​In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Borough President James Oddo is pleased to announce a partnership with the technology company Uber to offer free transportation to and from breast cancer screening appointments during the entire month of October for any woman who needs a ride.
 
Those who want to participate in the program must call the Borough President’s office for a single use code that can be entered into the Uber app to claim their free ride to and from the appointment. Women must provide their name, contact information, and the date and location of their screening to be eligible. Women should call (718) 816-2198 to receive the code.
 
“I want to eliminate all barriers that are stopping women from getting screened,” said Borough President Oddo. “I’m pleased to partner with Uber on this program, which will make it easier for women to get to and from their necessary appointments. Now there’s absolutely no excuse for not getting screened. We know that mammograms are important preventative measures for women. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. Despite recommendations to the contrary from some organizations, experts continue to emphasize the importance of mammograms in detecting breast cancer. Thank you to Uber for being a good corporate partner and working with us to improve women’s health in our borough. I urge Staten Island women to get screened in the month of October and to take advantage of this free program if they need a ride.”
 
“Access to transportation should never be a barrier to receiving care,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber General Manager for Northeast U.S. and Canada. “Uber is honored to work with the Borough President to offer all Staten Island women a reliable way to get to and from their appointments, and we encourage all residents to take advantage of these free rides during Breast Cancer Awareness month.”
 
In addition to the free rides, BP Oddo is sponsoring his fourth round of free mobile mammography screenings this year. The screenings will take place on Tuesday, October 3rd. The mobile mammography van will be at the Beacon Christian Community Health Center (2079 Forest Avenue) from 9:30am to 4:30pm. There will also be a van at Hylan Plaza Parking Lot in New Dorp (near CVS) from 9:00am to 12:00pm and at Bricktown Commons (Michael's Parking Lot) in Charleston from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
 
The screenings will be available to eligible women ages 40 and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year. All insurance plans will be accepted, and co-pays and deductibles will be waived. The mammograms will be free to uninsured women.
 
An appointment must be made to get screened on October 3. To make an appointment at Beacon Christian Community Health Center, call (877) 628-9090. To make an appointment at the Bricktown Commons or Hylan Plaza locations, call (800) 564-6868. Since all screenings in October are included in this announcement, the screenings scheduled for October 3 are eligible for the free Uber ride. Women should simply call the Borough President’s office at 718-816-2198 after making their appointment for the code for the free ride or to receive a free ride to screening appointments throughout the rest of the month.
 
The October 3 screenings are sponsored by the New York State Cancer Services Program, the Cancer Services Program of Staten Island, and the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. 

On Thursday, September 21st, BP Oddo announced that the era of the infamous Midland Motor Inn, a transient hotel that plagued the Midland Beach community for decades before a July 22, 2015 fire, is now over.
 
The Midland Motor Inn had operated as a transient hotel, which is a non-conforming use under current zoning regulations. Since the July 22, 2015 fire it has been closed.  Since the fire, and for a continuous period of more than two years, the active operation of the non-conforming use (as a transient hotel) was discontinued. Under the city’s zoning laws, the existing building and land can now only be used for a CONFORMING use. This means that it can no longer be used as a transient hotel.
 
A transient hotel includes living or sleeping for transient occupancy; permits daily rentals; and provides 24-hour desk service, including housekeeping, telephone, or bellhop service, etc.  The existing zone permits various residential uses but specifically excludes transient hotels.
 
BP Oddo said, “This is great news for the Midland Beach community, and indeed all of Staten Island. Residents were forced to endure the operation of this facility and all the ills it brought to the community for what seemed like an eternity.  Despite my best efforts as a City Council Member and Borough President to shut this place down, the facility continued to give rise to many of the ills that plagued the community. I am hopeful that the property will be used for some good in the future, though practically any use would be better than its prior use. What is clear is that a transient hotel, like the Midland Motor Inn, will not be permitted to operate there in the future. For far too long, like Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th movies, it stubbornly refused to die; but now since its operation was discontinued for so long it is dead.”
 
Some used that would be permitted under the Zoning Resolution include: residences (as part of a mixed use building), community facilities, such as doctor’s offices, schools, nursing homes, houses of worship, retail stores, and similar uses

On Wednesday, September 20th, BP Oddo announced his new “Thank A Veteran” initiative. As part of his office’s effort to acknowledge and thank veterans for their service and sacrifice, BP Oddo is inviting Veterans and family members of Veterans to be involved in this social media program.
 
Those who wish to participate can send the following information to the Borough President’s office: a photo of the Veteran in uniform, their name, rank, branch of service and/or any other info they might want to share (limited to a sentence or two). The office will then post the information to its social media accounts and on StatenIslandUSA.com during the month of November.
 
“I am extremely thankful to all those who have dedicated their lives in service to protecting this country,” said BP Oddo. “I want to encourage the community to participate in this program to ensure the service and memories of those who served are not forgotten.”
 
Any information that the public wishes to share can be sent to Alexey Chandler at achandler@statenislandusa.com. Submissions will be accepted through November 1st. 

