GOVERNOR CUOMO THREATENS TO SUE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF FINANCIAL “JUSTICE” IS NOT RESTORED TO NEW YORK. LAYS OUT SPENDING CUTS, TAX INCREASES IN DOUBLE DIGITS IF SALT IS NOT REPEALED AND $15 BILLION NOT FORTHCOMING TO NEW YORK STATE

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. By John F. Bailey. January 19, 2021 UPDATED 2:35 PM EST:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo presented the clearest Budget Address today this reporter has ever withnessed.

He spelled out where New York State was if the new congress does not restore the $15 Billion cost of lost revenues New York experienced from the Coronavirus crisis in 2020. In addition he demanded the congress repeal the SALT legislation that costs New Yorkers an addition $15 Million in taxes to the federal government.

He said if congress failed to do this, New York State would sue the federal government for the $15 Billion deficit in revenues the state is faced with.

He noted if the state budget is not passed by April 1, that there would be no pay raises for state employees or the legislators.

He promised there would be a $2 Billion dollar cut to education aid(taking away the $2 Billion increase in education aid the legislature put in the 2020 budget). A $600 Million cut to Medicaid, without spelling out details. There would be a 14.7% state income tax increase on the top 1% of earners.

In the budget briefing still going on as of 2:30 PM, Robert Mujica, the State Budget Director said the current budget 2021-22 beginning April 1st, includes $ 6 Billion in federal reimbursement, with the rest of the $15 billion request coming next year 2022-23 Budget. Mr. Mujica said that if the state received the full $15 Billion, the tax increase of 10.2% for middle wage earners and the 14.7% increase for the top 1% of wage earners would “go away.”

If no aid is forthcoming by March 31, the proposed budget would be cut further, working with the state legislature requiring deeper across-the-board And every department would sustain additional cuts above the proposed 55 across-the-board cuts. If the $6 Billion was delivered, then no school district aid would be cut and aid to education could be increased, Mujica said in the news conference still ongoing.

Mujica indicated that recovery of the state of employment, businesses and revenues would take most likely into 2025 to return.

The budget is based on the assumption the state will receive $6 Billion in Federal funds, which will fund the shortfalls in revenues this year, with the rest of the aid coming in the 2022 budget. If the federal government does not

Governor Cuomo said what the federal government does this year 2021 will decide the future of the state of New York.

The Governor closed saying “Justice” was what the new government taking office tomorrow had to give to New York, by making the state financially whole.

The 30 minute address was to the point. Perfectly clear. It should be a model for budget presentations. Crisp, clear, concise with no financial obfuscation.

Posted in Uncategorized

WESTCHESTER COVID INFECTIONS CONTINUE UNSUSTAINABLE RISE: 5,886 NEW CASES IN A WEEK THROUGH SUNDAY: RAISES QUESTIONS ON HOSPITAL ABILITY TO SUSTAIN HOSPITALIZATION RISE. TAKEOUT RESTAURANT WEEK CONTINUES FOR 12 DAYS. THOMAS H. SLATER CENTER WELCOMES DONATIONS FOR ITS FAMILY FOOD PANTRY IN RECOGNITION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. HOLIDAY MARKET ATTRACTS 5,000 IN DEC.

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JOHN BAILEY, THE CITIZENETREPORTER
HIS WEEKLY WHITE PLAINS REPORT ON THE BIG WVOX 1490, WVOX.COM
White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, Councilman John Kirpatrick, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, White Plains Councilman Justin Brasch, Nick Wolf, White Plains BID Executive Director Brittany Brandwin and far right , Owner of Holy Crab promoting takeout and Restaurant Month in White Plains NY USA

WPCNR WVOX REPORT. John Bailey is heard ROUND THE WORLD Tuesdays at 7:50 AM ON THE DENNIS AND TONNY GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER PROGRAM ON WVOX.COM OR WVOX 1460. TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MORNING’S WHITE PLAINS REPORT, ON WVOX WORLDWIDE

WHITE PLAINS BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WELCOMED COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER AND MAYOR TOM ROACH FRIDAY TO A TAKE OUT CELEBRATION AT HOLY CRAB ON MAMARONECK AVENUE FRIDAY TO PROMOTE RESTAURANT MONTH IN WHITE PLAINS.

