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It’s Flu Season: Take Care!
By OTP Staff
We’re at the beginning of the flu season and the NYC Department of Health recommends that most people over the age of six months should be vaccinated against the spread of the influenza virus. This is, first of all, to provide personal health and it also affects the health of all folks around you in an ever-widening circle of protection against transmission for the entire community.
We spoke with Dr. Michael Augenbraun, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Kings County Hospital, about the flu virus and the vaccination, which some are wary of. Dr. Augenbraun stated (categorically) that because there is no live flu virus in flu shots, they cannot cause the flu.
While there is a possibility of getting the flu even after being vaccinated, the effect will be transient and the impact will be muted.
The influenza virus is spread mainly through coughing, sneezing and close contact, although there can be some transmission from surface to hand as well. We asked Dr. Augenbraun if someone at the ATM–just before you coughed on the keys or used a subway pole after coughing into their hand–is it possible for the virus to be transmitted? He said it is possible, but only for a short while and that the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is an excellent way to prevent transmission and provides sterilization for up to two hours.
The Kings County emergency room is seeing an increase in the number of cases coming in and because the virus is so easily airborne and contagious, patients presenting flu symptoms are isolated from the general emergency room population and with the rapid diagnostic tools available, a determination can be made in hours. Separation is necessary because people with chronic illnesses are at high risk as any other health problems they have will be exacerbated by the flu virus affecting all of their bodily systems.
The doctor reminds us that the influenza vaccines work against the influenza virus only and are no defense against the common cold. Also, having a common cold should not preclude a vaccination. “Pregnancy and the flu are a bad combination,” said Dr. Augenbraun, and pregnant women should get vaccinated. Also, children are at high risk of contraction because of their close contact at an age when hygienic practices are not top-of-mind. If they are not vaccinated themselves, they can bring the influenza virus home, where it can make the rounds of an unvaccinated family.
Regarding the popular Tamiflu, the doctor says it is an effective drug and is not a cure, but it can reduce the duration of illness if taken immediately after the onset of symptoms and can act as a prophylactic if taken immediately after an exposure.
Ideally, everyone would be vaccinated, providing what health practitioners call “herd immunity” protecting the elderly and the infirm.
Note: The official name for Kings County Hospital is NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County.
Harriet Tubman National Historic Parkland Announced
Schumer: Tubman Park is a Long-Overdue Recognition of an Extraordinary American
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Department of the Interior (DOI) has completed the land transfer agreement that will allow NPS to formally establish the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park in Auburn, New York. The announcement follows Schumer’s successful efforts to ensure that DOI officials complete the final steps necessary for approval of the park. Schumer has been a longtime advocate for the establishment of the new historical park celebrating the life of Harriet Tubman at the site of her home in Central New York. He authored, introduced and passed legislation authorizing the park and has lobbied federal officials to finalize the project. Last year, he successfully pushed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to sign a land transfer agreement allowing the site to be established as an official unit of the National Park Service. With the land transfer agreement now complete, the Tubman Home awaits signature from the Secretary of Interior for formal establishment.
“As a New Yorker and an American, I’m deeply proud to see Tubman Park finally become a reality,” said Senator Schumer. “The Tubman Historic Park in Auburn, New York will be a magnet for visitors that will tell the amazing story of Harriet Tubman’s life, an extraordinary American whose story deserves to be shared with our children and grandchildren. This park will serve that solemn purpose and preserve her legacy for countless generations to come.”
Schumer has long fought to make Tubman Park a reality. Most recently, he wrote to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell urging her to complete the land transfer needed to secure final approval. Previously, he successfully pushed Attorney General Loretta Lynch to sign the General Agreement allowing the Harriet Tubman Residence in Auburn to be formally designated as a Unit of the National Park Service. In addition, Schumer authored and passed the legislation authorizing the establishment of the park. This legislation was passed as a part of the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a provision that created two national historic parks, one in New York and one in Maryland.
