democracynow--2020-04-07--Amazon "Profiting from This Pandemic" as Warehouse Workers Walk Off Job to Demand Safer Conditions

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island walked off the job and stayed home from work Monday to protest unsafe working conditions as online orders soar amidst the coronavirus pandemic .
The action came just a week after Chris Smalls , a worker at Amazon , was fired by Amazon after leading a walkout at the same warehouse , known as JFK8 .
More than 50 Amazon warehouses across the U.S. have confirmed COVID-19 cases , including the Staten Island warehouse , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus .
This is Staten Island warehouse worker Rina Cummings .
AMY GOODMAN : We turn right now to Angeles Solis , lead organizer at Make the Road New York .
She helps lead the group ’ s Beyond Amazon coalition in New York City and helped organize Monday ’ s strike .
In a minute , we ’ ll talk about mutual aid organizing among immigrant and low-income communities and Make the Road ’ s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund , and we ’ ll be speaking with Congressmember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour .
But right now we turn to Angeles Solis .
Describe the worker strikes at Amazon .
Were you there ?
How are they organizing ?
What are people calling for , Angeles ?
ANGELES SOLIS : Good morning .
To give some perspective on the scale of one of the largest warehouses on the East Coast , the JFK8 facility in Staten Island employs thousands , thousands who come to work from Manhattan , Brooklyn , Queens and Jersey .
Now , our members walked out last Monday because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility .
This Monday , yesterday , over 60 workers walked out again , because they are nearing 30 positive cases and Amazon has not done enough to institute safety protections , health protections , ensure sick leave for individuals who are not just showing symptoms but also have not tested positive .
So , members of Make the Road New York , workers organizing with New York Communities for Change , and the Athena coalition took action to call on Governor Cuomo to intervene and to stop the spread of the transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are members who say that they feel proud when they go into work and are packing essential items like diapers and food and medicine , but so many don ’ t feel the same way when they are walking into a facility risking their lives just to ship glitter tattoos and board games .
Now , if we don ’ t call on Amazon to put their billions towards protecting their workers and limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the supply chain , they are not only profiting from this pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The virus has been shown to survive on cardboard , so we are talking about protections for the workers from the warehouse through the delivery chain .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Well , Angeles , I wanted to ask you — Amazon is one of the companies that ’ s actually enjoying windfall profits as a result of the current crisis , because the number of online orders has so sharply increased — 50 % increase in the orders of food orders to Amazon .
Could you talk about how has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , inside of its plants , from what you ’ re hearing from the workers , in terms of protection for them ?
ANGELES SOLIS : Absolutely .
Far too many workers do not have enough masks , gloves or proper protective equipment .
There have not been strict enough social distancing measures inside of crowded break rooms .
Picture thousands of workers using the same turnstiles , the same microwaves , the same bathrooms .
There has been cleaning around them , but there has not been sanitation closures or commitment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
Now this is an opportunity to make very bold demands of the richest corporation in the world .
For far too long , corporations like Amazon have paid nothing in taxes .
And that has starved our safety net hospitals , our public hospitals , like Elmhurst , that require resources to deliver the care we need in this moment .
AMY GOODMAN : Vice News recently reported — well , they obtained leaked notes from an internal meeting of Amazon company executives discussing a plan to malign Chris Smalls , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” This was apparently part of Amazon ’ s PR strategy to smear Smalls and make him , quote , “ the face of the entire union/organizing movement.
” Angeles , can you respond to this ?
ANGELES SOLIS : Absolutely .
I would say that Amazon ’ s actions towards Chris indicate a pattern of disrespect for all of the employees in the workforce who speak out against dangerous working conditions .
There is a reason that Amazon has been named one of the most dangerous workplaces in America by the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is because when workers speak up about dangerous conditions on their job , Amazon swiftly suppresses worker organizing , cuts corners and ensures that workers do not have the ability to speak up on the job safely without feeling intimidated .
And their actions toward Chris are not only , quite frankly , racist , especially towards a black man in America , but indicate how they treat whistleblowers across their supply chain .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Angeles , I wanted to ask you , related to what ’ s going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been very active among the immigrant communities in Brooklyn and Queens for years — to what do you attribute this enormous spike in illnesses , especially , and deaths in Queens and the Elmhurst Hospital area ?
ANGELES SOLIS : The areas in where our members are most concentrated , the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights , Elmhurst and Corona , have become the epicenter of the coronavirus , with 20,000 cases and counting .
This is the heart of immigrant New York , one of the most diverse ZIP codes in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high density of low-income families who are forced to share in overcrowded housing , which increases the viral transmission inside of a household .
It is an area where far too many people live paycheck to paycheck .
And for a long time , denial to healthcare coverage has contributed to chronic health conditions .
Now , we have lost members of our community , members of our organization , to this virus .
And in our grief we organize .
We organize because 40 % of adult Latinos in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to bring food home to their families .
We organize because on April 1st 40 % of New York City renters came up short on rent .
And because our state has yet to enact a rent suspension , far too many have to choose between paying for food or paying for rent .
AMY GOODMAN : Angeles , just this week , I ’ ve heard of one horror story after another .
Two Mexican immigrants who have lived here for decades , brothers , died in their home , didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
Another immigrant , again undocumented , died .
What efforts are you involved with , with Make the Road , to reach out to people ?
How afraid are people to go to the hospital , like perhaps it ’ s they ’ re turning themselves in to a police station or something ?
ANGELES SOLIS : Absolutely .
The Trump administration has for far too long demonized immigrants , despite the fact that 27,000 DREAMers are at the frontlines of the medical fight in the United States .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 % of the delivery workforce are immigrants .
Two-thirds of those are undocumented .
That means that those delivering food to those who most need it , they themselves can not access life-critical benefits .
The federal and state stimulus packages fall far too short of what undocumented workers need .
This moment calls for a hard look at every single decision-maker who willfully neglects the hard-working undocumented immigrants who pay millions in taxes but do not have the ability to access social benefits .
And as such , we have several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our members are — despite being at home , it does not mean that they ’ re not in the fight .
We are still calling for a just stimulus of what we need .
We need federal and state packages that provide income streams directly to undocumented immigrants , because currently this population can not access unemployment benefits .
This virus does not discriminate based on immigration status , so it does not make sense that our administrations are not preparing and providing cash assistance so that all people , regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing .
We are organizing delivery workers to advocate for hazard pay , increased access to testing and treatment , and increased proper protective equipment , as well .
We have organized mutual aid efforts and a number of funds , including a whistleblower fund for Amazon workers across the country .
Since the strike at JFK8 , we have seen strikes in Detroit , in Chicago , and the same pattern of silencing whistleblowers from the richest corporation in the world .
We have organized an Emergency Response Fund , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support over 3,000 members and more with assistance for buying food .
We also have started a mutual aid bike brigade program , which delivers pantry essential items from Make the Road pantries in Brooklyn and Queens straight to our most at-risk members ’ homes .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Angeles , I wanted to ask you about Governor Cuomo .
He has received a lot of attention from the commercial media in recent weeks , many praising his decisive and clearheaded leadership for New York state .
I ’ m wondering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ functioned up to this point .
ANGELES SOLIS : While New York Governor Cuomo enjoys his moment of fame on a national scale , his actions behind the scenes have harmed thousands of New Yorkers .
He passed an austerity budget that fails the working poor and favors the rich .
Now , just on the topic of Amazon , while the governor of Kentucky immediately intervened when positive cases of COVID popped up in Amazon warehouses , our governor has yet to respond to the strikers calling on him to ensure their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in fact , this was the man who wanted to rename himself Amazon Cuomo .
And we need the governor of New York to enact real protections for all undocumented immigrants , for all workers in our state .
Leadership in front of a camera is one thing , but behind the scenes the budget has hurt our communities .
It has taken resources from our schools .
It has made cuts to Medicaid .
And it has failed to tax the rich and billionaires in our state that have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their part to slowing the spread of this crisis .
AMY GOODMAN : We want to thank you , Angeles Solis , lead organizer on the workplace justice team at Make the Road New York .
When we come back , we ’ ll be joined by Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the rest of the hour .
Her district includes the areas hit hardest by the coronavirus : Queens , the Bronx and Rikers Island .
Stay with us .
AMY GOODMAN : The New York Philharmonic orchestra performing Ravel ’ s Boléro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to frontline healthcare workers .
