News

BP Oddo breaks ground on P.S. 45 playground which honors two 9/11 heroes

11/29/2021

The new playground at P.S. 45 will bear the names of Captain John R. Fischer and Firefighter Michael C. Fiore who died in the 9/11 tragedy

Today, Borough President James S. Oddo joined District 31 Deputy Superintendent Christine Chavez, P.S. 45 Principal Nicole Vega, staff and students at P.S. 45, officials from the School Construction Authority and the families of Captain John R. Fischer and Firefighter Michael C. Fiore for the groundbreaking of the school’s playground. The funds allocated from the Borough President will replace and paint the asphalt, buy new equipment and create a new basketball court.
Both Fischer and Fiore died in the tragedy on September 11th 2001 sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. They both grew up in the West Brighton neighborhood and played at the P.S. 45 playground when they were kids, eventually raising their own families in the same community. A plaque with their names was replaced in 2019, but a new playground in their honor is expected to be completed in November 2022.
This project was initially funded in Fiscal Year 2019 but the school’s boiler broke and had to be replaced, making the playground a staging area until that project was complete. In addition, the delay in the project caused construction prices to rise, necessitating the need for additional funding, which was allocated over a few years to ensure the playground would be built.
“We are thrilled to be able to fund a brand new playground that is worthy to bear the names of the two heroes - Captain John R. Fischer and Firefighter Michael C. Fiore. While it was a long road to get to this point, this is another important day that puts the kids first, providing yet another place of recreation for students and the entire community,” said Borough President Oddo. “I want to thank my partners at the DOE, the SCA, and the school for bringing this to life. However, I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Fischer and Fiore families who are in attendance today. I encourage parents who bring their children to this playground to share the stories of Captain Fischer and Firefighter Fiore and help their legacy live on with the memories made at this playground.”
“What an amazing day for our students and the community. This day celebrates the beginning of making new memories,” said P.S. 45 Principal Nicole Vega. “The scholars of P.S. 45 have been asking for a new schoolyard for many years, and thanks to Borough President Oddo, their dream will be coming true.”
“It’s an honor and a privilege to actually have this groundbreaking today because the community and the students really use the schoolyard. The schoolyard is an integral part of this community - with the children at recess, morning line-up, at dismissal and on weekends and on holidays, it’s filled with children and laughter,” said District 31 Deputy Superintendent Christine Chavez and former P.S. 45 principal. “Not only does it serve as a space for children to meet new classmates and new friends, but it's a place for community members to connect with the school community and to grow stronger and better together.”

Port Richmond High School Lands Prominent Industry Partners for Inaugural P-Tech Program

11/8/2021

Staten Island University Hospital and Sun River Health have officially signed on to create career pathways in healthcare and technology for Port Richmond HS students

Today, Staten Island University Hospital (member of Northwell Health), Sun River Health, CUNY College of Staten Island (CUNY CSI), and Port Richmond High School (PRHS) signed a memorandum of understanding to formally establish the very first “Grades 9-14 Pathways to Technology Early College High School” (P-Tech) program on Staten Island. With Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and Sun River Health now officially part of the partnership, Port Richmond students can look forward to paid internship opportunities, mentorship programs, and a range of viable career pathways that will become available to them in the booming healthcare and technology sectors.

“P-Tech at Port Richmond is finally signed, sealed, and delivered!” said Borough President Oddo. “Bringing the first P-Tech program to Staten Island took a great deal of work by the Borough Hall team, DOE, and our partners—and there was no shortage of seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way. But in the end, we have put together a dynamic, multi-career program that exceeded even our most ambitious expectations.”

The Borough President continued, “Northwell Health and Sun River Health, two major players in the healthcare space with an already strong presence on Staten Island, have stepped up yet again to make a positive, generational impact on Staten Island. Their signatures on that MOU demonstrate just how much they believe in the students at Port Richmond High School. They deserve our thanks and gratitude, as does former DOE Chancellor Carranza who kept his promise that Staten Island will no longer be the only borough without the innovative P-Tech model.”

