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DR. JOSEPH RICCA, WHITE PLANS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS  IS INTERVIEWED FOR  HIS END OF YEAR REPORT ON THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR AND THE NEW 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR COMING UP.

HOW THE KIDS DID ACADEMICALLY THIS YEAR IN A “RETURN TO NORMALCY” 

HOW THE DISTRICT PARENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS DID THIS SCHOOL YEAR– WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED

THE STATUS OF NEW STATE EDUCATION ASSESSMENTS UNDER REVIEW

BULLYING: THE DISTRICT NEW APPROACH TO BULLYING

HOW DISTRICT CONSTRUCTION WILL PROCEED IN 2023-24

NEW EMPHASIS ON CAREER COURSES FOR COLLEGE AND THOSE NOT PLANNING ON COLLEGE.

MORE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

THE NEW MISSION OF EDUCATION AHEAD IN THE NEW YEAR

AND MORE

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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. Special to WPCNR from Smart Growth America. June 29, 2023:

National survey shows prioritizing road repair, improving transit, and reducing driving are more popular options for spending transportation dollars

Washington, D.C. (June 29) — A new nationwide survey of American voters’ attitudes reveals a significant divide between voters’ attitudes about the best short-and long-term solutions for reducing traffic, versus the actual priorities of their state and local transportation agencies.

In 2021 The Washington Post estimated that highway widening and expansion consumed more than a third of states’ capital spending on roads (over $19 billion). These projects were backed by promises to reduce congestion. The public isn’t buying it. The results of a national survey of 2,001 registered U.S. voters—90 percent of whom own a car they drive regularly—underscores a widely shared belief that highway expansion doesn’t work as a short- or long-term strategy for reducing traffic and that we should invest more in other options.

• 70 percent of respondents agree that “providing people with more transportation options is better for our health, safety, and economy than building more highways.”
• 67 percent of respondents agreed that “expanding highways takes years, causes delays,  and costs billions of dollars.” The same percentage believes that “widening highways attracts more people to drive, which creates more traffic in the long run.” Only 11 percent felt state DOTs actually deliver congestion relief with highway expansions. In other words, the public understands the concept of “induced demand,” which is widely ignored by state legislatures, DOTs, Congress, and federal agencies.
• 69 percent of respondents agree that “it’s more important to protect our quality of life than to spend billions of tax dollars on expanding highways. By removing a few miles of highway and adding more transportation options, like trains, buses, bike lanes, and sidewalks, we can have healthier communities.”
• 71 percent of respondents agree that “no matter where you live, you should have the freedom to easily get where you need to go. Almost all government spending on transportation goes to highways. Instead, states should fund more options, like trains, buses, bike lanes, and sidewalks.”

The survey revealed a deep dissatisfaction with the overall status quo of state and local transportation spending which overwhelmingly prioritizes spending on new roads, often at the expense of keeping roads and bridges in good condition, investing in transit and safe streets for walking or biking, or reducing the need to drive overall. Given seven choices for the best short- and long-term solutions for reducing traffic, the least popular option was “building new freeways and highways,” even as states are poised to spend tens of billions on new highways thanks to the 2021 federal infrastructure law.

“Our country remains on a highway spending spree while requests for basic investments in walkability and transit are given low priority.  I hope this survey serves as a wake-up call to politicians that the public is clamoring for reasonable investments in our health, climate and quality of life, not traffic-inducing polluting highways,” said Mike McGinn, Executive Director of America Walks.

Prioritizing the repair of existing roads and bridges first was the top option for how states should be investing their transportation funding (selected by 22 percent of respondents), though Congress has long agreed—in a strong bipartisan fashion—not to institute any binding requirements to prioritize repair first.

“We’re repeatedly told by leaders on Capitol Hill that requiring states to prioritize maintenance first is just too controversial,” said Beth Osborne, director of Transportation for America. “But this survey shows yet again that there’s no controversy among the people they serve—they’re beyond ready to retire the last generation’s playbook when it comes to improving mobility and getting them where they need to go.”

While “reducing congestion” is the top policy goal that shapes the spending decisions of most state DOTs, traffic is not a huge stumbling block for most people to access what they need. Just one in four said they find it difficult to get around.

Survey respondents expressed positive feelings about a range of messages about spending transportation money differently, demonstrating that voters are looking for new ideas, policies, and/or investments that address their problems and deliver meaningful benefits to people and communities—instead of just doing the same old things over and over again. (See attached PDF for full results on pages 19-22, all of which were supported by over 60 percent of respondents.)

“These results are clear: Americans are eager to see the transportation investments that can connect and repair their communities,” said Rabi Abonour, a transportation advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Federal, state and local leaders should follow the lead of the public and invest in the public transit and related projects that will really improve mobility, clean the air, and address climate pollution.”

View a more detailed version of the survey data and findings.

###

About the poll

Hattaway Communications, a strategic communications firm based in Washington D.C., was retained to conduct this survey of 2,001 registered voters and assess their awareness of relevant issues, attitudes toward transportation projects, and aspirations for their communities. The survey was fielded online, between February 23–March 7, 2023, and reflects the demographic and geographic composition of the United States. 

This survey was supported by NRDC and a grant from the Summit Foundation.

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(White Plains, NY) – The Westchester County Health Department has been informed that the Air Quality Forecast for Wednesday, June 28 for Westchester County has decreased to:

Max AQI: 101 (Fine Particles)

Air Quality: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

While the general public is not likely to be affected, vulnerable individuals such as young children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory conditions or heart disease, should limit their time outdoors. If the air quality continues to decrease it is recommended that residents close their windows, operate their air conditioners and reduce strenuous outdoor activities.

Stay tuned for further updates and adhere to the recommended precautions to minimize exposure to poor air quality.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter, are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. To remain updated on the air quality index, monitor the DEC website for air quality index updates.

Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Additional information is available on DEC and on DOH websites.

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en Español The Westchester County Health Department is closely monitoring the situation regarding the anticipated influx Wednesday, June 28 of fine particulate matter resulting from the Canadian wildfires in Quebec. We advise all residents to stay informed and take necessary precautions in response to potential changes in air quality. If the air quality decreases it is recommended that residents close their windows, operate their air conditioners, reduce strenuous outdoor activities and that all residents, particularly vulnerable individuals such as young children, pregnant women, and those with respiratory conditions or heart disease, limit their time outdoors. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter, are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. To remain updated on the air quality index, monitor the DEC website for air quality index updates. Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Additional information is available on DEC and on DOH websites. Stay tuned for further updates and adhere to the recommended precautions to minimize exposure to poor air quality. en Español El Departamento de Salud del Condado de Westchester está monitoreando muy cerca la situación con respecto a la afluencia anticipada el miércoles, 28 de junio de partículas finas resultantes de los incendios forestales canadienses en Quebec. Aconsejamos a todos los residentes que se mantengan informados y tomen las precauciones necesarias en respuesta a posibles cambios en la calidad del aire. Si la calidad del aire disminuye, se recomienda que los residentes cierren sus ventanas, operen sus acondicionadores de aire, reduzcan las actividades extenuantes al aire libre y que todos los residentes, especialmente las personas vulnerables como los niños pequeños, las mujeres embarazadas y las personas con afecciones respiratorias o cardíacas, limiten su tiempo al aire libre. El Departamento de Conservación Ambiental del Estado de Nueva York y el Departamento de Salud del Estado de Nueva York emiten Avisos de Salud sobre la Calidad del Aire cuando los meteorólogos del DEC predicen niveles de contaminación, ya sea ozono o partículas finas, que se espera superen un valor del Índice de Calidad del Aire (Air Quality Index (AQI) de 100. Para mantenerse actualizado sobre el índice de calidad del aire, controle el sitio web del DEC para conocer las actualizaciones del índice de calidad del aire. La exposición puede causar efectos en la salud a corto plazo, como irritación de los ojos, la nariz y la garganta, tos, estornudos, secreción nasal y dificultad para respirar. Hay información adicional disponible en los sitios web del DEC y del DOH. Estén atentos para más actualizaciones y sigan las precauciones recomendadas para minimizar la exposición a la mala calidad del aire.

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COVID NEW CASES IN WESTCHESTER RISE TO 194 JUNE 18-24.

COVID NEW POSITIVES BASED ON COUNTY POPULATION REACHES 839 NEW CASES IN 3 WEEKS OF JUNE

COULD REACH  871 THIS WEEK AS JUNE ENDS  WITH POSSIBLE 1,710 NEW CASES

 1,710  TOTAL CASES FOR MONTH OF JUNE (25% OF LAST JUNE) 

WPCNR COVID SURVEILLANCE. From the NY State Covid 19 Tracker. Observation and Analysis by John F. Bailey. June 27, 2023:

The most significant covid number provided each week on the New York State covid tracker is new daily case per 100,000 population in Westchester County. You have to interpret it to know covid true spread.

For the 7 days June 18-24, the daily cases per day were 3.1 for covid in “covid confident” Westchester County.

However to get the total new covid cases you have to multiply that 3.1 by 10.04 segments of 100,000 population (Westchester has 1,004,000 population).

The choosing by the state to report a fraction of new daily cases gives a false sense of safety across the county that covid is in decline.

It is not.

In the first three weeks of June Westchester has reported  315, 174 and 156 new daily cases lab tested positives, which in my opinion vastly undercuts the gathering momentum the  pandemic that is “over,” “behind us” and “no longer a threat.”

The math indicates covid is consolidating and  growing in the county at a rate  871 cases a week.Rapidly approaching a thousand cases a week again.

In the 7 days ended last Saturday the daily average of new covid cases in Our Westchester was 3.1 per 100,000 population, at 10.4 times 3.1 this means instead of 3.1 new cases a day Westchester was actually experiencing 31 new cases a day countywide, a total of 217 new cases countywide last week.

Another week of 217 cases this week will mean if that 3.1 average continues will raise June covid cases to 1,702 . That total  is  7.000 less than the 9,642 new cases last June when all daily cases were reported by the Tracker.

Covid  is growing because of the apparent reluctance of persons testing positive with an antigen home test, not getting lab tests to verify. I call these victims of covid “Invisible Positives.”

Various motives for not testing to see if you really have covid  can be attributed to thinking they do not need to test because covid is now curable with medications readily available; not wanting to have to report they are positive to work; fear they will lose their jobs.

I tell you if I tested positive with an antigen test and did not have symptoms I would want to know if I was a carrier of the plague in my breath to others.

What does this obvious  unclear reporting of  actual total new cases by the state mean?

July is a month of risk.

Two weeks ago  in Westchester, the daily case rate was 2.2 per 100,000 this week just completed the daily case rate is 3.1.

More cases are happening each day (lab tested) now than two weeks ago.  The growth rate of new cases creating new cases of  156 two weeks previous went up to 194 last week. The Spread rate has  1 new case spreading the disease to  1.24 persons.

Westchester new cases (lab verifed only) in  a week spread it to 194 persons, 38 more or 25%.  This week those 871 people will spread it to 148 more persons at that 7 day growth rate.  Westchester has  exceeded the containment threshold of 1 persons spreading it to just 1 person.  Covid has shifted gears into its all-too-well-known spreading mode.

If we keep the number cases at the 3.1 daily 7 day average this means we will do over 217 next week with a 1 person spreading it to 1.25 persons we will have 270 infections with possibly a lot more than that given the flurry of mass-attended  events July 1 to 8.

This is not the time to ignore getting your complete series of vaccinations and certainly very important to get your 6^th shot the booster.

Mixing mingling with crowds and outings in July, resulted in over 10,298 new cases. Vaccinated populations halted that in August.

However, the “Invisible Positives”  rate – the number of persons carriers of covid who are not identified,  not testing to confirm they are positive are a threat to expand covid ability to infect.  Perhaps, 1,085 people in the first week in July if you multiply the June infections this week  by 1.25 ( 194 x 1.25 is 425) plus whatever the real number of the impossible to know number Invisible Positives is).

If the new cases last week spread a 1 to 4 persons that 194 goes up to spreading to 659 during the week of the first of July. Say it stays at that despite travel and recreation celebrations, beach exposure, pool exposure, concerts in towns.

The worrisome number of infections a week gives you 2,500 to 3,000 infections in July.

But unless more persons without complete series plus booster get them. The vaccinations will not save us from the infections in August.

Without vaccination diligence on the part of those not fully vaccinated, you can expect not a decline of covid in August but as yet an  unpredictable increase.

Another factor that will contribute to more cases more often  is covid is feasting on the weekends.

After the weekends in June, new cases have strengthened by midweek, meaning that weekend activities  that persons attend are spreading awareness that  “Hey I might have it (covid)” and they go to  lab test and they are tested positive.

What does that tell me?

Last week June 18 to 24, On Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday we had 117 new covid cases (30, 52 and 35)

The week before June 11 to 17, Westchester experienced 36,23, 21 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for a total of  80. Infections of covid in the midweek then doubled last week to 117..