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THREE DAYS LEFT IN THE HOLIDAY MARKET IN WHITE PLAINS NY USA ON COURT STREET- COME ON DOWN!
EXCLUSIVE : DAN SEIDEL ON “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD IN CRISP HI-DEF, CRYSTAL CLEAR AUDIO ON WHITE PLAINS TV: www.wpcommunitymedia.org ON THE END OF THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL PLAN; THE BEGINNING OT THE NEW PLAN. WHY THE 11 YEAR FIGHT IS OVER. WHAT’S LEFT? WHAT’S AHEAD? WHAT CAN BE BUILT ON OLD RIDGEWAY COUNTRY CLUB. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE “STIPS,”NOW.
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“CRUSADER FOR TRUTH JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY” WHO WOULD NOT QUIT.
JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS DAN ON THE FASNY CLIMAX AND EPILOGUE TAPED ONE WEEK AGO.
548 WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS POSITIVE FOR COVID MONDAY. HIGHEST DAILY TOTAL SINCE JAN 14,2021.
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WPCNR COVID ADVISORY. By John F. Bailey. From the New York State Covid Tracker. December 16, 2021 UPDATED 9:25 A.M.:
New York State reported Wednesday evening that Westchester County suffered 548 more persons coming down with Coronavirus Monday of 9,448 tested giving Westchester the highest county positive percentage since April 6 of 2021 when 3.6% on Saturday April 3, when 383 tested positive pf 10,500 tested.
The number of positives is also 50% of the highest number of Westchester positives the entire year. On January 14, two weeks after New Years Eve, 1,100 persons tested positive. One year back on December 13 as the chart below shows, 594 persons tested positive and two weeks later started a spike in infections to the highest positives in one day all year:1,100.
Covid was spreading unstopped throughout the New York Metropolitan area. The counties that are infecting the most, are not enforcing the mask-up rule, and it showsl
Orange with 276 covid positive of 3,910 tested hit a 7.1% infection. They are in serious spread. . Rockland at 194 on 9,951 tests, had the best infection rate of the 7 mid-Hudson counties with 1.9%, still spreading though. Dutchess is having big spread, 6.3% postive infection rate, 153 positive of 2,442 tested. Ulster, Putmam and Sullivan are even in infections and have small populations but Ulster is infecting at 5.5% positive and Sullivan and Putnam, over 7%.
Long Island is flooded with covid.
Nassau and Suffolk reported 2,392 infections between them. Nassau had 1,080 Monday (7.6% infection rate). Suffolk 1,312, 9.4 infection rate.
New York City has now had more positives than the 9 counties surrounding it for 5 straight days.
Two Mondays ago, Westchester reported 179 New infections. Two weeks later on December 13, there are 548 new covid cases. This means the 179 covid-afflicted persons infected 3 persons..
This could mean in 14 days from now on December 27, Westchester could see approximately 1,500 new covid-positives, easily blowing by the 1,100 single day high experienced January 14, 2021 a month earlier than last year’s “surge.”
Now if this 500 a day positive rate is sustained and stays at that level without declining dramatically– You are looking at 2,500 more infections the week between Christmas and New Years.
Persons should take it upon themselves to mask up and socially distance in social gatherings and please slow the spread. A reckless, “Anything Goes” New Years Eve and Football Bowl Day will make January, February and March infections exponentially excruciating to experience.
Hospitalizations in the county, County Executive Latimer said hit 125 as of Monday.
This means that approximately 70% of the 179 infected two weeks ago–125 persons have been hospitalized. If 548 hospitalize at the same pace, county hospitals in two weeks from Monday’s 548 covid-positive persons, 385 of them may require hospitalization (70% average rate of hospitalization, figured by dividing the current number of hospitalizations by the number infected two weeks ago.)
If we do not act responsibly the next 4 weeks, the recovery will come to a dead stop.