Borough President Oddo initiated an aggressive advocacy effort to bring the innovative six-year high school to Staten Island in 2018—and after securing a commitment from Chancellor Carranza to create a program, his Borough Hall team worked tirelessly to recruit the right industry partners. P-Tech students have the unique opportunity to earn a tuition-free associate degree from CUNY CSI and get critical hands-on work experience from the participating industry partners. SIUH and Sun River completed the P-Tech partnership today by signing on to provide students with career-focused learning activities including workplace visits, interview and resume workshops, mentoring, and paid internships. Students who successfully complete the program will be first-in-line to interview for relevant, open positions at SIUH and Sun River.

Sun River and SIUH each have close, working relationships with PRHS and deep roots in the Port Richmond community. With this collaboration, they hope to build a talent pipeline for hard-to-fill, in-demand roles at their respective organizations. That pipeline will feature jobs at the intersection of healthcare and technology as well as other positions where demand for qualified talent is projected to exceed supply.

According to the Labor Department, the healthcare and high-tech sectors are projected to create the most jobs over the next decade. Employment in health-care occupations is projected to grow 15% and 12.1%. in computer-related occupations—significantly outpacing the 3.7% projected job growth across all sectors. With 78% of Port Richmond students categorized as economically disadvantaged, the P-Tech program has the potential to propel participants into the middle class (and beyond) by equipping them with the skills and resources necessary to begin careers in these sustainable, resilient, and lucrative industries.

"Partnerships like P-Tech are really where the term “dollars and sense” comes into play,” said Dr. Brahim Ardolic, Executive Director of Staten Island University Hospital. “You make an investment to earn dividends and when that dividend is an opportunity for a young person - there’s no greater return on investment. As a student who went through the public education system on Staten Island and now works to improve health in my community, I know for a fact education leads to better health and better health equity, and economic opportunity for all."

Diane Arneth, Chief Community Services Officer, Sun River Health and CHASI Executive Director said, “Sun River and Community Health Action are fully committed to bringing our experience and expertise in community-based healthcare and services to this partnership. We are excited to partner with Port Richmond HS, CSI and SIUH/Northwell to offer these students this rich opportunity to explore and launch careers in health care, with the supports needed to ensure success.”

A recent study of the P-Tech model published by MDRC, an education and social policy research organization, found that P-Tech students earn more college credits and score higher on regents exams than their peers. Most impressively, P-Tech students who entered the program with poor academic outcomes in 8th grade, were successful in reaching critical academic milestones.

“I’m so excited for the countless students on Staten Island who will gain rigorous career-oriented instruction and a path to a free Associate’s degree through this new P-TECH program. I’m grateful to Borough President Oddo, CUNY’s College of Staten Island, and our new industry partners, Northwell Health and Sun River Health, for their collaboration and advocacy to expand early college and career opportunities for our young people,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter.

Currently, there are already two classes in the P-Tech program at PRHS. The first class, which started in the 2020-2021 school year, will now have the opportunity to engage with the SIUH and Sun River as juniors next fall.

"I can't begin to express how excited and thankful I am for this amazing program and the opportunity being offered to our students,” said Port Richmond HS Principal Andrew Greenfield. “I'd like to thank Borough President Oddo, School's Chancellor Porter, District 31 Superintendent Wilson, the DOE's Office of Post-Secondary Readiness, CUNY, and The College of Staten Island for making this possible. The students of Port Richmond will not only have the opportunity to earn a free Associates Degree from the College of Staten Island but even more exciting is the two incredible partnerships with Northwell Health and Sun River Health that will result in "real-world" training and experience that will enable our students with skills that will follow them for years to come."

CUNY CSI has agreed to expand its degree offerings to P-Tech students in order to accommodate a diverse range of career pathways available in healthcare and tech. Port Richmond students in the program can now earn an associate degree in Computer Technology (A.A.S.) or Liberal Arts and Science (A.S.).

