COVER STORY: Tech:NYC Executive Director Jason Clark........11

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year when it came to venture capital funding in the tech sector.

According to figures provided by the New York City Economic Development Center, in the first quarter of 2021, NYC-based companies pulled in $7.6 billion in seed money through venture funding.

Clark said that the silver lining that came out of the pandemic was that it led many people to see that tech could be an economic driver for New York.

“I want to make sure, especially for someone like myself, coming from Southeast Queens, to figure out ways folks in my community can have access to jobs that can sustain a family,” Clark said. “A lot of the jobs that were historically and traditionally done in the past are not always as prevalent as they were before. I feel in my bones that tech can really be that thing for it, but we have to do a better job of teaching students and reskilling adults for some of these opportunities that are available now in cybersecurity and data analytics.”

One program that Clark said he is really excited about is the launch of Tech:NYC’s summer youth employment program, “Tech Year NYC,” which aims to provide more tech-based internship opportunities both during the summer and throughout the school year.

“Our goal is to make sure at least a hundred of our member companies commit to having internship opportunities,” Clark said. “So that again, you play a more proactive role in building that pipeline of next tech leaders that come homegrown from places like Queens.”

Tech:NYC is also working on an assessment of the tech ecosystem here in New York and what opportunities are available within the vastly growing field. Clark suggested that some sectors prime for development and growth in NYC include, FinTech —short for “financial technology”—cryptocurrency, gaming, and wellness.

“There’s a lot of excitement about what can be done in those spaces,” Clark said, “If we can be able to make sure that we are incubating them so that they can be able to grow, it helps not only with the business side of things, being able to create a stronger more secure workforce in New York, but it also means that we’re gonna have more technology out there that’s going to improve our lives.”

To find out more about the tech ecosystem in New York City or to find out ways how to

Clark hopes to create a vibrant tech ecosystem here in Queens.

St. John’s University to Add Nursing Program

State Education Department approves Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to begin this Fall

St. John’s University has received approval from the New York State Education Department to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) program.

Applications for admission are now being accepted and preparations are underway for the first cohort of students to begin classes in August.

“After much planning—and with great excitement—we launch the new nursing program at St. John’s,” President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., said in a statement.

“Service is a core value of our University, and the nursing program aims to provide a stellar education within the context of our Catholic and Vincentian mission.

The foremost goal of our program is to train skilled professionals and compassionate nurse leaders ready to serve others in societies in need of healing.”

Establishing a nursing program is one step in a major and long-term investment in the health sciences at St. John’s. Next month, on International Nurses Day, St. John’s will break ground at the Queens Campus for a new 70,000-square-foot building-scheduled to open in Fall, 2024 that will be the permanent home of the nursing program.

The new medical and educational Health Sciences Center at the Queens, NY, campus will support and house existing and forthcoming health sciences programs in one facility.

The new building will provide state-of-the-art technology, simulation labs, and flexible room layouts to allow for a multitude of teaching and learning styles.

The innovative and flexible learning environment will ensure that future health-care workers can keep pace with the dramatic advancements in the health-care industry.

St. John’s will provide students with hands-on clinical rotations within a network of partner health-care systems, which include New York City Health + Hospitals, NewYorkPresbyterian Queens, and Catholic Health.

With an innovative curriculum, support for brand-new facilities, and established community partnerships the new nursing program at St. John’s aims to strengthen the local academic health system.

Nursing education is not new to St. John’s.

In 1937, a Department of Nursing formed at the University and the department became a separate School of Nursing Education in 1942, helping to train nurses during World War II before being discontinued.

According to a February 2022 survey on LinkedIn, registered nursing is the fourth most in-demand profession in the American workforce today.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses is projected to grow nine percent from 2020 to 2030.

Approximately 194,500 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

The American Nurses Association reports that the increased need for nurses spans beyond the current pandemic.

In late 2021, they urged the federal government to declare the current and unsustainable nurse staffing shortage to be a national crisis.

EXPERT ADVICE

Mayor Adams signs sprinkler law to help keep NYC buildings safer

BY GUS SEBO

Gus.Sebo@wmfps.us

NYC Executive Order 12 Calls for Sensible Retrofit Sprinkler Legislation

In response to the January 9th fire that left 17 people dead in the Bronx, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed Executive Order 12 that aims to strengthen enforcement and outreach of fire safety measures.

This Order states that city agencies and the City Council are working on additional “fire safety” legislation including sensible sprinkler retrofit legislation.

Preventing Fatal Apartment Fires

The Twin Parks North West fire was the deadliest fire that New York City has seen since 1990 when 87 people died in an intentionally set fire in a Bronx nightclub.

The fire was started by a space heater in a third-floor unit and caused deadly smoke to spread throughout the building when the apartment door failed to close as occupants evacuated.

Local Law 111 of 2018 requires all multifamily residential buildings to be equipped with self-closing doors which would prevent the spread of smoke and fire throughout the building.

Executive Order 12 is calling for stronger enforcement of this law as well as enforcement of 3 RCNY $401-06 which requires landlords to post fire safety information including “close the door” signs and fire safety guides and checklists. Fire Sprinkler Retro fits -

While fire safety measures such as postings, bulletins and self-closing doors are very important, one of the most effec18

Fire Sprinkler systems (Photo: WM Fire Protection)

tive ways to prevent fire related injuries and deaths in apartment buildings is through fire sprinkler systems.

Executive Order 12 is calling for sensible fire sprinkler retrofit legislation in NYC.

The Bronx apartment building in the January 9th fire had fire sprinklers in the compactor and the laundry room, per current code requirements.

The building had no fire escapes which were not required when it was built in the early 1970s, but it was considered non-combustible with concrete-poured floors and ceilings, and it had 90-minute rated fire doors as well as working fire alarms.

While those fire protection measures are important, having a fully sprinklered building is the most effective way to control or extinguish a fire and save lives.

Fire sprinkler systems work quickly and automatically, springing into action much faster than it takes the fire department to arrive at the scene of the fire.

New fire sprinkler retrofit legislation could help to save lives of countless New Yorkers who live in older high-rise buildings that were built before fire sprinklers were required.

Fire Protection Inspections

One proactive measure that building owners can take today to help ensure that their building is fire safe and code compliant is to get their building inspected. Inspections for fire safety can include:

• Inspections and testing of self-closing doors

• Inspections for proper fire safety postings

• Inspections and testing of fire sprinkler systems

• Inspections and testing of fire alarm systems

When it comes to fire safety, don’t wait until it’s too late. Failing to inspect, maintain and repair your fire protection systems can have deadly consequences.

Testing your fire systems can help you to identify any problems such as a self-closing door failing to close or a fire alarm not activating, so that it can be repaired in a timely manner before an emergency occurs. Gus Sebol is the Inspections Account Manager for W&M Fire Protection Services

For more information about W&M fire protection’s services visit wmfireprotection.com or call 888-437-1487

W&M Installs and Services Fire Sprinkler Systems

W&M Fire Protection is a New York fire protection company offering design, installation, inspection, and service for fire sprinkler systems.

We understand the importance of having working fire sprinkler systems in high rise buildings and we can work with you to keep your building compliant with local fire code.

W&M has a team of NICET certified technicians who can inspect your fire protection systems and address any repair needs quickly and efficiently with minimal disruption to your business.

To learn more about our services, contact us today.