TGL Law

Jun
2025

Widespread Lapses in Asbestos Inspections Across NYC Schools Uncovered

A recent audit by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has revealed that the Department of Education (DOE) failed to inspect 82% of the city's schools containing asbestos over a three-year period. This non-compliance with the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) raises significant health concerns for students and staff.

Jun
2025

States Sue to Block Trump's $11 Billion Health Care Cuts

New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of state attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from implementing $11 billion in cuts to public health programs. The complaint, submitted on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, seeks a temporary halt to these abrupt reductions, arguing that they unlawfully undermine Congress’s authority over federal spending. The cuts include more than $11 billion in federal health grants approved during the COVID-19 pandemic, with over $360 million allocated to New York state.

Jun
2025

Rikers Island Faces Fifth In-Custody Death in 2025, Prompting Renewed Calls for Reform

On Monday night, Rikers Island reported its fifth in-custody death of the year, surpassing the total number of deaths recorded in all of 2024. Correction officials stated that staff discovered a male detainee "visibly ill" around 9:15 p.m. during a routine tour at the George R. Vierno Center. Despite immediate aid and medical intervention, the individual was pronounced dead shortly before 10 p.m.

Jun
2025

NYC Lawmakers Advocate for 'Super Speeder' Bill Following Tragic Brooklyn Crash

In the wake of a devastating incident in Brooklyn that claimed the lives of a mother and her two daughters, New York City officials are renewing efforts to pass the "Stop Super Speeders" bill. This legislation aims to install speed-limiting devices on vehicles operated by repeat traffic offenders.

Jun
2025

NYC Launches Sidewalk E-Bike Charging Cabinet Program to Enhance Safety

In a significant move to bolster micro mobility safety, New York City has begun accepting applications for the installation of e-bike battery charging and swapping cabinets on sidewalks. Starting Monday, property owners and tenants—with landlord approval—can apply to place these cabinets directly in front of their buildings, according to the city's Department of Transportation (DOT).

Jun
2025

Navigating Life with Long COVID: Stories from New Yorkers

Five years after the pandemic first struck New York, many residents continue to grapple with the lingering effects of long COVID. Defined by symptoms persisting for at least three months post-infection, long COVID has altered the lives of countless individuals, forcing them to adjust their careers, lifestyles, and health management strategies.

Jun
2025

Former FDNY Chief Sentenced to 20 Months for Bribery Scheme

In a significant breach of public trust, former FDNY Chief Brian Cordasco was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison on Monday after admitting to accepting over $100,000 in bribes to expedite fire safety inspections.

Jun
2025

Community Demands Safety Overhaul of Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway Following Tragic Family Loss

The recent heartbreaking incident on Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway, where a mother and her two daughters were fatally struck by a vehicle, has intensified local demands for comprehensive safety improvements to this notoriously hazardous thoroughfare.

Sep
2024

Weapons Scanner Arrives in NYC Subway System

On Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced the commencement of a controversial new plan to install a gun-detecting scanner in the subway system, threatening to remove any New Yorkers who refused to be scanned from the system.

Sep
2024

Shorter Appointments Are Now Required of Doctors in NYC Public Hospitals in Order to See More Patients

According to documents obtained by Gothamist, doctors at NYC Health and Hospitals are being instructed to reduce by half the time they designate for primary care visits. This is an attempt to fit in more new patients as the demand for care at the city's public health system rises.

Sep
2024

NYC Subway System Approaching Dangerous Crisis

Following a string of subway malfunctions so bad that a portion of 2017 was dubbed the "Summer of Hell," seven years ago, New York authorities devised a plan to ensure that such a disaster would never occur again.

Sep
2024

Nurses’ Union is Gaining Strength as Hospitals Push Back

Some nurses who were on duty in March 2020 during the initial wave of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic recall the experience as both horrifying and galvanizing. When the protective gear ran out, they occasionally wore garbage bags as they faced mass mortality and an unidentified infection.

Sep
2024

Lithium-ion Batteries are Exploding in NYC's Garbage Trucks Putting Employees in Danger

The sanitation workers of New York City are at risk due to a rising number of lithium-ion battery explosions inside of garbage trucks.

Sep
2024

Fatalities are Down but Number of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Remain High in NYC

There's a silver lining to the worrying rate of e-bike battery fires in New York: the FDNY reports a sharp decline in the number of fatalities.

Sep
2024

Boar's Head Recalls Deli Meats Amid Deadly Listeria Outbreak

Boar's Head products stated on Friday that it would recall more than 200,000 pounds of deli meat, including all liverwurst items currently on the market, amid a listeria outbreak that has sickened and killed two individuals in the United States.

Sep
2024

After Deadly E-bike Collision, 12 Minors have been Killed in Traffic So Far This Year

According to NYPD officials, a 16-year-old child lost his life on Monday after an e-bike he and two other teenagers were riding collided with a truck in Brooklyn.

Sep
2024

According to a Court Filing, Medical Care is Routinely Denied to Inmates at Rikers

According to a court filing on Thursday by groups that have sued over access to health care in the city's jails, the Correction Department of New York City has neglected to bring inmates for medical appointments thousands of times each month, sometimes failing to notify them at all and then claiming they "refused care."

Sep
2024

2024 Is Deadliest Year for Traffic Deaths in a Decade

The first three months of 2024 were the deadliest for pedestrians since the city started its Vision Zero initiative to decrease or eliminate road fatalities, according to a new report by a transportation advocacy group.

Jul
2024

9/11 Victim Organization Sues NYC for Toxicology Records from Ground Zero

A watchdog group that advocates for 9/11 survivors and first responders filed a lawsuit against New York City on Friday, citing the government's refusal to produce records that could disclose the knowledge of officials of the health hazards and toxic air in Lower Manhattan during the months following the terrorist attacks.

Jul
2024

A Proposed Bill in New York City Would Require Landlords to Provide Air Conditioning

A city councilman intends to present a bill this week that would force landlords to purchase, install, and maintain air conditioners or cooling systems for tenants throughout the summer, with fines of up to $1,250 per day for noncompliance. This comes as New York City is experiencing its third heat wave of the year.

Jul
2024

Listeria Outbreak Linked to At Least 2 Deaths

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that a listeria outbreak that seems linked to meat slices at delis has resulted in at least two deaths and over two dozen illnesses.

Jul
2024

In the last Two Months, NYC COVID Cases Have Increased by 250%, and this Variant is More Difficult to Avoid

A spike in COVID cases in New York may cause people's summer plans to be derailed.

Jul
2024

DOT Urged by Cyclists and Pedestrians to Address the "Chaotic" Bike Lane on Kent Avenue in Brooklyn.

Advocates and elected officials are pushing the city to address the hazardous situation where bikers, occupants of upscale buildings, pedestrians, and cars all jostle for space on the Kent Avenue bike lane along the north Brooklyn waterfront.

Jul
2024

Detainees from Rikers Island have sued New York City After Being Confined to their Cells During a Fire

A number of men who were confined to their cells during a fire that broke out at Rikers Island last year are suing the city, alleging that staff members at the troubled jail neglected to evacuate them while the smoke filled their chambers.

Jul
2024

Delivery Services in New York City May Be Held Accountable for Employees Adhering to Traffic Laws

Countless e-bikes have been placed on New York City streets and sidewalks by delivery apps, and the City Council is trying to find a method to hold those companies accountable for the numerous health and safety issues that have arisen as a result.

Jul
2024

E-bike Battery Charging Cabinets Will Appear in front of Businesses and Residential Buildings by Next Year

By the next year, e-bike battery charging cabinets will be placed in front of commercial and residential buildings, according to the city, which is attempting to stop delivery workers' lithium-ion battery fires.

Jun
2024

Rep. Goldman Urges NYC Schools to Educate Families About Safe Gun Storage

A New York local congressman is pushing for greater education on safe gun storage in homes to be given to families by local schools.

Jun
2024

Queens Officials Plan to Denounce E-Scooter Program

On Thursday, eastern Queens locals and elected officials will openly denounce the impending growth of New York City's e-scooter sharing program. It's the most recent in a series of back-and-forth exchanges with the transportation department that spans many months and concerns a divisive means of transportation.

Jun
2024

More Northwell Health Patients Will Receive Financial Assistance and Free Care

After state Attorney General Letitia James reviewed its operations, Northwell Health, the biggest health network in New York state, decided to restructure its financial aid program to give low-income patients more access to free or significantly discounted care.

Jun
2024

Manhattan DA Says YouTube Has Updated its Policies in an Effort to Restrict Gun Related Content

Alvin Bragg, the district attorney for Manhattan, claims that YouTube is taking action against videos that demonstrate how to assemble, market, and even take apart the safety features on some firearms.

Jun
2024

Families of New Yorkers Injured in E-Bike Fires Seek Justice with Very Little Success

In New York City, lithium-ion battery fires are becoming a bigger hazard to public safety. Victims and their families are facing challenges in their attempts to hold companies accountable for the harm caused.

Jun
2024

Data Indicates that the Same Lead-Painted Residences in New York City Have Repeatedly Put Children in Danger

The Bronx apartment at 540 Concord Ave. seemed like a wonderful fit for Ingrid Rivas and her expanding family. It was diagonally across from the neighborhood public school, conveniently adjacent to stores, and only a few steps from a park and the subway. Additionally, the landlord accepted residents with housing vouchers, unlike some in New York City.

Jun
2024

Brooklyn BP Criticizes the DSNY for Licensing Garbage Transporters with Questionable Safety Records

The sanitation department's delayed implementation of its commercial waste zone program, which was designed to screen out private garbage haulers with questionable safety records, drew criticism from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso on Monday.

Jun
2024

Governor Hochul Has No Plans to Remove The National Guard Presence in the New York City Subway System

The National Guard will eventually stop supporting police officers tasked with inspecting baggage at the doors of busy New York City subway stations, but that day won't come anytime soon.

May
2024

Violence and Chaos at Mental Health Shelters in New York

In another brutal crime on the subway, last week, authorities charged 24-year-old Carlton McPherson with murder after he allegedly shoved a stranger, 54, into the path of an approaching No. 4 train.

May
2024

New Study Shows Delivery Workers Face High Rate of Injury and Assault

According to a recent study conducted by a team of CUNY academics, app-based food delivery workers in New York City experience high rates of assault and injury, particularly those who depend on app delivery as their primary profession.

May
2024

Mayor Adams to Test Gun-Detecting Technology in its Subway System

Mayor Eric Adams stated on Thursday that in an effort to reassure commuters following a fatal pushing incident earlier this year,, New York City would be testing weapons detection equipment in its subway system.

May
2024

FDNY Continues to Crackdown on "Frankenstein batteries"

The deadly hazard presented by lithium-ion batteries used to power e-bikes was highlighted this week when a battery exploded as fire marshals were apprehending an e-bike vendor, according to the FDNY.

May
2024

Alleging Sexual Assault in NYC Juvenile Facilities, 154 New Yorkers Filed a Lawsuit on Monday

This Monday, more than 150 inmates in New York City juvenile jails from the 1970s to last year filed a lawsuit against city agencies, claiming that staff members had sexually assaulted them.

May
2024

Patient Passes Away Weeks After Receiving Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Transplant

About two months after the procedure, Richard "Rick" Slayman, who at age 62 became the first person to receive a kidney from a genetically engineered pig, passed away.

May
2024

Thousands of Americans Believe They Were Harmed by The Covid Vaccine, But Nobody is Listening

Millions of hospital admissions and fatalities are thought to have been avoided thanks to the Covid vaccinations, a scientific and public health victory. However, uncommon but substantial adverse effects are produced by even the best vaccines. Additionally, almost 270 million Americans have received nearly 677 million doses of the Covid vaccination.

May
2024

The United States Saw a Decline in Overdose Deaths in 2023—The First in Five Years

According to the first official data released on Wednesday, overdose deaths in the US decreased somewhat last year—the first reduction in five years.

May
2024

Surgeons Reach Medical Milestone as They Successfully Implanted Pig Kidney into Human Patient

In the first procedure of its kind, Boston surgeons transplanted a kidney into an ill 62-year-old man from a genetically altered pig. If successful, hundreds of thousands of Americans with failed kidneys would have hope thanks to this development.

May
2024

Law Makers in New York Promise Hearings and Legislation in Response to Claims of Sexual Abuse at Rikers

Following a new Gothamist investigation that exposed a pattern of alleged misconduct and sexual assault at Rikers Island, lawmakers in New York announced they will increase their efforts to reopen a window that gives victims of sexual abuse additional time to file claims.

May
2024

Jool Baby Infant Swings Recalled over Suffocation Hazard

Federal safety officials have announced that Jool Baby, a brand of children's products, has recalled over 63,000 infant swings that were sold at Walmart stores and online due to a suffocation risk.

May
2024

Insurers Slash Payments But Reap Rewards of Hidden Fees

A few weeks after her heart surgery, Gail Lawson was back in the operating room with an infection that was growing around her wound.

May
2024

F.D.A. Approves New Medication to Protect High Risk Patients Against COVID-19

A newly developed drug has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to shield some of the most vulnerable people from COVID-19.

Apr
2024

Scaffolding Collapse in Brooklyn Leaves Two Workers in Serious Condition

According to the FDNY, scaffolding outside a Brooklyn building collapsed on Tuesday, critically injuring two people.

Apr
2024

NYC Attempting to Stop Deadly E-Bike Fires

In several ways, New York City is working to combat the potentially fatal hazard posed by e-bike battery fires. New rules have been established by the city government, along with higher fines, more stringent regulations, and funding for commercial and nonprofit pilot programs.

Apr
2024

Investigation Finds NYC’s AI Chatbot Encouraging Illegal Activities

Mayor Eric Adams announced at a news conference on Tuesday that New York City's AI chatbot, which frequently suggests businesses break the law, will stay available to the public.

Apr
2024

In NYC, a New Campaign Seeks to Prevent Fatal E-bike Collisions

In reaction to an increasing number of fatal collisions using e-bikes, transportation officials in New York City are initiating a public safety campaign.

Apr
2024

Following a Subway Shooting, Fleeing Riders Were Forced to Evacuate the Station in Single File

After shots were fired during last week's shooting at the neighboring Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway stop, a frightened group of passengers attempted to escape while leaving a train at Brooklyn's Fulton Street station, many riders told Gothamist on Sunday.

Apr
2024

4M New Yorkers’ Data and Medical Records Were Exposed in a Data Breach

State Attorney General Letitia James said on Tuesday that a data breach at a medical transcription company that works with hospitals in the state may have exposed the personal information of at least 4 million New Yorkers to identity theft.

Apr
2024

MTA Halts Track Work After Worker was Killed by a Train

Following the death of a subway track worker who was dragged by a train in Manhattan on Wednesday morning, the MTA decided to suspend all non-essential track work for a full day, according to NYC Transit President Richard Davey.

Apr
2024

Minimum Wage for Delivery Workers in NYC is Upheld by Judge

The new minimum wage for delivery workers in New York City was affirmed by a judge on Thursday, ending Uber's ongoing legal challenges to the regulation.

Apr
2024

Despite F.D.A. Warning, Many Physicians and Patients Were Never Told of Potential Side Effects to Asthma Medication

Early in 2020, the F.D.A. used one of its most powerful tools to address decades of growing concerns about a medicine that is frequently prescribed for allergies and asthma: a clear warning on the label about the drug's potential to cause agitation, aggression, and even suicidal thoughts.

Apr
2024

Additional Fees Drive Assisted-Living Profits

For hundreds of thousands of baby boomers who are unable to live independently, assisted-living facilities have emerged as a desirable retirement choice. They offer a happy alternative to the clinical atmosphere of a nursing home.

Apr
2024

Smartphones Monitor Everything Except Their Role in Auto Accidents

Our phone records everything we write and say, where we go, what we buy, and even what we look for online. However, they are still not being utilized to monitor one of the largest risks to public health: car crashes brought on by distracted drivers.

