Hits: 75
|
|
|
Please Join us a Westchester County Executive George Latimer Gives his FAREWELL ADDRESS
|
DEC 23: NORTHEAST OUTLOOK
Hits: 89
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 DiseasesILIThere is plenty of influenza-like illness in the Northeast, as we head into the biggest gathering weeks of the year. Still, the region is in better shape than other parts of the country when it comes to severe illness (plot below shows ED visits).
New York City leads the Northeast with very high outpatient ILI at 6.8%, up from 5.7%. New Jersey is next with outpatient ILI at 5.7%, up from 5.4% last week. ED visits there are quite low though, up to 1.4% from 0.8%. New York and Connecticut show similar activity levels, with outpatient ILI at 2.9% and 2.8% respectively. New York’s ED visits doubled to 1.0% from 0.5%, while Connecticut’s ED visits rose to 0.6% from 0.3%. Massachusetts follows closely with outpatient ILI at 2.7%, as ED visits increased modestly to 0.8% from 0.6%. Pennsylvania is reporting outpatient ILI at 1.9%, showing a slight decrease from last week, while ED visits increased to 0.8% from 0.6%. Northern New England shows lower activity levels. New Hampshire reports outpatient ILI at 1.7%, with ED visits rising to 1.1% from 0.6%. Rhode Island and Maine show similar outpatient ILI rates around 1.5%, though their ED visit patterns differ. Vermont maintains the region’s lowest activity with outpatient ILI at 0.8%, while ED visits increased slightly to 0.3% from 0.1%.
COVID-19Covid-19 is poised to make a comeback, though thankfully we are starting from a place of very low activity so it will be a while before levels are substantial. New Hampshire leads the region with very high wastewater levels, nearly doubling from the previous week. ED visits increased slightly to 1.2% from 1.1%. Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island all report high wastewater activity. Massachusetts shows ED visits increasing to 1.0%, while Maine’s ED visits rose to 1.2%. Rhode Island’s ED visits increased to 0.8% from 0.5%.
Pennsylvania maintains high wastewater levels with ED visits slightly increasing to 0.8%. Connecticut shows moderate wastewater activity with stable ED visits at 0.9%, while hospitalization rates decreased significantly to 0.2 from 3.2 per 100,000. Vermont reports low wastewater levels with ED visits increasing to 1.1%. New Jersey and New York show minimal wastewater activity. New York’s ED visits remained stable at 0.5%, while hospitalization rates decreased to 1.2 from 3.1 per 100,000.
RSVRSV is up too, rounding out the “big 3” respiratory infections. Massachusetts and New Jersey lead with ED visits at 1.1%, with New Jersey increasing from 0.9% last week. New Hampshire follows closely at 1.0%, up from 0.7%. New York reports ED visits at 0.6% but shows elevated hospitalization rates at 3.0 per 100,000, up from 2.0. Connecticut shows ED visits at 0.8% with hospitalization rates increasing to 2.1 from 1.6 per 100,000. The remaining states show lower activity levels. Pennsylvania reports ED visits at 0.6%, while Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine show decreasing activity levels from 0.5% to 0.1% in ED visits.
Stomach BugsData were not updated this week, but I think we can assume that activity is still high! Food recallsThe following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items: New:
Previously reported:
In other news
|
A VERY BLUE MONDAY: 7 DEGREES AT SUNRISE IN WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA. BUNDLE UP
Hits: 89
Weather Channel reports White Plains New York USA at 7 degrees at sunrise this morning. Dangerously cold.
Temperature is predicted to rise to mid-20s. Will the white Christmas hold? Cold enought to freeze ungloved fingers.
Sunday morning the temperature was 19 degrees with a northwest wind and a mom and two sons were the only sledders at White Plains High School sledding hill. The hills drew big crowd of sledders Saturday. Snow cover in yards may hold even in the rising temperatures providing the White Christmas which rolled in as a surprise Saturday morning.
WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE DEC. 20 REPORT AT 8:30 AM SATURDAY ON FIOS CH 45 & WPOPTIMUM CH 76 AND WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG
Hits: 92
JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS
EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK
FOR 23 YEARS THIS WEEK
COUNCILWOMAN JEN PUJA WILL RUN FOR COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 5
D.A. MIMI ROCAH CRIMEFIGHTER SHOWS HOW TO CLEAN UP ILLEGAL GUNS: JUST DO IT.
DR. CAITLIN RIVERS: WHOOPING COUGH SPREADS IN NEW YORK
DRONES IN THE NIGHT: LATIMER CALLS FOR MORE DETAILS FROM WASHINGTON ON WHAT THEY ARE AND WHO IS SENDING THEM
COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER ON HIS WAY TO CONGRESS RECEIVES RECOGNITION FOR HIS 7 YEARS OF SERVICE FROM ARDSLEY MAYOR, NANCY KABOOLIAN, AND JOHN VORPERIAN
U.S. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MULLS REGULATION OF GAMBLING INDUSTRY IN VIEW OF 2.8 MILLION AMERICANS SUFFERING FROM GAMBLING ADDICTION.
HOUSING UP IN NOVEMBER IN COUNTY. PRICES CONTINUE RISING
DEC 19 — GOVERNOR HOCHUL BUDGETS INFLATION RELIEF TO NEW YORKERS IN PROPOSED BUDGET
Hits: 85
Today, the Albany Post-Standard published an op-ed by Governor Kathy Hochul regarding her longstanding commitment to addressing the cost of living in New York, including her new proposal to send Inflation Refund checks to 340,000 Central New York residents and 8.6 million New Yorkers overall. Text of the op-ed can be viewed online and is available below:
“Since Covid, inflation has eaten away at New Yorkers’ incomes. In just the last four years, the price of something as basic as a dozen eggs has more than doubled nationally. Milk costs a dollar more per gallon, hamburger is up nearly $2 more per pound, and diapers are up by $7 a pack.
When costs for basic necessities like these skyrocket, it makes putting food on the table so much more difficult. Many New Yorkers still feel the pinch. They know that every dollar counts. It adds up quickly, especially for a family with small children or for seniors on a fixed income.
People in Syracuse know the reality of rising costs all too well — what it means to face the economic hardship of an ever-changing economy and the feeling that government isn’t doing enough to help.
I understand this struggle intuitively. I watched my factory worker grandparents struggle in their old age. I watched my mother raise a family of eight, stretching every dollar by buying us used clothes and serving fried Spam sandwiches for dinner.
When my own family was just starting out, I had to leave my job because we couldn’t find affordable childcare.
I shopped at discount grocery stores and dreamed of the days when we wouldn’t have to pay for formula and diapers.
This experience is why, since I became governor three years ago, my top priority has been to tackle the affordability crisis. And it’s also why, when I present my new state budget in Albany next month, I will include a historic new directive to return $3 billion in surplus sales tax revenue to the taxpayers.
Under my proposed Inflation Refund plan, if you are single and earn less than $150,000 per year, you would get a check for $300 later next year. Couples that file jointly and earn less than $300,000 annually would get a check for $500.
This is your money to buy groceries, clothes, medicine or to pay rent or other bills, or whatever else you see fit to spend it on.
We’re able to do this because high inflation meant the amount the state collected in sales tax went up. Personally, I don’t think this extra revenue should be spent by the state. After all, it’s your money. Instead, it should be heading one place and one place only: back into your pocket.
This could benefit 8.6 million households and make a real difference for middle-class New Yorkers. It could help a young family pay for things like groceries, formula or diapers. It could help a young person pay student loans or rent. Or it could lift up a senior struggling to afford medication and heat in the winter.
And this is only the beginning of my 2025 affordability agenda for New York.
This groundbreaking Inflation Refund will build on actions we have already taken to protect New York families and make this state a more affordable place to live and raise a family.
Since my first day in office, we’ve expedited a middle-class tax cut; cut property taxes; increased housing supply to reduce rents; and boosted tuition assistance, including, for the first time ever, for part-time students. My administration has also dramatically increased childcare support, so that eligible families may pay as little as $15 per week.
We’ve raised the minimum wage and indexed it to inflation, and this year delivered first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave, so working moms won’t lose income when they visit their doctor. We’re helping to cover utility bills, and we’ve sent money to families for back-to-school shopping. This summer, we helped feed nearly 2 million more hungry kids with direct funds for food to parents.
My focus on affordability isn’t new. I wake up every day thinking about one thing: How can I fight for New York’s children and families? How can I put money back in your pockets?
Central New York is on the precipice of a major resurgence in manufacturing, carrying with it the promise of historic economic renewal. But if we fail to support people with the rising costs affecting them right now — the anxiety that comes each time folks pay their bills or go to the grocery store — then those lofty aspirations for what this region can become feel distant.
No one should ever have to leave our great state because they can no longer afford to live here. I believe New York should be a place where people can get ahead, not just get by.
So, know that I never have, and never will, stop fighting for you and your family.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER ASKS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR ACTION ON DRONES
Hits: 89
WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER URGES FEDERAL ACTION TO ADDRESS RESIDENT CONCERNS OVER DRONE SIGHTINGS
(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive George Latimer has called on President Joe Biden’s administration to take immediate action to address growing public concerns over recent drone sightings in the region. Latimer’s request comes amidst heightened unease among residents, particularly in the wake of disruptions to air travel and a lack of clear explanations regarding the origins and purpose of the drones.
In a letter to President Biden, Latimer highlighted the fear and uncertainty expressed by residents of Westchester County following the temporary shutdown of Stewart International Airport in Orange County due to drone-related concerns. He emphasized the need for transparency and reliable information to combat rising fears and prevent the spread of conspiracy theories.
In the letter Latimer wrote: “Residents are worried that their government is unable to identify these drones; they express trepidation over holiday travel to see and receive family, particularly from the Westchester County Airport. With an absence of answers, our residents are vulnerable to insidious conspiracy theories or solutions peddled by fringe ideologues.”
Latimer also expressed his strong support for Senator Chuck Schumer’s proposal to deploy advanced drone detection technology, which could provide rapid responses to similar incidents in the future.
DECEMBER 18—WHITE PLAINS COUNCILWOMAN JENN PUJA ANNOUNCES RUN FOR DISTRICT 5 LEGISLATOR SEAT
Hits: 115
Councilwoman Jenn Puja being sworn in to the White Plains Common Council
(White Plains, NY) – White Plains Councilwoman Jenn Puja is announcing her candidacy for Westchester County Legislator representing District 5, including White Plains, Scarsdale, and West Harrison. With a deep commitment to advocacy, leadership, and community service, Puja’s campaign is rooted in delivering results that make Westchester more affordable, sustainable, and accessible for all residents.
The Honorable Ben Boykin, Westchester County Legislator, who has represented District 5 with steadfast leadership and dedication for over a decade, is term-limited and therefore not seeking re-election.
“I could not be more grateful for Legislator Boykin’s service. Our district deserves to continue to have a representative who understands the challenges families face and has the drive to bring real solutions,” said Puja. “I’m running for County Legislator to ensure that every resident has access to the resources they need, prioritize actions to help make our communities more affordable, and that we continue to invest in infrastructure and programs that improve lives.”
Puja’s candidacy is built on a clear vision for District 5, a district that thrives through bold leadership and responsive governance. She brings years of experience advocating for working families, standing in solidarity, and collaborating with community partners.
As a labor leader and Executive Director of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO, Puja has cultivated coalition-building expertise that will be a cornerstone of her service at the County’s Board of Legislators.
Affordability remains a key focus for Puja, who is committed to holding the line on taxes while ensuring residents can access vital programs and services. She understands that economic stability is essential to preserving the quality of life that makes Westchester a great place to live and work.
“My mission has always been to listen to the needs of my community and deliver meaningful solutions,” Puja said. “Whether it’s advocating for affordability, championing capital projects that enhance our infrastructure, or directly addressing constituent concerns, I will work tirelessly for the people of District 5.”
Puja’s leadership on the White Plains Common Council highlights her ability to deliver results. Since being elected as the youngest woman ever to serve on the Council in 2020, she has prioritized recreation and sustainability initiatives while building partnerships that enhance services across the city. Her background as a union leader, combined with her various roles fighting for her community, exemplifies her dedication to both advocacy and action.
Puja’s campaign launch includes community events across District 5 in the coming weeks, providing residents the opportunity to share their concerns and ideas.
“This campaign is about putting people first,” said Puja. “I am ready to bring the energy, vision, and determination needed to create an even better future for our communities.”
For more information, visit http://www.pujaforwestchester.com or follow Jenn Puja on social media at facebook.com/puja4westchester or https://www.instagram.com/puja4westchester/.
About Jenn Puja
Jennifer Lynn Puja is a dedicated labor leader, public servant, and community advocate. As Executive Director of the Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Body AFL-CIO and a member of the White Plains Common Council, she has demonstrated steadfast commitment to advancing social justice, supporting working families, and building stronger communities. Jenn lives with her family in White Plains, where she remains deeply involved in local and countywide initiatives.
DEC 17 — OUTBREAK OUTLOOK NORTHEAST — WHOOPING COUGH SPREADING.
Hits: 107
 |
Welcome to the Northeastern 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
PERTUSSIS WHOOPING COUGH SPREADING
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it’s marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like “whoop.”
Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease. Now whooping cough primarily affects children too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations and teenagers and adults whose immunity has faded.
Deaths associated with whooping cough are rare but most commonly occur in infants. That’s why it’s so important for pregnant women — and other people who will have close contact with an infant — to be vaccinated against whooping cough.
- Like the rest of the country, New England and Mid-Atlantic states have reported a dramatic surge in pertussis cases in 2024, with 7,075 cases compared to 1,502 cases in 2023.
- New York (including NYC) has seen the sharpest increase with 2,512 cases, up from 775 cases in 2023. Pennsylvania has reported 2,757 cases, an eight-fold increase from 337 cases last year. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine have also seen notable increases, with Connecticut reporting 281 cases compared to just 9 in 2023, Massachusetts recording 715 cases versus 14, and Maine documenting 162 cases up from 66.
Symptoms
Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear, though it can sometimes take longer. They’re usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Red, watery eyes
- Fever
- Cough
After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable coughing. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:
- Provoke vomiting
- Result in a red or blue face
- Cause extreme fatigue
- End with a high-pitched “whoop” sound during the next breath of air
However, many people don’t develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough.
Infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may struggle to breathe, or they may even temporarily stop breathing.
ILI
New Jersey leads northeastern states with 5.4% outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI), showing a substantial increase over recent weeks. The state also leads for emergency department visits, now nearly at 1% of visits.
New York is coming in at 2.7% outpatient ILI and hospitalizations at 1.2 per 100,000, indicating a steady rise in activity. New York City is substantially higher at 6% outpatient ILI; last week also saw a notable jump in emergency department visits for ILI.
New England is in better shape but with consistent increases, with Massachusetts reporting 2.4% ILI, Connecticut at 2.6% ILI with hospitalizations at 0.8 per 100,000, and Rhode Island at 1.6% ILI and moderate wastewater activity.
Northern New England maintains lower levels, with Maine at 1.6% ILI, New Hampshire at 1.5% ILI, and Vermont at 0.8% ILI, though all show slight upward trends.
Pennsylvania also has rising ED visits, with activity highest in the eastern part of the state, and increasing wastewater concentration.
 |
COVID-19
Things are still really quiet across much of the Northeast, but spread is increasing in a few places.
Regionally, wastewater activity held steady at minimal levels this past week. However, at the state level, we are seeing some increases. Wastewater activity is very high and increasing in Massachusetts.
 |
Concentration moved from moderate to high activity in Pennsylvania and Maine, and is also high and increasing in Rhode Island. In New Hampshire, activity declined slightly, but remains high.
It is moderate and increasing in Connecticut.
However, activity remains stable at minimal levels in New York and New Jersey and at low levels in Vermont.
Trips to the emergency room remain at minimal levels (<1.5% of all ED visits, see plot below) in all states in the region.
However, ED visits increased moderately or substantially this past week across most of the region, including in those states where wastewater activity remains low (i.e., New York and New Jersey).
Hospitalizations also ticked up slightly in New York – to 3.1 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Hospitalizations held steady at 3.2 in Connecticut (which is fairly low for the state, but not minimal).
 |
RSV
The Northeast is seeing an increase RSV transmission, with several states showing increases in both clinical and wastewater indicators.
Massachusetts leads northeastern states with 0.9% ED visits, showing high wastewater activity. New Jersey follows at 0.9% ED visits with minimal wastewater activity.
Rhode Island and New York report 0.6% and 0.6% ED visits respectively, with New York showing hospitalizations at 1.8 per 100,000 and minimal wastewater activity.
However, these levels are favorable compared to southern states, which are nearing 2% ED visits.
The northern states show lower activity, with Connecticut at 0.5% ED visits and hospitalizations at 1.6 per 100,000, though showing very high wastewater activity. Maine and Vermont maintain lower levels at 0.1% and 0.1% ED visits respectively.
 |
Other Bugs
Several viral causes of respiratory infections are circulating.
These all tend to cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract infections, with standard cold and flu-like symptoms: runny nose, headaches, cough, sore throat, and fever. However, infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune symptoms are at greater risk of developing more severe disease, including bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Human coronaviruses continue to be on the upswing.
- Rhinoviruses/enteroviruses are declining, but remain elevated (22.5% test positivity).
- Adenoviruses remain moderately elevated but appear to be declining. In addition to the standard symptoms listed above, adenoviruses can also cause a range of other symptoms, including pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
- Parainfluenza seems to have peaked and is declining. In addition to the standard symptoms listed above, parainfluenza viruses can also cause ear pain, and are a common cause of croup in small children. In more severe cases, people may develop a barking cough and wheezing.
Stomach Bugs
As expected, norovirus has continued to climb.
It is now high in the Northeast with 11.7% test positivity.
This represents a nearly 5-fold increase in the past 3 weeks.
This is starting to approach its peak of the past year, which was 14.3% in April.
Nevertheless, the Northeast continues to have the lowest rates of norovirus in the country by far (currently, the West has nearly double the rate of the Northeast).
 |
Source: CDC
Food recalls
The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:
New:
- Connie’s Thin Crust Cheese Frozen Pizzas (more info)
- Daily Veggies Enoki Mushrooms (more info)
- Sprouts Markers Market Gyro Family Kit (more info)
- MadeGood Granola Bars (various flavors and varieties) (more info)
Previously reported:
- Large-scale cucumber recall is affecting both whole cucumbers and prepared foods with cucumbers
- Blue Ridge Beef log Puppy Mix [for Dogs]. While not for human consumption, humans may be infected by Salmonella if they do not adequately wash their hands or contaminated surfaces after handling the product. (more info)
- Kirkland Signature Organic Eggs (more info)
- Ready-to-eat fruit and vegetable products sold by Gracie’s Kitchen (more info)
- 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 MEASLES MUMPS RUBELLA COVERAGE IN NORTHEAST. NY 98% VACCINATED.
- The United States has a target of 95% coverage for the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine among children in kindergarten. New York and Connecticut exceed this protective threshold at 97.7% immunization coverage, as does Rhode Island at 97.1% and Maine at 97.5%.
- However, Massachusetts and New Jersey fall slightly below optimal measles protection at 96.3% and 93.2% respectively, while Vermont and New Hampshire at 92.9% and 89.2% are notably under the 95% target. Despite the variability, the region has the highest coverage in the country.
- The region has reported 15 locally-acquired (vs travel-associated) measles cases so far in 2024 compared to 0 in 2023.
DECEMBER 17–WESTCHESTER D.A. DETAILS CRACKDOWNS, SUCCESS IN FIREARMS 185 SUCCESFUL PROSECUTIONS OF FELONY GUN CHARGESIN 2024
Hits: 132
Approximately 320 illegal firearms were seized in the County
ROCAH’S CREATION OF VIOLENT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE BUREAU RAMPS UP PROSECUTIONS OF THE ARMED AND DANGEROUS
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Citing her commitment to prioritizing gun safety and holding offenders of gun violence and gun trafficking accountable, outgoing Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced Monday significant outcomes for gun crimes prosecuted by her Office in 2024, and positive results from the implementation of her county-wide gun safety agenda since taking office in 2021.
DA Rocah said: “Fighting the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our country starts right here in our local communities. My Office has made good on our promise to vigorously pursue violent offenders responsible for shootings and gun trafficking, including of ghost guns. Thanks to our strong partnerships with law enforcement, we have responded with large-scale search warrants and aggressive investigations that have led to the seizure of hundreds of illegal firearms, and the removal of dangerous individuals from our communities. Together, we have enforced a firm message that there will be serious consequences for gun crimes in Westchester County.”
The District Attorney highlighted the following gun-related homicides, shootings and/or gun-possession cases for which her Office secured convictions in 2024:
- People v. Stephen Escoffery – A jury on Dec. 6 found the defendant guilty of weapons possession and reckless endangerment charges in connection to a December 2022 road rage-fueled shooting at another motorist on the I-95. He awaits sentencing of a range of three-and-a-half to 15 years in state prison.
- People v. Phillip Ferrell – Following a four-week trial, a jury on Nov. 22 found the defendant guilty of manslaughter in the first degree for the March 2023 death of 14-year-old Zaire Fernandez in Mount Vernon by providing a 9mm pistol to his 21-year-old stepson, Tyrese Coghiel, to carry out the shooting. Coghiel was also convicted for acting in concert in the fatal shooting. Both defendants await sentencing.
- People v. Brandon Brois – After a five-week trial, a jury in October returned guilty verdicts convicting the defendant for possession of an arsenal of illegal firearms, including two assault weapons, a machine gun, two rifles, two pistols and a shotgun. They are among illegal firearms seized in January 2022 from the Armonk home where the defendant resided with his father and mother, both of whom were also prosecuted in this case. The defendant awaits sentencing of a range of seven to 15 years in state prison.
- People v. Bryan Martinez – The defendant pleaded guilty in October to attempted murder in the second degree for the November 2023 shooting of an off-duty NYPD officer in Yonkers. He awaits a promised sentence of 10 years in state prison.
- People v. Jianqiao Lu – Following a 113-count felony indictment charging him with illegally possessing more than a dozen guns, including assault weapons, and 86 high-capacity magazines in his Hastings-on-Hudson home, the defendant pleaded guilty in August. He faces a minimum of five years to a maximum of 10 years in state prison and awaits sentencing.
- People v. Daquann Johnson and Deiandre Phillips – Following a four-week trial, a jury found the brothers guilty of the January 2023 attempted murder of a Yonkers man they pistol-whipped and shot in the back. They were sentenced in May to a combined 28 years in state prison.
- People v. Percell Ross Blakely – The defendant, who had prior felony convictions, pleaded guilty in February to murder in the first degree for the 2021 shooting death of a New Rochelle cab driver and was sentenced in April to 20 years to life in state prison.
- People v. Netaly Pena-Camilo, Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz, Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz – The three defendants were sentenced in March to a combined 31 years in state prison for selling more than 30 ghost guns that they trafficked from Washington, D.C. to Yonkers in 2022. This prosecution was a result of a multi-agency investigation that shut down an “Iron Pipeline” of illegal firearms flowing into New York state.
- People v. Jose Valle – The defendant, who had prior felony convictions, was sentenced in February to seven years in state prison for illegal possession of a 9mm pistol that police found on him after he attempted to flee from a routine traffic stop in December 2022.
- People v. Jonathan Planas – After eluding police for nearly a year following the 2020 fatal shooting of Alvaro Vigueras Medina on Lawrence Street in Yonkers, the defendant was sentenced in February to 22 years in state prison. He pleaded guilty in December 2023 to manslaughter in the first degree.
- People v. Emanuel Valentin Perez – The defendant, who pleaded guilty in August 2023 to manslaughter and assault, was sentenced in January to 10 years in state prison for the 2021 shooting death of 32-year-old Manuel Salazar, a Sleepy Hollow father of two.
These outcomes are a direct result of key efforts implemented by the District Attorney such as the creation of a Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau staffed by senior prosecutors dedicated to investigations and prosecutions of shootings, firearm possession and trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and organized criminal conduct in the county.
Simultaneously, the District Attorney implemented proactive community-focused measures to promote gun safety in the county:
- In coordination with the Attorney General’s Office and city police departments, the Office hosted no-questions-asked community gun buybacks, collecting hundreds of firearms surrendered by the public in exchange for gift cards. In 2024, 178 firearms were collected in New Rochelle and Peekskill.
- The Office trained law enforcement, school superintendents and administrators, and healthcare providers on New York state’s expanded red flag gun laws, including the provisions enacted in 2022, which enabled school nurses and medical professionals to file Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). With the participation of Southern Westchester BOCES, the Office has trained every single public school district superintendent in Westchester County. The Office also hosted trainings at medical facilities including St. Vincent’s Hospital in Harrison.
- Working with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the Office rolled out safe firearm storage practices with school PTAs to educate families and students.
DECEMBER 15 –CHRISTMAS PAST
Hits: 84
WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. An Album of Christmas Past:
These photographs of Christmas night and Christmas Days of the Past feature some of the festive lights of the city, an American parlor, a typical family dinner setting, complete with kids’ table, and a Christmas Hearth.
It is especially important that at this time of troubles in our country, that families and members of communities everywhere in America, appreciate each other as individuals and treat each other with respect and understanding and not act in ways we know are wrong. Listen to the voice in your head that always tells you what the right thing to do is and the right way to act and how to rise above hurts of past and heal. That is the message of this holiday.
Though the pictures below are from the recent past, I fondly remember when my Grandmother, Gertrude Pinneo of Pleasantville on Sunnyside Avenue always gathered her children, their children, and all the cousins for the Christmas dinner at Grandma’s house. Attendance was mandatory.
The cocktail hour featured Ritz crackers with peanut butter, cream cheese, Ritter’s relish and a pickle on top. And of course, potato chips, dips, celery and carrots. (This was the 1950s), and there was no television set in the living room with her ornate 1930s furniture.
I still see her now at the head of the table carving a huge roast beef, with mashed potatoes, gravy creamed peas, mince pie for dessert with us all gathered round.
These dinners no longer happen as my nieces and nephews are spread around the country. But I miss them. So may you enjoy the spirit of family I was fortunate enough to experience in those years as you prepare for your holidays this week.
SANTA’S WORKSHOP and Reindeer, White Plains. Photo by The WPCNR Roving Photographer.
A Holiday Parlor. Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.
A Holiday Hearth. Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.
A HOLIDAY TABLE, Complete with “Kids’ Table” Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer
Christmas Morning, 2005. Real Tree Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer