Bronx Voice - August 25, 2021

BRONX VOICE

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RENT RELIEF MESS www.bronxvoiceny.blogspot.com

5th Year, No. 9

August 25 - 30, 2021

Tenants, landlords unite Page 6 over rent aid bungle

Second missing BACK TO SCHOOL Page Morris Heights Bronx man 4 Health killed by train celebrates community Page 16

School health, supply checklist Page 14 NO MORE COVID SCHOOL LOCKDOWNS?

Page 8

Residents fume over ‘Law & Order’ lockdown

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By David Greene Business owners, delivery drivers and residents of Morris Park are still fuming after a film production crew from NBC Universal Television and Wolf Films blocked off more than a dozen streets along Morris Park Avenue and Williamsbridge Road, including several side streets-- as they filmed an episode for Season 2 of "Law & Order: Organized Crime" starring Christopher

Meloni.

The orange cones were placed in both commercial and residential parking spaces throughout Morris Park and Parkchester in preparation for the shoot.

A giant boom was parked along Williamsbridge Road.

According to the announcement of the shoot, detective Elliot Stabler, played by Meloni, shot a scene where he was talking to a woman as they walked

down Williamsbridge Road.

According to the release, Stabler then made a call from what could be the last payphone in the Bronx.

On August 13, a worker at Emilio's on Morris Park Avenue said the Law & Order crew was one of his accounts, while one of the restaurant's drivers complained, "There's no parking over there, you have to double park," as many took the chance and double parked

or moved the cones to park despite the warnings.

"Gregory" the manager of Golden Eagle on Morris Park Avenue was asked if his establishment had lost 10% during the shoot, he responded, "Yeah, maybe."

Noting that trucks were never observed along Morris Park Avenue, he added, "They didn't do anything and they blocked over here and over there," pointing to both sides of Morris Park Avenue.

One unidentified customer at the restaurant who watched the shoot on a side street, offered, "They were filming Law & Order, I was looking for Olivia, but I didn't see her."

The customer was referring to Olivia Benson, Stabler's former partner on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by actress Mariska Hargitay.

"Ali" at Home Town Hardware was asked if a 10% loss of business seemed accurate, he replied, "Something like that, two days, yeah. I don't know why, I don't think they're going to make a movie.”

"Ali" from the Sabah Candy & Grocery Store, offered, "Yes, people can't stop and I don't know why."

Ali said he doesn't watch Law & Order, but asked if the trucks ever parked on Morris Park Avenue, he said, "Nobody came, nothing.”

One business owner who declined to be identified, who witnessed the trucks and crew rapping up at 1 am on August 14, fumed, "Do you think they give a (expletive)? They blocked all over here... everywhere.

As if they own everything.

And what do you do? If

you park, they take your car away.”

At least one area resident claimed to have parked on Morris Park Avenue and missed the no-parking signs posted. The resident recalled, "I got outside and I didn't know where it was.”

Repeated attempts to reach the location manager on the flyer identified as "Dennis" were unsuccessful for several days. After an inquiry to Johanna McCabe, the Press Secretary at the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, who has so far failed to respond to several questions herself, suggested contacting a second location manager, who directed all questions to NBC Universal Television.

A source at NBC Universal stated, "Our permit allows us to hold parking in advance of a full 24-hours prior, which would be a day before and the day of filming." He continued, "Our parking team confirmed to us that they didn't encounter any hostile business entities.”

The Universal Television staffer noted that the production company often pays "an inconvenience fee or has our crews patronize establishments." The source added that he was under the impression that the vehicular towing unit has not been towing vehicles for them for about the last two years.

The source added that this episode is expected to run in the Fall, 2021, but, "Depends on scheduling, especially during the pandemic, sometimes shows get scheduled, sometimes they get bumped back to like the beginning of the year."

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Fatal mental breakdowns?

Second missing Bx man killed by train Law & Order: Lockdown in Morris Park

by David Greene Business owners, delivery drivers and residents of Morris Park are still fuming after a film production crew from NBC Universal Television and Wolf Films blocked off more

Photo by David Greene

A missing person’s flyer seeking the whereabouts of Albert Henriquez, 35, was observed posted on a pole at East 194 Street and Marion Avenue on August 15, 2021. Family members told the Bronx Voice that he was fatally struck by a subway train.

By David Greene For the second time in less than four months a missing man who may have experienced a mental health episode-- has been struck and killed by a subway train, officials say. Now both families are asking why it took a week or longer for them to be notified.