Apr
2024

Following a Recall, Philips Halts Sales of Breathing Machines in the US

Following a deal with the Food and Drug Administration over ongoing issues with the devices, Philips Respironics announced on Monday that it would stop selling all of its breathing machines in the US.

Apr
2024

Experimental Medicine Addresses Pain and Avoids the Risk of Addiction

Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals said on Tuesday that it had created an experimental medication that blocks pain impulses before they reach the brain, relieving moderate to severe pain. Unlike opioids, it acts only on peripheral nerves, or those that are not part of the brain or spinal cord. According to Vertex, the possibility for opioid addiction to develop is avoided by their new medication.

Apr
2024

Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Abuse Associated with Mental Health Problems

According to recent studies, teens who use cannabis, alcohol, or nicotine on a regular basis are more likely than their peers who do not to have underlying psychiatric symptoms, and to have worse symptoms overall.

Nov
2023

Researchers Provide a New Hypothesis for Long Covid

Based on their discovery that serotonin levels were lower in individuals with the complex illness, a team of scientists is putting out a new hypothesis to account for some cases of long-term Covid.

Nov
2023

F.D.A. Issues Warning Regarding Ketamine Misuse

The Food and Drug Administration warned on Tuesday against using compounded ketamine to treat psychiatric disorders. Ketamine is a potent anesthetic that has grown in popularity among people looking for alternative treatments for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other challenging-to-treat mental health issues.

Nov
2023

On the Operating Table, a New AI Tool Can Diagnose Brain Tumors

Surgeons have a difficult choice once their scalpels reach the outer edge of a brain tumor: remove some healthy brain tissue to guarantee the entire tumor is removed, or leave the healthy tissue alone and run the risk of leaving some of the dangerous cells behind.

Nov
2023

Sales of Vuse Menthol Vapes are being banned by the F.D.A.

R.J. Reynolds has been ordered by the Food and Drug Administration to stop selling its popular Vuse Alto menthol e-cigarettes. Reynolds immediately declared that it will contest the order in court.

May
2023

Corporations Acquiring Primary Care Facilities Could Lead to Higher Prices and Less Care for Patients

It comes as no surprise that the scarcity of primary care physicians, who are vital to Americans' health, is getting worse.

Apr
2023

Two Construction Workers killed in an Accident at JFK Airport

The Port Authority reported that two construction workers died on Monday after becoming buried in material at JFK International Airport.

Apr
2023

Traffic Signal to be Installed at Queens Intersection Where 7-year-old was Killed

At a Queens intersection where a 7-year-old girl was fatally struck in February, the city's Department of Transportation will soon install a traffic light.

Apr
2023

Teenager Riding Citi Bike Killed in a Hit-And-Run in Queens, Making it the Third Bike-Share Fatality of 2023

On Monday night, a hit-and-run driver struck and killed a 16-year-old kid riding a Citi Bike in Queens, making him the third person killed while using the bike-share service so far this year.

Apr
2023

New E-Bike Safety Bills Open the Door for Dangerous “Gray Market”

Authorities are cracking down on e-bike batteries in response to an upsurge in fires, but delivery workers argue that the cost of buying batteries that adhere to the planned regulations makes them unaffordable and that the government is not doing enough to support them.

Apr
2023

Juul Agrees to $462 Million Settlement With States including New York & California

On Wednesday, Juul Labs and a number of other states announced a $462 million settlement, ending litigation alleging that the business aggressively promoted its e-cigarettes to teenagers and contributed to the vaping epidemic.

Apr
2023

Investigators Claim that Neglect and Carelessness are to Blame for the Deadly Fires at NYC Public Housing

According to a recent study from the Department of Investigation, a pattern of neglect and a failure to enforce rules regarding the storage of e-bikes were some of the reasons for a run of fatal fires at public housing units in New York City.

Apr
2023

Hospitals Still Trying to Rebuild after the Pandemic

Three years into the pandemic, New York City hospitals are still struggling with a lack of workforce. The competition for nurses has grown fierce, and many of those who are still working full-time say they felt more motivated than ever to push for better compensation and working conditions.

Apr
2023

E-bike Starts Deadly House Fire in Astoria, Killing Two Children

According to authorities, an e-bike charging close to the building's door caused the two-alarm fire to start at around two in the afternoon in the foyer of the residence on 46th Street in Astoria. According to the FDNY, a father and his five children were on the second level when the flames swiftly enveloped it. The father was able to jump out of a window on the second story with three of his children, but his 7-year-old and 19-year-old children perished in the blaze.

Apr
2023

A NYC Urologist is Charged with Sexually Assaulting His Patients

An unsealed indictment in Manhattan Federal court on Monday stated that a well-known urologist in New York City who is accused of abusing his patients sexually was detained on federal charges.

Feb
2023

Adult Sexual Abuse Survivors Need More Comprehensive Legal Protections

The Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sexual Abuse Victims Act of 2022 was signed into law by President Joe Biden in September. The statute of limitations—the time limit during which a victim of certain federal sexual abuse or trafficking offenses may file a lawsuit against their abusers for monetary damages—was abolished.

Feb
2023

New York's Concealed Carry Restrictions Remain in Effect, Per SCOTUS

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld New York's strict possession of firearms regulations—but only while the legal dispute is ongoing.

Jan
2023

NYCHA Facing Financial Crisis

In the city's public housing, about half of the households are currently in arrears, totaling $450 million. This severe pandemic-related issue is partly a result of residents waiting for rent reimbursement from the state that is most likely never to arrive.

Jan
2023

Negotiations Over Grieving Families Act Currently Being Held In Private

Every New Yorker will be impacted by a contentious bill that is being negotiated behind closed doors while Governor Kathy Hochul decides whether to sign it, veto it, or accept revisions that could drastically change its scope and impact.

Jan
2023

Manhattan District Attorney Allocates $9 Million for Mental Health Outreach

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has allocated $9 million to assist people with mental illness and, wherever possible, keep them out of the court system as New York City struggles with a scarcity of psychiatric beds and other resources.

Jan
2023

Delivery Worker Hubs Headed to The Bronx and the West Side

In addition to the City Hall Park hub that was previously announced last year, two other charging and rest stations are on the way for delivery personnel, with locations on the Upper West Side and The Bronx now in the line.

Jan
2023

December Marked the Highest Number of COVID Deaths in NY Since Early 2022

Nearly three years after the virus initially decimated the state, COVID deaths in New York State increased 30% last month, reaching the highest total since early 2022, according to a Post analysis.

Jan
2023

At Two Hospitals in New York City, More than 7,000 Nurses are on Strike

After talks between the hospitals and the nurses' union broke down overnight, nurses at two hospitals in New York City went on strike at 6 a.m. on Monday.

Jan
2023

After a Patient's Death, Doctor Requested Arsenic Tests at NYCHA Housing. City Health Commissioner Refused.

Josefa Bonet requested an unusual test from her doctor two days before she passed away on October 1 to see whether she had arsenic in her blood.

Jan
2023

According to a Recent Multi-Country Study, Most People Who Developed Long COVID had Mild Cases of COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on a person's health can be severe and long-lasting, even in moderate cases. That is among the main conclusions of the new multicountry study on long COVID-19, also known as long COVID, which was just just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dec
2022

Settlement With E-Cigarette Company JUUL Makes NJ Youth Safer

Attorney General of New Jersey Matthew Platkin expresses his satisfaction that a state lawsuit is influencing "the behavior of a company that put kids at risk all across our country."

Dec
2022

NYC Hits Highest Rate of Inmate Deaths in 25 Years

According to a Gothamist review of city records, there have been more fatalities in New York City jails recently than there have been in more than 25 years.

Dec
2022

Judge Delays Decision on Adams’ Mental Health ‘Involuntary Removal’ Plan

An attempt to halt Mayor Eric Adams' proposal to increase the use of involuntary commitment for those experiencing mental health crises was denied by a federal judge on Monday.

Dec
2022

Hamilton Heights Five-alarm Fire Caused by an Electric Mishap Injures 9 People

A Hamilton Heights apartment complex suffered a five-alarm fire on Saturday morning that was started by a faulty wiring and caused nine injuries, including two firefighters, according to the Fire Department.

Dec
2022

After Fatal Bronx Fire, New York Tightens Regulations on Space Heaters

As a result of the January fire that ravaged the Twin Parks North West apartment complex in the Bronx, and claimed the lives of seventeen people, New York will impose new safety regulations on the production and sale of electric space heaters.

Dec
2022

According to a New Report, Pedestrian Fatalities are Highest in New York City

According to data analysis in a new study by Jerry, as American driving becomes more aggressive and irresponsible, the number of pedestrians killed each year has increased to a four-decade high and is climbing at twice the rate of rising overall traffic deaths.

Dec
2022

Recent Report Shows Germs, Toxins and Metals in Illicit Cannabis in NYC

According to a business report released on Wednesday, some cannabis products sold at unlicensed outlets in New York are not only illegal but also infected with dangerous microorganisms, heavy metals, and poisonous chemicals.

Dec
2022

Lithium-Ion Batteries Continue to Worry the Fire Department

Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are rising in the city, but officials claim it is difficult to control how the power packs are used.

Dec
2022

Hochul Rejects Using Money From Drug Settlements to Support Overdose Prevention Programs

The Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board of New York proposed using some of the $2 billion the state has received in legal settlements with opioid manufacturers to finance overdose prevention centers, but Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration has rejected it. The state's Office of Addiction Services and Supports commissioner, Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, included the rejection in a letter she delivered to the board on Tuesday.

Dec
2022

Deaths from Substance Abuse Among Older Americans Significantly Increased in 2020

In 2020, the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, deaths from substance abuse—particularly alcohol and opioids—rose substantially among older Americans as lockdowns disturbed routines and isolation and anxiety spread, according to a report released on Wednesday by federal health researchers.

Dec
2022

Under New Proposed City Rules, Food Delivery Workers Would be Paid a Minimum of $23.82 Per Hour

The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection announced via public notice on Wednesday morning that by the year 2025, app-based food delivery employees in the city should be paid at least $23.82 an hour plus tips, taking into consideration their operational costs.

Dec
2022

Street Safety Advocate Struck by Car while Bicycling to Ceremony Honoring Victims of Traffic Violence

While bicycling to a ceremony honoring victims of traffic violence on Sunday in Brooklyn, a staff member for an organization that promotes street safety was hit by a car.

Dec
2022

Mayor Adams Pushes to Remove Mentally Ill from NYC Streets

Mayor Eric Adams wants to take serious, untreated mental illness sufferers off the streets. That will entail forcing those who can't take care of themselves into hospitals.

Dec
2022

Hochul Vetoes Bill Intended to Study Group Homes

After Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have investigated the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on adult group homes in New York, its supporters expressed disappointment.

Dec
2022

Eric Adams Urged by NYC Union to Cease Raising Prices at Private Hospitals

In light of the impending fiscal crisis, one of the city's largest unions is pleading with Mayor Eric Adams to assist in stopping private hospitals from raising the cost of procedures.

Dec
2022

Adult Survivors Act Opens One-Year Look Back Window

With the implementation of the Adult Survivors Act in New York, adult victims of sexual assault will have a one-year lookback period in which to file a lawsuit against their accused abusers, regardless of when the incident occurred. On May 24, the measure was enacted by Governor Kathy Hochul. A similar measure, the Child Victims Act, gave survivors of childhood sexual abuse a one-year lookback period to bring claims in 2019 before the current statute of limitations kicked in.

Nov
2022

With Monkeypox in Decline, NYU Professor Speaks on Healthcare Disparities

As the monkeypox outbreak in New York City is brought under control, advocates are cautioning that vulnerable groups are still at risk.

Nov
2022

Update On Gun Restrictions in NY

After a federal appellate court last week restored additional gun-carrying restrictions that were partially blocked by a U.S. District Court judge, Times Square, the New York City subway, theaters, and bars continue to be "gun free zones."

Nov
2022

Sidewalks are Crowded and Dangerous Amid Cyclist “Free For All”

According to THE CITY's study of 311 data, complaints about cycling, scootering, and even in-line skating taking place in unwelcome areas have increased significantly from pre-pandemic levels, going from 484 in 2019 to 1,036 last year. As of October 23, 1,082 complaints had been filed in 2022, with about half originating from Manhattan. (The 311 data doesn't differentiate between complaints regarding different modes of transportation, such bikes vs. e-bikes.)

Nov
2022

Riders with Disabilities Sue the MTA to Shrink the Gap Between Platform and Subway Train

Only a few months after the MTA reached settlements in two prior lawsuits, which included a commitment to install elevators or ramps at the majority of subway stations by 2055, the transit agency is now facing a fresh legal challenge from New Yorkers with disabilities.

Nov
2022

High-Rise Fire in Manhattan Injures at Least 38 People

In a fire that injured at least 38 people on Saturday, firefighters used ropes and dangled from a high-rise in Midtown Manhattan to rescue a lady who was trapped inside.

Nov
2022

Elements of NY Gun Law Temporarily Blocked

A federal district judge temporarily suspended certain portions of New York's new concealed carry law.

Nov
2022

Despite Suicide Crisis at Rikers, Officers Fail to Complete Mandatory Prevention Training

According to information obtained by Gothamist through a Freedom of Information request, less than 1 in 5 New York City correction officers attended a required course on suicide prevention in the previous year, even though the rate of such deaths among inmates on Rikers Island and other city jails accelerated to historic highs.

Nov
2022

Delivery Cycling Accident Victims in NYC Face Uphill Compensation Battle

Injured delivery workers are left without insurance coverage by some businesses, while others keep it a closely-guarded secret.

Nov
2022

Construction Worker Death Prompts Calls for Increased Site Safety

On Wednesday, a construction worker installing a protective sidewalk shelter fell and died at the site in downtown Brooklyn. The victim has been identified by police as Corona, Queens resident Raal Tenelema Puli, 27.

Nov
2022

Collisions Between Buses and Cyclists on the Rise as new Vehicles hit the Streets

According to MTA records, the number of crashes involving buses, e-bikes, and e-scooters has increased since 2019, the year before several of them became allowed in the city.

Nov
2022

City Comptroller Reiterates Call to Strip NYC of Control over Rikers

Brad Lander, the comptroller of New York City, reiterated his call for the ailing Rikers Island jail complex to be placed under federal receivership on Friday, making him the highest-ranking city official to do so.

Nov
2022

NYC’s Gun Violence prevention Program in Disarray

DeVone Boggan's phone started ringing on March 15, 2021, just after Mayor Bill de Blasio and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams announced their intentions to start a new gun violence prevention program. The calls were from journalists who wanted to speak with Boggan about the announcement that his organization, Advance Peace, would bring its model to New York City.

Nov
2022

Montefiore's “Overworked and Underpaid” New Doctors Pushing for Unionization

At a news conference on Tuesday, the majority of the 1,200 residents and fellows at Montefiore Medical Center requested immediate recognition of their bargaining unit from The Bronx teaching hospital, one of the largest employers in the borough. They said they were looking to join a chapter of the Service Employees International Union.

Nov
2022

After Years of Inspections by a Company That Retracted Arsenic Results, NYCHA Residents Are Shocked By Secret Water Retesting

Three inhabitants of the St. Nicholas Houses, a public housing complex in the heart of Harlem, contracted Legionnaires' disease in September 2018. This pneumonia-like infection can be lethal for the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Oct
2022

Following Deadly Bronx Fire, New York Politicians Are Looking to Crack Down on Space Heaters

In response to the Bronx fire that killed 17 people earlier this year, New York state lawmakers appear poised to enact minimum safety regulations for electric space heaters.

Oct
2022

Five Pedestrians and Cyclists Died in Traffic Collisions in New York City This Week

On Friday in Astoria, two pedestrians were struck in separate events, capping a tragic week in which five people died in traffic accidents.