“Having an opportunity to partner with our community, educational, and corporate partners to make P-Tech a reality is a tremendous step forward for these cohorts of students, building a bridge to our campus and the professional opportunities that will be made available to them by the program,” said College of Staten Island President William J. Fritz. “This collaboration is another example of the heavy investment the College of Staten Island is making with dynamic students in our borough who will serve as future industry leaders. This partnership allows us to continue our long-standing borough stewardship, academic excellence, and the pursuit of a college degree after high school.”

About Staten Island Borough President
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities, and monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, acting as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. The office also houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.

About Sun River Health
Founded over 40 years ago as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC,) Sun River Health is one of the nation's largest community health providers with a network of 43 health centers throughout the Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island. As of today, more than 245,000 patients count on Sun River Health to get the care they need and the respect they deserve. Joining Sun River Health’s network in 2018 as a community-based affiliate, Community Health Action of Staten Island has provided health-related outreach, education, prevention and direct services on Staten Island for over 30 years. With a focus on those most impacted by health disparities and through a social justice lens, CHASI works within and with communities to drive dramatic improvements in health for over 22,000 Staten Islanders annually.

About Staten University Hospital
With two campuses and 668 beds, Staten Island University Hospital is the borough’s major teaching hospital and one of the New York metropolitan area’s largest. After 155 years, we continue to earn public and peer recognition for quality care.

We’re also Staten Island’s largest employer with 7,000 positions. Our medical/dental staff comprises more than 1,000 physicians and dentists who practice in over 40 medical, surgical and dental specialties and subspecialties and in a growing number of centers of care. As part of Northwell Health, we have access to the vast resources of New York's largest health system, while remaining firmly entrenched and engaged in our local community.

About CUNY College of Staten Island
The College of Staten Island is a four-year, senior college of The City University of New York that offers exceptional opportunities to all of its students. Programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional studies are offered that lead to associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Doctoral degrees are offered at the College or jointly with The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. The College also has an extensive Continuing Education program, offering professional certificate programs. The College’s 204-acre campus is the largest site for a college in New York City and includes state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, studios, and offices in two academic quadrangles, and is home to the CUNY Interdisciplinary High-Performance Computing Center. Other noteworthy facilities include the Astrophysical Observatory, the Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences Building, the Center for the Arts, the Sports and Recreation Center, and the Library. The College opened its first student residence halls in fall 2013.

Three of CSI’s more recent facilities are CSI St. George, which offers college-level instruction to approximately 18,000 college-ready residents in the area, the CSI Tech Incubator, which offers assistance to budding entrepreneurs on the Island, and the Con Edison Trading Room, a state-of-the-art facility that gives students access to business and finance tools in a simulated real-world setting. As the second-largest employer on Staten Island, the College continues to provide a significant economic and social impact to the borough, making it an anchor institution in Staten Island, and New York City. The College has received national recognition celebrating our excellence and value from Washington Monthly, Forbes, Money magazine, U.S. News & World Report, G.I. Jobs, PayScale College Salary Report, CollegeNET, Business Insider, and TIME magazine.

Mayor de Blasio, BP Oddo Announce Plan for Conservation Easement to Protect Pouch Camp

11/4/2021

City commits funds to allow 19 acres of property to be preserved as protected natural area and open public space

Borough President James Oddo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have announced a plan to protect the last remaining 19 acres of William H. Pouch Camp that are not covered in the conservation easements granted in 2012 and 2013. Pouch Camp has served for nearly 70 years as a camp facility for the Greater New York Councils (GNYC) of the Boy Scouts of America, and the conservation easements both prevent development of the sites and allow for public access, ensuring that it is a critical part of the Staten Island Greenbelt.

The 19 acre-site is known as the Camp-O-Ree Field, and is privately owned by the Greater New York Councils. The Mayor and Borough President’s action will start the process to protect this site from being developed through a conservation easement, so it can continue to serve thousands of children citywide each year, both in scouting and in community and school programs. The field is extensively used for public events in service to the community.

The City of New York will work with The Trust for Public Land and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on taking the next steps to facilitate the acquisition of the property from the GNYC through a conservation easement. Following an appraisal, funds will be allocated to acquire the easement.

