MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON MAYORAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN STATE BUDGET

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement on mayoral accountability potentially being left out of the state budget:

 

“Given its vital importance to the nearly one million students in our education system and the fact that parents right now do not know who will be responsible for their schools in mere months, it would be disappointing for mayoral accountability to be omitted from the budget. We have a long way to go before a final budget is approved and our broad coalition will continue to wage this fight on behalf of our city’s children. The bottom line is that we should be proactively supporting our children by giving them the certainty they need as soon as possible — particularly after the trauma they’ve experienced over the past two years.”  

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Mayoral Control has been a huge failure since its inception under the Bloomberg administration. Former Mayor Bloomberg tried to rewrite the education law, and former Mayor Bill de Blasio didn't have a clue when it came to running the public school system, and this is being born out of the question of Mayoral Accountability. 

The state legislature should give no more than a one year extension of Mayoral Control, while looking to return the control of the public schools to the district level where the Decentralization Law placed it. Albany should in conjunction with the Mayor, Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council and other local community organizations come up with a local district based School Board for each of New York City's local school districts. 

 

Gang Member Sentenced For 2009 Murder Of 17-Year-Old

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOHNNY NUNEZ GARCIA, a/k/a “Superior,” was sentenced to 200 months in prison for the June 5, 2009 gang-related murder of 17-year-old Jonathan Ruiz in the Bronx, New York.  Today’s sentence is in addition to the 124 months in prison that NUNEZ GARCIA has already served on a prior sentence for related narcotics and firearms offenses.  NUNEZ GARCIA was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr. NUNEZ GARCIA previously pled guilty to murdering Ruiz as part of NUNEZ GARCIA’s participation in the Dominicans Don’t Play (“DDP”) gang.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s sentence shows that senseless gang violence will be met with severe consequences.  Johnny Nunez Garcia participated in the horrific murder of Jonathan Ruiz, who was only 17 years old when he died.  For this crime and others, Nunez Garcia will spend 27 years in federal prison.”

According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Information, prior charging instruments and other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings:

NUNEZ GARCIA was a member of the “Elder Family” set of the DDP gang—an enterprise that distributed crack cocaine and other drugs, and carried out shootings, robberies, and other acts of violence, on and around Elder Avenue in the Bronx, New York.  On June 5, 2009, members of the DDP gang attended a party and got into an altercation with individuals they understood to be members of the rival Trinitarios gang.  These suspected rivals—who included Jonathan Ruiz—fled down the street, but NUNEZ GARCIA and his accomplices pursued them in a car.  Once the DDPs caught up with Ruiz, one of the DDP members exited the car and shot Ruiz from a distance, causing Ruiz to fall wounded to the ground.  NUNEZ GARCIA then ran over to the wounded Ruiz, stood over him, and shot him again.  NUNEZ GARCIA left Ruiz to bleed out from his injuries.

In addition to the prison term, NUNEZ GARCIA, 31 of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department.

NEW ROCHELLE MAN INDICTED IN FATAL SHOOTING OF MAN DURING MELEE OUTSIDE BABY SHOWER

 

Defendant Allegedly Shot Victim After Victim Shot His Brother

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a New Rochelle man has been indicted for second-degree Murder and additional charges for fatally shooting a man during a bloody melee which also left the defendant’s brother dead.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant and several other men were involved in an argument during a baby shower and took the dispute outside, where the defendant allegedly shot and killed a man while another stabbed him. The victim had fatally shot the defendant’s brother during the incident. The violent scene was captured on video.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Wayne Smith, 28, of New Rochelle, NY, was arraigned today on second-degree Murder, first-degree Manslaughter, first-degree Gang Assault, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett. The defendant was remanded, and he is due back in court on March 16, 2022.

 According to the investigation, on February 12, 2022 at approximately 10:45 p.m., the defendant, his brother, and several other men, including the deceased, Arnold Oliver, 24, were involved in a dispute while attending a baby shower near 393 East 198th Street in the Fordham section. They stepped outside of the party and began fighting. The men assaulted Oliver, who took out a gun and shot at them, striking Smith’s brother. An unapprehended individual allegedly stabbed Oliver multiple times in the head and neck, and Smith took the gun from Oliver and allegedly shot him at least once in the head. Smith then allegedly repeatedly stomped and kicked Oliver as he lay on the ground. Police arrived at the scene and saw Smith with the gun in his hand, kicking Oliver, and arrested him. Oliver was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

 The investigation is ongoing.

 District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Detectives Fairoze Edoo of the 52nd Precinct Squad and Patrick Flatley of Bronx Homicide for their work on the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - MARCH 11, 2022

 

New Lowest 7-Day Average Statewide Positivity Since July 20 

Daily Statewide Positivity Has Been Under 2% for More Than Two Consecutive Weeks

17 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"We have come so far in our fight against COVID-19 and it is thanks to the tireless work of New Yorkers that we have made this incredible progress," Governor Hochul said. "Those who have gotten the vaccine have taken advantage of the greatest tool we have to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. If you have yet to get your vaccine, second dose, or booster, do so today. It's safe, effective, free, and readily available across our great state.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported - 152,272
• Total Positive - 2,107
• Percent Positive - 1.38%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 1.44%
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,245 (-34)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 133
• Patients in ICU - 199 (-14)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 122 (-2)
• Total Discharges - 287,957 (+188)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 17
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 54,920   

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 - 69,689   

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 - 37,197,482
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 16,363
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 109,477
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.8%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.2%
• 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) - 85.8%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.0%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.3% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.2% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.8%

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:  

Borough in NYC	Tuesday, March 8, 2022	Wednesday, March 9, 2022	Thursday, March 10, 2022
Bronx	0.73%	0.75%	0.72%
Kings	0.89%	0.93%	0.95%
New York	1.31%	1.37%	1.35%
Queens	0.90%	0.89%	0.84%
Richmond	1.16%	1.21%	1.13%

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Major League Baseball Agreement

 

“The news that the Major League Baseball season will move forward is a home run for New Yorkers. Over the past several weeks, I have been engaged in conversations with the involved parties and am grateful, on behalf of New Yorkers, that they have come to an agreement. The jobs and economic activity that baseball supports will bolster our ongoing economic recovery, and I know New Yorkers are looking forward to experiencing the hope and joy of springtime baseball.” 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We know that Governor Hochul is a Buffalo Bills football fan coming from that area of the state, but we do not know what is her favorite baseball team or if she is a fan of baseball. 

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after Major League Baseball (MLB) negotiated a collective bargaining agreement to allow the season to begin on April 7, 2022:

 

“The return of baseball means so much to New York City. It is central to our city’s spirit, and it is vital to the recovery of so many small businesses and the hard-working New Yorkers they employ, particularly in the Bronx and Queens. I am so glad to see Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reach this collective bargaining agreement, and I look forward to seeing fans both young and young and heart at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium in the weeks ahead.

 

“Let’s go Mets!”

EDITOR'S NOTE: 

Mayor Adams may be a Met fan, but it is better than our previous mayor who was a Boston Red Sox fan.

Governor Hochul Announces $232 Million in Additional Food Assistance for New Yorkers in March

 

All SNAP Households to Receive the Maximum Level of Food Benefits this Month 

More than 2.8 Million New Yorkers Relied on SNAP to Avoid Food Insecurity in January

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for March. All households participating in SNAP—including those already at the maximum level of benefits —will receive a supplemental allotment this month, which will result in New York State's economy receiving roughly $232 million in federal funding. 

"No New Yorker should struggle to put food on the table," Governor Hochul said. "Ensuring eligible New Yorkers get the maximum level of food benefits will bring much-needed relief to millions of New Yorkers, ensuring no one gets left behind as our economic recovery moves forward."

SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should see these extra benefits posted between now and the end of the day Thursday, March 17. Those SNAP households in the five-county New York City region should see their benefits post between Thursday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 30. 

The emergency assistance supplement is to be provided to households that do not ordinarily receive the maximum allowable benefit per month on SNAP - a federally funded program overseen by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Those households already near or at the maximum benefit level -$835 for a household of four -will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95.

New Yorkers continue to rely heavily on SNAP, with about 1.6 million households throughout the state enrolled in the program in January, a nearly 1 percent increase over the previous month. Roughly 2.8 million New Yorkers received benefits in January, the most since June 2021. 

OTDA began issuing the emergency supplemental benefits in April 2020 to those SNAP households receiving less than the maximum monthly benefit amount. When New York State's emergency declaration expired in June 2021, the agency successfully worked with the federal government to secure the maximum allotment for all SNAP households until the expiration of the federal declaration, currently expected to be extended into May.

OTDA Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said, "We continue to see strong demand for SNAP benefits, underscoring the economic struggles so many households are experiencing throughout our state. These supplemental benefits play an important role in helping households make ends meet and avoid food insecurity as our state continues to recover from the pandemic." 

OTDA distributed roughly $2.5 billion in supplemental benefits last year alone, underscoring the integral role this federal funding is playing in New York's economic recovery. Every federal dollar invested in SNAP is estimated to generate up to $1.54 in economic activity, according to a federal study quantifying the impact of SNAP on the U.S. economy.  

As with the prior months, the payments will be delivered directly to recipients' existing Electronic Benefit Transfer accounts and can be accessed with their existing EBT cards. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Any unused SNAP benefits will automatically carry over to the following month.   

Find more information on the emergency supplemental SNAP benefits, including answers to frequently asked questions, here. New Yorkers can check their eligibility for SNAP and apply online by visiting mybenefits.ny.gov. 

MATERNAL HEALTH BILL OF RIGHTS INTRODUCED FOR NEW COUNCIL TERM

 

 New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams re-introduced two bills aimed at combating the maternal mortality crisis in New York City and supporting maternal health and wellness. The legislation, which is particularly focused on reducing Black maternal mortality and deep disparities in maternal health, includes measures for both during and post-pregnancy. The bills were originally introduced in 2021, and can now be considered, heard, and voted on by the current City Council. Together, they are a model for the ways in which local legislatures can address maternal health inequities and injustices.

“Birth equity is a social justice issue – one too often ignored, facing people too often unheard. It’s one that is personal to so many New Yorkers – I never knew how personal it would be for me and my family,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “Creating a maternal health bill of rights with dedicated and sustained outreach to inform people of those rights, we can help ensure that rights are respected, requests heard, and resources granted. When someone is ready to return to work, we need to make that pathway clear and minimize barriers to reentry. These bills are common sense, their impact could be lifesaving, and we need to pass them this year."

Last month, after a long fertility struggle, a difficult pregnancy, and premature delivery, the Public Advocate and his wife welcomed their newborn daughter, Amani Elisadora. They have shared their story publicly in recent weeks and months in the hopes that it helps other New Yorkers feel supported, heard, and receive the care they need. 

The Public Advocate’s office has long been engaged in efforts to combat maternal health inequity. His office released a report on the issue last year, entitled Equitable Pregnancy Outcomes for Black and Brown New Yorkers, which analyzes systemic issues and outlines potential policy solutions.

In New York City, Black women are 8 to 12 times more likely to die during childbirth than their white counterparts. This is often rooted in medical personnel overlooking, minimizing, or dismissing the health concerns of Black patients. The first of the two bills, Intro. 86, establishes a maternal health bill of rights, and provides that pregnant individuals are informed of those rights through a public education campaign. Information is essential to body autonomy and empowering people to seek the care they deserve, and being informed of one's rights gives power to pregnant individuals as patients and as employees.

The second, Intro. 84, is aimed at addressing inequities and issues that primarily arise post-pregnancy during re-entry into the workplace. It would require employers, under guidance from the NYC Commission on Human Rights, to hold an onboarding meeting to discuss an employee's reintegration back into the workplace after parental leave. Employees returning from parental or medical leave often struggle during their return to work, lacking critical information about changes to the workplace or projects that have occurred while they were away. This bill would help correct that information gap.

Maternal health is an issue of racial inequity. Action on these issues is decades overdue, and while the current administration has taken some steps to address this inequity, maternal mortality and morbidity remains a problem – especially for Black women and pregnant persons.