Oct
2022

DOT Commissioner asks Albany to Relinquish Control of the City's Speed Cameras

As the city's traffic violence worsens, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez is urging Albany lawmakers to relinquish authority of the city's red light and speed cameras.

Oct
2022

Home Care Employees File Federal Complaint Against New York for "Discriminatory" 24-hour Shifts

The New York State Departments of Health and Labor's management of 24-hour home care shifts has been accused of discrimination by labor organizations that represent home health aides.

Oct
2022

Depression Among Young People Was on the Rise Even Before the Pandemic, According to a Columbia Study

There is a great deal of anxiety regarding the need for mental health services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But a study published Monday in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that depression was already growing more common in the U.S. in the years before the pandemic, particularly among young people between the ages of 12 and 25.

Oct
2022

Public Housing Officials Claim that the Lab Responsible for the Failed Water Tests at the Jacob Riis Houses was Not Permitted to Work in New York

According to public housing officials, the lab company that incorrectly claimed high levels of arsenic in water samples from the Jacob Riis Houses on Manhattan's East Side was not permitted to operate in the state.

Oct
2022

Over the Course of Three Days, at Least 23 People Were Shot in New York City

The New York City police department reports that within a 72-hour period, at least 23 people were shot, four of them died. The information looked at shootings that occurred between Friday, September 23, and Sunday night.

Oct
2022

Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars Allocated by the Manhattan District Attorney for Community Investments to Reduce Violence is About to Expire.

The Manhattan district attorney's office has provided funding to the Uptown Grand Central East Harlem restoration initiative to pay workers to improve the neighborhood. This grant is one of ten given this summer with the intention of reducing violence through fostering community development rather than delaying the prosecution of crimes that have already occurred. One group will pay young people to paint murals in public housing, while another will utilize the money for technical training. Some recipients will use it for mentorship sessions, healing circles, and restorative justice initiatives.

Oct
2022

A Proposed New York Bill Would Ensure Legal Assistance for Locals Involved in Immigration Proceedings

Two state legislators have proposed legislation that would guarantee legal assistance to low-income immigrants in New York who face deportation or incarceration.

Sep
2022

The West Side Highway Could Get a New Bike Lane Under the Manhattan BP Proposal

According to a fresh proposal from Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, the West Side Highway could receive a bike-friendly makeover.

Sep
2022

NYC Heat Waves Worsening Dementia and Mental Health

At the age of 52, Diane Romano received a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Her husband John has cared for her at their Long Island home throughout the past nine years.

Sep
2022

As Monkeypox Surges, Treatment is Increasingly Difficult to Find

Only a small portion of the roughly 7,000 patients in the United States have received the only medication available to treat monkeypox because it is so difficult to get.

Jul
2022

Two More Rikers Island Inmates Died In Custody This Week

According to jail officials, another inmate passed away on Rikers Island, making him the second fatality there in a week and the 11th death in city custody this year.

Jul
2022

Tenants in a Bronx Building With Nearly 500 Housing Violations are Suing The Landlord

Tenants in the Bronx are filing a lawsuit in housing court against their landlord and the building's management company to demand repairs for roughly 500 infractions that have accrued over several years.

Jul
2022

New York City's Air Quality Now Being Measured by Vehicle Sensors

As part of a new $3 million state effort to monitor air quality, mobile air sensors mounted on specialized vehicles are already crisscrossing the streets of the Bronx and Manhattan, according to a recent announcement by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Jul
2022

Hurricane Season is Here and NYC's Basement Renters Are as Vulnerable as Ever

It has been over nine months since Ida's epic downpour caused thousands of homes to flood and 11 occupants of Queens basement apartments to perish. After it became clear how dangerous the unregulated units were for the inhabitants, city and state officials pledged to take immediate action.

Jul
2022

Hochul Approves Legislation Requiring Tests on Bike and Pedestrian Safety Awareness for New York Drivers

According to a new bill that Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law on Friday, new drivers in New York will soon be forced to learn about pedestrian and bike safety before earning their license, which is a victory for advocates for safe streets.

Jul
2022

Excruciating Symptoms and a Fight for Care for Monkeypox Patients

Patients fight privately to find care and relief from severe symptoms as New York City and the federal government struggle to provide enough monkeypox vaccines.

Jul
2022

E-bikes May Soon be Banned by NYCHA to Prevent Fires

A fire broke out inside a fourth-floor apartment in the East Village's NYCHA Jacob Riis Houses in the early hours of December 16, killing one resident, badly injuring another, and forcing two teens to scramble down an electrical pole to escape.

Jul
2022

Desperate Calls for Safer Roadways After Three More Deaths in the Bronx

In the past week, there have been three fatalities on Bronx streets: two pedestrians and a cyclist. As pedestrian fatalities rise across the city, more needs to be done by city officials to protect the borough's citizens.

Jul
2022

This Summer, The City Will Get New Bike Lane Barriers

Before the busy summer biking season, the city is experimenting with different forms of bike lane barriers to protect riders from vehicles.

Jul
2022

The Requirement for COVID-19 Testing for Overseas Travel Has Been Lifted in The United States

According to various sources, COVID-19 testing will no longer be required for visitors to the United States, which might be a boost for New York's declining tourism industry.

Jul
2022

NY Schools Are Failing to Provide Required Mental Health Training

Despite requirements under long-standing school safety legislation, a number of school districts across New York state failed to offer necessary mental health training to all school workers at the start of the previous school year, according to a report by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

Jul
2022

New York's Strict Concealed-Carry Firearm Law Overturned by the Supreme Court

In a 6-3 decision on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned many key provisions of New York State's firearms legislation, one of the nation's strictest. As a result, licensed owners will now find it easier to carry concealed handguns in public places.

Jul
2022

In New York City, Vaccinations for Children Under Five Have Begun

Following the weekend approval of the vaccines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the initiation of vaccinations across various regions of the country this week, families in New York City started immunizing children under the age of five against Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Jul
2022

How to Receive Long-COVID Treatment in NY and NJ

Even mild coronavirus infections can cause persistent symptoms including weariness, loss of smell, and mental fog that last for weeks or months.

Jul
2022

Faulty Door Responsible for Twin Parks Fire Was Cited in 2019

Last January, days after a deadly fire at the Twin Parks apartment complex killed 17 tenants, fire officials discovered that the blaze was able to quickly sweep across the entire structure due to a chimney effect generated by non-functioning self-closing doors.

May
2022

What We Know About Long Covid

The range of possible symptoms, as well as their severity and length, is one of the many perplexing elements of the coronavirus. Some people get a little sickness and recover swiftly with no long-term consequences. However, studies show that 10 to 30% of people experience chronic or new illness concerns months after their coronavirus infections, a symptom cluster known as long Covid. People with mild to moderate sickness, as well as those with no underlying medical conditions, might develop debilitating long-term symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, erratic heart rate, headaches, dizziness, depression, and memory and concentration problems.

May
2022

The State Legislature Still has the Final Say on Additional Safety Measures as Traffic Deaths in the City Soar

As of May 12, 80 people had been killed in crashes around the city, including 37 pedestrians and 28 drivers and passengers, a 14 percent increase over the same period the previous year.

May
2022

Could Nasal Spray be the Answer to Stopping Covid-19?

The Covid-19 vaccines approved for use today were created at breakneck speed and outperformed expectations in terms of effectiveness. They have saved the lives of billions of people by preventing severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death. These vaccines have proven to be a huge scientific success.

May
2022

Another proposal to restructure Rikers Island is in the works.

May
2022

The New York State Nurses Association backed Gov. Kathy Hochul's full-term campaign on Tuesday, ahead of the Democratic primary in June.

May
2022

According to police and fire officials, a 6-year-old child was in critical condition on Thursday after falling from the roof of a six-story Bronx building down an elevator shaft.

Apr
2022

The NYC Health Department Has Adopted New Federal Rules on Childhood Lead Exposure After a 5-month Delay

Lead, which was once widely used in paint, plumbing, and gasoline, is a neurotoxin that can cause irreparable learning disabilities and behavioral disorders. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, no level of exposure is safe. However, one of the continuing issues in public health circles is at what level a pediatrician or a health agency should respond.

Apr
2022

Letitia James is Calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to Stop Blocking Nursing Home Reforms

New York Attorney General Letitia James is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to stop blocking changes aimed at preventing nursing home understaffing.

Apr
2022

Inmates on Rikers Still Not Getting Scheduled Medical Care

According to city data, more than 8,000 inmates on Rikers Island missed medical appointments in February, indicating that the struggling jail complex's long-standing health-care problem is worsening.

Apr
2022

Gov. Hochul Has Finally Allowed New Nursing Home Staffing Requirements to Take Effect After Several Delays

After Gov. Kathy Hochul granted a temporary reprieve, New York nursing facilities will have to begin complying with new minimum staffing rules this month.

Apr
2022

Covid and Diabetes Collide for a Public Health Disaster

Perhaps no group has been impacted worse by the epidemic than diabetics, behind only the elderly and nursing facility residents. According to several studies, patients with diabetes account for 30 to 40 percent of all coronavirus deaths in the United States, a sobering fact that has been overshadowed by other gloomy data from a public health crisis that is on track to claim a million Americans’ lives this month.

Apr
2022

An FDA Advisory Panel is Discussing How to Improve the United States' Immunization Plan

A federal advisory council of outside specialists will meet on Wednesday to help shape the United States' coronavirus vaccine plan for the remainder of the year, amid mounting evidence that new variations are eroding the effectiveness of existing immunizations.

Apr
2022

According to a New Lawsuit, New York State Failed to Provide Legally Required Mental Health Care to Children in Need

According to a lawsuit filed in federal court on Thursday by two adolescents acting on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Medicaid-eligible children, New York state has failed to provide mental health care to children on Medicaid as required by law.

Mar
2022

Jeffrey A. Lichtman Named to City & State New York’s 2022 Law Power 100 list

The state of New York boasts the highest lawyer-to-resident ratio in the country, as well as a significant demand for legal services. Manhattan is home to many of the country's largest and most prominent law firms, many of which have global practices and New York City is the home of many of the country's most high-profile federal prosecutions.

Mar
2022

New Executive Order From Mayor Adams Addresses Fire Safety Issues in NYC

Two months after a fire killed 17 tenants of a Bronx high-rise with a history of complaints, Mayor Eric Adams said the city will crack down on buildings with a high number of fire safety violations.

Mar
2022

Nearly 3 Years After Scaffolding Collapse, No Penalties Have Been Paid

Haley Keating, a 32-year-old up-and-coming accountant, suffered devastating injuries on June 30, 2019, when a steel scaffolding fell 12 storeys from above. The massive frame slammed into the courtyard where she was sitting, striking Haley's head and causing catastrophic and long-term brain injuries, reversing her life's hopeful direction.

Mar
2022

As They Wait for City Recovery Funds, Bronx Fire Victims Are Left 'In The Wind'

According to updated data provided Thursday night, Mayor Eric Adams' administration has gathered $4.4 million for victims of the fire that destroyed the Twin Parks North West building in the Bronx, but has dispersed less than 10% of that money in direct payments two months after the tragedy.

Mar
2022

A New Study Suggests Covid May Cause Changes in the Brain

According to a significant new study, Covid-19 may cause more gray matter loss and tissue damage in the brain than occurs ordinarily in those who have not been infected with the virus.

Mar
2022

Workers in New York’s Home Care Industry Have Been Granted $30 Million in Unpaid Wages

Home health aides in New York have been alleging for years that they have not been appropriately compensated for 24-hour shifts. An arbitrator concluded on Friday that 42 home care staffing businesses must pay $30 million into a "special wage fund" to reimburse workers who were underpaid for these shifts and other assignments since 2008.

Mar
2022

With Low COVID Rates, all New York Hospitals Can Resume Elective Surgeries

Governor Kathleen Hochul announced Thursday that nonessential procedures can proceed in all New York hospitals, almost three months after signing an executive order to free up beds in the face of the omicron COVID outbreak.

Mar
2022

Despite Mayor Adams’ Efforts, Crime on the Rise in NYC Subway System

At least eight violent incidents occurred in train stations and on subway cars over the weekend after Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to address safety concerns on New York City's subways that focused on preventing homeless people from sheltering in the system. Only one of the attackers appeared to be homeless.

Mar
2022

A Year After the Transparency Rule went into Effect, NYC Hospitals Are Still not Releasing Their Pricing

It's no secret that health-care costs fluctuate widely. Within the borough of Manhattan, the cost of a cesarean section can range from under $2,000 to more than $40,000 for a patient with commercial insurance. However, the full cost of a medical procedure is usually revealed only when the bill is received.

Feb
2022

Biden Promises New York City Officials That He Will Not "Abandon Our Streets"

President Biden traveled to New York City on Thursday to assert his party's public safety credentials. Biden affirmed his support for law enforcement and detailed his administration's plans to work with the city to combat gun violence, amid a rise in murders in cities across the country and intense Republican efforts to paint Democrats as hostile to law enforcement.

Feb
2022

New Jersey Should Bar Low-Rated Nursing Homes From Receiving Medicaid Funding, According to a Watchdog Group

According to a new report by New Jersey's state comptroller, 15 nursing homes continuously obtain low health inspection ratings but still receive roughly $100 million in Medicaid funds each year.

Feb
2022

Mayor Adams Announces that Eligible New Yorkers Can Receive a Free COVID-19 Pill Treatment Delivered to Their Door

NYC Residents who test positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk of serious disease will receive free antiviral medications to treat the virus.

Feb
2022

In the Midst of a Growing Crisis, Mayor Adams Unveils Plan to Reduce Gun Violence

As he confronts mounting pressure to stop a surge in violent crime, Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a multi-pronged plan to improve public safety that would increase policing, expand employment and social programs in low-income neighborhoods, and seek changes to bail reform and federal gun control laws.

Jan
2022

Why New York City Could Become More Walkable for the Blind in the Near Future

On Monday, a federal judge ordered New York City officials to install over 9,000 signal devices at intersections to make it easier for visually impaired pedestrians to cross the streets safely.

Jan
2022

Scientists Rushing to Determine if Vaccines can Protect Against Omicron Variant

Scientists hurried on Sunday to gather data on the new Omicron variant, its capabilities, and — perhaps most importantly — how effective the current vaccines will defend against it as nations cut air links to southern Africa amid fears of another worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus.

Jan
2022

Scientists Have Discovered that the Coronavirus Attacks Fat Tissue

The coronavirus tended to target those who were overweight from the onset of the pandemic. Patients who were overweight or obese had a higher risk of developing severe Covid-19 and dying.

Jan
2022

Schools in New York City are 'Staying Open,' According to Mayor Eric Adams

Despite an enormous number of Omicron cases, Mayor Eric Adams reaffirmed on Monday morning that New York City's schools will remain open. However, about a third of city parents did not return their children to school on the first day following the Holiday break. Attendance was just over 67 percent, which was somewhat better than the system's low point of 65 percent the day before winter break.

Jan
2022

Pfizer Covid Pill Can Help Prevent Severe Illness

On Tuesday, Pfizer declared that its Covid pill had been found to prevent severe illness in a critical clinical trial, and that it is likely to work against the virus's highly mutated Omicron strain. The findings highlight the treatment's potential to relieve hospital overcrowding as the United States prepares for a fourth wave of the pandemic, which health officials and doctors are banking on.

Jan
2022

NY Nursing Homes Struggling to Boost Residents as Omicron Spreads

Since the pandemic began, more than 100 residents have died of Covid-19 at Sea Crest Nursing and Rehabilitation, a large nursing home with views of the Coney Island boardwalk.

Jan
2022

Nursing Homes Hiding Their Worst Offenses from the Public

In the dining area of a nursing facility in Arizona, a person was sexually harassed.

Jan
2022

New Study Shows Blood Pressure is on the Rise Amid the Pandemic

On Monday, scientists reported that blood pressure tests of roughly 500,000 persons showed a considerable increase in the prior year when compared to the year before.

