Jacobi Health Care Workers Highlight Racial Disparity in Health Care, Address City Budget Cuts

  A solidarity event in support of the Black Lives Matter movement took place at Jacobi Medical Center on Jun. 9, 2020. About 35 hospital staff members stood outside the hospital displaying signs of support. Others spoke about the racial inequities that exist within the health care system and decried budget cuts to health care while the City pays out millions in law settlements relating to police misconduct.   Kelly Cabrera, a registered nurse working in emergency medicine addressed those gathered saying, “Racism is a public health emergency. We’re here as health care workers in one of the areas that


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Andy King Talks Being Black in America at Unity and Solidarity Event

  Impassioned and resolute, Bronx City Councilman Andy King laid out the implications of being Black in America from a physical, emotional and economic standpoint when he addressed a crowd at a Unity and Solidarity food and face mask distribution event on Jun. 9, 2020. Joined by former NYPD officer and Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, and 32 BJ Union President Kyle Bragg, King appealed to Black elected leaders to seize the moment and stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protestors to effect lasting change.   The event was held outside King’s District 12 office on East Gun Hill


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Olinville: Three Teenagers and One 24-Year-Old Shot, One 19-Year-Old Female Dead

On Friday, Jun. 12, 2020 at 11:01 p.m., police responded to a 911 call of persons shot inside Shoelace Park located at East 226th Street and Bronx Boulevard, within the confines of the 47th precinct.   Upon arrival, officers observed a total of four gunshot victims. One was a 15-year-old male who was shot in the buttocks, another was a 19-year-old female who was shot about the body, another was a 24-year-old male who was shot in the groin, and the fourth was a 16-year-old male who was shot in the ankle.   EMS responded to the location and transported


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Social Security Administration Notice re Appointments

On May 21, 2020, the federal Office of Strategic and Digital Communications at the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced temporary (COVID-19) procedures to allow claimants to use different methods to sign the “notice of appointment of a representative and fee agreement”, if the fee agreement was submitted with the new notice of appointment.   The agency said that while these procedures are in place, if SSA receives an appointment document, and if the claimant’s original signature does not appear to be a wet signature, SSA will make three attempts to contact the claimant to verify their identity and confirm the


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State Call for Written Testimony re Protests: Deadline Monday, June 15th at 5:00 p.m.

Public Notice New York State Attorney General Letitia James Public Hearing Via Video Conference on Police/Public Interactions During Recent Protests  Wednesday, June 17th @ 11:00 AM   The Office of the Attorney General has been designated by the Governor to investigate interactions between police officers and the public during recent protests.    Attorney General James will be holding a public video hearing to examine the nature and details of these interactions. Members of the public are invited to provide written testimony relevant to this investigation.   Oral testimony for the video hearing will be subject to hearing scheduling constraints and witness


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Get Cool NYC: COVID-19 Summer Heat Plan

Mayor Bill de Blasio today updated New Yorkers on the City’s efforts to keep vulnerable New Yorkers cool indoors this summer. The Get Cool NYC program addresses the higher risk for indoor heat exposure for New Yorkers this summer, due to staying inside for social distancing, especially for those most at risk of COVID-19 complications.   “Summer is upon us, and we must keep the most vulnerable New Yorkers cool and safe at home,” the mayor said. “We’re moving heaven and earth to get air conditioners to thousands of seniors in need, and I thank the Public Service Commission for


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Kingsbridge Heights: Police Appeal in relation to Shooting

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance identifying the individual depicted in the attached photograph and video in connection to a shooting that occurred within the confines of the 50th precinct.   On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at approximately 4:30 a.m., inside of a residential lobby within the vicinity of Sedgwick Avenue and West 197th Street, two unidentified individuals were involved in an altercation. A 66-year-old male tried to intervene and was shot one time in the left leg.   The individual with the firearm then fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim


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COVID-19 Webinar on Treatments & Implications for Public Health: Where Do We Stand?

Community members are invited to a webinar hosted by Montefiore Nyack Hospital on Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2020 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. to learn about various drug treatments for the treatment of COVID-19 and their current place in therapy.   This presentation will also explain the importance of chronic care management in the community setting during a pandemic, and the benefits of telehealth in overcoming barriers to healthcare in a post-COVID era.   The panelist will be Nirvana Awad, PharmD, BCPS Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Transitions of Care Department of Pharmacy, Montefiore Nyack Hospital.   Advance registration for this webinar is


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Biaggi Moves to Repeal Governor’s Nursing Home Immunity Provision

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblymember Ron Kim have introduced a new State bill that would repeal an amendment in the state budget that gives blanket corporate immunity to nursing home owners, shareholders, and trustees during the COVID-19 pandemic.   If passed, repealing the amendment would enable families to pursue a legal pathway that could uncover evidence of poor care by nursing homes. To date, over 5,600 families have lost a loved one living in a nursing home due to COVID-19.   On Friday, Jun. 12 at 12.30 p.m., Kim and Biaggi will hold a virtual press event and vigil


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