Without far more aggressive vaccinations to the under 12,-to-5 school population, school districts will be forced to consider shutdowns (If the unvaccinated children continue to come down with covid in high numbers..) The county has not released figures on how many school district percentages of vaccinations of students and staff.
Governor Kathy Hochul reported Monday that Westchester has only vaccinnated 2% more people with vaccines than several weeks ago.. I’m shocked. That is another statistic the county needs to get out there.
The vaccines including the booster will stop most from getting covid. The booster is needed, as County Executive Latimer pointed out. As I wrote, it is a civic duty to get vaccinated.
It is smart.
The metropolitan area is in serious covid spread.
$539 MILLION TO STOP FORECLOSURE FOR NY..APPLY JANUARY 3. $50,000 NO STRINGS, MAXIMUM BENEFIT. MUST HOLD ON TO HOME FOR 5 YEARS.
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WPCNR REALTY REALITY. From County Chairman of the Board of Legislators Benjamin Boykin. December 15, 2021:
New York State is the first state in the nation to receive U.S. Department of the Treasury’s approval to launch its Homeowner Assistance Fund, a program that will provide up to $539 million to help eligible homeowners avert mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosure, and displacement. Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.
Also announced is the launch of the NYS HAF program website, an information call center, and a multi-lingual marketing campaign that will help educate homeowners about the program and ensure all New Yorkers, especially those in non-English speaking households, are ready to apply when the application window opens on Jan. 3, 2022.
In addition to the website, residents can contact the NYS Homeowners Assistance Fund Call Center at 1-844-77-NYHAF.
Designed and administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), NYS HAF will target low- to moderate-income homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, property taxes, water or sewer bills, as well as owners of cooperative or condo units behind on maintenance fees, and manufactured homeowners behind on chattel loans or retail installment contracts.
Eligible applicants may receive financial assistance to catch up on missed housing payments, to reduce mortgage debt to make monthly mortgage payments more affordable, and for homeowners who are unemployed, assistance with up to six months of future housing payments.
Eligible applicants must have household incomes at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and must be at least 30 days delinquent on monthly housing payments for their primary residence. Awards will be capped at $50,000 per household.
Assistance will be structured as a five-year, non-interest, non-amortizing forgivable loan.
If the homeowner remains in the home for a period of five years, the loan will be fully forgiven.
In addition, the NYS HAF program is working in partnership with the Office of the New York State Attorney General to advocate with mortgage lenders and mortgage servicers to ensure homeowners are receiving all available relief under federal and state rules. This includes extended mortgage terms, deferment of missed payments or forbearance amounts, and lower interest rates to reduce monthly payments.
The program will be managed by Sustainable Neighborhoods LLC, a non-profit community development financial institution selected through a competitive Request for Proposals. Sustainable Neighborhoods has extensive experience administering foreclosure prevention and loss mitigation programs across the state.
The NYS HAF website includes Frequently Asked Questions, a step-by-step application guide, and a document checklist so that applicants know what documentation may be needed to submit their application.
The website, supporting materials, and call center are available to homeowners in 10 languages – Arabic, Bengali, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Yiddish.
In addition, HCR has formed a partnership with more than 70 non-profit housing counseling and legal service providers, members of the NY Homeowner Protection Program, who will have direct access to the on-line application portal and who will be able to submit multiple applications on behalf of their clients. The HOPP network will also serve as an outgoing referral network for applicants who request assistance with the application process, or who need urgent legal assistance.
County Executive George Latimer on His Covid Situation.
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WPCNR COUNTY CHRONICLE EXAMINER. December 14, 2021:
In his signing of the 2022 Westchester County Budget yesterday after via virtual transmission, County Executive George Latimer in a frank opening statement told how he believed he got Covid and how he feels.