Jan
2022

In a Massive Opioid Case, a Drug Company Settles with New York for $200 Million

The state's attorney general announced on Wednesday that a major pharmaceutical company had agreed to pay $200 million in a settlement negotiated shortly before closing arguments in a months-long opioid trial in New York.

Jan
2022

De Blasio Reminds New Yorkers to Stay Vigilant As the Omicron Variant Makes its Way to NYC

With the Omicron variant of the coronavirus expected to be detected in New York City any day now, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday that the city health department's long-standing recommendation that New Yorkers, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear masks in indoor public settings is being reinforced.

Jan
2022

De Blasio Leaves Office With the Highest Number of Road Fatalities in a Single Year of His Tenure

According to city statistics, Mayor Bill de Blasio's final year in office has experienced more traffic fatalities than any other year during his two-term tenure.

Jan
2022

As the Number of Covid Cases Rises in Upstate New York, Hospitals are Inundated and Understaffed

According to hospital executives from Buffalo to Albany, a surge in Covid cases combined with a shortage of healthcare workers is overburdening hospitals and nursing homes in upstate New York, causing a growing crisis in the healthcare system even before the Omicron variant is known to have spread throughout the region.

Jan
2022

Antibody Treatments for Omicron Variant Fail, Causing Hospitals to Scramble

One of the Omicron variant's biggest concerns is being addressed by hospitals, drug companies, and Biden administration officials: Two of the three monoclonal antibody treatments used to keep Covid-19 patients from becoming very ill appear to be ineffective against the current generation of the coronavirus.

Jan
2022

Another Death at Rikers Adds to the Difficult Year in New York City Jails

After a medical emergency, a Brooklyn man being held at the Rikers Island jail complex died on Friday, becoming the 15th person to die in the city's corrections system this year.

Dec
2021

Operators Say NYCHA Child Care Centers Are Marred by Unsanitary and Unsafe Conditions

Despite years of campaigning for improved conditions, child care providers in buildings controlled by the city's public housing authority claim that children still endure filthy and often dangerous conditions.

Dec
2021

Nursing Home Facility Regulations in New York Have Been Relaxed, Bringing Relief to Caregivers

According to a nursing home advocacy group and a facility in Washington County, nursing homes in the state are relaxing COVID-19 visitation restrictions within their facilities now that the New York State Department of Health has embraced federal guidance requiring the changes.

Dec
2021

Fentanyl’s Mounting Death Toll Becoming a Major a Concern

Fentanyl, a prescription synthetic opioid, is now a black market product sweeping the street drug market. It's not just cheap, but it's extremely lethal and 100 times more powerful than naturally generated opioids.

Dec
2021

City Says All Adults Who Want Booster Shots Can Now Get Them

New York City health authorities on Monday urged all adults who want coronavirus vaccination boosters to seek them out and asked health providers to not turn them away.

Nov
2021

The Number of Traffic Fatalities is Increasing as a Result of Reckless Driving

We have long failed to take road safety as seriously as we should in the United States, where we almost glorify the automobile. The outcomes are tragically predictable: With more than double the rate of any other developed country, the United States leads the developed world in traffic-related deaths.

Nov
2021

The Mayor Announced That Children Aged 5 to 11 in New York City Can Now Begin Receiving Covid Vaccinations

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday that coronavirus vaccinations for youngsters aged 5 to 11 will begin on Thursday. More than 230,000 pediatric doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were either on hand or on their way, according to city officials.

Nov
2021

NYCHA Hid Signs of Mold to Avoid Clean Up, According to a Probe

For the 400,000 residents of New York City's public housing, moisture in bathrooms is an adversary that breeds dangerous mold and must be defeated. However, NYCHA personnel are unable to meet the increased demand for repairs.

Nov
2021

Many Police Traffic Stops Are Driven by a Desire for Revenue

The policing of motorists in the United States is underpinned by a secret framework of financial incentives, encouraging some communities to essentially repurpose armed officers as revenue agents looking for offenses entirely unrelated to public safety. As a result, driving is one of the most common everyday activities in which people are shot, Tased, beaten, or detained for minor infractions.

Nov
2021

As the Mandate Begins, 9,000 Unvaccinated New York City Workers Are Placed on Unpaid Leave

Approximately 9,000 city employees have been placed on unpaid leave across all city agencies, according to Mr. de Blasio, with all of them eligible to return to work as soon as they receive their first dose.

Nov
2021

To Assist Food Delivery Workers, the City Council Passes a "Groundbreaking Package of Legislation"

On Thursday, the City Council passed a package of bills aimed at improving the working conditions of the city's 65,000+ food delivery workers.

Nov
2021

Streets More Deadly Than Ever as Vision Zero Continues to Fail

One of Mr. de Blasio's most ambitious promises when he assumed office nearly eight years ago was to tame New York City's lethal streets, where over 300 people had been killed in traffic deaths the year before. In 2014, the mayor proclaimed, “We refuse to accept the loss of children, parents and neighbors as inevitable,” the mayor declared in 2014. “We are focusing the full weight of city government to prevent fatalities on our streets.”

Nov
2021

New York Has $1.5 Billion to Fight Opioid Overdoses and Just Three Weeks to Decide How to Spend It

Thanks to recent settlements in lawsuits accusing opioid manufacturers and distributors of fuelling America's addiction and overdose crisis, New York is among the states receiving a substantial financial payout from the firms.

Nov
2021

Horrible Conditions Lead to 10th Death This Year in City Jails

Isaabdul Karim, a 42-year-old Rikers Island inmate, died on Sunday evening, becoming the eighth person to die in the Department of Corrections’ care this year.

Nov
2021

Horrible Conditions for Physician Residents at NYC Public Hospitals

Physician residents in New York City's public hospital system released a harsh indictment of the conditions they and their patients endure in hospitals on Friday, demanding that the city act to solve what one termed a "recipe for disaster" and another a "avalanche of failure."

Nov
2021

Detainees Now Spend More Than 9 months on Rikers Island, an 88-Day Increase, According to a New Report.

The average time spent in city custody is more than nine months, which is 88 days more than the pre-pandemic norm. According to a new report from the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, long periods of detention are one of the key drivers of the current population growth on Rikers, which is compounding staffing concerns and overcrowding.

Nov
2021

Delivery Workers Are Now Facing a New Danger: Exploding Cheap E-Bike Batteries

Experts and campaigners say the horrific fire that ripped through a Queens house last Wednesday, killing a 9-year-old boy after an e-scooter battery caught fire, is the newest threat facing New York City's approximately 80,000 delivery workers.

Nov
2021

Booster Recommended Amid Concerns Over Vaccine’s Effectiveness Over Time

Sandra Lindsay, a nurse, became the first New Yorker — and American — to get a dose of COVID-19 vaccination outside of a clinical trial last December. In the roughly 300 days that followed, she would be joined in the fight against the pandemic by 216 million people in the United States.

Nov
2021

As E-scooters and E-bikes Become More Popular, New Safety Concerns Arise

A surge in electric-powered mobile devices is bringing a long-term transformation to New York's enormous and congested street infrastructure, as well as a new safety risk.

Nov
2021

All Government Employees in New York City Now Required to get the COVID-19 Vaccine

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday that all municipal employees, including first responders such as firefighters and police officers, will be required to receive at least one vaccine dosage by October 29th. They will no longer be allowed to opt out with weekly coronavirus testing after that date.

Sep
2021

Food Delivery Workers in New York City Earn Pitiful Wages and Face High Risks

According to a poll of more than 500 app-based workers, New York City's nearly 65,000 food delivery workers earn an average of $7.87 an hour before tips, considerably below the city's $15 minimum wage.

Sep
2021

De Blasio Scrutinized As Traffic Related Deaths Soar

Despite Mayor Bill de Blasio declaring traffic safety as one of his top goals across two terms, the streets are as rough as ever — mainly because enforcement has never been weaker.

Sep
2021

The Failure of New York City to Make Basement Apartments Safe Highlighted by 11 Recent Deaths

As Mayor Bill de Blasio advocated for more affordable housing in New York City, his administration started a project to address one of the city's most vexing housing issues: converting unlawful underground apartments into safe, livable homes.

Sep
2021

Pfizer Reports Covid Vaccine Produces Strong Immune Response in Younger Children

The coronavirus vaccination developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been found to be safe and effective in young children aged 5 to 11, the companies announced early Monday morning. The announcement clears the way for the vaccine to be approved for younger children, probably before the end of October.

Sep
2021

New York City to Increase Testing at Schools and Relax Quarantine Rules

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that starting next week, all public schools in New York City will be subjected to weekly coronavirus testing as part of an effort to improve safety standards.

Sep
2021

“Vision Zero” Falling Short for Drivers and Pedestrians in New York City

According to the most recent NYPD data, the number of deadly traffic crashes in New York City has increased this year compared to the same period last year. A six-year-old girl from Dyker Heights and a man from Far Rockaway, both died in separate crashes days apart, are among the most recent deaths.

Sep
2021

The Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine Has Received Full FDA Approval

The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine for people aged 16 and up on Monday, making it the first in the United States to advance beyond emergency use designation.

Sep
2021

Students in NYC Public Schools Who Want to Participate in "High-Risk" Sports Must Now be Vaccinated

Students in New York City public schools who want to participate in high-contact sports this fall must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, according to the city.

Sep
2021

In a Settlement With Students, The City Promises to Change Policies Investigating Sexual Misconduct in Schools

According to a settlement brief filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Friday, the New York City Department of Education has settled a case with four students who say the school system failed to protect them from sexual harassment and assault. The education department promised to alter how it investigates and responds to complaints of sexual assault, in addition to a $700,000 monetary settlement split among the plaintiffs.

Sep
2021

Immunocompromised New Yorkers Now Eligible For Third COVID-19 Vaccine Shots

Immunocompromised New Yorkers can officially seek a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Sep
2021

Hospitals Ordered to Provide a Complete List of the Prices They Negotiate With Private Insurers

The federal government forced hospitals to start disclosing a closely guarded secret this year: a detailed list of the costs they negotiate with private insurers.

Aug
2021

NYC Increases Vaccination Efforts for Children Ahead of the First Day of School

This Monday is the last day for COVID-19 vaccine-eligible public school children to begin their vaccination series and get completely vaccinated before returning to class on September 13th. While the injections are not necessary, officials recommend that all children aged 12 and higher receive them.

Aug
2021

Indoor Dining, Gyms, and Other Venues in New York City Will Require Vaccination

All employees and patrons of indoor restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues in New York City will be required to show proof of vaccination.

Aug
2021

E-Scooters Set to Arrive in NYC on August 17th

The Department of Transportation said on Thursday that the first phase of its long-awaited e-scooter pilot program will begin on Aug. 17 in the East Bronx. On the sidewalks of Westchester Avenue, East Tremont Avenue, and White Plains Road, scooter corrals have already been painted.

Aug
2021

Along With Covid, More Children Are Contracting a Respiratory Infection That is More Commonly Seen in Winter

The simultaneous spike in Delta infections and cases of respiratory syncytial virus, a highly contagious seasonal flu like sickness that is more prone to infect youngsters and the elderly, has alarmed US health experts.

Aug
2021

Virus Cases in New York City Are On The Rise as the Delta Variant Spreads

Daily coronavirus case counts in New York City have began to rise in recent days, fueled by the Delta variant, despite the city's evident determination to end the pandemic.

Aug
2021

The FDA Has Attached a Rare Nerve Syndrome Warning to the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

The Food and Drug Administration cautioned on Monday that Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine could increase the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. This is yet another setback for a vaccine that has been mostly ignored in the United States.

Aug
2021

New York Legislators Are Pushing for Stricter Lead Safety Regulations for School and Park Water Fountains

According to data from the Parks Department, the water from hundreds of drinking fountains in New York City parks contains lead—and while the levels are within the range deemed safe by federal standards, advocates say the threshold is outdated and should be lowered, an effort that is already underway in public schools.

Aug
2021

Is It Possible For A Surfside Building Disaster To Occur On The New York Or New Jersey Coast?

Last week, search and rescue personnel reached the bottom of the rubble at the Champlain Towers condo complex site in Surfside, Florida, where at least 98 people died in a tragic June collapse. The specific cause is unknown, however it could be due to a lack of maintenance, structural degradation from salty sea air and storms, and subsidence (sinking) combined with sea level rise. Although a similar tragedy is unlikely in the tri-state area, experts suggest that buildings in Atlantic City and coastal Long Island are the most vulnerable.

Aug
2021

In Two Cities, Outbreaks of an Untreatable, Drug-Resistant Fungus Have Spread

According to researchers, a deadly, difficult-to-treat fungal infection that has been spreading through nursing homes and hospitals across the United States is becoming even more dangerous. For the first time, the fungus, Candida auris, was completely impervious to all existing medication in several cases.

Aug
2021

Growing Calls for More Enforcement of Illegal Motorcycles in NYC

After a four-year-old kid was gravely injured by a suspected hit-and-run dirt biker in Queens last Sunday, calls for increased enforcement of illegal dirt bikes and ATVs on city streets have gotten louder this week.

Aug
2021

Before the Next Pandemic Strikes, Fauci Wants to Develop Vaccines

The new coronavirus was, in some ways, a lucky break for the world. Scientists had spent years studying coronaviruses and had developed precisely the techniques needed to create Covid vaccines as soon as the virus's genomic sequence was published.

Aug
2021

All NYC Workers will be Required to be Vaccinated or Tested on a Weekly Basis

New York City's 340,000 municipal employees, including police, firefighters, and teachers, will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly beginning in mid-September. The policy will be introduced on Monday, according to the mayor's office.

Jul
2021

The City of New York is Facing a Legal Challenge Over its Decision to Return Homeless New Yorkers to Shelters.

In federal court, the city's plan to re-house homeless New Yorkers from hotels in communal shelters is being challenged.

Jul
2021

For Months, If Not Years, New York City Schools Left Thousands of Lead-Contaminated Water Spigots Unfixed

According to a new study from the city Comptroller's Office, thousands of water fountains, faucets, and water bottle refilling stations in New York City schools were shut down for months while extra safety testing and repairs to eliminate lead were carried out.

Jul
2021

Device Manufacturers Have Funneled Vast Sums of Money to Orthopedists Who Use Their Products

Despite government claims that some of these transactions may violate federal anti-kickback rules, drive up health-care expenditure, and put patients at risk of serious damage, payments to orthopedists and neurosurgeons who operate on the spine have climbed sharply, according to a KHN investigation. According to government data, these payments take a variety of forms, ranging from royalties for assisting in the design of implants to speakers' fees for marketing devices at medical events to stock ownership in exchange for consulting work.

Jul
2021

Cuomo Declares A State Of Emergency On Gun Violence

As part of a new measure aimed at addressing the spike in shootings that has accompanied the pandemic, New York will declare a "state of emergency" on gun violence.

Jun
2021

The Majority of COVID Restrictions in New York Will be Lifted if 70% of Adults Have Been Partially Vaccinated

On Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that the great majority of New York's coronavirus limitations and safety measures will be eliminated once 70% of adults have taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which he estimates will happen in the next two weeks.

Jun
2021

The Last Year of De Blasio's Vision Zero Begins With A Surge In Pedestrian Deaths

As the effects of the coronavirus begin to fade, city officials are now dealing with a different concern on the streets: an increase in pedestrian deaths.

Jun
2021

Most COVID Restrictions Are Being Lifted in New York Now That 70% of Adults Have Been Partially Vaccinated

Now that 70% of adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to relax the great majority of New York's coronavirus restrictions and safety precautions.

Jun
2021

De Blasio Announces a Significant Expansion of Bike and Bus Lanes in New York City, Including a 'Bike Boulevard' in Each Borough

Mayor de Blasio recently announced that dozens of miles of New York City roadways will be renovated by the end of the year to increase cycling safety and speed up bus commutes.

