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WPCNR BULLETIN. From Governor Hochul’s Press Office. October 25, 2021 9 PM EDT:
National Weather Service Predicting Significant Rainfall Over Next Two Days in Capital Region, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, New York City and Southern Tier Regions
Governor Urges New Yorkers to Exercise Caution Ahead of Tuesday Morning Commute and Plan Ahead for Inclement Weather and Hazardous Travel Conditions
Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency on Monday evening ahead of predicted heavy rainfall expected to impact areas in the Capital Region, Long Island, New York City, Mid-Hudson and Southern Tier regions beginning late Monday evening through Wednesday morning. Rainfall totals of four or more inches may impact these regions with several areas expected to see more than one inch of rain per hour, creating the potential for flash flooding.
The Declaration covers Bronx, Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Greene, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Ulster, Westchester, and contiguous counties.
“I am proactively declaring a State of Emergency to ensure we can provide the necessary resources to respond to this storm and protect lives and property in regions where the forecast is calling for significant rainfall,” Governor Hochul said. “I am encouraging New Yorkers to prepare now for inclement weather expected over the coming days and urging commuters to take precaution ahead of heavy rainfall expected tomorrow morning.”
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch which is currently in effect for the several regions through Tuesday afternoon. For a complete listing of weather advisories in your area, visit your area’s National Weather Service website.
JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS RICHARD PAYNE, CANDIDATE FOR COMMON COUNCIL. “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” IN HIGH DEFINITION, CRYSTAL CLEAR AUDIO TV ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG ANYTIME
WPCNR HAYWIRE By John F. Bailey. October 25, 2021:
I forgot when making a local call to Peekskill Sunday that I needed to dial 914, but I got through to my party. I slapped my forehead. Realizing my mistake. But I got through!
Even though I was told by the Westchester Public/Private Partnership newsletter Friday the national Ten Digit Dialing “would be required for local calls starting October 24.”
This morning I called Altice Optimum to see why TEN DIGIT DIALING was not in effect. I could not get through BECAUSE Optimum requiring a pin number—when previously my phone number was enough for a technical question. That is a major problem, since I never had a pin number from Optimum ever.
I called Verizon public relations in Washington, D.C. leaving a message for Richard Young, Vice President for Public Relations, asking if the area code was automatically supplied if you dialed a 7-digit number and so far he has not gotten back to me.
I attempted to talk to AT&T cellphone service to see if the “914” “516” or “845” was automatically supplied through the miracle of telecommunications. Working through their voice mail prompts I was unable to supply the pin number nor the temporary pin number needed for me to talk to a person to answer this simple question.
I contacted the Westchester County Office of Communications to see if there was a reason for the system either not being in effect, or was in a delay.
The communications office issued this statement:
“That was the information that DSPS/Public Private Partnership was given, that 10 digit dialing was supposed to begin yesterday, October 24. That is why it was printed that way in our newsletter. We cannot speak to any kind of delay that may have taken place. “
WPCNR WESTCHESTER OFFICE OF NO COMMUNICATION COMMISSION.By Johnny Copy. October 22, 2021:
You’ll never know why you can’t reach your kid at college Sunday, your mother in assisted living in Rockland, your daughter in Suffolk, your local county offices, city hall, garage Sunday, buddy so I am calling you on my Bogart Phone here to warn you.
Westchester County may experience a total breakdown in communications Sunday, because the FCC has required that beginning Sunday, October 24, you must dial the full 10-digit number of anyone you are calling within area codes 914, 516 and 845, to facilitate the 988 to the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline.
Nothing wrong with that. But tell people frequently. If you notify citizens of garbage pickup, you need to notify them of this type of major change. How tedious, dialing 914-769-0511 to dial my Aunt in Pleasantville.
Just a little warning would be necessary, just a little.
You can’t make this stupidity up. This is not the way to do it. But government seems to do this all the time. Have to provide a service, the method is to provide the service and create havoc to do it. I guarantee this may create a massive communication disruption.
But maybe I am just the only person who did not know this. It’s entirely possible.
How can I explain the stupidity of this? Do you have to put a “1” in front of the 10-digit number you are calling? Does it affect 911 at all? Does the White Plains Police number have to be dialed 914-422-6111 or else or else, the FCC says “Local phone calls without the ten digits will not go through.”
