Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Death Toll Rises After Irma, Texas Still Feels Harvey's Punch

Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at New Cornell Tech Campus Ribbon Cutting Ceremony


Source: NYC Mayor's Office

FPWA CEO on the National Poverty Rate: 'There is Much Work That Needs to Be Done'

 

The following statement was issued today by Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA).

While the poverty rate has declined to 12.7 percent signaling, in general, movement in the right direction, 40.6 million Americans still live in poverty, and some, like seniors, are actually experiencing a rise in poverty.

The good news is that we have climbed out of the Great recession, unemployment has dropped while income coming into households has increased, and the percentage of people without health insurance is down. The continuing bad news, however, is that wages in many localities and states still are not high enough to meet the basic cost of living; the price and access to education continues to be a challenge for the poor; and we have a proposed budget that threatens to cut key federal programs that provide critical supports to the more than 40 million struggling every day to make ends meet.

There is much work that needs to be done. We cannot afford to jeopardize tax credits or safety net programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Social Security, Medicaid, and housing assistance that sustain low-income families. Now is not the time to start cutting federal programs for our most vulnerable populations as the Trump Administration and the GOP led Congress has proposed, but rather to continue investing in the programs and supports that build opportunity for all. 

Source: Mercury 

Scandal-Plagued Park Slope Senior Center Will Soon Become High-End Rentals

 

The long, complicated (and often very sad) saga concerning the Prospect Park Residence nursing home looks to be coming to a close under new ownership. Unsurprisingly, luxury real estate is in the future for the prized northwest corner of Prospect Park.

Harlem-based developers Sugar Hill Capital Partners filed plans to convert the 198-unit facility to 67 rental apartments, according to The Real Deal. Amenities throughout the nine-story, 139,652-square-foot building will include a pet spa, wine vault, play room, bike storage, fitness center, and roof terrace. The architect of record for the conversion is the IBI Group.

The building’s previous owner, Haysha Deitsch, purchased the building for $40 million in 2006, and years of fighting over its fate followed. There were accusations of neglect and lawsuits from both sides of the aisle, with reports that Deitsch served rotten food to seniors and cut off their air conditioning. 

Click here for the full article. 

Source: Curbe NEW YORK (via The Empire Report) 

Sputtering Subways Threaten Cuomo's Infrastructure Image

 

By Dana Rubinstein and Jimmy Vielkind

Dressed in pale dress trousers and work boots, Gov. Andrew Cuomo grasped an industrial vacuum known as a Vac-Tron and sucked up a pile of litter from the subway tracks in Union Square last week.

The event was ostensibly about cleaning up garbage and reducing track fires, but it was also about tidying up the governor’s carefully crafted image as the kind of executive who can make the trains run on time.

In New York City, where the subways have suffered a meltdown over the past six months, Cuomo’s name has instead become synonymous with the system’s neglect. In polls, riders have blamed him for the deteriorating service, and a Twitter hashtag #CuomosMTA has catalogued the system’s problems throughout the summer. “Tired of New York’s subways? Blame Andrew Cuomo” read one New York Times op-ed.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: Politico (via The Empire Report)

Schumer Noncommittal on Sanders's 'Medicare for All' Bill

 
By Jordain Carney

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is staying on the sidelines on a single-payer health care bill being rolled out this week by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

"Democrats believe that health care is a right for all, and there are many different bills out there. There are many good ones," Schumer told reporters during a weekly leadership press conference.

Schumer was asked what he would "say" about the legislation being unveiled Wednesday by the Independent senator.

Click here for summary. 

Source: The Hill (via The Empire Report)

US Report Finds $1.4B Problem in New York's Medicaid Program




By David Klepper, Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The state paid out an estimated $1.4 billion in Medicaid funds for long-term care providers who didn't follow the state's rules for the program, according to a federal review of the state's Medicaid system published Tuesday.

The report, from the Office of the Inspector General, revealed a large number of providers who failed to document patient assessments, provide community-based services or provide written care plans to patients, all requirements spelled out in their contracts with the state.

Click here for summary. 

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle (via The Empire Report) 

Nathan Kline Institute Scientists Receive Major Federal Funding for Alzheimer’s Research



ORANGEBURG, NY - The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) announced today it has secured $20 million in federal grant funding to support Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) research. Five multi-year grants were recently awarded to three research scientists at the Institute’s Center for Dementia Research (CDR).