Jun
2021

Cuomo's Nursing Home Investigation Received a $2.5 Million Taxpayer Contract.

According to OpenBookNY.com, a website run by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office, defending Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office in a federal probe into its alleged withholding of information on nursing facility deaths from COVID-19 will cost taxpayers up to $2.5 million.

Jun
2021

Biden Announces a "Month of Action" to Encourage More Americans to Get Vaccinated Before July 4th

President Joe Biden is offering anything from sports tickets to free beer in the hopes of finding that additional something — anything — to entice people to get COVID-19 vaccinations when the promise of a life-saving vaccine isn't enough.

Jun
2021

An Investigation into Falling Subway Debris Reveals "Widespread Deception" by MTA Track Inspectors

When pieces of the subway track began to break away from the elevated tracks in Queens, the MTA initially dismissed the tumbling objects as unfortunate isolated incidents. Then, as debris continued to fall, including a metal bolt and a wooden beam that nearly killed a motorist beneath the 7 train, the agency was forced to install nylon netting beneath sections of the raised rails in 2019.

Jun
2021

Patients and Non-Profits are Navigating the Rift Between a Large Insurer and a Major Bronx Hospital

Consumers and employers are under pressure to find out how to retain access to reputable physicians in the face of a public-health crisis as a result of the impasse between United Healthcare and Montefiore Hospital.

Jun
2021

NYC Organizations Now Conducting Door-to-Door Outreach for Vaccinations

In several ways, New York City's vaccine program was a success. The city's second wave is rapidly dissipating, the controls on pandemics are loosening and at least one dose has been given to 59 percent of the city's adults.

Jun
2021

De Blasio Set to Reduce Speed Limit on 11 Roadways with High Accident Rates

To minimize the number of traffic accidents, the de Blasio administration will lower the speed limit on 45 miles of streets in 11 places throughout the four boroughs. Officials listed the roads as having some of the city's highest accident rates.

May
2021

The Hospital Industry in New York Falls Near the Bottom of Two Quality Reports.

In two quality report cards released last week, New York's hospitals remained near the bottom.

May
2021

The Cuomo Administration Spent Months Concealing the True Death Toll Numbers in Nursing Homes

According to interviews and newly discovered records, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office went to considerable lengths to conceal the pandemic death toll in New York nursing homes, with aides regularly overruling state health officials over a five-month span.

May
2021

State’s Mass Vaccination Sites Now Accepting Walk-ins for Everyone 16 or Older

Beginning Thursday, April 29th all New Yorkers 16 and older will be able to walk in without an appointment to obtain a coronavirus vaccine at the state's mass-vaccination sites, according to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

May
2021

Single-Payer Health Care Measure Gaining Traction

A bill that would pave the way for a single-payer health-care system in New York passed the Assembly Health Committee on Monday, with proponents arguing that it is necessary in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed serious shortcomings in the existing system.

May
2021

NYPD Initiates Civilian Panel To Review Potential Hate Crimes

The NYPD is forming a new civilian commission to study how it classifies and addresses alleged bias incidents in light of the rising number of hate crimes reported against Asian Americans. The five-member panel, which includes Asian, Jewish, and other community leaders, will review the NYPD's internal decisions about how criminal investigations are assigned to ensure that the Hate Crime Task Force remains in charge of all cases involving bigotry.

May
2021

NYPD Defends No-Knock Warrant Method

Following many controversial raids in Queens, city officials are reevaluating the NYPD's use of "no-knock" warrants. Police officials defended the tactic on Thursday saying, "it's not always simple or perfect."

May
2021

NYC Teachers Want Stability as More Students Return to the Classroom

New York City educators have had to navigate the complexities of pivoting the country's largest school system to online classes and remote learning while grappling with the stress of the pandemic in their own lives after COVID-19 upended all last March.

May
2021

New Nursing Home Mandates Bring Funding Concerns

The legislature is expected to finish passing two bills next week that would require safer staffing levels in hospitals and nursing homes.

May
2021

HERO Act Brings New Covid-19 Workplace Protections

In reaction to the COVID crisis, New York legislators are putting the finishing touches on legislation mandating comprehensive new occupational health and safety regulations.

May
2021

Cuomo Says Vaccine Rollout Making Steady Progress in NY

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center on Saturday, the official global death toll from COVID-19 has reached 3 million people. More than 566,000 people have died in the United States alone, with more than 368,000 in Brazil and 211,000 in Mexico.

May
2021

CDC Loosening Public Health Guidelines as As More Americans are Vaccinated

When in small groups of other fully vaccinated friends and relatives, fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors or outside, and in certain situations can go maskless with unvaccinated people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

May
2021

Brooklyn Tenants Sue NYCHA over Gas Outages and Poor Living Conditions

Since January, dozens of families in Brooklyn's largest public housing complex have been without cooking gas, infuriating residents who are also grappling with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

May
2021

Biden Pledges 50% Cut to Greenhouse Gas Emissions

President Biden announced Thursday morning at a global summit on climate change that the US would seek to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade, compared to 2005 levels.

May
2021

Alarming Statistics from the NYPD Show Gun Violence on the Rise

The dramatic spike in shootings in New York City this year continued last week, with the number of shooting incidents and victims increasing by 250 percent compared to the same time last year.

May
2021

As Judge Moves to Protect All Tenants, the NYCHA Mold Court Deal Faces a Reversal

A fatal flaw in the deal has prompted the judge in charge to order NYCHA and lawyers for public housing residents back to the drawing board, seven years after the city housing authority signed off on a court-monitored plan to clean up the toxic mold problem.

Apr
2021

Progress Has Stalled as US Surpasses 50,000 Covid Deaths

On Monday, a year after becoming the pandemic's global epicenter, New York passed another somber marker, surpassing 50,000 coronavirus deaths statewide.

Apr
2021

Pfizer Vaccine Shows 100% Efficacy in Adolescents

According to recent clinical trials, Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine elicits "100% efficacy and robust antibody responses" in adolescents aged 12 to 15, according to the drug maker. The trial studied 2,260 people, and the findings are much better than previous results from people aged 16 to 25.

Apr
2021

New Yorkers Over The Age of 30 Now Eligible for Vaccine

Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that all New Yorkers over the age of 30 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 30th. On April 6th, everyone in the state over the age of 16 will be able to obtain the vaccine as part of the extension.

Apr
2021

New York Launches “Vaccine Passport” Application for Smartphones

The state has launched a mobile app that checks whether anyone has received a COVID-19 vaccine or has had a recent negative coronavirus test in order to help stadiums and concert halls reopen safer and quicker. However, according to one expert, the platform's privacy policy fails to specify how safe the app is.

Apr
2021

New Data Suggests only 50% of Nursing Home Staff are Vaccinated

The coronavirus vaccine has been provided to the majority of the elderly and vulnerable in long-term care facilities around the country, but many of the caregivers have declined.

Apr
2021

Judge Rules Cuomo Must Vaccinate All Prison Inmates

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Gwynne Hogan, WNYC

Apr
2021

Cuomo Signs Cannabis Legalization

New and Noteworthy from NPR, original article by Brian Mann

Mar
2021

25% of All New Yorkers Have Received Vaccine

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Sophia Chang

Mar
2021

Cuomo Says No More Mandatory Quarantine For Domestic Travel

New and Noteworthy from The Buffalo News, original article by Maki Becker

Mar
2021

FBI Investigating Cuomo Aides to Find Answers on Flawed Nursing Home Data

New and Noteworthy from The New York Times, original article by J. David Goodman, Nicole Hong and Luis Ferré-Sadurní

Mar
2021

FBI Seeks Details on a Deal to Shield Nursing Homes from Covid Lawsuits

New and Noteworthy from The CITY, original article by Josefa Velasquez

Mar
2021

Health Officials Urge Public to Remain Vigilant as Virus Mutates

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Sydney Pereira

Mar
2021

Hospitals in NY Slow to Comply With Price Transparency Rule

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Caroline Lewis

Mar
2021

New Study Shows High Turnover Rate Among Staff at Nursing Homes Puts Residents at Risk

New and Noteworthy from The New York Times, original article by Reed Ableson

Mar
2021

New CDC Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated People

New and Noteworthy from The Gothamist, original article by Caroline Lewis

Mar
2021

Fauci Throws Support Behind Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

New and Noteworthy from The Gothamist, original article by John Del Signore

Mar
2021

Drug Overdoses on the Rise While Supply Shortages Stall Efforts to Aid Drug Users

New and Noteworthy from The CITY, original article by Lee Harris & New York Focus

Mar
2021

Cuomo Nursing Home Probe and Harassment Allegations Could Stall Legislative Efforts

New and Noteworthy from The NYDN, original article by Shant Shahrigian and Denis Slattery

Mar
2021

New Report Shows NY Drastically Undercounted Covid-19 Deaths in Nursing Homes

New and Noteworthy from the New York Times, original article by Jesse McKinley and Luis Ferré-Sadurní

Mar
2021

Judge Rules Cuomo Broke the Law By Withholding Death Toll Data From Nursing Homes

New and Noteworthy from the New York Post, original article by By Bernadette Hogan & Bruce Golding

Mar
2021

Evidence Shows Fraudulent Actions by NYCHA During Lead Paint Inspections

New and Noteworthy from The City, original article by Greg B. Smith

Mar
2021

Doctors Discover Troubling Covid-19 Variants in NYC

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Elizabeth Kim

Mar
2021

Data Confirms Racial Disparity in Covid-19 Vaccinations

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Sydney Pereira

Mar
2021

Although Eligible, Seniors Still Face Uphill Battle for Vaccination

New and Noteworthy from the City, original article by Reuven Blau & Claudia Irizarry Aponte

Mar
2021

Alarming Drop in Early Intervention Services During the Pandemic

New and Noteworthy from the City, original article by Alex Zimmerman, Chalkbeat

Mar
2021

Record Low Acceptance Rate For Families at Homeless Shelters

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Mirela Iverac

Mar
2021

Pending Court Approval, NYPD Police Records May Finally be Made Public

New and Noteworthy from The NYDN, original article by Michael Gartland

Mar
2021

Investigation Shows Sexual Misconduct by Physicians and Lack of Accountability

New and Noteworthy from City & State NY, original article by Emrys Eller. Article was reported in partnership with Type Investigations

Mar
2021

AP Report Shows 9,000 Covid-19 Patients Were Discharged to Nursing Homes

New and Noteworthy from Gothamist, original article by Sydney Pereira

Mar
2021

Accurate Data and Transparency Crucial During The Pandemic

New and Noteworthy from City & State NY, original article by Annie McDonough

Feb
2021

Researchers “Alarmed” by Pollution Levels in US Subway Systems

New and Noteworthy from The Guardian, original article by Oliver Milman

Feb
2021

Health Commissioner says NY Created “Covid-Only” Nursing Homes To Treat Recovering Seniors

New and Noteworthy from The NYDN, original article by Denis Slattery

Feb
2021

Biden Claims to Have Purchased Enough Vaccine for “All Americans”

New and Noteworthy from The NYDN, original article by Chris Sommerfeldt

Jan
2021

NYC Finally Moving Ahead With Trash Collection Overhaul

New York City is finally moving ahead with plans to overhaul the deadly commercial waste collection industry after months of delays due to COVID-19, officials said Friday.

Jan
2021

Why Nursing Homes Failed Throughout the Pandemic

The first coronavirus outbreak in the United States occurred in a nursing home near Seattle, in late February. Since then, the country has endlessly revised its hot spot map. Yet the situation in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities has only gotten worse: More than 120,000 workers and residents have died, and residents are now dying at three times the rate they did in July.

Jan
2021

Nurses Say Hospitals Not Prepared for Second Wave

Hospitalizations in the state have recently reached levels not seen since May, when New York was the epicenter of the crisis in the U.S. On Wednesday, more than 6,000 people were hospitalized and being treated for the virus.

Jan
2021

Report Shows NYCHA Violated Lead Paint Regulations For Years

In a damning report, the New York City Housing Authority is accused of failing to ensure that EPA-certified supervisors oversaw all jobs to remove lead paint from its buildings between 2013 and 2018, leaving residents with possible exposure to the deadly element.

Jan
2021

NYPD Stockpiling Tasers Despite Concerns of Abuse

The NYPD is planning to purchase a new stockpile of Tasers to replace older stun-guns whose warranties have expired, signaling its continued confidence in a weapon that some civil rights advocates say is more dangerous than advertised.

Jan
2021

NY Plans to Start Vaccinating General Public By Late January

The state plans to start vaccinating the first members of the general public against the coronavirus by late January, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday.

Jan
2021

Nurses at Two NY Hospitals Go on Strike Over Stalled Contract Negotiations

Roughly 1,000 nurses at Westchester County and upstate hospitals went on strike last week over a lack of worker protections and stalled contract negotiations as coronavirus cases continued to surge in New York.

Jan
2021

Food Delivery Apps Surge as Their Workers Report Dangerous Conditions

With hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers out of work and the city’s unemployment rate at 13.2 percent, many desperate people have turned to working for food delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub, which have seen huge demand from customers who are working from home.

Jan
2021

Federal Inmate Speaks of “Inhumane Treatment” Amid Covid-19 Outbreak in Brooklyn Jail

A Brooklyn federal inmate sick with COVID-19 says jail conditions are “inhumane” and staffers are doing little to stem the virus that has spread to almost 90 men.

Jan
2021

Covid-19 Has Proved To Be a Disaster On NYC Court System

Since October, state and federal court officials have taken extraordinary measures to restart criminal trials in New York City. They have constructed plexiglass boxes with special air filters in court. They have asked witnesses to testify in face shields and have spread jurors out in courtroom galleries.

Jan
2021

Albany County Forms New Program to Handle Mental Health Crisis

Albany County officials are launching a pilot program to have social workers and Sheriff's EMS workers respond to mental health, addiction and other non-violent 911 calls.

Dec
2020

TROLMAN GLASER CORLEY & LICHTMAN, P.C. Celebrates 2020 Super Lawyer Selections

The lawyers of TROLMAN GLASER CORLEY & LICHTMAN, P.C., have been successfully handling personal injury and medical malpractice claims for more than 50 years. We have the skill and experience to determine the necessary monetary and legal elements of compensation and to pursue a monetary award for the hardships you and your family presently face and what you may face in the future.

Dec
2020

US Reported More Covid Cases in November than Most Countries Had All Year

The United States reported more than 4 million coronavirus cases in November, which is higher than the total number of cases seen all year by any country in the world except India and Brazil. Public health experts are warning that the U.S. will keep seeing record-breaking numbers in the final month of 2020.

Dec
2020

The Bronx is Struggling With Unemployment, Food Shortages Amid Covid-19 Resurgence

The city’s painfully slow economic recovery has left The Bronx with the highest unemployment rate of any county in the state and more than 60% of residents on Medicaid amid a growing resurgence of COVID-19.

Dec
2020

Revamping Rules on Cop Sexual Misconduct Investigations

Two years after the Civilian Complaint Review Board announced to fanfare that it would begin to investigate police sexual misconduct the independent NYPD watchdog is starting the process anew.

Dec
2020

Report Shows Use of Body Cameras A Powerful Tool Against Stop & Frisk Abuse

Police body cameras can help reduce the kind of bogus stops that have fueled accusations of racial bias and harassment against police officers in New York City, according to a long-awaited report released Monday.

Dec
2020

NY Expected to Receive First Batch of Covid Vaccine by December 15th

Gov. Cuomo says New York expects to receive its first 170,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines by mid December but warned that the pandemic will continue to spread more death, illness and hardship into next year.

Dec
2020

New York Moves to Expand Hospital Capacity

New York is moving to expand hospital capacity amid a late-year surge in coronavirus cases that is only expected to grow through the holiday season.

