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| Editor’s Note: The election will pit two choices, interim appointed County Executive Democrat Kenneth Jenkins against Republican Candidate Christine Sculti, (former Chief Advisor to Robert Astorino)
Dear Friends & Neighbors, On February 11, 2025 a Special Election will be held in Westchester County to vote for a County Executive to serve the remainder of the current unexpired term, which runs through the end of 2025. On Election Day, February 11, 2025, polls will be open from 6am to 9pm.
In-person Early Voting will be available for this Special Election, beginning on Saturday, February 1, 2025 and running through Sunday, February 9, 2025. Westchester County works hard to encourage and protect your right to vote as a United States citizen. From the county’s Board of Elections webpage, you can find your ballot and polling place, register to vote and learn about how to request an early mail/absentee ballot. For your convenience, below please find details for Early Voting. Sincerely,
Early Voting Days and Hours:
You can vote at any of the twenty-five (25) designated Early Voting sites throughout the County. These Early Voting centers are listed below:
For more information, visit citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/ or contact the Westchester County Board of Elections at (914) 995-5700. Queridos Amigos y Vecinos, El 11 de Febrero de 2025 se llevará a cabo una Elección Especial en el Condado de Westchester para votar por un Ejecutivo del Condado que servirá el resto del mandato actual no expirado, el cual se extiende hasta finales de 2025. El Día de las Elecciones, 11 de Febrero de 2025, las urnas estarán abiertas desde las 6 a. m. hasta las 9 p. m. La Votación Anticipada en persona estará disponible para esta Elección Especial, comenzando el Sábado 1 de Febrero de 2025 y extendiéndose hasta el Domingo 9 de Febrero de 2025. El Condado de Westchester trabaja arduamente para fomentar y proteger su derecho al voto como ciudadano de los Estados Unidos. Desde la página web de la Junta Electoral del condado, puede encontrar su boleta y lugar de votación, registrarse para votar y obtener información sobre cómo solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada por correo/ausente. Para su conveniencia, a continuación, encontrará los detalles sobre la Votación Anticipada. Atentamente,
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JAN 27– A WEEK OF CHAOS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
The truth is, there’s a lot we don’t know yet.
It’s been a week—a week of confusion, chaos, and concern. The new U.S. administration wasted no time hitting the pause button on almost everything in public health: communications, data, hiring, traveling. Positions are being removed, chairs rearranged, and there have been some… aggressive… emails.
A federal senior advisor told me, “Welcome to the away game.” In other words, the landscape has shifted—we are on a different playing field, with different refs. Shock, aggression, and swiftness appear to be strategic tactics only hyper-driven by a record of questioning the role of science and public health.
But, as unsettling as this feels, now is the time to stay steady. Public health world: Do not destabilize. The health of 330 million Americans depends on it.
Chaos and uncertainty in the world of public health
When an administration changes, it’s not unusual to reassess programs and shift priorities. It’s also not unusual to pause communications while leaders find their footing. The Health and Human Services is enormous; a pause happened during the Biden and Obama transitions, for example.
However, the scope of a pause ordered this week is unusual. For example, CDC’s scientific publication, MMWR, wasn’t published yesterday. It was the first time in 70 years this has happened, and it included three discoveries on the H5N1 (bird flu) outbreak—an active biosecurity threat to Americans. Also, every Friday, CDC updates its respiratory virus data on external dashboards. Today, only a small subset of data is being released.
Here’s what’s unfolded so far:
- All communications from HHS have been paused until Feb. 1, including all data updates on the website, CDC’s MMWR, HANs (emergency alerts), an meetings with partners. (Since the original announcement, some data has been released, so there is progress on this front and it’s changing by the minute.)
- NIH study sections—which determine which research projects at academic institutions get funded—have been canceled, and travel has been paused. An NIH email suggests that all scientific presentations may now require review by a presidential appointee. (This is highly unusual. And this poor person reviewing presentations is going to get so bored.)
- Key gatherings like the National Vaccine Advisory Committee and the Presidential Advisory Council for Combating Antibiotic Resistance have been called off.
- HHS is searching for DEIA programs and threatening anyone who disguises them. They are asking for people to report colleagues.
- 160 colleagues from the National Security Council were sent home, leaving gaps in areas like emerging biological threats and medical preparedness.
The big question is… why?
