20 minute read
Health
Preparing for the new wave of COVID
By HEATHER M. BUTTS, JD, MPH, MA
Special to the AmNews
The past two months have seen a new wave of COVID-19 infections in New York City and across the country. While infections and deaths had been in decline infections in New York City are trending upwards again and health officials have cautioned the public to begin preparing for future surges and variants. Recently Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine held a livestreamed public event with Dr. Dara Kass, MD of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to discuss what New Yorkers can do to prepare themselves and what new and existing resources are available.
The past two years have seen shifting guidelines and procedures and Dr. Marvin Figueroa, director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), who also participated, began the conversation by acknowledging the hard work that the virtual audience has done and continue to do in order to keep themselves, their families, and their neighbors safe.
Dr. Kass acknowledged her own frustration that “we still need to do this” as she began a conversation about the COVID-19 variant BA.2. She also discussed the difference between BA.2 and BA.1, noting that BA.2 is more transmissible than BA.1. Kass spoke about the fact that “people who get BA.2 after being vaccinated and boosted generally have a relatively short course of the illness. They find themselves positive on a rapid test. They have a sore throat, a stuffy nose, some fatigue.” Kass also told the audience that they should get tested if they start to develop symptoms and that everyone should have rapid tests in their homes.
New Yorkers can find locations of where to pick up free rapid tests by calling 311 or visiting: www.nychealthandhospitals. org/covid-19-testingsites/ and can schedule an at-home test by calling (929) 2989400 between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. seven days a week. Kass addressed a specific area of concern for people, and an area that has been a topic of discussion is how people can have symptoms of COVID but not actually test positive for COVID. “That’s your immune system at work...before you have enough measurable virus in your system to have that positive test turn positive...fortunately, when that rapid test is still negative...it is unlikely that you’re contagious... if your rapid test is positive, you are likely infectious and you want to remove yourself from interacting with other people.” Levine and Kass referenced several resources for people including COVID.gov which is available for people to get information and also order athome COVID tests. One of the keys for communities in terms of avoiding hospitals and death is the vaccine. The FDA has approved individuals over the age of 12 who did not receive the mRNA vaccine to now be eligible for the booster 5 months after their mRNA vaccine and 2 months after the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
Levine and Kass also provided information about therapeutics, specifically two outpatient treatments: monoclonal antibodies and oral antiviral pill packs. With respect to the pill packs, Kass spoke about the fact that these medications are taken like a
Z-pack course of antibiotics, and individuals take a 5 day course of pills. There’s a decreased risk of hospitalization and death for those that test positive for COVID, and pill packs are effective within 5 days of the onset of COVID. They are best used early in the course of the disease. New Yorkers can call 212COVID19 to receive free, sameday delivery of the antiviral medication Paxlovid. New Yorkers can also go to https://www1.nyc. gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-symptoms-chronic-health-risks.page to request same-day delivery. The conversation also took a look at issues around Long COVID and COVID in children. Kass suggested that children above five should be vaccinated because this is the best protection for them. Regarding Long COVID, Kass stated that, “Long COVID is one of those diseases we will have to understand more and more. It’s going to be a new illness that we’re going to have to understand more and more… It’s going to take time.” “Regarding where we go as a nation and what the future is for the COVID pandemic, the United Kingdom was referenced Data from the NYC Dept. of Health shows a previous decline and the current surge of new COVID-19 cases. in the talk as a ‘bellwether’ for the United States. The UK has been experiencing a surge for several weeks, with the wave having a detrimental impact on New Yorkers can call the people and health system of the UK. As to whether the United 212-COVID19 to receive free, States will follow the path of the UK, Levine asked Kass: “Will same-day delivery of the this be our last COVID wave?” To which Kass stated “No.” antiviral medication Paxlovid. Kass ended the session on a positive note, stating “we are not in the same moment now that we were two years ago . . . we are prepared as a city to address this pandemic with knowledge and the confidence that we are going to take care of each other and we’re going to continue to do what we’ve done in the past and we are going to stick together and I think we’re going to be okay. I really do.” For additional resources around COVID-19 please visit www1.nyc.gov/site/coronavirus/ index.page or call 311 to learn where you can get tested and how you can receive medication.
