By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2020 at 1:09 pm
At 2 local prisons, Orleans Correctional hasn’t had any cases, while Albion Correctional reports 10
ALBANY – The union representing corrections officers is asking the governor and state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to take immediate steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in prisons.
The state’s DOCCES Covid-19 Report says 1,705 staff have tested positive for Covid, 1,737 inmates have contracted Covid and 125 parolees have got it. Click here to see that report.
The confirmed deaths from Covid include 5 staff members, 18 inmates and 4 people on parole.
Of the 2 state prisons in Orleans County, there have been 10 inmates who have tested positive – all at the Albion Correctional Facility, which is a women’s prison. That site has also had 548 negative tests. At the Orleans Correctional Facility, there have been 595 tests and all have come back negative for Covid at that men’s prison.
That is a significant contrast from Elmira, where 605 inmates have tested positive. Four other prisons have had more than 100 inmates test positive: Greene, 161; Green Haven, 129; Fishkill, 114; and Shawangunk, 101.
“With Covid-19 rates beginning to spike throughout New York, we are calling on the Governor and DOCCS to take immediate steps to prevent any outbreaks inside the facilities where my members serve the people of this state,” said Michael B. Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. “We are requesting that all non-essential inmate movement cease, visitations be paused and inmates be placed in an ‘every other cubical’ setting inside prison dormitories.”
NYSCOPBA said its insistence on safety measures for the protection of corrections officers and the incarcerated population helped slow the spread in the first and second quarters of the year.
However, Power said the recent easing of these restrictions has resulted in virus outbreaks inside the prison walls of several prisons in New York..
“New York should once again heed NYSCOPBA’s call to put immediate safeguards in place before additional outbreaks occur,” Powers said. “When the positivity rates inside Greene and Elmira exploded, NYSCOPBA called for the stoppage of visitations and nonessential transports, as well as implementing social distancing and rapid testing for staff. As a result, we’ve seen the positive levels decline significantly in those two prisons. The state needs to act now, system-wide, before it’s too late.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 November 2020 at 9:07 am
Number of workers in county drops by 1,400 — from 16,900 to 15,500 in past year
Orleans County’s unemployment rate was 6.0 percent in October, far less than pandemic high of 15.9 percent in April but more than the 4.1 in October 2019, when there wasn’t Covid-19.
The latest monthly report from the state Department of Labor shows there were 1,400 fewer people working in Orleans County in October, compared to a year earlier. The number of employed people in the county dropped from 16,900 in October 2019 to 15,500 last month.
The number of unemployed was up from 700 in October 2019 to 1,000 last month.
The number of unemployed has generally being going down since April’s high of 2,700, to 1,900 in May and June. It was at 2,300 in July and then 1,700 in August. Last month, the state DOL said it 900 in Orleans County.
In September, the unemployment rate was down to 5.5 percent in Orleans, the low of the pandemic. It went up to 6.0 in October. Since the pandemic hit, and the state closed or restricted many businesses, the unemployment rates in Orleans have been 15.9 percent in April, 11.5 percent in May, 10.8 percent in June, 12.7 percent in July and 9.8 percent in August.
While the rate is much less than the pandemic peak in April and May, it is still far more than a year ago. New York’s statewide unemployment rate was at 9.2 percent in October, compared to 3.7 percent in October 2019. Nationally the rate was at 6.6 percent in October, compared to 3.3 percent a year earlier.
New York City is suffering the most, with the rate up from 3.7 percent in October 2019 to 13.7 percent last month.
The Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro increased from 4.1 to 6.9 percent in the year, while the Rochester metro rate was up from 3.9 to 6.4 percent.
Other unemployment rates for October in the Western New York region include:
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 November 2020 at 8:05 am
MEDINA – In spite of not being able to have an in-person fundraising event this year, Orleans Community Health’s Mega Drawing on Tuesday was a huge success, according to Heather Smith, director of the hospital’s Foundation.
“We are so thrilled with how it went,” Smith said, after the drawing took place live on Facebook at noon Tuesday. “It was our first time hosting a live virtual fundraiser and it will not be our last.”