Every night , the Empire State Building pulses red in honor of all of those essential workers who are protecting everyone .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island walked off the job and stayed home from work Monday to protest unsafe working conditions as online orders soar amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The action came just a week after Chris Smalls, a worker at Amazon, was fired by Amazon after leading a walkout at the same warehouse, known as JFK8. More than 50 Amazon warehouses across the U.S. have confirmed COVID-19 cases, including the Staten Island warehouse, where at least a dozen workers have reportedly tested positive for the virus. This is Staten Island warehouse worker Rina Cummings.
RINA CUMMINGS: I’ve recently been made aware that there are more positive coronavirus cases at the warehouse. I am not going to work today because Amazon is putting my life at risk, they’re putting my fellow workers’ life at risk, as well as the community at risk. We need Jeff Bezos to close the warehouses with positive cases.
AMY GOODMAN: We turn right now to Angeles Solis, lead organizer at Make the Road New York. She helps lead the group’s Beyond Amazon coalition in New York City and helped organize Monday’s strike. In a minute, we’ll talk about mutual aid organizing among immigrant and low-income communities and Make the Road’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, and we’ll be speaking with Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the rest of the hour. But right now we turn to Angeles Solis.
Describe the worker strikes at Amazon. Were you there? How are they organizing? What are people calling for, Angeles?
ANGELES SOLIS: Good morning. To give some perspective on the scale of one of the largest warehouses on the East Coast, the JFK8 facility in Staten Island employs thousands, thousands who come to work from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey.
Now, our members walked out last Monday because of the report of 10 positive cases in the facility. This Monday, yesterday, over 60 workers walked out again, because they are nearing 30 positive cases and Amazon has not done enough to institute safety protections, health protections, ensure sick leave for individuals who are not just showing symptoms but also have not tested positive. So, members of Make the Road New York, workers organizing with New York Communities for Change, and the Athena coalition took action to call on Governor Cuomo to intervene and to stop the spread of the transmission.
Now, we have Amazon workers who are members who say that they feel proud when they go into work and are packing essential items like diapers and food and medicine, but so many don’t feel the same way when they are walking into a facility risking their lives just to ship glitter tattoos and board games. Now, if we don’t call on Amazon to put their billions towards protecting their workers and limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the supply chain, they are not only profiting from this pandemic, but they’re helping to perpetuate it. The virus has been shown to survive on cardboard, so we are talking about protections for the workers from the warehouse through the delivery chain.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, Angeles, I wanted to ask you — Amazon is one of the companies that’s actually enjoying windfall profits as a result of the current crisis, because the number of online orders has so sharply increased — 50% increase in the orders of food orders to Amazon. Could you talk about how has the company dealt with, since the crisis, inside of its plants, from what you’re hearing from the workers, in terms of protection for them?
ANGELES SOLIS: Absolutely. Far too many workers do not have enough masks, gloves or proper protective equipment. There have not been strict enough social distancing measures inside of crowded break rooms. Picture thousands of workers using the same turnstiles, the same microwaves, the same bathrooms. There has been cleaning around them, but there has not been sanitation closures or commitment to 100% pay for workers who go home.
Now this is an opportunity to make very bold demands of the richest corporation in the world. For far too long, corporations like Amazon have paid nothing in taxes. And that has starved our safety net hospitals, our public hospitals, like Elmhurst, that require resources to deliver the care we need in this moment.
AMY GOODMAN: Vice News recently reported — well, they obtained leaked notes from an internal meeting of Amazon company executives discussing a plan to malign Chris Smalls, calling him “not smart or articulate.” This was apparently part of Amazon’s PR strategy to smear Smalls and make him, quote, “the face of the entire union/organizing movement.” Angeles, can you respond to this?
ANGELES SOLIS: Absolutely. I would say that Amazon’s actions towards Chris indicate a pattern of disrespect for all of the employees in the workforce who speak out against dangerous working conditions. There is a reason that Amazon has been named one of the most dangerous workplaces in America by the national Occupational Health and Safety Administration. And it is because when workers speak up about dangerous conditions on their job, Amazon swiftly suppresses worker organizing, cuts corners and ensures that workers do not have the ability to speak up on the job safely without feeling intimidated. And their actions toward Chris are not only, quite frankly, racist, especially towards a black man in America, but indicate how they treat whistleblowers across their supply chain.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Angeles, I wanted to ask you, related to what’s going on in Queens — and Make the Road has been very active among the immigrant communities in Brooklyn and Queens for years — to what do you attribute this enormous spike in illnesses, especially, and deaths in Queens and the Elmhurst Hospital area?
ANGELES SOLIS: The areas in where our members are most concentrated, the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona, have become the epicenter of the coronavirus, with 20,000 cases and counting. This is the heart of immigrant New York, one of the most diverse ZIP codes in the country. It is an area with a high density of low-income families who are forced to share in overcrowded housing, which increases the viral transmission inside of a household. It is an area where far too many people live paycheck to paycheck. And for a long time, denial to healthcare coverage has contributed to chronic health conditions.
Now, we have lost members of our community, members of our organization, to this virus. And in our grief we organize. We organize because 40% of adult Latinos in New York City have lost their job and the ability to bring food home to their families. We organize because on April 1st 40% of New York City renters came up short on rent. And because our state has yet to enact a rent suspension, far too many have to choose between paying for food or paying for rent.
AMY GOODMAN: Angeles, just this week, I’ve heard of one horror story after another. Two Mexican immigrants who have lived here for decades, brothers, died in their home, didn’t even make it to the hospital. Another immigrant, again undocumented, died. What efforts are you involved with, with Make the Road, to reach out to people? How afraid are people to go to the hospital, like perhaps it’s they’re turning themselves in to a police station or something?
ANGELES SOLIS: Absolutely. The Trump administration has for far too long demonized immigrants, despite the fact that 27,000 DREAMers are at the frontlines of the medical fight in the United States. Now, here in New York City, almost 90% of the delivery workforce are immigrants. Two-thirds of those are undocumented. That means that those delivering food to those who most need it, they themselves cannot access life-critical benefits.
The federal and state stimulus packages fall far too short of what undocumented workers need. This moment calls for a hard look at every single decision-maker who willfully neglects the hard-working undocumented immigrants who pay millions in taxes but do not have the ability to access social benefits. And as such, we have several different initiatives and organizing efforts.
One, our members are — despite being at home, it does not mean that they’re not in the fight. We are still calling for a just stimulus of what we need. We need federal and state packages that provide income streams directly to undocumented immigrants, because currently this population cannot access unemployment benefits. This virus does not discriminate based on immigration status, so it does not make sense that our administrations are not preparing and providing cash assistance so that all people, regardless of immigration status, can participate in social distancing. We are organizing delivery workers to advocate for hazard pay, increased access to testing and treatment, and increased proper protective equipment, as well.
We have organized mutual aid efforts and a number of funds, including a whistleblower fund for Amazon workers across the country. Since the strike at JFK8, we have seen strikes in Detroit, in Chicago, and the same pattern of silencing whistleblowers from the richest corporation in the world. We have organized an Emergency Response Fund, where listeners and viewers can donate to directly support over 3,000 members and more with assistance for buying food. We also have started a mutual aid bike brigade program, which delivers pantry essential items from Make the Road pantries in Brooklyn and Queens straight to our most at-risk members’ homes.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Angeles, I wanted to ask you about Governor Cuomo. He has received a lot of attention from the commercial media in recent weeks, many praising his decisive and clearheaded leadership for New York state. I’m wondering your assessment of how Governor Cuomo has functioned up to this point.
ANGELES SOLIS: While New York Governor Cuomo enjoys his moment of fame on a national scale, his actions behind the scenes have harmed thousands of New Yorkers. He passed an austerity budget that fails the working poor and favors the rich. Now, just on the topic of Amazon, while the governor of Kentucky immediately intervened when positive cases of COVID popped up in Amazon warehouses, our governor has yet to respond to the strikers calling on him to ensure their safety and the safety of the public. And in fact, this was the man who wanted to rename himself Amazon Cuomo. And we need the governor of New York to enact real protections for all undocumented immigrants, for all workers in our state. Leadership in front of a camera is one thing, but behind the scenes the budget has hurt our communities. It has taken resources from our schools. It has made cuts to Medicaid. And it has failed to tax the rich and billionaires in our state that have the ability to provide the resources and do their part to slowing the spread of this crisis.
AMY GOODMAN: We want to thank you, Angeles Solis, lead organizer on the workplace justice team at Make the Road New York.
When we come back, we’ll be joined by Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the rest of the hour. Her district includes the areas hit hardest by the coronavirus: Queens, the Bronx and Rikers Island. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: The New York Philharmonic orchestra performing Ravel’s Boléro from their homes, sending their gratitude to frontline healthcare workers. Every night, the Empire State Building pulses red in honor of all of those essential workers who are protecting everyone.


