Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Why Margaret Atwood Saw This as the Moment for 'The Handmaid's Tale' Sequel
This report was published on YouTube on September 9.
African American Democrats Back Biden and Sanders in Primary Field
This report was published on YouTube on September 9.
Hurricane Dorian: Canadian Ministers Visit Areas Impacted by Hurricane
Global News: Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph
Goodale, joined by Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan, visited
areas in Halifax impacted by hurricane Dorian, followed by attending a
press conference.
During the press conference, it was reported that there were no serious
injuries or fatalities in Atlantic Canada due to hurricane Dorian.
World Suicide Prevention Day: A Message from the NYSOMH Commissioner
The following statement was issued today by Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health.
“Today,
on World Suicide Prevention Day, we reflect on the extraordinary toll
suicide takes on individuals, families and communities, and we recommit
ourselves to expanding suicide prevention efforts across New York State.
It is critical that every New Yorker has access to the resources and
mental health services they need to lead productive healthy lives.
"Suicide is a complex issue, and effective prevention requires cooperation and coordination among all segments of society. The New York State Office of Mental Health, our Suicide Prevention Office and our statewide Suicide Task Force are all working to foster partnerships and provide support and education to local governments, schools, healthcare providers, advocates and other stakeholders. We are also working to enhance programs and outreach methods to better serve high-risk groups, including African American youth, rural New Yorkers, Latina adolescents, veterans and members of the LGBTQ community.
"Together, we are implementing policies and programs that can make a difference and help us save lives. We will continue to work to ensure that every New Yorker, and especially those most vulnerable to suicide, has access to the mental health services they need and to strengthen the safety net for anyone who needs help.”
"Suicide is a complex issue, and effective prevention requires cooperation and coordination among all segments of society. The New York State Office of Mental Health, our Suicide Prevention Office and our statewide Suicide Task Force are all working to foster partnerships and provide support and education to local governments, schools, healthcare providers, advocates and other stakeholders. We are also working to enhance programs and outreach methods to better serve high-risk groups, including African American youth, rural New Yorkers, Latina adolescents, veterans and members of the LGBTQ community.
"Together, we are implementing policies and programs that can make a difference and help us save lives. We will continue to work to ensure that every New Yorker, and especially those most vulnerable to suicide, has access to the mental health services they need and to strengthen the safety net for anyone who needs help.”
Governors Submit Letter Calling for Federal Government to Act on Sensible Gun Safety Measures
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Governors of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington today issued a letter calling on President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take action on sensible gun safety measures.
The Governors demanded the federal government pass common sense legislation, including Red Flag laws to prevent individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing a firearm; universal background checks, including closure of the private gun sales loophole; a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; and stricter reporting requirements to prevent those deemed by a mental health professional to be a danger to themselves or others from purchasing a firearm.
Click here to read the letter.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
A Novel Gun Control Strategy: Pressure Banks and Retailers
New Jersey also plans to wield its buying power to force gun makers to adopt policies like background checks.
Source: The New York Times
A $1.7 Million Loan, $30,000 in Income. Prosecutors Are Now Investigating.
“I hope they help us,” said Mohammed Hoque, a cabdriver who spoke with
agents as part of a new federal inquiry into lending practices in the
taxi industry.
Click here for the report.
Source: The New York Times
Monday, September 9, 2019
Governor Cuomo Takes Action to Protect New Yorkers from Vaping Products
Earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the New York State Department of Health to take a series of measures to address two emerging public health crises: the increasing number of cases of vaping-associated respiratory illnesses and the increasing number of youth that are using vape products and developing lifelong nicotine addictions.
The Governor directed the State Department of Health to issue subpoenas to companies marketing and selling "thickening agents" used in black market vaping products and to issue emergency regulations mandating that warning signs must be posted in all vape and smoke shops in New York State.
Additionally, the Governor announced that he will advance new legislation to ban flavored e-cigarettes.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
Former DHS Secretaries Testify on Homeland Security Threats
C-SPAN: Former Homeland Security secretaries testified before a Senate Homeland
Security Committee field hearing in New York City. Topics discussed
included progress over intelligence sharing among the federal agencies
and with allies since September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, other
potential terror threats such as chemical and biological warfare, and
the need to address cybersecurity immediately. The hearing took place at
the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum just ahead of the 18th
anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
This video may not play on certain browsers. Click here if you experience problems.