Participating in the live drawing with Smith were hospital CEO Marc Shurtz and Foundation board member Jeanne Crane.
Smith said the Foundation was in the early stages of planning an event when Covid-19 first hit the region in March. They had originally planned for it to take place outside at Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in August, but in April the committee decided to put all fundraising plans on hold.
“After thinking things through and doing a little research, we decided we could do this event completely virtual through Facebook,” Smith said. “It was much simpler than I thought it would be. We will definitely do something like this again in the near future. We did sell out all 300 tickets with a net profit of just over $18,000. All our winners live locally and represent hospital employees, the fire department, local business owners and community members.”
Seven cash prizes were awarded, ranging from $10,000 to $100, in addition to a lottery tree, office chair and Buffalo Bills fire pit.
Due to the success of the event, Smith said they are able to finalize fundraising for two special projects they are working on with Orleans Community Health. One is the Recovery Room renovation in memory of Nancy Albanese, where they plan to update the lighting, install secure patient lockers, replace the nurses desk, privacy curtains and flooring and install new storage cabinets.
The second project is at the dialysis units in Medina and Batavia. Both locations will receive a new wheelchair scale and new office chairs for the nursing stations and administrative offices. Lastly, they will soon receive a few new laptops to assist with charting while working chair-side with the patients.
Smith extended the Orleans Community Health Foundation’s thanks to all who purchased a ticket and to sponsors, which included Lawley Insurance, Lumsden and McCormick, Dr. Joseph Canzoneri of the Wound Care Center at Medina Memorial Hospital, Western New York Energy, the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and Takeform.
Scratch-off donors were Cusimano’s Pizzeria, Zambistro, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery and the OCH Foundation board members. In addition, prizes were donated for the drawing from Indoff and Orleans/Niagara BOCES.
“Everyone was so enthusiastic about the drawing and so glad to participate,” Smith said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 November 2020 at 7:48 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Staff of Salon de Coiffeur in Medina presented $1,681 to Supportive Care of Orleans as the result of a basket raffle they held. Presenting the gift to Supportive Care’s Development and Public Relations Manager Derek Reiner are, from left, stylists Leslie Saj and LeAnn Phillips, and salon owner Terah Jackson.
MEDINA – A Medina beauty salon jumped into the holiday spirit by holding a fundraiser to benefit Supportive Care of Orleans (Hospice).
The staff of Salon de Coiffeur had a holiday open house with a basket raffle last year and donated the proceeds to CareNet.
But this year, with the Covid pandemic, they couldn’t have a live open house at their location on Maple Ridge Road, but they decided they could do a basket raffle, said salon owner Terah Jackson.
“We had Hospice for my mother before she died June 1,” Jackson said. “They helped us enormously and I wanted to do something for them. They were just amazing. When we needed meds on Memorial Day weekend, we got meds on Memorial Day.”
The ladies at the salon never expected the basket raffle to be as big as it was. They advertised it among friends and customers and on Facebook. Downtown businesses support it, and they soon ended up with 60 baskets.
Phillips said customers would come in and see another basket had been added and buy more tickets.
“People we didn’t even know came in and wanted to donate or buy tickets,” Phillips said.
In the end, 150 people bought tickets, either in person or online.
On Tuesday afternoon, Derek Reiner, Development and Public Relations manager at Supportive Care of Orleans came to accept the donation. He expressed appreciation for the salon’s efforts and said they were grateful for the support.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2020 at 8:08 pm
Photo courtesy of Owen Toale: Medina Police Chief Kenward (left), Tyler Draper and Lt. Todd Draper are pictured with Kye at the Village Board meeting on Monday. Kye has retired as Medina’s K9 and will be staying with Draper’s family.
MEDINA – Kye, Medina Police Department’s K9 for 8 ½ years, has officially transitioned to civilian life.
Kye, a Belgian Malinois, had his last day on the job on Nov. 13. He worked with Lt. Todd Draper since 2012.
Phoenix, the Medina PD’s new K9, has taken over for Kye. Phoenix works with handler and Medina police officer Jacob Reeves.