The Camp-O-Ree Field abuts an existing 95-acre conservation easement for the remainder of the camp, regulated by the State DEC and surrounded by over 1,000 acres of protected Greenbelt forest. Within this adjacent woodland is a system of ponds and streams protected by New York State law, and it is a habitat for increasingly rare native plants and birds.

“This action will preserve and protect one of the most environmentally and recreationally valuable properties within the Greenbelt. The conservation easement guarantees the Camp-O-Ree Field will remain undeveloped and pristine in its utilization as a camp serving children and families from all five boroughs. I applaud the Scouts for working with us on protecting the site and not leaving it vulnerable to unwanted residential or other private development. We’ve seen other properties tragically lost this way, and we could not let that happen – not with so much at stake,” said Borough President James Oddo. “These 19 acres are a ‘forever investment’ by the city providing environmental and public health benefits for children over generations to come. I thank Mayor de Blasio for recognizing the value of this land to our City’s children and for giving Staten Island the chance to preserve it as a permanent part of our natural landscape.”

The protection of the Camp-O-Ree site has been a top priority for local environmental and park groups, such as the Greenbelt Conservancy, the Protectors of Pine Oak Woods and others.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only underscored the importance of protecting our public green spaces,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This investment will build a more environmentally resilient Greenbelt and guarantee the entirety of Pouch Field will be preserved for New York City families and children to enjoy for generations to come.”

"Pouch Camp has long been a destination for campers and families and protecting 19 additional acres will ensure more opportunity for more New Yorkers to enjoy outdoor space close-to-home," said Carter Strickland, VP of the Mid-Atlantic Region and New York State Director for The Trust for Public Land. "We're proud to work again with the Boy Scouts Greater NY Chapter, Mayor De Blasio, and Borough President Oddo to add more protected open space to the Greenbelt, which will enhance access to outdoor recreation as well as the city’s environmental resiliency."

Re-Envisioned initiative officially kicks off at Concord High School

10/28/2021

BP Oddo, NYC Department of Education’s District 79 and 31, Concord HS, Coop Tech announce the official addition of skilled trades and culinary, high school equivalency, adult education and evening courses to act as “career ladders” for high schoolers, young adults and the community

Borough President James S. Oddo joined Concord High School Principal, Department of Education leaders and other school staff today to formally kick off the Concord Re-Envisioned initiative which will offer all residents of the community additional pathways to continue their education.

Borough Hall began the initiative in 2020, with Concord Principal Mike Sobel, District 31, Executive Director, Chris Anzalone, and District 79 superintendencies. Additionally, key components have been the partnering with Principal Cory Prober, of Co-op Tech, and DOE School Facilities. The shutdown of the schools amidst the pandemic had taken some toll on the timeline, but the implementation had been brisk and well-paced.

“The addition of these programs at Concord High School will catapult the opportunities offered to young adults who wish to continue, and complete their education in a variety of skilled trades. I am so proud to be a part of these changes which will result in real opportunities for Staten Island residents,” said Borough President Oddo. “I want to thank Principal Sobel and his team at Concord, the Co-Op Tech, School Facilities and the DOE’s administration for rolling up their sleeves to get this done. I also want to thank the dynamic education duo at Borough Hall, Rose Kerr and Laura Timoney, for their unceasing dedication in ensuring a bright future in education for our young Staten Islanders.”

The components of the Re-Envisioned Initiative are Culinary, Cosmetology/Natural Hair Design/Barbering, Graphic Arts, and Carpentry. Additionally, also underway are the Young Adult Borough Center (YABC) on the North Shore and the New York Center for Interpersonal Development (NYCID) providing advocacy, college and career planning, as well as paid internships to develop skills and competencies needed to be successful in high school, postsecondary environments and to thrive in the workplace. Adult Education also began in October, encompassing high school equivalency, college readiness, and career opportunities.