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Vol. 111 No. 24 | June 11, 2020 - June 17, 2020 Vol. 111 No. 24 | June 11, 2020 - June 17, 2020 THE NEW BLACK VIEW ©2020 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City
(Cyril Josh Barker photo) Ramsey Orta, who recorded Eric Garner’s police murder, released from prison By AUTODIDACT 17 Special to the AmNews After serving a majority of his four-year sentence, Ramsey Orta was released early from prison on May 28, amid the COVID-19 crisis. He had been serving time since 2016 on alleged drugs and weapons charges, and was sched-uled to be paroled July 11, remaining under court supervision until Jan. 2022. So far, 898 inmates have been released early due to corona-virus concerns. He had previously video-recorded the July 17, 2014 NYPD choke-hold killing of Eric Garner on Staten Island, which went viral. While incarcerated, Orta, 28, said he believes he was targeted
by the NYPD when he was out on the streets because he had recorded the assault committed against Garner, and even while inside prison by correction officers, for the same reason. In 2015 he filed a lawsuit claiming that prison officials laced his food with rat poison. It has caused him excess stress. “It just put me in a messedup predicament,” he told the media, adding that he has been consistently harassed by police ever since.Orta’s video shows Garner being dragged to the ground while a Caucasian cop choked him from behind, as he repeatedly gasped “I can’t breathe!”
Inez and Charles Barron: scrap the CCRB and form a new, elected oversight board By STEPHON JOHNSON Amsterdam News Staff A political couple tag teams on police reform.On a sunny, early June afternoon, New York City Council Member Inez Barron, New York State Assembly Member Charles
Barron and several other attendees stood outside of One Police Plaza to announce the introduction of a new bill. A bill that would create an agency that would have more power than the Civilian Complaint Review Board. An agency that would have a bigger effect on policing in the city. State Senate votes in favor of repealing 50-a By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff The New York State Senate and Assembly have repealed Civil Rights Law 50-a, getting one step closer to making it easier to access police disciplinary records. The state law, on the books since the 1970s, is Inez and Charles both introduced legislation that would abolish the CCRB and institute an elected Civilian Review Board, an independent prosecutor and a separate investigative body. The elected board would consist of 21 often used to shield police mis-conduct and police disciplin-ary processes from public view. The Senate voted 40-22 and the Assembly voted 101-43 for the repeal of the law. Law 50-a has garnered recent interest after the police killing of Black, un-armed George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a white
The movement gets louder, the defense is greater By STEPHON JOHNSON Amsterdam News Staff Responsibility and accountability. Some agencies in New York City have had to work with less, but still uphold their end of the financial bargain. A lack of funds leads to a lack of resources. A lack of resources led to a lack of services to the people. And, sometimes, lack of services to the people led to encounters with law enforcement who take a significant sum of taxpayer money. According to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and police reform activists, those days are over. On Sunday, June 7, de Blasio pledged for the first time to cut funding from the New York City
DEFUND THE POLICE! THE NEW BLACK VIEW ©2020 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City (Cyril Josh Barker photo) Ramsey Orta, who recorded Eric Garner’s police murder, released from prison By AUTODIDACT 17 Special to the AmNews Police Department. He said the city would shift the funding from the NYPD to youth and social services, many of whom are disproportionately targeted by police.“The City will find significant savings to the NYPD budget,” said the mayor. “This funding will go towards youth development and social services for communities of color. The amount will be finalized with the City Council during the budget process.” The move to shift funds away from the police department comes on the heels of massive protests against police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapo-lis. Floyd’s death sparked a nationwide movement against See MOVEMENT on page 6 After serving a majority of his four-year sentence, Ramsey Orta was released early from prison on May 28, amid the COVID-19 crisis. He had been serving time since 2016 on alleged drugs and weapons charges, and was scheduled to be paroled July 11, remaining under court supervision until Jan. 2022. So far, 898 inmates have been released early due to coronavirus concerns. He had previously video-recorded the July 17, 2014 NYPD choke-hold killing of Eric Garner on Staten Island, which went viral. While incarcerated, Orta, 28, said he believes he was targeted by the NYPD when he was out on the streets because he had recorded the assault committed against Garner, and even while inside prison by correction officers, for the same reason. In 2015 he filed a lawsuit claiming that prison officials laced his food with rat poison. It has caused him excess stress. “It just put me in a messedup predicament,” he told the media, adding that he has been consistently harassed by police ever since. Orta’s video shows Garner being dragged to the ground while a Caucasian cop choked him from behind, as he repeatedly gasped “I can’t breathe!”
Inez and Charles Barron: scrap the CCRB and form a new, elected oversight board By STEPHON JOHNSON
Amsterdam News Staff A political couple tag teams on police reform. On a sunny, early June afternoon, New York City Council Member Inez Barron, New York State Assembly Member Charles Barron and several other attendees stood outside of One Police Plaza to announce the introduction of a new bill. A bill that would create an agency that would have more power than the Civilian Complaint Review Board. An agency that would have a bigger effect on policing in the city. Inez and Charles both introduced legislation that would abolish the CCRB and institute an elected Civilian Review Board, an independent prosecutor and a separate investigative body. The elected board would consist of 21
State Senate votes in favor of repealing 50-a By CYRIL JOSH BARKER
Amsterdam News Staff The New York State Senate and Assembly have repealed Civil Rights Law 50-a, getting one step closer to making it easier to access police disciplinary records. The state law, on the books since the 1970s, is
See CCRB on page 27
police officer who put his knee on Floyd’s neck. The officer involved, Derek Chauvin, had a reported 16 complaints against him prior to Floyd’s death. See ORTA on page 29 During the 2014 police killing case of Eric Garner, 50-a played a major role in shielding the misconduct record of the officer
See 50-A on page 29
Serious Criminal Justice Reform Efforts Must Include Records Expungement Urban Agenda by David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York - See page 5
The movement gets louder, the defense is greater
By STEPHON JOHNSON
Amsterdam News Staff Responsibility and accountability. Some agencies in New York City have had to work with less, but still uphold their end of the financial bargain. A lack of funds leads to a lack of resources. A lack of resources led to a lack of services to the people. And, sometimes, lack of services to the people led to encounters with law enforcement who take a significant sum of taxpayer money. According to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and police reform activists, those days are over. On Sunday, June 7, de Blasio pledged for the first time to cut funding from the New York City
DEFUND THE POLICE! THE NEW BLACK VIEW Vol. 111 No. 27 | July 2, 2020 - July 8, 2020 ©2020 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City NYPD TANTRUM Police Department. He said the city would shift the funding from the NYPD to youth and social services, many of whom are disproportionately targeted by police. “The City will find significant savings to the NYPD budget,” said the mayor. “This funding will go towards youth development and social services for communities of color. The amount will be finalized with the City Council during the budget process.” The move to shift funds away from the police department comes on the heels of massive protests against police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death sparked a nationwide movement against See MOVEMENT on page 6 (Lem Peterkin photo)
NY takes steps to keep COVID out By CYRIL JOSH BARKER
Amsterdam News Staff As COVID-19 cases make a sharp rise in states south of the MasonDixie line, New York is taking several measures to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen here. After being the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic for months, New York is now one of the states with the least number of cases. Reports in-
Borough President Eric Adams calls out perceived police slowdown on 911 calls By NAYABA ARINDE
Amsterdam News Editor
“Cure violence is the solution,” A.T. Mitchell, CEO and founder of Man Up! Inc. told the Amsterdam News. “They can replace guns with jobs in these streets, and that would cut down the violence immediately.” As New York City moves through Phase 2 of recovering from COVID19, the city is preparing for Phase 3, which is set to begin on July 6. The next phase includes the opening of personal care services and restaurants operating with some indoor dining. However, state and city officials are scaling back on letting people eat inside of restaurants. Viral videos have popped up on social media of large crowds in some
With over 500 shootings in one month in New York City––a pandemic, protests and unbearable heat notwithstanding––it is a lot for victims, residents, activists and elected to process.
With the disturbing all-night, every night letting off of fireworks already having set the city on edge, there is confusion about whether it was a gunshot or a Roman candle.
With six shootings in Brooklyn in one hour, one hitting an 11-year-old boy in his leg, Brooklyn Borough Pres. Eric Adams, Lay the Guns Down Foundation, and other anti-violence advocates held a press conference with anti-violence advocates on Wednesday, July 1, outside of Brooklyn Borough Hall on the recently unveiled mural on “Black Lives Matter Boulevard,” to demand a “comprehensive crisis response by the New York
City Police Department and City Hall as Brooklyn has experienced a major uptick in shootings in recent weeks.” Acknowledging the passage of the city budget––which adhered to the post-police murdered George Floyd demand to “defund the police,” and cut the NYPD budget by one billion dollars––retired cop, BP Adams alongside advocates urged “the NYPD to sustain its commitPolice, others look for excuses as shootings rise ment to responsible policing and look into how rapidly they are responding to
By STEPHON JOHNSON See ERIC on page 6
Amsterdam News Staff
In a 24-hour span on June 28, 2019, there were five shooting incidents with seven victims. On the same day this year, during the same time period, there were eight shooting incidents with 11 victims.