The Medina Village Board declared Kye “surplus” on Monday and agreed to sell him for $1 to Lt. Draper. Kye will continue to live with the Draper family.
Draper was joined at Monday’s meeting by his 8-year-old son, Tyler, who has spent his entire life with Kye in the Draper household.
Tyler actually paid the $1 for Kye and did a small demonstration for the Village Board on Monday, showing the trustees and Mayor Mike Sidari some of the commands he has learned while Kye has been a member of the family.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2020 at 4:39 pm
Genesee County also reports a death due to Covid-19
The Covid cases continue a rapid rise in Genesee County with 64 more confirmed cases today, following 77 on Monday, which was the first update since Friday.
Genesee County also is reporting a resident under age 65 has passed away due to Covid. That is the county’s sixth death from Covid since March.
“To protect the individual’s privacy we will not be reporting any further information,” a news briefing from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department stated this afternoon. “Our deepest condolences to this person’s family and friends on their loss during this very difficult time.”
Orleans County is reporting five new cases today. The county has now had 576 people test positive for Covid since March.
The five new positive cases are residents of Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, Kendall and Murray. The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 40s and 60s.
One of the new cases was on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive, the Health Department said.
Orleans also is reporting six more recoveries and those individuals have been removed from the isolation list.
The county has two residents hospitalized due to Covid.
• Albion student tests positive: Albion Central School notified residents this afternoon a middle school has tested positive for Covid-19. That student is a hybrid learner, attending in-person classes twice a week.
The student was last in school on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and started presenting symptoms on Nov. 18. Contact tracing has been completed and the district has assisted the Department of Health by notifying any staff members or parents of any students who were identified as being close contacts. Official notifications will ultimately be made by the Department of Health, the district said.
•3 Medina students, school employee test positive for Covid: Medina Central School in a letter to the community on Monday reported that two high school students, one middle schooler and one district office employee had tested positive for Covid. The three students have not been on campus “for quite some time,” according to the letter from Mark Kruzynski, district superintendent.
“In this situation, the Department of Health has determined that there will not be a need for any further school-related quarantines due to these cases,” Kruzynski said. “However, any determination of the need for quarantine will come directly from the Health Department.”
In Genesee County, the 64 new cases today bring the county’s total to 793 since March.
The new positive cases are residents of Alabama, Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Darien, Elba, LeRoy, Oakfield, Pavilion, Pembroke and Stafford.
The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Five of the individuals were on mandatory quarantine prior to testing positive.
Genesee also is reporting 30 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and have been removed from the isolation list.
Genesee has 13 residents hospitalized due to Covid.
More from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Department:
• Business Reminder: It is important to periodically review your Business Safety Plan that was developed earlier on in the pandemic. As part of the plan, businesses were encouraged to develop contact sheets for all patrons to assist with contact tracing in the event of a potential Covid-19 exposure. This will help in investigations and will limit the necessity of press releases which will help limit potential spread.
• Covid-19 Reminders: If people are identified as a contact, they will be notified by the County Health Department, quarantined and if warranted, swabbed if indicated. Limited information is provided to the public in compliance with HIPAA regulations and out of the respect of those impacted by this virus.
When, and if, there is a situation where potential contact is made in a public location where contact tracing doesn’t have actual names of close contacts, we will send out a media announcement to help seek contacts.
If you are experiencing any Covid-related symptoms STAY HOME! Do not go to work, do not go to the store, do not go anywhere to avoid spreading the virus.
We encourage everyone to remember to be polite and respect individual privacy. If you have a complaint about someone or a business use the appropriate channels provided by the state. Using social media to air your complaints and accusing individuals/businesses of wrongdoing generally does nothing to fix the problem. Be compassionate of other people and spread kindness.
• Faith-based organizations: Consider continuing or reinstating remote worship due to increased numbers of positive Covid-19 cases to protect your more vulnerable population.
For those who are at risk of complications for Covid-19 or the flu, consider to connect with your house of worship remotely to lessen the risk of contracting Covid-19 or the flu.
If you are sick or experiencing new symptoms, stay home and worship remotely. Don’t share your germs with others.
