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SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR ON VOTING RIGHTS
LANGUISHING IN SENATE
COFFEE WITH WHITE PLAINS WEEK INSTANTLY@wpcommunitymedia.org
SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR ON VOTING RIGHTS
LANGUISHING IN SENATE
SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR ON VOTING RIGHTS
LANGUISHING IN SENATE
CONGRESSMEN BOWMAN, JONES AND SUOZZI: STRATEGY TO PASS REPEAL OF THE 2017 SALT ACT THAT CUT STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS TO $10,000 MAX. WHERE REPEAL STANDS NOW:”MONTHS AWAY. HAVE TO GET IT DONE NOW.”
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spoke for many on the impact the SALT (State and Local Taxes) legislation passed in 2017 that limited deductions of state and local income taxes has had on her family and others in White Plains at a news conference on progress of eliminating the SALT law , held by Congressmen Jamahl Bowman, Mondaire Jones, and Tom Suozzi and Westchester County Executive George Latimer this morning. (Click arrow in center to view her remarks)
Before the cap was placed on the deduction, more than 230,000 Westchester County residents and over 67,000 Rockland County residents used the SALT deduction – many of whom are working, middle-class families. The average SALT deduction for Westchester and Rockland in 2017 was $36,263 and $22,249.
In Congress, Suozzi is the lead sponsor of the SALT Deductibility Act, legislation that would repeal the SALT cap. Jones is an original co-sponsor and Bowman is a co-sponsor of that legislation. In 2019, the House passed legislation to repeal the cap, but was blocked by a then Republican controlled Senate.
GREENBURGH RECEIVES GRANT TO ESTABLISH VACCINE HESITANCY INITIAVE: YOUTHS RECRUITED TO REACH OUT AND EASE VACCINE FEARS
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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. March 25, 2021:
I am pleased to announce grant funding of $9,000 that has just been awarded from the Westchester Community Foundation to support a new Vaccine Hesitancy Initiative the town is launching with plans to give teenagers paid jobs and bolster local businesses while encouraging every eligible individual to get vaccinated.
Recent funding of $6,000 from the UJA – Federation of NY brings the program budget to $15,000. This initiative will run alongside the continuing success of the Covid Angels volunteers to secure vaccination appointments for over 2,000 residents to date, and increase awareness of this essential service.
The innovative idea to overcome vaccine hesitancy in Greenburgh and beyond involves creating a targeted marketing program with two other important key goals to: drive consumers to struggling small businesses and support local families by giving their teenage children opportunities for substantial paid work.
The aim is to encourage small businesses to offer incentives to customers who show they’ve been “vaxed.” The businesses will then be promoted in informational flyers on how and why to get the vaccine (and how the Angels can help) to be distributed widely in print, video, and social media.
Our teens will be supported by volunteers with professional marketing expertise who are already at work creating a character based on “Marc the Pharmacist,” our real neighborhood pharmacist of Marinelli’s Village Pharmacy of Elmsford.
The teens, pulled from those who have taken the Crossroads work-readiness summer program last year at the Theodore D. Young Community Center, will receive valuable work experience, help businesses, and truly have a hand in saving lives. The town welcomes more volunteers to support this effort in various capacities based on your skills and interests and encourages you to reach out to kmadsen@greenburghny.com to sign up.
To receive help getting an appointment from a Covid Angel, sign up here: https://forms.gle/CMauFiZLHM5iLMoV9
PAUL FEINER
Westchester D.A Rocah Recommendations on Protecting Against Unemployment Fraud
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WPCNR FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S DESK . From Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah. March 24, 2021:
SAFEGUARD AND MONITOR ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION TO AVOID IDENTITY THEFT AND UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD
Amid increasing incidents of identity theft relating to the filing of bogus Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims, Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah is urging county residents to be vigilant about monitoring and safeguarding all personal information.
Identity thieves are obtaining personal identifying information (PII) including name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and place of employment, and using that information to illegally apply for UI benefits, which have been enhanced for many recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PII “Personal Identifying Information” is procured through the dark web – websites that are hidden to most internet users – or data breaches. PII is also obtained through email and text phishing schemes, sometimes with messages that appear to be government agencies asking for confirmation of PII.