Dec
2020

Lawsuit Accuses Buffalo Diocese of Sexual Abuse Cover Up

The New York attorney general, Letitia James, on Monday accused the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and three bishops connected to it of engaging in a yearslong cover-up of sexual abuse by priests in violation of church policy and state law.

Dec
2020

De Blasio to Increase NYPD Presence in Subway Stations Amid Crime Spike

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday he’s “real concerned” about the alarming recent uptick of subway push attacks — and that the NYPD is beefing up its presence to address the matter.

Dec
2020

Cuomo Unveils New Strategy and Warns of Another “Pause” as Covid Cases Surge

Gov. Cuomo unveiled a revamped strategy to deal with New York’s surging coronavirus cases on Monday with a focus on avoiding an overwhelmed health care system.

Dec
2020

Cuomo Seeks to Close “Loophole” Allowing “Bad Cops” to Keep Credentials

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said he is looking at closing a loophole that could allow a cop accused of misconduct in one police department to get a new job at a different department.

Dec
2020

Comptroller Audit Shows Buildings Department Failures

New York City’s Buildings Department failed to follow up on more than half of “immediately hazardous” violations it issued last year within the legally mandated time frame, a new city comptroller’s audit shows.

Dec
2020

Fine of $15,000 Issued for Brooklyn Wedding That Disregarded Covid-19 Regulations

The congregation that hosted an indoor wedding where more than 1,000 maskless guests celebrated in cramped quarters is being hit with a $15,000 fine for the “amazingly irresponsible” event, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Inside City Hall Monday night.

Nov
2020

Statewide Covid-19 Crackdown May Be Inevitable

New York’s COVID-19 cluster containment strategy is being tested as coronavirus cases rise in more communities and threaten to trigger some version of the spring's economically devastating statewide shutdown if things continue to get worse.

Nov
2020

Shooting Have Doubled And Murders Increased by 40% in NYC

The NYPD reports that shootings in the city have doubled and murders have increased by 40% compared to the same time last year.

Nov
2020

Nursing Home Residents Grapple With Consequences of Isolation

After months of near-isolation inside his senior care facility, thousands of older people are stricken by another epidemic ravaging America’s nursing homes — an outbreak of loneliness, depression and atrophy fueled by the very lockdowns that were imposed to protect them from the coronavirus.

Nov
2020

New Approach to Mental Health Crisis in NYC

Teams of mental health professionals and EMS staff will respond to 911 mental health calls instead of police officers, under a new trial program Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday.

Nov
2020

MTA Promotes E-Scooter Company As Part of Post Covid-19 Recovery

MTA officials on Tuesday hyped an electric scooter rental company as a potential piece of New York City’s post-pandemic recovery — a move that may circumvent city government’s effort to regulate the zippy rides.

Nov
2020

Covid-19 Vaccine Could Be Available to Public by Spring

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday that the first Americans could get COVID-19 shots by the end of this month — and that a vaccine would likely be widely available to the public by spring.

Nov
2020

Investigation Shows Apartments Containing Lead Paint Nearly Double NYCHA Estimates

The number of public housing apartments where children under 6 are potentially exposed to lead poisoning is likely to more than double to 20,000 apartments, an examination by THE CITY found.

Nov
2020

New Safety Report Says NY Courts Pose Severe Risk To Public and Workers.

New York City’s courthouses are ill-equipped to stop the spread of coronavirus and pose a severe health hazard to the public and court workers, says a safety consultants' report obtained by the Daily News.

Nov
2020

New Bill Introduced to Ban NYPD From Collecting DNA From Children Without Consent

A new bill to be introduced Thursday would bar the NYPD from collecting DNA samples from children without consent from a parent or guardian.

Nov
2020

Despite Complaints and Disregard for Safety Protocols, No Cops Disciplined For Failing to Wear Masks

NYPD officials have not fined or disciplined a single police officer for failing to wear a face covering — despite receiving more than 150 related complaints from New Yorkers.

Nov
2020

Cuomo Reinstates “Cluster Containment Zones” Amid Alarming Covid-19 Spike

Hospitalizations have increased in New York alongside an alarming spike in coronavirus cases that have caused Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reinstate cluster containment zones and shut down schools in specific areas.

Nov
2020

Cops Can Face Criminal Charges for Chokeholds While Law Hashed Out in Court

Cops can be criminally charged for defying the city’s chokehold ban while the underlying validity of the law is hashed out in court, a judge ruled Monday.

Oct
2020

Racial Disparity in Hospital Care

Research shows that doctors are more likely to choose procedures and treatments that are more profitable for them, whether these are better for patients or not. For example, cancer doctors frequently recommend higher-cost chemotherapy because they profit handsomely from it. And hospitals do more of the kinds of surgeries that come with high profit margins, like hip and knee replacements and heart valve procedures, while limiting unprofitable services like psychiatry wards either by keeping only a small number of spots for patients or by simply not offering a dedicated psychiatry ward at all.

Oct
2020

Mount Sinai Hospital Warns of Critical Bed Shortage in Response To New Covid-19 Surge

As New York City officials prepared on Tuesday to roll back openings in COVID-19 hot spots in Brooklyn and Queens, the president and chief operating officer of the city’s Mount Sinai Hospital, David Reich, sent an email to staffers warning of bed shortages and the activation of its surge capacity.

Oct
2020

Federal Covid-19 Testing Supply Leads to “Testing Hell” in Nursing Homes

After months of enduring a dearth of protective medical gear and staggering death tolls from the coronavirus pandemic, nursing home operators and employees across the United States experienced something close to elation as rapid-result test machines paid for by the federal government began arriving last month at 14,000 residential facilities that serve the elderly.

Oct
2020

Concern Over Poor Ventilation in NYCHA Buildings Amid Pandemic

Across the city, 240 NYCHA developments employ mechanical exhaust roof fans to circulate air out of apartments. The systems, which serve 260,000 residents, are prone to breakdown, and the ducts leading from apartments to the roof often are clogged with decades of dust and debris.

Oct
2020

Thousands Of New Yorkers Still Struggle With Covid-19 Months After Diagnosis

The stories of some New York COVID-19 survivors have challenged early conceptions of COVID-19 as a three-week illness.

Oct
2020

NYPD Creates First Asian Hate Crimes Task Force

The NYPD has created a first-ever Asian Hate Crimes Task Force in the wake of a string of incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic that targeted Asians, officials announced Tuesday.

Oct
2020

Mental Health Services More Important Than Ever During Covid-19 Crisis

Communities of color, youth, seniors and front-line workers remain among the populations most vulnerable to increasing depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Oct
2020

In Response To Violent Police Tactics, NYC Pushes Back On NYPD Control of Press Credentials

Weeks after dozens of incidents involving violent police tactics against reporters and news photographers, NYC news organizations, journalists, and elected officials are pushing back against NYPD control of city press credentials.

Oct
2020

Gun Violence Getting Worse in New York City

New York’s wave of gun violence is getting worse, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday as he railed at the city for not yet adopting a police reform plan like he previously ordered.

Oct
2020

Cuomo Admits To Mistakes With Handling of Covid-19 Crisis

Gov. Andrew Cuomo finally admitted at least one mistake he made during the coronavirus crisis.

Oct
2020

Covid-19 Continues to Fuel Debate Over Nurse-to-Patient Ratio in Nursing Homes

Pat Kane, executive director of the New York State Nurses Association, has seen the pandemic intensify the decades-long fight over adequate nurse staffing.

Sep
2020

Revel Mopeds Relaunch in NYC After Safety Overhaul

Revel mopeds have returned to New York City, a month after safety concerns forced the company to pull its vehicles from city streets.

Sep
2020

New York Relaxes Nursing Home Visitation Rules

New York nursing homes that have gone 14 days without a coronavirus case can reopen for limited visitation, the state Department of Health announced Tuesday.

Sep
2020

Mayor Threatens Citywide Layoffs Amid Pandemic

Several hundred of New York City's emergency medical technicians and paramedics stand to be laid off amid citywide budget cuts, even though they were integral to the city's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sep
2020

Mayor Continues To Downplay Lead Paint Crisis in NYC

Newly surfaced documents reveal damning details about the scale and scope of what NYCHA knew of its serious lead issues in housing units with kids — all while Mayor Bill de Blasio downplayed the health crisis.

Sep
2020

Despite New Body Camera Policy, NYPD Still in Control

In June, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new policy for automatically publishing body camera footage within 30 days when police officers kill or seriously injure someone. The step, he said, would give the public more assurances that they would actually see video captured in serious cases of police force, an implicit but often unrealized aim of the transparency program. But more than two months since the policy was implemented, old questions remain about who controls what footage is released, how it is edited and, ultimately, the narrative it creates.

Sep
2020

Rideshare Companies Overtake 94% of NYC Market Without Proper Permitting

The city’s taxi enforcement agency known for its heavy hand with drivers has neglected to implement a two-year-old law aimed at helping yellow taxis compete with Uber and Lyft as the ride-hail apps roiled the industry.

Sep
2020

Rideshare Companies Overtake 94% of NYC Market Without Proper Permitting

Sep
2020

Rideshare Companies Overtake 94% of NYC Market Without Proper Permitting

Aug
2020

Underground Parties Leading To Troubling Spike in Covid-19 Cases

Two raves packing a total of more than 280 people were busted up early Sunday in Sunset Park, Brooklyn — just days after Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that the neighborhood was experiencing a troubling rise in coronavirus cases.

Aug
2020

New Studies Show Lasting Immunity To Covid-19

Scientists who have been monitoring immune responses to the virus are now starting to see encouraging signs of strong, lasting immunity, even in people who developed only mild symptoms of Covid-19, new studies suggests. Disease-fighting antibodies, as well as immune cells called B cells and T cells that are capable of recognizing the virus, appear to persist months after infections have resolved — an encouraging echo of the body’s enduring response to other viruses.

Aug
2020

Health Experts Urge People To Get Their Flu Shot

As public health officials look to fall and winter, the specter of a new surge of Covid-19 gives them chills. But there is a scenario they dread even more: a severe flu season, resulting in a “twindemic.”

Aug
2020

De Blasio Ready For Schools To Reopen But The Buildings Are Not

Last week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that schools in the state could reopen, bringing relief to many parents who feared the devastating alternative. But it was soon clear — if it hadn’t been already — that while New York City had done an Olympian job of driving down viral rates to a point where medical experts considered it safe enough for teachers and students to return to classrooms, the extent to which buildings themselves were equipped to ensure that safety remained dubious. Air flow and ventilation were problematic, especially within the system’s many old buildings.

Aug
2020

Toxic Lead Paint Found In 900 NYC Classrooms

More than 900 city classrooms repeatedly tested positive for lead paint over the past five years — amounting to what one expert calls a “ticking time bomb” that’s waiting to poison kids.

Aug
2020

Obesity Linked To Higher Covid-19 Death Rate For Men More Than Women

The coronavirus has been an unpredictable foe from the start. It triggers silent or barely perceptible infections in some individuals, while in others it sets off a cascade of complications that overwhelm the body and lead to death.

Aug
2020

New York Now Requires Seat Belts For All Car Occupants

All car passengers in New York state must wear seat belts starting in November, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the rule into law Tuesday.

Aug
2020

Cuomo Owes More Data Transparency for Covid-19 Deaths in Nursing Homes

There’s no sugarcoating the awful fact COVID-19 has killed more than 32,000 New Yorkers — a death toll more than double that of any other state.

Aug
2020

Covid-19 Vaccines Are On The Way, But Manufacturing Still In Question

The U.S. government has now signed six deals with vaccine-makers to produce coronavirus shots, even before it’s clear any are effective — and with a risk the companies won’t be able to ramp up production in time to deliver hundreds of millions of doses.

Aug
2020

Trump Relaxed Nursing Home Staff Training Requirements Amid Pandemic

Shortly after the first coronavirus outbreak ravaged a nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., the Trump administration moved to fulfill a longstanding industry goal — waiving the requirement that nurse’s aides receive 75 hours of training and allowing people who study only eight hours online to become caregivers during the pandemic.

Aug
2020

Revel Shuts Down Scooter Service in NYC Following Series of Crashes and 2 Deaths

Scooter-sharing service Revel announced Tuesday that it will temporarily stop operating in New York City following an epidemic of crashes involving its mopeds — including two that were fatal.

Jul
2020

US Considers Who Will Have Access To Vaccine First

Federal health officials are already trying to decide who will get the first doses of any effective coronavirus vaccines, which could be on the market this winter but could require many additional months to become widely available to Americans.

Jul
2020

Senate Health Chair Wants Hearings on Nursing Homes Amid Pandemic

The top lawmaker on the Senate Health Committee said public hearings are needed to clarify the conclusions of a Department of Health report that found nursing home deaths linked to COVID-19 were caused by asymptomatic staff and visitors to the facilities.

Jul
2020

New State Malpractice Law Brings Criticism And Fear For Patient Rights

On March 23 New York faced a crossroads during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as hospitalizations increased by 2,635 in one day and projections showed the state would need 110,000 beds and additional nurses and physicians to staff them in a system that only had 53,000 statewide.

Jul
2020

Can Low Income Neighborhoods Beat A Second Wave of Covid-19?

At a clinic in Corona, a working-class neighborhood in Queens, more than 68 percent of people tested positive for antibodies to the new coronavirus. At another clinic in Jackson Heights, Queens, that number was 56 percent. But at a clinic in Cobble Hill, a mostly white and wealthy neighborhood in Brooklyn, only 13 percent of people tested positive for antibodies.

Jul
2020

Travelers From High Risk States Now Face Steep Fines For Non-Compliance

Travelers flying into New York airports from states with high rates of coronavirus infections will now be mandated to fill out forms disclosing their travel plans or face being immediately given a summons that carries a $2,000 fine, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday.

Jul
2020

NY Courts Bracing For Huge Influx of Eviction Cases

Only a handful of unlucky New Yorkers face eviction during the coronavirus pandemic, but the cases hint at huge problems for tenants, landlords and courts as the rent comes due.

Jul
2020

New York Reports No New Coronavirus Deaths

New York City, once the epicenter of the nation’s coronavirus outbreak, has just reported its first day with zero confirmed or probable virus deaths since the pandemic hit New York State.

Jul
2020

Lawmakers Set Hearings To Address Senior Death Rates In Nursing Homes Amid Pandemic

Amid a statewide death toll that’s the sixth-highest in the world and continuing controversy over his handling of New York’s nursing homes during the crisis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday attacked President Trump’s coronavirus response — calling it worse than Watergate.

Jul
2020

New York Lawmakers Vote To Repeal 50-a

As mass civil unrest over police brutality against African-Americans engulfs the nation, New York lawmakers took action recently by voting to repeal 50-a, a state law used by police departments to shield disciplinary records.

Jul
2020

New York Lawmakers Pass The Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act

The New York State Assembly recently passed the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act. The act passed both houses of the New York State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo has indicated he will sign it into law.

Jul
2020

Many Unknowns Remain About COVID-Related Illness In Children

More than a month after health officials began sounding alarms about a potentially fatal illness among children who had been exposed to COVID-19, New York’s tally of known cases of the disease stands at 207, with three fatalities.

Jul
2020

Lack of Funding Led To Massive Death Toll In Nursing Homes From Covid-19

The city and state severely shortchanged a federally-mandated program designed to protect nursing home residents, leading to the disproportionate death toll of elderly New Yorkers from the coronavirus, according to an alarming new report by City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

Jun
2020

Shocking Racial Divide In Nursing Homes Affected By Covid-19

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the nation’s nursing homes, sickening staff members, ravaging residents and contributing to at least 20 percent of the nation’s Covid-19 death toll. The impact has been felt in cities and suburbs, in large facilities and small, in poorly rated homes and in those with stellar marks.

Jun
2020

New Data Shows Lockdown Delays Cost at Least 36,000 Lives

If the United States had begun imposing social distancing measures one week earlier than it did in March, about 36,000 fewer people would have died in the coronavirus outbreak, according to new estimates from Columbia University disease modelers.