democracynow--2020-04-07--Headlines for April  7, 2020

Headlines for April  7, 2020

Up to 97 % of U.S. residents are now under some sort of stay-at-home order , though the Trump administration has resisted imposing a national lockdown despite the urging of Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top member of his coronavirus task force .
There are now over 367,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. — more than one-quarter of the reported total cases worldwide , though the actual numbers both in the U.S. and around the world are likely much higher due to limited testing .
A bipartisan group of 11 senators , including four Republicans , have called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address the nationwide shortage of protective equipment for first responders .
A new report by the Health and Human Services watchdog confirms severe and widespread shortages of critical medical gear at hospitals across the country , putting medical staff at high risk .
When questioned about the report Monday , Trump sought to discredit the findings , suggesting the HHS inspector general was politically motivated .
Trump also lashed out at a reporter after a question about failures to test people for the coronavirus .
President Donald Trump : “ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not supposed to stand on street corners doing testing .
They go to doctors .
They go to hospitals .
They go to the state .
The state is a more localized government .
”

Up to 97% of U.S. residents are now under some sort of stay-at-home order, though the Trump administration has resisted imposing a national lockdown despite the urging of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top member of his coronavirus task force. There are now over 367,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. — more than one-quarter of the reported total cases worldwide, though the actual numbers both in the U.S. and around the world are likely much higher due to limited testing.
A bipartisan group of 11 senators, including four Republicans, have called on Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to address the nationwide shortage of protective equipment for first responders. A new report by the Health and Human Services watchdog confirms severe and widespread shortages of critical medical gear at hospitals across the country, putting medical staff at high risk. When questioned about the report Monday, Trump sought to discredit the findings, suggesting the HHS inspector general was politically motivated. Trump also lashed out at a reporter after a question about failures to test people for the coronavirus.


democracynow--2020-04-06--NY Bishop Explains Why St John Divine Cathedral Is Working with Fundamentalist Group During Pandemic

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
We ’ re broadcasting from the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States , New York City .
As millions of worshipers around the globe enter the month of April preparing to celebrate Holy Week ’ s Passover , Ramadan in the age of coronavirus , we turn now to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan .
It ’ s an iconic institution in the Upper West Side , Harlem , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400 beds for patients to make more space in hospitals for those suffering from coronavirus .
But there is a catch : The city is partnering with the Christian fundamentalist group Samaritan ’ s Purse , led by Franklin Graham , the virulently Islamophobic , anti-choice , anti-LGBTQ preacher .
Last week , the group erected an emergency field hospital in Central Park to treat spillover patients from Mount Sinai Hospital .
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised to send aides to monitor the group to prevent discrimination against patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re joined on the phone by Bishop Clifton Daniel , the dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City .
Welcome to Democracy Now !
We have a lot to ask you in a very short period of time .
But can you talk first about the decision to work with Samaritan ’ s Purse , because St. John the Divine is known by so many , for so many decades , as a pro-LGBTQ rights church , a safe space for people in many discriminated-against groups to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
AMY GOODMAN : Hi .
It ’ s great to have you with us .
Can you talk about your decision to allow your church to be used as a hospital run by Franklin Graham ’ s Samaritan ’ s Purse ?
BISHOP CLIFTON DANIEL : Absolutely .
I ’ m honored to be on your program , and I ’ m glad to speak with you .
St. John the Divine was begun in 1897 .
It ’ s chartered by the state of New York , the Legislature , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayer for all people .
And through the years , we ’ ve come to understand that to mean all means all .
So anybody is welcome in this place to worship here .
We have diverse groups worshiping and meeting here .
We ’ ve always , always been at the forefront of inclusion .
We ’ ve always been at the front .
In the AIDS crisis , St. John ’ s stepped up .
We have the National AIDS Memorial here now .
We have a very active LGBTQ ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honored to be that .
The door of this place is open to everybody .
Our heart is open to everybody .
When the COVID crisis began , I called the president Mount Sinai , St. Luke ’ s , and spoke with him about it and said , “ I don ’ t know what we ’ re going to need , but let me assure you the doors of the cathedral are open to you for whatever you need.
” So he called me back a few weeks later and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use the cathedral as overflow hospital space.
” I said , “ Of course .
I ’ m glad to do that.
” That ’ s the traditional role of cathedrals in past pandemics and plagues .
When I was contacted again , he said , “ We are partnering with Samaritan ’ s Purse , and they ’ re going to be the volunteers who set up the hospital for us.
” And I said , “ Fine.
” Now , I know what Franklin Graham stands for , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all .
But at the same time , we ’ re in the business of saving lives and helping people .
And I think if you ’ re in the desert dying of thirst and somebody hands you a glass of water , you don ’ t check their driver ’ s license .
You just say “ thank you.
” So I said “ thank you , ” and we ’ re opening the hospital now — I mean , the cathedral now to the hospital .
And today the tents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
AMY GOODMAN : And the hospital is opening with nearly 400 beds ?
AMY GOODMAN : Well , I want to thank you so much , Bishop Clifton Daniel .
And I wanted to ask if you could stay for just five more minutes as we finish this show , so that I could talk to you about religion in the time of coronavirus — AMY GOODMAN : — as we enter the sacred week — month of April , with Holy Week , with Passover , with Ramadan coming up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this .
We ’ ve been speaking with Bishop Clifton Daniel , dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City .
That does it for our show .
Democracy Now !
produced by a remarkable group of people .
Most are working from home to protect against community spread , incredibly dedicated .
I am in awe of my colleagues every day : Mike Burke , Renée Feltz , Deena Guzder , Nermeen Shaikh , Carla Wills , Tami Woronoff , Libby Rainey , Sam Alcoff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massoud , Charina Nadura , Tey-Marie Astudillo , Adriano Contreras , María Taracena .
Special thanks to Julie Crosby and Denis Moynihan .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
Thanks so much .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! We’re broadcasting from the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, New York City. As millions of worshipers around the globe enter the month of April preparing to celebrate Holy Week’s Passover, Ramadan in the age of coronavirus, we turn now to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. It’s an iconic institution in the Upper West Side, Harlem, which is set to open its doors to nearly 400 beds for patients to make more space in hospitals for those suffering from coronavirus. But there is a catch: The city is partnering with the Christian fundamentalist group Samaritan’s Purse, led by Franklin Graham, the virulently Islamophobic, anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ preacher. Last week, the group erected an emergency field hospital in Central Park to treat spillover patients from Mount Sinai Hospital. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised to send aides to monitor the group to prevent discrimination against patients.
Well, for more, we’re joined on the phone by Bishop Clifton Daniel, the dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Welcome to Democracy Now! We have a lot to ask you in a very short period of time. But can you talk first about the decision to work with Samaritan’s Purse, because St. John the Divine is known by so many, for so many decades, as a pro-LGBTQ rights church, a safe space for people in many discriminated-against groups to feel free to be their whole selves?
BISHOP CLIFTON DANIEL: Yes. Good morning, Ms. Goodman. Hello?
AMY GOODMAN: Hi. It’s great to have you with us. Can you talk about your decision to allow your church to be used as a hospital run by Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse?
BISHOP CLIFTON DANIEL: Absolutely. I’m honored to be on your program, and I’m glad to speak with you. St. John the Divine was begun in 1897. It’s chartered by the state of New York, the Legislature, and it is chartered as a house of prayer for all people. And through the years, we’ve come to understand that to mean all means all. So anybody is welcome in this place to worship here. We have diverse groups worshiping and meeting here. We’ve always, always been at the forefront of inclusion. We’ve always been at the front. In the AIDS crisis, St. John’s stepped up. We have the National AIDS Memorial here now. We have a very active LGBTQ ministry, and people serve. We are honored to be that. The door of this place is open to everybody. Our heart is open to everybody.
When the COVID crisis began, I called the president Mount Sinai, St. Luke’s, and spoke with him about it and said, “I don’t know what we’re going to need, but let me assure you the doors of the cathedral are open to you for whatever you need.” So he called me back a few weeks later and said, “We think we might need to use the cathedral as overflow hospital space.” I said, “Of course. I’m glad to do that.” That’s the traditional role of cathedrals in past pandemics and plagues.
When I was contacted again, he said, “We are partnering with Samaritan’s Purse, and they’re going to be the volunteers who set up the hospital for us.” And I said, “Fine.” Now, I know what Franklin Graham stands for, and I am not for what he stands for at all. But at the same time, we’re in the business of saving lives and helping people. And I think if you’re in the desert dying of thirst and somebody hands you a glass of water, you don’t check their driver’s license. You just say “thank you.” So I said “thank you,” and we’re opening the hospital now — I mean, the cathedral now to the hospital. And today the tents will be set up inside the cathedral.
AMY GOODMAN: And the hospital is opening with nearly 400 beds?
BISHOP CLIFTON DANIEL: Yes, ma’am.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you so much, Bishop Clifton Daniel. And I wanted to ask if you could stay for just five more minutes as we finish this show, so that I could talk to you about religion in the time of coronavirus —
BISHOP CLIFTON DANIEL: Sure.
AMY GOODMAN: — as we enter the sacred week — month of April, with Holy Week, with Passover, with Ramadan coming up, and what spirituality means at a time like this. We’ve been speaking with Bishop Clifton Daniel, dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
That does it for our show. Democracy Now! produced by a remarkable group of people. Most are working from home to protect against community spread, incredibly dedicated. I am in awe of my colleagues every day: Mike Burke, Renée Feltz, Deena Guzder, Nermeen Shaikh, Carla Wills, Tami Woronoff, Libby Rainey, Sam Alcoff, John Hamilton, Robby Karran, Hany Massoud, Charina Nadura, Tey-Marie Astudillo, Adriano Contreras, María Taracena. Special thanks to Julie Crosby and Denis Moynihan. I’m Amy Goodman. Thanks so much.


