House GOP Leaders Hold News Conference Ahead of Coronavirus Vote

Eye on Africa: South African University Innovations Bring Practical Solutions to PPE Crisis

'For Venezuela, Low Oil Prices Definitely Means Trouble'

FRANCE 24 English: The crash in oil prices could turn #Venezuela into a bargaining chip in U.S.-Russia negotiations, Rystad Energy analyst Paola Rodriguez-Masiu tells The France 24 Debate. The only potential bright spot she sees is if the drying up of oil revenue forces the government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition to sit down at the bargaining table.

World Food Programme Warns of 'Biblical' Famine

Isolated Ultra-Orthodox Jews at Epicentre of Jerusalem’s Coronavirus Outbreak

PM Trudeau Announces $9B Aid for Students, Including Monthly Benefit

Coverage begins at the 1:50 mark.

New York Governor Gives Coronavirus Update

Mayor de Blasio Holds Media Availability on COVID-19

NYPD Chief Monahan Speaks on Crime, Social Distancing

Hero's Send-Off for Out-of-State Medical Workers Who Helped NY COVID-19 Patients

From The G-Man and The G-Man Interviews salute all the medical workers who traveled to New York City to help our medical teams and ailing residents. Thank you, and safe travels. 

Coronavirus in N.Y.C.: Latest Updates

Click here for the report.

Source: The New York Times

NYC EMT Idris Bey Dies of Coronavirus, Becoming 8th Active FDNY Member Killed by Pandemic

The New York Daily News: The 27-year veteran took part in rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero and since 2002 had been assigned to the FDNY’s EMS Bureau of Training.

Click here for the report. 

Lyft, National Action Network to Provide Transportation to Seniors and Underserved Residents

 

New York, NY - Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton and National Action Network announced today that in partnership with Lyft, they will provide access to transportation for senior and underserved residents in six markets in urban areas across the country. 

The partnership is part of LyftUp, Lyft’s comprehensive effort to expand transportation access to those who need it most. In response to the COVID-19  crisis, Lyft has activated more than 500 partners through LyftUp. This includes efforts in collaboration with public health entities, local governments, nonprofits and community organizations to create new opportunities for drivers, provide rides to those in need, and help distribute essential goods.

Using a specialized code in the Lyft app, National Action Network members will have access to ride credit for rides to and from essential locations including supermarkets, medical appointments and to receive food at NAN’s distribution centers effective today through April 30, 2020. 

The participating NAN Chapters are in Harlem, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and Irvington, New Jersey.

“The ride codes will help our members in essential services and on the front line get where they need to go during this unprecedented time,” said Reverend Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network. “By lifting at least one burden, Lyft is making it easier for them when they go to get groceries or help their family members who may need extra assistance while the quarantine continues.”

“We want to increase access to transportation for those who need it, particularly to meet their essential needs during this time. By activating LyftUp, we’re able to partner with National Action Network to fill mobility needs for seniors and for low-income residents participating in the NAN meal distribution service in the wake of COVID-19,” said Lisa Boyd, Director of Social Impact, Lyft. “We’re also grateful to all those who drive with Lyft for helping provide rides for those in need. Lyft will be supporting drivers by creating new opportunities to help them earn additional income through the Lyft app and continuously working to protect their safety.”

To make sure riders and drivers know the best ways to protect themselves and those around them, Lyft is providing continuous updates. To learn more about how else Lyft is supporting its community during this time, visit its blog.

 

Source: Amaris Cockfield

We Can't Go Back to Normal. Now is the Time to Move Forward with 'Reparations'.

By Rev. Willie Brisco, President of WISDOM

As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on we are hearing a lot of talk about when things will "go back to normal."  Some say it will be a few weeks; some say a few months; some say it will be deep into 2021. We know, though, that if we stand together we can use this time to do much better than that.

As WISDOM, we do not want things to go back to the way they were. This health crisis has exposed some ugly truths that were there long before the virus.  COVID-19 has revealed the massive racial and economic disparities that many seemed not to have noticed before. The pandemic made it apparent that we already had politicians who are so partisan as to prioritize electoral advantage over the health and lives of their fellow citizens. We had way too many people in our prisons long before the current crisis, and prison was already an inappropriate, unhealthy place for very many of them.