Jun
2020

As Restrictions Ease, What’s Next For Nursing Homes? Please See CDC Guidelines and Updates

Nursing homes have been severely impacted by COVID-19, with outbreaks causing high rates of infection, morbidity, and mortality. The vulnerable nature of the nursing home population combined with the inherent risks of congregate living in a healthcare setting, requires aggressive efforts to limit COVID-19 exposure and to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within nursing homes.

May
2020

Teen Battles New Corona Virus Syndrome

When a sprinkling of a reddish rash appeared on Jack McMorrow’s hands in mid-April, his father figured the 14-year-old was overusing hand sanitizer — not a bad thing during a global pandemic.

May
2020

Nursing Homes Push For Legal Immunity Despite Horrible Conditions

In the chaotic days of late March, as it became clear that New York was facing a catastrophic outbreak of the coronavirus, aides to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo quietly inserted a provision on Page 347 of New York’s final, voluminous budget bill.

May
2020

New York Health Dept. Sends over 1,600 Damaged Covid-19 Testing Kits to NY Nursing Homes

The state Health Department ordered counties to ramp up coronavirus testing in nursing homes — and sent them over 1,600 damaged test kits.

May
2020

Horrible Conditions At Nursing Homes In NY Shock Out-Of-State Nurses

Out-of-state nurses brought to Manhattan to fight the coronavirus say they found hellish conditions at the city-run adult-care center on Roosevelt Island — from patients with horrific bed sores to feces-smeared walls.

May
2020

Worry Grows Over Lack of Dialysis Machines as Covid-19 Linked With Kidney Disease

Jamal Uddin’s coronavirus story began like many others: His health deteriorated, he was hospitalized, he tested positive for COVID-19, and he was treated. Then his health began improving. He was going to be taken off the ventilator -- until his potassium levels spiked.

May
2020

State-Run Nursing Home in Queens Fails To Keep Residents Safe From Covid-19

A Queens veterans nursing home run by the state Department of Health has been violating protocols set by the department itself that are intended to keep patients and staff safe from coronavirus.

May
2020

Nursing Homes Told to Accept Covid-19 Patients From Hospitals

The disease caused by the virus has killed more than 10,500 residents and staff members at nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide, according to a New York Times analysis. That is nearly a quarter of deaths in the United States from the pandemic. On Saturday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York described nursing homes as a “feeding frenzy for this virus.”

May
2020

Jail Workers Forced To Work 24hr Shifts Without Protective Gear

City jail workers are being forced to work 24 hours straight in a “cesspool of illness,” claims a new suit brought by all three of the city’s corrections unions.

May
2020

Inspectors Absent As Nursing Homes Continue To Deal With Covid-19

Eyes and ears usually trained on New York’s nursing homes and adult care facilities have been nearly locked out as the coronavirus has claimed the lives of more than 3,500 residents statewide.

May
2020

FDA Issues Warning On Using Malaria Drugs To Treat Covid-19

The Food and Drug Administration issued a safety warning on Friday about hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, malaria drugs that have been promoted by President Trump repeatedly and widely used to treat coronavirus patients despite the lack of evidence that they work.

May
2020

Covid-19 Highlights Long Standing Issues at Nursing Homes

As of Thursday, Covid-19 has killed over 10,000 residents and staff members in long-term-care facilities in 23 states that report fatality data, about 27 percent of the Covid-19 deaths in those states, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

May
2020

Antibody Tests Suggest 1 in 5 New Yorkers Had Covid-19

One of every five New York City residents tested positive for antibodies to the coronavirus, according to preliminary results described by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday that suggested that the virus had spread far more widely than known.

Apr
2020

Nursing Homes Continue To Be Decimated By Covid-19

Dozens of residents inside the Sapphire Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing of Central Queens have died from COVID-19 and some fear there could be even more victims.

Apr
2020

NY State To Begin Experimental Testing To Treat Covid-19

The state Department of Health will begin testing an experimental drug combination therapy and a plasma serum as potential treatments for Covid-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.

Apr
2020

Nursing Homes in NY Struggling To Defend Against Covid-19

Nursing homes have emerged as a second major front in New York’s battle to stem the coronavirus crisis — with their residents accounting for 15% of COVID-19 deaths in the state, the state Department of Health revealed Sunday.

Apr
2020

Mental Health Needs On The Rise As Coronavirus Worsens

News about COVID-19 in New York is bleak as a rising number of cases and deaths, financial havoc, social isolation and uncertainty have made many residents feel understandably anxious during this time.

Apr
2020

Homeless Shelters A Growing Concern As Coronavirus Spreads

A person in New York City’s sprawling homeless shelter system has died from the coronavirus, as the number of positive cases within city shelters has grown rapidly over the past week.

Apr
2020

De Blasio Expects Half The NYC Population To Become Infected By Coronavirus

New Yorkers should expect that half the city’s population will get coronavirus by the time the pandemic runs its course, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

Mar
2020

Scientists Search For Drugs To Test Against Coronavirus

Nearly 70 drugs and experimental compounds may be effective in treating the coronavirus, a team of researchers reported on Sunday night.

Mar
2020

NYC Now The “Epicenter” of Coronavirus Epidemic

Three weeks after its first coronavirus infection was discovered, the New York City region reached an alarming milestone on Sunday: It now accounts for roughly 5 percent of the world’s confirmed cases, making it an epicenter of the pandemic and increasing pressure on officials to take more drastic measures.

Mar
2020

NY To Release More Inmates Amid Coronavirus Outbreak In Jail System

Seeking to stem the spread of coronavirus in city jails, officials will release 23 more inmates from Rikers Island and other New York City facilities, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.

Mar
2020

Lost Sense of Smell or Taste Could Be Sign of Coronavirus Infection

Anosmia, the loss of sense of smell, and ageusia, an accompanying diminished sense of taste, have emerged as peculiar telltale signs of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and possible markers of infection.

Mar
2020

Increase Social Distancing To Stop The Spread

On Sunday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he had tasked New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson with developing strategies to ensure their constituents maintain safe distances in order to slow the spread of coronavirus – and that he wanted a plan to address the problem within 24 hours.

Mar
2020

As Coronavirus Cases Surge, Routine Nursing Home Inspections Paused

Federal regulators said they plan to temporarily halt routine inspections of nursing homes to focus on the most dangerous situations, as coronavirus cases mount in the facilities across the U.S. and serious infractions were found at the hardest-hit location.

Mar
2020

The USNS Comfort Headed to New York Harbor to Aid Hospital Crowding

Gov. Cuomo, joined by officials in New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, announced a four-state shutdown Wednesday of retail shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys in the ongoing war against the coronavirus.

Mar
2020

NYC To Release Inmates Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to release “vulnerable” inmates from city jails to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic into local lockups, he said Wednesday.

Mar
2020

Hospital Bed Shortage in NY Complicating Fight Against Coronavirus

New York has lost a staggering 20,000 hospital beds over the last two decades to budget cuts and insurance overhauls, complicating local and state efforts to battle the coronavirus, according to records and experts.

Mar
2020

Coronavirus Cases Soar To 4,152 in NY

Gov. Cuomo said Thursday that the number of coronavirus cases has soared to 4,152 and asserted “fear and panic” could be even worse than the health crisis itself.

Mar
2020

Pedestrians Are Still Dying in New York City Despite Vision Zero

After reaching a record low of 199 in 2018, crash fatalities in New York increased to 214 last year.

Mar
2020

Nursing Homes Sue To Stop Enforcement of Ruthie’s Law

Eight local nursing homes and long-term health care providers have filed a lawsuit against Erie County to challenge the implementation of Ruthie’s Law, which requires homes to inform a designated individual within two hours after a resident suffers an injury requiring hospital treatment.

Mar
2020

Coronavirus Outbreak in the US Highlights Increased Risk at Nursing Homes

Life Care Center, which advertises a “homelike and welcoming atmosphere” in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, has become the focal point of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Four of the six people who have died of the virus in this country were residents of the 190-bed nursing care facility. Several other residents and at least one employee have tested positive.

Feb
2020

Surprise NYC Subway Door Openings

The MTA recently pulled nearly 300 of its newest subway cars out of service after doors on a C train partially opened while on the move.

Feb
2020

Records Show NYC School System Failed to Consistently Conduct Lead Paint Inspections

New York City’s Department of Education consistently failed to follow requirements for annual lead-paint inspections in schools over the last five years, records show.

Feb
2020

New Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Law In Response to Reckless Driving

New York City Council approved a bill they say will make city streets safer by taking the most dangerous drivers out from behind the wheel.

Feb
2020

Facades in New York a Dangerous Problem for Pedestrians

Two people were recently killed by falling debris in New York. In January, a woman was killed in Queens after a piece of plywood detached from a building. A month before another woman was killed in Midtown after debris from a building under construction fell on her.

Feb
2020

City Council Votes On New Bills To Target Lead Exposure

New York City’s lead poisoning prevention laws are getting an overhaul. Recently, members of the City Council voted on several new bills aimed at strengthening Local Law One, which requires landlords and other property owners to keep buildings with aging lead paint from poisoning children.

Feb
2020

New Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Law In Response to Reckless Driving

New York City Council approved a bill they say will make city streets safer by taking the most dangerous drivers out from behind the wheel.

Jan
2020

Boy Scouts of America Pressured Sexual Abuse Victims To Stay Quiet

The Boy Scouts, an organization built around the ideal of instilling high moral standards in young boys, for decades hid the number of predator pedophiles it had in its ranks and pressured abuse victims from speaking out, according to a federal lawsuit filed Monday.

Jan
2020

State Health Department To Investigate Conditions At Mount Sinai Hospital

The State Department of Health will investigate Mount Sinai Hospital after a New York Post report revealed horrible conditions at the medical facility.

Jan
2020

With Hate Crimes On The Rise, City Looks to Past Offenders for Help

The de Blasio administration is considering recruiting people who committed anti-Semitic violence or vandalism as teens to help educate youths in a bid to stem a rising tide of hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers.

Jan
2020

Tailor Cut Produce Recalls Cut Fruit Mix Because of Possible Health Risk

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a fruit mix containing cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, and grapes from Tailor Cut Produce of New Jersey was recalled back in early December, and now it has been discovered that the company’s Fruit Luau fruit mix may be a “potential source of an outbreak of salmonella illness in multiple states.”

Jan
2020

“No Place For Hate” Project Launched in Response To Growing Anti-Semitism in Brooklyn

As anti-Semitic hate crimes reach shocking levels in New York City, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on Tuesday touted a program aimed at teaching students to fight “bias, bullying and hatred.”

Jan
2020

Mount Sinai Emergency Department a “War Zone”

Mount Sinai Hospital is considered one of the best in the country — but its emergency department is a “war zone” and a danger to the very patients it is supposed to save, current and former staffers recently told The NY Post.

Jan
2020

Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Victims Are Suing The Pope

New York clergy sex abuse victims are suing the Pope — claiming in a landmark lawsuit that he and the Vatican were aware that a significant number of priests were molesting children and kept it secret.

Jan
2020

Car Remote Control System Accidently Kills A Man in New Jersey

A New Jersey man was crushed by a Lexus car that rolled over him after its owner started it with a remote control system, police said on Wednesday.

Dec
2019

NYPDs Plan to Deal With Mentally Ill New Yorkers

Trained mental health workers will finally start joining cops responding to 911 calls in a bid to reduce deadly encounters between the NYPD

Dec
2019

NYC Dept of Education Changing The Regulations Around Harassment and Bullying

Amid a series of highly publicized sexual assault allegations, the New York City Department of Education is changing the regulations around.

Dec
2019

Northeast Officials Explore Regional Standards For Vaping and E-cigarette Products

Top officials from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania are considering regional standards for vaping and e-cigarett.

Dec
2019

Federal Panel Seeks Mandatory Helmet Laws

A federal safety board issued a surprise recommendation for mandatory bike helmet laws in all 50 states — unanimously approving.

Dec
2019

Construction Workers and Deadly Opiod Addiction

It's one of America's most dangerous professions — and not just because of the heavy machinery, backbreaking labor and sky-high settings.

Nov
2019

New Warning Icon Added to Nursing Home Facilities With Abuse Citations

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a plan to begin displaying a warning icon for nursing homes with abuse citations on its flagship consumer-facing website.

Nov
2019

Asbestos Exposure in NYC More Common Than We Think

It has been discovered that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority pumped large amounts of asbestos-filled air into an East New York bus depot for decades, exposing more than a thousand employees and possibly high school students (working as interns) to asbestos, the New York Daily News reported recently.

Nov
2019

Mayor Goes After Online E-Cigarette Vendors

Mayor de Blasio targeted 22 online e-cig retailers for selling to underage kids recently, naming them in a lawsuit announced one day after the state reported that a 17-year-old was the first New Yorker to die of vaping-related illness.

Nov
2019

People Exposed To Asbestos for Decades at Bus Depot in Brooklyn

For decades, thousands of transit employees — and dozens of high school students — may have been exposed to asbestos at the MTA's East New York bus depot in Brooklyn.

Nov
2019

Spike in Cyclist Deaths Leads to $1.7 Billion Safety Plan

Riding a bicycle in New York City is often a very dangerous journey across a patchwork of bike lanes that leave cyclists vulnerable to cars. The dangers came into focus this year after 25 cyclists were killed on city streets — the highest toll in two decades.

Nov
2019

State Senators Seek Aid for Child Victims Act

Some Democratic state senators are hoping to add extra provisions to the Child Victims Act to help alleged victims who they say cannot achieve justice under the current law.

Nov
2019

Uber Seeks to Limit Liability with Bike Share Program

In exchange for expanding its popular bike share program in Staten Island, Uber wants New York City to let it severely limit riders ability to sue the company, however, the de Blasio administration is resistin.

Sep
2019

Vaping Linked To Lung Illnesses and Death

On September 6, federal health officials warned the public that a mysterious illness linked to vaping had killed five people in the U.S. Kansas officials confirmed on September 10 that a sixth person has died and California health officials said on September 17 that a seventh person had died from vaping-related illness.

Sep
2019

New Law Gives Parents Information on Head Injuries in Football

A measure that would require youth tackle football programs to provide parents and guardians with information on concussions and sub-concussive blows was signed into law on recently by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Sep
2019

Mayor Considers Mandatory Helmets for Citi Bike Riders

Six weeks after he announced his plan to promote safe cycling in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that he was mulling the idea of forcing Citi Bike riders to wear helmets, and having all cyclists obtain licenses — measures that have been shown to discourage cycling rates in other major cities.

Sep
2019

Fatal Fungus Spreading Throughout Nursing Homes and Hospitals

Candida auris, a highly contagious, drug-resistant fungus that has infected nearly 800 people since it arrived in the United States four years ago.

Sep
2019

NYC Ban on CBD in Food and Beverage Products

The city's buzzkill ban on certain cannabis-derived CBD products went into effect on Monday.

Sep
2019

New York Hospitals Receive Terrible Federal Ranking

New York has the most one-star hospitals – ranked on a five-star scale, with five being the best – of any state in the country from rankings by the federal government. In 2016, the Empire Center for Public Policy, a right-leaning think tank, found that New York had the lowest average score of any state, a paltry 2.26. Only the District of Columbia and certain U.S. territories were lower.

Sep
2019

Health Advocates Concerned With Lead Levels in Drinking Water

It's not just NYCHA that struggles with potential lead poisoning. While reports of children being exposed to lead in New York City Housing Authority projects have generated negative headlines, schools across New York state may also have lead contamination at levels experts consider unsafe.

Sep
2019

De Blasio Rejects Federal Health Funds Tied to Abortion Gag Rule

New York City public hospitals will reject $1.3 million in federal health funds rather than adhere to a Trump administration “gag rule” that bars doctors from giving patients information about abortion.