Victims may not be aware of identity theft until they receive via regular mail paperwork from the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) relating to a UI application they never made, or a KeyBank debit card containing UI benefits.
Victims’ employers may also receive notification from DOL. In some instances, multiple individuals from the same government agency, school district or other entity have had their PII compromised.
“The DA’s Office continues to aggressively investigate these cases and has been successful in recovering some of the criminal proceeds, and we are also advising all county residents to be vigilant in safeguarding all personal information and monitoring personal mail,” Rocah said.
“If you receive a letter or other notification indicating that your PII has been used by someone else, report it to your local police department or call the DA’s Office hotline, 914-995-TIPS (914-995-8477).”
Rocah noted that identity theft victims can also contact DOL at 888-598-2077 or online at https://dol.ny.gov/report-fraud.
“Unemployment Insurance benefits are a lifeline to New Yorkers in their time of need, and it is unconscionable that these criminals are trying to steal from them in the midst of a pandemic,” said Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon.
“We applaud District Attorney Rocah’s office for their partnership in helping us to combat this fraud. Weurge New Yorkers to be vigilant in protecting their personal information and to refrain from responding to any emails, text messages or other communications that are not legitimately from the New York State Department of Labor.”
Victims of UI-related identity theft may also face tax implications, Rocah noted, because UI benefits are taxable income reported to the state and federal government and must be declared on personal income tax returns.
Victims are advised to consult with their financial advisers or tax preparers to address this matter, and as appropriate they should also file an Internal Revenue Service form 14039 Identity Theft Affidavit and a New York State Department of Taxation and Financeform DTF-275 Identity Theft Declaration.
Individuals who believe they have been a victim of identity theft should also request a credit report to ensure there are no other unknown or unidentified uses of their credit.
Federal law entitles each person to one free credit report per year from each credit reporting agency. To order a report, visit annualcreditreport.com. You may thereafter place a fraud alert on your credit with one of the three credit reporting agencies:
Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experian: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 800-680-7289
State Senate to Pass Crackdown Bill on Nursing Homes: Sweeping Transparency and new Rights for Family Members
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the New York State Senate Majority Committee. March 24, 2021:
Today, the Senate Democratic Majority will pass the Treatment Protection Act that repeals previous immunity protections that prevented health care facilities, administrators, and executives from being held accountable for harm and damages incurred at facilities.
In addition, this package will make sure residents have necessary information on the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, require that the patients’ bill of rights is offered in New York’s six most spoken languages, and make information related to nursing home assets and operations publicly available.
Today’s bills build on legislation passed last month by the Senate Majority to better support and protect nursing home residents. The Senate Majority also held joint statewide public hearings this past year on residential health care facilities and COVID-19 to discuss various issues and concerns directly with the public.
“The tragic situation in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a dire need to guarantee greater transparency and accountability,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “This legislation, in addition to the nursing home-related reforms recently advanced by the Senate Democratic Majority, continues our strong commitment to prioritizing the wellbeing, rights, and needs of residents and their families. I thank the sponsors for their work on these pressing issues, and we will continue to find ways to improve these facilities.”
The legislation being passed by the Senate Majority includes:
- Emergency or Disaster Treatment Protection Act: This bill, S.5177, sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi, repeals the extra protections from liability granted to nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities for treating patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Mandatory Translation of Rights and Information on Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: This bill, S.4377, sponsored by Senator Rachel May, mandates a prominent display to inform residents of the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program and requires the Department of Health to translate the nursing home residents’ bill of rights into the six most common non-English languages spoken in New York State.
- Improved Certificate of Need Process: This bill S.4893A, sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera, will reform the review process for change of ownership or operations proposals brought before the Public Health and Health planning Council. This added transparency ensures nursing home assets and ownership information are made public.