The School of Cooperative Technical Education (Coop Tech) is a citywide program that offers students hands-on training in a variety of in-demand, cutting-edge trade areas. Coop Tech serves approximately 1,500 students, 17 to 21 years of age and who represent a wide variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, or as post-graduates who have already obtained a high school diploma or high school equivalency.

"Thank you to the cooperation and support of Borough President James S. Oddo, we are so excited to be able to build on the already fantastic educational and career opportunities for the young men and women of Staten Island,” said Concord HS Principal Michael Sobel. “These new opportunities will provide residents the chance to earn a high school diploma, become college and career ready, and learn cutting edge job readiness trade skills needed to be successful members of their community."

Two outstanding educators to be honored with Patrick F. Daly Award

10/27/2021

Natalie Capraro and Deirdre DeAngelis D'Alessio to receive award that honors memory of fallen principal

Borough President James S. Oddo is continuing the Patrick F. Daly Award after reviving it in 2017 in honor of the 25th anniversary of Patrick Daly’s death. After carefully considering all the nominations of exemplary educators submitted by the public, the Daly Award committee selected Natalie Capraro, a Special Education teacher at PS. 31 and Deirdre DeAngelis D'Alessio, the principal of New Dorp High School to receive the awards. The ceremony will take place virtually on Monday, November 1st at 7p.m. live on the office’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/statenislandusa.

The Patrick F. Daly Award was established shortly after Mr. Daly’s death to honor his legacy of service to the community, a steadfast commitment to his students, and his leadership. This award goes to two educators who exemplify the values of the fallen principal, who was gunned down 29 years ago in Red Hook, Brooklyn while searching for a student who had left the school building.

“It is with great joy that we at Borough Hall continue this award to honor Mr. Daly’s legacy, and sacrifice, as well as recognize outstanding educators in our community especially during a time where so many educators had to adapt during Covid. In the last eight years of my time at Borough Hall, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to honor many educators who truly make a difference in the lives of Staten Island’s youth,” said Borough President Oddo. “I believe Natalie Capraro and Deirdre DeAngelis D'Alessio embody many of the exceptional qualities Mr. Daly had as an educator. Both have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their students and a love of education and their communities, and I thank them both for their dedication.”

There is one award each year for a principal and one for a teacher. This year's awards are unique in that they highlight educators who went above and beyond given the challenges of the pandemic.
"Natalie has been a tremendous support for all of the teachers at PS 31," said Kathleen McBratney, who nominated her. "I don't know what we did to deserve Natalie Capraro in our building, but we wouldn't know how to live without her."

"Deirdre's approach to her work is identical to Principal Daly. Just as he walked through the Red Hook Projects to assist a student, Deirdre drove to homes of her students during a pandemic," said Tim Gannon, who nominated her for the award. "Deirdre is the same type of leader as Principal Daly. His legacy is her legacy. Deirdre is the best of Staten Island as was Principal Daly."

Natalie Capraro
Natalie Capraro cherishes two things above all else, her family and her calling as an educator. A graduate of the College of Staten Island with a Bachelor's degree in Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Special Education, Natalie initially entered the Department of Education as a substitute teacher. In 2010, she began working as a Special Education teacher at P.S. 31 where she continues to serve the students and the community today.

Early in her career at P.S. 31, Natalie sought ways to foster and grow community relations teaming up with local organizations to put books in the hands of her students and spearheading an annual, school-wide initiative to create holiday cards for a local nursing home and having her class deliver the cards and sing carols to the residents. In addition, Natalie has also served as the co-chair for the fundraising committee, dedicating much time to procuring resources to improve the learning experience of the students of P.S.31.

After completing the Teacher Leadership Program in 2017, Natalie began taking a more active role in initiating changes school-wide by sitting on a multitude of different teams at her school including the MTSS team, the Instructional Leadership Team, and the At Risk/Special Education Review Team. In 2020, COVID 19 brought the world to a halt. It was a time of fear for many. It was also a time where people banded together for the greater good. As a staff, the educators of P.S. 31 worked together to adjust to a brand-new way of teaching with a single goal in mind: to educate the students and provide a sense of normalcy in a very uncertain world. Remote learning was new to everyone; however, Natalie had always been a strong advocate of the benefits of technology in the classroom. She took time to learn the new systems and implement them. What came easily to her, did not for others and so she was available to help her fellow educators navigate this new digital world and provide trainings whenever they needed. She created videos and instructions for the families of P.S.31 to access the essentials of virtual learning and to ensure that learning never stopped.

