Monday Briefing | February 22

Photo: NY Governor Andrew Cuomo allegedly threatened Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim after Cuomo underrepresented Covid-19 deaths. Credit: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/politics/cuomo-ron-kim-nursing-home/index.html

Stories to Follow:

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has come under fire in recent days following the revelation that he underrepresented the number of Covid-19 deaths in New York’s nursing homes. The controversy began in early January, after NY Attorney General Letitia James released a Covid-19 report that found the administration’s nursing home deaths had been undercounted by nearly 50 percent. Last Thursday, Cuomo allegedly threatened the career of Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim if he did not try to cover up the scandal. Debates over Cuomo’s administration have caused Democratic leaders, including Alexandria Ocacsio-Cortez, to call for an investigation into the governor’s actions. 

A snowstorm last week overwhelmed the midwest and brought snow and freezing temperatures to Texas that the state’s infrastructure was unprepared for. As of Thursday morning, 500,000 homes and businesses in Texas were still without power. The freezing temperatures caused water pipes throughout the state to burst, leaving residents scrambling. The disaster has put Texas, its power grid and its leadership under scrutiny and has again raised questions about the state and the country’s response to climate change. 

This Week in JPI:

Last week, Nswana Samukonga’s piece, “Getting your Favorite Chocolate May Come at a Price,” was published in JPI. The article looks at the impact of the chocolate industry on West African countries. Samukonga’s piece, along with others, can be found on the JPI website at jpinyu.com.  

Happening This Week: 

NYU Grad school is hosting a virtual seminar on “Exploring Fellowship Opportunities” on Tuesday, February 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The panel will feature speakers from NYU, the University of Alabama and more. 

Also on Tuesday, the NYU Black Student Union is hosting a panel event titled “End the War on Black People: the Urgency of Reparations.” This event features panelists Dr. Michael Ralph, Dr. Vasuki Nesiah and Dr. Michael Funk and will be moderated by BSU. The event is free, and will be hosted on zoom from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

On Wednesday, Global Spiritual Life at NYU is offering a “Meditation for the Curious Beginner” event with Jess Angima. This online event is a great opportunity to try something new and get involved in wellness at NYU. 

In Your Free Time:

Over the past few weeks, nominations for the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and SAG Awards have been announced. The Golden Globes will take place this Sunday, February 28th, which gives you plenty of time to binge the nominated films you haven’t seen yet! “Mank” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” secured the most nominations this year, with six and five nominations, respectively.

This week’s Monday Briefing was brought to you by Jennifer Heiman.