Bill Sponsor, Senator Alessandra Biaggi, said, “During the early months of the pandemic, the Legislature granted healthcare facilities broad corporate immunity stripping grieving families of their right to seek proper legal recourse and potentially incentivizing nursing home executives to cut corners.
Now knowing that we would lose over 13,000 nursing home residents to COVID-19, we have a duty to right this wrong and fully repeal the remaining protections. I’m proud to sponsor S.5177 and vote for this legislative package in honor of the thousands of New Yorkers we lost in nursing homes and their grieving families looking for answers.”
County Board of Legislators Pass Police Reform Report
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| WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Chair of the Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin. March 24, 2021: The Board of Legislators has officially adopted the report of the County’s Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force in a unanimous vote on Monday night, after weeks of review by the Board’s Public Safety Committee. The adoption of the report establishes a blueprint for police reform intended to promote more equitable policing in Westchester. The 177-page report contains 51 recommendations for the County’s police, correction and other public safety operations including: implicit bias and intercultural competency training for law enforcement personnel a formal review of the County Department of Public Safety’s use of social media for branding and community outreach creation of community liaisons, increased multi-lingual communications training in implicit bias and restorative justice for School Resource Officers, joint de-escalation training with the Department of Correction, increased Police Academy training in procedural justice, cultural diversity and bias-related crimes, creation of a County Office of Police Accountability. In 11 meetings, including a session for public input, over more than a month, the Public Safety Committee took a deep dive into the report recommendations and the process by which those recommendations were arrived. The committee heard from Task Force members, including co-chairs Mayo Bartlett and Leroy Fraser as well as the County’s Department of Public Safety and other law enforcement representatives. The report itself was the culmination of nearly seven months of work by a 38-member Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of thirty-eight members, which include County and local law enforcement professionals, clergy representatives, criminal justice and police reform advocates, human rights professionals, the Executive Director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau, the Executive Director of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, representatives from the Westchester County District Attorney’s office, three Westchester County Legislators, and other public servants. The Westchester County Executive additionally attached six staff liaisons to the Task Force in order to ensure that the group had access to all available resources and assistance. Under Executive Order 203 from Governor Cuomo, all municipalities statewide must adopt a police reform and reimagining plan to the State by April 1. County Executive George Latimer had previously announced plans for a County police reform task force, which he then expanded to address the requirements of the Governor’s order. Read the Westchester County Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force report at: https://www.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/policereformreport.pdfPlease forward this E-News to family and friends who may be interested in this information. |
“Wonderful” White Plains Schools Reopening for Kindergarten, 9th and 12th Grades.
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Dr. Joseph Ricca described the White Plains Schools “Comeback” this way:
“ Wonderful; absolutely wonderful! It’s fantastic to have the children returning fulltime. All is well and we look forward to moving to the next phase of the process. “
BEWARE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FRAUDS SEEKING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN YOUR NAME. IF YOU RECEIVE A LETTER FROM LABOR DEPARTMENT ASKING YOUR EMPLOYMENT STATUS, AND YOU ARE EMPLOYED, THIS IS A TIPOFF.
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin. March 23, 2021:
The Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board is warning Westchester County residents to be on alert after many have reported falling victim to unemployment insurance fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, New York State has paid more than $65 billion in unemployment benefits, but the Department of Labor (DOL) has identified more than 425,000 of those claims to be fraudulent.
Thousands of fraud cases have since been referred to federal prosecutors, who are working with law enforcement on the federal, state and local level to hold people accountable.
In response, Westchester Putnam Workforce Development Board is urging County residents to protect themselves against identity theft. If you believe you are the victim of fraud, report it to the New York State Department of Labor at on.ny.gov/uifraud.
(Editor’s Note: A person told WPCNR that they first became aware that unemployment benefits were being sought in their name, was when she received a letter from the New York State Department of Labor, requesting her present employment status. Since the person was employed, they immediately notified the Labor Department.)
JOHN BAILEY’SWHITE PLAINS REPORT ON WVOX THIS MORNING. THE TRANSCRIPT
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THE WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER
BROADCASTS WEEKLY AT 7:50 AM ON THE DENNIS AND TONNY GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER PROGRAM, “THE NICEST TWO PEOPLE ON THE RADIO” ON WVOX 1460 AND www.wvox.com THIS IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY’S REPORT
“GOOD MORNING FROM WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA WHERE IT IS 40 FOGGY WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER DEGREES. TALK WAS THE STORY IN WHITE PLAINS THIS WEEK.
MAYOR TOM ROACH TALKED EXPANSIVELY TO WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE ABOUT THE NEW –WHAT AMOUNTS TO REBUILDING OF THE GALLERIA ON MAIN STREET BY PACIFIC RETAIL CAPITAL PARTNERS OF CALIFORNIA.
THE MAYOR HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE MALL WILL BE OPENED UP, INVITING PEDESTRIANS TO WALK THROUGH IT. THE MACY’S STORE THAT IS CLOSING IN JUNE, WILL BE TORN DOWN THE MAYOR SAID, EXPANDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE NARROW PLAZA ON COURT STREET JUST ACROSS FROM THE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING—ESSENTIALLY EXTENDING THE RENAISSANCE PLAZA ALLOWING PERHAPS NEW USES.
“THE MALL ITSELF, THE CENTER BUILDING, WILL BE COMPLETELY REHABBED UNDER THE CONCEPTS THAT I’VE SEEN,” THE MAYOR SAID.
THE TUNNEL OVER MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD THAT RUNS THROUGH THE GALLERIA WILL BE BRIGHTENED AND MADE MORE APPEALING AS WELL.
ROACH HAS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT THE GALLERIA BEING ACTIVATED FROM MAIN STREET. In the beginning 2000s THERE WAS A LARGE SEAFOOD CAFETERIA OFF MAIN STREET AND AN ENTRANCE TO THE GROUND FLOOR INTERIOR LEVEL OFF MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD AND THE STYLISH FLOOR OF THE MALL AND ALSO THROUGH THE MARTINE AVE GARAGE.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT ACROSS MAIN STREET THERE WERE JUST OFFICE BUILDINGS AND STILL ARE.
WITH THE WHITE PLAINS MALL DEVELOPMENT STALLED WAITING FOR FINANCING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRAIN STATION CITY PROPERTIES, YOU SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ENTICEMENTS OR PEOPLE RIGHT FREQUENTING THE SIDEWALKS
BASED ON THE HIGH CLASS UPPER END RETAIL TENANTS PACIFIC RETAIL CAPITAL PARTNERS ATTRACTS TO THEIR MALLS ACROSS THE THE NORTHEAST IN HICKSVILLE AND ALBANY : CHICOS, WHITE HOUSE/BLACK MARKET,PINK, COACH, H & m SEPHORA, BEST BUY, OLD NAVY, REI, COST PLUS WORLD, ITALIA PIZZERIA, STARBUCKS, OLIVE GARDEN, PLAY LIVE NATION, TOTAL WINE, IKEA, ROUND 1 BOWLING,KAREOKE, BILLARDS, PING PONG THE NEW GALLERIA WILL RIVAL IN CLASS AND INVOLVEMENT SHOWPLACES, THE WESTCHESTER MALL WILL BE CHALLENGED FOR THE CARRIAGE TRADE.
LAST WEEK THE URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY MOVED AHEAD ON ONDISCLOSED PLANS FOR EAST POST ROAD ACROSS FROM WHITE PLANS HOSPITAL. 26-28 POST ROAD , 42 POST ROAD A STRIP OF MEDICAL STORES AND 60 POST ROAD WHICH IS THE FIRESTONE TIRE SURFACE CENTER.
TODAY THE COMMON COUNCIL WILL APPROVE CITY PURCHASE OF THOSE PROPERTIES FOR $9.8 MILLION OF CITY MONEY.
RUMOR HAS LONG HAD IT THAT THE BUILDINGS WILL BE RAISED AND WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL WILL BE GIVEN THE PROPERTY FOR OFFICES, HOUSING FOR STAFF AND EXPANSION. WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS TRUE. NOBODY IS COMFIRMNG THIS IT IS JUST A RUMOR BUT THE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO BE ACQUIRED FOR A PURPOSE TO BE NAMED LATER.
THE GALLERIA THING IS AT LEAST 5 YEARS OFF THE RENEWAL PROJECT WE’LL LOOK AT THAT AS AT LEAST 7 YEARS AWAY. MEANWHILE THE MITCHELL AT POST ROAD AND MAMARONECK CONTINUES TO GO UP.
IN ANOTHER TALK ISSUE, THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY FOUNDATION PRESENTED MARA GAY THE NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST AND MSNBC COMMENTATOR ON ZOOM INTERVIEWED BY BILL FALK OF “THE WEEK”.
MS GAY IS A GRADUATE OF WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL AND FORMER EDITOR OF THE ORANGE. MS. GAY COMMENTED ON THE CANCEL CULTURE WHICH HOLDS PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS THEY HAVE DONE OR SAID IN THE PAST THAT ARE PUT OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
MS. GAY SAID THAT WHEN CONDE NAST PUT PRESSURE ON THE RECENTLY HIRED TEEN VOGUE EDITOR FOR REMARKS SHE HAD MADE IN THE PAST, SHE SUGGESTED CONDE NAST SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE PERSONS WORKING FOR TEEN VOGUE HOW THEY FELT ABOUT WORKING FOR HER. YOUR PAST IS NOT NECESSARILY THE PERSON YOU ARE NOW WAS HER POINT.
NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST AND REPORTER
ON ZOOM FOR THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY FOUNDATION SUNDAY. MS. GAY IS FORMER EDITOR OF THE WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL PAPER, THE ORANGE, A GRADUATE OF WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
SHE SHARED HOW SHE HAD NEVER HAD EXISTING HEALTH ISSUES AND SHE GOT VERY SICK FROM COVID AND STILL SUFFERS FROM A THROAT CONDITION RESULTING FROM THE COVID DISEASE.
SHE ALSO SAID THAT NEWS PERSONNEL ON THE TIMES DO NOT INFLUENCE COMMENTARY OR SUGGEST WHAT COLUMNISTS LIKE SHE IS SHOULD WRITE.
SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE TIMES ENDORSEMENT FOR WHOM TO ENDORSE FOR MAYOR SHE IS INTERVIEWING ALL 12 CONDIDATES RUNNING.
ASKED ABOUT WHETHER SHE RECEIVED THREATS, MS. GAY SAID SHE DID RECEIVE HATE MAIL AND TWEETS, BUT DOES NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE ” JUST RUSSIAN BOTS.”
SHE EXPRESSED DOUBT WHETHER THE NATIONAL MEDIA CAN EVER REALLY REACH OR PERSUADE THE PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS THAT MAJORITIES OF AMERICANS HAVE OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
SHE SAID AS A JOURNALIST, “OUR JOB IS TO TELL THE TRUTH.”
I MIGHT ADD IT TAKES A LOT OF GUTS TO DO THAT.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, DENNIS AND TONNY, I APPRECIATE IT“
MUST HEAR!”PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” ON ELEMENT 46–STILL 10 DAYS TO APPLY TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS–PICK BRAINS OF THE EXPERTS, FREE OFFICE SPACE, PITCH YOUR BIZ TO INVESTORS AT A PROGRAM THAT COSTS YOU NOTHING. RIGHT NOW ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD CLICK ON THE WHITE ARROW TO SUCCESS
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ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD WITH JOHN BAILEY ON ELEMENT 46 THE NEWEST WESTCHESTER COUNTY INCUCBATOR INNOVATION..STILL TIME MR. OR MS. ENTREPRENEUR TO APPLY BY MARCH 31. FREE OFFICE SPACE. PICK THE BRAINS OF EXPERTS READY TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR BIZ TO THRIVE IN THE RENAISSANCE OF THE WESTCHESTER ECONOMY. CLICK THE WHITE ARROW ABOVE FOR THE 25 MINUTES THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.