A missing person’s flyer for Albert Henriquez, 35, was observed along East 194 Street in Fordham Manor on August 15.

Later that same day, Henriquez' brother Richard stated his brother had lived on the Grand Concourse in Kingsbridge, but had suffered an electrical fire four months earlier and had been staying at his home on Riverside Drive in Manhattan.

At the time Richard Henriquez recalled his brother's disappearance on August 9, "We don't even know what happened. He left the house at 8:15 in the morning, that's when we saw him on camera and after that he never came back.”

Henriquez admitted his brother had been hospi-

talized in the past for "minor psychosis," but did not believe his brother was sad or wanted to run away. The Henriquez family had posted "missing" flyers around Harlem and Fordham Manor, thinking he may have returned to his old neighborhood.

The family even visited the burnt out apartment at 2701 Grand Concourse, near East Kingsbridge Road, but neighbors had not seen him.

Sadly, in a follow up interview on August 22, Henriquez recalled, "Yes, we did find him diseased.

Yes, he was an unidentified individual that was on 125 Street that was struck by a train." Henriquez claimed, "The detective didn't do anything until we actually called a special

unit... they said he'd been deceased since the day he went missing." The family is now asking why 10 days went by before Albert was identified.

The family is currently struggling to raise the needed money for Albert's funeral, a GoFundMe page has been established to assist the family with the cost, and has so far raised $7,533.

Anyone wishing to donate, the site can be found at: https://www.gofundme. com/f/im-loving-memory-of-albert-henriquez?utm_campaign=p_ cp+share-sheet&utm_ medium=copy_link_ all&utm_source=customer Juan Carlos Guzman, 46, loved Norwood, I know because I knew him and interviewed him several times for several different stories. I photographed him outside of the 52nd Precinct on Webster Avenue, when a childhood arrest for marijuana was being used against him as

the United States Government attempted to deport him. He reportedly went missing at 2:45 p.m. on April 15.

On May 2, a Norwood resident and a 30-year friend of Guzman's who declined to be identified, recalled a day about two weeks earlier, saying, "I called the ambulance for him and the police department showed up... they were talking shit and the ambulance ended up not taking him and if they would have taken him, he would still be alive today.”

According to the death certificate, Guzman was struck by a train at 3 p.m. on April 15, at the Rockaway Avenue Station in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

The friend continued, "He was off his meds and he was acting up," but added, "He was nervous he was going to go to jail, that's why he said no to the ambulance.”

On July 17, Guzman's sister Wendy had many questions, like why she CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Second missing Bx man killed by subway train

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was told at least three versions of how her brother died: Crossing the tracks, attempting to jump from platform to platform and waiting for a train on the tracks, when he was struck by an A-Train express.

The heartbroken sister would like an explanation as to how Guzman's assisted-living residence near Burnside Avenue reported him missing at 2:45 p.m., but he was hit by a train in Brooklyn at 3 p.m. the same day. The family is also looking into a claim of a YouTube video that they believe exists that shows the train striking an overhead sign and that sign

striking Guzman, causing his death.

The sister added, "So I'm trying to track down if this video is really true." Wendy Guzman claims she asked the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for video from the surveillance cameras that day, but was told she needed to get a court order. But added, "What I'm afraid of is by the time we do that, they erase whatever they have from that day.”

Wendy and her father Juan, Sr., would also like to know why the father was not notified as he was the emergency contact for his son in the past. Wendy blurted out, "Nobody called him. We

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found out two weeks later, the detective came up into the building.”

Trying to get help, Wendy recalled, "I called a few lawyers, because of his mental illness they don't want to take the case." The sister claims Juan had been hospitalized a day earlier, but was released by St. Barnabas Hospital. It is not yet known if Guzman refused the ambulance in Norwood before or after his visit to St. Barnabas.

Juan Sr., recalled, "He came here on the 9th (of April) and the cigarette is still in the same place. He said the same thing he said to you, he said, 'I'm sorry about what happened,' about

this and that and he was so happy," having just won a lottery for a new apartment. "I told him," the father told his son, "to thank God" as a new chapter in his life was about to begin.

Juan Guzman was cremated and the family will soon return his ashes to his native Dominican Republic for burial.

According to Correct Crisis Intervention Today, 200,000 times a year 911 is called for a person suffering a mental health crisis and they say in the last five years, 18 individuals have been killed by responding police officers, no statistics are available on individuals hit by subway trains.