Borough President James S. Oddo has announced that he is reviving the Patrick F. Daly Award, an award for educators who exemplify the values of fallen principal Patrick Daly, who was gunned down in Red Hook, Brooklyn while en route to a student’s home 25 years ago. The award will go to Paul Martuccio, principal of P.S. 13, and Wilson Mohr, a teacher at Pathways to Graduation. The award ceremony will take place at Borough Hall on Thursday, September 28th at 6:30pm.
 
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. The award has not been given in several years, but at the urging of the Daly family, Borough President Oddo decided to reinstate it to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mr. Daly’s death. After carefully considering all the nominations of exemplary educators submitted by the public, members of the Daly family and Borough President Oddo’s staff selected Mr. Martuccio and Mr. Mohr to receive the award.
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“This award gives us as Staten Islanders an opportunity to honor Mr. Daly, his legacy, and sacrifice, as well as recognize outstanding educators in our community,” said BP Oddo. “I believe that Paul Martuccio and Wilson Mohr exemplify 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. As the Daly family members noted when we selected them, both Mr. Martuccio and Mr. Mohr are following in the footsteps of Mr. Daly through their inspiring work inside and outside the classroom.”

Paul Martuccio has 18 years of experience in the field of education. He began as a Special Education teacher at P.S. 18 before becoming an Assistant Principal at P.S. 21. He currently serves as principal of P.S. 13. Mr. Martuccio’s emphasis on teamwork has been a positive influence on staff as well as students. He has instituted numerous programs to support students and staff, including a mindfulness program that teaches staff and students how to relieve stress and calm themselves. In addition, he has created visual and performing arts programs, as well as a physical education program and a before-school morning academy at no cost to families. Mr. Martuccio’s commitment also extends to the students’ parents and families. He has built a community where parents feel welcome by encouraging open communication between parents and their child’s teacher, ensuring there are capable translators on hand to engage families who are non-English speaking. In addition to his work at P.S. 13, Mr. Martuccio was selected by the Superintendent of District 31 to facilitate a principal’s professional learning group.
 
A devoted teacher, Wilson Mohr has spent 37 years in the school system as a teacher and supervisor at I.S. 49, as a summer school teacher at I.S. 51, and as a camp teacher at P.S. 5, P.S. 6, and P.S. 42. Currently, Mr. Mohr is teaching TASC level classes at Pathways to Graduation at the St. George Hub. He has assisted in the pilot for a new TASC programming and scheduling model, affording the students even more testing opportunities. Though his immediate aim is to help his students pass the TASC exam, he teaches with the ultimate goal of inspiring a love of mathematics in all his students. As a companion to student advocacy, he has worked diligently to expand educational experiences inside and outside the classroom. To this end, he has undertaken the task of organizing field trips and experiences that are both informative and entertaining. Mr. Mohr has an enthusiasm for personal and professional growth and development, which helps his students figure out what their next steps are and what they can achieve.
 
“As we approach the 25th Anniversary of my father’s death, we are honored and most appreciative to Borough President James Oddo for reinstituting the Patrick F. Daly Award. This award will ensure my father's dedication and sacrifice will be remembered and the work of a new generation of dedicated educators will be recognized,” said Patrick Daly, son of the fallen educator.
 
The award ceremony will be followed by a reception with light fare in the main hall of the building.

On Monday, September 11th, hundreds gathered at the Postcards Memorial on the St. George Promenade for our annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. To mark the 16th anniversary of the tragedy, Borough President James Oddo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the families, friends, community members, and visitors who gathered for the solemn ceremony.

Family members of those we lost 16 years ago read the names of those killed in the attacks and shared memories of their loved ones. In addition to a special video tribute, the ceremony featured touching performances from Rev. Timothy Mercaldo, Jenna Flynn, Gabrielle Testa, Lt. Hughie Lynch, Staten Island Pipers, and Tottenville High School students.
 
"I want to thank you all for having the courage, the strength, the compassion and the resiliency you have shown for being here for each of these years. I hope this ceremony gives you a moment of comfort," Borough President Oddo said to the family and friends who gather annually for the ceremony.
 
Mayor de Blasio also noted the strength of those still struggling with the loss of their loved ones, "You've kept your families strong, and you've kept your families going, and you've carried on all the good in those you've lost. You've carried on their values. You've carried on their love. You've carried on their spirit of service to others. That light, that flame, will not be extinguished," de Blasio concluded.
 
“There's no place in America that more symbolizes the values we hold dear than what we see as the backdrop to this event. Let the legacy of those we lost be a rekindling of that beautiful, glorious spirit that we all felt as Americans," said Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul.
 
We thank all those who made the ceremony so special, including FDNY, NYPD, US Army North East Medical Area Readiness Support Group, US Coast Guard Sector NY, Tottenville High School JROTC, Fred Ariemma, Michael Black, NYCEDC, and the Staten Island Yankees.

