THE JOHN BAILEY WHITE PLAINS REPORT ON WVOX 1460 “DENNIS AND TONNY’S GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER” THIS MORNING

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JOHN BAILEY THE CITIZENETREPORTER
BROADCASTS WEEKLY AT 7:50 AM ON THE “DENNIS AND TONNY GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER” PROGRAM ON WVOX 1460 OR WVOX.COM. HERE IS THE TRANCRIPT OF THIS MORNING’S BROADCAST

“GOOD MORNING DENNIS AND TONNY FROM WHITE PLAINS NY USA WHERE IT’S 72 CLOUDY WPCNR DEGREES, IT’S ALSO 3 WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS.

I TALKED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT YESTERDAY TO SEE WHERE THEY WERE ON OPENING. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DISTRICT BUT AT THE END OF LAST WEEK THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER BETSY ROSA ANNOUNCED A GUIDE TO REOPENING THE STATE’S SCHOOLS FOLLOWING STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND CDC GUIDELINES, SUPERINTENDENTS WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS GUIDE LAST THURSDAY, THE 12TH.

ROSA ALSO ANNOUNCED ON THE SED WEBSITE  IN A LETTER TO SUPERINTENDENTS THAT THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD SET GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE NY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED IT WOULD NOT.

 WELL I READ THIS 21-PAGE REPORT AND IT COVERS VACCINE POLICY, MASKING POLICY, SOCIAL DISTANCING RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES, AND SPORTS AND PERFORMING PROGRAMS.

THE KEY TAKEAWAY I GET AFTER READING THIS IS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN WESTCHESTER AND WHITE PLAINS AND NEW ROCHELLE ARE ON THEIR OWN.

WHY?

BECAUSE THE “GUIDELINE” BOOKLET ISSUED DOES NOT SAY SCHOOLS HAVE TO DO ANYTHING RECOMMENDED. THEY ARE “GUIDELINES.”

I ASKED THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PRESS OFFICE IF HARD FAST MUST DO RULES WILL BE ISSUED OR WHETHER SCHOOLS WERE ON THEIR OWN. THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. THE OTHER BIGGER QUESTION IS WHETHER EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TO HAVE THE SED APPROVE THEIR POLICIES ON REOPENING.

 AT THIS POINT IN WHITE PLAINS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS NOT DECIDED ON A VACCINE POLICY THE CLERK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TOLD ME. WHEN THE DISTRICT REOPENED FULL TIME ATTENDANCE IN MAY ALL TEACHERS AND STAFF HAD TO BE VACCINATED AND THERE WAS SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKING REQUIRED.

AT THIS POINT THE BIG DECISION EVERY DISTRICT HAS TO CONSIDER IS VACCINATING ALL STUDENTS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE. IT IS GETTING LATE FOR THIS DECISION.

THE COUNTY SAID THEY WOULD HELP IN YESTERDAY’S BRIEFING WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS DIRECTOR JOAN MCDONALD ANNOUNCING THE COUNTY WOULD BRING VACCINATIONS TO ANY SCHOOL OR DISTRICT THAT WANTED THIS SERVICE FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.

THE SHOTS WOULD INCLUDE THE STANDARD IMMUNIZATIONS AND ALSO THE COVID SHOT OR SHOTS FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS PRESUMABLY.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE NOT TO DO THAT.

DR. JOSEPH RICCA THE WHITE PLAINS SUPERINTENDENT, WILL ADDRESS THE DISTRICT ON FACEBOOK AT 12 NOON AUGUST 27 TO TELL HOW SCHOOL WILL OPEN IN WHITE PLAINS AND HE WILL HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER ZOOM ON SEPTEMBER 1

COVID IS NOT SLOWING DOWN IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY THE COUNTY INFECTION RATE CONTINUED AT SUPER SPREADER RATES OF 2.8% THURSDAY, 2.4% FRIDAY AND 2.9% ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

742 NEW CASES OF COVID IN THE COUNTY WERE REPORTED ON THOSE 4 DAYS. 185 A DAY AVERAGE.

IN 14 DAYS AT THE SPREAD RATE FORMULA THOSE 742 PERSONS WITH COVID COULD INFECT 5,000 OTHER PERSONS BY AUGUST 31. THE AVERAGE INFECTIONS PER DAY RIGHT NOW CONTINUES TO PUSH IN THE VICINITY OF 200 NEW INFECTIONS A DAY.