In the latest New York City budget passed in June, $112 million was allocated for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and an additional $23 million was set aside to expand mobile response teams with social workers for non-violent mental health calls and several million dollars will also be distributed to local crisis prevention groups.

On August 18, the City of New York launched a new website offering free and confidential mental health assistance 24-hours a day. The site can be found at: MentalHealthforAll.nyc.gov.

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Cuomo’s rent relief ‘mess’ awaits Hochul as tenants, landlords unite over aid bungle

By Greg David This article originally appeared in The City.

Three weeks after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced plans to fix the state’s troubled pandemic rent relief program, his administration has paid out less than 5% of the $2.7 billion available — infuriating tenants and landlords alike.

Though they’re united in their ire at the outgoing governor, building owners and residents are drawing battle lines over the fate of the state’s now legally shakey moratorium on evictions, which is set to end Aug. 31. Tenant groups are supporting an extension while landlords are pleading grave financial danger.

The dual crisis is likely to be dumped on the incoming governor, Kathy Hochul, when she takes office Aug. 24.

“It’s a mess,” said Ellen Davidson, a lawyer at the Legal Aid Society monitoring the rent relief program.

Added Joseph Strasburg, president of the Rent Stabilization Association, which represents landlords: “Everyone is frustrated.”

The duo spoke out separately after the state’s Office of Temporary Disability Administration (OTDA) revealed that it had distributed just $114.1 million in rent re-

lief, covering 8,035 payments to landlords.

By contrast, Texas has given out $675 million to 111,000 households.

Even the city of Philadelphia alone has outperformed New York State, with $144 million disbursed to 26,000 households.

The money, part of $47 billion included in the Biden administration relief package approved in February, is designed to pay back rent for tenants hurt by the economic shutdown. To qualify, tenants must make less than 80% of the area median income, and show their income was affected by the pandemic.

Under current rules, money not distributed by Sept. 30 may have to be returned.

Glitches Galore The complaints about New York’s slow rollout center on a technically troubled online application that the state seems unable to fix, de-

Photo by Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

Tenant-rights advocates march through the Fulton Mall in Brooklyn on the year anniversary of the first confirmed COVID case in the city.

spite Cuomo’s promises.

There’s also anger over a lack of data that could allow the state and advocates to pinpoint and tackle the system’s biggest problems.

Tenants and landlords say the glitch-ridden online process still doesn’t let users save applications-in-progress, sometimes doesn’t accept documents and doesn’t clearly signal when applications have been completed.

One client of BronxWorks, a nonprofit hired by the city to help tenants navigate the system, submitted more than 20 applications before successfully completing one, said Scott Auwarter, the group’s assistant executive director.

Examples like that suggest the 170,000 applications the state has received — 114,000 from New York City alone — contain a significant number of duplicates.

Typical of relations under Cuomo — whose resignation in the face of numerous sexual harassment allegations went

into effect this week — coordination between the state and the city is nonexistent, advocates for tenants and landlords say.

“Everyone has fallen down on outreach,” said Davidson. “The state points to the localities and says it’s their responsibility to do outreach and completely washes its hands of doing anything except for blaming others. The city promised huge outreach but it’s unclear that any of it has happened.”

City officials did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The Community Housing Improvement Program, which represents mostly small and midsized landlords of rent regulated buildings, has independently hired canvassers to knock on doors to spread word about the program. One in four tenants had no idea aid is available, according to Jay Martin, the group’s executive director.

“They have got to start advertising,” he added.

Groups ranging from

the Rent Stabilization Association to the Furman Center at NYU to Legal Aid want online dashboards like those established by Texas, Arizona and Philadelphia that would provide immediate tracking of results.

“We need data to know how to focus outreach and the agency refuses to provide ZIP code and demographic data,” said Davidson.

The Legal Aid Society and others believe that there needs to be coordination between the Office of Temporary Disability Administration and housing courts since any tenant whose application is approved is protected from eviction for one year.

A spokesperson for the state court system said such coordination is not possible because of legislative oversight: OTDA is barred from sharing with the courts who has received money.

The onus is on the tenant being sued to alert the court, the spokesperson CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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Tenants, landlords unite over rent aid bungle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

said.

A ‘Sensationalized’ Report Office of Temporary Disability Administration officials reacted defensively this week to a critical report on the program from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, calling his conclusions “sensationalized.”

The report suggested many more people may be eligible than have applied. DiNapoli also cited payments below the $15,000 maximum in noting that money could be left in the program.

OTDA’s response emphasized that another 31,000 tenants had been provisionally approved — but blamed delays on landlords who filed incomplete forms or information at odds with the tenant application or

who simply refused to submit any paperwork at all.