County Executive George Latimer orders a Crab Po-Boy

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERED A CRAB PO BOY AND GUMBO AT THE NEW ORLEANS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT.

Mr. Latimer with left to right, Brittany Brandwein, BID Executive Director, Mayor Tom Roach, Justin Brasch(back to camera) at White Plains unique Holy Crab seafood restaurant

BRITTANY BRANDWEIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WHITE PLAINS BID SAYS THE RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING IN RESTAURANT MONTH MAY BE VIEWED AT WPBID.COM. I ORDERED PIZZA FOR BRENDA STARR AND MYSELF SATURDAY NIGHT FROM FRANCESCOS ON MAMARONECK AVENUE –A RESTAURANT CELEBRATING ITS 51ST YEAR IN WHITE PLAINS. TAKE OUT IS A GREAT SAFE OPTION AND GIVES THE HOME COOKING STAFF IN YOUR HOUSE A NEEDED FESTIVE BREAK. THINK ABOUT IT RESTAURANT WEEK IN WHITE PLAINS RUNS FOR 12 MORE DAYS INCLUDING TONIGHT

DON’T COOK TONIGHT, TAKE OUT TONIGHT

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER WAS SO RIGHT THIS MORNING, SAYING “COVID NUMBERS ARE CONTINUING TO SOAR.”

WESTCHESTER COUNTY POSITIVES SUNDAY TO SUNDAY FROM SUNDAY JANUARY 11 THROUGH SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 TOTALED 5,886.

AN AVERAGE OF 841 NEW PERSONS TESTING POSITIVE A DAY UP FROM 813 POSITIVES A DAY LAST WEEK AND 783 THE PREVIOUS WEEK IN 3 WEEKS.

IN THE LEADING INFECTION AREAS SINCE LAST CALCULATED ON WEDNESDAY YONKERS DOUBLED DAILY POSITIVES TO 561 SUNDAY.

NEW ROCHELLE CLOSE TO DOUBLED AT 175 NEW INFECTIONS,

WHITE PLAINS DOUBLED INFECTIONS TO 129, UP FROM 67 LAST WEDNESDAY

GREEENBURGH DOUBLED TO 82.

  AT A 5% HOSPITALIZATION RATE MEANS THE WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL BEDS RESERVED FOR COVID  OF 2,500 BEDS CAN SEE AN AVERAGE 300 A DAY NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS COUNTY WIDE JUST FROM THE NEW POSITIVES OF ONE DAY THAT IS 2,000 HOSPITALIZATIONS IN 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

THIS IS VERY GRIM WILL ADD TO THE 250 A DAY POSITIVES CALCULATED FROM LAST WEEK’S 813 A DAY POSITIVES. THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY POSITIVE INFECTION RATE IS  6.9% FROM JANUARY 11 THROUGH JANUARY 17.

THIS IS DOWN BUT NOT ENOUGH.

AS OF LAST WEEK THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE OF PERSONS POSITIVE WITH COVID WAS 5%.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY HOSPITALS COULD BE STRESSED THROUGH THE NEXT MONTH IF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE AT 5% BASED ON THE POSITIVE NUMBERS THE LAST THREE WEEKS UNLESS THE MEDICATIONS DO THEIR JOBS BETTER ON LESS SERIOUS COVID CASES.

THE COUNTY SHOULD BE THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT THAT—WHERE WE MIGHT TO PUT THESE POSSIBLE HUNDREDS OF POTENTIALLY HOSPITALIZED.

VACCINATIONS SEEM TO BE STABILIZING I RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION BY EMAIL CONFIRMING MY APPOINTMENT FOR JANUARY 27.