Provided photo: Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball, left, was at Goderie’s Tree Farm on Monday to promote Christmas tree farms in the state.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball on Monday visited Goderie’s Tree Farm in Johnstown, Fulton County, for the annual tree cutting to promote New York’s Christmas tree farms and encourage New Yorkers to shop at local agricultural businesses this holiday season.
Following State Covid-19 guidelines, New York tree farms offer families a fun and safe way to celebrate the season. By purchasing from any of the 750 local tree farms in the State, New Yorkers can support this important agricultural industry, which has an economic impact of $13.8 million, according to the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York.
Commissioner Ball said: “It is more important this year than ever that New Yorkers support local farmers and businesses when doing their holiday shopping, whether they’re looking for a Christmas tree or a delicious addition to their holiday meal. Visiting a tree farm this year to cut your own tree is great, socially distanced, and fun way to celebrate this season while supporting your local farm and the agricultural economy.”
With approximately 300,000 New York-grown trees sold by more than 750 farms in Upstate New York, the state ranks sixth in the U.S. for the number of acres dedicated to growing Christmas trees.
Robert Schoch, Interim Executive Director of the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York, said: “Selecting a New York State grown Christmas tree offers a family experience in the outdoors. As you visit farms, be aware that New York growers have developed safety plans to ensure that this is a safe and rewarding experience. When other holiday experiences are limited this year, selecting a New York grown tree provides an opportunity to enjoy the season and continue a family tradition.”
Pete Goderie, owner of Goderie’s Tree Farm, said: “With nearly 800 tree farms in New York State, consumers can easily support a local tree farm, providing a shot in the arm to our industry. Visiting a New York tree farm to pick your own tree is the perfect way to gather with your family this season for a holiday tradition while being safe and socially distanced.”
Jane Corwin, a former local State Assembly member, is chair of the IJC’s US Section.
The International Joint Commission’s (IJC) Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board will decrease to a six-member Board with an equal number of members from the United States and Canada effective December 1, 2020. The Board sets the outflow from Lake Ontario in accordance with the provisions of an order of approval issued by the IJC in 2016.
The re-structured Board will continue to include one member each nominated by the Government of Canada, the Government of the United States, the Province of Quebec, the Province of Ontario and the State of New York and will include one additional member on the US side to ensure equal membership from both countries.
Board members will continue to serve in their personal and professional capacity and consider interests of the entire Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system. The Board’s online membership page will be updated when the change takes effect.
“On behalf of IJC Commissioners, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all members of the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board who have served above and beyond the call in recent years and have provided excellent leadership in the face of extremely challenging conditions,” said Pierre Béland, chair of the IJC’s Canadian Section.
Due to high water events in recent years, IJC Commissioners initiated a thorough review of the Board’s regulation plan and decision-making process. The restructuring is being implemented at this time because the Commission wishes to have the new structure in place before the spring.
To broaden input from the public, stakeholders and Indigenous communities, the IJC will be establishing an advisory group to the Board. Members of the advisory group will provide information and advice directly to the Board to ensure that the Board is aware of potential impacts and fully considers their diverse perspectives. The Board will also continue to rely on engineering and technical expertise from both countries.
As a first step, the IJC is appointing a smaller interim advisory group effective at the same time as the re-structured Board.
“The restructuring represents a streamlined approach for this Board,” said Jane Corwin, chair of the IJC’s US Section. “Commissioners enlarged the Board last year, but after careful consideration determined that a smaller decision-making body with input from a more-inclusive advisory body would be more effective and appropriate.”
MIDDLEPORT – FMC Corporation has been recognized with the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care Company of the Year Award for the second consecutive year, and for the third time since 2017.
The annual award is the highest ACC distinction that recognizes excellence and leadership in environmental, health, safety and sustainability performance. In addition, FMC was honored as a finalist in the Initiative of the Year category, and nine U.S.-based FMC sites, including the FMC Middleport Agricultural Sciences plant, were recognized for environmental, health and safety achievements.
FMC’s Middleport Plant formulates and packages a number of key product lines to protect over 100 crops in more than 75 countries worldwide and plays a key role in FMC’s global leadership position in agricultural sciences.