People who are shocked by the disproportionate damage COVID-19 has done in low-income communities and among people of color think now is the time to ask, "why?" We know why. And, we have known it for a long time. Now is the time to act.

Now is the time to move forward with "reparations" -- to take steps to remedy the systematic exclusion and oppression of African-American people.  It is the time to give a pathway to citizenship to millions of undocumented workers who have been deemed "essential" and have been asked to risk their health to keep our country going. As we recognize our dependence on delivery workers, grocery store workers, nursing home workers, janitors, and so many other low-wage workers, we need to see that it is time to pay every worker a living wage of at least $15/hour. Now is the time to restore our democracy and guarantee once and for all that every citizen have the right to vote in every election without undue burdens or dangers.  Now is the time to act boldly and to permanently cut our prison population, at least by half.

As the pandemic wanes, which it inevitably will, please do not celebrate a return to "normal." This is the time for people of faith and good will to stand together to demand and to build a new normal, one that builds on the compassion we have also seen revealed by so many in these days. We need to step up in this historic moment to demand a state and a nation that truly values the lives of all its people.

The 2020 Simon Wiesenthal Center Yom Hashoah Commemoration

This special program features tributes to Holocaust Survivors who have volunteered for decades and shared their experiences with visitors at the Museum of Tolerance, poignant remarks by Rabbi Hier and others, and film clips from Moriah Films’ I Have Never Forgotten You and Liberation narrated by Nicole Kidman, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Patrick Stewart.

Click here to watch the event in its entirety. 

Source: SWC

The Rev. Dr. Charles Atkins Jr. Appointed to Major Position at Sing Sing Correctional Facility

 

New York, NY – New York Theological Seminary has announced the appointment of Dr. Charles Atkins, Jr. as the Director of the Master of Professional Studies program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Dr. Atkins joins the core faculty, bringing with him close to two decades of experience working in ministry, prisons, and academia.

Dr. Atkins is fluent in French and proficient in Spanish, and he brings experience in spiritual empowerment and the socio-economic development of people in Central America, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. 

"We are elated by the addition of Dr. Charles Atkins to the NYTS family. He is a vibrant theological thinker and leader who brings to our faculty an exceptional set of talents", said Dr. Tamara Henry. We look forward to the significant contributions he will make as a part of the NYTS community."

Dr. Atkins served as an ordained minister and full-time Chaplain with the New Jersey Department of Corrections. For over 20 years at the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility,  he developed and maintained programs of overcoming inner and outer violence through the practical application of spiritual principles methods for incarcerated youth and young adults. Through this work, he also provided mentor training for faith-based groups interested in working with returning citizens.

"I am excited to welcome Dr. Charles Atkins, Jr. to the NYTS team," said President Dr. LaKeesha Walrond. "His experience as both an academician and practitioner is the perfect fit for our MPS students and our Seminary at-large. I look forward to working with him and eagerly anticipate his leadership and expertise in this role."

Dr. Atkins holds a Bachelor of Arts from Haverford College, two master's degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a doctorate from the University of Montreal. His doctoral research focused on those necessary elements that make religious practices effective in leading a person to spiritual renewal of consciousness while incarcerated. His work centers on religious practice in incarcerated communities and is summarized in his forthcoming book, The Word Confined: Bible Study in an American Prison. (Nova Science Publishers, 2020).