Secretary Mnuchin Says the U.S. Economy is in 'Very Good Shape'
C-SPAN: Speaking with reporters outside the White House, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says the U.S. economy is in “very good shape.” He also responded to questions on trade with China, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and other trade and economy issues.
This video may not play on certain browsers. Click here if you experience problems.
UK Queen Approves Law Blocking No-Deal Brexit
Al Jazeera English: Britain's Queen Elizabeth has approved a law blocking a no-deal exit from the European Union at the end of October.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson must now ask for an extension or get a deal.
Earlier he visited Ireland, and made a rare admission that a no-deal exit would be a failure of diplomacy.
Al Jazeera's Charlie Angela reports from London.
Cargo Ship Carrying 4,000 Hyundai Cars Capsizes Off Georgia Coast
Global News: A South Korean cargo vessel carrying about 4,000 cars bound for the Middle East was listing heavily on Sept. 8 off the coast of the southern U.S. state of Georgia, an official of operator Hyundai Glovis said.
The U.S. Coast Guard said a pilot and 23 crew were aboard the Golden Ray
when it overturned in St. Simons Sound and 20 people had been rescued.
Click here and scroll down for additional information.
What Happens to Those Heartbreaking Tributes at the 9/11 Memorial
The expressions of mourning left behind at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum are cleared nightly and preserved.
Click here for the report.
Source: The New York Times
Governor Cuomo Issues Letter to the MTA Board Outlining Priorities for Upcoming Capital Plan.
To: MTA Board of Directors,
The MTA has made quantifiable and undeniable progress over the past three years.
The path forward for the MTA has two tracks. Short-term progress will be achieved by institutionalizing the means and methods of the Subway Action Plan through expeditiously implementing the MTA's Reorganization Plan and completing the commenced special initiatives. Longer-term improvements will be achieved when the Capital Plan is approved. The Capital Plan offers unprecedented opportunities as we have new dedicated revenues including those from the Congestion Pricing Plan legislation.
The short-term agenda requires an energized management capacity to complete the ambitious MTA Reorganization Plan's new hirings, realignment, consolidation and special initiatives. The Train Speed and Safety Task Force, the Help for the Homeless Initiative, Fare Evasion and Worker Safety Task Force and the station and train intensive cleaning initiative, are top short-term management priorities to advance the New York City Transit Authority and Andy Byford's progress. They must be fully completed on time.
Major capital construction projects under MTA Capital Construction and Janno Lieber must be supported and rigorously executed. The L Train Tunnel redesign shows the potential for new approaches.
The new business integrity laws including "bad contractor" debarment, time and attendance systems and forensic audits must be in place.
As the Capital Plan requires approval by the legislative leaders and the Mayor of the City of New York, these legislative mandates must be completed for the benefit of the taxpayer and riders and so the MTA's noncompliance does not become an issue in the approval of the Capital Plan.
The Capital Plan provides an historic opportunity in that new funding has been secured to support $25 billion in Capital Plan projects including from the State's passage of Congestion Pricing in the Central Business District. The State Legislature and the Mayor of New York City have made their priorities clear in the bills they have passed and in public statements.
I want to advise you of my priorities for the Capital Plan before it is prepared and presented.
I believe it is essential that the Capital Plan achieve the following goals:
The progress on making stations accessible for people with disabilities has not been acceptable. It is a legal and moral mandate that the MTA accelerate the number of stations made accessible and the timeframe in which accessibility is achieved.
"Quality of Life" issues in the subway have deteriorated. The number of homeless, dangerously mentally ill, fare evaders, aggressive "pan handlers" and worker attacks has skyrocketed. Station redesign securing access to the tracks and worker safety is essential. Riders must be provided a safe environment and additional MTA police with proper equipment, training and facilities is essential.
State of the art signal systems must be installed to speed up the trains and long-delayed construction projects such as East Side Access, Grand Central improvements, the Moynihan Farley Station, Long Island Rail Road improvements and Second Avenue Subway must be prioritized.
The New York City outer boroughs and Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad must receive an equitable distribution of resources.
New buses should be hybrid or electric and distributed throughout the City, and you must work with New York City to find ways to improve speed and service. New train cars must be procured without the multi-year delays in past contracts.
There is no doubt that the rigor and activism of the Subway Action Plan has achieved quantifiable progress. Performance is demonstrably improved. The management discipline and capacity must now be institutionalized through the Reorganization Plan and accompanying Task Forces and Special Initiatives.
An intelligent Capital Plan that can be approved by the Legislature and New York City Mayor in an expeditious fashion will secure and advance progress.
Sincerely,
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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