ASSEMBLYMAN TOM ABINANTI OF GREENBURGH ADVISED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS ORDERED HOSPITALS AND LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES TO VACCINATE ALL WORKERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

IN FACT 166,000 HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED. IN NURSING HOMES 34% OR 45,000 WORKERS HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED. I WAS UNDER THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT HOSPITALS HAD VACCINATED ALL WORKERS AND TOOK 5 WEEKS TO DO THAT LAST DEC AND EARLY JANUARY. WHO KNEW? I DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT. HOW COULD THEY NOT? HOW COULD LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES NOT? VACCINES HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 8 MONTHS. IT IS AN HONOR TO REPORT FOR WVOX, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.”

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COVID SHOTS TODAY AT STEPINAC HIGH SCHOOL 3 TO 7 PM AND SEPTEMBER 7

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STEPINAC HIGH SCHOOL AND SUNSHINE PHARMACY TEAM UP AGAIN TO PROVIDE VACCINATION OPPORTUNITY AT POP-UP CLINIC TODAY

First Shot Scheduled for Aug 17; Second Shot, Sept. 7—Both

To be Administered at School’s Gymnasium

Stepinac High School will partner again with Sunshine Pharmacy FOR A 1-2 EFFICIENT WAY TO GET 1ST AND 2ND SHOTS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS— both located in White Plains, NY— to provide an opportunity for students, their families and friends to receive the Pfizer COVID vaccine.

The pharmacy will administer both shots at a pop- up clinic that will be set up in the gymnasium at Stepinac, located at 950 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains.

The first shot will be available from 3 to 7 PM, Tuesday, August 17. The second shot will be given on Tuesday, September 7, also from 3 to 7 PM.

The first Stepinac/Sunshine vaccine pop-up clinic in June attracted more than 75 participants.

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COUNTY EXEC LATIMER ON WVOX THIS MORNING: FEDERAL GOVT RELOCATION OF IMMIGRANT YOUTHS WILL CONTINUE NO INFORMATION ON WHEN FLIGHTS ARE COMING IN. YOUTHS HE IS TOLD ARE VACCINATED. HE HAS NO POWER TO STOP THE FLIGHTS

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Executive George Latimer’s appearance on WVOX 1460 this morning. August 17, 2021:

In his regular Tuesday morning appearance on WVOX radio’s Dennis and Tonny Good Morning Westchester,  County Executive George Latimer shared what federal officials supervising the immigrant flights into Westchester which apparently started last Thursday and Friday, August 12 and 13.

Latimer said Federal Officials told him flights would continue and he had no power to stop the flights, because the Federal Government has “superior” authority He repeated he did not know of the immigrant “resettlement” flights as of Wednesday.

After immigrants got off the planes, Latimer said  the youths who were “unaccompanied” were put on  buses to go to “foster families” homes  in New York City, Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut and upstate.

Latimer was informed the youths were from camps at the U.S. southern border and was told by federal officials, the youths were vaccinated (apparently while being detained).

He said the flights would continue.

He said  the federal officials would not tell where the immigrant youth would be housed or specifically where they are now.

He said they would not say how many more flights would be coming in or dates flights were coming in.

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8 MONTHS AFTER VACCINES ARRIVED, 166,700 NYS HEALTHCARE WORKERS NOT VACCINATED (ONE SHOT OR NO SHOT, WE DO NOT KNOW). STATE HEALTH DEPT ORDERS — GET VAXED BY SEPT 27–OR BE TESTED WEEKLY.

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 WPCNR COVID DEVELOPMENTS. From Assemblyman Tom Abinanti. August 16, 2021:

 All healthcare workers in New York State, including staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities [LTCF] (Nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings) will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Monday, September 27. 

The State Department of Health will issue orders requiring all such facilities to develop and implement a policy mandating employee vaccinations, with limited exceptions for those with religious or medical reasons.  State employees who choose to remain unvaccinated will be required to undergo weekly COVID testing.

               The Department of Health has authorized a third COVID-19 vaccine dose for New Yorkers with compromised immune systems, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation last week. 

Eligible New Yorkers can receive their third dose 28 days after the completion of their two-dose vaccine series. New Yorkers should contact their healthcare provider about whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them at this time.