Sep
2019

Court Rules Amazon Liable for Third Party Sales

A federal appeals court recently ruled online retail giant Amazon can be held liable for the products sold by third-party sellers on its platform.

Aug
2019

Hundreds of Child Victims Act Lawsuits Flood New York Courts

The Child Victims Act, which also extends the statute of limitations for criminal charges against child sex abusers, was bitterly opposed by the Catholic Church and other religious groups and blocked for years by Republicans in the state legislature. It covers victims who've alleged they were abused as children and teenagers by priests, teachers, scoutmasters and doctors. The group filing suits on Wednesday also included victims of deceased accused child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Jul
2019

New York Citys Expanded Speed Camera Program Finally Takes Effect

On the same week as cyclists protested the recent uptick in rider deaths, city officials announced the beginning of the expanded speed camera program—which will significantly expand the number of speed cameras and their hours of operation.

Jul
2019

New York City Cyclists Protest After 15th Death in 2019

Hundreds of cyclists gathered at Washington Square Park recently to stage a die-in to protest the recent spate of cyclist deaths in the city—and to demand action from city officials.

Jul
2019

New Study Reveals Shocking Truth About Medical Errors

According to a new study, more than 1 in 10 patients are harmed in the course of their medical care, and half of those injuries are preventable. Among the preventable errors, 12 percent led to a patient's permanent disability or death, according to the report published Wednesday in The BMJ, a medical journal.

Jul
2019

New NYPD Data Shows Cars More Dangerous Than Guns in NYC

Motor vehicles are significantly deadlier than guns in New York, new NYPD data shows. Crashes involving cars, vans, trucks and buses killed 111 people on city streets during the first six months of 2019, public data shows.

Jul
2019

ICE Raids Targeting Illegal Immigrants

Parts of the Big Apple were on edge Saturday as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement readied to carry out President Trump's plans to deport at least 2,000 illegal immigrants here and in the rest of the country.

Jul
2019

Senator Schumer Warns Public About Counterfeit E-Cigarettes

Sen. Chuck Schumer wants the federal government to crack down on a new kind of Chinese knock-off: e-cigarettes.

Jul
2019

NYCHA Monitor Says Agency is Already Breaking Promises

The New York City Housing Authority's new federal monitor says the agency is already breaking its promises to clean up lead paint and — once again — is not telling the whole.

Jun
2019

Mayor Announces Rapid Expansion of Speed Cameras Throughout NYC

In New York, speed cameras have proven to be one of the most efficient ways to prevent car accidents and save pedestrian lives especially children and seniors.

Jun
2019

Environmentalists Push For Stricter Water Standards in NY

Environmentalists are pushing for more rigorous protection of New Yorks drinking water following a new review of federal pollution data.

Jun
2019

Changes in Practice among Physicians with Malpractice Claims

The American medical malpractice system is doing almost nothing to improve the quality of healthcare, research suggests.

Jun
2019

Audit Reveals Major Hazards At Pre-Kindergarten Programs

A recent audit by State Controller Thomas DiNapoli found dozens of safety hazards.

Jun
2019

Local Law 196 and What it Means for Construction Industry in NYC

Construction workers fatalities and injuries are on the rise in New York City.

Jun
2019

New Bill to Allow Cameras on School Busses to Prevent Reckless Driving in NY

School districts across the state will soon be able to mount cameras on school buses and catch reckless drivers who refuse to stop when students are being picked up or dropped off.

Jun
2019

New Legislation Could Allow Troops to Sue for Malpractice

Army medical staff and doctors should be accountable for medical malpractice says a bipartisan group.

Jun
2019

Number of Wrongful Death Claims in NYC on the Rise

The number of wrongful deaths occurring in New York City hospitals recently is extremely troubling.

Jun
2019

Understaffed Nursing Homes See Drop In Medicare Rating

The federal government accelerated its crackdown on nursing homes that go days without a registered nurse by downgrading the rankings of a tenth of the nation's homes on Medicare's consumer website, new records show.

Jun
2019

De Blasio Wants Stricter Penalties for Speeding

Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed last Friday that the state Legislature pass a new law to stiffen fines of reckless motorists speeding through school zones.

May
2019

Study Links Brain Trauma and Alzheimer's Disease

We often think about short-term effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), as well as the long-term effects tied to sports-related concussions.

May
2019

New Study Indicates Doctor Fatigue Responsible for Mistakes

Given the prevalence of medical negligence cases and serious injuries in the U.S., patients need to consider the dangers of medical misconduct.

May
2019

New Rule Allows Bicyclists to Use Pedestrian Signals

New rule allows bicyclists to use pedestrian signals in order to reduce the rate of collisions between cyclists and automobiles.

May
2019

New Concussion Test Approved by FDA

Concussions and other forms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be difficult to diagnose definitively.

May
2019

New CDC Guidelines for Detecting and Treating Concussions in Children

According to a recent article in Science Daily, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed new evidence-based guidelines for detecting and treating mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in children.

May
2019

Fisher-Price Recalls the Rock 'n Play Sleeper Tied to Infant Deaths

Fisher-Price on Friday recalled all 4.7 million of its Rock 'n Play Sleepers, citing more than 30 infant deaths, and told parents to immediately stop using the products.

May
2019

Fall Fatalities Reach Record High on US Construction Sites

887 workers lost their life after falling at their job sites in 2017 according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

May
2019

Construction Worker Dies in New York Crane Accident

A NYC hard hat who was installing a crane tragically died after the counter weight he was setting fell on him.

May
2019

Are Smartphones Less Distracting Than Built-in Vehicle Navigation

Do you currently use Apple CarPlay or Google's Android Auto, or do you rely on a navigation or infotainment system preloaded into your vehicle.

May
2019

Accidental Child Poisoning On The Rise

One of the more common and completely preventable types of child injury involves accidental poisoning.

Mar
2019

Worker Deaths Rise While Penalties Ease Under Trump

Worker deaths have risen in New York State over the past two years while federal inspections by President Trump's Occupational Safety and Health Administration are fining New York workplaces less.

Mar
2019

Uber Exploring Autonomous Bikes and Scooters

Uber is looking to integrate autonomous technology into its bike and scooter-share programs.

Mar
2019

NYC Sanitation Unveils a Commercial Waste Zones Plan

Private garbage trucks are among the most dangerous vehicles in New York City. 5 people died and 73 were seriously injured in commercial waste truck accidents in NYC over the last two years (2017 and 2018).

Mar
2019

New Vision Zero Action Plan Addresses Most Dangerous NYC Streets

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently released DOT's new Borough Pedestrian Safety Plans, which target the next wave of streets and intersections the City will make safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Mar
2019

Johnson & Johnson Supplier Seeks Bankruptcy Over Talc Lawsuits

To defend against the nearly 15,000 product liability lawsuits over its talc products, Imerys Talc America, a main supplier of talc for Johnson & Johnson, recently announced that it filed for bankruptcy.

Mar
2019

Federal Monitor Set to Oversee NYCHA

Recently, it was announced that the federal government is imposing more control over the beleaguered New York City Housing Authority by appointing a federal monitor.

Mar
2019

Dangerous Ingredients Found In Over The Counter CBD products

Since 2017, food and beverage products infused with CBD have been introduced in the US market. However, they are not controlled by the Food and Drug Administration.

Mar
2019

Apple Not Responsible For Distracted Driving According to Courts

Apple recently dodged several product liability lawsuits from families of victims of distracted driving crashes.

Mar
2019

3 Dead and 7 Injured in LIRR Accident

Two Long Island Railroad trains traveling in opposite directions Tuesday night slammed into a truck trying to get across the tracks near the Westbury, L.I., station, killing all three people inside the vehicle, officials said.

Feb
2019

New York Prosecutor Blocking NTSB Access to Limousine Involved In Deadly Crash

More than three months after 20 people died in a stretch limousine crash in rural upstate New York, federal safety investigators have yet to get their hands on the most crucial piece of evidence: the wrecked vehicle itself.

Feb
2019

Driving on The Highway

Idling in a long highway line of slowed or stopped traffic on a busy highway can be more than an inconvenience for drivers and highway safety officers.

Feb
2019

NYCHA Fails Residents Again With No Heat During Coldest Months

The New York City Housing Authority proudly launched a coat drive recently as their tenants were forced to bundle up in their freezing apartments on the coldest day of the year.

Feb
2019

LIRR Approved For Two Year Extension On PTC Implementation

The Long Island Rail Road said it has met the conditions of a federal law requiring implementation of new crash-prevention technology, and will have another two years to put it fully in place.

Feb
2019

Gov. Cuomo Wants More Speed Cameras in NYC as Part of Vision Zero

Speed cameras have proven their efficiency in reducing car accidents as well as pedestrian injuries and deaths.

Feb
2019

Methylene Chloride Continues to Kill and Injure Workers and Consumers

Methylene Chloride is a dangerous product that has previously caused the death of many people.

Feb
2019

Child Victims Act Passed By New York State Legislature

Both chambers of the New York State Legislature passed the Child Victims Act, which has been sent to Governor Cuomo for his signature.

Jan
2019

Public Remains In The Dark As The City Calls for Spending Disclosure From NYCHA

In October 2015 during a City Council hearing, city Comptroller Scott Stringer challenged the secretive way NYCHA spends millions of taxpayer dollars every year.

Jan
2019

Traffic Injuries Up, Fatalities Down in NYC

Traffic deaths may be down under Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero program, but there are more crashes.

Jan
2019

Vision Zero To Roll Out “High Vision” Trucks

The city's initiative to reduce traffic deaths may be called Vision Zero.

Jan
2019

Sanitation Salvage Finally Out Of Business After ProPublica Expose

The private trash hauling company responsible for two deaths and countless safety violations, has surrendered its license and is going out of business.

Jan
2019

Long Hours Leading To Drowsy Driving a Major Concern For Ride Sharing Industry

If you live in New York or another major metro area, chances are you regularly use ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft.

Jan
2019

NYC Streets Still Dangerous for Both Motorists and Pedestrians

While the streets of New York City still prove dangerous for both pedestrians and motorists, Vision Zero has had many positive results.

Jan
2019

NYCHA Executives Face Criminal Charges After Falsifying Inspection Reports

The DOI investigation following the death of Olegario Pabon found out that the brake monitor had been disabled.

Jan
2019

Medical Malpractice and Negligence Rates Remain High

Medical Malpractice and Negligence Rates Remain High According to Johns Hopkins Study

Jan
2019

Government Cracking Down On Limousine Operators

After the deadliest U.S. transportation accident in nearly a decade, the federal government must crack down on stretch limousine operators who skirt rules

Jan
2019

Church Collapse in Harlem Injures Bystanders

The building was in the process of undergoing a planned controlled demolition when the collapse happened

Nov
2018

As Winter Approaches FDNY Urges Caution With Space Heaters

Portable heaters are responsible for an average 12,000 fires every year in the US.

Nov
2018

Regulatory Robot To Help Small Businesses Understand Product Liability Regulations

Any company involved in the manufacturing of a product can be the subject to a product liability lawsuit if the product is defective and caused harm to a consumer.

Nov
2018

Small Construction Contractors Have Higher Rate of Fatal Injuries

The major causes of fatalities in the construction industry continue to be what OSHA calls the “Construction Focus Four"

Nov
2018

Five Injured in Manhole Explosion in The Bronx

Five people were injured in a manhole explosion in the Bronx, NYC, last Friday night

Nov
2018

Virtual Reality Training To Prevent Construction Accidents

Virtual reality can help prevent construction accident injuries and deaths

Nov
2018

Warren Buffett To Defend NY Doctors From Malpractice

New York physicians who are members of the malpractice insurer MLMIC have a new backer as they fight lawsuits from patients

Nov
2018

Could The Legalization of Marijuana Lead To An Increase In Car Accidents?

Two recent studies indicate that States that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana have seen a significant increase in car accidents compared to those States that haven't.

Nov
2018

Controversial Construction Safety Bill Gets Council Approval

It's a bill that critics from the real estate industry have argued would paralyze construction.

Nov
2018

Elder Abuse On The Rise In Recent Years

76 in 1,000 older New Yorkers are victims of elder abuse, and in recent years, the number of reported cases of elder abuse is growing.

Oct
2018

How Much Does An Injury Really Cost?

What does an injury really cost, not only in terms of medical spending but also in terms of work loss and decreased quality of life?

Oct
2018

Bronx Montefiore Hospital Back In The News For Overcrowding

Back in August, it was reported that the 3 emergency units at Montefiore Hospital in New York are so overcrowded and unruly that it has endangered patients and staffers.

Oct
2018

20 People Tragically Dead After Limo Accident In NY

The limousine was transporting 17 friends – four sisters, two brothers and several young couples – on their way to a birthday party.

Oct
2018

Medicare Lowers Star Ratings for Nearly 1,400 Nursing Homes Across The Country

Understaffed nursing homes lead to patient neglect where the most common result is the development of bed sores or broken bones after a fall, both leading to hospitalization.

Oct
2018

Construction Accidents Continue To Rise in 2018

The number of construction accident fatalities in New York City recorded by the DOB doubled during the first seven months of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017.

Oct
2018

NYPD Tow Truck Driver Seriously Injures Pedestrian in NYC

An elderly man crossing West 42nd Street was struck by a NYPD tow truck driver just before noon last Thursday.

Oct
2018

Construction Worker Dies In Brooklyn Wall Collapse

A construction worker from New York died after a wall collapsed at a Brooklyn construction site last Wednesday.

Sep
2018

EPA Considers Allowing Asbestos in Certain Products

Asbestos is a dangerous product that was used in construction materials decades ago, however, after it was found that exposure to asbestos could lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases, its usage became strictly regulated in the US.

Sep
2018

Opioid Use in the Construction Industry Dangerously High

Nearly all construction workers will have at least one work-related injury in their lifetime and have a greater risk of dying prematurely, concludes new research from the Center for Construction Research and Training, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

Sep
2018

Vision Zero Initiative Brings NYC Traffic Deaths to Record low in 2018

84 people including 49 pedestrians, 6 cyclists, 3 vehicle passengers and 26 vehicle drivers died in traffic accidents in New York City during the first semester.

Aug
2018

MTA Drunk Driver Crashes Bus With 9 Passengers on Board

We have absolutely zero-tolerance for these alleged actions and behavior,” the MTA said in a statement. “This bus operator has been removed from service immediately without pay and we are working with NYPD to ensure a thorough investigation is carried out.

Aug
2018

ER at Bronx Montefiore Hospital

The 3 emergency units at Montefiore Hospital in New York are so overcrowded and unruly that it has endangered patients and staffers.

Aug
2018

OSHA Proposes New Rule That Puts Responsibility of Crane Operation in the Hands of the Employer

OSHA has determined that “while certification by type of crane establishes that an operator has a basic level of skill and knowledge about the operation of that type of crane, it is the employer's evaluation that best ensures the operator has the skill and knowledge necessary to operate a crane in a particular configuration.”

Aug
2018

The MTA to Ask for Leniency in its Installation of Positive Train Control technology

Positive Train Control (PTC) could have prevented the Metro-North derailment that killed 4 people in the Bronx in December 2013 as well as several other fatal train accidents that occurred in recent years.

Jul
2018

Fire Accidents On The Rise in 2018

Two elderly women died in separate fire accidents in Queens recently. The first accident occurred recently in the Rockaways, Queens where a fire caused by careless smoking quickly spread through the 15th floor of a high rise apartment located at 7-11 Seagirt Ave.

Jul
2018

Purdue Pharma Knew Opiods Were Being Abused But Promoted It As Less Addictive

When Purdue Pharma launched OxyContin in 1995, the Food and Drug Administration permitted the company to make a unique claim for it: that its long-acting formulation was “believed to reduce” its appeal to drug abusers compared with shorter-acting painkillers like Percocet and Vicodin.

Apr
2018