On Saturday, August 19th, BP Oddo sponsored the annual Stars of the Boardwalk doo-wop concert at Midland Beach.

This event, which is part of our Sunset Summer Concert Series, featured music from Staten Island legends Vito Picone and the Elegants. The opening acts included Vinnie Medugno, The Midlife Crisis Trio, and The Expressions. 

“We are proud to welcome Vito Picone and the Elegants back to the beach for the fourth year,” noted BP Oddo. “It is great to see Staten Islanders gathered together to celebrate their love of music. Thank you to all the bands for giving us a night full of great performances.”
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Over 1,000 people attended the free concert, which was followed by fireworks.

On Wednesday, July 9th, BP Oddo joined with Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, community members, and other officials to unveil the site for the new Richard H. Hungerford building on Staten Island. The new building will be fully-accessible with several amenities for students with disabilities, including braille signage in every room, elevators on all floors and wheelchair ramps. The new building will also include hearing loops, which is a wire that circles a room, connects to a sound system and allows hearing-impaired students to connect via their hearing aids or cochlear implants.

The Hungerford School is one of Staten Island’s largest District 75 schools. The new building will be built at the Michael J. Petrides campus to ensure that students in the Hungerford School have easy access to a variety of campus facilities, including the gymnasium, athletic fields, and opportunities for inclusion.

This summer, the deed to the property was officially transferred over to the DOE, allowing the School Construction Authority to begin design and construction on the new building.

“This is wonderful news, and I am grateful for all those in DOE and SCA for making this a reality,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. “I especially want to recognize and thank Kevin Moran for all his work wading through the ownership issues that allowed the transfer of the property to the City. Frankly, Kevin’s picture should be in every dictionary next to the word ‘persistence.’ There is nothing more exciting than seeing the look on students’ faces when they first enter their brand new, modern school.”   

“I am thankful to Chancellor Fariña for supporting the Staten Island Field Support Center as we worked with several City and State agencies and local elected officials to secure the Petrides Campus and make this project a reality for our District 75 community,” said Kevin Moran, Executive Director of the Staten Island Field Support Center. “The new Hungerford building reinforces the Department of Education's commitment to equity and excellence for all, and will provide its students with a supportive, high-quality learning environment.”

The design phase for the facility will begin this fall, and construction is expected to be completed for the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

On Wednesday, August 8th, BP Oddo joined with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Dr. Jordan Glaser, Director of Infectious Diseases at SIUH, as well as several Staten Island residents with Lyme disease in Clove Lakes Park to discuss the spread of tick-borne disease.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by deer ticks, which can be transmitted by a bite to a human or animal host. Lyme disease begins as a rash at the location of the tick bite, and then spreads to the nervous system and joints. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment is crucial, as almost 100% of cases with early diagnosis are cured.

Another disease, transmitted like Lyme, is called Powassan Virus (POW). After the initial bite, the disease usually takes one week to one month to reveal itself. It cannot be transmitted human to human. People with the disease need to be hospitalized as soon as possible and immediately put on to respiratory support and IV fluids. Minor or massive brain swelling may also occur.

Lyme disease is extremely prevalent in the 5 boroughs, with 8,000+ cases over the past 15 years. According to the New York City Department of Health, there were 123 Lyme disease infections on Staten Island last year and 121 Lyme disease infections in 2015. According to Staten Island University Hospital, in 2015 there were 8 reported cases in Port Richmond; 22 reported cases in Stapleton-St.George; 22 reported cases in Willowbrook; and 69 reported cases in South Beach- Tottenville.

Schumer urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to double-down on efforts to fully implement laws passed by Congress last year that will significantly increase research, vaccine development, and treatment strategies to help stamp out tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease.

BP Oddo said, “It seems with each passing week there is another awful story about a Staten Islander impacted by Lyme disease. We proudly call ourselves the ‘Borough of Parks,’ and we encourage Staten Islanders to get out and be active, yet we know the Lyme risk continues to grow. That is why we are thankful that on this issue, like so many other local issues, we have the staunchest of allies in Senator Schumer.”

“The reality is the Feds now have the tools to begin stamping out diseases like Powassan Virus and Lyme disease, but they’re still dragging their feet, even though more and more New Yorkers are being infected with horrible tick-borne diseases,” said Senator Schumer. “The threat of tick-borne diseases is very real on Staten Island so it is imperative that we do all that we can to halt the continued spread every single summer. That’s why I am urging HHS Secretary Tom Price to quickly implement the already-passed legislation within the 21st Century Cures Act, to ensure that we are making a sufficient attempt at ridding ourselves of these chronic diseases. There is no more time to waste, and HHS must step up their game.” 
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There are currently no vaccines or specific treatments for POW. However, there are methods for prevention of tick bites, which also help prevent Lyme disease. These include: staying out of wooded or bushy areas that contain high grass, the use of insect repellent/DEET, a bath or shower within 2 hours of being in a wooded area, and full-body tick checks for both yourself and any pet that may have travelled with you.