AND ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCATIONS ON THE STATE WEBSITE LISTING APPEAR TO BE FINALLY ANSWERING THEIR PHONES AND REACTING ON THEIR WEBSITES TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS.

HOLIDAY MARKET IN WHITE PLAINS A SMASH SUCCESS

MS. BRANDWIN TOLD ME THAT THE WHITE PLAINS HOLIDAY MARKET ON WALLER AVE IN DECEMBER WHICH RAN FOR 2 WEEKS DURING THE HOLDAYS ATTRACTED 5,000 PERSONS DESPITE A VERY WEATHER THE FIRST WEEKEND WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE VENDORS WHO WERE HAPPY WITH THEIR SALES AND FEATURED 40 LOCAL VENDORS AROUND COUNTY IS BEING SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOR NEXT YEAR.

THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BREAKFAST WAS NOT HELD MONDAY DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC. HOWEVER THE THOMAS H. SLATER CENTER COVID RELIEF FUNDRAISING DRIVE TO BENEFIT THE SLATER EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY WELCOMES CONTRIBUTIONS.

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO THOMAS H. SLATER CENTER, AND MAIL TO 2 FISHER COURT WHITE PLAINS NY USA 10601

$25 SUPPORTS ONE FAMILY FOR A WEEK (ADD $25 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY; $100 SUPPORTS A FAMILY FOR ONE MONTH $300 FOR A QUARTER YEAR $600 FOR A HALF YEAR AND $1,200 FOR A FULL YEAR

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Positives Decline in NY Governor Cuomo Says, Seeks Vaccines from Pfizer

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 WPCNR GOVERNOR CUOMO CORONAVIRUS UPDATE January 18, 2021:

Today we celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York will relentlessly continue his battle for justice. We publish today to share important updates.

As of this morning, New York State has now administered over one million total doses: 903,131 first doses and 103,747 second doses.

The pace of vaccination is rapidly accelerating.

If the Federal Government can increase supply, we are ready to inoculate New Yorkers and scale up the vaccine distribution. 

Chart of the Day: Our statewide positivity rate has gone down from the post-holiday high. However, COVID still poses a serious risk. Please wear a mask and exercise caution. Here’s what else you need to know

tonight: 1. Tomorrow, I will present the Fiscal Year 2022 Executive Budget. This year’s budget proposal will help set our agenda for the year ahead. The presentation will be live-streamed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 19, at 11:30am ET, at governor.ny.gov. 

 2. Total hospitalizations rose 8,868. Of the 186,205 tests reported yesterday, 12,185, or 6.54 percent, were positive. There were 1,523 patients in ICU yesterday, down 27 from the previous day. Of them, 997 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 153 New Yorkers to the virus. While hospitalizations are still rising, it’s encouraging to see that the rate of increase has slowed significantly. 

 3. I have asked Pfizer if New York can directly purchase vaccine doses from them. Since Pfizer is not bound to commitments that are a part of Operation Warp Speed, I have asked Pfizer, a New York-based company, if they will sell vaccine doses directly to New York State. Read the letter here. 

 4. I issued a letter demanding U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar explain his false claim that vaccine doses in reserve would be shipped to states. In case you missed it, last week the Federal Government told not just New York, but all fifty states, that vaccine doses that had been “held in physical reserve” would be shipped to states. This came as welcome news, as federal supply of the vaccine is extremely limited.

But it turned out that this was false. These doses had already been distributed to the states. Whether this was an act of incompetence or an act of intentional falsehood, New York and the public deserve a full accounting.

5. The Statewide positivity rate has come down—but we should still be very cautious. The post-holiday spike that we anticipated has declined (see chart above), but the more contagious UK variant is in New York State and represents a serious risk to our hospital system and all New Yorkers. Continue to be vigilant and wear a mask, social distance and avoid gatherings.   

Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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Governor Cuomo: 73% of State Vaccine Dosages Used. Next Federal Supply Is Cut 50,000 to 250,000 Dosages

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WPCNR GOVERNOR CUOMO CORONAVIRUS VACCINE REPORT. January 17, 2020:

 So far, New York’s health care distribution sites have administered 75 percent of doses received from the federal government. In total 699,063 doses of the vaccine have been administered—of these, 623,172 doses are first doses  and 75,891 are second doses. (This number excludes doses that have been set aside for the federally-run Long Term Care Facility vaccination program.) 

We want to get shots in arms as fast as possible, but our biggest constraint at the moment is the limited vaccine supply from the federal government.

We have our distribution network up and running and are working to expand it every day—but we can only vaccinate as many New Yorkers as we have supply for.

There are around 7 million New Yorkers who are eligible for the vaccine but New York only receives 300,000 doses per week, and the next weekly allocation from the federal government will be even less: just 250,000 doses. Due to this limited allocation, appointments have filled up quickly, which I recognize is frustrating for so many New Yorkers who want to get the vaccine as soon as they can.

If you are currently eligible for the vaccine, I urge you to call your local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital for additional information and to schedule appointments. To determine eligibility and schedule an appointment at a State-run vaccination site, use the “Am I Eligible” tool. I appreciate everyone’s patience as we wait for more federal supply.  PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Coronavirus Newsletter will not publish on Monday, January 18th, in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will resume on Tuesday, January 19th. 

Photo of the Day: A fifth State-run vaccination site opened at SUNY Albany (Photo by Philip Kamrass) Here’s what else you need to know: 

1. The first five “community vaccination kits” were deployed to New York City Housing Authority locations. Community vaccination kits have been assembled by the state to help ensure that residents of under-served areas have equal access to the vaccine. The kits include workstation equipment, medical supplies, room dividers, privacy curtains and more. The five kits that were deployed today will be used to vaccinate eligible residents at NYCHA buildings (New York City’s public housing authority).  

2. Total hospitalizations fell to 8,808. Of the 324,671 tests reported yesterday, 19,942, or 6.14 percent, were positive. There were 1,570 patients in ICU yesterday, up 34 from the previous day. Of them, 962 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 183 New Yorkers to the virus.  

3. Another State-run vaccination site opened in Albany today. The new site, located on SUNY Albany’s campus, will be joined in the weeks ahead by additional State-operated sites in every region of the state. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, if available, please use the State’s “Am I Eligible” tool or call the New York State Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829). Appointments to receive a second dose will be scheduled in-person immediately after an individual receives the first dose. New Yorkers should not attempt to book their second appointment online. 

 4. An additional case of the UK variant has been found in New York. This new case was identified in Nassau County. To date, there are now 16 known cases of the more contagious virus strain in New York. 

 5. Yesterday, New York State reported 324,671 COVID tests, a record high. Remember, testing is open to any New Yorker. Getting tested frequently allows us to identify positive cases so we can stop the spread. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to someone positive for COVID, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to make a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location.  

Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE COMPREHENSIVE COVID REPORT FRIDAY JAN, 15 REPORT on YOUTUBE NOW.”

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This is John Bailey providing the live report narration of the White Plains Week PROGRAM REPORTED JANUARY 15 AT 7:30 PM without graphics which are posted below for you to view as Mr. Bailey references them.

All programs on Altice Optimum have been affected by “snow,” “break-up,” “distorted audio,” and “elongated video ratio” the last two days” on the Channel 76 and 75 and 77 video feeds from Altice Optimum.
Most of the programs may be seen on www.wpcommunitymedia.org , and clearly on the other White Plains service, VERIZON FIOS, we presume on FIOS ch. 45 countywide.

It is presumed Altice Optimum has been alerted to the problem and are aware of it. But the unreliable quality of Altice Optimum has recurred sporadically for weeks.

Optimum subscribers should notify Altice optimum at 777-9000 and report the problem. And advise the city, if this interferes with your enjoyment of the locally produced programs.