democracynow--2020-04-06--"Leaving Us in Here to Die": Prisoners Plea for Release, Protection Amid Skyrocketing Infections

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org , The War and Peace Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , as we turn now to look at the coronavirus outbreak in prisons and jails , where the number of infections is just exploding in the last weeks .
On Friday , U.S. Attorney General William Barr issued an emergency order calling for the release of vulnerable federal prisoners into home confinement , with priority given to those in the hardest-hit federal prisons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three people died from coronavirus in the past week and at least 20 more have been hospitalized .
On Friday , a prisoner there named Aaron DeShawn Campbell made a desperate plea for help in a video he filmed on a cellphone and posted on Facebook Live .
AMY GOODMAN : This comes as prisoners in Alabama told ABC News the state prisons there are , quote , “ fixin ’ to be a mass grave site.
” In Chicago ’ s Cook County Jail , at least 234 prisoners have tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states have already released prisoners since the coronavirus outbreak .
Here in New York , the epicenter of the pandemic , at least 24 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among state prisoners , but Governor Andrew Cuomo has yet to grant anyone freedom .
More than 150 specialists have signed a letter to Cuomo calling on him to act quickly to prevent more people from getting sick , by granting emergency clemencies to older , sick , pregnant or immunocompromised prisoners .
Meanwhile , a prisoner at Rikers Island in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hundreds of prisoners and prison workers at jails across the city have tested positive as calls mount to release more prisoners .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he ’ ll release about 300 people from Rikers Island and other city jails .
Rikers currently holds just over 5,000 people .
Many are there for parole violations or are serving less than a year for low-level offenses .
Many have not gone to trial yet ; they simply don ’ t have money for bail .
For more , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just released Saturday morning from Rikers .
José Díaz is an NYU graduate student in social and cultural analysis with an emphasis on Latino studies .
He was freed after a campaign calling for his release after he was arrested on a parole violation March 2nd .
Also with us , Jose Saldana , director of the group [ Release ] Aging People in Prison , or RAPP .
Jose was released from New York state prison in January 2018 after serving 38 years and four Parole Board denials .
He had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clemency is needed for incarcerated New Yorkers vulnerable to coronavirus.
” We welcome you both to Democracy Now !
José Díaz , let ’ s begin with you .
You just got out of Rikers .
Describe what ’ s happening inside .
JOSÉ DÍAZ : Hey , Amy .
Yeah , definitely .
So , some of the things that , like , I would like to just highlight , you know , that we already know that Rikers Island is a public health crisis .
Just basically you ’ re in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no way possible that you can not get sick normally , in general , and now coronavirus has like kind of intensified that sentiment .
So , that ’ s the overall idea .
So everybody ’ s just on high alert .
We don ’ t have access to any type of adequate cleaning supplies , in general , and now corona has like kind of forced officers to begin to ration the cleaning supplies even further .
And , you know , everything has just been going like pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also speak a little closer to like the inmate who passed away and the 273 inmates who were already like testing positive , as well as correction officers and health workers , and also a little bit to like half the jail being quarantined , I was in Otis Bantum Correctional Center , which is one of the jails in Rikers Island , but I wasn ’ t always there .
I was initially in Manhattan House and transferred to the barge , or the Bronx detention center , and , from there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were no cases going on of corona in the Bronx , and they transferred me into a place that had corona .
So , correctional facilities aren ’ t really thinking about the overall health of people or whether they ’ re jeopardizing people , in general .
To them , it ’ s just normal business in how things are going .
But when you think about half the jail is quarantined , I was in a housing unit called Three Upper .
By the time I left early Saturday morning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only houses not quarantined on the dorm side in Otis Bantum Correctional Center .
Everyone else was already quarantined .
Guys might have tested positive and taken out of facility .
Everyone else who was in that house with them and had been exposed to the virus were basically locked in .
You couldn ’ t get out .
And somehow , guys were still finding ways to get out and mingle amongst other people in the process , so there was also — the quarantine wasn ’ t taken serious .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s going on , which also put a lot of people on high alert .
And just not being able to have access to medical is another issue , as well .
Yeah , that ’ s pretty much what I could think about on the medical level .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , in a series of tweets , Dr. Ross MacDonald , the chief medical officer for Correctional Health Services in New York , called for the release of as many imprisoned New Yorkers as possible .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to halt the spread of COVID-19 , predicting 20 % of those infected will need hospitalization , 5 % will require ventilators .
He called the situation at Rikers a “ public health disaster unfolding before our eyes.
” José , moving on from there , you ’ ve got 5,000 people , primarily in Rikers , in the New York jail system .
New York ’ s Legal Aid Society compiled COVID-19 infection rates in New York jails with stark findings .
They calculated an infection rate of almost 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher than New York City , more than nine times higher than the hard-hit Lombardy region in Italy .
Tina Luongo , the lead attorney in Legal Aid ’ s criminal defense practice , said in a statement , “ Stop sending people to Rikers and let these New Yorkers out immediately .
Anything else is too little , too late.
” We talk about social distancing and how that saves lives .
How do you social distance in jail ?
JOSÉ DÍAZ : It ’ s impossible to social distance in jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not releasing people .
I was in on a technical violation , and I spent more than 30 days in prison .
And had it not been for the people at NYU and other groups who like basically came up and like fought for me , I wouldn ’ t be out now talking to you , Amy .
Also it ’ s like , what they ’ re doing , they ’ re like kind of like violating guys ’ due process , because they basically suspended hearings , court hearings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parole hearings .
So , that being said , that if you were able to get out or had the possibility of getting out just through the actual due process of court , that ’ s suspended , so you ’ re just sitting there .
And the issue is , it ’ s like you have guys who already like plead guilty or took a sentence for a parole violation , and since like , say , they ’ re offering like drug programs or things to that extent , the drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys to come in .
AMY GOODMAN : I mean , is this , José , is a violation of the Eighth Amendment , essentially sentencing people to death for misdemeanors , cruel and unusual punishment ?
JOSÉ DÍAZ : It definitely is .
And you don ’ t have the opportunity to basically social distance or have the opportunity to quarantine yourself from others .
And speaking more directly to what you were asking , that my bed was less than three feet away from another man ’ s bed .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself , in general .
The only thing you could possibly do is just wash your hands and hope for the best .
AMY GOODMAN : And how much access do you have to water ?
How much access do you have to soap ?
The word in the New York state prison that prisoners were making what was called New York Clean , in the Purell — the problem with not being able to get Purell , and selling it outside to people , what — 60 % alcohol meant that people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the very thing they were making to sell outside .
JOSÉ DÍAZ : Yeah .
And not only that , I didn ’ t see any hand sanitizer at all whatsoever throughout my whole time .
And I ’ ve been in three different facilities .
So , that ’ s completely — like , I don ’ t know where , you know , if it ’ s there for us .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to bring in Jose Saldana , director of RAPP .
That ’ s [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You were released from prison several years ago after serving almost 40 years and four parole board denials , your recent piece in USA Today headlined “ Clemency is needed for incarcerated New Yorkers vulnerable to coronavirus.
” We watch Governor Andrew Cuomo ’ s press briefing every day .
It ’ s broadcast by so many of the networks .
It ’ s kind of like a fireside chat in the old Fiorello La Guardia days .