I repeat, “Local phone calls without the ten digits will not go through.”
Dumb people like me might just think their phones are out of order?
And you thought voice mail was bad. At least the call went through.
Say you want to reach your pals or the country club, Greca, you gotta dial 914- then the 7-digit number, calling city hall you have do dial 914-422-1411 even if you’re across the street! Criminy, Batman! Or maybe you don’t. Who knows.
Government strikes again! Shattering the consumer’s confidence in their competence!
It is time to disband the FCC–the commission that caved into congestion priortiy internet routing for the communications behemoths.
Who knew?
I found out from Brenda Starr, who found this little notice buried on page 5. The nosy red head noticed the buried article in the Westchester Public Private Partnership for Aging Services newsletter, and showed it to me.
More than slightly aging up people have to know this.
Surely this deserved a full blown news conference as big as a return to Standard Time next weekend.
It was buried! A public service spot on how to dial telephone calls in the metropolitan area capital of the world’s communications juggernaut might spring for that.
Wait for the chaos Sunday when you try to reach your brother in Chelsea or sister in Roxbury? Or organize a wedding, a taxi, UBer.
Surely, there must be some exceptions to this new practice? Are there? I don’t know buddy, but I thought I’d warn you
Who knew? I have received no notification of this requirement from Optimum, telephone-internet-cable provider. I have gotten no emails from providers of telephone services to this effect, and no reports on the “all news stations,” or as I refer to news outlets of the electronic and paper variety “No News Most of the Time, traffic and the weathe in themiddle of chaos radio” except accidents,, violent incidents and naive cruel decisions by vile ivory tower courts who should know better.
Where were the news crawls on television about this? Since I refuse to read what passes for newspapers these days, I expect they carried it. If they did not, as Captain Video, Master of Science once said, “You’ve got to warn the earth, gang!”
And, switch back to the “Scoop Phone” like mine (where Jenny the telephone operator whom the Martin family always called when Timmy and Lassie were in trouble), asks me ‘Number, please” and I’ll just say 914-995-2000 or 845- or 516 whatever.
Information please! In a timely manner.
Remember as Pete Hamill wrote “News is a verb.” not a buried blurb.
JOHN BAILEY AND JOHN MARINO AND THE NEWS ONTHE STARTLING NEW NUMBERS ON 5 TO 17 YEAR OLD COVID CASES IN MID HUDSON REGION AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER’S TESTING INITIATIVE–6 WEEKS OF INFECTIONSWHITE PLAINS SALES TAX RECEIPTS REBOUND BEST 1ST QUARTER SINCE BEFORE COVIDJOHN BAILEY WELCOMES JOHN MARINO AS GUEST ANCHOR
WPCNR Coronavirus EMAIL Update. From Governor Kathy Hochul. October 21, 2021:
Since Day One as governor, I’ve been committed to transparency — that means communicating openly and honestly with you. That’s why starting today, I will be sending updates on our ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19 and vaccinate New Yorkers — straight to your email inbox.
Let’s dive in.
THE LATEST NUMBERS
SHARING THIS WEEK’S COVID TRENDS. As of October 19, 2021, there were 2,144 New Yorkers hospitalized with COVID-19. Our 7-day percentage positivity average was 2.33%, which is down from 2.53% last week. Per the CDC, 86.2% of adult New Yorkers have at least one vaccine dose. So far, 26,412,510 total vaccine doses have been administered, and 58,380 doses were administered over the past 24 hours.
ANNOUNCING A NEW DATAHUB. We launched a new portal that will house all of the state’s data related to our COVID-19 efforts.
NEW HUB FORMAT BREAKS OUT DAY BY DAY INFECTIONS IN 7 COUNTY MID-HUDSON REGION BY COUNTY—YESTERDAY’S NUMBERS
OTHER UPDATES IN NEW YORK’S FIGHT AGAINST COVID
GETTING KIDS READY FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE. We expect authorization to come soon, as soon as November, for kids ages 5-11, and New York State is ready to go when it comes.
Parents: Make a plan now so you don’t have to wait once approval comes. The State is also working closely with schools so they can help get shots in arms.