Meanwhile have BLACK coffee OR strong cocktails responsibly with
White Plains Week
AS HARD AS NEWS GETS
Click the big White Arrow on my face to start White Plains Week rolling and fasten your seatbelts.
JOHN BAILEY ON VACCINATIONS IN WHITE PLAINS HOW SOON HOW FAST
Drop off and Go if you have mobility problems.
Turn left if southbound on Bronx River Parkway at County Center to access the Free Parking at the County Center lot
https://youtu.be/XB-SeG3nmLk
A VIDEO WIDE VIEW OF HOW LONG THE WALK TO THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY CENTER IS FROM THE FREE WESTCHESTER COUNTY CENTER PARKING. THE PARKING LOT IS ACCESSISBLE NORTH BOUND AND SOUTHBOUND ON THE BRONX RIVER PARKWAY AT THE COUNTY CENTER. YOU CAN’T MISS IT. CLICK BIG WHITE ARROW ABOVE POST TO VIEW.
No Shot Without Your Papers!
THE SOBERING GEORGE LATIMER REPORT :THE COVID SITUATION IN WESTCHESTER ON THE RISE
COVID TREND JOHN BAILEY GOES INSIDE THE NUMBERS THAT WILL LIFT YOU OUT OF YOUR CHAIR
The Worst Top 10 Performers in Spreading Covid over the first 4 Days of this week in reverse order: Jan 14, 13,12,11 AND THE NEW COVID CASES FOR THE WEEK!
THE LAST 4-1/2 DAYS OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
MACY’S GETTING OUT OF TOWN. SEARS CLOSES JAN. 22. WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE THE NEW IMPROVED GALLERIA TO COME?
https://youtu.be/saZUjxI8uNc
HERE’S AN EXPLANATION OF HOW YOU VOTE ON TOUCH SCREEN VOTING MACHINES WHICH THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WAS SUPPOSED TO APPROVE THURSDAY NO WORD FROM THE COUNTY OR ANY LEGISLATOR AS TO WHETHER THE VOTE WAS IN FAVOR OR POSTPONED. WPW SEEKS AN ANSWER. CLICK ON THE BIG WHITE ARROW ON THE SAMPLE BALLOT TO VIEW. (VIDEO HAS AUDIO, SO YOU MAY WANT TO PAUSE THE JOHN BAILEY COMMENTARY YOU’RE LISTENING TO)
COMING UP! THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHITE PLAINS WEEK HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT THE PROGRAM LOOKED LIKE 20 YEARS AGO. (CLICK THE BIG WHITE ARROW NEXT TO THE HAT TO VIEW)

John Bailey on DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR HOW WOULD HE ADDRESS THE INAUGURATION?

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY– WE NEED YOU NOW

COUNTY CENTER OPENS FOR COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

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Lining up for first Covid Vaccinations at Westchester County Center. Entry is from the main front entrance. Vaccinations begin at 8 AM and run through 7 PM but you must have a prior appointment, and bring your Registration Ticket and proof of identification
Posted in Uncategorized

GOVERNOR CUOMO EXPANDS ELIGIBILITY FOR COVID VACCINE TO 65 AND UP. “BE PATIENT” HE SAYS. HOSPITALS APPARENTLY NOT FINISHED VACCINATING THEIR OWN WORKERS! VACCINE SUPPLIES SHORT: 300,000 A WEEK ALL WE GET. Governor Apologetic.

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WPCNR GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO CORONAVIRUS REPORT. (EDITED) January 2021:

Following new guidance from the CDC, New York is now including individuals age 65 and up as eligible to schedule appointments to receive the vaccine.

 As of 3:00pm today, New York has administered 665,172 vaccine doses. Of those, 570,556 have been administered in hospitals and 94,616 have been administered in Long Term Care facilities. This represents an increase of 60,000 in the last 24 hours and represents 61.7 percent of what has been delivered to NY.  

Immunocompromised New Yorkers are also eligible to receive the vaccine. We are working with the CDC on how to best define the immunocompromised category.

In the meantime, people who are 65 or older can immediately begin finding vaccination locations near them through New York’s Am I Eligible? tool.

But I want to emphasize that New Yorkers should be patient.

(Editor’s Note: This afternoon one computer savvy, extremely patient, brilliant no-nonsense person, I know this –because this person is my wife, the legendary Brenda Starr — spent 2-1/2 hours attempting to schedule a vaccine shot. She was most exasperated with Mr. Cuomo, having scheduled me quite easily yesterday.)

Today’s change brings the number of eligible New Yorkers to at least 7 million people—and the State receives only 300,000 doses per week from the federal government.

That’s a huge gap between the supply and the number of eligible New Yorkers.

Hospitals will continue to prioritize hospital workers and other health care workers—as it is critical to get these workers vaccinated to keep our hospital system functioning and able to handle the continued rise in COVID hospitalizations.

If you are eligible, please be patient; unless the federal supply increases, it will take time to vaccinate the currently eligible groups.  

 New York has identified eight new cases of the UK variant. There are now 12 cases of the UK virus strain in New York and there are 80 cases in the U.S. As a reminder, the UK variant (also called B.1.1.7) is more contagious than other variants, although it is not believed to be more deadly or cause more severe disease. New Yorkers, as always, are asked to exercise caution. 

  Total hospitalizations rose to 8,926. Of the 196,671 tests reported yesterday, 15,214, or 7.73 percent, were positive. There were 1,492 patients in ICU yesterday, up 66 from the previous day. Of them, 909 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 164 New Yorkers to the virus.   

The Finger Lakes and Mohawk Valley Regions have the highest rate of COVID hospitalization by population. In contrast, the Mid-Hudson Region (inclusing Westchester County) has 1,053 holding steady at 5% .

There are 894 hospitalizations in the Finger Lakes, which represents 0.07 percent of the region’s population and there are 329 hospitalizations in Mohawk Valley, which represents 0.07 percent.

The Capital Region has 529 hospitalizations (0.05 percent); 

Central New York has 343 hospitalizations (0.04 percent);

Long Island has 1,612 hospitalizations (0.06 percent); New York City has 3,290 hospitalizations (0.04 percent); 

Southern Tier has 241 hospitalizations (0.04 percent); and Western New York has 518 hospitalizations (0.04 percent of its population).

The North Country, with 117 hospitalizations (0.03), has the lowest rate of hospitalizations due to COVID.   

Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo 

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50 COVID ANGELS TO THE RESCUE as Online Shot Reservations are Hard to Make.

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT By Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. January 12, 2021:

OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS HAVE SIGNED UP AS COVID VACCINE ANGELS —WILL OUTREACH TO HUNDREDS (possibly thousands) OF GREENBURGH SENIORS IN THE COMING WEEKS HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THE COVID VACCINE REGISTRATION PROCESS

COVID VACCINE ANGELS WILL ALSO ASSIST WITH TRANSPORTATION -FOR SENIORS WHO NEED TRANSPORTATION TO A VACCINE SITE  

    FIRST ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING THIS THURSDAY AT 7 PM TO 8 PM

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said he is swamped with calls, e-mails from seniors who are experiencing a difficult time getting appointments for a Covid 19 vaccine shot.

The town is setting up a Covid 19 vaccine angels program to help seniors navigate the Covid 19 process. We are going to hold our first organizational meeting via zoom for those interested in getting involved in helping seniors this Thursday from 7 PM to 8 PM. We are getting an enormous response from volunteers – over 50 volunteers so far.

Volunteers will reach out to seniors -will make cold calls to them–encouraging them to take the vaccine. If they don’t have computers and if they find the registration process  stressful the volunteers will help make the appointments for them.

We also will find out if seniors can’t get to the vaccine sites and will provide them with transportation assistance.

In addition, we will find out what isn’t working and will report experiences to the state. Example: People can’t get through to the state phone number. And, some may give up trying.  Husbands and wives have to register separately–making it harder to take the vaccine shot together.  