The Auburn park will commemorate the later years of Harriet Tubman’s life, her work in the Women’s Suffrage Movement and her tireless commitment to providing for elderly African-Americans. The Harriet Tubman Residence in Auburn is an historic landmark in a region with a strong history of individuals rooted in social activism and justice. An escaped slave herself, Tubman used her Auburn home to shelter her parents and many African-Americans who escaped slavery – some of whom she guided herself. The Maryland park will trace Tubman’s early life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she was born and later escaped from slavery to become one of the leaders on the Underground Railroad.
Harriet Tubman was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, where she spent nearly 30 years as a slave. She escaped slavery in 1849, but returned to the Eastern Shore several times over the course of 10 years to lead hundreds of African-Americans to freedom in the North. Known as “Moses” by African-American and white abolitionists, she reportedly never lost a “passenger” on the Underground Railroad. In Maryland, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park would include historically important landscapes in Dorchester, Caroline and Talbot Counties that are evocative of the life of Harriet Tubman.
Brooklyn Football on the Map
By Eddie Castro
This season the talent of players that came out of the Borough of Brooklyn sure turned many heads this year. Many schools throughout Brooklyn had many standout players who had signature games and performed at an elite level, something that has many Brooklyn football squads looking “scary good” towards the future.
With the growing success of the young men that flourished in many of Brooklyn football high schools, unfortunately, there are no champions crowned this season. One school that came close and will be a team to watch for the New Year and the next coming season will be the young men of Erasmus Hall. The Dutchman cruised their way through the Public School Athletic League(PSAL) by capturing their third straight championship berth. The team came up short in the Championship game at Yankee Stadium to Curtis. Other notable schools that raised some eyebrows was Grand Street and the boys from Lincoln. Both teams made a city conference semifinals appearance. In the Catholic League, Xaverian made a semifinal appearance with a very young roster consisting of first-time varsity players. In the Independent Division, Poly Prep held their own lead by great performances by top recruit and University of Georgia-committed Isaiah Wilson.
What this past season proved is that it takes time, dedication and sometimes experience to build a championship-caliber team. Let’s go back to the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s. For a couple of years, they were unable to solve the riddle that was the “Bad Boys” Detroit Piston teams. Michael Jordan and company endured some early heartbreak defeats. However, as the team moved forward through the mid- to late 90s, they were able to grow as a unit and finally become champions. With the time and dedication of the players and the coaches, the Borough of Brooklyn has put the city on notice. It should not be long for a team from our borough, for these young men to continue developing academically and athletically to one day become city champions!
Sports Notes: (High School Football) Here are some of the high school athletes and coaches that played a big part of the success that the Brooklyn football schools have had this past season: Aron Cruickshank, junior quarterback, Erasmus Hall–He was simply sensational and exciting to watch. The leader of the Dutchman without no question. He made big-time plays with his arm and feet. He rushed for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also threw for another 12 touchdowns; Coaching Star, Danny Landberg, Erasmus Hall–Coach Landberg led the Dutchman to its third straight title game. He also added a new weapon on offense by adding a better and more consistent passing game for Cruickshank. The defense had many moments where they looked dominant as well. Although it wasn’t the fairy tale ending they hoped for, Coach Landberg had the Dutchman moving in the right direction; More All-Stars, Seba Nekhet, Fort Hamilton–The senior rushed for 1,222 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground; Isaiah Wilson, Poly Prep–He was, without a doubt, the stronger player on defense. His hard work and success has him on his way to the University of Georgia; and Olakunie Fatukasi, Grand Street–In his final year at Grand Street, the senior linebacker recorded an impressive 131 tackles, five sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He’ll be heading to Rutgers.
(NFL Football) The New York Giants are back in the playoffs for the first time since they won it all in 2011. Does Eli Manning have more playoff magic in him? It will not be easy as Big Blue will head to Green Bay for a Wild Card matchup against probably the best and hottest quarterback in the NFL in Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday at 4:40 PM.
Saved by The Bill! Gov.’s Tuition-Free Program Would Begin Rollout in the Fall
First-in-the-Nation Program Provides Free Tuition to New Yorkers Making Less Than $125,000 Per Year at all SUNY and CUNY Two- and Four-Year Colleges
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, today unveiled the 1st signature proposal of his 2017 agenda: making college tuition-free for New York’s middle-class families at all SUNY and CUNY two- and four-year colleges. New York’s tuition-free college degree program, the Excelsior Scholarship, is the first of its kind in the nation and will help alleviate the crushing burden of student debt while enabling thousands of bright young students to realize their dream of higher education.
Under this ground-breaking proposal, more than 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making less than $125,000 per year would qualify to attend college tuition-free at all public universities in New York State. The Excelsior Scholarship program will ensure that students statewide, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have the opportunity to receive a quality education and gain the skills they need to succeed in our global economy.
“A college education is not a luxury – it is an absolute necessity for any chance at economic mobility, and with these first-in-the-nation Excelsior Scholarships, we’re providing the opportunity for New Yorkers to succeed, no matter what zip code they come from and without the anchor of student debt weighing them down,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York is making a major investment in our greatest asset – our people – and supporting the dreams and ambitions of those who want a better life and are willing to work hard for it. I am honored to have the support of Senator Sanders, who led the way on making college affordability a right, and I know that together we can make this a reality with New York leading the way once again.”
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said, “If the United States is to succeed in a highly competitive global economy, we need the best educated workforce in the world. With exploding technology, and with most of the good-paying jobs requiring more and more education, we need to make certain that every New Yorker, every Vermonter and every American gets all the education they need regardless of family income. In other words, we must make public colleges and universities tuition-free for the middle class and working families of our country. That is what Governor Cuomo is fighting for here in New York and it’s something I strongly support. I urge New York legislators to pass this enormously important proposal and become a model for the rest of the nation”.
New York’s tuition-free degree program, the Excelsior Scholarship, requires participating students to be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college full-time. The initiative will cover middle-class families and individuals making less than $125,000 through a supplemental aid program. Currently, 80 percent of NY households statewide make $125,000 or less with an estimated 940,000 households having college-aged children that would be eligible for the program. Based on enrollment projections, the plan will cost approximately $163 million per year once fully phased in.
The new initiative will be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019.
As student debt continues to soar – reaching $1.2 trillion nationwide and surpassing credit card debt, car debt and home equity lines of credit as the second-largest source of consumer debt–this program will work to make college affordable for students and families.
The initiative will work by leveraging New York State’s generous aid programs. Currently, the Tuition Assistance Program, or TAP, provides nearly $1 billion in grants to college students statewide and New York is one of only two states in the nation that offers this type of entitlement. Under the program, eligible students would still receive TAP and any applicable federal grants. Additional state funds would cover the remaining tuition costs for incoming or existing eligible students.
New York’s Tuition-Free Degree Program also incentivizes students to graduate from college on time. In 2013, only 38.7 percent of students attending a four-year public university and roughly 8.5 percent attending a two-year public college in New York completed their degrees on time. Moreover, in 2015, the average student loan debt in New York was $29,320.
With an average annual tuition ranging from $6,470-$6,330 at SUNY and CUNY for a bachelor’s degree and $4,350-$4,800 for an associate’s degree, the more time a student spends in college, the higher the level of debt. By mandating that students be enrolled full-time, New York’s free tuition program will work to improve graduation rates and alleviate the heavy burden of student debt by encouraging more students to graduate on time in two to four years.
New York is also the only state in the nation to offer a need-based loan forgiveness entitlement program that provides awards to New York State college graduates regardless of their degree or profession. The governor’s “Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness” program provides up to 2 years of student loan forgiveness to recent New York State college graduates. This program, coupled with New York’s new Excelsior Scholarship program, will ensure New York continues to lead the way forward on college affordability.
A college degree is necessary for increased earning power. Studies show a person with a bachelor’s degree, on average, will earn about 66 percent more over his or her lifetime than a person without a college degree. Those with an associate’s degree can expect to earn 24 percent more than a person with a high school diploma. Moreover, a college education is increasingly becoming a necessity, not a luxury. According to projections by the New York State Department of Labor, approximately 3.5 million jobs statewide will require an associate’s degree or higher by 2024. As the landscape of the global economy continues to shift, investing in a highly qualified, highly educated workforce has never been more important.