                To date, 75% of the state’s ~450,000 hospital workers, 74% of the state’s ~30,000 adult care facility workers, and 68% of the state’s ~145,500 nursing home workers have completed their vaccine series.

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INSIDE THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT GUIDE TO REOPENING SCHOOLS

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the New York State Education Department August 16, 2021:

The Official News release announcing the Guidelines for Reopening Schools issued last Thursday, the news release describes the contents of the report this way:

“At a time when schools are preparing to reopen and the COVID positivity rate is increasing, we must ensure our schools and districts have the most up-to-date resources and mitigation strategies available to keep our children and school staff safe,” said Commissioner Betty A. Rosa. “Reopening amidst a pandemic for the second consecutive year is truly a daunting task. Our hope is that this guide, coupled with the input of local health officials will help the state’s education community as they prepare for September.”

The guide provides strategies, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, to position schools and districts to manage the risks for students and staff from COVID-19 while supporting engaged learning for all students.

This guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the numerous other local, state, and national resources available to schools.  Administrators are strongly encouraged to partner with their local department(s) of health, director of school health services, and other health professionals when developing their policies and responding to health and safety concerns that may arise during the school year.

The Department’s health and safety guide addresses questions related to: COVID-19 vaccinations, monitoring community transmission, wearing of masks, physical distancing, sports and extracurricular activities, COVID-19 screening, health questionnaire screenings, contact tracing, COVID-19 related facilities projects, remote instruction, and funding sources available to schools and districts that may help with preparing for the upcoming school year and beyond.

The health and safety guide, as well as other back to school resources, are available on the Department’s Back to School website.

WPCNR asked the SED press office if the guide contained the definitive regulations school districts must follow, or whether the guide was a preliminary release prior to the “hard” regulations schools have to put in place by September 7, (3 weeks away). I also asked if contact sports would be suspended as they were last fall. Last fall we had no performing arts concerts, no drama productions, either. I wait those clarifications.

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STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL ISSUE GUIDELINES FOR REOPENING OF SCHOOLS.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the New York State Education Department. August 16, 2021:

The New York State Education Department Commissioner, Betty Rosa in a memorandum last week announced with the Health Department of New York State turning over school opening policy to individual school districts, that the State Education Department would take over that responsibiliy. Here is the Commissioner’s announcement:

Dear Parents and Families,
Commissioner Rosa
As we continue to confront the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is committed to the health and safety of students, educators, families, and communities.

This week, NYSED issued a Health and Safety Guide to aid schools and districts as they prepare for the 2021-2022 school year. The guide is a result of close collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels to enable New York’s schools to continue to safely educate their students this fall. The guide is available on NYSED’s Back to School web page.

The overall goals for the 2021-2022 school year are to keep students and staff healthy and safe, be responsive to student needs, and maximize in-person teaching and learning. The guide describes important considerations and strategies for schools and districts to manage the risks for students and staff from COVID-19 while supporting robust and engaging learning experiences for students.

We are proceeding with the understanding that the recommendations put forth in this guide are based on the best health and safety information available to us at this time. As the start of the school year grows nearer and then gets underway, NYSED will be mindful of the many uncertainties faced statewide. We will continuously monitor the situation, and the guide will be updated as public health conditions change.

To help ease the burden on schools and districts, federal funding is available to support a safe return to school. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced its approval of New York’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) State Plan and released the remaining $3 billion of New York’s $8.9 billion total ARP ESSER funds. The funds will be used to help meet the vast array of additional needs brought about by COVID-19, including the safe opening and operation of schools this September. With input from stakeholders, we have developed a plan to best disperse these funds to benefit all students.

In addition, NYSED recently announced that more than $6.2 million in federal funds are available to help libraries and other cultural institutions across the state address the digital divide, increase access to the state’s cultural history, and expand student access to digital learning materials. These funds will support collaborative efforts to find real and sustainable solutions to address the digital divide in New York State. This significant investment represents meaningful progress in achieving our vision of digital equity and inclusion for students and families. Our libraries will continue to develop bold, creative, and critical ways to serve communities.

The State Library, State Museum, and State Archives will also use $700,000 to improve and expand access to the Office of Cultural Education’s services for all New Yorkers through a range of collaborative initiatives.

These initiatives include: supporting the implementation of collaborative digital inclusion solutions statewide; conducting a broadband infrastructure needs assessment for New York’s small and rural public libraries; creating a diversity, equity, and inclusion framework and toolkit for libraries, museums, and cultural institutions; making core collections from the State Library, State Archives, and State Museum available online for increased public access; developing collaborative online Museum exhibits; and expanding New York’s online summer reading program tools.

I appreciate all you do to support your schools and communities. Please continue to check our COVID-19 web page, our Back to School web page, and our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn) frequently for all the latest updates.
Sincerely,
Betty A. Rosa Commissioner
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JENKINS ON COVID: SPREAD NOT SLOWING. SCHOOLS CAN SCHEDULE COVID SHOTS AND REQUIRED VACCINATIONS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS 914-995-5800

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https://youtu.be/rOiCNRCpzNk
KEN JENKINS
EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT WESTCHESTER SPREADING CASES. JOAN MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE COUNTY AT RIGHT ANNOUNCED NEW VACCINATION SERVICES THE COUNTY WILL FURNISH TO ANY SCHOOL OR DISTRICT THAT REQUESTS IT BY. SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS SHOULD CALL 914-995-5800 TO SET THEM UP
https://youtu.be/CVe1WCXnesU
JOAN MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY
SAID AS OF NOW THERE IS NO THIRD SHOT OF COVID VACCINE AS A BOOSTER RECOMMENDED YET. SAYS ONLY HEALTH-FRAGILE POPULATION IS ELIGIBLE FOR 3RD SHOT. ANNOUNCES COUNTY HELP AVAILABLE TO TURN SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS INTO VACCINATION CENTERS TO SPEED REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS AND POSSIBLE COVID SHOTS IF REQUESTED.
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Astorino, Sculti Charge Illegal Immigrants are Being Airlifted to Westchester County Airport

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Writing on Twitter, Robert Astorino, seeking Republican Candidacy for NY Governor in 2022, charged on his Twitter account Friday that at least two days of arrivals of illegal immigrants have been flown into Westchester County Airport for resettlement:


“Hundreds of undocumented immigrants from crisis at southern border flown into Westchester Co. Airport each of last several nights. Why was this a secret? Where are they being resettled? Who is paying? Have they been tested for COVID?”

Christine Sculti, Republican Candidate for Westchester County Executive this fall issued this statement on the matter late Sunday night:

Social media has been abuzz with reports that plane loads of undocumented immigrants from the southern border have been flown into Westchester County Airport – a county facility – on multiple occasions, all in the dead of the night and all without the community being notified.


Westchester residents are demanding transparency from their leaders and rightly asking, what did George Latimer know and when did he know it?


Today,(Sunday) George Latimer finally admitted that he was notified at least two days ago that the federal government would begin flying persons who entered the United States illegally into Westchester County Airport.  Latimer only admitted to having received advance notice when pressed by an eruption of reports on social media that this was happening.


George Latimer’s preposterous claim that he only knew about the flights for 48 hours is completely implausible and defies common sense.  Worse are his attempts to claim the valid concerns of residents are driven by ideology and politics.  Our concerns are driven by public safety and public health.  While I am not privy to all of the details that the County Executive has, and I do not claim to have all the facts, I am requesting answers to the following questions:

1)      How is it possible that you are unaware and uninformed of what is going on in your own airport that you are in charge of?

2)      Would the federal government have chosen Westchester as a destination had George Latimer not made Westchester a Sanctuary County?

3)      Were any non-Sanctuary jurisdictions included in this program?

4)      If it is indeed true that you knew about the flights for “only” 48 hours, why did you choose not to notify Westchester residents?

5)      What questions did you pose to the federal government upon being informed?

6)      Would you have ever notified Westchester residents had social media not exploded with the reports?

7)      How many flights, containing how many passengers, have flown into your county airport without you knowing anything about it?

8)      Are there any future flights scheduled?

9)      What is the vaccination status of the passengers?

10)   Did your Westchester County Department of Health conduct Covid screenings on all arriving passengers?

11)   What precautions has your Westchester County Department of Health and airport officials taken with the incoming passengers, given that we are undergoing a spike in Covid cases and the Delta variant continues to spread?

12)   Do flight manifests exist, as we need to know if any of the passengers pose a safety risk for residents?

13)   Has your Westchester County Department of Public Safety done background checks on all incoming passengers to be aware of possible criminal backgrounds?