Some measures could be a sign of a transition or just a general lack of knowledge of what these agencies actually do. We’re also seeing a leadership gap in critical agencies, like CDC, where an interim director was just announced yesterday, but still no Chief of Staff has been named.
But other moves could certainly be deliberate, signaling a value shift. It’s more than unsettling when scientists receive emails asking them to report colleagues or have their work micromanaged. And it’s easy to assume, especially given the first Trump administration, that these are signs of something bigger to come around control of information flow.
The truth is it’s likely a combination, but we don’t know yet.
Why this matters
These changes are deeply personal for those on the front lines. Entire teams are on administrative leave, and researchers face uncertainty about the future of their work. Epidemiologists ready to release critical public data have been paused. The uncertainty surrounding future research grants is unnerving for researchers, given that universities rely on those grants to support students, faculty, and innovation.
This doesn’t just affect careers; it impacts the systems that keep our communities healthy and safe.
- Emerging threats don’t wait: Pausing public health communications and research means delays in responding to emerging threats, like H5N1.
- Economic impact: Public health protects more than health—it safeguards our economy. Disruptions in systems can ripple across industries, as we’ve already seen with avian flu and egg prices.
Staying grounded
I’m already overwhelmed. And it’s only been 5 days. But public health has weathered challenges before, and while the road ahead may be uncertain, there are reasons to stay focused:
- This is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout won’t help anyone. I’m pacing myself for the long game. Stay steady.
- We aren’t alone. Public health doesn’t operate in isolation. Powerful counterbalances exist and are strategically playing in the background, whether we like it or not. The NIH has academic institutions to push back. The FDA has counterbalances in the pharma and food industry. The CDC has insurance companies and health systems. Bureaucracy is slow for a reason: it avoids whiplash.
- Public health is local. A strong national leadership is needed to help drive the ship and see the big picture of what is going on, but much of the groundwork of public health is still functioning. These teams remain vital anchors for our communities.
- Science wins. Ignoring public health has consequences—resurgent diseases, overwhelmed hospitals, and unmet needs. Reality always catches up, and the importance of public health will become undeniable.
- Be strategic. Attention and political capital are as scarce as financial resources. Right now, we’re only hearing from the top. After this week of shock and awe, we have to leave room for more nuanced conversations with the reasonable voices in the new administration who share the values of caring for the health of all Americans. It’s in those conversations that critical decisions about our health system will be determined.
Bottom line
This is a moment of uncertainty, but public health has always been about more than federal leadership. It’s about the local communities, the health workers, and the scientists who step forward when systems falter. There are a lot of unknowns, but what we do know is that public health is needed today, tomorrow, and every day after that.
Stay steady, stay engaged, and keep your eye on the ball. The health of 330 million Americans depends on it.
Love, YLE
Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist. YLE reaches more than 305,000 people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:
JAN 27–RYE COUNTRY DAY HOSTS POWERFUL TRAVELING EXHIBIT ON THE HOLOCAUST, ANTISEMITISM AND BUILDING COMMUNITY
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. JANUARY 27, 2025
Exhibit Opens tODAY as World Marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27
Rye, NY ––In an era where Holocaust education is facing a troubling decline and antisemitism is soaring, Rye Country Day School (RCDS) is taking a proactive approach to ensure this vital history is not forgotten.
RCDS is hosting Common Circles’ traveling exhibit called “We are RCDS: Bridging, Belonging, & Building Community, an innovative and interactive program that uses art, technology, and storytelling to teach about the Holocaust, antisemitism, community and the importance of finding our shared humanity.
The current exhibit, on view by appointment to the public, conceived and designed by Marla Felton and Sue Spiegel of the non-profit Common Circles and developed in partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, RCDS and American Jewish Committee (AJC), is open at RCDS through May and will then be available travel to other schools.
This initiative comes at a critical time. Antisemitism has reached record levels in the U.S., especially after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel. The State of Antisemitism in America 2023 Report from AJC found nine in 10 American Jews believe antisemitism is a problem in this country and that 87% believe it has worsened in the last five years. In addition, 46% of American Jews altered their behavior—such as not wearing a Star of David in public or sharing their views online about Israel—out of fear of antisemitism.
The 2022 AJC antisemitism report asked members of the general public about the Holocaust and found the majority of those surveyed knew about when the Holocaust occurred and that 6 million Jews were killed. But only 26 percent reported visiting a Holocaust museum.
