WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.
THE BIG WHITE–6-1/2 INCHES OF IT THAT LANDED7-1/2 inches in Drift Effect as of 6 AMON KING! MUSH YOU HUSKIES!
The promised 12 inches of snow was still blowing sideways as of 6 AM this morning. Schools are closed. How much fell? Press the > on the video above and you’ll see why. It is anybody’s guess because the snow blew sideways with the 20 to 30 mile per hour howling winds keeping the snow moving horizontally stinging the eye. As of midnight there were no reported electrical outages in the Con Edison Westchester area. There were however 55 customers out in Brooklyn NY. The foot of snow predicted may have fallen someplace but not here. My measurement is about 6-1/2-7-1/2 inches as of 6 AM.
POSITIVE COVID-19 TESTS PILE UP. NO SIGN OF LETUP IN THE SPREAD.
THE NY STATE WORKBOOK COVID-19 TRACKER REPORTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THAT WESTCHESTER COUNTY PERSONS TESTING POSITIVE TUESDAY CONTINUED at a 6.5% DAILY POSITIVE TEST INFECTION RATE.
AFTER 9,436 WESTCHESTER TESTS WERE CONDUCTED MONDAY AND 560 TESTED POSITIVE, A 5.9% INFECTION RATE, 8, 417 WERE TESTED TUESDAY AND 549 CAME BACK POSITIVE WITH THE CORONA VIRUS, A 6.5% INFECTION RATE
THE LAST 25 DAYS, NOVEMBER 21 THROUGH TUESDAY DECEMBER 16, 13,567 WESTCHESTER-TESTED PERSONS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.
THIS IS AN AVERAGE OF 542 NEW COVID CASES PER DAY.
THE AVERAGE INFECTION RATE IS 5.4% .
November 21 through December 15, 13,018 WESTCHESTER-TESTED PERSONS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, AN AVERAGE OF 542 NEW CASES, AN AVERAGE INFECTION RATE OF 5.47%THE INFECTION RATE HAS RISEN SHARPLY THE THREE WEEKS SINCE THANKSGIVING.
IN THE LAST 7 DAYS TUESDAY TO TUESDAY, THE INFECTION RATE HAS AVERAGE JUST ABOUT 6%, AVERAGE 5.94%
WPCNR GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO COVID REPORT.By Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, December 16, 2020:
New York State health insurers will be instructed to cover COVID-19 vaccinations. The New York State Department of Financial Services issued a letter to New York-regulated health insurers Wednesday, directing them to immediately cover, without cost-sharing, approved COVID-19 immunizations and administrations. No New Yorker will have to pay a penny to get the vaccine.
As we see hospitalizations climb, remember that what we do collectively influences what happens. New Yorkers can stop a shutdown, New Yorkers can save lives. It depends on what we do.
Right now we need to manage the hospitals, administer the vaccine and slow the spread. With a major winter storm hitting large swaths of the state today, I encourage New Yorkers to stay safe in more ways than one. Please exercise caution, prepare for snow accumulation and keep off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
Photo of the Day: Even with the world on his shoulders, the Atlas sculpture in Rockefeller Center wears a mask. Here’s what else you need to know tonight:
1. New York launched a new website about the COVID-19 vaccine with everything you need to know. It provides New Yorkers with a one-stop location for accurate and up to date information on the vaccine, safety, distribution priorities and more. On the site, New Yorkers can find general information about the vaccine, a detailed Frequently Asked Questions section that provides facts about the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, and other questions you may have.
2. The State has identified Regional Vaccination Hubs to develop vaccination networks ahead of Phase 2. These hubs will be led by local hospital systems and will work with community leaders to develop vaccination networks, which will guide vaccination administration for the second phase. Under the state’s plan, the second phase of administrations will focus on essential workers and individuals in the general public who are most at risk.
3. Total COVID hospitalizations climbed to 6,097. Of the 160,947 tests reported yesterday, 9,998, or 6.21 percent, were positive. There were 1,098 patients in ICU yesterday, up 33 from the previous day. Of them, 611 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 95 New Yorkers to the virus.
4. The State has received 87,750 total Covid Vaccine doses so far. Yesterday, NYS received 77,025 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. An additional 80,000 Pfizer vaccine doses will arrive in the coming days to start the vaccination program for residents and staff at nursing homes.
Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Michelle Truxel of Dewitt, NY, is spreading holiday cheer to cats and dogs that live in shelters. As part of an effort she has dubbed “Santa Paws,” Truxel collects toys and treats for shelter animals to enjoy on Christmas morning. Recently, she partnered with the Central New York SPCA to help provide a count of how many cats and dogs will be in the shelter around the holidays. To learn more about the animals at the CNY SPCA shelter or donate, click here. Read more about Santa Paws here. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.
WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE.From the Westchester County Department of Communications. December 16, 2020:
Three Mount Kisco businesses were recently charged with selling alcohol or vaping products to a youth who was under 21 years of age.
Westchester County Police and the Westchester County Department of Health sent the underage youth into multiple stores in Mount Kisco last week at the request of the Village. They conducted compliance checks to ensure that shops that sell beer, tobacco or vaping products were complying with laws that prohibit such sales to persons under 21 years old.
The stores that failed were:
· Smoking of Chen Inc., (doing business as The Smoking King), 32 Main St, which is charged with selling vaping supplies to a person under age 21, a violation of New York State Public Health Law;
· Henry’s Deli at 351 Lexington Ave. and Mount Kisco Snacks at 540 Main St., which are charged with selling alcohol to a person under age 21, a violation of the state Alcohol Beverage Control law.
Smoking of Chen was cited for a similar violation in 2019 and Henry’s Deli was charged with selling cigarettes to an underage person in 2019.
“The Village appreciates the continuing enforcement efforts of the Westchester County Police and the Westchester County Department of Health to ensure compliance with regulations prohibiting the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors. We will advocate to suspend the license for businesses who continue to put the health of and safety of our children at risk,” Mount Kisco Mayor Gina D. Picinich said.
Public Safety Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said the County Police conduct enforcement and public education in conjunction with its Office of Drug Prevention & Stop-DWI to deter underage persons from using alcohol, tobacco or vaping products.
“We continually conduct these compliance checks and work in partnership with community organizations and the municipalities we serve to encourage young people to make safe and healthy choices,” Gleason said.
WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT From Mayor Thomas Roach Monday, DECEMBER 14, 2020:
We received good news Monday, Sandra Lindsey an ICU nurse in Queens New York became the first person in NY to receive the Covid vaccine outside of a clinical trial.
I have been in contact with White Plains Hospital and our local nursing homes all of whom expect to receive the vaccine shortly.
We will let you know when the vaccinations begin.
The CDC is setting the guidelines for distribution and we will keep you apprised as additional groups become eligible. It is anticipated that everyone will be eligible by late March or early April.
White Plains Hospital continues to see an increase in COVID patients. While they are actively monitoring the situation, they continue to perform elective procedures and encourage all community members to go to the hospital if they are in need of emergency care.
The County has advised us that due to technical issues they are unable to provide updated covid numbers at this time (Monday evening). We do expect to receive an update tomorrow (Tuesday) and when we do it will be posted on our website.
It is the beginning of the end, the final battle against the scourge of Covid-19. It is not the time to let down our guard. We must all carry on the adaptive habits we have come to know. It has been repeatedly shown that wearing a mask and regular hand washing can temper the spread of the virus. This has become second nature to most of us and we must focus on continuing to do it for our own good health and the good health of our community. Brighter days are ahead but we still have work to do!
Our next Covid update will be on Monday, December 21 st . Until then remember, we are standing together by staying apart.
El condado nos ha informado que debido a problemas técnicos hoy no podrán mandarnos los números de covid más recientes. Esperamos recibir los datos más recientes mañana. Los publicaremos en nuestro sitio web tan pronto como los recibamos.
Hoy recibimos buenas noticias. Sandra Lindsey, enfermera de la UCI en Queens, Nueva York, se convirtió hoy en la primera persona en Nueva York en recibir la vacuna contra el COVID.
He estado hablando con el Hospital de White Plains y nuestros hogares de ancianos locales, los cuales esperan recibir la vacuna dentro de poco. Le avisaremos cuando el proceso de vacunación comience. La CDC está estableciendo pautas para la distribución de las vacunas. Lo mantendremos informado a medida que se expandan los grupos de personas que puedan recibir la vacuna. Se espera que todos puedan recibir la vacuna a fines de marzo o principios de abril.
El hospital de White Plains ha visto un aumento de pacientes con COVID. Mientras monitorean activamente la situación, continúan realizando cirugías rutinarias y sugieren a todos los miembros de la comunidad que vayan al hospital si necesitan atención de emergencia.
Estamos acercándonos al final de esta batalla contra el Covid-19. No es el momento de bajar la guardia. Debemos seguir las pautas que hemos aprendido hasta ahora. Se ha demostrado repetidamente que usar una mascarilla y lavarse las manos con regularidad puede atenuar la propagación del virus. Esto se ha hecho rutinario para la mayoría de nosotros y debemos concentrarnos en continuar haciéndolo por nuestra propia salud y la buena salud de nuestra comunidad. Se vienen días mejores, ¡pero aún tenemos trabajo por hacer!
Nuestra próxima llamada será el lunes 21 de diciembre. Hasta entonces y que recuerde estamos más juntos al mantenernos más separados.
WPCNR GOVERNOR CUOMO CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From Governor Amdrew M. Cuomo. December 15, 2020:
Everything we have done from the start of this pandemic has been based on the facts, and the facts are that COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all on the rise across the country.
We are on an unsustainable trajectory and if we don’t act now, hospitals could become overwhelmed in January.
Right now, New York is focused on growing hospital capacity through our Surge and Flex program and requiring hospital systems to begin working together so they are prepared. As those operations continue, it’s on all of us to be smart, tough, and do what we know stops the spread—socially distance, wear masks and wash our hands.
Here’s what else you need to know tonight:
1. Total COVID hospitalizations rose to 5,982. Of the 194,188 tests reported yesterday, 10,353, or 5.33 percent, were positive. There were 1,065 patients in ICU yesterday, up 25 from the previous day. Of them, 580 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 128 New Yorkers to the virus.
2. New York hospitals continue to receive and administer doses of the COVID vaccine. Among them was Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, NY, which administered doses that arrived today to the first members of its staff. The doses were administered to Upstate employees Kenzo Mukendi, Caprice Hibbler and Suzanne Buck, by Chief Nursing Officer Nancy Page. 3
. The Finger Lakes region, with 725 hospitalizations, has the highest rate of COVID hospitalization by population. Hospitalizations in the Finger Lakes represent 0.06 percent of the region’s population.
Western New York has 520 hospitalizations (0.04 percent of its population);
Central New York has 350 hospitalizations (0.05 percent); Mohawk Valley has 192 hospitalizations (0.04 percent); Long Island has 972 hospitalizations (0.03 percent); the
Mid-Hudson has 735 hospitalizations (0.03 percent);
Capital Region has 288 hospitalizations (0.03 percent);
Southern Tier has 166 hospitalizations (0.03 percent); New York City has 1,968 hospitalizations (0.02 percent).
North Country, with 56 hospitalizations (0.01 percent), has the lowest rate of hospitalizations due to COVID.
4. In the second round of the program, Nourish NY has so far spent $3 million to help New Yorkers in need. Over 2.8 million pounds of raw milk has been turned into dairy products and distributed by food banks, along with 993,000 pounds of produce. Over 1.1 million households in need have received products sourced from New York farms. With food insecurity impacting millions of Americans, we encourage all those in need to visit a food bank or pantry.
Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: A teenager became a hero when she rushed in to save her neighbor from a house fire on Long Island. When flames surrounded a home in Brentwood, New York, 16-year-old Star Grant noticed that one of the residents of the house was missing: 69-year-old Catarina, who lived on the ground floor of the home. Star rushed in and escorted Catarina out of the house unharmed.
If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.
THE NY STATE WORKBOOK COVID-19 TRACKER REPORTED THIS AFTERNOON THAT WESTCHESTER COUNTY CONTINUED at a 5.9% DAILY POSITIVE TEST INFECTION RATE.
ON MONDAY 9,436 WESTCHESTER TESTS WERE CONDUCTED AND 560 TESTED POSITIVE (5.9%).
IN THE LAST 24 DAYS, NOVEMBER 21 THROUGH MONDAY DECEMBER 14, 13,018 WESTCHESTER-TESTED PERSONS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.
AN AVERAGE OF 542 NEW CASES PER DAY.
THE AVERAGE INFECTION RATE IS 5.November 21 through December 14, 13,018 WESTCHESTER-TESTED PERSONS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, AN AVERAGE OF 542 NEW CASES, AN AVERAGE INFECTION RATE OF 5.47%
JOHN BAILEY’S TUESDAY MORNING COMMENTARY ON WVOX RADIO ON THE DENNIS NARDONE GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER PROGRAM.
WPCNR NEWS TICKER.John
Bailey’s WHITE PLAINS REPORT &COMMENTARY
on WVOX RADIO 1460 this morning 7:50 AM every Tuesday on the Dennis Nardone
Good Morning Westchester program on WVOX Westchester’s Number One Rated Station. December 15, 2020:
White Plains revenues
in sales taxes and user fees are down 21% in the first five months Common Council
President Nadine Hunt-Robinson reported in last week’s meeting the first time
in years the council has reported publicly of its financial position.
Councilwoman Hunt-Robinson remarked the city has put a hiring freeze in place not replacing employees who leave. She pointed out the city staged the holiday market last week to help local merchants.
Mayor Tom Roach
reported the council of mayors received word that the state should be getting a
stimulus from Washington with distribution handled by the state based on
population of the cities and towns.
The city now is crossing its fingers as the November sales taxes report next week. They
may have to look very early about how to cut
city expenses.
White Plains faces a $44
million sales tax handle if we equal the 7 months total November through June.
In 2019-2020 the city got $50 million in sales taxes so the administration is
going to have to take a harder look, if the November, December figures sharply
decline.
I attended a zoom meeting of the Jacob Burns Film
Center Board of Directors last night. They
are readying a series of virtual online movies for members of the theater. The
theatre is ready with social distancing and reduced seating arrangements in
place and complete new air filtration system to pump in fresh air.
The Theatre said they are ready to go but because of the
state restrictions on theatres reopening based on each county infection rate of
the coronavirus spread, the theatre cannot open.
Directors said that no theatre can open in the county unless
the county has a 2% infection rate—which Westchester does not come close to.
HERE are the latest covid stats: Westchester
County through Sunday (with Monday cases reporting today at 3 PM), has a 5.45% infection rate over the last 23
days to November 21 the county has had 12,962 persons test positive in 22 days from November 21 through December 13 – that
is an average 562 new infections a day.
https://youtu.be/PmXyvHoGwdA
Mayor of Mount Vernon on how her city has enforced social distancing, masking, restaurants, businesses covid protocols at the County Covid briefing (9:47)
Yesterday Mayor Patterson-Howard of Mount Vernon speaking in County Executive George Latimer’s covid briefing told how Mount Vernon has kept off the yellow zone designation by vigorous education and community outreach and enforcement of restaurant rules and business rules through enforcement and fines. Mount Vernon has the lowest infection rate of the major cities. You can see her talk on the White Plains Week Youtube site above. Perhaps it’s time the county adopted rigorous enforcement.
The White Plains Holiday Market on Waller Avenue with 48
heated roofed booths last week through the weekend was successful according to
the merchants and local store owners in the booth. Those whom I spoke to said
the first wet weekend was slow but crowds were encouraging during the cold
weather last week. Saturday and Sunday crowds were out with 50 to 60 persons
sifting through on the Saturday and over a 100 early afternoon Sunday when I
attended.
Merchants told me they hoped the city will do the Holiday
Fair again next year In my opinion the Farmers’ Market the city runs all summer
should be moved to this location on Waller. It’s much easier to park on Waller
with a garage and the Restaurant Row lot to park in. Think about it.
WPCNR GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO CORONAVIRUS REPORT. DECEMBER 14, 2020:
Today, history was made when Sandra Lindsay, a frontline ICU nurse and New Yorker, became the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in a non-trial setting.
Sandra received the vaccination at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. After her vaccination, I asked Sandra over Zoom how she felt and what she wanted to say to her fellow Americans. Her words speak for themselves:
“I am hopeful. I feel hope today—relieved. I feel like healing is coming and this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history. I want to instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe.
We’re in a pandemic and so we all need to do our part to put an end to the pandemic, and to not give up so soon. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we still need to continue to wear our masks, to social distance. I believe in science. As a nurse, my practice is guided by science and so I trust that.
What I don’t trust is that, if I contract COVID, I don’t know how it would impact me or those who I come in contact with, so I encourage everyone to take the vaccine.” She’s absolutely right: Healing is coming. Thank you, Sandra.
Photo of the Day: Dr. Michelle Chester administers the first vaccine to Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse (Photo by Scott Heins for the Office of Governor M. Cuomo)
Here’s what else you need to know tonight:
1. Total COVID hospitalizations rose to 5,712. Of the 159,844 tests reported yesterday, 9,044, or 5.66 percent, were positive. There were 1,040 patients in ICU yesterday, up 31 from the previous day. Of them, 572 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 83 New Yorkers to the virus.
2. Hospitalizations could approximately double in one month if the current rate of growth continues. The fall and winter surge could lead to 11,000 people hospitalized with COVID and 3,500 additional fatalities in a month if the current rate continues. Please take this threat seriously. Yes, we have a vaccine—but we must be cautious and diligent in the days ahead to slow the spread as the vaccine distribution ramps up.
3. The Finger Lakes region, with 681 hospitalizations, has the highest rate of COVID hospitalization by population. Hospitalizations in the Finger Lakes represent 0.06 percent of the region’s population.
Western New York has 526 hospitalizations (0.04 percent of its population); Central New York has 340 hospitalizations (0.04 percent);
Mohawk Valley has 193 hospitalizations (0.04 percent); Long Island has 935 hospitalizations (0.03 percent);
Mid-Hudson has 705 hospitalizations (0.03 percent);
Capital Region has 269 hospitalizations (0.02 percent);
New York City has 1,857 hospitalizations (0.02 percent).
The North Country, with 53 hospitalizations (0.01 percent), has the lowest rate of hospitalizations due to COVID.
4. Today, New York announced updated micro-cluster focus zones. The Yellow Zone in Niagara County will be expanded. A new Yellow Zone will be added near Batavia, Genesse County, and another will be added near Rome and Utica, Oneida County—following these areas meeting the metrics for Yellow Zone designation. See all cluster zones and look up your address on our interactive map.
5. When you’re indoors with people outside of your household, remember to wear a mask. Contact tracing data shows that 74 percent of COVID cases where the cause is known can be traced to small gatherings and the household. The CDC is urging—as are we—that you wear a mask indoors whenever you are with people that you don’t live with, in both public and private settings.
Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Adam Shrager, who teaches statistics at the College of New Jersey, received a moving surprise from his students on the last day of remote learning before final exams. When Shrager started the lesson, all of the students had their cameras off, which was unusual, but slowly the students turned their cameras on revealing an array of thank-you messages from the students. The display of gratitude from Shrager’s students soon went viral. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.
2021 OPERATING, CAPTIAL & SPECIAL DISTRICT BUDGETS PASSED
Operating Budge Reduces Tax Levy & Overall Spending; Preserves & Increases Human Services
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGERFrom the County Board of Legislators. December 14, 2020:
On Monday, the Board of Legislators unanimously approved the 2021 operating budget for Westchester that reduces the County tax levy and lowers overall spending while preserving essential services. The Board also unanimously adopted 2021 County capital and special district budgets.
Board Chair Ben Boykin (D-White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison) said,
Budget Committee Chair, Legislator Catherine Borgia, left and Benjamin Boykin of the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
“Building back from this once-in-a-century pandemic is going to be a multi-year process. COVID-19 left an economic crater in the budgets of every County across this nation. Those kinds of holes don’t get filled in a single budget. At the same time, people are hurting. Businesses are hurting. They are turning to us for help, and we cannot and will not fail them.
The 2021 operating is tough, with a reduction in county headcount through vacancies and last year’s voluntary separation package. But it puts in the forefront the human services that residents need. We’re providing millions of additional dollars for economic development, millions more for the social safety net, millions to deal with food insecurity and housing insecurity — programs the people of this County need to weather the storm of COVID-19 and strengthen our ability to rebuild as vaccines arrive in the new year.”
The $2.09 billion operating budget is $15.7 million lower than the 2020 budget. The budget reduces the county property tax levy by $1.0 million.
WPCNR Budget Note: The 2020 budget was described by County Executive George Latimer today as being a blueprint for 2020, but dependent on how much funds are cut by Governor Andrew Cuomo to balance the state deficit and depending on the passage of an aid-to-the-states package by congress in Washington. Mr. Latimer is expected to sign the budget Wednesday
The budget also balances the $80 Million shortfall in revenues experienced by the County in 2019 due to a wildly optimistic sales tax projection (a 27% increase which fell way short) diverting $80 Million in Federal Covid Aid into the County’s Fund Reserve and taking $80 million currently existing in that Fund Reserve to plug the deficit hole.
The adopted operating budget builds on the work the Board did last year, adding further support for community-based nonprofit organizations that provide cost-effective help to the County’s most vulnerable residents in dealing with hunger, domestic violence, eviction and educational support, among other areas.
In addition, during budget negotiations, the Board and County Executive Latimer reached an agreement to reduce the share of childcare costs paid by parents who are income-eligible for help from 25% to 23%. This was a top Board priority. Under the arrangement, the County will commit a portion of the childcare money it receives from the federal government to lowering the out-of-pocket cost of childcare programs to parents who qualify for the help.
On Monday, legislators also approved a capital budget for 2021 that takes advantage of historically low interest rates to invest millions in improving roads, bridges, parks, transportation, environmental facilities and recycling and sanitation programs. The County’s capital program supports 2,000 permanent jobs in Westchester.