14)   Do you support these flights – filled with passengers who are very likely unvaccinated – coming into your airport?

15)   Do you want the passengers placed in our communities and in our schools, regardless of criminal records or vaccination status?

Westchester residents deserve reassurances from their county and federal governments as to the immunization status and screening for criminal pasts of these individuals.  We are also entitled to know which communities will be responsible for supporting them while the immigration administrative and judicial processes unfold. 

A pandemic is not the time for experiments in social engineering promoted by the radical left through Sanctuary jurisdictions like Westchester.  Westchester residents deserve transparency and have a right to answers to all of these questions – and more.  The time has come for George Latimer to be held accountable to his residents.”

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AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INFECTOR: WHERE COVID IS SPREADING IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY USA TODAY. TOP 12 LOCATIONS. INFECTS WHITE SUBURBAN TOWNS, DIVERSE CITIES, TOWNSHIPS CAPRICIOUSLY

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS BULLETIN. From New York Covid-19 Tracker, Westchester Tracker with Commentary by John F. Bailey August 15, 2021

INFECTIONS BY AREA OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY THROUGH SATURDAY

The August 14, Saturday figures broken down by the Westchester County Covid Tracker show 12 cities and towns  that are back to leading the mounting spread of covid new cases in the last 15 days  because of their population and the behavior of the leaderships of the individual town that have acted on their own to enforce (OR NOT)measures that could limit infections.

 But inaction in the spread of Covid  is not unusual, not since the beginning of Covid in 2020 has any Westchester  city but New Rochelle  been declared a hot spot. I also believe Mount Vernon was. But there are now plenty.of hot spots to choose from to start controlling the plus 200 new infections the county is running a day.

This is serious spreading of corona virus in Westchester County.

Neither the state or the county has been able to quantify how many new cases daily are Covid-19 or the insidiously infectious Delta Varient of Covid.

Southern Part of County–Where the most infections are

This is the Infection Leader Board for the last two weeks ending August 15 in Westchester County:

 Yonkers through Saturday is reported the leader in Active Covid Cases with 568 new cases averaging 50 new cases a day.

New Rochelle is second with 214 new active cases averaging 19 new a day, with Mount Vernon third with 193 new cases and 27 infections daily.

White Plains has 114 active cases averaging 13 a day. That means close to 100 a week which will mean 700 new cases in White plains just when school starts. (One coronavirus infected person spreads the disease to 7 other person BEFORE they are tested or come down with symptoms, according to the Johns Hopkins formula for figuring how the covid epidemic spreads.)

North County growing big time too

The Northern part of the county is also experiencing exponential growth. Yorktown is tied with White Plains for fourth in number cases the last two weeks.

Greenburgh is 5th in the county with 102 new cases 11 daily a day

Rye City and Rye Brook combined  have 91 active cases  in 6th place among areas growing fastest.

Cortlandt, another north county area  is right behind, 7th with  86 active cases.

Eighth is Mount Pleasant with 85 Actives.

In 9th are the Tarrytowns (Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow) with 65 new active cases.

Tenth is Eastchester with 55.

Next in 111h  is Port Chester is 10th. With 50.

Next at 12th is Peekskill with 48

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WESTCHESTER SNAPS 200 A DAY NEW COVID INFECTIONS FRIDAY. NEW COVID CASES DIP TO 186, AFTER 202 NEW COVID POSITIVES THURSDAY.

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS MONITOR. From the NY Workbook Covid-19 Tracker with comment by John F. Bailey.:

The New York Workbook Covid-Tracker reported a slow down in covid postives the last three days Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, reporting 228 infections Wednesday, a 2.9% infection rate of 7,779 Tests conducted Wednesday; a total of 202 new covid infections Thursday (2.8 % infections of 7,313 tested in the county, and on Friday the number of new infections dropped below 200 new persons infected a day with 186 testing positive (2.4% of 7,630 tested).

The three combined daily totals for August 11, 12 and 13 reflect the new infections though slowly slowing at 616 cases the last three days, which could mean in 14 days 4,312 new infections in Westchester in addition to the potential 8.407 new cases theat may result from the 1,201 infections from Wednesday August 4 to Wednesday August 11.

Westchester will be dealing with 12,700 new cases by September 1 as school and holidays open up if the predicted County spread rate per new infectee turns out to be correct

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