Deirdre DeAngelis-D’Alessio
Deirdre DeAngelis-D’Alessio is a leader in high school reform and has a reputation for implementing new and exciting programs. Under her leadership as principal, New Dorp High School has experienced consistent improvement in all school data with more than an 11% increase in attendance data and 34% increase in graduation data since 2005. As a NYC Showcase School, New Dorp has opened their doors to thousands of visitors to share their best practices.

In May of 2017, the College of Staten Island awarded Deirdre DeAngelis the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for her work, such as the prestigious Fund for New York City Sloan Public Service Award, NYS Senate Women of Distinction, High School Principals Association Leadership and Excellence in Education Award, Staten Island Top Women in Business, NYC Police Commissioner Education Award, NY Daily News Hometown Hero Award, Staten Island Women of the Year Award, Education Update Outstanding Administrator of the Year, Council for Supervisors and Administrators Incentive Award for School Progress, US Department of Education: Model SLC School, Virtual Enterprises International Educator of the Year, Staten Island Women of Achievement Award, United Activities Unlimited Educator of the Year and a host of other awards. She has published articles and has appeared in numerous books and publications. As an educator for nearly 38 years, more than 20 as a school administrator, she has served the Staten Island and Brooklyn community with pride, compassion and unyielding commitment to meet the needs of her students and her community. When asked, she attributes her success to the great teams that she has worked with at the schools she served, a dedicated group of friends and family members that often join her mission, and a husband and son who support her every step of the way.

BP Oddo announces $600K in funding for Snug Harbor Little League

10/18/2021

The only Little League field on Staten Island without lights is on track to be illuminated

Borough President James Oddo joined representatives of the Snug Harbor Little League at the field this morning announcing the capital allocation of $600,000 to the league which will be used for the installation of field lights. Currently, the league is the only little league on Staten Island without lights which impacts their ability to hold Fall games, limiting their overall season. With this funding, lights will be able to produce a direct illumination on its three fields without any impact to the surrounding neighbors.

“Throughout the 22 years I've been in office, we’ve built a lot of fields, so being able to, in the waning days of my time in office, come back to a great Little League complex and help out, it’s a good feeling,” said Borough President Oddo. “I firmly believe really important things happen on these fields - the camaraderie , the friendships and life lessons all happen here. I appreciate what you all do at the league, and I thank you for what you all do for these kids. Let there be lights!”

The league has been trying for years to get lights approved for the field, and received that approval from Community Board 1 after a company was hired to run lighting tests on its three fields. Numerous signatures were also acquired after the league’s Dennis Thomson knocked on about 100 doors in the neighborhood to get the community’s approval for lighting.

“This has been an ongoing battle for as long as I can remember,” said Anthony Varvaro, the league’s incoming president. “This is going to be an improvement for the community, and it’s going to give these kids a better opportunity. The future is looking bright, literally, for the boys and girls of this little league.”

“It’s always about the kids first, and winning second,,” said Dean Pecorale, current league president. “We always try to keep this league as family oriented as possible, and make the best with what we have. This is more than we’ve ever had. I would like to thank Mr. Oddo for this allocation to the league.”

BP Oddo to host flu shot drive at Borough Hall on Oct. 20

10/15/2021

BP Oddo, NYC Health Department and Affiliated Physicians to partner to offer free flu shots next week

Borough President James Oddo announced today that he will offer free flu shots at Borough Hall on Wednesday, October 20 from 10 am to 3 pm. No appointment is necessary. Shots will be provided by the NYC Health Department and administered by Affiliated Physicians. Shots will be given at Borough Hall, in room 125.