TWO WEEKS LEFT TO VAX AND WIN. Get vaccinated and enter to win tickets, gear, and more from your favorite New York football teams.
GET YOUR FLU SHOT. Good news! You can receive your COVID vaccine and the flu shot at the same time. Get your flu shot as soon as you can. Don’t forget to wear a mask and stay home if you’re sick — helpful advice for avoiding COVID, too. Watch our new PSA encouraging everyone to get their flu shot.
Photo of the Day: Gov. Hochul gets her annual flu shot (Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin)
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWEREDEvery week, we’re answering some commonly asked questions about COVID-19 and vaccinations. You can submit a question for a chance to get your question answered in next week’s newsletter. Submit your question here.
QUESTION: Are COVID-19 vaccines safe for pregnant people?
ANSWER: Yes. The CDC recently released new data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations among pregnant people and encourages vaccination for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future.
The increased circulation of the highly contagious Delta variant, the low vaccine uptake among pregnant people, and the increased risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications related to COVID-19 infection among pregnant people make vaccination for this population more urgent than ever.
My friends, I hope you stay safe this week. There’s only one way to get out of this pandemic, and it’s by working together.
WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE By John F. Bailey based on NY DEPT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE SEPTEMBER REPORT. October 20, 2021:
White Plains sales tax receipts have gone up 2% over 2020 levels after three months of the current city Fiscal Year 2021-22.
Westchester County going into the last three months of its fiscal year 2021, has received $595,885,795, accelerating sales tax receipts thanks to an $80,685,798 in Sales Tax dollars September–almost sure to set a new sales tax highest handle ever.
Sales tax collections with 9 months of the fiscal year to go and no fourth wave of Covid lockdowns or restrictions as a new roadblock pent up consumer demand. If White Plains continues with the current level of sales realized last October-November December the will realize $52 Million in sales tax receipts for the fiscal year 20-21 $9 Million more than budgeted for year. But, this is premature and perhaps wishful thinking.
Through three months, White Plains has received $13,392,663 in sales tax receipts, thanks to a boss September handle of $5,121,960 , compared to the $3,195,816 it received in September 21. This resurgence of the spending engine in the first three months of fiscal 21-22 is gathering steam, it comparable to the rebound after restrictions stopped covid spread .
It began in May and June, after the dismal last six months of 2020-21 that ended in June, after the second wave of covid in January to April locked down Westchester.
Covid Wave three officially started in July after the Independence Day weekend when the state under guidance of the legislature and Governor Cuomo removed mosy Covid lockdowns and group gathering and restaurant restrictions (possibly prematurely) in May and June which created a third wave of Covid in July.
That third wave appears to be subsiding. New infections were 1,000 new covid infections a week for 7 weeks from August 1 through September 18 and infections are now fluctuating between 100 and 45 new cases a day in Westchester County (averaging 83 new cases in Westchester a day, depending on the number of tests.)
Westchester though is virtually assured of getting their highest sales tax receipts ever with three months to go in the 2021 budget. All that has to happen for that to happen is dulicate last fall numbers.
Westchester County going into the last three months of its fiscal year 2021, has received $595,885,795, accelerating sales tax receipts thanks to an $80,685,798 Sales tax dollar September– county is almost sure to set a new sales tax highest handle ever.
If the county finishes with the same numbers received last October-November December ($189.093,098) (in the midst return to normal socializing and spending in the behavior that lead to the 2nd wave of covid, the county will set an all time sales tax receipts record ($784,978, 896) perhaps meaning happy, big spending days are here again – if covid does not comeback for a 4th wave, which is entirely possible, given the opening of schools for all students; return to packed dining establishments, and the holiday season.
However, the vaccines are here now.
The vaccines were not available in January of 2020 when covid disrupted New York, then the country.
Ironically, the performance of the county, in retrospect means that the optimistic sales tax budget increase of 27% 4 years ago in 2019-20 that predicted $747 million in sales tax receipts with addition of a 1% sales tax increase may have been at least closer to its target or right on the money, had covid not shut down New York for 9 months.