And he is being hailed as a person of great compassion , really laying out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked about the prisoners of New York .
Talk about what ’ s happening and what your demand is , Jose Saldana .
JOSE SALDANA : Well , first of all , Governor Cuomo has handled this crisis with warlike preparations .
And they may be commendable , but unfortunately for those who are incarcerated , especially the elderly and those with underlying conditions , he has totally ignored their plight .
He has totally ignored that under his watch hundreds , and maybe thousands , of incarcerated elders will die because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral obligation to view this crisis from a humanistic lens , where he has to decarcerate .
All the health experts agree that in a prison setting , that is breeding grounds for this virus , decarceration is the only solution to stopping the spread of this virus .
And he has yet to listen to the experts .
AMY GOODMAN : So , talk about the problem particularly , Jose , of aging prisoners .
JOSE SALDANA : Well , aging people in prison , those 50 and over , experience a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives for years and decades .
Substandard healthcare is definitely taking its tolls in New York state prisons .
Now comes this deadly virus to infect people who are most vulnerable , not only in prison , but in our society .
For Governor Cuomo not to address this particular issue , where the health conditions are just horrendous , for the most part , and now with this deadly virus that ’ s going to have catastrophic consequences — you know , we have to look at this from a humanistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but just by looking at people who are incarcerated as human beings .
And we ’ re talking about the elders who have already languished in prison for three to four decades .
They are the ones that have transformed a generation of younger incarcerated men and women for decades .
We must look at them for what they are worth , and they have already demonstrated their human worth to us .
AMY GOODMAN : A man just died at Sing Sing of COVID-19 .
His name was Juan Mosquero .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars , Jose , during other infectious disease outbreaks , whether it was SARS , whether it was — well , why don ’ t you tell us what happened inside ?
JOSE SALDANA : Well , the problem with the Department of Correction is that they — every single health crisis that we have been impacted by in prison , they address it with punitive measures , pure punitive measures .
The hand sanitizer , here they are addressing a pandemic health crisis , and they have incarcerated people making hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , unfortunately , we ’ re getting phone calls and emails from those incarcerated , and they ’ re explaining the situation in every — just about every max prison in New York state .
The people are concerned , their families are concerned , that they are being forgotten .
They are telling us about people who are visibly sick being denied sick call .
Juan Mosquero was denied sick call .
He died in his cell .
When whole prisons are being denied sick call , being — sick call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most , they are forced to just languish in their cell sick , and getting sicker and sicker until they die .
The same thing happened at Great Meadow Correctional Facility .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , I want to thank you so much for being with us .
How many people do you want to see released , Jose Saldana ?
JOSE SALDANA : I want to see as many as possible released .
I ’ m primarily concerned with the elders , because they have already languished in prison for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to society , to their home communities , and they will enhance community safety , because they have the knowledge and the skills to address some of the social ills that we must address as a community .
And anyone that has underlying conditions that this virus will prove fatal to , you have to release them .
It ’ s the only human thing to do , and it ’ s the moral thing to do .
And if Governor Cuomo is a moral man , if he is really concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from this virus , people of color , then he will address this in a human [ inaudible ] — AMY GOODMAN : Jose Saldana , I want to thank you for being with us , director of RAPP , [ Release ] Aging People in Prison .
Jose was released just a few years ago , after serving almost 40 years in prison .
And José Díaz , NYU graduate student just released from Rikers on Saturday .
When we come back , we speak to the dean of the Cathedral of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to open the church ’ s doors to an almost 400-bed facility for patients to make room in the city ’ s overwhelmed hospitals , and their decision to work with Franklin Graham ’ s Samaritan ’ s Purse .
Stay with us .
AMY GOODMAN : Lebanese choreographer Sara Karrit , known on Instagram as “ Afro by Sara , ” dancing with her husband and son to the song “ Nobody ” by DJ Neptune during the COVID-19 quarantine in a video that ’ s gone viral .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman, as we turn now to look at the coronavirus outbreak in prisons and jails, where the number of infections is just exploding in the last weeks. On Friday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr issued an emergency order calling for the release of vulnerable federal prisoners into home confinement, with priority given to those in the hardest-hit federal prisons like FCI Elkton in Ohio, where three people died from coronavirus in the past week and at least 20 more have been hospitalized. On Friday, a prisoner there named Aaron DeShawn Campbell made a desperate plea for help in a video he filmed on a cellphone and posted on Facebook Live.
AARON DESHAWN CAMPBELL: [bleep] It was all good like a couple days ago, right? So, all of a sudden, out of the blue, [bleep] everybody just [bleep] dying and getting sick and [bleep] like this, [bleep] serious as [bleep]. Like, they’re literally leaving us in here to die.
AMY GOODMAN: This comes as prisoners in Alabama told ABC News the state prisons there are, quote, “fixin’ to be a mass grave site.” In Chicago’s Cook County Jail, at least 234 prisoners have tested positive for the virus. At least 16 states have already released prisoners since the coronavirus outbreak.
Here in New York, the epicenter of the pandemic, at least 24 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among state prisoners, but Governor Andrew Cuomo has yet to grant anyone freedom. More than 150 specialists have signed a letter to Cuomo calling on him to act quickly to prevent more people from getting sick, by granting emergency clemencies to older, sick, pregnant or immunocompromised prisoners.
Meanwhile, a prisoner at Rikers Island in New York has died of complications of COVID-19. Hundreds of prisoners and prison workers at jails across the city have tested positive as calls mount to release more prisoners. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he’ll release about 300 people from Rikers Island and other city jails. Rikers currently holds just over 5,000 people. Many are there for parole violations or are serving less than a year for low-level offenses. Many have not gone to trial yet; they simply don’t have money for bail.
For more, we’re joined by someone who was just released Saturday morning from Rikers. José Díaz is an NYU graduate student in social and cultural analysis with an emphasis on Latino studies. He was freed after a campaign calling for his release after he was arrested on a parole violation March 2nd. Also with us, Jose Saldana, director of the group [Release] Aging People in Prison, or RAPP. Jose was released from New York state prison in January 2018 after serving 38 years and four Parole Board denials. He had a recent column in USA Today headlined “Clemency is needed for incarcerated New Yorkers vulnerable to coronavirus.”
We welcome you both to Democracy Now! José Díaz, let’s begin with you. You just got out of Rikers. Describe what’s happening inside.
JOSÉ DÍAZ: Hey, Amy. Yeah, definitely. So, some of the things that, like, I would like to just highlight, you know, that we already know that Rikers Island is a public health crisis. Just basically you’re in close proximity with everyone, so there’s no way possible that you cannot get sick normally, in general, and now coronavirus has like kind of intensified that sentiment. So, that’s the overall idea. So everybody’s just on high alert. We don’t have access to any type of adequate cleaning supplies, in general, and now corona has like kind of forced officers to begin to ration the cleaning supplies even further. And, you know, everything has just been going like pretty much nuts, in general.
To also speak a little closer to like the inmate who passed away and the 273 inmates who were already like testing positive, as well as correction officers and health workers, and also a little bit to like half the jail being quarantined, I was in Otis Bantum Correctional Center, which is one of the jails in Rikers Island, but I wasn’t always there. I was initially in Manhattan House and transferred to the barge, or the Bronx detention center, and, from there, transferred into Rikers Island. There were no cases going on of corona in the Bronx, and they transferred me into a place that had corona. So, correctional facilities aren’t really thinking about the overall health of people or whether they’re jeopardizing people, in general. To them, it’s just normal business in how things are going.
