CUOMO ON COVID: 8.66% INFECTION RATE CONTINUES UP. HOSPITALIZATIONS ON RISE

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WPCNR GOVERNOR CUOMO COVID REPORT. From Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. December 31, 2020:

Total hospitalizations rose to 7,892. Of the 154,949 tests reported yesterday, 13,422, or 8.66 percent, were positive. There were 1,250 patients in ICU yesterday, up 26 from the previous day. Of them, 702 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 144 New Yorkers to the virus.

 As the year draws to a close, the vaccination distribution program continues to ramp up with more priority groups added as supply becomes available. As the vaccination process continues to build in the weeks ahead, know that you can look to this newsletter as an accurate in-depth source for information and updates.

 While the vaccine distribution gets underway, New Yorkers cannot get lax about COVID by any means.

Hospitalizations continue to rise across the state and there is one message New Yorkers must remember as we approach the close of the holiday season—celebrating smart stops shutdowns.

If we stay smart, stay tough and take the steps we know help halt the spread, we will get through this.  

PENN STATION MAKE OVER OPENS NEW YEAR’S DAY

Photo of the Day: We announce the opening of the new Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, which opens to the public Friday, January 1st. I thank all our partners who helped get this major infrastructure across the finish line on time and on budget, despite the pandemic (Photo courtesy SOM).

VACCINATION PROGRESS, NEXT PRIORITIES

 Approximately 203,000 New Yorkers to date have received one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Next week, New York State will open vaccination criteria to ambulatory care health workers and public-facing public health workers, including those administering COVID-19 tests. 

The Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop will be held virtually. This year, Times Square will be closed and there will be no crowds allowed in the area during the ball drop but the celebration to ring in the new year still goes on. The ball drop will be livestreamed online along with TV programming.  

 New York continues to monitor for the presence of the more contagious U.K. strain of COVID-19. The State Department of Health and private labs across the State have been analyzing genomic sequencing of COVID specimens since early spring, with more than 4,300 specimens sequences. We have yet to find the U.K. strain, but we are continuing to search.  

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: The mother of a Long Island teenager with special needs was able to pull off a Christmas miracle thanks to a total stranger. After searching without success for the gift her son wanted most—a sold-out Xbox—Jill Biblow turned to Facebook to ask if anyone she knew might be able to help her get one in time for Christmas. Hundreds of miles away, South Florida resident Kevin Danilo heard about the request from a friend, and sent Biblow a brand-new Xbox as a gift. His sole request was to pay the generosity forward. During this challenging year, it’s “the small things showing that people care about us [that give] us the strength to dust ourselves off and keep going,” he wrote to Biblow. 

HOSPITALIZATIONS RISING. COVID CASES RISING STATEWIDE. EVICTIONS HALTED TO MAY 1 2021.

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WPCNR GOVERNOR CUOMO CORONAVIRUS UPDATE. By Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. December 30, 2020:

 Monday night, I signed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act, which extends the moratorium on COVID-related residential evictions until May 1, while also providing foreclosure protections to homeowners and small landlords.

Many New Yorkers have faced economic hardship as result of the COVID-19 pandemic through no fault of their own, and this legislation helps ensure that no one is forced out of their home during this incredibly difficult period. The more support we provide for tenants, mortgagors and seniors, the easier it will be for them to get back on their feet when the pandemic ends. I thank the Legislature for passing this important protection for New Yorkers all across the state who need a hand.  

Chart of the Day: Total hospitalizations in New York, March 16 to present.  Here’s what else you need to know tonight: 

1. Total hospitalizations rose to 7,814. Of the 160,614 tests reported yesterday, 11,438, or 7.14 percent, were positive. There were 1,224 patients in ICU yesterday, up two from the previous day. Of them, 711 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 124 New Yorkers to the virus. 

2. New York has updated its quarantine guidelines to align with the CDC’s recommendations. Individuals exposed to COVID-19 can end their quarantine after 10 days without a testing requirement as long as no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period.

After day 10 is reached, individuals must continue monitoring for symptoms through day 14 and if any develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact their local health department or their health care provider to report this change and determine if they should seek testing.  

3. Unemployed New Yorkers will begin receiving extended and expanded federal unemployment benefits next week. Starting the week January 3rd, unemployed New Yorkers will receive an additional $300 payment through the extended Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Pandemic Unemployment Compensation programs. New Yorkers currently receiving benefits do not need to call the Department of Labor to receive these extended benefits—they should continue to certify for unemployment benefits in their usual manner and will automatically receive extended benefits.

 4. Starting January 1, 2021, New Yorkers can begin using sick leave benefits under the state’s Paid Sick Leave law. This legislation secures paid sick leave for workers at medium and large businesses and paid or unpaid leave for those at small businesses, depending on the employer’s net income. New Yorkers can use guaranteed sick leave to recover from an illness themselves, care for a sick family member and more. Learn about Paid Sick Leave here.  

County Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators Issues Year End Report — URGES LANDLORDS APPLY FOR CASH COUNTY EVICTION AID TO LANDLORDS BY TOMORROW

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Benjamin Boykin
Westchester County Chairman of the Board of Legislators (WPCNR Photo)
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Benjamin Boykin, Chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators December 30, 2020:

We are urging residents in need to apply as soon as possible for these important housing relief programs. Sign up ends on Thursday, December 31, 2020:

Eviction Prevention Program for Tenants administered by Landlords:
Program can provide up to 75 percent of back rent for up to eight months of rental assistance for landlords who can demonstrate tenants were up to date for March, but have not been able to pay their rent due to COVID-19. Can assist owners of buildings with between 3 and 50 units; would be done by lottery to establish order for assistance.

Assistance available through County Planning. Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please contact Pam Tarlow at (914) 995-1920.

Application in English: OF https://homes.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/crfhspllapeng.pdf
Application in Spanish: https://homes.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/crfhspllapsp.pdf
Foreclosure Prevention Program:
Program can provide up to several months of mortgage/cooperative arrears for those who can demonstrate COVID-19 as the reason and were up to date on their mortgages as of March 2020. Assistance is available through these four nonprofits agencies:
The Bridge Fund of Westchester – (914) 949-8146
Community Housing Innovations – (914) 683-1010
Human Development Services of Westchester – (914) 939-2878
Westchester Residential Opportunities – (914) 428-4507
For more information on all of these programs, as well as two additional programs specifically for Westchester County Urban Consortium Communities, please visit https://homes.westchestergov.com/housing-help
Please forward this E-News to family and friends who may be interested in this information.

My annual year-end report, released Tuesday, looks back on Board of Legislators’ actions in the second half of 2020 including unanimous passage of operating, capital and special district budgets for 2021 that respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.

 The operating budget cuts overall spending by $15.7 million and lowers the County property tax levy by $1 million while preserving essential services.

It also adds millions for business development, food insecurity and housing support. The capital budget invest more than $260 million in new improvements to infrastructure, transportation and parks, supporting more than 2,000 permanent jobs in Westchester.

The report details other 2020 actions by the Board including approving around 530 units of affordable housing; establishing in law an LGBTQ Advisory Board for the County; recommending election changes and financing the purchase of new election equipment; investing in Playland and other parks, capping third-party food delivery fees, supporting for police reform, and more.

2020 has been a year like no other in living memory. I am proud of the way County Executive George Latimer, this Board and the entire County government has worked together to serve the people of Westchester.

In times of crisis, people turn to government for help and we cannot and will not let them down. We have continued to conduct the people’s business, provide access to essential services and information, and pass legislation to benefit our residents, property taxpayers, consumers and small businesses.

With vaccines beginning to rollout, better days are in front of us. We look forward to getting back to work next year knowing that the choices we make as we confront the consequences of the pandemic, will impact this County’s well-being for a generation.You may read the report at https://www.westchesterlegislators.com/images/PDF/2020-year-end-report.pdf
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WHITE PLAINS SALES TAX $$ DOWN 14.4% THROUGH FIRST 5 MONTHS OF FISCAL YEAR. Sales Tax Revenues have declined each month for 9 consecutive months

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FISCAL YEAR 2020-21 RECEIPTS FIRST 5 MONTHS
NYS DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. December 28, 2020:

The White Plains City Sale Tax ‘Handle” had its fifth consecutive declining month in economic activity in November. To date White Plains has declined in sales tax receipts 14.4% through November and declined for nine consecutive months.

The city is down $3,035,717 at $18,091,133 in sales taxes through November 2020 compared to $21,126,850 in November 2019. (14.4%)

The city nervously awaits the December figures which will be out in January from the State Department of Taxation and Finance.

WHITE PLAINS SALES TAX RECEIPTS IN 2019, FIRST 5 MONTHS

The city had a $5,830,213 Million December “handle” last year which at the present rate of decline in economic activity (4.5% down in November) would project to $262,000 less, that is if the December activity approached the $5 Million level. The city has not had a $4 Million Dollar month ( it’s average in 2019 ) since February 2020 ($4,131,738).

If the city 14% rate of decline in sales revenues in 2021 continues the sales tax receipts may sink below the projected $46 Million. Last year the city just made their projection of sales taxes hitting $50 Million.

At the soft pace of the city economy caused primarily by the coronavirus retail effect, If White plains continues at the 14% shortfall the city will make $7 millon–about $43 Million.

City Center New Cleaning Contractor Will Offer Workers Jobs Back. Kite Realty to County Board: County Displaced Workers Law will be Followed

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WPCNR LABOR LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. December 28, 2020:

A spokesman for Kite Realty, of Indianapolis, Indiana, owners of the City Center in White Plains, told WPCNR this morning, the company has reached out to the Westchester County Board of Legislators (reacting to a letter the Board had written Kite Realty last week and published in WPCNR) and has assured the Board of Legislators the company had never considered not following the Displaced Persons Law in the Kite transition from one Cleaning Contractor to another, beginning January 1, 2021.

The spokesman made clear to WPCNR the developing situation:


“Kite Realty Group wants all laws to be properly followed.

Kite Realty does not directly employ the cleaning workers

The previous cleaning vendor terminated their agreement with Kite Realty, and the contract was sent out to bid.

The new cleaning vendor is in the process of extending job offers to the required workers

We have reached out to the Board of Legislators and hope to be in contact with them soon.

WPCNR has learned that the previous contractor was not a union contractor, and the decision to seek a new cleaning contractor was forced upon Kite.

The number of persons required to clean the City Center is being determined by the new contractor, and the reason for the reduction, the spokesman believes, is that many of the City Center space renters are closed, thus reducing the need for the full force of cleaners (needed previously pre- covid) until the retail and restaurant venues become active.

Westchester Corona Cases Infection Rate Dips to 5.7% from 6% in Last 7 Days. 573 New Covid-Infected a Day, 4,015 Total in a Week.

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https://youtu.be/oRD6gwqlERQ
County Executive George Latimer on the Covid Situation as of Monday afternoon Today 4:52

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the NYS WorkBook Covid-19 Tracker. December 28, 2020 UPDATED 4 PM EST:

In the last 7 Days Sunday to Sunday, the number of persons in Westchester County testing positive for Coronavirus was 4015 (5.7%) of 71,189 tested From Sunday December 20 through Sunday, December 27.

Sunday Positives reported today as of 2 PM

The Infection Rate is a decrease from the 6% infection rate the county has been averaging the last 3 weeks.

For comparison purposes, last Tuesday December 22, 11, 368 Westchester persons were tested and 651 came back positive with the corona virus, an infection rate of 5.7%, as reported by the NYS Covid-19 Tracker website.

The Westchester infection rate as of last Tuesday was just below 6%. Since December 1, 13,340 Westchesterites had tested positive, a per day new Covid case average of 606 new Covid Positives a day.) The 556 average a day is an 8% decrease in the number of cases a day (606 compared to 556).

A reminder, The 3,587 new infections though mean that if those persons do not maintain strict quarantines, they could infect 2 more persons each or 3 or 4, continuing to spread the virus exponentially by double or triple those 3,587 persons through their families, friends or persons they come in contact with. They of all persons should wear a mask with others.

Another insight: If the Westchester hospitalization rate continues at 4% to 5%. this indicates that 160 to 200 of those 4,015 people could become hospitalized continuing to put pressure on the county hospitals were reported to have enough bed capacity to handle potential hospitalizations.

With a new positive rate of 556 new positives a day, this means that at a 4 to 5 % hospitalization rate, 27 people could be hospitalized within a 2 week period from just one day of 551 new positives. That would translate out of each day of 550 positives, 189 new hospitalizations within 15 days. If the positive rate continues at the 550 a day level, or worse increases in spread, the hospitals may find their capacities to care for covid patients dwindling. Controlling covid depends on stopping the spread of the disease.

County Executive George Latimer in his Covid Briefing today reported 392 hospitalizations, which he said were running between 4 to 5% of active cases. He also noted the number of deaths has been increasing the last 4 weeks in the county. He also said that at 2,500 hospital beds available in Westchester County for covid treatment he felt the present hospitalization rate was “manageable.”

In the Q. & A portion of the briefing Mr. Latimer said he advocated a more logical approach to restaurant restrictions on the City of Port Chester where restaurants are shut down because of Port Chester being a yellow zone and hoped restaurants with social distancing, mask enforcement and plexiglass between tables could be allowed to open, but said that was up to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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WIDESPREAD POWER DAMAGES IN BEDFORD. NYSEG, CON ED IMPROVES RESTORATION PERFORMANCE SAYS BEDFORD SUPERVISOR

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WPCNR THE POWER STORY. From Chris Burdick, Bedford Town Supervisor.Friday Evening. December 26, 2020 UPDATED 1:30 PMEST:


Power Outage – December 26 Afternoon Update
I have been in very frequent contact both with NYSEG and Con Edison.  NYSEG now reports 319  customers currently without power in its service area in Bedford (down from 1333.

For those who check the NYSEG outage list except for individual ones of “still assessing” (which at this point means special issues/problems), the estimate time of restoration is tonight at 11:00 PM.  I have been pressing NYSEG hard to do its best to get power restored sooner, and they are trying to do so.  
Con Edison now reports 13 customers without power in its Bedford service area (down from 138). 

Status of Crews

I just got off the phone with NYSEG which continues to have several crews in Bedford – four crews working on the Bedford Hills Circuit (accounting for about 55 customers) and six crews working on the Cantitoe Circuit (about 250 customers). As earlier noted, NYSEG crews did work through the night.

Downed Trees and Wires

Please report any downed trees or utility lines to Bedford Police Desk at 241-3111.

NYSEG customers should immediately call 1-800-572-1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous conditions

Con Edison customers should immediately call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) immediately.  
Please be safe staying away from downed lines.  
This storm did a great deal of damage with downed trees, power lines and blocked roads throughout town both in NYSEG and Con Edison service areas. 

The priority has been on restoring service to life support and special needs residents and on unblocking roads – particularly 172 leading to the hospital and roads for which ingress/egress was completely blocked. 

 These priorities, as I understand, have been met. NYSEG and Con Edison has done a decent job in providing crews to handle the significant remaining damage and restoration task.  

Outages  NYSEG now reports 859 customers without power in its service area in Bedford (down from 1333 as of 12 noon) with nearly all roads’ estimated time of restoration still shown as “assessing” on the NYSEG outage list on the website.  

I reported to my NYSEG representative that Davids Hill Road was incorrectly delisted from the outage list. It’s an anomaly, he tells me, because the rest of the circuit has been restored. 

The outage list has been updated to show estimated restoration times of 11:00 PM tonight for some streets and 11:00 PM tomorrow for other streets. 

  Con Edison now reports 93 customers without power in its Bedford service area (down from 138). Con Edison has taken cleared all road closures.  The 95% estimated time of restoration is 11:00 AM Saturday morning.  

  Status of Crews NYSEG continues to have 12 crews in Bedford. NYSEG crews were working Friday night.  Our Public Works Commissioner has confirmed that the crews have been diligent in handling the safety issues described above.  Con Edison has also been clearing roads and will have their crews working through tonight. 

 Dry Ice/Bottled Water – Now Available ​NYSEG has made dry ice and bottled water available. My thanks to Frank Zipp of our Building Department for going up to Putnam County to pick up 100 packages. They now are available at the usual distribution point in front of the Town Offices at 425 Cherry Street.  I haven’t been over there, so do not know whether any supplies remain.  

Downed Trees and Wires Nearly all of the roads that were blocked have been cleared.  Please report any downed trees or utility lines to Bedford Police Desk at 241-3111.

NYSEG customers should immediately call 1-800-572-1131 to report downed power lines or other hazardous conditions
Con Edison customers should immediately call 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633) immediately. Please be safe staying away from downed lines.  

 Cell Service and InternetI have not heard back yet from Altice as to the status of providing crews. The protocol, however, is that the power lines first need to be restored on utility poles and then the telecommunication lines. I have been in touch with Altice government representative pressing for crews.  

Deputy Supervisor MaryAnn Carr Working With Me As I mentioned this morning, please also note that my Deputy Supervisor MaryAnn Carr is working closely with me throughout this power outage. As you may know, under NYS law the Deputy Supervisor has all the authority and responsibilities of the Supervisor in the absence of the Supervisor. I leave office at midnight on December 31 (to assume my new role as Assembly Member) at which time MaryAnn will assume such authority and responsibilities. 

CON ED WAS SO “ON IT”. “PREPARED FOR THE STORM” SUPERVISOR SAYS

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WPCNR THE POWER STORY. From Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. December 26, 2020:

I’d like to commend Con Ed for the way they handled the power outages in Greenburgh on Christmas day.

After the storm a number of residents of Greenburgh contacted me – complaining that they were out of power. After Con Ed was notified of the power outages – they promptly sent crews to repair the outages.

I spent some time spot checking neighborhoods where there were outages and personally  observed Con Ed crews working hard to restore the power on a holiday! 

It wasn’t difficult to find Con Ed crews working almost immediately after every outage was reported to them.  In most cases power was restored within a few hours.

Con Ed was prepared for the storm – they had more crews available than they had during past storms and their municipal liaisons provided updates and explanations when there were unusual circumstances ( Hawthorne Way, Hartsdale for example, a 60 foot tree fell down damaging the transformers-making it harder to immediately restore power).

Over the years I have been highly critical of Con Ed after every major storm.  I joined other officials from around the county and state condemning Con Ed for being unprepared after every storm. 

Speaking personally – I’ve been out of power for over a week at least three times in recent years –most recently this summer.  In the past we didn’t see Con Ed repair trucks for days and ratepayers and officials were provided with inaccurate information. 

It’s my hope that Con Ed will continue to work hard to improve their responses to power outages. Their efforts on December 25th, 2020 was a great start.  The company deserves our thanks for trying and learning from their previous mistakes.


It was Not What Jesus Promised. It’s What Jesus Did. 2,020 Years Ago.

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. December 25, 2020:

It has been approximately 2,020 years since a confluence of bright stars guided three kings to the town of Bethlehem to pay respects to a “newborn king.”

This antique set which has been in my family for 75 years or so, commemorates that night this day.

Since the day the baby, Jesus, was born in a stable, which was provided as a charity by the owner of the inn in Bethlehem, the baby’s deeds He was to achieve and His philosophy of loving your fellow man and woman that took root in a hostile world that was a world of subjugation, genocide, enslavement, and oppression — with violence. A lot like today.

Religious beliefs aside. Jesus may be the most influential man of all time, considering how his message of concern, respect, and kindness towards your fellow man and woman was unique at the time he lived and spread throughout the world without violence.

We would all do well if when considering how to treat each other, make a decision, what would Jesus do?

I daresay the world would be a much better place. I also should like to point out that Jesus’s message was not follow me and you will have eternal life, though he did say that–his main message was to love one another and be compassionate, helpful, and respectful towards those less fortunate than you.

It made so much sense.

I set it up the display this year because I missed it over the years. Remember it is not what Jesus offered…it was what He did that spread his message around the world without violence

There was no CNN, No Fox News, showing live coverage, no internet, no newspapers,radio or television. No Twitter or Facebook. No Instagram,Skype, or Google.

Nevertheless the message of the man who died on Calvary (The Place of the Skull) spread around the world without mass communication.

His followers, twelve of them were so devoted to His message of love and code of behavior they became the first pacifist activists who spread a message the man they called their Lord had preached to them.

He was Jesus of Nazareth.  He had no last name.

Today He is now known all over the world for the message he delivered.

Whether you believe He is the Son of God, or not, He ranks as one of the foremost influences on mankind. More than Plato, more than Socrates, more than any leader or politician, or entertainer whoever lived.

His selfless acts of embracing lepers, the poor, those who sinned were unique.

Such compassion for the downtrodden was unheard of during the time He lived.

It was a time of slavery. No human rights. No care for the sick. When cities were razed and populations slaughtered or enslaved much like the genocides of today.

Jesus of Nazareth introduced a new philosophy that spread throughout the world after because the community leaders of his own people thought him a threat to their power. And that fear that this simple man was a threat should be a lesson to us all.

If you live by His philosophy of forgiveness you are a person at peace with yourself. If you accept those who are different from you without  fear or prejudice, you are a force for spreading His message of peace towards others and good will.

If you help the poor and the sick because you sympathize with them, you are following His way.

If you stand up for truth, point out what is wrong as He did with the Pharisees. You are doing his will.

If you go about doing good for the sake of doing good, you are following His virtue of selflessness.

Jesus of Nazareth’s message whether divine or a code of how we conduct our lives resonated with millions and it spread.

There is no denying He is one of the great philosophers of the human experience, kin to Socrates, the other giant of antiquity thought.

Jesus of Nazareth was a human being who affects us to this day.

One of the great gifts of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, is the celebration of humanity and capacity to care and feel for others that aids persons whether they believe He was the Son of God or not. Or that you will have eternal life if you believe in him.

His philosophies of care, courage, compassion and benevolent action serve their practioners well because they leave a great personal satisfaction in the heart, the mind, and the spirit.

You do not have to second guess yourself, when you do what is right, humane, merciful, and serves the less fortunate without superiority with nothing to gain for yourself. And if you do not do what is right, if you weaken, you always regret it and remember when you failed to do right.

The peace of mind of action is the least of the  great gifts of Jesus of Nazareth whose birth is recognized worldwide this day.

If you act as Jesus did, you will be remembered by all you meet fondly and lovingly, and be comforted that you will live in memories of those you have  touched with your love and kindness and caring  for eternity to the end of the age.

His simple teachings have great power. Use them. Implement them.

They give meaning to our mystery of life.

They give meaning and purpose to anyone’s life.

For 2,000 years He in his sweet, short life made a violent world a better place.

WESTCHESTER INTRODUCES NEW Comprehensive COUNTY COVID 19 “DASHBOARD”

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Introducing the all-new Westchester County Covid-19 Dashboard. Viewable at  https://arcg.is/10naWv0

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Department of Communications.December 23, 2010:

County Executive Geo rge Latimer introduced the new County Covid Tracker Map promised two weeks ago, a week early today. The new method of providing Covid-19 spread and control was promised by the first of the and arrived a week early.

The County Executive said:

“This codifies data we receive from New York State. We are trying, and have proven over an extended period of time, that we intended to do the things we say we are going to do. When we say that we are going to try to give you information in a more transparent and accessible way – this is an example of how we deliver it.”

The new Covid-19 Dashboard, which will automatically update, contains:

·       County Active Case Map

·       Covid-19 Test Site Map

·       Total Confirmed Active Cases

·       Total Confirmed New Cases

·       Active, New & Cumulative Cases by Municipality

·       Total Fatalities

·       Total Persons Tested

·       NYS Designated Hot Zones

·       Positivity Rate

·       Various Graphs Outlining Statistics