“When it comes to the Holocaust, there is no such thing as too much education,” AJC Westchester/Fairfield Director Myra Clark-Siegel said. “By fostering understanding, respect, and connection, this exhibit underscores the importance of remembering the lessons of the Holocaust and applying them to build a more compassionate and inclusive future.”
RCDS’s effort exemplifies this commitment by engaging students, educators, and families with a transformative educational experience.
The “We are RCDS: Bridging, Belonging & Building Community” traveling exhibit, which is customized for individual communities, is divided into two parts, each offering a unique perspective:
Part 1: Bridging, Belonging, & Building Community
Through a combination of art, photography, and optical illusions, the first part of the exhibit explores the layers of identity within the RCDS community. It emphasizes the need to understand different perspectives shaped by individual life experiences and fosters respectful dialogue. Visitors are encouraged to listen to each other’s stories, find connection, recognize their shared humanity, and celebrate differences while discovering commonalities.
Part 2: “Voices Against Hate: Lessons from the Holocaust” — Holocaust Education and Combating Antisemitism
The second part focuses on Holocaust education, featuring Interactive Biographies** from the USC Shoah Foundation. Visitors hear firsthand accounts from a Holocaust survivor and a Jewish American liberator, connecting with their experiences in a deeply personal way. This section also provides information on the Jewish community, as well as tools to define, recognize, and combat antisemitism, empowering participants to stand against hate in all its forms. Local stories of survivors and liberators from the community are also highlighted.
Marla Felton, founder of Common Circles, said, “COVID, already overfilled curricula, and lack of funding does not make school trips to museums easy, so we decided to bring the museum experience to the schools themselves.”
Sue Spiegel, Common Circles’ creative director, believes that, “the ‘We Are Rye Country Day” experience is a nonconfrontational and creative way to delve into our varied identities and start to learn more about one another.”
Dr. Meredith deChabert, RCDS Assistant Head of School, was a driving force in bringing the exhibit to RCDS. She says: “When you see the exhibit in person and your mood immediately begins to lift, you know. When you hear the unbridled excitement of students of all ages as they see images of the adults in their community, you know. When your colleagues, who are all busy and short on time just linger in the space soaking it all in, you know. Immediately you know that what binds us as a community is personal — rooted in identity, authentic representation, and feeling a sense of belonging.”
“Common Circles is a wonderful initiative that dovetails with our active approach to building awareness and educating our community about antisemitism and other forms of hate, Head of School Randall Dunn said. “This work is critical, as we strive for a more inclusive, connected world. We Are RCDS is a beautiful, thought-provoking celebration of the range of identities in our community.”
As Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel once said, “When you hear a witness, you become a witness.” RCDS, in partnership with Common Circles and AJC, is ensuring that every member of its community—students, teachers, and families—has the opportunity to become a witness to history.
For more information about the exhibit and its future locations, please contact [email protected].
Common Circles is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to making a difference in our world by utilizing research-based interactive and immersive technological experiences to improve inter-group relations, reduce bias and antisemitism, increase empathy, and encourage action and changed behaviors in our communities.
JAN 27: OUTBREAK NORTHEAST: FLU ON RISE IN NY NEW JERSEY. BIRD FLU THREAT REAL. NYC “EMERGENCY ROOM” DISEASE ADMISSIONS REPORT DELAYED.
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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 Diseases
ILI
As I wrote in the National edition, the Trump administration’s pause on health communications interrupted flu data, specifically outpatient influenza-like illness.
To close the gap, I visited all 50 websites of the state health departments, and gathered what I could.
At the national level, flu defied my expectations by resurging after two consecutive weeks of improvement.
Unfortunately, the Northeast is affected by this trend, with New Jersey and New York seeing increases in influenza-like illness. New Jersey and Connecticut also saw marked increases in emergency department visits, suggesting the region is seeing a second peak.
In New York City, hospitalizations are fairly low and stable. Still, the city continues to report 1-2 deaths from Covid-19 each day.
Northeast Outpatient ILI %
Create interactive, responsive & beautiful charts — no code required.
