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COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER OBJECTS TO NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SETTING UP TENT SHELTERS AT ORCHARD BEACH IN THE BRONX
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From WVOX 1460 RADIO. September 27, 2022:
Westchester County Executive broadcasting on WVOX Radio in his weekly broadcast (7:10 A.M. Tuesdays) this morning announced he had protested New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to house Texas refugees in tents at Orchard Beach in the Bronx.
The refugees bused to New York from Texas last week in a series of 5 heated and climate-controlled tent structures in the parking lot at Orchard Beach in the Bronx where they will be given food, medical attention and legal support.
Latimer said that residents of New Rochelle (one of whom called in to protest the refugee facility presence so close to her New Rochelle neighborhood just before he took the air) and the city of New Rochelle had expressed dismay over the decision. Latimer said he had formally protested the establishment of the tent shelters to Mayor Adams’ office.
Mayor Adams who is in Puerto Rico in concern for the recent hurricane that hit that island, announced last week the effort was to house some of the 13,000 asylum seekers have entered the New York City shelter system and created overcrowding in the city shelters.
Mr. Latimer said on the air Westchester had no control over what Mayor Adams decided to do within the New York City limits. He expressed concern that establishing the tent structures there was a matter of interest due to proximity to Westchester neighboring communities. He did not say what his personal concerns were.
On other issues, Mr. Latimer said Westchester residents were very concerned about the economy, crime (which he blamed on current media emphasis on crime incidents) and affordable housing (Editor’s note: costs of rents, mortgages–6% are going up).
On covid, Mr. Latimer said the disease was down from 2,000 active cases and was no longer making persons who get it as sick as they did in the past, usually only suffering for about 2 days. He said it was going to be a disease people will have to expect to be a problem going forward they will have to live with.
Mr. Latimer’s weekly “State of the County”report is heard on the Dennis and Tonny Good Morning Westchester program ON WVOX 1460 AM from 7:10 to 7:30 A.M. and worldwide on WVOX.com
FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED NY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS IN 2022: $110 MILLION. GOVERNOR HOCHUL CRACKS DOWN. NEW STATE MATCH TO EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM CATCHES DOUBLE-DIPPERS
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DOL to Seek Repayment and Refer Nonpayment to Law Enforcement As Needed
New Fraud Detection Technology Part of DOL’s Four-Year Modernization Effort
Governor Kathy Hochul Monday announced actions to crack down on unemployment insurance fraud after a New York State Department of Labor investigation found that insurance fraud accounted for more than $11 million in benefits payments in August.
These benefits were paid almost exclusively to those working while also collecting unemployment insurance payments during the pandemic.
Following the Department of Labor’s investigation, Governor Hochul announced that the State would seek repayment for fraudulent benefits payments and refer nonpayment to state law enforcement. Based on this investigation, the Department of Labor Office of Special Investigations is on pace to uncover $110 million in fraudulently attained benefits this year.
“At the height of the pandemic, when our state experienced an unprecedented unemployment crisis, these fraudulent unemployment insurance claims took resources away from New Yorkers who needed them most,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is taking action to step up our investigations of unemployment insurance fraud, hold those who take advantage of the system accountable, and protect this crucial benefit for New Yorkers in need.”
The fraudulent payments were identified by DOL using an upgraded fraud detection system.
The system allows investigators to more efficiently review cases and streamlines records requests to employers in order to confirm dates of employment.
If the system detects a fraudulent payment, the claimant has an opportunity to explain the discrepancy.
Following the review, if the claimant is found to have worked while collecting benefits, DOL will take steps to ensure that ill-gotten payments are returned.
This includes establishing repayment plans, garnishing state and federal tax returns and referring matters of nonpayment to state and/or federal law enforcement, as needed.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “When someone files a fraudulent unemployment insurance claim, they are stealing from New Yorkers. The Department remains vigilant and will continue to ensure that these criminals are held accountable. We thank businesses and employers for working with us to uncover fraud.”
This new system is part of NYSDOL’s modernization efforts which include a 4-year plan to enhance customer experience and reduce fraud. In June, Governor Hochul announced that NYSDOL is halfway through this plan.
NYSDOL is committed to ensuring fraudulent UI claims are prevented and corrected. To report UI fraud and learn more visit the Report Fraud page on the NYSDOL website.
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THROUGH SATURDAY, SEPT 18-24, WESTCHESTER NEW COVID CASES STAYED VIRTUALLY EVEN 1,465 NEW CASES LAST WEEK, 1,468 2 WEEKS AGO AS COVID TRACKER PLAYS CATCHUP WITH COVID AFTER 3 DAY “MAINTENANCE”
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NY HEALTH STOPS COVID 19 TRACKER FOR “MAINTENANCE” FOR 3 DAYS. CDC REPORTS NEW WESTCHESTER INFECTIONS HAVE GONE FROM “Low” to “MEDIUM.” WEEKLY NEW CASES THROUGH 5 DAYS: 1,163– ON TRACK FOR 1,534 UP 4%
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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE. From the NYS Dept of Health Covid 19 Tracker (Suspended Temporarily). Observation and Analysis by John F. Bailey. September 25, 2022 UPDATED 12 NOON EDT WITH THURSDAY INFECTIONS JUST RELEASED AND WHAT THEY MEAN:
WPCNR regrets to report that it cannot report in latest trend in new covid infections for Westchester County. That is because new case numbers have not been reported across the state for 3 days, Thursday Friday and probably Saturday.
After new covid infections in Westchester County rose 43% for the week of September 11 to 17 10 1,468, the State Covid Tracker after a report through Wednesday showed 966 more new infections Sunday,Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There was no report on Friday for the Thursday positives and no report on Saturday on the Friday infections. We await a resumption in Covid 19 numbers today.
THIS JUST IN: 11:30 a.m. WITH THE FIGURES FOR THURSDAY NEW INFECTIONS IN WESTCHESTER, 197 NEW POSITIVES BRINGING LAST WEEK TOTAL THROUGH THURSDAY TO 1,163. IF LAST WEEK FRIDAY AND SATURDAY TOTALS EQUAL THE SEPT 11-17 TOTALS WESTCHESTER WILL TOTAL 1,534 FOR LAST WEEK ENDED YESTERDAY; THAT IS AN INCREASE OF 197 OR 4%.
Westchester County population of 1,004,000 people averaged 212 persons.
The infection rates (lab verified) averaged 7-1/2% of all tested on an average of 3,092 a day being tested, or 229 positives a day through last Thursday 5 days, according to this mornings Covid Tracker Reporter. The 7-1/2% positive rate means the 1,026 persons infected with covid in the week of September 4 to 11 infected 508 persons or 1 person infected 1/2 a person…so far this last week up a tad from when 1,246 infected the Sep 4-11 week infected 1,026 two weeks later.
Of those infected September 4 to 11 or 1 person infected 1/4 of a person–almost even with the Stabilization ratio of 1 infectee infecting 1 other person over two weeks that starts to reduce the growth of the disease. This is why taking care to get vaccinated and not spreading the disease efforts are important to letting the economy the socializations the learning in schools to get better!
At midweek, the Covid 19 Tracker announced that it was suspending daily Covid infection numbers after reporting Wednesday new infections in Westchester as across the state for “Maintenance.”
The 166 infections last Sunday, 256 infections Monday, 309 infections Tuesday and 235 infections Wednesday in Westchester County totaled 966, are on track for 2,000 infections for the week but may diminish Thursday and Friday.
This upshot the first 4 days of last week alone leads this reporter to believe the Thursday Friday Saturday counts would be instructive as to whether like last September when schools resumed and social distancing and remote learning was in place — the pace of infections is critical to see — if with open schools with no social distanced classrooms, self testing only, and optional masking policies whether infections ARE in a surge.
Other than “Maintenance,” no other explanation for suspending covid counts across New York State was given as to why after 2 and ½ years in place the covid tracker needed maintenance, when for those same 2-1/2 years it was the clearest indicator in Westchester and every county where they were in controlling covid-19 and its gang of varients.
The Center for Disease Control believes Westchester is growing, moving its infection rate risk to “Medium.”
The question is whether the Department of Health is improving their surveillance through their maintenance, drilling down into average days sick, population-clear statements of how many are infected in each county, demographics on children up to 5 getting sick, children 5 to 18, and adults over 18 to 65, and of course seniors, 65 and up. These improvements would go a long way to proving to the population the disease is not as seriously affecting people who get. This kind of reporting should have been done all along.
The new report this morning just issued at 11 A.M. (the earliest I can remember the covid tracker data ever being issued, except when Governor Cuomo was doing his daily updates, does not appear to have changed in the information provided. And the good news is the decline we have seen in the Thursday Friday Saturday figures appear to be stabilized in Westchester but not declining or rising. The lack of consistent decline is a worry.
Now after no consecutive day stoppages, I can remember in 2-1/2 years the Covid 19 Tracker stops for 3 days?
STOPS when the CDC upgrades Westchester to “medium?”
STOPS when Nassau and Suffolk Counties, after averaging 600 new infections a day a week ago ballooned to 1,106 new covid cases last Wednesday and NYC (all five boroughs,) showed 2,314?
STOPS weekly reports by School and school district of positives in students, teachers, administrators and staff – the one report that showed parents and officials where they stood on controlling the epidemic in our most cherished population…our children?
(That is, except for some delay of perhaps 1-day after 3-day weekends,which were never consistent, and which were never explained or quantified by day in a comprehensive manner in the first daily covid report after the one-day delay, a quibble of mine.)
I look forward to maintenance of the covid tracker, improving the report, and hopefully not simplifying, issuing it in more of a delayed schedule, since we do not know what the maintenance is that needs to be done,it is concerning that the best indicator we have that puts out the facts on covid may put out the facts in a less transparent, more comforting manner and diminishing the real impact this disease continues to have.
Under no circumstances should the state kill the Covid Tracker report or suspend it. It is obvious that public officials “spin” figures and give the public the impression the disease is not as widespread and we are getting back to normal. Comparisons to the past are made to allay fears of the public. That is nice. But it does not tell persons what is happening in real time. WPCNR does this. It is news that no one wants to hear but they need to know.
Any effort to phase out covid tracking is a tragic mistake.
And in a report not to be believed, on Friday night in another part of the CDC, new guidance was issued:
Masking is now considered not necessary in 25% of counties without high level of infections in hospitals, nursing homes, and places where medical services are provided
(That is, except for some delay of perhaps 1-day after 3-day weekends,which were never consistent, and which were never explained or quantified by day in a comprehensive manner in the first daily covid report after the one-day delay, a quibble of mine.)
Now, the CDC says facilities in just over a quarter of counties can “choose not to require” all doctors, patients, and visitors to mask.
“Updates were made to reflect the high levels of vaccine-and infection-induced immunity and the availability of effective treatments and prevention tools,” the CDC said.
Government should not be rooters for a return to normal because it is beneficial to the economy and should not ignore what the covid rise in infections tells them.
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CITY ALLOWS CONTROVERSIAL WIRELESS LEGISLATION GUIDELINES TO STAND AND BECOME LAW BY LETTING 60-day MORATORIUM FOR ALTERATIONS DEADLINE DATE EXPIRE WITHOUT CHANGES IN THE NEW LAW.
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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL EXAMINER By John F. Bailey. September 24, 2022:
Verizon may begin installation of the company 5G wireless expansion in White Plains at will.
The city administration allowed the 60 day moratorium on implementation of the city-created upgraded regulations for monitoring new wireless installation of transmitters on locations throughout the city to expire this week.
The city did so without taking up new calls for stricter bans on locations near residences and monitorings of radiation levels by 5G Westchester, a advocacy group, WPCNR has learned.
There has been no official announcement of this by the city or by Verizon when the citywide 5G installations will start.
It is not known yet whether the anti 5G Wireless group demanding tighter protections for city residents will initiate legal action to halt the law from going into effect.
WHITE PLAINS WEEK TONIGHT THE SEPT. 23 REPORT 7:30 P.M. COUNTYWIDE ON FIOS CH 45, AND WP OPTIMUM CH 76 & WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG
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TONIGHT AT 8 ON “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” FIOS CHANNEL 45 AND WHITE PLAINS OPTIMUM CH 76 AND www.wpcommunitymedia.org: “SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES OCT 1” WITH RICHARD CIRRULI OF THE DEMITASSE PLAYERS –A FUNDAISER FOR MENTAL HEALTH FEATURING A SERIES OF ORIGINAL WHITE PLAINS PRODUCTIONS OF EXISTENTIAL MOVIES DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
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