But when you think about half the jail is quarantined, I was in a housing unit called Three Upper. By the time I left early Saturday morning, my house and another house were the only houses not quarantined on the dorm side in Otis Bantum Correctional Center. Everyone else was already quarantined. Guys might have tested positive and taken out of facility. Everyone else who was in that house with them and had been exposed to the virus were basically locked in. You couldn’t get out. And somehow, guys were still finding ways to get out and mingle amongst other people in the process, so there was also — the quarantine wasn’t taken serious. So, that’s pretty much like what’s going on, which also put a lot of people on high alert. And just not being able to have access to medical is another issue, as well. Yeah, that’s pretty much what I could think about on the medical level.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, in a series of tweets, Dr. Ross MacDonald, the chief medical officer for Correctional Health Services in New York, called for the release of as many imprisoned New Yorkers as possible. He said it’s now unlikely officials will be able to halt the spread of COVID-19, predicting 20% of those infected will need hospitalization, 5% will require ventilators. He called the situation at Rikers a “public health disaster unfolding before our eyes.” José, moving on from there, you’ve got 5,000 people, primarily in Rikers, in the New York jail system. New York’s Legal Aid Society compiled COVID-19 infection rates in New York jails with stark findings. They calculated an infection rate of almost 4%, 3.91%, eight times higher than New York City, more than nine times higher than the hard-hit Lombardy region in Italy. Tina Luongo, the lead attorney in Legal Aid’s criminal defense practice, said in a statement, “Stop sending people to Rikers and let these New Yorkers out immediately. Anything else is too little, too late.” We talk about social distancing and how that saves lives. How do you social distance in jail?
JOSÉ DÍAZ: It’s impossible to social distance in jail. And also, they’re not releasing people. I was in on a technical violation, and I spent more than 30 days in prison. And had it not been for the people at NYU and other groups who like basically came up and like fought for me, I wouldn’t be out now talking to you, Amy. Also it’s like, what they’re doing, they’re like kind of like violating guys’ due process, because they basically suspended hearings, court hearings, in general, but they also suspended parole hearings. So, that being said, that if you were able to get out or had the possibility of getting out just through the actual due process of court, that’s suspended, so you’re just sitting there. And the issue is, it’s like you have guys who already like plead guilty or took a sentence for a parole violation, and since like, say, they’re offering like drug programs or things to that extent, the drug programs are no longer holding or accepting guys to come in.
AMY GOODMAN: I mean, is this, José, is a violation of the Eighth Amendment, essentially sentencing people to death for misdemeanors, cruel and unusual punishment?
JOSÉ DÍAZ: It definitely is. And you don’t have the opportunity to basically social distance or have the opportunity to quarantine yourself from others. And speaking more directly to what you were asking, that my bed was less than three feet away from another man’s bed. It’s just impossible to social distance yourself, in general. The only thing you could possibly do is just wash your hands and hope for the best.
AMY GOODMAN: And how much access do you have to water? How much access do you have to soap? The word in the New York state prison that prisoners were making what was called New York Clean, in the Purell — the problem with not being able to get Purell, and selling it outside to people, what — 60% alcohol meant that people in the prisons were not allowed to use the very thing they were making to sell outside.
JOSÉ DÍAZ: Yeah. And not only that, I didn’t see any hand sanitizer at all whatsoever throughout my whole time. And I’ve been in three different facilities. So, that’s completely — like, I don’t know where, you know, if it’s there for us.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to bring in Jose Saldana, director of RAPP. That’s [Release] Aging People in Prison. You were released from prison several years ago after serving almost 40 years and four parole board denials, your recent piece in USA Today headlined “Clemency is needed for incarcerated New Yorkers vulnerable to coronavirus.” We watch Governor Andrew Cuomo’s press briefing every day. It’s broadcast by so many of the networks. It’s kind of like a fireside chat in the old Fiorello La Guardia days. And he is being hailed as a person of great compassion, really laying out the facts, but he is rarely asked about the prisoners of New York. Talk about what’s happening and what your demand is, Jose Saldana.
JOSE SALDANA: Well, first of all, Governor Cuomo has handled this crisis with warlike preparations. And they may be commendable, but unfortunately for those who are incarcerated, especially the elderly and those with underlying conditions, he has totally ignored their plight. He has totally ignored that under his watch hundreds, and maybe thousands, of incarcerated elders will die because he failed to act. He has a moral obligation to view this crisis from a humanistic lens, where he has to decarcerate. All the health experts agree that in a prison setting, that is breeding grounds for this virus, decarceration is the only solution to stopping the spread of this virus. And he has yet to listen to the experts.
AMY GOODMAN: So, talk about the problem particularly, Jose, of aging prisoners.
JOSE SALDANA: Well, aging people in prison, those 50 and over, experience a health crisis just about every day of their lives for years and decades. Substandard healthcare is definitely taking its tolls in New York state prisons. Now comes this deadly virus to infect people who are most vulnerable, not only in prison, but in our society. For Governor Cuomo not to address this particular issue, where the health conditions are just horrendous, for the most part, and now with this deadly virus that’s going to have catastrophic consequences — you know, we have to look at this from a humanistic lens, not from a legal perspective, but just by looking at people who are incarcerated as human beings. And we’re talking about the elders who have already languished in prison for three to four decades. They are the ones that have transformed a generation of younger incarcerated men and women for decades. We must look at them for what they are worth, and they have already demonstrated their human worth to us.
AMY GOODMAN: A man just died at Sing Sing of COVID-19. His name was Juan Mosquero. You were inside, you were behind bars, Jose, during other infectious disease outbreaks, whether it was SARS, whether it was — well, why don’t you tell us what happened inside?
JOSE SALDANA: Well, the problem with the Department of Correction is that they — every single health crisis that we have been impacted by in prison, they address it with punitive measures, pure punitive measures. The hand sanitizer, here they are addressing a pandemic health crisis, and they have incarcerated people making hand sanitizer that they are forbidden to have.
Now, unfortunately, we’re getting phone calls and emails from those incarcerated, and they’re explaining the situation in every — just about every max prison in New York state. The people are concerned, their families are concerned, that they are being forgotten. They are telling us about people who are visibly sick being denied sick call. Juan Mosquero was denied sick call. He died in his cell. When whole prisons are being denied sick call, being — sick call is being suspended when they need it the most, they are forced to just languish in their cell sick, and getting sicker and sicker until they die. The same thing happened at Great Meadow Correctional Facility.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you so much for being with us. How many people do you want to see released, Jose Saldana?
JOSE SALDANA: I want to see as many as possible released. I’m primarily concerned with the elders, because they have already languished in prison for decades. And they can safely be returned to society, to their home communities, and they will enhance community safety, because they have the knowledge and the skills to address some of the social ills that we must address as a community. And anyone that has underlying conditions that this virus will prove fatal to, you have to release them. It’s the only human thing to do, and it’s the moral thing to do. And if Governor Cuomo is a moral man, if he is really concerned with those who are suffering the most from this virus, people of color, then he will address this in a human [inaudible] —
AMY GOODMAN: Jose Saldana, I want to thank you for being with us, director of RAPP, [Release] Aging People in Prison. Jose was released just a few years ago, after serving almost 40 years in prison. And José Díaz, NYU graduate student just released from Rikers on Saturday.
When we come back, we speak to the dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan about plans to open the church’s doors to an almost 400-bed facility for patients to make room in the city’s overwhelmed hospitals, and their decision to work with Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: Lebanese choreographer Sara Karrit, known on Instagram as “Afro by Sara,” dancing with her husband and son to the song “Nobody” by DJ Neptune during the COVID-19 quarantine in a video that’s gone viral.


democracynow--2020-04-06--One Mask for Five 12-Hour Shifts: Harlem Hospital Nurses Demand Better Protection Amid Pandemic

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org , The War and Peace Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
We ’ re broadcasting from the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic here in the United States , New York state , where the death toll has passed 4,000 .
In New York City , the hospitals are overflowing .
Medical workers have reported using trash bags as protective gear .
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday the city has enough medical supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He asked any available healthcare workers to join the fight against the pandemic .
AMY GOODMAN : Mayor de Blasio ’ s plea comes as nurses and medical workers already on the frontlines in New York City have been protesting to demand better protections as they treat a growing wave of COVID-19 patients .
Last week , medical workers demonstrated outside Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan to protest the lack of personal protective equipment , or PPE .
Today , frontline medical workers at Harlem Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will begin at 8:30 a.m. We ’ re going outside the hospital now to speak with Sarah Dowd , registered nurse who works in a medical/surgical , or “ med/surg , ” unit at Harlem Hospital .
She ’ s been treating positive patients there .
Sarah Dowd is part of the New York State Nurses Association .
Sarah , welcome to Democracy Now !
As we speak to you , you ’ re just outside Harlem Hospital , where the protest is about to begin .
Why did you help organize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped start this because we have some very concrete needs that are not being met right now as far as taking care of patients and ensuring that workers are not infected .
We have a lot of issues with getting the gear that we need to protect ourselves .
We also have issues with getting the equipment we need to properly take care of the patients .
And we ’ re out here today not just to draw awareness to that , but we have some very concrete demands that we would like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system here .
AMY GOODMAN : So , a contingent of teachers with the Movement of Rank-and-File Educators from the United Federation of Teachers is coming to show their support in cars ?
SARAH DOWD : That ’ s correct .
We ’ re very happy for the show of solidarity from the Movement of Rank-and-File Educators .
They ’ re a grassroots movement within the United Federation of Teachers .
And they reached out to us , saying , “ How can we support you ?
” You know , they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit with the switch to online learning .
They ’ re also facing budget cuts in the most recent budget proposed by Cuomo , as are we .
And so , they just reached out to say , “ How can we show solidarity ?
” And they ’ re going to be circling the hospital in their cars .
AMY GOODMAN : If you can talk about what you ’ re seeing inside ?
How are you protecting yourself ?
How are other nurses , doctors ?
I mean , the sanitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to so much .
And at the same time , you have President Trump , day after day at his White House briefings , saying New York has enough , and maybe they ’ re hoarding or selling the materials out the back .
SARAH DOWD : And that ’ s just a ridiculous comment to make .
I mean , we have enough by their standards , but those are not the standards of healthcare professionals .
Those are not the standards of people that have been working with patients with infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are imposed because of this panic about resources .
And we ’ re hearing that there are more N95s .
We ’ re demanding that we have a better policy for N95s .
Right now it ’ s kind of come to us using one for five shifts , which is up to 60 hours of work with the same mask .
Those haven ’ t been proven to be effective for that length of time , and it ’ s not a risk that we ’ re willing to take .
AMY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you repeat : How long are you expected to wear the same mask ?
SARAH DOWD : We ’ re expected to use the same mask for five 12-hour shifts .
AMY GOODMAN : Five 12-hour shifts .
That ’ s not seeing five patients ; that ’ s 60 hours of work .
SARAH DOWD : That ’ s correct .
So we ’ re out here to demand a change to that policy .
There ’ s other local hospitals that have changed that policy .
We ’ re also looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick healthcare workers .
A lot of us are being told to come back to work while we ’ re still having symptoms .
And the risk to the rest of the staff and to the patients , not to mention the workers who are trying to work through those symptoms , is too high .
AMY GOODMAN : I wanted to ask you about the squad .
Actually , tomorrow on Democracy Now !
, we ’ ll be interviewing Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who is part of another Squad of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about your squad , the New York City nurses who you call the “ radical nurse squad.
” We ’ ve interviewed Kelley Cabrera at Jacobi , Tre Kwon at Mount Sinai — she was just outside protesting on Friday .
There ’ s you , Sarah Dowd , standing outside Harlem Hospital now , and Lillian Udell at Lincoln Hospital .
Talk about how you ’ re organizing , the four of you , with so many others .
And you ’ re all women .
SARAH DOWD : Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relationship that we have with each other has really helped to strengthen us , particularly now .
You know , we ’ ve always been a group of nurses that believe in our co-workers , in rank-and-file nurses , in their ability to run the healthcare system and our ability to run our union effectively from the ground up , not from the top down .
We believe both the union and the healthcare system should work that way .
And particularly now has been a time where we can look to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tre and Kelley are out here now with me .
And the solidarity from all of them has been incredible and given me so much strength .
AMY GOODMAN : Sarah , can you talk about your access to tests , both patients and also you as nurses ?
If you have COVID symptoms , we are now continually learning from the chief doctors of this country that the majority of people who come down with COVID are transmitted the disease by an asymptomatic person .
So what happens when you actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : So , by the time you ’ re showing symptoms , it ’ s late .
You ’ ve already potentially passed it .
You know , I ’ m not out here to be an infectious diseases expert , but the way that it works with a lot of viruses is that by the time you ’ re showing symptoms , you ’ ve already potentially transmitted it .
And then there ’ s people that , of course , can transmit it without showing any symptoms at all .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the healthcare setting where workers are not being tested , because we don ’ t know if we have it , and we ’ re potentially exposing patients .
And so , it ’ s an absolutely horrifying thing to have in the back of your head that you might be out here trying to help heal people and in fact be doing the exact opposite .
And it ’ s not a feeling that a lot of us can readily live with .
And so , we ’ re glad that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s late .
It ’ s good they ’ re finally doing it , but it also needs to be much more widespread , including the testing of asymptomatic people on a routine basis , particularly if they ’ re working in a direct care setting .
AMY GOODMAN : Can you talk about the deaths of patients on your watch ?
Over and over , people are dying , and dying alone , so your job as a nurse goes so far beyond what you normally do , with no families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time fearful that you could contract the disease .
SARAH DOWD : Yes , I mean , it ’ s kind of dancing a line , and we ’ re all kind of trying to dance it the best way we know how .
We want to support our patients .
We don ’ t want our patients to die alone .
We do feel a risk going in the room and being with them without the appropriate gear .
I ’ ve had patients that , you know , are close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of you can take sort of the briefest moments to hold their hand and try to just convey the message that I ’ m here for you , you ’ re not alone .
But , you know , at the end of the day , like , if we had adequate staff , it would feel much less like we ’ re put in a position where we have to choose between sharing those moments with our patients and caring for patients we know are much more likely to survive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to go home if you show COVID symptoms ?
SARAH DOWD : It ’ s seven days and then 72 hours without a fever .
AMY GOODMAN : And do you get a test afterwards ?
SARAH DOWD : As of now , we are being tested , for symptomatic employees .
Asymptomatic employees are going to be tested starting April 8th .
AMY GOODMAN : And very quickly , can you , for a national audience , even for people in New York City , Health and Hospitals Corporation , understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private hospitals , and is there different treatment within ?
You ’ re standing outside of Harlem Hospital , which is a city hospital .
SARAH DOWD : Yes .
Yeah , so there — AMY GOODMAN : So often understaffed , undersupported .
And then if you could go to the issue of — I mean , the issue of problems even before COVID and the coronavirus ?
SARAH DOWD : Right .
So , I do work at a public hospital within the Health and Hospitals Corporation system .
There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other institutions .
And there have always been funding disparities .
You know , we rely on public funding , that has been cut continuously over the past several decades .
We ’ re looking at some of those cuts now with the introduction of the Medicaid cuts in this most recent state budget .
And really , the crux of the issue here is that we ’ re looking at a system of healthcare , not just in New York , but throughout the country , that prioritizes extracting a profit while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually participating in some kind of widespread healing effort .
And this is what happens when you have people running the system that are not direct workers , when they ’ re absorbed with their bottom line , and the politicians who write the policy are owned by them .
And really , the people that suffer are the people on the frontline and the patients .
And so , that ’ s why it ’ s been really interesting to hear this idea of nationalizing the healthcare system come out of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with a scarcity of resources and disjointed resources .
And with a nationalized system , what we have is the ability to share resources across the system as needs arise .
AMY GOODMAN : Finally , Sarah , what gives you the strength ?
What gives you the remarkable bravery to go to work every day , when you encounter your own preexisting condition ?
SARAH DOWD : Right .
So , I ’ m type 1 diabetic since the age of 2 .
I ’ m now 30 years old .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for people to be sitting on the sidelines .
We need to be out here in it .
We need to absolutely have our voices heard .
We need to make big demands of the system , that it be changed in a way that can make it so that in the future we ’ re not cut to the bone in a situation like this , that we have a robust healthcare system .
And that ’ s what we ’ re out here today to ask for .
SARAH DOWD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All , even further measures such as nationalizing the healthcare system .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , I thank you so much , Sarah , for being there , registered nurse working at med/surg — that ’ s medical/surgical unit — at the city hospital , the public hospital , Harlem Hospital .
She ’ s part of New York State Nurses Association union , helped to organize today ’ s frontline medical workers ’ protest .
Thank you for speaking above the sirens that are coming and going , that have become @ @ @ @ @ @ @