New Jersey leads the region with ED visits at 8.0% (up sharply from 6.0%, a 32% increase). New York shows elevated activity with ED visits at 5.2% (up from 4.3%) and the region’s highest hospitalization rate at 9.1 per 100,000 (up from 8.0), with ILI visits at 3.7%. Pennsylvania reports increasing ED visits at 4.4% (up from 3.4%).
Connecticut shows significant increases with ED visits at 5.7% (up from 3.7%, a 53% increase) and hospitalizations at 7.4 per 100,000 (down from 9.5). Massachusetts reports ED visits at 5.2% (up from 3.6%), with ILI visits at 6.9%. Rhode Island shows lower but increasing ED visits at 3.4% (up from 2.7%).
New Hampshire reports ED visits at 5.2% (up from 4.3%). Vermont shows moderate activity with ED visits at 3.3% (up from 2.4%), with ILI visits at 2.8%. Maine maintains the region’s lowest ED visit rate at 2.1% (virtually unchanged from 2.1%), with ILI visits at 3.7%.
I could not find updated information for New York City. The city’s next report will be published here, but I’m not sure when it will become available.
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COVID-19
Indicators are mixed in the Northeast. Wastewater activity is high in most states, and hospitalizations are elevated, but ED visits remain minimal.
Wastewater activity is moderate after declining dramatically in the Northeast, dropping by half in the past two weeks. However, right now the regional average obscures a more complicated state-level picture.
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Source: CDC
While wastewater activity is minimal and stable in New York, it is high or very high everywhere else.
In Massachusetts, activity is very high and held roughly stable this past week. Activity is high and increasing in New Jersey. In contrast, activity is decreasing, but still at very high levels in Maine and at high levels in Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. (Data are limited for Pennsylvania and New Hampshire).
Severe illness is mixed: ED visits are minimal, but hospitalizations are elevated. ED visits are minimal and decreasing across much of the Northeast. ED visits have decreased from 3 to 1.8% in the past couple weeks in New Hampshire and from 3.1% to 1.4% in Maine. ED visits are minimal and decreasing in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Connecticut is the only state that reported a (slight) increase in ED visits this past week, up to 1.7% (low).
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Hospitalizations are elevated in the Northeast, with most states hold fairly steady between 4 to 6.5 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. The exception is Pennsylvania, where hospitalizations are very high (12.3) and increasing.
In New York City, hospitalizations are fairly low and stable. Still, the city continues to report 1-2 deaths from Covid-19 each day.
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Source: CDC
In better news, hospitalizations decreased substantially in Massachusetts, from 9 to 5.6.
RSV
Activity is moderate to low across the region, with most states seeing a decrease in the percent of ED visits for RSV. I expect continued decline in the weeks ahead, though it’s worth noting that activity remains elevated compared to the off-season.
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Stomach Bugs
Nothing new reported this week due to the Trump Administration’s pause on health communications. Given how high rates were last week, I expect norovirus to still be very active this week. Keep washing those hands.
Food recalls
The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:
New:
- Nothing new. Two recalls not related to food contamination were posted, so this is not due to lack of reporting.
Previously reported:
- Casa Mamita frozen chicken and cheese taquitos (more info)
- Wicklow Gold Cheddar Cheeses (more info)
- Blue Ridge Beef Kitten mix [for Cats] (more info). While not for human consumption, humans may be infected with Salmonella if they do not adequately wash their hands or contaminated surfaces after handling the product.
- Marketside Broccoli Florets (more info)
- Connie’s Thin Crust Cheese Frozen Pizzas (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–BIRD FLU SPREADS TO NY, MASSACHUSETTS.
- New York’s Crescent Duck Farm, the last commercial duck farm on Long Island, culled its entire 100,000-bird flock and the laying off of 47 staff members following an outbreak of H5N1.
- The farm, a fourth-generation family business since 1908, supplies nearly 4% of the nation’s duck meat and is known for its high-quality birds. Despite strict biosecurity measures, the virus breached the facility, prompting a months-long sanitization process and quarantine. Thousands of duck eggs will be sanitized and hatched offsite to potentially rebuild the flock.
- D.W. Field Park in Brockton, Massachusetts has closed due to a potential bird flu outbreak, following reports of dead geese and swans at Upper Porter Pond. This closure comes days after 60 birds were found dead at Billington Sea in Plymouth, about 20 miles away. Park officials have urged the public not to touch injured or deceased birds. Testing to confirm bird flu could take up to a week, with no timeline yet for reopening.