The subsequent budget shortfall, ballooned by covid, ironically was erased by the county using covid aid to replace the 2020 sales tax multi-million dollar deficit with a fund balance withdrawal, replacing the fund balance money used to plug the sales tax shortfall with covid aid money from the state and federal government.
“GOOD MORNING DENNIS AND TONNY FROM WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA WHERE IT’S 46 AND SUNNY WPCNR DEGREES.
I TOOK A STROLL DOWN AT PLAYLAND THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY AND SAW THAT THE PROMISED REHAB OF PLAYLAND ANNOUNCED IN THE COUNTY CAPITAL PROJECT BUDGET LAST WEEJ HAS ALREADY BEGUN, DENNIS., THE COLLANADES AT THE ENTRANCE WERE HALF GUTTED, AND DEBRIS BE CLEARED FROM THE UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS AND THE SHELTERED WALKWAYS THE LENGTH OF PLAYLAND TO THE PLAYLAND TOWER BY THE LAKE HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THEY HAVE 7 MONTHS TO COMPLETE ENOUGH OF THE REHABILATION, ADD RIDES, AND REFURBISH THE OLDER AMUSEMENTS, ADD NEW FOOD CONCESSIONS. THAT IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
THE WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HELD ITS COMMON COUNCIL VOTERS FORUM LAST NIGHT, QUESTIONING COUNCIL CANDIDATES JUSTIN BRASH, ALLAN GRAFMAN, JOHN MARTIN AND RICHARD PAYNE LAST NIGHT, ONLY VIEWABLE ON ZOOM. THE TWO INCUMBENTS JOHN MARTIN AND JUSTIN BRASCH EXTOLLED THEIR EXPERIENCE ON THE COUNCIL, WITH JOHN MARTIN MAKING THE MOST REASONABLE APPEAL BECAUSE OF HIS LONG EXPERIENCE ON THE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, AND THAT HE DECIDED TO RUN BECAUSE OF HIS BUDGET EXPERIENCES IN CRISES OF THE PAST AND WORKING THE CITY POLICY THROUGH THE TWO YEARS OF COVID.
MR. GRAFMAN SAID HE WAS THE NEW GUY WHO WITH HIS CORPORATE MANAGEMENT OF MAJOR MEDIA COMPANIES COULD BRING A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT CITY PROBLEMS AND CREATING CONSENSUS. MR. PAYNE CITED HIS LONG RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE, HIS PRESENT EXPERIENCE ON THE PLA NNING BOARD OF WHITE PLAINS. ONE ASPECT OF THIS FORUM: THE MEDIA IS NOT ALLOWED TO TELEVISE EXCERPTS OF THE ZOOM TELECAST. THIS I BELIEVE THE FIRST TIME THE LEAGUE HAS I BELIEVE INSTITUTED THIS POLICY, MEANING THAT LESS PEOPLE WILL SEE IT.
LAST WEEK, THE MARIUANA MEETING HOSTED BY THE WHITE PLAINS COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WAS HELD AND THE GENERAL FEELING WAS PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT HOW THE CANNIBIS LOUNGES WOULD BE RUN. IT WAS REVEALED BY JUSTIN BRASCH WHO ATTTEND THAT MEETING THAT THE MAYOR IS GIVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS A PAPER ON HOW THE ESTABLISHMENTS, NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES AND CANNIS LOUNGES WOULD COME IN, BUT BRASCH SAID HE COULD NOT GIVE DETAIL AT THAT TIME.
THE PUBLIC WAS TOLD BY ONE SPEAKER WHO SELLS VAPOR PRODUCTS IN WHITE PLAINS THAT THE STATE WOULD GIVE 3% EXCISE TAXES TO CITIES AND TOWNS AND 1% TO COUNTIES AND KEEP 80% FOR THE STATE. THE PUBLIC ATTENDING HAD THE GENERAL FEELING THEY DID NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT WAS PLANNED TO KNOW IF COMMERICAL MARIJUANA COULD COME INTO THE CITY WITHOUT CHANGING QUALITY OF LIFE. MEANWHILE THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT HAS NOT ISSUED OFFICIAL REGULATIONS YET—THAT IS EXPECTED IN JANUARY—BUT NOT CERTAIN
SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN OPENED FOR 5 WEEKS NOW AND IN WHITE PLAINS WE HAVE HAD ONLY 12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN A STUDENT-STAFF DISTRICT OF 8,400—A PERCENTAGE OF .001 1/10TH OF 1%. A GREAT JOB.
SOME OTHER DISTRICT SAMPLINGS IN WESTCHESTER: NEW ROCHELLE,12 (SAME AS WHITE PLAINS); GREENBURGH,9; HARRISON,10; PORT CHESTER-RYE, 16; VALHALLA,4; PELHAM, 8; MOUNT VERNON,25; YONKERS, 23; SCARSDALE,27; MAMARONECK, 34. AS OF OCTOBER 13
THE FIGURES APPEAR WORSE IN THE REST OF THE MID-HUDSON REGION IN LAB REPORTED POSITIVES:
ACCORDING TO THE COVID-19 SCHOOL REPORT CARD ACROSS WESTCHERSTER, PUTNAM, DUTCHESS, ROCKLAND, ULSTER, SULLIVAN AND ORANGE COUNTIES THE NUMBERS ARE CONCERNING:
IN THOSE 7 COUNTIES LAB REPORTS ON TESTS SHOWED 2,380 AGED 5 TO 17 TESTED POSITIVE, 2,159 IN Public Schools, 221 in Private and Charter schools, and 488 THROUGH YESTERDAY. SINCE SCHOOL STARTED.
IN THE SAME 7 COUNTIES, SCHOOLS REPORTED 488 TEACHERS AND STAFF TESTED POSITIVE. 432 IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; 56 IN CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS;
IN SCHOOL REPORTING,, SCHOOLS REPORTED 2,868 POSITIVES, 2,591 IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 277 IN PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.
THIS IS WHY COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEER TESTING IN THE SCHOOLS YESTERDAY IN HIS COVID BRIEFING. AROUND THE OTHER 6 COUNTIES PARENTS AND SCHOOLS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS SUDDEN UPTICK IN JUST THE FIRST 4 WEEKS OF SCHOOL.
“WANT THE COVID NUMBERS, DENNIS?
“SURE,”
From Sunday October 10 to Saturday October 16, 691 Westchester persons were tested positive for covid of 56,982 tested during that period.
That computes to an average infection rate of 1.1 % of those tested testing positive for covid. This computes to a Spread Rate of each of 695 persons two weeks ago spreading the disease to approximately 9/10ths of a person (.89 people), or just about 1 person infecting 1 other person — which controls the spread of the disease by keeping numbers of infections about the same each week.
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT.Statistics From the NY State Covid Tracker Analysis by John F. Bailey. October 18, 2021:
From Sunday October 10 to Saturday October 16, 691 Westchester persons were tested positive for covid of 56,982 tested during that period.
That computes to an average infection rate of 1.1 % of those tested testing positive for covid. This computes to a Spread Rate of each of 695 persons two weeks ago spreading the disease to approximately 9/10ths of a person (.89 people), or just about 1 person infecting 1 other person — which controls the spread of the disease by keeping numbers of infections about the same each week.
The new infections for covid the last 4 weeks: September 19 to 25: 973; September 26 through October 3: 695; October 3 to 9: 667; October 10 through October 16: 691. Number of new infections: 3,026
On the week of September 5 through 11 (after Labor Day) there were 1,152 inew infections in a week., making a spread rate of 1 new infection 14 days later (the period of typical disease spread of Covid) of 2.6%.
What this rough comparison, (new infections do not all follow a strict 14 days to the day of infection,) means is that 6 weeks later, the infection rate has declined to 1 person newly tested, infects .9 of a person (1 to .9) instead of 2.6 or 1 new infection infecting 2 other persons. The spread rate, roughly computed by WPCNR, declined 56% 2.6 down to 1.1.
Infections have declined from over 1,000 new infections a week for each of the 7 weeks from August 1 to September 19, a total of 7,424 new infections those 7 weeks.
The average of new infections per week was 1,061 new infections a week (152 a day) until Westchester slipped below 1,000 to 973 the week of September 19 to 26.
The total number of new infections per week since September 26 has declined 59% to 3,026 a decline of 4,403.
