, 2017, at which point the SDF regained controlled of Raqqa. 

The members of Khatiba Nusaybah were allegedly instructed on physical training, medical training, Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) driving courses, religious classes, and how to pack and prep a “go bag” with rifles and other military supplies. According to eyewitness accounts, some of these classes were allegedly taught by Fluke-Ekren. One witness in particular allegedly observed that the leaders of ISIS and the other members of the military battalion were proud to have an American instructor. Fluke-Ekren also allegedly trained children on the use of automatic firing AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, and suicide belts.

U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.

Fluke-Ekren is charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed one or more crimes. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.