At this time on June 28, 2019, there were 355 shooting incidents with 406 victims. As of June 28, 2020, there were 511 shooting incidents with 616 victims. This past Saturday, 47-year-old Charles Hernandez ––armed with an AR-15––allegedly shot and killed
THE NEW BLACK VIEWVol. 111 No. 27 | July 2, 2020 - July 8, 2020 ©2020 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York CityNYPD TANTRUM (Lem Peterkin photo) NY takes steps to keep COVID out By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff As COVID-19 cases make a sharp rise in states south of the MasonDixie line, New York is taking several measures to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen here. After being the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic for months,
Borough President Eric Adams calls out perceived police slowdown on 911 calls By NAYABA ARINDE Amsterdam News Editor “Cure violence is the solution,” A.T. Mitchell, CEO and founder of Man Up! Inc. told the Amsterdam News. “They can replace guns with jobs in these streets, and that would cut down the violence immediately.” As New York City moves through Phase 2 of recovering from COVID19, the city is preparing for Phase 3, which is set to begin on July 6. The next phase includes the opening of personal care services and restaurants operating with some indoor dining. However, state and city of
With over 500 shootings in one month in New York City––a pandemic, protests and unbearable heat notwith-standing––it is a lot for victims, resi-dents, activists and elected to process. With the disturbing all-night, every night letting off of fireworks already having set the city on edge, there is confusion about whether it was a gunshot
or a Roman candle. With six shootings in Brooklyn in one hour, one hitting an 11-year-old boy in his leg, Brooklyn Borough Pres. Eric Adams, Lay the Guns Down Foun-dation, and other anti-violence advocates held a press conference with anti-violence advocates on Wednes-day, July 1, outside of Brooklyn Borough Hall on the recently unveiled mural on “Black Lives Matter Bou-levard,” to demand a “comprehensive crisis response by the New York
Police, others look for excuses as shootings rise By STEPHON JOHNSON Amsterdam News Staff In a 24-hour span on June 28, 2019, there were five shooting incidents with seven victims. On the same day this year, during the same time period, there were eight shooting incidents with 11 victims. At this time on June 28, 2019, there were 355 shooting incidents with 406 victims. As of June 28, 2020, there were 511 shooting incidents with 616 victims. This past Saturday, 47-year-old Charles Hernandez ––armed with an AR-15––allegedly shot and killed 23-year-old Chioteke Thompson and 39-year-old Stephanie Perkins in broad daylight in Brooklyn. City Police Department and City Hall as Brooklyn has experienced a major uptick in shootings in recent weeks.” Acknowledging the passage of the city budget––which adhered to the post-police murdered George Floyd demand to “defund the police,” and cut the NYPD budget by one billion dollars––retired cop, BP Adams alongside advocates urged “the NYPD to sustain its commitment to responsible policing and look into how rapidly they are responding to See ERIC on page 6
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Vol. 111 No. 26 | June 25, 2020 - July 1, 2020 THE NEW BLACK VIEW ©2020 The Amsterdam News | $1.00 New York City
Primary election sees big wins for progressives, problems at the polls By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers participated in Tuesday’s prima-ry election whether by early voting, ab-sentee ballot or voting in person. Several Black candidates won key races as the nation also faces a reckoning when it comes to race relations. Tuesday’s primary election occurred in the aftermath of the Minneapolis police killing of Black, unarmed George Floyd and on the day of the funeral of Atlanta victim of police vi-olence Rayshard Brooks. However, Tuesday’s election came with headaches at polls, which appears to be becoming routine. The AmNews received reports of polling locations opening late, broken machines, ill-tempered poll workers and even candidates’ names missing on ballots. A reported Last week produced a 127% increase in shootings (when compared to the same time period last year). There were 125 reported shootings in the last three weeks of June, which is double com-pared to the same time period last year. Seventy-four people were wounded in 55 separate shooting incidents in all of New York City just on Saturday. One of those shootings left a 7-year-old girl with injuries.So what can this be attributed to? According to New York Police Department Police Chief Terence Monahan, it’s several things. Many of these things involve policies directed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
NYC:WE'RE BACK (Emily Andrews for Rockwell Group) ballots did not receive them in the mail. One disturbing error was that many voters could not vote in Tuesday’s pri-mary election for the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate. Ballots for the race were not given to voters at several polling places. While Sen. Joe Biden is currently the presumed Democratic Party nominee after all of the other candidates dropped out, a federal judge had allowed the names of the 11 other former candidates to be on the ballot. A lawsuit was filed by former candidate Andrew Yang and Sen. Bernie Sanders supporters. One example of the error came from the Bronx where voters at P.S. 85 Great Expectations polling site were not given the two sheets to vote for the Democratic presidential candidate. One voter asked a poll worker about the ballot and the worker re AmNews awarded technology grant from Knight Foundation By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff The New York Amsterdam News was one of 24 newsrooms recently awarded a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for technology and website enhancements.
NYC enters Phase 2 By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff Gates are rolled up, outdoor tables are set and “closed” signs are flipped as New York City enters Phase 2 of the COVID-19 recovery, which permits restaurants to serve customers outdoors, the opening of beauty and barbershops and in-store retail. technology initiative to strengthen dig-ital publishing solutions in newsrooms. After a competitive application process, the first cohort of 24 newsrooms was selected to receive $20,000 in grants for publishing tools that will improve distribution, community engagement
Phase 2, which began on Monday, also opens playgrounds, offices, real estate services, car sales and rentals, and churches to hold service with 25% capacity. While New Yorkers are enjoying the reopenings, they are also adjusting to new regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory face masks and social distancing.
