WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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 WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications February 24, 2022:

In response to local governments becoming increasingly susceptible to cybersecurity threats over the past decade, County Executive George Latimer has signed an Executive Order to create a Task Force on Cybersecurity. The Task Force will be charged with reviewing the County’s current cybersecurity policies, and developing new procedures to enhance the long-standing efforts of the County’s Department of Information Technology (DoIT). Together with DoIT, the Task Force will ensure the County will be protected if it ever fell victim to a major breach or cybersecurity attack.

Latimer said:

“It is crucial that Westchester County take the necessary steps to anticipate and prepare for a possible cybersecurity threat, which could pose a significant risk to our water systems and utilities, school districts and healthcare facilities, airport and other County operations. We very much appreciate the good work of the County’s Department of Information Technology, and feel that a strong cybersecurity strategy will arm us with the tools we need to prevent a breach that could access, alter, delete or destroy sensitive data or information.”

Commissioner of Westchester County DoIT Marguerite Beirne said:

“Cybersecurity has been DoIT’s top strategic priority for many years, and we are laser-focused on ensuring the security of all areas of technology that County departments rely on to deliver services, be it desktops, servers, network infrastructure, applications or phones. DoIT will continue to balance the need for new IT solutions with the “human side” of cybersecurity, encouraging all staff to take advantage of available cybersecurity training opportunities. Nearly 2,000 employees have already participated in our latest round of training, so we know the interest is high among staff and we look forward to expanding training offerings even more in the future.”  

Former Westchester County Legislator and Chair of the Cybersecurity Task Force Ruth Walter said:

“It is clear that cybersecurity is in the news. From ransomware attacks on government infrastructure, to non-profits having their donor lists stolen to identity theft in our own homes, we are living in a digital world that continues to evolve new threats from local, national and international bad actors. Westchester County, with its excellent IT Department and resources, is well-positioned to lead the discussion among experts and municipal officials. As a small business owner, former County Legislator and mom, I appreciate the County Executive’s forethought in setting up this crucial Task Force to help make families and businesses safe in Westchester County. We can encourage best practices, encourage other municipalities within Westchester to examine their systems and have a frank discussion of the known and potential threats that are circulating in our workplaces. We know the costs of doing nothing are too high to pay.”

Westchester County Director of Operations Joan McDonald will serve as Technical Advisor to the Cybersecurity Task Force. In 2015, President Obama appointed McDonald to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). McDonald served on NIAC through 2020, and participated in several national cybersecurity studies.

Westchester County DoIT currently performs the following cybersecurity strategies:

• Prioritized Identification and Protection of high value information and assets;
• Timely Detection of and Rapid Response to cyber incidents;

·         Cybersecurity Awareness Training and Phishing Campaigns

·         Efficient and Effective Acquisition and Deploymentof Existing and Emerging Technology

In addition to recommending new cybersecurity strategies, legislation and funding priorities to reduce the risk of cyberattacks, it will also ensure that all Westchester County employees receive the proper training on cybersecurity threats. The Executive Order takes effect immediately.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2022. From Mary Jane Shimsky 4 Assembly Campaign. (Edited) February 23, 2022:

County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky won the Westchester Democratic Party’s nomination at a mini-convention. She defeated incumbent Tom Abinanti for the Democratic nomination in the 92nd Assembly District, which includes most of Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant, and parts of Yonkers. 

“I am honored to have the support of the Democratic Party. Democratic leaders in the 92nd District know that we need change and new energy, with an Assemblymember who listens and truly upholds our progressive values,” said Shimsky. “The last few years have shown the importance of collaborative leadership, and the need for leaders who listen to scientists and public health experts. I have spent my career building strong coalitions and delivering tangible results. As Assemblymember, I’ll be ready to hit the ground running to strengthen our resiliency, improve our public health resources, promote social justice, and rebuild our infrastructure.”

Tom Abinanti, in his 12th year as an Assemblyperson was interviewed about the Shimsky challenged December 30 in the Hudson Independent. You may read that interview here https://thehudsonindependent.com/assemblyman-abinanti-touts-record-as-shimsky-announces-plans-to-seek-dem-backing/

First elected to the Board of Legislators in 2011, Shimsky has delivered infrastructure improvements, advanced resiliency and pollution-cutting initiatives, and fought to improve public health, including addressing the opioid epidemic. She became Majority Leader in 2020 and represents the 12th District which includes most of the Town of Greenburgh (Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Edgemont, and much of Hartsdale). From 2007 to 2010, she was Community Relations Director for Assemblyman Richard Brodsky. Shimsky graduated from Yale University, and earned her law degree from New York University School of Law and her PhD in History from the City University of New York.  The Primary Election is scheduled for June 28th, 2022.

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WPCNR THE POWER STORY. Statement from State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins (35th Senate District) and State Senator Shelley Mayer(37th Senate District. February 22, 2022:

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and State Senator Shelley B. Mayer sent a joint letter today to Consolidated Edison and the Public Service Commission demanding that recent rate increases be suspended and other measures be taken to mitigate the impact of the dramatic jump seen in Con Edison ratepayers’ bills. 

“We have grave concerns about the financial shock these high costs will have for our constituents and others across New York State,” said the Senators in their letter. “The rise in charges will result in serious challenges for many New Yorkers, particularly those already struggling to make ends meet.”

Recent spikes in energy prices coinciding with a planned rate increase approved by the Public Service Commission have resulted in some ratepayers’ bills more than doubling between December 2021 and January 2022. Both Senators had opposed the planned rate increase.

In the letter, the Senators said the “situation is unacceptable” and called on the Public Service Commission and Con Edison to take immediate action to provide relief to ratepayers. 

“Both the Public Service Commission and Con Edison have a responsibility to ratepayers, and such dramatic and unexpected cost increases demand action on your part in order to fulfill that responsibility,” the Senators wrote.

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WPCNR COVID MONITOR. From the New York Covid Tracker. Analysis by John F. Bailey. February 22, 2022:

WESTCHESTERITES DID A GREAT JOB LAST WEEK IN TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

 WESTCHESTER FROM SUNDAY THE 13^TH THROUGH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20  SAW  886 PERSONS TEST POSITIVE WITH NEW CASES OF COVID .

THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF 126 NEW  CASES A DAY. THE TOTAL OF 886 CASES IS THE LOWEST NUMBER OF NEW CASES SINCE THE TOTAL OF 973 CASES THE  WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19-25 BEFORE THE FOURTH WAVE OF COVID BEGAN IN THE FIRST 3 WEEKS OF DECEMBER.

LAST WEEK MARKED THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE WEEK OF CONSISTENT DECLINES IN NEW PERSONS TESTING POSITIVE DESPITE THIS REPORTER’S FEARS OF A POST SUPERBOWL SPREAD.

THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY SAW WESTCHESTER REPORT 1,803 NEW CASES; THE SECOND, 1,208. THIS WEEK THREE OF FEBRUARY DECLINED TO 886, UNDER 1,000 CASES WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE NOVEMBER 7 TO 13 WHEN THE COUNTY RECORDED 751 CASES

LOOKING AT THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY COVID TRACKER, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS THROUGH FEBRUARY 17, THE MOST CASES ARE IN  THE LARGEST CITIES, YONKERS 399  31 NEW CASES A DAY THE LAST TWO WEEKS, NEW ROCHELLE 216, 21 NEW CASES DAILY AND WHITE PLAINS, 160, 13 NEW CASES DAILY

ACCORDING TO THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY TRACKER , THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY  FINISHING THE 10 HEAVIEST NEW CASE AREAS ARE MT. VERNON,  136, 11 CASES A DAY; THEN CONCERN HAS TO BE ABOUT THE SPREAD IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, YORKTOWN HAD 153 ACTIVE CASES, SPREADING AT 17 NEW CASES A DAY. CORTLANDT, 119 CASES, 8 NEW CASES A DAY; THE TARRYTOWNS, 96 CASES, 4 NEW CASES DAILY; HARRISON 96, 5 NEW CASES DAILY MT. PLEASANT 93 CASES, SPREADING AT 3 NEW CASES A DAY AND THE RYES 85 ACTIVE CASES, 85, 7 NEW CASES A DAY.  

TODAY THOSE NUMBERS (ALWAYS FLUCTUATING DAY BY DAY) WERE LOWER. HERE IS HOW THEY LOOKED TODAY THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, CITY BY CITY, TOWN BY TOWN:

Though active cases have dropped the last 4 days, it should be noted that Yorktown, Cortlandt, MOUNT PLEASANT, NORTH AND NEW CASTLE, SLEEPY HOLLOW AND TARRYTOWN AND THE CITIES ARE AREAS WITH WORRISOME NUMBER OF NEW DAILY CASES ( SECOND FIGURE IN THE WPCNR, COVIDSTOPPERS NOTEBOOK. LOOKING AT THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY SATURDAY FIGURES, THE COUNTY HAD JUST 58 NEW CASES SATURDAY; THE MID-HUDSON REGION HAD JUST 174 AND NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES WERE DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY.

WESTCHESTER, THE 6 OTHER MID-HUDSON REGION COUNTIES AND NASSAU AND SUFFOLK HAD 69% OF THE NUMBER CASES OF ALL OF NEW YORK CITY (not accounting for 70% of all of New York City cases)

SO COVID IS STILL OUT THERE. TESTING FIGURES WERE DOWN THE LAST  WEEK. AND THIS WEEK IS A SCHOOL VACATION WEEK AND MARCH BRINGS FOLLOWED BY MARCH MADNESS, PARADES AND SCHOOLS BACK FOR 4 WEEKS OF 5-DAY SCHOOL WEEKS.