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman. We’re broadcasting from the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic here in the United States, New York state, where the death toll has passed 4,000. In New York City, the hospitals are overflowing. Medical workers have reported using trash bags as protective gear. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday the city has enough medical supplies to last until Tuesday or Wednesday. He asked any available healthcare workers to join the fight against the pandemic.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO: Please, we need your help. We need supplies. We need medical personnel to come forward to volunteer. We will compensate them, but we need them to come forward and give us their time and energy where it’s needed most.
AMY GOODMAN: Mayor de Blasio’s plea comes as nurses and medical workers already on the frontlines in New York City have been protesting to demand better protections as they treat a growing wave of COVID-19 patients. Last week, medical workers demonstrated outside Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan to protest the lack of personal protective equipment, or PPE.
Today, frontline medical workers at Harlem Hospital are preparing a protest of their own that will begin at 8:30 a.m. We’re going outside the hospital now to speak with Sarah Dowd, registered nurse who works in a medical/surgical, or “med/surg,” unit at Harlem Hospital. She’s been treating positive patients there. Sarah Dowd is part of the New York State Nurses Association.
Sarah, welcome to Democracy Now! As we speak to you, you’re just outside Harlem Hospital, where the protest is about to begin. Why did you help organize this protest?
SARAH DOWD: I helped start this because we have some very concrete needs that are not being met right now as far as taking care of patients and ensuring that workers are not infected. We have a lot of issues with getting the gear that we need to protect ourselves. We also have issues with getting the equipment we need to properly take care of the patients. And we’re out here today not just to draw awareness to that, but we have some very concrete demands that we would like to have met by the public healthcare system here.
AMY GOODMAN: So, a contingent of teachers with the Movement of Rank-and-File Educators from the United Federation of Teachers is coming to show their support in cars?
SARAH DOWD: That’s correct. We’re very happy for the show of solidarity from the Movement of Rank-and-File Educators. They’re a grassroots movement within the United Federation of Teachers. And they reached out to us, saying, “How can we support you?” You know, they’re also going through it quite a bit with the switch to online learning. They’re also facing budget cuts in the most recent budget proposed by Cuomo, as are we. And so, they just reached out to say, “How can we show solidarity?” And they’re going to be circling the hospital in their cars.
AMY GOODMAN: If you can talk about what you’re seeing inside? How are you protecting yourself? How are other nurses, doctors? I mean, the sanitation staff in these emergency rooms are exposed to so much. And at the same time, you have President Trump, day after day at his White House briefings, saying New York has enough, and maybe they’re hoarding or selling the materials out the back.
SARAH DOWD: And that’s just a ridiculous comment to make. I mean, we have enough by their standards, but those are not the standards of healthcare professionals. Those are not the standards of people that have been working with patients with infectious diseases. They’re standards that are imposed because of this panic about resources. And we’re hearing that there are more N95s. We’re demanding that we have a better policy for N95s. Right now it’s kind of come to us using one for five shifts, which is up to 60 hours of work with the same mask. Those haven’t been proven to be effective for that length of time, and it’s not a risk that we’re willing to take.
AMY GOODMAN: Wait. Sarah, can you repeat: How long are you expected to wear the same mask?
SARAH DOWD: We’re expected to use the same mask for five 12-hour shifts.
AMY GOODMAN: Five 12-hour shifts. That’s not seeing five patients; that’s 60 hours of work.
SARAH DOWD: That’s correct.
AMY GOODMAN: The same single mask?
SARAH DOWD: That’s correct. So we’re out here to demand a change to that policy. There’s other local hospitals that have changed that policy. We’re also looking to have the full 14 days for sick healthcare workers. A lot of us are being told to come back to work while we’re still having symptoms. And the risk to the rest of the staff and to the patients, not to mention the workers who are trying to work through those symptoms, is too high.
AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to ask you about the squad. Actually, tomorrow on Democracy Now!, we’ll be interviewing Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is part of another Squad of women in Congress. But I wanted to talk about your squad, the New York City nurses who you call the “radical nurse squad.” We’ve interviewed Kelley Cabrera at Jacobi, Tre Kwon at Mount Sinai — she was just outside protesting on Friday. There’s you, Sarah Dowd, standing outside Harlem Hospital now, and Lillian Udell at Lincoln Hospital. Talk about how you’re organizing, the four of you, with so many others. And you’re all women.
SARAH DOWD: Yes, we’re — I mean, the relationship that we have with each other has really helped to strengthen us, particularly now. You know, we’ve always been a group of nurses that believe in our co-workers, in rank-and-file nurses, in their ability to run the healthcare system and our ability to run our union effectively from the ground up, not from the top down. We believe both the union and the healthcare system should work that way. And particularly now has been a time where we can look to each other for ideas, for support. Tre and Kelley are out here now with me. And the solidarity from all of them has been incredible and given me so much strength.
AMY GOODMAN: Sarah, can you talk about your access to tests, both patients and also you as nurses? If you have COVID symptoms, we are now continually learning from the chief doctors of this country that the majority of people who come down with COVID are transmitted the disease by an asymptomatic person. So what happens when you actually start to show symptoms?
SARAH DOWD: So, by the time you’re showing symptoms, it’s late. You’ve already potentially passed it. You know, I’m not out here to be an infectious diseases expert, but the way that it works with a lot of viruses is that by the time you’re showing symptoms, you’ve already potentially transmitted it. And then there’s people that, of course, can transmit it without showing any symptoms at all. And that’s a particular concern in the healthcare setting where workers are not being tested, because we don’t know if we have it, and we’re potentially exposing patients. And so, it’s an absolutely horrifying thing to have in the back of your head that you might be out here trying to help heal people and in fact be doing the exact opposite. And it’s not a feeling that a lot of us can readily live with. And so, we’re glad that they’re rolling out testing. It’s late. It’s good they’re finally doing it, but it also needs to be much more widespread, including the testing of asymptomatic people on a routine basis, particularly if they’re working in a direct care setting.
AMY GOODMAN: Can you talk about the deaths of patients on your watch? Over and over, people are dying, and dying alone, so your job as a nurse goes so far beyond what you normally do, with no families allowed in, and yet at the same time fearful that you could contract the disease.
SARAH DOWD: Yes, I mean, it’s kind of dancing a line, and we’re all kind of trying to dance it the best way we know how. We want to support our patients. We don’t want our patients to die alone. We do feel a risk going in the room and being with them without the appropriate gear. I’ve had patients that, you know, are close to death and pass away, and kind of you can take sort of the briefest moments to hold their hand and try to just convey the message that I’m here for you, you’re not alone. But, you know, at the end of the day, like, if we had adequate staff, it would feel much less like we’re put in a position where we have to choose between sharing those moments with our patients and caring for patients we know are much more likely to survive.
AMY GOODMAN: How long do you have to go home if you show COVID symptoms?
SARAH DOWD: It’s seven days and then 72 hours without a fever.
AMY GOODMAN: And do you get a test afterwards?
SARAH DOWD: As of now, we are being tested, for symptomatic employees. Asymptomatic employees are going to be tested starting April 8th.
AMY GOODMAN: And very quickly, can you, for a national audience, even for people in New York City, Health and Hospitals Corporation, understand the difference between city hospitals and the private hospitals, and is there different treatment within? You’re standing outside of Harlem Hospital, which is a city hospital.
SARAH DOWD: Yes. Yeah, so there —
AMY GOODMAN: So often understaffed, undersupported. And then if you could go to the issue of — I mean, the issue of problems even before COVID and the coronavirus?
SARAH DOWD: Right. So, I do work at a public hospital within the Health and Hospitals Corporation system. There’s a private sector system that comprises other institutions. And there have always been funding disparities. You know, we rely on public funding, that has been cut continuously over the past several decades. We’re looking at some of those cuts now with the introduction of the Medicaid cuts in this most recent state budget.
And really, the crux of the issue here is that we’re looking at a system of healthcare, not just in New York, but throughout the country, that prioritizes extracting a profit while making people feel better, instead of actually participating in some kind of widespread healing effort. And this is what happens when you have people running the system that are not direct workers, when they’re absorbed with their bottom line, and the politicians who write the policy are owned by them. And really, the people that suffer are the people on the frontline and the patients. And so, that’s why it’s been really interesting to hear this idea of nationalizing the healthcare system come out of this, because right now we’re dealing with a scarcity of resources and disjointed resources. And with a nationalized system, what we have is the ability to share resources across the system as needs arise.
AMY GOODMAN: Finally, Sarah, what gives you the strength? What gives you the remarkable bravery to go to work every day, when you encounter your own preexisting condition?
SARAH DOWD: Right. So, I’m type 1 diabetic since the age of 2. I’m now 30 years old. You know, this is not a time for people to be sitting on the sidelines. We need to be out here in it. We need to absolutely have our voices heard. We need to make big demands of the system, that it be changed in a way that can make it so that in the future we’re not cut to the bone in a situation like this, that we have a robust healthcare system. And that’s what we’re out here today to ask for.
AMY GOODMAN: You’re supporting Medicare for All?
SARAH DOWD: Yes, absolutely, Medicare for All, even further measures such as nationalizing the healthcare system.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, I thank you so much, Sarah, for being there, registered nurse working at med/surg — that’s medical/surgical unit — at the city hospital, the public hospital, Harlem Hospital. She’s part of New York State Nurses Association union, helped to organize today’s frontline medical workers’ protest. Thank you for speaking above the sirens that are coming and going, that have become the soundtrack of New York City.


democracynow--2020-04-06--Headlines for April  6, 2020

Headlines for April  6, 2020

New York remains the epicenter of the crisis in the U.S. , representing nearly half of the country ’ s fatalities .
Over the weekend , more than 1,200 New Yorkers died within a 48-hour window , bringing the state ’ s official death toll to over 4,000 .
There are over 123,000 confirmed cases .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has enough medical supplies to last until Tuesday or Wednesday , as he repeated a plea for any available healthcare workers to join the fight against the pandemic .
Mayor Bill de Blasio : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We need supplies .
We need medical personnel to come forward to volunteer .
We will compensate them , but we need them to come forward and give us their time and energy where it ’ s needed most.
” At his briefing , Mayor de Blasio also blamed the surge in New York cases on the lack of early testing and mobilization from the federal government .
As New York races to keep up with the explosion of coronavirus cases , progressive critics say the state budget agreed to by Governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week will harm New Yorkers already suffering the most from the coronavirus crisis .
The $ 177 billion budget will slash the state ’ s Medicaid program by $ 2.5 billion a year , including a $ 400 million cut in money for hospitals .
The budget also rolls back bail reform .
Meanwhile , a prisoner at Rikers Island in New York has died of complications from COVID-19 .
Hundreds of prisoners and prison workers at facilities across the city have tested positive as calls mount to release more detainees in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

New York remains the epicenter of the crisis in the U.S., representing nearly half of the country’s fatalities. Over the weekend, more than 1,200 New Yorkers died within a 48-hour window, bringing the state’s official death toll to over 4,000. There are over 123,000 confirmed cases. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has enough medical supplies to last until Tuesday or Wednesday, as he repeated a plea for any available healthcare workers to join the fight against the pandemic.
Mayor Bill de Blasio: “Please, we need your help. We need supplies. We need medical personnel to come forward to volunteer. We will compensate them, but we need them to come forward and give us their time and energy where it’s needed most.”
At his briefing, Mayor de Blasio also blamed the surge in New York cases on the lack of early testing and mobilization from the federal government.
As New York races to keep up with the explosion of coronavirus cases, progressive critics say the state budget agreed to by Governor Cuomo and the New York Legislature last week will harm New Yorkers already suffering the most from the coronavirus crisis. The $177 billion budget will slash the state’s Medicaid program by $2.5 billion a year, including a $400 million cut in money for hospitals. The budget also rolls back bail reform.
Meanwhile, a prisoner at Rikers Island in New York has died of complications from COVID-19. Hundreds of prisoners and prison workers at facilities across the city have tested positive as calls mount to release more detainees in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus.