WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.
WPCNR COVID STOPPERS NOTEBOOK SHOWING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MID-HUDSON, LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK CITY CASES . WESTCHESTER HAD JUST 136 CASES FRIDAY and 88 SATURDAY. ENTIRE MID-HUDSON REGION AND LONG ISLAND HAD 568 TOTAL NEW CASES SATURDAY AND NYC 700. THE METROPOLITAN AREA HAD ITS BEST WEEK SINCE NOVEMBER
WPCNR CORONA VIRUS MONITOR. From the New York State Covid Tracker. Analysis by John F. Bailey February 14, 2022:
From Sunday through Saturday, February 6 to 12, Westchester averaged 172 new cases each day matching the average daily positives in the 6 weeks leading up to Christmas which started the explosive spread of covid that started averaging over 300 cases a day on December 31; went up to over 400 a day by December 11, and soared to 1,000 positives a day a week later ending December 18.
Then came the deluge. The new cases averaged 2,000 a day up to Christmas December 25.
In the last three weeks the staggering 68,078 cases we saw the first three weeks in January declined to 6,327 the third week in January; 3,423 the fourth week and in the first two weeks of February through February 12, the new cases have declined to 1,208 cases through Saturday.
This is a stunning turnaround.
It is attributed to the effectiveness of the vaccines preventing vaccinated people from getting sick due to the overwhelming spread the first 3 weeks in January. The state reports 90% of new cases were suffered by persons who have not been vaccinated. Hospitalizations from the disease were down to the mid-200s last week.
WPCNR COVID LOGBOOK FOR JAN 30 THROUGH FEBRUARY 6 AND BELOW FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH 12 SHOWING A DECLINE TO 172 NEW CASES OF COVID PER DAY LAST WEEK.
Last week with average tests conducted numbering 6,200 a day, the infection rate lowered to 1,208 new cases last week, 3.1% a day average infection rate of those tested.
The Mid-Hudson region consisting of Westchester, Rockland Putnam, Orange Ulster and Sullivan Counties reported a total 233 new cases for all 7 counties their lowest total since November 14, when the 7 counties reported 279 cases, and officials were feeling confident before Thanksgiving, but even then infections were showing regular signs of strengthening.
Now thanks to the vaccines and behavior, the covid is at lowtide. However, it is up to how we behave the next two weeks as to whether our behavior starts the covid tide coming back in.
WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. FEBRUARY 14, 2022:
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the successful launch of mobile sports wagering in New York State, with nearly $2 billion in wagers taken during the first 30 days of operation.
This record-breaking success, more than any other state has ever reported, will generate more than $70 million in tax revenue for New York State, providing funds to be allocated toward programs that support education, youth sports, and more.
“Over the past month, we’ve seen how mobile sports wagering can be an economic engine for New York, driving significant funding to our schools, youth sports, and so much more,” Governor Hochul said. “As this new industry continues to grow, New York will make sure we have the resources and guidelines in place to make it a success for all.”
Mobile sports wagering began in New York State on January 8, 2022; since then, more than $1.98 billion in wagers has been taken in New York. The total Gross Gaming Revenue was over $138 million and, at a 51% tax rate for the State, these wagers brought more than $70.6 million in tax revenue. According to State law, tax revenue generated by the mobile sports wagering industry is required to go toward elementary and secondary education, grants for youth sports programming, property tax relief, and problem gambling prevention, treatment and recovery services.
Last year, Governor Hochul directed the New York State Gaming Commission to prepare for the launch of mobile sports wagering, which had previously been authorized by the legislature, by engaging licensed companies to complete the regulatory requirements needed to begin operations in New York State. This approach will keep New York bettors in New York, rather than having State residents travel to neighboring states to wager.
Gaming Commission Executive Director Robert Williams said, “With Governor Hochul kicking off mobile sports wagering on January 8th, there is no doubt there is strong interest in online sports betting in the Empire State, which has just set a national record for monthly tax revenue.”
BILL WILLIS PLAYING ON OHIO STATE IN THE 40S—ONE OF THE TWO FIRST BLACKS TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLTHANKS TO PAUL BROWN. Marion Motley (below) the Fullback’s Fullback is the other.
WPCNR THE SUNDAY BAILEY. By John F. Bailey. February 13, 2022:
Do you know?
I didn’t until last week.
John Vorperian, host of White Plains TV’s Beyond the Game on Tuesdays and Fridays, shined a bright light last week into a rarely explained phenomenon : how Black football stars first came to play professional football.
This evening Eastern Standard Time, we will see America’s most watched television program all year.
Some 80 million people will watch the NFL Championship with probably three quarters of the players of color. (The league now, John told us Thursday evening via zoom in his presentation provided by the White Plains Public Library , is made up of 70% Black players.)
How it got to be that way was the fascinating topic of John’s talk.
I had heard of black players in the early 1950s when I was a kid, Marion Motley of the old Cleveland Browns, and of course the great Jim Brown of Syracuse and the Browns.
Jim Brown was the greatest running back I ever saw play when I watched the old Browns and the New York Giants play when the Giants were Giants from 1956 through 1963.
The Football Giants coached by Jim Lee Howell had a lot of black stars, Emlen Tunnel, Mel Triplett, Rosey Grier, Roosevelt Greer. I did not as an 11 year old know that this was only a recently introduced trend.
John Vorperian changed all that for me Thursday night with his one hour talk explaining how the World War II situation, and how one man, Paul Brown believed in an athlete’s ability not what the color of his skin was.
Mr. Vorperian highlighted how in the early 40s the NFL did not have any black players. He detailed how when college players who had served in World War II came back, and were eligible to enroll in colleges they played football, most notably at UCLA, Ohio State and became standouts. One of them was Marion Motley below.
FromThe Prosby Robert Riger with Tex Maule.
Marion Motley was signed by Mr. Brown and brought to his upstart Cleveland Browns in the All-American Football Conference
Paul Brown, the Cleveland Browns Coach who was coach of Massillon High School where he became a legend for the successful teams he fielded, had allowed black athletes on his high school teams, unheard of at the time.
Paul Brown went on to Ohio State where he also was successful. After coaching for the Navy Training Center team, he took a job as coach of the Cleveland team in the new All American Football Conference, a league set up to compete with the NFL. Coach Brown signed Bill Willis and Marion Motley whom he had coached at Ohio State to play for the Browns.
Mr. Willis and Mr. Motley were the first black players to play professional football.
Football players from UCLA were signed to play in the All American Conference. Paul Brown is credited as the coach who introduced black players to the NFL.
I never knew that.
According to Wikipedia, Paul Brown never looked at race or made predeterminations about players. He gave them a chance.
Brown judged on their ability to help his teams from Massillon to the Cincinnati Bengals who play in the SuperBowl this afternoon. Not dismissing them because they were black. How incredibly refreshing.
Paul Brown and the Cleveland Browns with the first black players to play in the NFL, winning the NFL Championship in 1950.
John Vorperian told the story of George Preston Marshall owner of the Washington Redskins who would not have a black player on his teams. Marshall was a disgrace to the NFL into the 1960s.
Vorperian has been a curator of the character and reality of sports the last two decades week after week on his shows. He has been the irrepressible interviewer who asks questions players, coaches, sportswriters, authors love to answer and enlighten.
Beyond the Game shines a sensitive light on the true reality of sports personalities, sports past and present. He is also a member of the Jackie Robinson Organization where he speaks on Jackie’s contributions to breaking the color line in baseball. John, in his professional career is nationally recognized for his work in promoting fair family court treatment of the less fortunate children and parents.
Last week’s program pointed how just as Branch Rickey the executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson because they were brave, and just as Paul Brown in the case of Motley and Willis playing for him changed history, attitudes, and turned around two centuries of prejudice. Because they did a noble courageous, deed.
Vorperian’s talk which will be available soon via zoom recording I believe on the White Plains Library website is must-see for you to get acquainted with how the NFL got Black quarterbacks, Black coaches (not as many as they should have), who inspire and perform despite the odds.
Editor’s Note: Stephen R. Rolandi, a frequent contributor to WPCNR.com and White Plains Week published this article in a recent issue of American Society for Public Administration. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.Republished here with permission of the author. (c) 2021, Stephen R. Rolandi
By Stephen R. Rolandi February 8, 2021
This being the month of February, many of us celebrate Ground Hog Day (February 2nd), hoping that spring will soon arrive, as well as Chinese (Lunar) New Year, the Year of the Ox, on February 12th; and of course, Valentine’s Day on February 14th.
If you are like me and historically inclined, you might also mark February 12th as the birthday of our 16th American President, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). I have had a long and continuous admiration for our 16th President. I have travelled to Springfield, Illinois to see Lincoln’s law office and home. Many years ago, my late parents gave me a half dollar coin issued by the United States Mint in 1918 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Illinois’ admission to the Union.
This year marks the 212th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, and I believe it is a fitting time not only to examine his career as the nation’s Chief Executive during the bloodiest war in American history, but also his contributions to public service and impact on American public administration.
Lincoln was not popular in his time; indeed, he was elected in 1860 in a four way race with only 39% of the popular vote. He won re-election in 1864 with the Confederate states that had left the Union in 1861 not participating in that election; and with the support of Union soldiers who voted in overwhelming numbers for him.
In addition to preserving the Federal Union during the Civil War, as well as his issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln had many accomplishments:
During his administration, the Federal departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs were begun, in an effort to assist farmers (the United States in the mid-19th century was to a large extent, an agricultural nation), as well as the nation’s veterans starting to return from the Civil War;
Recognizing the importance of education (Lincoln, you recall, had only about one year of formal education, and was largely self-taught and worked as an apprentice before becoming an attorney), the Morrill-Land Grant Act was signed into law to permit the establishment of land grant colleges to teach engineering, military tactics, science and other subjects;
Lincoln recognized that the increasing level of government services would require different funding streams, and during his administration, the Revenue Act of 1862 became law which also established the Office of the Commission of Internal Revenue within the Treasury Department—in time this would lead to the establishment of the progressive income tax system in the United States;
The first steps towards a national banking system and currency in the United States saw fruition with the passage of the National Banking Act of 1863;
He recognized the need to reform the Federal government civil service, and took the first steps in that direction with the 1863 evaluation of the French customs service which recommended competitive examinations. This led ultimately in 1883 with the passage of the Pendleton Act and establishment of the U.S. Civil Service Commission—today known as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Taken together, along with other policy initiatives, many historians consider Lincoln’s Presidency to be the foundation of the modern administrative state.
Indeed, it was Leonard D. White who said that, “Administrative history was primarily the record of war and military government.” We can also see that many domestic and economic sector accomplishments occurred as an outgrowth of the war effort. Lincoln became a paradigm for future chief executives.
Perhaps for me his most important contribution was preserving the principles of constitutional government during a period of one of the gravest crises in American history. Lincoln was cognizant of relating his actions to the spirit and meaning of the Constitution.
There are many, many works about Abraham Lincoln’s life, career and Presidency. More books about some aspect of him continue to be published. Some of my favorite books about the career and Presidency of Abraham Lincoln that I would recommend are the following:
Lewis E. Lehrman, “Lincoln at Peoria: The Turning Point” (2008)
Daniel Farber, “Lincoln’s Constitution” (2003)
Harold Holzer, “Lincoln As I Knew Him” (1999)
Ted Widmer, “Lincoln On the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington” (2020)
Doris Kearns Goodwin, “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” (2005)
If I had to recommend a single book on Lincoln, it would probably be Doris Kearn’s work on Lincoln, how he won the Republican party Presidential nomination against more prominent contenders, and how he led his cabinet—consisting nearly of all the Presidential contenders he faced in 1860—during the Civil War. I should mention that Kearn’s work reportedly influenced Barack Obama when he assumed the Presidency in 2009.
Lincoln’s experience as a war time chief executive gives us many perspectives, not only on the role of the executive in decisionmaking as well as leadership, but also for his lasting contributions towards the institution of the American Presidency and constitutional government. He is, in my opinion, more relevant than ever today as we as a nation face the perfect storm of crises—the Covid-19 pandemic, a weakened national economy and a distinct threat to our democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
Author: Stephen R. Rolandi “retired” in 2015 after serving with the State and City of New York. He holds BA and MPA degrees from New York University, and studied law at Brooklyn Law School. He teaches public finance and management as an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) and Pace University. Professor Rolandi is a Trustee of NECoPA; President-emeritus of ASPA’s New York Metropolitan Chapter and was Senior National Council Representative. He has also served on many other association boards in New York City, Westchester County (New York State) and Washington, DC. You can reach him at: srolandi@jjay.cuny.edu or srolandi@pace.eduor at 914.536.5942.
The above Journalism quote was attributed to Abraham Lincoln whose relationship with the tumultuous New York Herald owner, James Gordon Bennett, an avowed segregationist,leading up to the 1860 election was a major issue in Lincoln’s run for President. Here is how Lincoln handled a very sensitive situation that was spreading in papers through the 1860 campaign. (Source: Lincoln and the Power of the Press by Harold Holzer Simon & Schuster, 2014)
A Herald reporter printed a quip President Lincoln made in reference to a possible candidate visit to Kentucky a Slave-state that opposed him.
The remark Lincoln had said, (in jest) was ” was from a personal conversation with Kentucky politician, Samuel Haycroft inviting Lincoln to make a campaign appearance. Lincoln responding with “Would not the people lynch me?”
A Herald reporter following Lincoln listened on the record to Lincoln who told the reporter of the quip to Haycroft. The reporter interpreted the exchange in his story, writing (Lincoln feared) “the (Haycroft) invitation was a trap laid by some designing person to inveigle him into a slave State for the purpose of doing him harm.”
In the days of no Twitter, no Facebook, no CNN or Fox News, this embarrassing jest of a joke turned into a gaffe echoed in major newspapers at the time
Urged to deny it by advisors Mr. Lincoln said “I cannot go into the newspapers.”
At first, he demanded a retraction from Bennett. He wrote a letter of apology to Haycroft writing, “I scarcely think the correspondent was malicious; but rather that he misunderstood what I said.”
He asked Senator George C. Fogg, Secretary of the Republican National Committee to go to the publisher Bennett, with the request to print a third party denial that he requested of the publisher, Bennett, to publish. That retraction/correction/statement negotiation he suggested Fogg take to Bennett, that the request could go this way;
“This (the Herald reporter’s interpretation) is decidedly wrong. I did not say it. I do not impugn the correspondent. I suppose he misconceived the statement…I have playfully (and never otherwise) related this incident several times; and I suppose I did so to the Herald correspondent, though I do not remember it.
“Now, I dislike, exceedingly, for Kentuckians to understand that I am charging them with a purpose to inveigle me, and do violence to me. Yet I can not go into the newspapers. Would not the editorl of The Herald, upon being shown this letter, insert the short correction, which you find upon the enclosed scrap? Please try him unless you perceive some sufficient reason to the contrary.”
The “scrap” that Lincoln suggested that was carried to Bennett read:
“We have such assurance as satisfies us that our correspondent writing from Springfield. Ills, under date of August 8–was mistaken in representing Mr. Lincoln as expressing a suspicion of a design to inveigle him into Kentucky for the purpose of doing him violence. Mr. Lincoln neither entertains , nor has intended to express any such suspicion.”
Mr. Bennett would not, requesting a personal denial from Lincoln, signed. The President declined. And no longer pursued a correction. (Source: Lincoln and the Power of the Press by Harold Holzer)
Fogg carried this request to Mr. Bennett and told Lincoln Bennett was and of course very far from wishing to misrepresent you….would print any correction desired—-but only if it appeared over either Lincoln’s signature or Fogg’s.
Bennett was adamant: “To issue it editorially or by his correspondent would be to acknowledge the Herald or its correspondent in error.”
Fogg advised Lincoln to let the matter die, say he did not believe the correction he offers would pay.
Lincoln wrote Fogg: “You have done precisely the right thing in the matter with the Herald. Do nothing about it. Although it wrongs me, and annoys me some, I prefer letting it run its course, to getting it in the papers over my own name.”
Lincoln also rejected Mr. Haycroft’s making a statement to The Herald, saying the only purpose in writing him was to assure Haycroft “I had not charged you with an attempt to inveigle me into Kentucky to do me violence.’
The sequence is intriguing in what it says about Lincoln’s judgment and how to diffuse a situation that could drag on in a media frenzy, something the present media does all tooooooooo frequently. I see it every day on the front pages and the news networks.
The press was making interpretations of what politicians meant by statements even then.
ONE NEW LOWER COVID CASE WEEK AFTER ANOTHER–CAN WESTCHESTER CONTINUE THE GOOD BEHAVIOR?WHITE HEADED FOR RECORD SALES TAX YEAR AFTER 6 MONTHS–CAN THE BIG REBOUND RALLY CONTINUE? KEEP THOSE INTERNET AND RETAIL SALES COMING IN .NEW NOISE AND POLLUTION ORDINANCE ELIMINATES INTERNAL COMBUSTION BLOWERS EFFECTIVE NEXT SPRING.
PLUS JOHN MARTIN COUNCILMAN THE RISING TIDE OF REVENUE
PLANNING COMMISSIONER CHRIS COMEZ ON THE NEXT STAGE OF THE MASTER PLAN CREATION
ABE NAPARSTEK AND DAVID KATZ OF G&SOLAR ON THE FUTURE OF SOLAR –WHERE IT’S GOING–HOW SOLAR PANELS ON APARTMENT ROOFS CAN BRING DOWN ELECTRIC BILLS FOR NEW AND EXISTING APARTMENTS, AND THOSE ABOUT TO BE BUILT.JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK for 20 YEARS FRIDAYS AT 7:30; MONDAYS AT 7 AND ON THE INTERNET AT www.wpcommunityumedia.org