Martin dismissed those claims as false. He said CHIP has dozens of emails from the agency to landlords confirming they have submitted the necessary information — contradicting OTDA emails sent to tenants reporting that their landlords are lagging.

“When our government affairs people reach out to OTDA on behalf of our members they say, ‘Don’t worry about it.

Those are just automatically generated,’” Martin said.

Even adding the 31,000 tenants to what has been disbursed would bring New York’s payments to only a third of the available funds, while Texas has passed the 60% mark.

Tenants with approved

rent relief applications are protected against eviction for a year and their rent is frozen for the same length of time.

With the aid program in turmoil, pressure is mounting to extend an eviction moratorium dating from the early days of the pandemic.

Earlier this month, state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx, Westchester) and Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou (D-Manhattan), introduced a bill that would extend the state’s moratorium until Oct. 31.

Others have suggested keeping the protections in place until the end of the year.

But the legal issues surrounding eviction moratoriums have become murky.

High Court’s Curveball

The state law was thrown into uncertainty last Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court declared a key provision that allowed tenants to self-certify their own economic pressures was unconstitutional.

The ruling, however, didn’t spell out how that would affect other parts of the law.

An executive order by President Joe Biden extending a federal moratorium for areas with high COVID rates until Oct. 3 covers New York, but that action is also being challenged in the courts.

Strasburg said an Assembly hearing last week and one set for this week by a Senate committee are laying the groundwork for extending the moratorium.

“The state screwed up and politicians say they

will protect tenants at the expense of landlords even though owners had nothing to do with the problem,” he said.

He argues a moratorium extension will make the situation worse.

Since the program only covers 12 months of unpaid rent, the longer the eviction moratorium is in existence, the less likely landlords will recover all that they are owed.

Other landlords say some tenants have stopped paying rent to qualify for aid.

CHIP intends to argue at the hearing that if the moratorium is extended, the state should lobby Congress through Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) to extend the program indefinitely and adjust the income rules so more tenants qualify.

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Vaccinated students, teachers won’t have to quarantine when positive COVID cases arise, officials say

By Reema Amin This story was originally published in ChalkBeat.

If someone in a New York City public school classroom tests positive for COVID this fall, fully vaccinated students and staff will not have to quarantine as long as they haven’t been infected and don’t have symptoms, city officials said.

Additionally, officials said they’re only considering closing buildings when there are positive cases in four or more classrooms, which is similar to the policy for summer school. If

approved, the closure plans could mean that learning won’t be disrupted as much as it was last year, although schools will have to decide how to instruct students when some are

Students walk through the lobby of a Brooklyn school. City officials said that vaccinated students and staff will not have to quarantine as long as they don’t have symptoms or test positive for COVID.

able to stay in the classroom while others who are unvaccinated will have to quarantine.

Officials are also planning a “robust” COVID

testing program, but none of these plans are final yet because the city is awaiting approval from the state education and health departments,

said Chris Groll, acting assistant commissioner for the Office of School Health, during a meeting of the chancellor’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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Vaccinated students, teachers won’t have to quarantine when positive COVID cases arise, city officials say CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Parent Advisory Committee, known as CPAC. The state health department has declined to offer reopening guidance this fall, but a spokesperson for the city’s education department said they are keeping state officials informed of their plans.

“If you’re vaccinated, and we know that there’s proof of vaccination, that close contact will be removed from the quarantine list and

will be able to continue to attend class, which is really a huge incentive,” Groll said. “Because obviously, more folks who are vaccinated helps us on the case side, helps us fight the delta variant but more importantly, keeps kids in front of teachers and keeps teachers in front of kids.”

Fifty-three percent of New York City children ages 12-17 have at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the spokes-

person. Children under the age of 12 have not yet been approved for vaccines but could become eligible before the end of this year.

Roughly 60% of department staff have been vaccinated, but city officials believe the number is higher since many may live outside New York City, and therefore may not be counted in the city’s figures.

Earlier this month, de Blasio announced that city employees, includ-

ing teachers, would be required to get vaccinated or get a weekly COVID test, but it’s unclear whether that test will happen inside of schools.

The department launched an online portal where employees can submit their vaccination status and upload proof of vaccination, according to a department spokesperson. But they did not immediately explain how they’ll obtain proof of vaccination

from students.

Shifting guidance In updated guidance, CDC says that students don’t have to quarantine if they were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected person, as long as both people were wearing masks properly. City officials did not immediately say whether they plan to follow this recommendation.

Last school year, anyone in a classroom with CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

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Health Matters

People who lack healthcare transport likely to have depression, diabetes, new study finds A new study by researchers at Montefiore Health System published in the journal Preventive Medicine found that healthcare transportation challenges are strongly associated with chronic health conditions like depression, asthma and diabetes.

Additionally, people who reported healthcare transportation as a need were 84% more likely to have an alcohol/ drug abuse diagnosis and 41% more likely to smoke, than people without healthcare transportation needs. People reporting transportation challenges were also associated with higher prevalence of diabetes. Those with asthma, were 37% more likely to report poor housing quality issues like having mold and pests.

Illnesses like depression, asthma, and diabetes, are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. These illnesses are also the leading contributors of healthcare costs.

Social determinants

of health (SDOH) are the conditions that people are born into, work and live in like housing, transportation and education, which impact health outcomes. For example, research has found that children who live near highways have a higher risk for asthma than those who do not.

While research in the area continues to expand, the mechanism between specific social needs and chronic conditions is not well understood.

“These findings allow us to better understand the challenges our patients face, both at the individual and population level,” said Kevin Fiori MD, MPH, MSc, FAAP, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

and of Family and Social Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director, Social Determinants of Health, Community & Population Health at Montefiore Health System, and study senior author. “Our hope is that by demonstrating how our clinical teams use screening tools and clinical data to identify the issues our patients are struggling with— and help them resolve these problems—that more healthcare systems will invest in integrating social care interventions and tracking of these efforts.”

From April 2018 to December 2019, 33,550 adult patients at Montefiore Health System completed a 10-item social needs screening

Kevin Fiori MD, MPH, MSc, FAAP, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and of Family and Social Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director, Social Determinants of Health, Community & Population Health at Montefiore Health System, and study senior author.

survey during primary care visits in the Bronx and Westchester. Questions touched on topics that ranged from housing quality, healthcare transportation, food insecurity, and the cost of utilities, to relationships with spouses and family members.

Half of the patients (52.8%) were Hispanic and more than onethird (37.2%) were non-Hispanic Black.

The median age was 51.9 years-old. Approximately half of respondents were insured through Medicaid or Medicare with one third having commercial insurance.

This research builds

on previous findings from the same research team that found healthcare transportation is most strongly associated with noshow visits, and thus an important barrier to accessing healthcare.

“Inadequate healthcare transportation impacts nearly all chronic conditions, however more work needs to be done to understand why we saw more of an association among people with depression and diabetes,” said Dr. Fiori.

As a result of this research, Montefiore is evaluating pilot transportation programs for patients who live within 25 miles of its sites.

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How EmblemHealth, BronxDocs can help ease your Back-to-School woes

By Veronica Noel We know that back-to-school season is a busy time for parents, families, and schools. There’s a lot of planning involved to make sure children have everything they need for success. This ranges from physical and vision exams, to making sure they have proper clothing and school supplies, and during these challenging times there’s even more anxiety to deal with.

At EmblemHealth and BronxDocs, we’re passionate about helping people navigate the healthcare system.

COVID-19 has complicated many aspects of our lives, but at EmblemHealth and its family of companies, which includes EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care and BronxDocs, we believe that if we can provide some relief to someone then we are doing exactly what we are meant to be doing.

We understand that parents have a lot of concerns when it comes to sending their children back to school safely and equipped with everything they need. That is why we want to help ease some of that anxiety by providing quick guide to consider when planning your back-toschool process.

you start packing school lunches? EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care offers classes such as diabetes management education, mindful eating, food demonstrations, meal prep classes, and more. These classes are available at no cost to both members and non-members.

more information.

Double Check Your Supplies While we all remember the obvious school supplies such as pencils, crayons, paper, and books, because we are still dealing with a Have You Scheduled pandemic, we must also Health Checks?

Good health is the remember to provide greatest back-to-school masks (plus extras), and tool any parent can have travel-sized hand saniin their arsenal. It’s im- tizer as well. portant to schedule rouHow Our Partnertine checks to make sure that your child is up to ships Help the Community Thrive date with their immuAt EmblemHealth nizations, and that their vision is on point. If you Neighborhood Care in have more questions Harlem, we work with about what immuniza- elected officials and tions they may need, in- local organizations to cluding the COVID-19 bring support and revaccination for children sources to members of 12 and older, or how the community. Recentimmunizations work in ly, we began registerCheck Out Our Virtu- general, our health care ing qualified members al Classes professionals at Bronx- of our community for our food pantry in partNeed a refresher on Docs can help. healthy meal prep as Visit our website for nership with New York

Common Pantry. Every month, we will schedule a specific day where those registered individuals may visit us to pick up a bag of healthy, nutritious food items.

EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care is also working alongside BronxDocs on a Backto-School/Open House event that will take place on August 31 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. near the BronxDocs office located at 2044 Westchester Ave. We will be distributing backpacks and school supplies, there will be free entertainment for children, and other organizations such as New York Road Runners, FDNY and more will be on hand to help provide various resources.

Visit www.emblemhealth.com/events for more events.

In addition to the

above, our teams are standing by to help you schedule back-to-school check-ups, or to connect you with local resources. Call BronxDocs at (646) 680-5200 or EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Harlem at (800) 274-2950.

We are in this together.

Veronica Noel is the Regional Manager, EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care, Harlem.

EmblemHealth is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health insurers serving more than 3.2 million people in the New York tristate area via a family of companies including, BronxDocs and EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care. If you are facing food insecurity or need assistance getting health insurance, our team of experts can point you in the right direction.

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Back to School Make sure your child is up to date on vaccinations

The Health Department urged parents and caregivers to make sure their children are up to date on routine vaccinations like MMR and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) as well as Hepatitis B, Hib, Polio, PCV, Varicella, Tdap, MenACWY and HPV. As of August 14, the number of routine vaccines administered to children 0-18 years of age in New York City has decreased by 16% compared to the same period in 2019. There have been 270,000 fewer pediatric vaccine doses administered (1.4 million doses so far in 2021 compared to 1.7 million doses in 2019 for the same period).

The decrease in routine childhood vaccinations was greater in children 2 to 18 years of age (17% or 121,000 doses) compared to children under 24 months of age (15% or 149,000 doses).

Fewer people sought non-emergency health care services during the emergency stay at home order, resulting in fewer routine pediatric visits during the pandemic, however, ensuring children are up to date on their routine vaccina-

tions is essential.

“While we are all focused on the COVID-19 vaccines, it’s crucial that we take the time to remember the many other lifesaving vaccines we need to maintain to ensure a healthy city,” said Health ComCONTINUED ON PAGE 18

File photo

Morris Heights celebrates, back to school, health, community

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On August 11th, Morris Heights Health Center (MHHC) held its annual Patient Appreciation Day, part of a weeklong series of events to mark the celebration of National Health Center Week (NHCW) from August 8 – 14. This year’s NHCW theme was the “The Chemistry for Strong Communities.”

Every year, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) hosts

the National Health Center Week (NHCW), aimed to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s community health centers.

Today, community health centers serve as a safety net to more than 30 million Americans, providing access to a broad array of primary and preventative services at an affordable cost.

“The mission of community health centers remains just as important to-

day as it did 50 years ago,” says President & CEO Mari Millet. “During these weeklong festivities, we reflected on the challenges we’ve been presented with in the past year and celebrate our resilience and continued efforts in keeping our communities healthy.”

While this pandemic continues to exacerbate social and medical inequities across the Bronx, MHHC remains a trusted provider in the community expanding its services with the opening of an urgent care clinic, dental services and Covid-19 testing.

Family strikes a pose with FDNY at NHCW 2021 To date, MHHC hosted over 40 vaccine pop-up sites administering more than 17,000 vaccinations throughout the Bronx and neighboring boroughs.

“These achievements are a true testament of our commitment to the communities we serve,” expressed President & CEO Mari Millet.

This year’s Patient Appreciation Day included a health fair that featured live entertainment, free

Staff enjoying popular karaoke tunes at this year’s Sunset Karaoke Staff Appreciation Event.

health screenings, community resources, a backto-school drive, Zumba, and more fun activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Some of this year’s health fair participants included: • Affinity Health Plan • Fidelis Care • Healthfirst • The Bronx Rising Initiative • Hunger Free NYC • The FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit • The 46th Precinct Community Affairs Unit, and • Sedgewick Library In collaboration with Ponce Bank & Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, MHHC was able to distribute over 500 back-to school kits to kids in the community.

On August 13th, the health center concluded their annual weeklong celebration with a funfilled staff appreciation day event to recognize

the hard work and dedication of their healthcare workers. The organization began their day-long celebration with catered lunch for all staff. During the evening, staff was invited to partake in a friendly competition of karaoke, singing their hearts out to popular tunes at this year’s Sunset Karaoke event. Staff enjoyed an evening of music, singing, dancing and light refreshments. The event also included free healthcare hero giveaway boxes, raffle prizes, and even an ice cream truck courtesy of AT&T’s FirstNet Provider.

This year’s observation of National Health Center Week was considerably different from past celebrations as frontline workers continue to support efforts to keep the community safe and healthy amid the upsurge of COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant.

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Vaccinated students, teachers won’t have to quarantine when positive COVID cases arise, city officials say

The CDC also recomat least one person test- mends that vaccinated ing positive for COVID people get tested three had to quarantine for to five days after expo10-14 days. The poli- sure to an infected percy changed in April to son, even if they don’t allow fully vaccinat- have symptoms. ed people to remain in school unless they had Parent concerns COVID symptoms or a In response to parent positive test. That poli- concerns that vaccinatcy — in line with U.S. ed and asymptomatic Centers for Disease people can still spread Control and Prevention the virus, Groll said the recommendations — education department’s continued for summer policy is not banking on programs and will con- vaccination being “the tinue into the fall, said golden ticket,” but rathMayor Bill de Blasio at er it’s layered with unia separate press confer- versal masking, air purience. fiers in classrooms, and Vaccinated people are three feet of social disfar less likely to be in- tancing, which togethfected with the corona- er have been found to virus or develop serious limit spread of COVID illness, according to the CDC. Still, two public health experts previously told Chalkbeat that even those who are fully vaccinated should be CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 required to quarantine missioner Dr. Dave A. since the delta variant is Chokshi. “As a father, I highly contagious, and know just how importasymptomatic people ant it is to maintain your child’s annual well visit can still spread it.

Susan Hassig, an as- to make sure they are up to date on their routine sistant professor of epvaccinations. Don’t wait, idemiology at Tulane call your child’s doctor University, suggested and make an appointment that vaccinated staff- as soon as you can.” ers and students could Children should be be allowed to return to vaccinated in accordance school immediately af- with the ACIP routine imter they get a negative munization schedule to test, following two to ensure protection against preventable illness such three days in isolation.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

in schools. But officials have acknowledged that distancing may remain a challenge at overcrowded schools and have hinted that they will give leeway to schools that cannot follow such guidance.

City officials have not yet disclosed COVID safety protocols for the fall, but Groll offered some clues about closure policies, testing, and how the city will now define a close contact.

Groll said if there are four or more confirmed cases across four different classrooms over seven days, the city’s health department would begin an investigation. After

that, they would decide whether the school needs to close. That appeared similar to closure policies for the city’s Summer Rising program, but a spokesperson did not provide more details.

Groll also said that the city will conduct random COVID testing that could either happen weekly or bi-weekly, but did not say more.

Additionally, Groll said teachers will be required to stand six feet away from students, saying that student-to-student spread has been found to be “low,” but officials remain concerned about adults infecting children. Several studies

show that COVID transmission among students is “relatively rare” when schools have strategies to prevent transmission, according to the CDC. Despite such studies, parents have asked the education department for a remote option for families.

De Blasio emphasized that no such option is on the table, and said city is still hashing out what it will look like for students who do have to quarantine.

“How we deal with a kid who is out for a week is something we’re working through right now, but we’re going to be on a fully in-person system,” de Blasio said.

(whooping cough). Further, with in-school learning returning in the Fall, parents should take steps now to make sure their children will be in compliance with all child care and school immunization requirements for attendance.

The City will continue reminding families and the school community through public service announcements and communications to parents.

The Department has issued guidance to the pediatric-care provider com-

munity, held webinars and has been distributing vaccine for providers enrolled in the CDC’s Vaccine for Children (VFC) program.

Check with your child’s health care provider about what immunizations are due and to make an appointment. If you are unable to make an appointment with your child’s provider or need to find a provider, New Yorkers can get low- or no-cost immunizations at the Health Department's Fort Greene Health Cen-

ter immunization clinic, regardless of immigration status. The clinic serves anyone 4 years or older; appointments can be scheduled.

Appointments can also be made at NYC Health & Hospital facilities by calling 1-844-NYC4NYC. New Yorkers can also find a list of Community Health Centers.

To find a health care provider or for other locations throughout NYC that provide vaccination services for children and adults, call 311.

Make sure your child is up to date on vaccinations for back to school

as measles and pertussis

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Culinary Road

By Morris Gut

Where to go for great pizza

I had not been to Louie & Ernie’s Pizza on Crosby Ave. in the Bronx for quite some time. It came up during a recent discussion with friends, then it became a craving. I decided to make the journey down from my Westchester haunts. So glad I did!

