Times Square’s New Year’s Eve party back ‘at full
strength’ for fully vaccinated New Yorkers
BY JULIA MORO
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on
Nov. 16 that Times Square will
welcome fully vaccinated people
back on New Year’s Eve to ring in 2022
with what will be the largest public celebration
during the COVID-19 pandemic
to date.
According to de Blasio, hundreds of
thousands are expected to attend the “big,
strong, full-strength celebration.” However,
he said, every guest will be required to adhere
to strict vaccination protocols to curb
the transmission of COVID-19.
Any attendee aged 5 and older will be
required to show proof of full vaccination
to join the festivities on Dec. 31; children
under 5 years old must be accompanied by
a fully vaccinated adult. Face coverings are
also required for unvaccinated minors who
are medically able to wear one.
To be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
in time for New Year’s Eve, any attendee
not previously vaccinated will need to have
received either the one-dose Johnson &
Johnson vaccine, or the second shot of the
two-dose Pfi zer or Moderna versions, by no
later than Dec. 16; it takes two weeks after
New York City will again hold a large New Year’s Eve celebration open to fully
vaccinated individuals, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Nov. 16, 2021.
the dosage in order for the body to build
full immunity.
Attendees who are unable to get vaccinated
because of a medical disability will
be required to show proof of a negative
COVID PCR test taken within 72 hours
before the event.
The celebration will be easily accessible
online with a six-hour, commercial-free live
stream for those unable to attend.
REUTERS/AMR ALFIKY
According to Thomas Harris, the president
of the Times Square Alliance, over
270,000 people visited Times Square last
Saturday. Over the past few months, visitation
has increased by 50 percent. Harris
attributes this success to safe vaccination
efforts.
“These last few months showed us that
we need to all do our part,” Harris said.
“Last year, we were able to celebrate in
Times Square with a limited audience. This
year we’re working with medical experts
to create the safest environment we can so
that more people can enjoy the magic of
being in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.”
Each year, attendees go through a security
checkpoint before entering Times
Square, where vaccination cards will be
examined for the 2022 celebration.
De Blasio defended the decision to require
vaccinations even though the event
is outside, because of the anticipated large
gathering in tight quarters in Times Square.
“Large numbers of people, in very close
proximity for long periods of time,” de
Blasio said. “I think it’s really clear why
vaccination is called for.”
Dr. Dave Chokshi, the city’s health commissioner,
agreed with de Blasio.
“Anyone who has spent New Year’s Eve
in Times Square knows that it’s very diffi
cult to maintain distance,” Chokshi said.
“The rationale for being fully vaccinated in
that setting is to reduce the risk of transmission,
which we know can occur outdoors
even though the risk is lower. But, because
the risk is greater with larger numbers of
people in close proximity, this is the right
decision.”
Vance opens Exodus Center to help crime victims
BY AIDAN SEIDEN
The Exodus Center for Trauma Innovation
had its offi cial launch Tuesday
in East Harlem, courtesy of the
$8 million grant given from the Criminal
Justice Investment Initiative to the Exodus
Transitional Community Center.
The investment money was acquired
through asset forfeiture funds from
settlements with international banks that
violated U.S. sanctions, and was redirected
to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Offi
ce. Here D.A. Cy Vance Jr created the
Criminal Justice Investment Initiative, CJII,
and found a partnership with the Exodus
Transitional Community— an established
non-profi t organization that “provides
support services to men and women who
are in transition from incarceration to
full-integration into their communities,”
according to their website.
In a recent press release, D.A. Vance
expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration,
commenting that he “couldn’t
be more pleased to see its beautiful new facilities
in action.” He continued to say that
the “ground-breaking Center” has plans to
aid “underserved communities” in treating
those affected by trauma, and helping them
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr.
to avoid any possible malefactors.
To manage the concerns of the individuals
seeking assistance, according to
The Trauma Center, they will utilize a
three tiered approach, concentrating on
populations that have historically endured
higher rates of violence and failed access
to resources, including: “adults with
REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID
justice involvements, young adults, the
LGBTQIA+ community, and immigrant
populations.”
Hundreds of New Yorkers will potentially
benefi t from the Trauma Center’s free services,
which include signifi cant clinical and
non-clinical counseling, as well as more unconventional
means of recovery. The Trauma
Center is also offering competency education
and assistance to NYC organizations as a
way to further strengthen their understanding
of communicating and interacting with
those who have experienced trauma. The
Center is devoted to undertaking research
in these specifi c communities, and are currently
in the process of establishing a Trauma
Innovation Learning Community to enhance
this innovation.
Julio Medina, Exodus’s Founder, Executive
Director, and CEO, can relate to the
emotional pain that some of the individuals
seeking help at The Center may be enduring
— as someone who has gone through
the judicial system himself— which aided
him when designing the Exodus Center for
Trauma Innovation.
Additionally, Exodus has plans to designate
three smaller organizations that
are currently orchestrating commensurate
healing work in Northern Manhattan, and
award them with “micro-grants of $20,000
per year for three years, along with training
and support to help them grow,” according
to the CJII.
“We strive to be a staple in the East Harlem
and justice-impacted community,” said
Medina, “to advocate for services created
by the community, for the community.”
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