As part of its continuing operations and growth, FMC Middleport is hiring for packers who are responsible for packaging, palletizing and general production support. Individuals can apply online at www.fmc.com/careers.
“FMC leadership and employees are very proud of these ACC recognitions,” said Linda Froelich, director of sustainability at FMC. “We are continuously evaluating and developing new environmental, health, safety and sustainability systems and procedures for our employees at sites across the globe.”
LYNDONVILLE – Two elementary school teachers at Lyndonville have been selected in a rural teacher initiative.
Jenna Goheen
The Rural Schools Collaborative is an organization focused on gathering information from early career rural teachers from around the country. The organization wants to hear form the teachers what they think is necessary to prepare, recruit and retain high-quality teacher-leaders.
Jenna Goheen and Joseff Smith have been picked for the “I Am a Rural Teacher” campaign.
Goheen, a first-grade teacher at Lyndonville, was selected by the Rural Schools Collaborative as an exemplary young rural educator. The RSC wants her input as the group considers policy, networking and support for rural schools and teachers at the National Rural Education Association annual conference.
Joseff Smith
Joseff Smith, a fourth grade teacher, was selected to serve as an advisor on the Young Educators’ Advisory Council and will serve for two years engaging in online conversations. Smith’s experience, love of teaching and commitment to education will be an asset as he serves as a representative for Western New York.
Smith is the JV boys soccer coach at Lyndonville. He has previously taught math, science and history at multiple grades at a private rural school in North Carolina for two years. At that school he led the early college program, where over 80 percent of all high school students were dual enrolled in community college courses and high school classes.
Smith also has three years experience leading a team in sales, customer service and marketing for an international company.
These opportunities for Miss Goheen and Mr. Smith allow the Lyndonville school district to participate in the “I Am a Rural Teacher” campaign and contribute local voices to a national organization.
Health Alert from Genesee County Health Department
The Genesee County Health Department is alerting the public to possible Covid-19 exposures at The Le Roy Moose Lodge and the Flying J Travel Center in Pembroke.
Contact tracing is in progress. However, unidentified individuals may have unknowingly been in contact with the positive cases.
Le Roy Moose Lodge:
• Monday, November 16th, between the hours of 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday, November 20th, between the hour of 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, November 21st, between the hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Flying J Travel Center:
• Tuesday, November 17th, between the hours of 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 18th, between the hours of 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Thursday, November 19th, between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
We advise all individuals who were at the LeRoy Moose Lodge or the Flying J Travel Center on the stated dates and times to monitor their symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms of Covid-19 develop, contact your primary care provider to seek testing immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.
Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 November 2020 at 11:09 am
New York has put more restrictions in place for part of Monroe County, where Covid cases have significantly increased.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday part of Monroe – much of the City of Rochester, and parts of the surrounding areas including Brighton, Gates and Irondequoit – would change from a precautionary yellow zone to an orange zone. (Click here to see the map of the orange zone.)
The change means schools in the orange zone close for in-person schooling and some businesses will face more restrictions, included being temporarily closed until the cases and hospitalizations drop.
“We need a reality check because these are dangerous times that we’re in,” Cuomo said on Monday “We are in a place now where there is a bad synergy – a sense of Covid fatigue.”
Much or Monroe, Erie and part of Niagara counties (North Tonawanda) are also in the less restricted yellow zones. Erie County officials worry parts of that county could be designated in a red zone, which has the most severe restrictions.
Here are the restrictions for the three zones:
Yellow Zones
Non-residential gatherings limited to 25 people, inside and outdoors.
Residential gatherings capped at 10 people, inside and outside.
Houses of worship, limited to 50 percent of maximum capacity.
Businesses all open.
Dining limited to 4 people per table, inside and outside, with bars and restaurants closing at 10 p.m. for on-premises consumption.
Schools remain open with 20 percent of in-person students and staff tested each week.
Orange Zones
Non-essential gatherings are limited to 10 people.
Certain non-essential businesses need to reduce in-person by 100 percent. Those businesses with a higher risk for transmitting Covid-19 include gyms, fitness centers or classes, barbers, hair salons, spas, tattoos or piercing parlors, nail technicians and nail salons, cosmetologists, estheticians, and all other personal care services.
Houses of worship are limited to a maximum capacity of 33 percent maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer
Any restaurant or tavern won’t be allowed to serve patrons food or beverage on premises but may be open for takeout or delivery, and provide outdoor service (as long as no seated group exceeds four people).
Schools are remote-only and closed for in-person classes
Red Zones
Non-residential gatherings prohibited.
Residential gatherings prohibited.
Houses of worship will be the lesser of a 10-person maximum or 25 percent of maximum occupancy.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Members of the National Guard stack sandbags near houses along Lake Ontario in Carlton in this photo from June 2, 2019. This spot is the peninsula near Kuckville.
Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) has called for increased outflows from Lake Ontario to protect lakeshore communities from the devastating flood damage they experienced over the past several years.
In a letter to the binational entity charged with managing outflows, the International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board (ILO-SLRB), Jacobs asked the board to allow increased flows from the St. Lawrence Seaway as was done during the winter 2020 season.
“Our shoreline communities have suffered from economic and property damage caused by severe flooding for years now,” Jacobs said. “As we continue to work toward long-standing and more permanent solutions, increasing the outflows now could provide critical temporary relief in the interim. Furthermore, the on-going COVID-19 pandemic has created extensive economic, community, and government response challenges – taking action now to prevent severe flooding will ensure those hardships are not amplified in lakeshore communities.”
The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board (ILO-SLRB) was created by the International Joint Commission (IJC) in its 2016 Order of Approval. The Board’s primary responsibility is to ensure Lake Ontario outflows meet requirements set forth by the IJC’s Plan 2014. Previously the ILO-SLRB was permitted by the IJC to deviate from Plan 2014 outflow requirements from May 2019 through June 2020. Jacobs has asked that the ILO-SLRB operate under the winter 2020 deviation rules for the upcoming season.
Recently, Jacobs joined other members of the New York Congressional Delegation in calling for the IJC to present a strategy for mitigating high-water levels. In addition, the lawmakers asked that the IJC provide an update on its ongoing review of Plan 2014 – after its implementation communities saw record high water levels and severe flooding in 2017 and 2019.
The New York State Association of Counties applauds Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signing legislation (S.7880-B Breslin/A.9952-B McDonald) to end the incineration of firefighting foam that contains toxic PFAS chemicals.
Since the 1970s, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) have been used in firefighting foams because of their ability to produce a fast-spreading foam. However, we now know that these “forever chemicals” accumulate in our bodies and the environment and have been linked to serious health effects, including birth defects, delayed development, liver and immune system damage, and cancer.
Ending the incineration of PFAS is the right thing to do to prevent these dangerous chemicals from being released into our air and water and threatening the health of neighboring communities. We commend the Governor for continuing his strong environmental legacy by signing this legislation into law and making New York the first state in the nation to prohibit the burning of firefighting foam containing PFAS.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued this statement about the ban:
“While the federal government has failed to regulate these compounds or protect the health of our communities, New York continues to respond to the threats posed by emerging contaminants like PFAS in our environment with sustained science-based actions,” Cuomo said. “While this measure will ban incineration of firefighting foam containing these compounds in cities like Cohoes, our work is not over. We remain fully committed to this effort and will continue to advance comprehensive, statewide measures which protect all New Yorkers and our environment from emerging contaminants.”
Press Release, New York Attorney General Letitia James
BUFFALO – New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and former senior leaders, Bishop Emeritus Richard J. Malone and former Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Grosz, for failing to follow mandated policies and procedures that would help to prevent the rampant sexual abuse of minors by priests within the Catholic Church.
The Office of the Attorney General’s two year-long investigation into the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults within the New York dioceses of the Catholic Church found that allegations of improper sexual conduct against diocesan priests in Buffalo were inadequately investigated, if at all, and were covered-up for years.
Even though the diocese’s leadership found sexual abuse complaints to be credible, they sheltered the accused priests from public disclosure by deeming them as “unassignable,” and permitted them to retire or go on purported medical leave, rather than face referral to the Vatican for possible removal from the priesthood.
“When trust is broken with spiritual leaders, it can lead to a crisis of faith. For years, the Diocese of Buffalo and its leadership failed to protect children from sexual abuse,” said Attorney General James. “Instead, they chose to protect the very priests who were credibly accused of these atrocious acts. Individuals who are victims of abuse deserve to have their claims timely investigated and determined, and the Buffalo Diocese refused to give them that chance. While we will never be able to undo the wrongs of the past, I can guarantee that my office will do everything in its power to ensure trust, transparency, and accountability moving forward.”
In 2002, following media reports of widespread sexual abuse of minors by priests, the United States Conference of Bishops adopted specific policies and procedures that required dioceses to conduct proper investigations, and take swift and immediate action on those investigations. Both Bishop Malone and Auxiliary Bishop Grosz personally voted for adoption of these policies, and the Diocese of Buffalo had publicly announced that, beginning in 2002, it complied with them.
During its investigation, OAG found that the Buffalo Diocese, Bishop Malone, and Auxiliary Bishop Grosz failed to comply with the measures by refusing to take substantive action when faced with claims of sexual abuse within the diocese. The diocese has recently and publicly admitted that it found substantiated allegations of improper sexual conduct against 78 diocesan priests.
Attorney General James’ civil complaint alleges that, contrary to the diocese’s governing policies and the diocese’s public statements concerning its stance on sexual abuse by priests, more than two dozen of the identified priests were not referred to the Vatican for potential removal from the priesthood — an action that only the Vatican is authorized to approve. Instead, diocese leadership granted the priests protection from public disclosure, resulting in the misuse or waste of charitable assets by supporting priests whom the diocese considered to have committed sexual abuse, and a failure to provide victims with public vindication of their claims.
The suit, filed in the New York County Supreme Court, applies New York’s civil laws governing nonprofit charitable corporations, religious corporations, and charitable assets to address the failed institutional and individual responses to the decades-long crisis of clergy sexual abuse. Under New York law, the Diocese of Buffalo and its leaders have a responsibility to discharge their duties in good faith and with the care a prudent person would use, including their duty to comply with the procedures they have publicly adopted to respond to victims and address the conduct of their employees.
The complaint illustrates these unlawful acts, in part, through a detailed examination of personnel histories for 25 priests in the diocese who were accused of abuse. After extensive delays, most were ultimately removed from ministry, but were not timely referred to the Vatican for a trial and potential removal from the priesthood.
The complaint seeks an order requiring compliance with the mandatory policies and procedures by the diocese and defendant Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, who, as Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Buffalo, serves as the interim leader of the diocese. The OAG is also seeking the appointment of an independent compliance auditor to monitor and review the diocese’s compliance with sexual abuse policies and procedures.
The claims against Bishop Malone and Auxiliary Bishop Grosz, who resigned from the diocese during the duration of the OAG investigation, seek restitution and a bar on future service in a secular fiduciary role in a nonprofit or charitable organization operating in New York.
In addition to Monday’s lawsuit, Attorney General James filed a motion to allow for the disclosure of the accused priests’ names and alleged conduct outlined in the complaint.
The OAG’s extensive investigation into the sexual abuse of children within the New York dioceses of the Catholic Church began in September 2018, following reports of priests accused of sexual abuse who had been based in New York. OAG issued subpoenas to the Diocese of Buffalo in addition to seven other dioceses in New York. The OAG’s investigation into other New York dioceses is ongoing.
The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo includes 600,000 Catholics in eight counties, including Orleans. The Diocese issued the following statement on Monday:
“We will be reviewing this lawsuit just announced by the New York Attorney General and weighing the Diocese’s response.
“In the meantime, we wish to reiterate that there is zero tolerance for sexual abuse of a minor or of sexual harassment of an adult in the Diocese of Buffalo by any member of the clergy, employee or volunteer.
“The Diocese has put in place rigorous policies and protocols governing required behavior as well as a code of conduct which all clergy are expected to abide by. Moreover, the Diocese has committed to full cooperation with all civil authorities in both the reporting and investigation of alleged crimes and complaints.”
