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.
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020. By Benjamin Boykin, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. July 3, 2020:
I have established a new Election Information Gathering Task Force. The Task Force will obtain public input about the June 23 Primary Election and about pro-active steps that can be taken for the November 3 General Election. It will provide a report to the Board of Legislators by August 7, 2020.
The Task Force will hold a public input session on Wednesday, July 8 at 7 p.m.
In order to ensure public health safety, the session will be conducted remotely, rather than in-person, pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1 as extended.
By Telephone: Participants who wish to speak by phone should register by 3 p.m. July 8. To register, members of the public may call (914) 995-2800. Please leave a name and a callback number where we can reach you when the comment session begins.
In writing: Comments can be submitted in writing by emailing BOLPublicComments@westchesterlegislators.com or mailing them to the Clerk of the Board of Legislators, 148 Martine Ave., 8th Floor, White Plains, NY 1060. Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. on July 15, 2020. Speakers shall be limited to three (3) minutes. The session will be streamed live and archived on the Board’s website, http://www.westchesterlegislators.com
The Board of Legislators members of the Task Force are: Vice Chairwoman Alfreda Williams Majority Leader MaryJane Shimsky Legislator Catherine Borgia, Chairwoman of the Budget & Appropriations Committee, Task Force Co-Chair Legislator Vedat Gashi, Chairman of the Public Works & Transportation Committee, Task Force Co-Chair Please forward this e-news to family and friends who may be interested in this information.
New York City is expected to enter Phase 3 of reopening on Monday, July 6, but due to concerns about the risk of spreading the virus, indoor dining in NYC will be postponed.
As we see states across the country that have opted to reopen indoor dining experience upticks in the infection rate, we want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen in New York. And at this point, we can’t rely on citizen compliance or local enforcement alone to manage the risk.
The safest option is to postpone indoor dining in NYC. We need to continue to reopen based on facts and data—and we will be diligent and cautious. We will not risk the enormous progress New York has made.
Here’s what else you need to know tonight:
1. New York State will expand its testing criteria to all New Yorkers statewide. New York conducts more tests per capita than any big country in the world and we now have the capacity to expand the testing criteria. Any New Yorker can go to any of the State’s 750+ testing sites and get a test at no cost.
2. New York State will create an enforcement effort to supplement local enforcement of COVID-19 guidance and restrictions. It’s important that local governments enforce compliance of the safety protocols in place. If citizens slip and local governments don’t comply, we’ll find ourselves back on the mountain and we want to avoid that.
3. Six major retailers are requiring customers to wear face coverings while shopping at their stores nationwide. The retailers are: Costco, C-Town, Gristedes and D’Agostino, Stop & Shop and Whole Foods.
4. The number of total COVID hospitalizations continues to drop. Total hospitalizations fell to 879, from 891 the day before. Sadly we lost 11 New Yorkers to the virus yesterday.
5. Yesterday, the State conducted 56,710 tests. Only 625 tests, or 1.1%, were positive.
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) July 1, 2010:
Due to the societal shutdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the County estimates revenue loss as great as $250 million from sales tax, hotel occupancy tax and other revenues for Fiscal Year 2020.
The County is exploring the following avenues to close the budget gap: the CARES Act resulted in the County receiving an additional $30 million in federal transit aid, the federal government will contribute 50% of the cost of the Medicaid program, the US Marshal service is anticipated to increase its contributions by $3.8 million, and the Department of Correction is expected to accrue $2.8 million in salary savings resulting from a significantly reduced inmate population.
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt in Westchester for years to come, County Executive George Latimer proposed the Voluntary Separation Program.
The Program will allow Westchester County employees to voluntarily leave County service in exchange of a $1,000 payment for every year of service to the County. The move will amount to one to two million dollars in savings in 2020, and will save the County six to ten million dollars in 2021.
Latimer said: “In light of the impact of COVID-19 on the County’s budget, and the impact it is likely to continue to have, creating a voluntary separation incentive is a fiscally prudent step the County can take to mitigate the revenue shortfalls created by the virus. This is one more thing we can do to assist with getting, and keeping, the County’s finances on track.”
Elected officials, members of the County’s Police, Correction and District Attorney Investigator Unions, employees facing disciplinary proceedings, and employees of Westchester County Community College are not eligible to participate. Additionally, cognizant of the State’s budgetary concerns, the program contains a provision that, if the State also enacts some form of separation incentive, an individual cannot take advantage of both the State incentive and the County incentive, and must choose one.
Westchester County employees who wish to participate in the program must notify the County by July 24, 2020. Payments will be made to participating employees within 75 days of their voluntary separation from County service, which must occur on or before August 1, 2020.
WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2020:
Absentee Ballots were to have been started to be counted today by the Board of Elections, but they were not.
Absentee and Affiidavit Primary Ballots have been impounded by Assembly District 93 Candidate Chris Burdick, delaying the beginning of counting ballots until after July 8, the court date at Westchester County Supreme Court in White Plains. Ballots were supposed have begun to be counted today.
The 93rd Assembly District race is very close with three candidates, Mr. Burdick, Kristem Browde and Jeremiah Frie-Pearson in a 1-2-3 race after 5,600 ballots have been counted between 10,000 and 11,000 absentee votes remain to be counted in that 93rd race.
In the 17th Congressional District, which Mondaire Jones is leading by a 2 to 1 margin over Eva Farkas, Farkas would have to grab 75% of the estimated 21, 000 or more absentee ballots to win.
WPCNR CRIMESTOPPERS NOTEBOOK.From the White Plains Chief of Police to all neighborhood associations, by Joseph Castelli. July 1, 2020:
There have been incidents of thefts from cars, and one stolen car that was recovered, one night last week. Several residents had made reports including areas off Old Mamaroneck Rd, Prospect Park area, and Hillair circle area. As always the White Plains Police Department is doing our best to identify the perpetrators of last week’s thefts, and to deter future crimes.
Again we remind all residents to not keep valuables in your cars and to lock your cars even in your driveways. Also as many residents have home security, if there is any video you would like to share with the police, you are encouraged to do so.
For more information on safety tips, and how to contact and share information with the Police Department, you may go to: wppublicsafety.com.
Also, please remind all that as we go into phase III of the opening of Westchester, to remember gatherings are limited to 25 people and social distancing and masks are still recommended and mandatory in some cases. although individually, one may not be worried about their health, it is important to keep in mind the concerns and health of neighbors, friends, family, and coworkers.
Lastly, it is certainly understood that the relationship between police and the community is a hot topic of debate. The White Plains Police Department continues to strive to be the most professional, ethical, empathetic organization geared toward community service.
Two Westchester County Pools are officially open for the summer season. Saxon Woods Pool in White Plains and Sprain Ridge Pool in Yonkers are now open daily to Westchester County residents.
Tibbets Brook Pool and Wilson Woods Pool will open Friday, July 3.
Session One, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Session Two, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Session One wristbands go on sale 9 a.m. until sold out at locations. Session Two wristbands go on sale only when Session One is sold out.
Any Session Two wristbands remaining will go on sale again at 2 p.m.
All tickets sold at the pool day of visit only. Admission – $4 adults and children; free for children under 5 but counted as part of maximum occupancy.
No issuance of seasonal Swim Passes. No refunds or rainchecks.
Pools and Parks – Open to Westchester Residents only. Visitors will be required to verify their residency with their Westchester County Park Pass or driver’s license with a Westchester address.
Pools (Swimmer Capacity Limited)– 50% capacity for sunning and swimming.
Food Concessions – Open under New York State social distancing protocols.
Bathrooms – Open
Showers – Closed
Swimming Features Closed – Saxon Woods Aqua Playground; Sprain Ridge Aqua Splash Pad; Wilson Woods No Waves, Aqua Playground, Splash Pad, Slides;
Tibbetts Brook No Tubes, Aqua Playground, Basketball Court, Slides. Social Distancing –
Visitors must wear a mask if they cannot social distance within six feet.
Small families in specific sand areas do not have to wear mask when sitting. Mask not required in the water.
Disinfection – areas disinfected throughout the session and then again from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. between sessions.
Playland Pool – Closed for the season. For more information, visit the Westchester County Parks Department website.
In the New York Times Sunday Revuew section, White Plains City School District ran an add seeking candidates for a new White Plains High School Principal or “Interim” Principal.
Ellen Doherty has been Principal since 2012, when she became WPHS Principal after leaving the Principal position of John Jay High School in the Katonah Lewisboro School District.
Michelle Schoenfeld of the White Plains School District in a statement to WPCNR this morning wrote:
“Ms. Doherty is leaving to take the position of Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services in the Chappaqua district.“
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT, From the Governor’s Office; JUNE 28, 2020:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York State’s lowest death toll and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Yesterday, there were five deaths and 869 hospitalizations in New York State. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at forward.ny.gov.
“As states across the country struggle with new outbreaks related to reopening, New York’s numbers continue to go down to record lows,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our progress is a direct result of New Yorkers’ discipline and hard work and an incremental, data-driven reopening. Yesterday, as our hospitalizations dropped below 900, New York had its lowest single-day death toll since March 15th. While today’s numbers are very encouraging, New Yorkers must remain vigilant or the numbers will shoot right back up. Be smart, wear a mask, stay New York Tough!”
Today’s data is summarized briefly below:
Patient Hospitalization – 869 (-39)
Patients Newly Admitted – 54 (-24)
Hospital Counties – 30
Number ICU – 229 (-1)
Number ICU that are intubated – 145 (+1)
Total Discharges – 70,369 (+133)
Deaths – 5
Total Deaths – 24,835
Of the 61,906 tests conducted in New York State yesterday, 616, or 0.99 percent, were positive. Each region’s percentage of positive tests over the last three days is as follows:
REGION
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
New York City
1.40%
1.00%
1.10%
Capital Region
0.90%
0.80%
0.70%
Central New York
1.40%
0.50%
1.20%
Finger Lakes
1.60%
1.30%
0.70%
Long Island
1.10%
0.90%
0.80%
Hudson Valley
1.20%
1.00%
1.00%
Mohawk Valley
2.00%
2.40%
2.30%
North Country
0.20%
0.20%
0.30%
Southern Tier
1.20%
0.30%
0.30%
Western New York
1.40%
0.90%
0.80%
The Governor also confirmed 616 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 392,539 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 392,539 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
DAWN OF THE UGLIEST ELECTION FIASCO EXPERIENCE WHITE PLAINS AND WESTCHESTER HAVE EVER HAD —-MASTER MASTER, THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS, THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS!LINE UP AND WAIT AND MAYBE YOU’LL GET TO VOTETHE LOWEY SEAT RACE, THE TOO CLOSE TO CALL ASSEMBLY RACETAKING OFF THE RITZASTORINO PLOTS A COMEBACKJOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE ANALYZE THE ELECTIONS IN LIMBO — ANALYSTS WITHOUT PEER FOR 20 YEARS ON THE AIR EVERY WEEK FOR 20 YEARS
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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020From Bill O’Reilly, Astorino for State Senate June 25, 2020:
Former two-term Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino (2010-2017), a proven champion for taxpayers and accountable bipartisan government, today formally launched his campaign for the New York State Senate in New York’s 40th District which includes areas of Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester counties.
Mr. Astorino, 53, submitted eight straight budgets without a tax increase as county executive (in Westchester County) and created a bipartisan governing coalition to achieve concrete results in the county government he led, made his announcement in a video outlining some of the challenges he seeks to fix in Albany.
Under Mr. Astorino’s leadership, Westchester gained 44,000 new private sector jobs, maintained the highest credit rating in New York State — higher than the State itself — and reduced its workforce costs while delivering superior public services.
The video, entitled “Rebuild” can be viewed here. A full script is included below.
“New York is being challenged as perhaps never before, and it’s imperative that taxpayers be vigorously defended in the coming legislative term,” the former county executive said. “There are many in Albany already calling for dramatic new tax hikes, and middle class families can’t afford to pay a penny more. Without firm, common-sense voices at the table to push back against tax hikes — not to mention ill-conceived criminal justice blunders like cashless bail that’s putting dangerous criminals back onto our streets — the steady flow of families abandoning New York could become a torrent. We must not let that happen.”
Mr. Astorino, a husband and father of three, said he looks forward to running a spirited campaign based on issues and competing visions for New York State.
“New York is in turmoil right now, and there’s a critical need for firm, measured voices in the state legislature,” he said. “Peaceful protesters should be respected. We should encourage thoughtful dialogue and all sides of a debate must be heard. Violence, rioting, vandalism and those seeking unrest and anarchy, however, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We also must ensure the safety of our senior citizens if a second wave of the coronavirus arrives. The avoidable tragedy that occurred in New York nursing homes this spring must be impartially investigated and never allowed to happen again.”
After serving his second term as Westchester County Executive, Mr. Astorino went to work as Cardinal Dolan’s Delegate to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, a Catholic philanthropic organization serving the healthcare needs of the poor, and as a paid national commentator for CNN. ### “Rebuild”2:23
So much is happening so fast, it’s tough to take it all in.But New York’s troubles didn’t start with the coronavirus lockdown,they’ve been building up for far too long.Record deficits, highest taxes in America,one million New Yorkers fleeing the state in just the past 10 years…Besides Albany’s rampant corruption we get one-sided debates that lead to dangerous new laws like cashless bail.Who is Albany protecting?
Their bad decisions are affecting all of us.I’m running for state senate because I know things can change – they have to.
As county executive I made promises and kept them.We built a bipartisan coalition that held the line on spending and cut property taxes….Helped create over 44,000 new jobs,opened up daycare slots for working parents and earned the highest credit rating of any county in the state.
We did it by bringing people together developing ground-breaking programs that eliminated veteran’s homelessness and the Fatherhood Initiative that helped at-risk dads get back into the lives of their children. Why can’t Albany do the same?
My plan to Fix and Rebuild New York starts with holding Albany politicians accountable. Term limits.Transparency, and tough new ethics laws.Next, we’ll jump start our economy by reducing taxes, reining in the excessive spending, and eliminating the regulations that do little but kill jobs and ingenuity.
We’ll improve our schools by putting parents and teachers back in charge and strengthen public safety by repealing the reckless cashless bail law and by improving our police – not defunding or abolishing them.
We’ll also bring other good ideas and policies to Albany so no one willing to put in the effort will get left behind.
To change New York we have to change the politicians… we need responsible leaders who can bring people together and get things done. I’ve done it before,and I will do it again.
Now, I’m running for state senate knowing the road ahead won’t be easy for New York state, but as someone who cares about the Hudson Valley as much as you do, I know it’s a fight worth having.