 

Source: Amaris Cockfield

COVID-19 Pandemic Sparking Food Availability Crisis in NYC

Brooklyn BP Talks COVID-19 in Nursing Homes and More

Poison Control Sees Spike in Cleaning-Related Calls

Mayor de Blasio Holds Media Availability on COVID-19

Elective Outpatient Treatment Can Resume Without Significant Risk of COVID-19 Surge

Earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced elective outpatient treatments can resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term. Hospitals will be able to resume performing elective outpatient treatments on April 28, 2020 if the hospital capacity is over 25 percent for the county and if there have been fewer than 10 new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients in the county over the past 10 days. If a hospital is located in a county eligible to resume elective outpatient treatments, but that hospital has a capacity under 25 percent or has had more than 10 new hospitalizations in the past 10 days, that hospital is not eligible to resume elective surgeries. If a county or hospital that has resumed elective surgery experiences a decrease in hospital capacity below the 25 percent threshold or an increase of 10 or more new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients, elective surgeries must cease. Further, patients must test negative for COVID-19 prior to any elective outpatient treatment. The State Department of Health will issue guidance on resuming elective surgeries.

Restrictions on elective surgery will remain in place in Bronx, Queens, Rockland, Nassau, Clinton, Yates, Westchester, Albany, Richmond, Schuyler, Kings, Suffolk, New York, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Erie, Orange and Rensselaer Counties as the state continues to monitor the rate of new COVID-19 infections in the region. 

Governor Cuomo also announced the state will take a regional approach to reopening and will make decisions on which counties and regions to open and when to open them based on the facts and data specific to that area. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will coordinate Western New York's public health and reopening strategy, and former Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy will volunteer as a special advisor to coordinate the Finger Lakes' public health and reopening strategy.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Beware of COVID-19 Scams Tied to Federal Economic Impact Payments

 

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is alerting consumers about scammers taking advantage of COVID-19. Scammers are sending phishing emails, texts, phone calls and social media to try to steal economic impact payments and your personal information. Consumers are reminded that it’s important to stay vigilant and aware of unsolicited communications asking for your personal or private information.

“While much of New York State has been on ‘PAUSE’ in the midst of this unprecedented public health crisis, unscrupulous scammers have been hard at work preying on unsuspecting New Yorkers,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. “I urge all New Yorkers to be extra diligent and follow simple steps to keep your money and personal identity safe.”

New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt said, “Taxpayers and tax preparers must be especially wary during this unprecedented time. Cyber thieves are asking taxpayers or tax preparers to verify banking information via a phone call or link that goes to a fake website, where unsuspecting victims enter their private information. These are classic phone scam and phishing scheme tactics that can be avoided by following a few simple tips. For the most up-to-date information on the Economic Impact Payments, and to support Governor Cuomo’s awareness campaign, the Tax Department has launched an Economic Impact Payment information: what you need to know web page and is doing direct outreach to taxpayers who may not automatically receive the payments they're owed.”

Interim New York State Office of Information Technology Services Chief Information Officer Jeremy M. Goldberg said, “Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, NYS has recognized and responded to the very real and emerging cyber threats impacting New Yorkers, including by safeguarding your personal information, minimizing our risk, and bringing you the latest best practices in cyber hygiene. New Yorkers should be wary of anyone who calls, texts, or emails them claiming to share COVID-19 information from the IRS, and instead should follow the suggested tips on our ‘Stay Cyber Safe’ website.”

What You Need to Know about Economic Impact Payments
 

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to help individuals that are negatively impacted by the coronavirus epidemic. An important component of individual relief, Economic Impact Payments, have already started being issued to New Yorkers from the IRS.

You don’t need to take any action to automatically receive your stimulus payment if you:

filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return and are eligible; or

received one of these benefits (unless claiming a qualifying child under age 17):

- Social Security retirement benefits and survivor benefits

- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and survivor benefits

- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits

- Railroad Retirement and survivor benefits

- Veterans Administration compensation (disability, death benefits etc.) or retirement benefits

While most people will receive their payment automatically, if you otherwise have not filed taxes recently, you may need to submit a simple Federal tax return to get your check. For more information on the Economic Impact Payments, New Yorkers should visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance at Economic Impact Payment information: what you need to know or the IRS at Economic Impact Payments.

