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SATURDAY AT 7– YOU’VE GOT STEPHEN FERRI EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ON WPTV’S “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” FIOS CH. 45 AND OPTIMUM CH 76 ON THE WPPAC’S NEW SEASON ANYTIME ON www.wpcommunitymedia.org
Congressman Jones Calls for Biden to Reverse Deportation of Haitians as US Haiti Envoy Resigns
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Today, Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-NY) released the following statement on the resignation of United States Special Envoy for Haiti, Ambassador Daniel Foote.
“The nation of Haiti is in the midst of once-in-a-generation civic and humanitarian crises, including the assassination of the Haitian president and ensuing constitutional crisis, a devastating earthquake, a deadly pandemic, and the lingering consequences of generations of colonial exploitation. That is why, for months, in public letters and in private conversations,
I have called on the Biden Administration to immediately halt all deportations to Haiti and return to America those individuals who have been unjustly deported there—like my constituent Paul Pierrilus, an upstanding member of our Rockland County community who had never even been to Haiti before the Biden Administration cruelly deported him there in February.
Special Envoy Foote’s resignation is a stark acknowledgement of the deep injustice and inhumanity of the Biden Administration’s insistence on continuing deportations to Haiti. Deporting individuals to Haiti in its current state of civil unrest and natural disaster is a dark stain on our nation that undermines our moral authority at home and around the world.
After four years of xenophobic rhetoric and policy from the previous administration, the American people elected Joe Biden to return humanity, dignity, and respect for international law to our immigration system. So far, his administration has failed to do so, and individuals fleeing civil unrest and natural disaster are suffering the consequences.
The American people – and the world – are watching. We are once again imploring President Biden to do the right thing by immediately halting all deportations to Haiti and returning to America those individuals who have been unjustly deported there. Lives, and our credibility as a nation, depend on it.”
THE NEW MTA MASK POLICY: WEAR A MASK OR BE FINED $50 WITH A SUMMONS
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WPCNR THE RAILROAD NEWS. From the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 23, 2021:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is advising customers that beginning Thursday, September 23, MTA officers will be stepping up mask enforcement throughout the system and those who do not comply with mask requirements will be more likely to face a $50 fine. Mask-wearing is a federal requirement on trains, buses and paratransit vehicles.
Following Labor Day, the MTA began on a blitz of mask distribution, with MTA staff and police officers strategically stationed at subway and railroad hubs, and bus terminals, distributing tens of thousands of free masks to unmasked riders. This continues an approach established in September 2020, when the MTA implemented a $50 fine to help increase mask compliance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of heightened enforcement is to increase mask usage across all agencies, and to return to 2020 and early 2021 compliance levels where nearly 100% of riders wore masks onboard subways, buses, commuter railroads and paratransit vehicles.
Since the $50 fine was implemented on September 14, 2020, MTA police officers have had over 88,000 positive encounters with customers. This has included the distribution of more than 50,000 free masks overall, 25,000 in the two weeks since the blitz began on September 7.
“Promoting mask usage is an important component to protecting one another,” said Patrick Warren, MTA Chief Safety Officer. “To support the use of masks we have provided tens of millions of free masks to customers, complemented by a robust communication endeavor. These efforts have seen mask usage recently rise on buses and trains. This next phase of our blitz will reinforce that wearing a mask is not optional. Vaccinated or not, you must wear a mask when traveling on public transit.”
“Our officers have surged into major hubs to remind riders to wear their mask, and have handed out 25,000 free masks in just two weeks,” said Joseph McGrann, Acting Chief of the MTA Police Department. “In the coming weeks officers will step up enforcement efforts on commuter rails and work with our partners at the NYPD for the subway and bus system. The message is clear, wear a mask. Riders who are still not getting this message will now see the cost associated with that thinking.”
Since the mask blitz began at key transit hubs, mask usage has increased. Latest surveys show that mask compliance onboard buses is approximately 94%, 87% on subways, 92% on the LIRR and 95% on Metro-North.
To date the MTA has made 11.1 million masks available for customers. Through the Authority’s trailblazing Mask Force, which launched in July 2020, more than 800,000 free masks have been distributed to customers.
Free masks remain available for any customer that forgets a mask at subway station booths and onboard commuter railroad trains. Distribution efforts continue to be complemented with digital messaging and announcements in stations.
TODAY : COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER GETS HIS ANNUAL FLU SHOT– YOU SHOULD, TOO!
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BEGAN THE TRADITION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FLU SHOT ON OCTOBER 8, 2018, HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. HERE DR. SHERLITA AMBLER DELIVERS THE FIRST COUNTY EXECUTIVE FLU SHOT. (WPCNR LIBRARY ARCHIVE)
WPCNR HEALTH ADVISORY FROM THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. SEPTEMBER 23, 2021:
Urging residents to follow his lead, Latimer said: “Schedule your flu shot today, don’t wait. The flu can be miserable and it should be taken seriously. This vaccine will help keep you and your family healthy well into 2022.”
Flu shots are available for a fee from many area pharmacists and medical offices.
The County Health Department is on track to provide up to 2,000 flu vaccines this fall, mostly to County employees. A public flu clinic will be announced at a later date.
Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said:
“Everyone six months and older should get an annual flu shot. Flu can make otherwise healthy adults and children very ill and it can be deadly. The sooner you get vaccinated, the better. Flu symptoms can be confused with COVID-19, so your flu shot can help your doctor treat you if you do become sick.
Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 offer the best protection we have to fight these diseases. And you also help your community by protecting people around you who are more vulnerable to flu complications, such as infants too young to be vaccinated, seniors and people with chronic health conditions.”
Flu activity is usually highest between December and February, but can last into May. One flu vaccine now provides protection all season long and can prevent illness or reduce the severity of flu symptoms. The vaccine becomes fully effective after about two weeks.
Dr. Amler said that anyone who does get a respiratory infection should consider COVID/influenza testing.
To avoid spreading germs to others, it is recommended that residents wear a mask; cough or sneeze into their elbow; wash their hands frequently with soap and water; stay home until 24 hours after their fever subsides to avoid spreading germs; clean surfaces they touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones; and get plenty of rest.
COVID VARIANT “SWEEPING THROUGH THE STATE” GOVERNOR WARNS.
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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Governor’s Press Office. September 22, 2021:
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress combating COVID-19.
“The Delta variant is sweeping through the state, causing a surge in COVID cases in our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “It is crucial that we stay vigilant. Wash your hands, wear a mask and get vaccinated. It’s up to us to prevent our progress against the virus from being undone.”
Today’s data is summarized briefly below:
· Test Results Reported – 178,396
· Total Positive – 4,673
· Percent Positive – 2.62%
· 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 2.91%
· Patient Hospitalization – 2,352 (-50)
· Patients Newly Admitted – 315
· Patients in ICU – 560 (+13)
· Patients in ICU with Intubation – 325 (0)
· Total Discharges – 198,661 (+308)
· New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 30
· Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 44,271
The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
· Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC – 56,371
This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
· Total vaccine doses administered – 24,795,583
· Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 50,003
· Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 355,162
· Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 80.4%
· Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 72.5%
· Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 82.9%
· Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 74.4%
· Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 68.0%
· Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 61.1%
· Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 70.2%
· Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 62.7%
Each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:
| Region | Sunday, September 19, 2021 | Monday, September 20, 2021 | Tuesday, September 21, 2021 |
| Capital Region | 3.91% | 4.01% | 4.04% |
| Central New York | 4.73% | 4.99% | 4.86% |
| Finger Lakes | 4.87% | 4.84% | 4.78% |
| Long Island | 3.84% | 3.80% | 3.68% |
| Mid-Hudson | 3.07% | 3.09% | 2.92% |
| Mohawk Valley | 4.61% | 5.08% | 4.86% |
| New York City | 1.97% | 1.95% | 1.91% |
| North Country | 5.83% | 5.91% | 5.85% |
| Southern Tier | 3.42% | 3.45% | 3.41% |
| Western New York | 4.71% | 4.85% | 4.81% |
| Statewide | 2.95% | 2.98% | 2.91% |
Each New York City borough’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:
| Borough in NYC | Sunday, September 19, 2021 | Monday, September 20, 2021 | Tuesday, September 21, 2021 |
| Bronx | 1.88% | 1.88% | 1.91% |
| Kings | 2.16% | 2.12% | 2.05% |
| New York | 1.52% | 1.52% | 1.51% |
| Queens | 2.11% | 2.08% | 2.02% |
| Richmond | 2.53% | 2.49% | 2.45% |
Yesterday, 4,673 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 in New York State, bringing the total to 2,368,515. A geographic breakdown is as follows:
| County | Total Positive | New Positive |
| Albany | 28,439 | 74 |
| Allegany | 4,019 | 19 |
| Broome | 21,773 | 109 |
| Cattaraugus | 6,728 | 18 |
| Cayuga | 7,926 | 19 |
| Chautauqua | 10,940 | 31 |
| Chemung | 9,069 | 48 |
| Chenango | 4,190 | 22 |
| Clinton | 5,674 | 19 |
| Columbia | 4,655 | 23 |
| Cortland | 4,824 | 13 |
| Delaware | 3,070 | 14 |
| Dutchess | 33,770 | 54 |
| Erie | 99,069 | 198 |
| Essex | 1,939 | 5 |
| Franklin | 3,532 | 20 |
| Fulton | 5,310 | 12 |
| Genesee | 6,067 | 22 |
| Greene | 3,953 | 15 |
| Hamilton | 408 | 1 |
| Herkimer | 6,013 | 24 |
| Jefferson | 7,489 | 47 |
| Lewis | 3,207 | 30 |
| Livingston | 5,186 | 23 |
| Madison | 5,401 | 15 |
| Monroe | 78,051 | 155 |
| Montgomery | 5,094 | 18 |
| Nassau | 206,711 | 339 |
| Niagara | 22,135 | 41 |
| NYC | 1,054,972 | 1,704 |
| Oneida | 25,802 | 88 |
| Onondaga | 45,853 | 121 |
| Ontario | 8,540 | 33 |
| Orange | 54,508 | 86 |
| Orleans | 3,645 | 34 |
| Oswego | 9,623 | 35 |
| Otsego | 4,174 | 12 |
| Putnam | 11,844 | 36 |
| Rensselaer | 13,319 | 43 |
| Rockland | 50,893 | 75 |
| Saratoga | 18,419 | 31 |
| Schenectady | 15,293 | 42 |
| Schoharie | 2,076 | 4 |
| Schuyler | 1,284 | 7 |
| Seneca | 2,480 | 13 |
| St. Lawrence | 8,908 | 44 |
| Steuben | 8,394 | 52 |
| Suffolk | 227,635 | 454 |
| Sullivan | 7,807 | 20 |
| Tioga | 4,400 | 15 |
| Tompkins | 5,946 | 20 |
| Ulster | 16,344 | 34 |
| Warren | 4,705 | 21 |
| Washington | 3,945 | 19 |
| Wayne | 6,973 | 34 |
| Westchester | 140,780 | 154 |
| Wyoming | 3,912 | 11 |
| Yates | 1,399 | 3 |
Yesterday, 30 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 44,271. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:
| Deaths by County of Residence | |
| County | New Deaths |
| Allegany | 1 |
| Bronx | 1 |
| Cattaraugus | 1 |
| Cayuga | 1 |
| Chemung | 1 |
| Erie | 1 |
| Genesee | 1 |
| Kings | 3 |
| Manhattan | 2 |
| Monroe | 1 |
| Nassau | 1 |
| Niagara | 1 |
| Oneida | 2 |
| Onondaga | 1 |
| Queens | 2 |
| Rockland | 1 |
| Saratoga | 4 |
| St. Lawrence | 1 |
| Steuben | 2 |
| Suffolk | 2 |
All New York State mass vaccination sites are open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first-come, first-serve basis. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them.
A geographic breakdown of New Yorkers who have been vaccinated by region is as follows:
| People with at least one vaccine dose | People with complete vaccine series | |||
| Region | Cumulative Total | Increase over past 24 hours | Cumulative Total | Increase over past 24 hours |
| Capital Region | 742,887 | 995 | 683,054 | 820 |
| Central New York | 580,347 | 647 | 538,604 | 647 |
| Finger Lakes | 753,057 | 1,194 | 701,354 | 997 |
| Long Island | 1,842,805 | 4,431 | 1,630,348 | 3,361 |
| Mid-Hudson | 1,435,636 | 2,584 | 1,273,399 | 2,602 |
| Mohawk Valley | 289,641 | 429 | 268,099 | 396 |
| New York City | * | * | * | * |
| North Country | 269,151 | 297 | 242,888 | 392 |
| Southern Tier | 385,551 | 579 | 356,006 | 503 |
| Western New York | 822,955 | 1,674 | 755,631 | 1,313 |
| Statewide | * | * | * | * |
*due to an error with NYC CIR, data was unable to be extracted
MASK-UP COMMUTERS BEGINNING TODAY ON MTA TRAINS–YOU WILL BE FINED $50 IF YOU DON’T.
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WPCNR MTA MAINLINE. From County Chairman of Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin. September 23, 2021 5 PM:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is advising customers that beginning Thursday, September 23, MTA officers will be stepping up mask enforcement throughout the system and those who do not comply with mask requirements will be more likely to face a $50 fine.
Mask-wearing is a federal requirement on trains, buses and paratransit vehicles.
Following Labor Day, the MTA began on a blitz of mask distribution, with MTA staff and police officers strategically stationed at subway and railroad hubs, and bus terminals, distributing tens of thousands of free masks to unmasked riders.
This continues an approach established in September 2020, when the MTA implemented a $50 fine to help increase mask compliance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of heightened enforcement is to increase mask usage across all agencies, and to return to 2020 and early 2021 compliance levels where nearly 100% of riders wore masks onboard subways, buses, commuter railroads and paratransit vehicles.
Since the $50 fine was implemented on September 14, 2020, MTA police officers have had over 88,000 positive encounters with customers. This has included the distribution of more than 50,000 free masks overall, 25,000 in the two weeks since the blitz began on September 7.
Since the mask blitz began at key transit hubs, mask usage has increased. Latest surveys show that mask compliance onboard buses is approximately 94%, 87% on subways, 92% on the LIRR and 95% on Metro-North.
To date the MTA has made 11.1 million masks available for customers. Through the Authority’s trailblazing Mask Force, which launched in July 2020, more than 800,000 free masks have been distributed to customers.
Free masks remain available for any customer that forgets a mask at subway station booths and onboard commuter railroad trains. Distribution efforts continue to be complemented with digital messaging and announcements in stations.
Please forward this E-News to family and friends who may be interested in this information.
MTA Anuncia Aumentara Aplicación de Máscaras en Todo el Sistema
La Autoridad de Transporte Metropolitano (Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) advierte a los clientes que, a partir del jueves 23 de septiembre, los oficiales de la MTA intensificarán la aplicación de máscaras en todo el sistema y que aquellos que no cumplan con los requisitos de las máscaras tendrán más probabilidades de enfrentar una multa de $ 50. El uso de máscaras es un requisito federal en trenes, autobuses y vehículos de para tránsito.
Después del día de fiesta del Día del Trabajo, la MTA comenzó con un bombardeo de distribución de máscaras, con el personal de la MTA y los oficiales de policía estacionados estratégicamente en los centros de metro y ferrocarril, y en las terminales de autobuses, distribuyendo decenas de miles de máscaras gratis a los pasajeros desenmascarados. Esto continúa con un enfoque establecido en septiembre de 2020, cuando la MTA implementó una multa de $ 50 para ayudar a aumentar el cumplimiento de las mascarillas en respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19.
El objetivo de una mayor aplicación de la ley es aumentar el uso de máscaras en todas las agencias y volver a los niveles de cumplimiento de 2020 y principios de 2021, donde casi el 100% de los pasajeros usaban máscaras a bordo del metro, autobuses, ferrocarriles de cercanías y vehículos de para tránsito. Desde que se implementó la multa de $ 50 el 14 de septiembre de 2020, los oficiales de policía de MTA han tenido más de 88,000 encuentros positivos con los clientes. Esto ha incluido la distribución de más de 50,000 máscaras gratis en total, 25,000 en las dos semanas desde que comenzó el bombardeo el 7 de septiembre.
Desde que comenzó el bombardeo de máscaras en los centros de tránsito clave, el uso de máscaras ha aumentado. Las últimas encuestas muestran que el cumplimiento de las máscaras a bordo de los autobuses es de aproximadamente el 94%, el 87% en el metro, el 92% en el LIRR y el 95% en Metro-North.
Hasta la fecha, la MTA ha puesto a disposición de los clientes 11.1 millones de máscaras. A través de la Autoridad del Mask Force, que se lanzó en julio de 2020, se han distribuido a los clientes más de 800,000 máscaras gratuitas.
Las máscaras gratuitas permanecen disponibles para cualquier cliente que se olvide de una máscara en las cabinas de las estaciones de metro y en los trenes de cercanías a bordo. Los esfuerzos de distribución continúan siendo complementados con mensajería digital y anuncios en estaciones.
Envíe estas noticias electrónicas a familiares y amigos que puedan estar interesados en esta información.
JOHN BAILEY AND GUEST WVOX HOST HARRISON MAYOR RON BELMONT INTERVIEW ON OPENING OF SCHOOLS, COVID SITUATION, HARRISON APARTMENT BOOM REPLAY OF THEIR INTERVIEW THIS MORNING ON WVOX 1460
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WEATHER WHITE PLAINS: 62 CLOUDY WPCNR DEGREES AT 9:30 A.M. CLOUDY TODAY, CLOUDY WITH SHOWERS WEDNESDAY
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COVID IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY IS FLATTENING, COUNTY EXECUTIVE ASSURES But Not Out of Woods Yet. Vaccinations are 87% of Westchester population conting both fully vaccinated and those with 1-shot.
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WESTCHESTER EXCEEDS 1,000 NEW CASES OF COVID A WEEK AGAIN THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK
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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS UPDATE. From the New York State Covid-19 Tracker. September 18, 2021:
New Covid infections in Westchester totaled 1,006 new cases in 6 days this week, September 12 through September 17, the third consecutive week in which new cases have exceeded 1,000 a week, averaging 167 new cases a day,
Friday 8,186 Westchesterites were tested—179 tested positive for an infection rate of 2.2% of those tested. The Spread rate based on 188 persons testing positive on September 3 (2 weeks ago) divided into 179 new infections Friday the 17th was .95.
Each one of those 188 persons testing positive two weeks ago on September 3 infected approximatelyone other person.
This 1,000 new infections a week spread rate says covid is still infecting on a 1 new infection translates into infecting 1 new person within 10 to 14 days.
The message means more persons in the county must get vaccinated, or we must mask up and socialize more responsibly(no large groups, wearing masks, and not associating with persons you do not know.