Those wishing to become a Covid Angel can e mail pfeiner@greenburghny.com and you will be invited to the Zoom meeting on Thursday evening.

PAUL FEINER

It is dark early! When walking at night wear reflectors. Wear bright clothing. Bring a flashlight so motorists can see you.

AID FOR AILING RESTAURANTS

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WPCNR COVID RELIEF. From Westchester County Legislator Katherine Parker. January 12, 2021:

In an effort to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Raising the NYS Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund offers reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 to eligible businesses. T

he $3 million program is intended to support full-service restaurants during the winter months when outdoor dining is limited and as restaurants adjust to New York State’s COVID-19 safety restrictions and new mandates.

The Raising the NYS Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund is a partnership between New York State, Diageo Wine & Spirits, Southern Glazer Wines & Spirits and the National Development Council (NDC). Grant funding will be managed by The National Development Council (NDC).

Restaurants can apply to the Rising the NYS Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund starting Monday, January 11, 2021.  ​

For more information, visit https://esd.ny.gov/raising-nys-bar-restaurant-recovery-fund.

Posted in Uncategorized

The March of Westchester Covid Infections = Hospitalizations We Can’t Handle with no Backup.

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WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT. By John F. Bailey January 12, 2021 UPDATED 4:35 PM EST:

If anyone was slow to try and get a vaccine appointment through the state website you should act now.

Unless you sign up now, you probably will not be getting the first dose to well into June or July, pending timely shipments of the vaccine. Today Governor Andrew M. Cuomo dropped the age down to 65, meaning even more fast-fill up appointment times.

The vaccine is a becoming an essential “must-have” because as County Executive George Latimer said in his briefing Monday “the covid  numbers are climbing very seriously. “

That is an understatement. Take for example the yellow hot spots. They continue “hot” and getting hotter. Just because they are not orange or red does not mean the infection rate in those towns is acceptable. It should not be.

In the most corona active areas here’s the numbers as of Monday:

  1. Yonkers, 455 new cases, 2,696 active cases total.
  2. New Rochelle: 117 new cases 893 ‘active.
  3. Cortlandt, 72 new
  4. Ossining, 69 new cases
  5. White Plains, 68 new cases (highest in months)
  6. Peekskill, 64
  7. Greenburgh, 56
Southern Westchester Active Cases through Monday
Northern Westchester Actve cases as of Monday.

More to fear are the daily numbers on a day by day basis.

Let’s go back 7 days:

From Monday January 4 to January 10 (Sunday) in Westchester  persons getting covid were: 619, 776, 1,019,913, 853, 789 and sunday the 10th 803.

That adds to 5,772 new infections in 7 days an average 824 a day.

Mr. Latimer yesterday said there were  504 persons hospitalized in westchester hospitals this week with covid; 455 last week and 392 the week before.

On Oct. 31 there were only 51.

Now let us see what the daily infection rate does to hospitalizations to come in three weeks.

The hospitalization rate for westchester is 5%.

At 5% rate of hospitalization, the number of 5,772 hospitalizations last week, if 5% of the 5,772 were to be hospitalized within the next two weeks that would put 288 persons into hospitals .

If another 5,772 are infected this week 288 more could be hospitalized in three weeks.

If 5, 772 were infected the week of January 18 to 25 we could have 288 more hospitalizations by February generating a total of 865 new hospitalizations by February 1.

That assumes a stable 7.1% infection rate. If the 7.1% ininfection rate continues to go up you can take 1,000 plus the present 594 of  the 2,500 bed capacity and really start stretching hospital caregivers.,4 to 5 weeks from now.

THE latest infection rate released today: 7.9% of 11,069 tested in Westchester Monday, tested positive (872)
Number Positives April 15, 2020
Number of positives Monday January 11: 872 . just where we were on growth of Covid on April 15, 2020. The Second Wave keeps coming.

The takeaway: Westchester must be more responsible.

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