Little has changed here over the years.

The old neighborhood brick façade. You could see the pizza man preparing a pie thru the window. Inside there were a few spaced tables. Pizza take-out boxes were piled high towards the rear of the dining room ready for the daily rush. There was a constant buzz of customers coming in and out for pickup. On the wall was a plaque recognizing Louie & Ernie’s for its more than 60 years in business. The shop originally opened in 1959.

I scored a small window table and ordered a slice of regular cheese pie with a helping of their signature lump fennel sausage on top, and a broccoli rabe calzone.

It was the old-time religion. Great flavor!

Memories of my years in the Bronx came rushing back to me.

Took half the calzone home for snacking.

Wanted to order more but decided I would be better off returning with friends sometime soon and share more of the offerings.

Looking forward to trying their Chicken Parm Calzone, Meatball Pie, Onion Pie, and White Pie, with extra toppings, of course.

Louie & Ernie’s Pizza is located at 1300 Crosby Ave., Bronx.

Open daily: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Phone: 718829-6230 www.louieanderniespizza.com COSIMO & JOHNNY’S IN EASTCHESTER!

By the way, an uncle and cousin of the owning family at Louie & Ernie’s Pizza in the Bronx opened another pizzeria in Westchester, on Rt. 22 in Eastchester. It is called Cosimo & Johnny’s. The pizza I have tried there so far is delish, similar in preparation and taste.

Cosimo & Johnny’s, 330 White Plains Road, Eastchester.

Open daily. 914-7878808 www.cosimojohnnyspizzeria.com

MACELLERIA ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE IS WORTH A DRIVE!

The first Macelleria (butcher shop, when translated) opened 2 years ago in Pelham, N.Y., and the group maintains a second in Armonk, N.Y. The prestigious Michelin Restaurant Guide 2021 has recognized Macelleria as a ‘Bib Gourmet’ establishment, one of only a handful in the suburban New York area.

The newest Macelleria Italian Steakhouse now brings prime dining to Byram, CT. Hospitality veteran and proprietor Tony LaLa has completed a beautiful renovation to the 200-seat multi-level premises highlighted by polished wooden floors, stone fireplaces, and contemporary artworks.

Tony, who had spent years at popular Nino’s in Manhattan, will tend to the daily operation along with his brothers. The free-standing house previously operated as Char.

This high-end Italian steakhouse serves classic cuts of prime beef and chops along with a hearty helping of Ital-

ian/American specialties. The seasoned crew will take good care of you. Be seated in the handsomely renovated dining room or bar/ lounge and peruse the menu over a good glass of wine from their vintage list.

Begin a fine meal at Macelleria with their fresh made jumbo Crab Cake appetizer served with an herbed mustard sauce, or a perky Arugula Salad, with arugula, navel orange segments, fennel, goat cheese and lemon vinaigrette.

As a main course a beautifully marbled Rib Eye Steak is a tender hit served with a flavorful brandy peppercorn sauce on the side.

Crave seafood? Go for the big Diver Scallops served with asparagus, mushrooms, leeks, and a touch of truffle butter.

You might want to try the addictive home fries and garlic spinach as sides.

Both entrees are large enough to share. Leftover steak to take home, too. For dessert try their most extraordinary house made Tiramisu.

Additional specialties to look for: Steak Tartare, slabs of Canadian Bacon, Spaghetti Carbonara, Pappardelle with Short Rib Ragu,

Zuppa di Pesce, even a Classic Burger. Carnivores should consider the Lamb Chops, Veal Chop, New York Strip Steak, Porterhouse Steak or Tomahawk Steak for 2. Choice of sauces and those addicting sides.

Macelleria Italian Steakhouse, 142 Fifth Ave., Pelham. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner. Reservations suggested: 914-365-2561 www.macerlleriaitaliansteakhouse.com Dinner, main courses: $16$29. Steaks & Chops: $30 Rib Eye to $98 Porterhouse for 2. Private party facilities. Macelleria Italian Steakhouse, 111 Bedford Road, Armonk. Bar/ lounge. Free parking.

914-219-5728 www. macelleriaarmonk.com Macelleria, 2 South Water St., Byram/ Greenwich.

Bar/ lounge. Free parking.

203-531-7050 www. macelleriagreenwich. com (Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in the Bronx and Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at: 914-

235-6591.

Email: gutreactions@optonline.net)

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