Seasonal influenza, commonly called “flu,” is a contagious illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract (the nose, throat, and lungs) and can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications.
“We are facing another flu season concurrently while we deal with the COVID pandemic. It is especially important to get your annual flu shot given these factors," noted BP Oddo. "This is a safe, easy step to take to not only protect yourself, but protect those you care about."

Some of the complications caused by flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections. The flu can cause mild to severe illness for days, and in some cases can lead to more serious health problems and even death. It is estimated that every year in the United States, about 5% to 20% of the population gets flu, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications. Each year, more than 2,000 New Yorkers die from flu-related illness.
“All New Yorkers should get the flu vaccine as soon as they can in order to protect themselves, their family, and our city,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “Public health is a team sport, and I thank Borough President Oddo for hosting our vaccination clinic and working to keep our fellow New Yorkers healthy and protected against the flu.”

Those at high risk for serious flu complications include pregnant women, children under five years of age, adults over 65, nursing home residents and people with other serious health conditions.

Additionally, those with any underlying medical conditions can be at increased risk, including:

Asthma, emphysema or any other chronic breathing disorders
Heart, kidney or liver disease
Blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia
Weakened immune system, from illness or medication
Neuromuscular disorders that interfere with breathing or the discharge of mucus
Long-term aspirin therapy in people under 19
Obesity (a Body Mass Index of 40 and over)
People living in nursing homes or other care facilities

Caregivers, healthcare workers, and those in close contact with people who belong to a high-risk group should be sure to get a flu shot each year.

'Too Good For Drugs' Program resumes in Island Schools

10/12/2021

BP Oddo, DA McMahon and partners re-launch popular program that has teachers and police officers educating kids on dangers of substance abuse and addiction

When Borough President James Oddo and his Substance Abuse Task Force discovered - back in 2014 - that there was no organized curriculum in our schools educating students about the dangers and seriousness of the drug epidemic sweeping through Staten Island, they were alarmed. And took action.
The team worked tirelessly to find a curriculum that would not only meet the needs, but open up a true conversation about addiction, peer pressure and other issues facing our children; a curriculum that would offer healthy behaviors and alternatives to substance use. In 2015, the “Too Good For Drugs” Program was piloted in a few fifth-grade classes, partnering NYPD officers along with teachers and children in an effort to reach our children early enough and arm them with decision making skills and information. With the success of this model, it was expanded each successive year into every fifth-grade class on Staten Island, as well as to middle and high schools. The program is made possible by a unique partnership between the NYPD, the Office of the District Attorney, the Department of Education and the Archdiocese.

"The Too Good For Drugs Program partners our committed teachers with our local police officers to educate kids about making the right choice and empower them to be a good influence in their community," said Borough President Oddo. "The results have far surpassed our expectations and now that in-school instruction is back, we are eager to get the program going again."
"The Too Good for Drugs" program has been incredibly successful since its start in 2015. The Police Officers throughout Staten Island who are instructors are enthusiastic about getting back into the schools and having these important discussions,” said Assistant Chief Frank A. Vega, Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island. “We thank all of our partners including the Borough President, the District Attorney and the Department of Education for making this happen.”

“The best prevention for the horrors of addiction illness is education, and the Too Good For Drugs program is the most significant tool at our disposal to achieving that end. In the meantime, I will continue to advocate for mandatory drug prevention education—given the presence of deadly fentanyl, more needs to be done. We will prosecute the dealers, but prevention is the other key," said District Attorney Michael McMahon. "Moreover, not only is Too Good for Drugs the only comprehensive drug education that our students receive throughout their K-12 experience, it serves to strengthen bonds between the community and law enforcement as police officers interact with our kids in a positive setting to impart invaluable advice and information. I am honored to be able to support the continuation of this work again this year and am grateful for partners like Borough President Oddo and Assistant Chief Vega who are equally committed to saving this generation from the pitfalls of substance abuse.

The classes will resume this fall, and every participant is excited to get started. At the completion of each program, a celebration is held for the student participants whereby the students take a pledge to abstain from tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

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