FEB 27– GOVERNOR BUDGETS 2.1% INFLATION INCREASE FOR STATE’S DISABLED WORKERS. NOT ENOUGH SAY DISABLED WORKERS — ASK 7.8% (INFLATION WAS 8% LAST YEAR)

Posted on February 20, 2025 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Richmond Community Services. February 20, 2025:

Dear Richmond families,

We need your help!

For 10 years during Cuomo’s administration, the field of developmental disabilities received very little support, and we are still trying to recover from the consequences of it.

Governor Hochul unveiled her budget proposal, and there is only a 2.1% targeted inflationary increase to our budgets to “help with rising costs in the human services field.”

To keep up with the rising costs, I/DD providers throughout the state are asking for a 7.8% increase.

We need to be able to pay our staff who care for people we support a living wage.

We need to pay an increased cost of food, power, insurance, etc. 7.8% is a must for the field to continue to operate programs supporting your loved ones.

State legislators and Governor Hochul need to hear our voices.

To achieve that, Richmond is a proud sponsor of Rally in the Valley on March 7 at 10 AM in Ramapo.

Please join us and help us have a strong voice supporting people with developmental disabilities. You can register by following the link below, or let me know if you plan to join us, and we will register you. Richmond will support this fight with over 100 staff and residents.

Rally in the Valley Tickets, Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

Looking forward to seeing you all there,

Paca

Paca Lipovac MD, MPT, CWS

President/CEO

Richmond Community Services

YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR.KATELYN JETELINA

Posted on February 20, 2025 by John Bailey

Flu breaking records, measles, tuna recall, and federal workers fired

The Dose (February 17)

Katelyn Jetelina

Feb 17, 2025

1,079

179

It’s Monday. Time for another week (breathe in and breathe out). But first, here’s some public health news you can use, including tips on effectively engaging with your state leaders.

Webinar tomorrow

With the news of RFK Jr., the line between falsehoods and truth, especially around vaccines, has never been more blurred. The upcoming months and years will take something from all of us.

On Tuesday (Feb. 18) at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, YLE will host a paid subscribers webinar titled Navigating Vaccine Conversations: Practical Strategies in a Changing Landscape. Katelyn Jetelina (YLE) will be joined by Drs. David Higgins and Kristen Panthagani—both physicians and excellent communicators. The goal is to equip you with tools that will surely need to be used today and in the years to come, both by talking with people directly and by approaching vaccine conversations online.

Paid subscribers register here!

Your national disease report: Hello, flu.

There are a lot of sick people out there… still. “Influenza-like illnesses” (defined as a fever, cough, or runny nose) have now reached heights we haven’t seen since the 1990s.

Influenza-like illnesses levels across the United States (Source: CDC; Annotated by YLE)

The main culprit is flu, which seems to have peaked but can always rebound. Flu usually gives us a rollercoaster because of the changing weather, different strains receding, and others taking over.

Regardless, flu hospitalization rates are higher so far this season than at the same time during each of the past 15 years. And, interestingly, this is the first winter that flu deaths passed Covid-19 deaths.

Respiratory illness deaths (Source: CDC; Annotated by YLE)

There’s a lot we can do about flu—it’s not too late to get the vaccine, as flu season typically has a long tail. Masks and ventilation/filtration help prevent spread. Tamiflu can also help once you do have symptoms, but it needs to be taken within 48 hours.

Many other infectious diseases are also popping up across the country, like measles and two severe human cases of H5N1. Here’s what we’ve seen in the past week:

The Texas measles outbreak has doubled in size to 48 cases, including 13 hospitalizations mostly among kids. None were vaccinated, and the majority of cases are in Gaines County. Note: if you’re in a high-risk area, children can get an MMR vaccine as young as 6 months old (instead of waiting until 12 months).

Next door in New Mexico, a measles case was reported in Lea County—which borders Gaines County, Texas. However, this case didn’t travel, so whether it’s linked to the Texas outbreak is unclear.

On the other side of Texas, the Louisiana Department of Health stopped promoting routine vaccinations by banning vaccine events and ordering staff not to promote vaccinations. This came on the same day that RFK Jr. was confirmed as HHS Secretary.

Food recalls: Botulism in tuna

Canned tuna sold at Trader Joe’s, Costco, and H-E-B is recalled for risk of botulism—a potentially fatal form of food poisoning in which a toxin caused by bacteria attacks the body’s nerves. This recall is due to a defect in the “easy open” pull, allowing bacteria to enter. No direct human cases are connected to this yet, but FDA suggests throwing these out in an abundance of caution.

Products were sold under the Genova®, Van Camp’s®, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand names across the U.S. See more details here.

10% of federal health workers are now gone

This was a hard weekend for all those on the front line of public health. More than 5,200 federal workers (10% of the CDC workforce, for example) were fired without merit.

Can they do that? Under Title V, which sets the rules for civil service hiring, there are limits to why employees can be fired. Legal reasons include misconduct or poor performance. However, there is a loophole: those employees on probation (e.g., those hired less than one year ago or promoted in the past year) have more limited protections. Those on probation were fired over the weekend. Some teams were warned that more cuts are on the way.

Here is what some fired civil servants were doing for Americans:

A modeler evaluated how diseases spread across the nation in real time, like mpox or measles outbreaks, so that they could be stopped.
The lone CDC researcher who focused on human trafficking.
Communication staff for vaccine safety, whose jobs were to translate the safety and rare but real vaccine safety signals to the public.
Laboratory disease detectives, including those who detected harmful fungal infections, re-established lab operations after hurricanes, improved rabies detections, and found diseases in wastewater.

What does this mean to you? In the day-to-day, not much will change. However, disrupting operations without a plan or vision on such a large scale inevitably introduces inefficiencies in places where speed protects the public’s health. It often takes time to see the on-the-ground impact of high-level policy changes.

Data are back up on the CDC website but with a banner

Doctors For America sued the administration after removing important health data and guidance from government health websites, like CDC. Many healthcare providers rely on this data and guidance to treat their patients, from sexually transmitted diseases to domestic violence to HIV. The judge ruled in favor of Doctors for America. So data have been restored. But now the web pages have a banner at the top:

Can we trust this data? Turning data on and off is fairly easy on the back-end switchboard. However, I know columns were being rearranged and variables being renamed. It’s possible data was messed up—either by accident or on purpose. Someone needs to do a confirmation analysis to ensure the data integrity is upheld. (Any takers?)

Superbowl ad for Hims & Hers weight loss drugs under scrutiny

Did you see the Hims & Hers commercial during the Super Bowl? Proceed with caution.

Hims & Hers—a telehealth startup—claims it has a “live-saving” weight-loss drug of compounded GLP-1. However, the ad skipped the safety disclaimer and failed to mention any risks of side effects. Compounded medications, while useful for specific patient needs, do not undergo the same rigorous FDA safety and efficacy testing as approved drugs. FDA has documented hundreds of adverse events linked to compounded versions of popular weight-loss drugs.

Two Senators—one Democrat and one Republican—sent a letter to the FDA warning of the ad’s risk of misleading patients. The Partnership for Safe Medicines, a coalition of nonprofits, also wrote a disapproving letter to the FDA.

No regulatory or legal action has been taken, and it’s unclear whether any will be, but we all need to remain vigilant about claims that will affect companies’ profits. With wellness influencers being elevated with the RFK Jr. nomination, there may be more of this.

Here’s a deeper dive from Unbiased Science if you’re looking for more.

Question grab bag: Engaging effectively with local leaders

“How can we help with all these slash-and-burn policies the new administration is authorizing? Are there steps we can take to fight these cuts? (I’m trying to be polite; I want to scream and swear.)”

Right now, we have to rely on checks and balances. Courts are one thing, but impact needs to be communicated effectively to state and local leaders. If you write or call to defend what is important to you, be sure to include some key factors for effective communication:

Highlight the jobs impacted and if it’s yours specifically.
Include economic benefits (or losses) from federal changes to the states. (For example, here is a great tool for NIH impacts.)
Use very simple language and explain directly how your work impacts your community. Or why, as a citizen, you support or oppose policies. Aim for what the average middle schooler would understand. You can check the reading level of what you’re saying here.
Include stories to humanize the policies. Storytelling is the most effective way to communicate what we do or how we are impacted.
What you say matters: avoid polarizing words like misinformation. (Use “rumor” instead.) Other buzzwords are helpful, like innovation or data.

YLE hosted a webinar last month to frame health challenges across partisan lines. Check out the recording here.

Bottom line

You’re all caught up for the week. Stay sane and healthy out there.

Love, YLE team

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is a public health newsletter with one goal: to “translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people feel well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:

FEB 20—WHITE PLAINS DEMOCRATIC PARTY SELECTS 2025 City Candidates

Posted on February 20, 2025 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2025. February 20, 2024:

Justin Brasch currently White Plains Common Council for the last 8 years was nominated to run for Mayor in November by the White Plains Democratic Party last night at their nominating meeting.

Brasch is expected to be challenged in a primary in June by Nadine Hunt-Robinson if she obtains enough signatures to run on the ballot.

The Party nominated two new first time Common Council candidates Evelyn Santiago and Nick Wolfe.

Incumbent Councilman Richard Payne was nominated for a second 4-year term on the Council.

The Republican Party has not announced any Mayoral or Council candiates.

Tonight at 8 PM on the White Plains TV program, People to Be Heard Mr. Brasch is interviewed by John Bailey, The CitizeNetReporter

FEB 19– WASHINGTON KILLS CONGESTION PRICING. HOCHUL ISSUES STATEMENT

Posted on February 19, 2025 by John Bailey

“Public transit is the lifeblood of New York City and critical to our economic future — as a New Yorker, like President Trump, knows very well.

“Since this first-in-the-nation program took effect last month, congestion has dropped dramatically and commuters are getting to work faster than ever. Broadway shows are selling out and foot traffic to local businesses is spiking. School buses are getting kids to class on time, and yellow cab trips increased by 10 percent. Transit ridership is up, drivers are having a better experience, and support for this program is growing every day.

“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. The MTA has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program. We’ll see you in court.”

FEB 19– EXCLUSIVE! Sustainable Westchester/Westchester Power on: Future of Green Energy in the New York Electricity Market.

Posted on February 19, 2025 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE POWER STORY . By John F. Bailey. Interview with Dan Welsh of Sustainable Westchester February 19, 2025:

The announced recent rate hikes of 11.4% for electricity and Natural Gas (13.3%) applied for by Con Edison to the Public Service Commission of New York should they be approved despite objections by Governor Kathy Hochul and State Senator Shelley Mayer of the 37th State Senate District have created questions on the need for such a high rate.

Consumers were stunned when State Senator Mayer announced last week her shock over the rate hikes that are double the rate of inflation in 2023 (currently 3.5% inflation as of last week).

The inflation rate in 2023 was approximately 8%. The new rates requested by Con Ed are more than 8%.

In another development last week a decision by the Federal Energy Commission approved a request by PJM INTERCONNECTION (the nation’s largest power grid covering the midwest) to allow that power company to build 50 new power plants powered by natural gas. ( That was reported last Thursday by The New York Times.)

What was not clear in the article was how this would affect the price of natural gas. Natural gas is the most expensive source of power to use to make electricity.

Three years ago when the New York Independent Services Operator decreed that all power companies drawing down from the Northeast power grid in New York would pay the highest priced rate which happened at the time to be natural gas.

In the last three months the Sustainable Westchester/Westchester Power consortium, which White Plains is a member along with 29 other cities and towns in Westchester County, has had a green energy sourced rate of 13.4 cents per kilowatt hour compared to 15.6 per kilowatt hour last year.

The clearance for 50 plants from the FEC allows PJM INTERCONNECTION to create more natural gas which PJM argues is a more reliable than solar power, wind, or water power to meet surging power demands created ny crypto currency, artificial intelligence creation and industry darlings of the moment.

WPCNR wondered how this line of reasoning (solar, wind and water power being “unreliable” sources of power), and with expansion of natural gas capacity possibly making natural gas even more expensive what the effect would be.

When New York Independent Services Operator decided three years ago to designate natural gas the source the price of which would be the rate for electricity for Sustainable Westchester/Westchester Power who opted for green rate electriticy generated, (from 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour to 15.6 cents for kilowatt hour)

I contacted Dan Welsh, Program Director of Sustainable Westchester, in Mount Kisco and asked him questions about power prices ahead and how conditions might affect Sustainable Westchester rates in the future

WPCNR: Has the new clean energy electric rates for 2025-26 been set yet? (I do not think they have)

DAN WELSH: Current rates are fixed through the end of November 2025. We’re about to start the dialogue with municipal participants for the next contract.

WPCNR:. Am I correct in assuming if the Trump Administration allows Natural gas to get first access to internet will this prevent new solar installations wind installations getting onto the grid?

DAN WELSH: Not 100% sure what you mean by “access to the internet”, but of course we hear the same news that you do – that natural gas and fossil fuels in general will be promoted by the Administration.

As far as what’s getting in the way of new renewables construction, low gas prices could threaten the returns and put (renewable sources) developers off, as can regulatory uncertainty.

There are so many things happening at once in the market, I can’t and should not be predicting where we’ll end up.

Factors associated with the price-determining natural gas markets that we know though –

Expected increase in exports – that would drive prices up if realized. Will the tariffs/trade disputes change things here?
Current (gas) storage levels are lower than they were in previous years which would push prices up too.
If there is an increase in production in response it would pull prices back down. Of course you can’t just order that, and even if you give away National Park land for drilling, producers will expand production only if the business case calls for it.
Right now, the unexpected winter chill, and also the uncertainties around policy and international events are sustaining futures prices, though not much over what we understand to be production break-even – we’re not seeing anything like the Ukraine war run-up.

WPCNR: 3. Natural gas was made the rate standard for setting price of electricity off the grid which had the effect of doubling the Westchester Power clean energy rate up to 15-1/2 cents. Since natural gas is going up in price does this mean your (new) negotiated green rate (next year) is going to go up like 5 cents way over the present rate right?

DAN WELCH: Natural gas sets prices in the market today because in the NYISO auctions the quantities available are such that it inevitably provides the last megawatt-hour of power required to fill the needs, and that’s what sets the price for all of the auction.

As noted, we’re locked in through November 30,2025. We hope that when we are ready to go to bid that things are relatively calm and we won’t see those high rates.

FEB 15–OUTBREAK NORTHEAST–FLU HIGH, MEASLES GROWING IN NY

Posted on February 17, 2025 by John Bailey

View in browser

Outbreak Outlook – Northeast – Feb 17

Feb 17

READ IN APP

Welcome to the Northeast edition of Outbreak Outlook! It is only available to paid subscribers. If you wish to become a paid subscriber and access region-specific information, please click the Subscribe now button below. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin

Respiratory Diseases

ILI

Flu season is still at record levels in the Northeast, and unfortunately we haven’t caught a break just yet.

New York City leads the Northeast with outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) at 12.2% in the most recent week, down slightly from 12.8% the week prior.

Cases of measles are rising across five U.S. states including New York, with 14 confirmed cases reported so far in 2025. According to CDC data, 43 percent of these cases have required hospitalization for isolation or complications management. The outbreak comes amid an already challenging respiratory virus season in New York State, where flu cases have reached a 15-year high. The other affected states are Alaska, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Texas. Outbreaks are primarily affecting unvaccinated individuals.

Massachusetts maintains high activity with outpatient ILI rising to 11.5% in the most recent week, up from 10.8%. Emergency department visits also increased to 9.6% in the most recent week, up from 9.1%, which means continued widespread transmission.

New Hampshire and New Jersey show persistent elevated activity. New Hampshire’s outpatient ILI increased to 10.9% in the most recent week from 10.4%, with emergency department visits rising to 9.6% from 9.2%. New Jersey’s outpatient ILI decreased to 10.0% from 10.5%, with emergency department visits also declining to 8.7% from 9.6%.

Outpatient influenza-like illness (%)

% of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat

Maine and Connecticut reported increasing ILI levels. Maine’s outpatient ILI rose to 6.9% from 5.8%, while emergency department visits jumped to 5.9% from 4.7%. Connecticut’s outpatient ILI increased to 6.8% from 6.4%, with stable emergency department visits at 8.8% but declining hospitalizations (17.4 per 100,000, down from 20.7).

Rhode Island, New York state, and Pennsylvania showed mixed trends. Rhode Island’s outpatient ILI decreased slightly to 6.9% from 7.1%, with emergency department visits falling to 5.3% from 5.8%. New York state (excluding NYC) saw outpatient ILI dip to 6.1% from 6.2%, with decreasing emergency department visits (5.4% from 6.1%) and falling hospitalization rates (15.4 per 100,000 from 17.2). Pennsylvania showed rising outpatient ILI at 5.0% from 4.5%, with emergency department visits increasing to 7.9% from 7.0%.

Northeast: ED visits for influenza (%)

% of visits to the emergency department that are for influenza

COVID-19

The spike last week in Covid-19 wastewater activity appears to have been a blip caused by a delay in New York wastewater reporting. New York wastewater activity is far lower than the rest of the region, so without New York data, the regional rate shot up. With New York data added back in this week, Covid-19 wastewater activity shows a slight upward tick, but remains moderate.

ED visits and hospitalizations decreased or held steady, with no states reporting increases.

Northeast Covid-19 Wastewater

Create interactive, responsive & beautiful charts — no code required.

Activity is very high and increasing towards a second winter peak in Vermont. In Pennsylvania, activity is high and increasing as well – and may be heading toward a second winter peak as well. The state continues to have the highest hospitalization rate in the region, of 10.0 hospitalizations per 100,000, but it did decrease a bit this week. We will see if this trend continues or if the wastewater activity continues to rise.

Wastewater activity has plummeted in the past two weeks in Rhode Island and Maine, declining ~2.5x, from very high almost to moderate levels in the former and almost moderate levels in the latter. Both states also reported decreases in ED visits and hospitalizations this past week.

Similarly, in Massachusetts, activity remains high, but has declined significantly in the past few weeks, as have ED visits and hospitalizations. Wastewater activity is also decreasing in Connecticut (very high activity) and New Jersey (high). Wastewater activity is stable at minimal levels in New York. (Insufficient data for New Hampshire).

Northeast: ED visits for Covid-19 (%)

% of emergency department visits that are for Covid-19

RSV

Data were not updated this week.

Stomach Bugs

Data were not updated this week, so nothing to report here.

Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New:

Menma Ajitsuke Prepared Bamboo Shoots sold under Choshiya brand name (more info)
Canned Tuna sold under Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s brand names (more info)

Previously reported:

Alfalfa sprouts sold under the Jack and the Green Sprouts brand name (more info)
Aleppo Tahini Sesame Paste (more info)
DJ’s Boudain sausage links (more info)
Blue Ridge Beef Natural Mix [for dogs] (more info). While not for human consumption, humans may be infected with Salmonella if they do not adequately wash their hands or contaminated surfaces after handling the product.
If you have food allergies, you may wish to review these FDA safety alerts and USDA alerts for foods with undeclared allergens.

In other news

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported the state’s first case of clade I mpox in an adult from Merrimack County who recently traveled to Eastern Africa. The individual is currently isolating at home, and health officials emphasize there is no risk to the public. This marks the third clade I mpox diagnosis in the United States, which is distinct from the clade II variant that caused the 2022 U.S. outbreak. The case appears to be travel-related, with no evidence of person-to-person transmission within New Hampshire or the United States.
The CDC has reported New York’s first case of clade1b mpox in a person who recently traveled from East Africa, marking the fourth known case of this strain in the United States following earlier cases in California, Georgia, and New Hampshire. The patient is currently in isolation with improving symptoms despite not receiving specific mpox treatments, and health officials are conducting contact tracing.
The Bentworth School District, Pennsylvania has switched to remote learning for two days after a severe flu outbreak affected both students and staff, including the superintendent himself who was too ill for interviews.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has reported the first case of chronic wasting disease in Carbon County after a severely emaciated buck (deer) was found dead on private property, located more than 10 miles from any previously known cases. This follows last week’s first-time detections in neighboring Luzerne County, where two bucks tested positive, one from a hunting harvest and another from a deer-breeding farm. The fatal neurological disease, first detected in Pennsylvania in 2012, is caused by infectious prions that resist standard sterilization and cooking methods, prompting officials to urge hunters to test harvested animals before consuming the meat.

WHITE PLAINS WEEK–THE FEB 14 REPORT ON WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG WHAT TO WATCH ON ANOTHER SNOWY NIGHT

Posted on February 15, 2025 by John Bailey

KEN JENKINS ELECTED FIRST BLACK COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY TO FILL REST OF LATIMER TERM 100,000 TURN OUT FOR SPECIAL ELECTION LANDSLIDE WIN

STATE SENATOR SHELLEY MAYER BRISTLES AT CON ED RATE HIKE 4 TIMES RATE OF INFLATION

GOVERNOR HOCHUL THROWS THE BOOKS AT CON ED CALLS FOR AUDIT

DEMANDS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION STOP THE MONEY GRAB

THE “CON ED BOYS” REQUEST FOR INCREASED ELECTRIC RATE AND NATURAL GAS DEMONSTRATES

PUSH TO ELIMINATE SOLAR WIND WATER SOURCES FOR POWER IGNORING PLANET DAMAGE

JOHN BAILEY TRACES HOW THE STATE REGULATORS HAVE FORCED GREEN POWERED RATES HIGHER TO ELIMINATE CONSORTIUM BUYS LIKE WESTCHESTER POWER– NO STATEMENT FROM WESTCHESTER POWER YET OR WESTCHESTER COUNTY

WHITE PLAINS EYES IMPROVING SPECIAL EDUCATION–REPORT SHOWS

THREE QUARTERS OF SPECIAL STUDENTS GRADUATE WPHS BETTER THAN STATE AVG

SPECIAL ED TEACHERS PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OFTEN IGNORED BY ACTUAL PLACEMENS.

DR. JOSEPH RICCA, SUPERINTENDENT ON “WHAT COMES NEXT” IN BUILDING BETTER SPECIAL ED

DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUSAN CACACE REPORTS SHOCKING ARREST OF COACH OF A PRIVATE SOCCER TEAM FROM WHITE PLAINS ON CHARGES OF PLAYER ENDANGERMENT.

MORE LOCAL NEWS TO WATCH INDOORS ON A SNOWY EVENING.

WITH JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK FOR 24 YEARS

ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

TONIGHT AT 7 ON PEOPLE TO BE HEARD FIOS CH 45 AND OPTIMUM CH 76 AND WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG:

JUSTIN BRASCH INTERVIEWED BY JOHN BAILEY

ABOUT HIS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF WHITE PLAINS, WHY, WHAT AND ISSUES

FEB. 15, 2025–THE LATIMER REPORT FROM THE NATION’S CAPITOL

Posted on February 15, 2025 by John Bailey

Dear Neighbor,

The start of 2025 has been anything but normal. Even as I begin my tenure as your Congressman, the Trump Administration has issued a bevy of actions and Executive Orders that have instantly reshaped the national debate. I hope to keep you informed in this newsletter and in numerous other ways.

I would like to recognize that February is Black History Month, and an important time to recognize the achievements of Black Americans in our country’s life and culture. Our country is a better place because of their contributions. Now more than ever, we must honor the history, voices and stories of Black Americans.

Committee Assignments

I have secured a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, with seats on the Middle East/North Africa and the South Asia (India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka) Subcommittees. I will also serve on the House Small Business Committee; I have introduced my first bill in this area, to improve transparency for small businesses who do business with the Federal government.

Both committees will keep me fully engaged — and we expect to file legislation on topics across all committees.

Actions in DC

I recently helped introduce a bill that will protect Americans’ privacy and prevent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees, led by Elon Musk, from rifling through private data.

My colleagues and I have sent multiple letters to the Trump Administration about our concerns with its unconstitutional actions at the Treasury Department and USAID, and with the funding freeze. My office has received hundreds of calls and letters from concerned and upset constituents. These actions by the Trump Administration have been distressing and my colleagues and I are particularly concerned because these actions can only be constitutionally done by Congress.

I have spoken on the House floor in opposition to proposed tariffs that will raise the price of everyday goods for hard-working residents; and also in favor of FEMA support for natural disasters wherever they may occur, most recently with wildfires in California. I have also given praise and attention to the late Gus Williams, Mt. Vernon High School basketball great, and the Co-Op City power couple, Rod and Shirley Saunders.

Meet Me in DC

My staff and I have started meeting with groups visiting DC on a host of different issues. These past few weeks we have met with the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, union members of SEIU 1199, students from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, firefighters and education groups, and many folks visiting from the Bronx and Westchester.

At Home: Westchester and the Bronx

In addition to the work I am doing in DC, we have hard-working staff in both Westchester and the Bronx, with the full team still in formation. We recently held ceremonial inaugural events in Rye and Co-op City; I have maintained a vigorous schedule of in-person visits to groups and events of all sorts, in all of our communities.

Constituent Issues

One of the responsibilities of my district staff is helping residents like you navigate the bureaucratic federal government. If you need a passport, aren’t receiving the correct VA or Medicare benefits, or have an issue with the IRS, my staff may be able to help. You can contact us here: https://latimer.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency or call 914-323-5550 (Westchester) or 718-530-7888 (Bronx).

Stay in Touch

I wanted to make sure you knew how to stay up to date with what I am working on and how to contact me. My office has Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Twitter/X accounts. If this newsletter was sent to you by someone else, you can sign up for it here: https://latimer.house.gov/contact/newsletter-subscribe

Over my many prior years in public office, at the City, State, and County level, I have always looked forward to your ideas and opinions. That two-way dialogue is important, now more than ever before.

More soon.

Sincerely,

Rep. George Latimer

Member of Congress

HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG–WHAT’S YOURS?

Posted on February 14, 2025 by John Bailey

Heard it in a love song. What’s Yours?

Valentine’s Day is today.

To get in the mood for love, dispel the myths, fiction notions about love, I have compiled a list of songs written over the years from ragtime to swing to the rock and roll era.

Those who have never been in love yet can use as guidelines to judge whether they have a real love going, and not merely the mock.

Those of you not still in love or who miss it, can play these songs for memories and faith in the future that another one and only will come along because they miss that one and only.

I may not have remembered your song here.

But, by all means, feel free to write me and suggest other songs I have left out.

The best observers — authorities on what love feels like are the songwriters–poets with melody.

They write the feelings their minds and bodies and yes, their hearts felt, as

“down and down they go like a leaf that’s caught in the tide. That Old Black Magic you weave so well”

BY THE WAY DO A SEARCH ON LYRICS IF YOU WANT LISTEN TO THESE SONGS!

The first 115 Love Songs of All Time with signature lines in parentheses:

You Belong to Me

(Fly the Ocean in a Silver Plane)

You Made Me Love You

(I didn’t Want to Do it)

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby

(I was your Pretty, You were My Baby)

In the Still of the Night

(I Remember that night in Maaaay, the stars were brightly shining)

Sleepwalk
Blueberry Hill

(I Found My Thrill)

The Great Pretender

(Pretending You’re Still Around)

Autumn Leaves

(That’s When I Miss You Most of All when Autumn Leaves Start to Fall)

Walkin After Midnight (Along the highway hopin’ I’d get a glance at you)
My Heart Stood Still

(Though not a single word was spoken, I could tell you knew
That unfelt clasp of hands told me so well that you knew
I never lived at all until the thrill of that moment When my heart stood still.)

You Go to My Head

(With a smile that makes my temperature rise
Like a summer with a thousand Julys You intoxicate my soul with your eyes)

Red River Valley

(They Say You Are Going)

I want to be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart

(I Want to Rope and Ride Across the Great Divide)

Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin’

(Wait Along, Wait Along)

Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes

(Far Over the Sea)

Kiss and Say Goodbye

(I wanna remember you just like this…)

Begin the Beguine

(It Brings Back a Night of Tropical Splendor)

Come Dance With Me

(Come on Cutes, Put on Your Dancing Boots and Dance with Me)

Dancing in the Dark

(We Can Face the Music Together)

Love Is Strange

(Without it you’re in an awful fix. Once you’ve had it you never want to quit)

Under the Boardwalk

(down by the sea on a blanket with my baby that’s where I’ll Be))

One Night With You

(That’s All I want from you. Always Lived in the Twilight.. Never Done no Wrong))

Treat Me Nice

(Don’t Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice)

Night and Day

(You are the one)

I Get a Kick Out of You

(I Suddenly Turn and See…Your Fabulous Face)

One for My Baby and One More for the Road

(Set em up, Joe)

You’re the Top

(You’re the Coliseum, You’re the Louvre Museum)

Too Close for Comfort

(Now)

Cheek to Cheek

(Nothing Thrills Me Half as Much as Dancing Cheek to Cheek)

Nothing in Common

(It’s a Phenomenon!)

Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off

(But if we call the whole thing off that will break my heart…)

Same Old Song and Dance

(It didn’t turn out like I planned but if you smile and wave your hand
I’d go out and hire a band, and wait for one more chance
At the same old song and dance)

Something’s Gotta Give

(When an irrepressible smile such as yours
Warms an old implacable heart such as mine
Don’t say no because I insist
Somewhere, somehow
Someone’s gotta be kissed)

What’s New?

(You haven’t changed a bit Lovely as ever, I must admit)

You Took Advantage of Me

(I’m so hot and bothered that I don’t Know my elbow from my ear

I suffer something awful each time you go And much worse when you’re near)

I’ve Got You Under My Skin

(Deep in the Heart of Me)

That Old Feeling

(I felt a thrill when you caught my eye, my heart stood still)

Let the Good Times Roll

(Feel so good now you’re home)

You’ve Got What it Takes

( to set my soul on fire)

You Keep Coming Back Like a Song

(The sweet used-to-be That was once you and me

Keeps coming back like an old melody)

Always

(I’ll be loving you always)

My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own

(I’ve Tried forgetting you..)

Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool

(Everybody’s somebody’s plaything)

Donna

(Where can you be?)

The Carnival Is Over

(I will love you til I die)

Just Walkin’ in the Rain

(All because my heart can’t forget)

She Wears Red Feathers in a Huli Huli Skirt
The Last Dance

(Save me the first dance in your dreams)

Hey There

(You with the Stars in Your Eyes)

Everybody Loves a Lover

(I’m a Lover, Everybody Loves Me)

He’s So Fine

(Sooner or later he’s gonna me mine, I hope it’s not later)

Rock and Roll Waltz

(Trying to Waltz to a Rock and Roll Song)

Hey Little Girl in the High School Sweater

(Carry your books and hold your arm?)

All of Me

(Why Not Take All of me?)

Racing with the Moon

(Till I Overtake the Moon and You)

So Fine

(My Baby is so Fine, Sends Those Chills Up and Down My Spine)

Chances Are

(Your chances are very Good)

Misty

(Too Much in Love)

Thanks for the Memory

( Of faults that you forgave, rainbows on a wave…Thank you so Much)

A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody

(A pretty girl is like a melody That haunts you night and day
Just like the strain Of a haunting refrain)

Black Coffee

(Love’s a Hand-Me-Down Brew)

Canadian Sunset

( When I saw you there on that ski trail)

I Almost Lost My Mind

(When I Lost my Baby)

Tennessee Waltz

(I was dancing with my darlin’…)

65. Laura (The laugh that floats on a summer night)

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

(Seen a lot I mean I lot But now I’m like sweet seventeen a lot
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I)

Brown Eyed Girl

(Where did we go?)

You Send Me

(Honest you do)

Oh Julie

(Someday Julie, I’ll Be the Apple of Your Eye)

Slip Away

( I Need You So)

I’ll Be Seeing You

(In All the Familiar Places)

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

(Without You)

Diana

(Stay with me, Diana)

Love Me Tender

(All my Dreams Fulfilled)

Fine Brown Frame

(Because I’m crazy ’bout, mad about, wild about Your fine brown frame)

Met Him on Sunday

(He didn’t come Monday.I kissed him Wednesday)

I think I’m Into Something Good

(Met a New Girl in the Neighborhood)

Some Enchanted Evening

(You may see a Stranger Across a Crowded Room)

I Could Have Danced All Night

(And still have danced Some More)

On the Street Where You Live

(Oh, the Towering Feeling)

At Last My Love Has Come Along

(You set my soul on fire, and I’ve Really Had my Fun)

I Only Have Eyes for You

83 Just for a Thrill (You’re still the only one Cause you made my heart stand still)

84. Stardust (Of love’s sweet refrain)

85.Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (When a lovely flame dies)

86. Blues In the Night (A two-face, a worrisome thing

Who’ll leave ya to sing the blues in the night)

87. Love Letters In the Sand

(You laughed when I cried when the tide would take our Love Letters from the Sand)

88. Born To Be With You (By your Side)

89. I Can’t Stop Loving You (I’ve made up my mind to Live in Memory)

90. First Name Initial (It Makes it Official)

91. When A Man Loves A Woman

(Can’t Keep His Mind on Anything Else)

92. Ci Ci Rider

(The Moon Is Shining Bright, If I Could Just Walk with You

Everything would Be All right)

93. Eddie My Love (Don’t Make Me Wait Too LongOngOng)

94 .Wonderland By Night

95. In the Mood

96. Moonlight Serenade

97. Young Blood

(I Can’t Get You off of My Mind)

98. Memories Are made of This

99.Once Upon A Time (A Girl with Moonlight in Her Eyes Told Me She Loved Me So, But that Was Once Upon a Time, long long ago)

100. VAYA CON DIOS (My Love, May God Be With you til we meet again)

101—Pinacoladas(I never knew)

102. Magaritaville(Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville, somewhere’s There’s a Woman to Blame)

103. Just One of Those Things(One of those Bells that Now and Then Ring)

104:Rags to Riches (From a Pauper to a King of Your Heart)

105. Fly Me to the Moon(Let me play among the stars

And let me see what spring is like

On Jupiter and Mars

In other words, hold my hand

In other words, baby, kiss me)

106. We’ll Meet Again(Some Sunny Day)

107.Let’s Do It!(Let’s fall in love!)

108. My Old Flame( I can’t even think of his name

But I’ll never be the same

Until I discover what became of my old flame)

109. SEARCHIN’(Well, Sherlock Holmes

Sam Spade got nothin’, child, on me

Sergeant Friday, Charlie Chan

And Boston Blackie

Gonna walk right down that street

Like Bulldog Drummond

‘Cause I’ve been searchin’

Ooh, Lord, searchin’, mm child

Searchin’ every which a-way

Yeah, yeah

But I’m like the Northwest Mounties

You know I’ll bring her in some day

(Gonna find her)

110. Puppy Love(This is Not a Puppy Love)

111. YOU ARE MY DESTINY(You share my reverie

You’re more than life to me

That’s what you are)

112. DIANA(Oh, please stay by me, Diana)

113. KISS(You don’t have to be rich to be my girl

You don’t have to be cool to rule my world

Ain’t no particular sign I’m more compatible with

I just want your extra time and your kiss)

114.SOMEDAY SOON(Goin’ With Him)

115. STILL THE ONE(that I love

The only one I dream of

You’re still the one I kiss good night)

FEB 14– HIGH NOON FOR CON EDISON

Posted on February 13, 2025 by John Bailey