These awards include a highly prestigious Program Project Grant awarded to the CDR’s Director, Ralph Nixon, PhD., MD.  Program Project Grants, funded by the National Institute of Health, support multiple teams of researchers, who closely collaborate using complementary approaches to clarify a fundamental aspect of AD that holds special promise for understanding its causes and developing novel therapies. The CDR Program Project addresses prominent defects appearing early in AD that hinder the ability of brain cells to eliminate “cellular garbage," which is the damaged and potentially toxic cell material that accumulates as the brain ages and faces other disease risk factors.  The discovery by CDR scientists of this striking failure of cellular clearance in AD brains has stimulated research world-wide, revealing promising new targets for drug development to slow or prevent AD.

“We are gratified that NIH places strong confidence in the AD research programs at the CDR and their promise for pioneering innovative, more effective therapies for AD and related dementias.” said Dr. Nixon, who is also a member of NYS Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer’s Disease.

Two other CDR researchers, Efrat Levy, PhD and Helen Scharfman PhD., have been awarded grants from the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Levy received funding for her work in studying the mechanisms by which a genetic variant might inhibit the formation of amyloid beta, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Sharfman’s work seeks to understand why certain neurons in the brain’s memory center become abnormally hyper-active, even before clinical symptoms of AD develop. In addition to the funding for their AD research, Dr. Levy and Dr. Scharfman also received funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Mental Health respectively, in support of complementary studies.

The awards were announced during a visit by New York State Senator David Carlucci to NKI at which CDR scientists presented their work and provided a tour of their laboratories.  Senator Carlucci’s appropriation in a past state budget for a state-of-the-art microscope was an important factor that helped NKI investigators garner these highly-competitive federal research grants. 

“We are very proud of the scientific progress that Dr. Nixon and his team are making, and are very appreciative of Senator Carlucci’s support.  We believe this research will lead to new methods for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in the future” said Dr. Donald Goff, Director of the Nathan Kline Institute.

Founded in 1952, the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) is a facility of the New York State Office of Mental Health that is nationally and internationally renowned for its pioneering contributions to psychiatric research. In addition to the Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute is a leader in the areas of schizophrenia, mood disorders and childhood development. Its Social Solutions Division works closely with Office of Mental Health to improve services to disadvantaged communities.

Source: New York State Office of Mental Health

Aung San Suu Kyi to Skip UN General Assembly Amid Rohingya Crisis


Source: euronews (in English)

President Maduro Agrees to Talks with Venezuelan Opposition


Source: euronews (in English)

Juncker’s State of the Union Address (Full Video)


Source: euronews (in English)

Defence and Trade Not Linked in Brexit Talks


Source: euronews (in English)

Kurdish Independence Referendum to Go Ahead in Iraq


Source: euronews (in English)

European Leaders Visit Islands Devastated by Hurricane Irma


Source: euronews (in English)

North Korea Threatens U.S. with 'Greatest Pain'


Source: euronews (in English)

New York City Primary Election Results




Mayor Bill de Blasio won the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City on Tuesday night, defeating Sal F. Albanese, a former city councilman, and three other challengers. He'll compete against Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican assemblywoman, in the general election on Nov. 7.

Primary voters also chose among candidates for City Council, public advocate, and also district attorney in Manhattan and in Brooklyn. 

New York City Mayor 

Democratic Primary
Candidate Vote Pct.
Bill de Blasio* 324,021 74.6%
Sal Albanese 66,221 15.2
Michael Tolkin 20,252 4.7
Robert Gangi 13,463 3.1
Richard Bashner 10,442 2.4

99% reporting (5,834 of 5,901 precincts)
* Incumbent 

Click here for the full listing. 

Source: The New York Times

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Steve Bannon's Threat to Mainstream Republicans


Source: CBS News

Gay Rights Activist Edith Windsor Passes Away


Source: Wochit News

Statement from Governor Andrew Cuomo 

"I am heartbroken by the passing of my friend Edith Windsor. Edie was an iconic New Yorker who carried on the fight for equality and achieved an historic victory on the path to justice. She embodied the New York spirit, taking it upon herself to tear down barriers for others and ensure marriage equality was the law of the land. I will always admire her strength and her perseverance in the face of adversity. I will never forget her, and, on behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest condolences to those who loved her and have been touched by her work and her advocacy." 

Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

From The G-Man salutes the accomplishments, legacy and life of Ms. Windsor with the following video, which was published on YouTube on November 22, 2016. May she forever be remembered, and may she forever rest in peace.

 

Source: Twenty Summers

The Power of the Pen: New Bill Signed Into Law


On Tuesday, September 12, 2017, the President signed into law:

H.R. 3732, the "Emergency Aid to American Survivors of Hurricanes Irma and Jose Overseas Act," which increases, from $1 million to $25 million, the cap for Fiscal Years (FY) 2017 and 2018 on the amount that HHS may spend for the provision of assistance to repatriated U.S. citizens.  

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

President Trump Meets with Prime Minister Razak


Source: The White House

White House Press Briefing


Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on 'The Vietnam War'


Documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick talked about their latest film for PBS called The Vietnam War.

Source: C-SPAN

Mark Cuban: Trump Deal with Democrats Was Really Smart


This video was published on YouTube on September 7, 2017. 

Source: Fox Business

DL Hughley on NFL’s TV Ratings Disaster and the Cleveland Browns


Trailblazers in Black History: John Witherspoon


Comedian John Witherspoon was born on January 27, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan, USA as John Weatherspoon. He is known for his work on The Wayans Bros. (1995), Friday (1995) and The Boondocks (2005). He has been married to Angela Robinson Witherspoon since 1988.

This video was published on YouTube on May 2, 2016. 

Sources: IMDb and The Hip-Hop Spot

Sanders to Host Emergency Hurricane Meeting for Clergy Members



New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) is hosting an emergency meeting for all clergy leaders in the 10th Senatorial District concerning Hurricane Harvey and Irma. 

"With the recent disaster of the hurricanes, it is important that we educate ourselves on how to be prepared for such occurrence in the future and work together to assist the affected people," said Senator Sanders. 

The event will be held at Faith Assembly Church, 120-13 101st Ave, Jamaica, NY, on  September 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Call (718) 523-3069 for additional information or to confirm your attendance. 

Source: The Office of State Senator James Sanders, Jr.  

'Reversing the Stigma': A Documentary About Addiction and Recovery in New York State


The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the upcoming release of a new documentary about addiction and recovery and the stigmas that surround them. “Reversing the Stigma” highlights the work being done in New York State to combat addiction and reminds viewers that addiction is a chronic disease that is treatable. The film, narrated by acclaimed television journalist Laurie Dhue, profiles multiple people in various stages of recovery, who share their stories and experiences. “Reversing the Stigma” was produced by OASAS and the New York State Media Service Center.

The film will premiere throughout New York during the month of September, which is National Recovery Month. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued a proclamation marking the observance in New York State, which can be viewed here. This year’s National Recovery Month theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Strengthen Families and Communities.”

“There has been a long held belief that addiction only affects certain people, but the recent opioid epidemic has shown that it impacts people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, languages and religions,” said OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez. “This documentary is key to helping people understand that addiction is a disease and recovery is possible. We thank Governor Cuomo for giving us the opportunity to tell these stories, and for all of his efforts to help reverse the stigma against people with substance use disorder.”

Dhue, a former television news anchor who hosted programs on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, speaks throughout the film about her own nearly two-decades-long struggle with addiction, as well as her own recovery process. Along with interviews from New Yorkers in recovery, care professionals and New York State leaders, the documentary also examines stigma and the steps New York State is taking to address addiction and support people whose lives it has touched.

In 2015, opioid overdose deaths rose by 16 percent across the country compared to 2014, while in New York State, deaths rose by more than 28 percent, to a total of 2,184. With those numbers, New York is continuing to take steps to increase access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Last year, approximately 232,000 individuals received treatment for a substance use disorder in OASAS-certified treatment programs, with an average daily enrollment of about 98,000.

The state is also working to cut down on the number of opioid prescriptions issued. Last year, the Governor signed a law to reduce the limit on opioid prescriptions for acute pain from 30 days to 7 days, and to mandate education on addiction and pain management for prescribers. Those steps resulted in 650,000 fewer opioid prescriptions being written in New York State, in the first year that the law was in effect.

“Reversing the Stigma” will premiere at the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State annual conference in Buffalo on September 18. A schedule of showings throughout New York State can be found here.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPELine at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the new and improved NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard here or through the Access Treatment page on the NYS OASAS website. Visit the #CombatAddiction website at oasas.ny.gov/CombatAddiction to learn more about how you can help to #CombatAddiction in your community.

Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.

Source: The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS)

Spelman College Becomes Second Women’s Only HBCU to Admit Transgender Students


Spelman College’s announcement that they will open admissions and enrollment to transgender students is being considered a big step for transgender awareness and equality.

The institution will become the second exclusively for women Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to implement the policy change when they begin admitting transgender students in the fall 2019. Bennett College was the first to revise the policy in January.

“Like same-sex colleges all over the country, Spelman is taking into account evolving definitions of gender identity in a changing world and taking steps to ensure that our policies and plans reflect those changes in a manner that is consistent with our mission and the law,” Mary S. Campbell, the school’s president, stated in a letter on September 5. 

Click here for the full article. 

Hope Hicks Named White House Communications Director

WASHINGTON — Hope Hicks, the longtime aide to President Donald Trump who’d been serving as the interim White House communications director, will now lead the communications team on a permanent basis.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told NBC News of the move Tuesday.

Hicks becomes the third full-time communications director, officially replacing Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired in July, just 10 days into the job

Click here for the full article.

Former Trump Adviser Predicts More Shake-Ups


Hillary Clinton ‘Convinced’ Trump Associates Colluded With Russia

Hillary Clinton is “convinced” that people associated with President Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to help influence the outcome of the 2016 election, the former presidential candidate said in an interview published Monday night.

"There certainly was communication and there certainly was an understanding of some sort," Clinton told USA Today.

"I'm convinced of it," she added, when asked whether there was collusion. "I happen to believe in the rule of law and believe in evidence, so I'm not going to go off and make all kinds of outrageous claims. But if you look at what we've learned since, it's pretty troubling." 

Click here for the full article. 

White House Deals with Fallout from Steve Bannon Interview


Family Demands Answers After Teen Found Dead in Freezer


Source: CBS News

Millions Still Without Power, Water After Irma


White Teens Hang a Biracial 8-Year-Old From a Tree in New Hampshire




It's hard to say what the worst part of this story is: The fact that some white teens in Claremont, New Hampshire thought it would be funny to lynch a little brown kid or that the police are protecting the teens.

Two weeks ago, Cassandra Merlin's son was airlifted to a hospital in Dartmouth after he was viciously hung from a tree and left to die:

[Lorrie] Slattery said she was able to recount what happened from her grandson’s 11-year-old sister and other children present (there were no adults), and that her grandson and some teens were playing in a yard on Aug. 28 when the teens started calling the little boy “racial epithets” and throwing sticks and rocks at his legs.

Some or all of the teens allegedly stepped up on a picnic table and grabbed a nearby rope that had been part of a tire swing, Slattery said.

“The (teenagers) said, ‘Look at this,’ supposedly putting the rope around their necks,” Slattery said. “One boy said to (her grandson), ‘Let’s do this,’ and then pushed him off the picnic table and hung him.

”The boy swung back and forth by his neck three times before he was able to remove the rope from his neck; Slattery said none of the teens came to his aid. 

Click here for the full article.

Source: The Daily Banter 

$2.2 Million for Municipalities for Zero-Emission Vehicles and Infrastructure


 
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced $2.2 million from the Environmental Protection Fund is now available in rebates for municipalities to purchase or lease electric, (plug-in hybrid or battery) or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for municipal fleet use, and for installation of public charging or fuel cell refueling infrastructure. The State's zero-emission vehicle and infrastructure investments will advance the Governor's clean transportation and climate change goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
 
"New York is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, just as we have already significantly reduced emissions from electric power," Governor Cuomo said. "These investments are part of New York's focus, at all levels of government, to build cutting-edge, resilient infrastructure, generate more energy from renewable sources, and support a cleaner, greener, more sustainable New York for all."
 
This rebate program will be administered by DEC through the New York State Grants Gateway. DEC will accept applications from municipalities for rebates beginning Tuesday, September, 12 through May 31, 2018. Funding available through round two is included below.
 
Clean Vehicle Rebates: $200,000
 
Costs incurred by a municipality on or after April 1, 2016, to own, or lease for at least 36 months, a new clean vehicle for its fleet are eligible. Rebates of $2,500 are available for vehicles with a 10-50-mile electric range; $5,000 rebates are available for vehicles with a 50+ mile-electric range.
 
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Infrastructure Rebates: $1,000,000
 
Costs incurred by a municipality to install Level 2 networked chargers or provide charging stations that offer Direct Current Fast Charging service are eligible, up to $8,000 per port or $32,000 per fast charger pedestal, limited to $250,000 per location. A match equal to 20 percent of the rebate request is required.
 
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Infrastructure Rebates: $1,000,000
 
Costs incurred during the contract term by a municipality to install or contribute to installation of a facility for refueling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are eligible, with a required match equal to 20 percent of the rebate request. Limited to $250,000 per facility.
 
In round one of the ZEV rebates, municipalities purchased 79 clean vehicles and were awarded rebates to install 194 new ports of public charging capacity.
 
DEC's rebates for municipalities complement Governor Cuomo's Drive Clean Rebate initiative, which provides New York residents with rebates of up to $2,000 for the purchase of a new plug-in hybrid electric car, all-electric car, or hydrogen fuel cell car. The initiative is managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. More than 30 different types of electric cars are available for consumers and can be found on the Drive Clean Rebate website.
 
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "DEC is pleased to support municipalities in their efforts to transition to their municipal fleets to clean vehicles and install clean vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure for their communities. Forward-thinking municipalities like our 208 registered Climate Smart Communities are key players in New York's greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy."
 
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Alicia Barton said, "Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, the State is supporting initiatives that will lead to the reduction of harmful emissions from the transportation sector. The actions that municipalities and local governments are taking to electrify their fleets will ensure a more sustainable and cleaner future for communities across the state."
 
These rebates advance the state's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 under Governor Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision strategy. ZEVs have the potential to reduce emissions by as much as 75 percent per mile. The rebates will also help New York meet commitments as part of the Multi-State ZEV Partnership, which aims to put 3.3 million ZEVs on U.S. roads by 2025.
 
For questions about municipal clean vehicle/ZEV infrastructure rebates, email ZEVrebate@dec.ny.gov or contact DEC's Office of Climate Change at 518-402-8448.
 
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Could Recent Hurricanes Hurt New York's Chances for FEMA Aid?




Hurricanes in the southern U.S. have captured the nation's attention, and the federal funding used to help communities recover. That's concerning some in New York, where state lawmakers are still seeking federal aid for the months-long flooding along Lake Ontario.

Click here for the full audio report. 

Source: WRVO Public Media (via The Empire Report) 

Goodbye Common Core: NY's New English, Math Standards Are Here


ALBANY — New York education leaders approved English and math standards Monday for students in prekindergarten through 12th grade, not quite replacing but substantially revising the controversial Common Core standards that rolled out in classrooms statewide five years ago.

The approval by the state Board of Regents follows two years of review and revision by more than 100 teachers, administrators, parents and early childhood specialists across the state.

Dubbed the Next Generation Learning Standards, the new standards dictate what students should know and be able to do by the end of each grade and were designed to make up for what the previous standards lacked — an emphasis on play and curiosity among young students, age-appropriate education, and flexibility when it comes to measuring students of different abilities and languages.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: timesunion.com (via The Empire Report) 

A Harlem Republican Is Mulling A Bid For US Senate In 2018


 
By Darren Sands

John Burnett, a Harlem Republican who ran for New York City comptroller in 2013, and was a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention, is considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2018, he told BuzzFeed News.

Burnett is weighing whether to join a Senate primary for the chance to try and unseat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is considered to be a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2020, but has said she plans on running to keep her Senate seat and staying there. Any Republican challenger to her Senate seat would face a highly challenging race: She won re-election in 2012 with 72% of the vote in blue New York.

Click here for the full article. 

Source: BuzzFeedNews (via The Empire Report) 

What to Watch Across New York on Primary Day

 
By Matthew Hamilton

From Buffalo to Long Island., these local primary elections are worth paying attention to.

Polls open at 6 a.m. in New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie counties, and at noon everywhere else. Polls close at 9 p.m. statewide.

Here's what to watch on Tuesday:

Big city mayoral races

While eyes in the Capital Region will be focused on the Democratic Albany mayoral primary, the state's other big cities — all overwhelmingly Democratic like the capital — also have key Democratic primaries for mayor. 

In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio faces his first re-election effort. The race was wide open in 2013, as Michael Bloomberg exited. This time around, this race has been more of a dud.

A July NY1/Baruch College poll showed de Blasio was far outpacing top Democratic challenger former City Councilman Sal Albanese (Democrats Robert Gangi, Richard Bashner and Mike Tolkin also are seeking the seat).

Click here for the full article. 

Source: timesunion.com (via The Empire Report)