Below are tips to help keep your economic impact payment and personal information safe from scammers:

• Rely on trusted sites for information. Visit legitimate, government websites—for up-to-date, fact-based information about COVID-19. Visit the IRS website directly for the latest information on the economic impact payments. Remember, the government will never call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.
• Delete emails asking you for personal information to receive an economic stimulus check. Government agencies are not sending unsolicited emails seeking your private information in order to send you money.
• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments. See Using Caution with Email Attachments and Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Scams for more information.
• Don’t provide personal or banking information. Scammers may ask by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up your economic impact payment.
• Do not agree to sign over your economic impact payment check. Scammers may ask you to sign over your stimulus payment check to them.
• Be wary of bogus checks. Scammers may mail you a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.
• Do not cash unsolicited checks. Scammers use this tactic to get your bank account information, and you will incur fees when the check is found to be insufficient.
• Be aware that scammers are also able to replicate a government agency’s name and phone number on caller ID. It’s important to remember that the IRS will never ask you for your personal information or threaten your benefits by phone call, email, text or social media.
• Hang up on illegal robocallers. If you receive a call about economic impact payment scams, hang up. Don’t press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.
• Notify the IRS if you are contacted by a potential scammer. If you receive an unsolicited email, text or social media attempt that appears to be from the IRS or an organization associated with the IRS, like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, notify the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
• Verify a charity’s authenticity before making donations. Review the Federal Trade Commission’s page on Charity Scams for more information.
• Review CISA Insights on Risk Management for COVID-19 for more information.

With assistance from ITS, the Department of Health continues to maintain up-to-date “Stay Cyber Safe” tips and active warnings at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/stay-cyber-safe.

Source: The New York State Division of Consumer Protection

Insurance Fraud Action Against Major Opioid Manufacturer

Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the New York State Department of Financial Services has initiated administrative proceedings and filed charges against Mallinckrodt plc and its subsidiaries, Mallinckrodt LLC and SpecGX LLC. These charges are the first to be filed in DFS' ongoing investigation into the entities that created and perpetuated the opioid crisis. 

"The worst frauds are those that go beyond individual harm to institutionalized systemic fraud - and the opioid scheme is no exception," Governor Cuomo said. "The opioid manufacturers knew how addictive and dangerous their products were and they used it as a business model for their own financial gain at the cost of thousands of human lives and billions of dollars. The damage they have caused by creating and perpetuating the opioid epidemic that is devastating our state and nation has been immeasurable, and we are taking action to ensure these big pharmaceutical companies are held responsible for their fraudulent practices." 

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

COVID-19 Maternity Task Force Launched

 

Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and the New York State Council on Women and Girls today announced the creation of a COVID-19 maternity task force to examine the best approach to authorizing and certifying additional dedicated birthing centers in an effort to provide mothers a safe alternative to already stressed hospitals amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The task force will make recommendations to Governor Cuomo by the end of the week.

Click here for details.

Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

The World Health Organization Holds News Conference on Novel Coronavirus

US Death Toll Tops 40K as Debate Heats Up on Reopening the Country

Millions Could Be at Risk of Losing Their Stimulus Checks Due to Private Debt

U.S. Condemns Arrest of Pro-Democracy Activists in Hong Kong

Stakeholder Briefing: Workers Compensation Board COVID-19 Outbreak Response

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board has created a briefing to inform stakeholders about the Board’s actions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The briefing provides a summary of the actions the Board has taken to date, with links to more detailed information.

Please see NYS Workers’ Compensation Board COVID-19 Outbreak Response.

To stay informed, please monitor the Board’s website for updates at wcb.ny.gov. Or, to receive notifications via text or to your inbox, sign up for WCB Notifications. 

Source: The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board

Lawsuit Sues China for Six Trillion Dollars in Coronavirus Reparations

60 Minutes Australia

This report was broadcast on April 19.

How is the Coronavirus Impacting People with Disabilities?

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India: Stigmatising Those with Covid-19 Will Only Help Spread It

PM Justin Trudeau Addresses Nova Scotia Shooting Tragedy; House of Commons Returning Amid Pandemic

Coverage begins at the 9:07 mark.

New York Governor Gives Coronavirus Update

Mayor de Blasio Holds Media Availability on COVID-19

Cory Booker's New Small-Business Relief Plan