After his opening remarks, he continued for approximately 15 minutes, only coughing a few times. Here is Mr. Latimer from early yesterday afternoon on his covid situation:
Mr. Latimer said the county would enforce Governor Hochul’s Masking mandate the governor issued Friday, but he was not going to ticket individuals violating the mask mandate in businesses, that the Governor required. He said as long as persons complied and put on a mask that would be sufficient.
“We’re not going to ticket you,” he said. He acknowledged he declared the State of Emergency last week to make steps if necessary.
You can see Mr. Latimers 35 minute address including the advantages of the budget on the Westchester County Facebook page. 1.100 saw it.
Congressman Jones Condemns Treatment of Haitians at U.S. Border.
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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. December 15, 2021:
Thank you for sharing your concerns about the treatment of Haitian migrants at the southern border. Like you, I am appalled by the actions of the U.S. Border Patrol, and I condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms. Haitians, like all people seeking refuge in the United States, deserve to be welcomed and protected. And the people of Haiti deserve to know peace.
In September, the American people were confronted with images of unfathomable cruelty: men on horseback, in the uniforms of the Border Patrol, whipping Black people for fleeing a humanitarian disaster and simply seeking refuge here in the United States. The violence that Border Patrol officers inflicted on people attempting to exercise their legal rights to seek asylum is horrifying. Violence towards people seeking asylum betrays our values as Americans.
I am grateful that the White House disavowed this cruelty and announced an investigation into the incident.
However, we must make no mistake: these horrific images simply illustrate the implementation of policies the Administration has embraced.
Most significantly, this Administration extended the Trump Administration’s policy of expelling asylum seekers at the southern border and resumed deportations to Haiti.
As the proud representative of one of the largest Haitian-American communities in the nation, I will continue to fight for the rights of Haitian people.
In April, I joined a letter to Secretary of State Blinken urging him to send a special representative to Haiti to reform and refocus U.S. policy there, as well as freeze deportations. I also joined members of the House Haiti Caucus, of which I am a member, in calling on the Administration to reinstate the Haitian Family Reunification Program and extend the TPS designation deadline for Haitian nationals. In July, I led a letter with many of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, urging the Department of Homeland Security to review and reverse unjust deportations, which have disparately affected Black immigrants, including Haitians. Recently, I joined more than 50 colleagues in once again calling on the Administration to halt all deportations to Haiti.
Congressman Mondaire Jones, 37th Congressional District
GREENBURG APPROVES CANNIBIS DISPENSARIES–DENIES LOUNGES–APPROVES “RECREATIONAL DISPENSARIES.”
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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. Special to WPCNR From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. December 14, 2021:
The Greenburgh Town Board voted 4-1 to allow cannabis dispensaries to be located in Greenburgh.
I voted no.
The Board also agreed not to allow Cannabis lounges in the town (we all agreed).
We directed the Commissioner of Planning to draft a local law regulating time, place and manner associated with adult-use recreational cannabis dispensaries, utilizing the following guiding principles:
1. Dispensaries shall not be permitted in any residential zones or mixed-use corridors (East Hartsdale Avenue, Rt. 119, Central Avenue, etc.) immediately and/or significantly abutting residential zoning districts
2. Minimum linear separation distances be required from schools, playgrounds, public parks, etc.
The 2nd resolution requiring the Commissioner of Planning to draft a local law was approved unanimously.
On December 8th members of the Town Board received a letter from the Greenburgh Council of Civic Associations . The organization, representing civic associations in Greenburgh polled their membership and recommended “opting out, at least for the present time.
Several representatives suggested awaiting regulations from the Cannabis Control Board and then adopting the necessary Greenburgh Zoning legislation regarding the time, place and manner of locating such establishments in unincorporated Greenburgh before a decision is made to “Opt In at a later date.”
I agree with the Council And that is why I voted no. Municipalities that opt out can later opt in.
NYS is moving cautiously with the roll out of guidelines for marijuana dispensaries for what clearly are myriad social, fiscal and regulatory reasons.
I believe there is inadequate information available for the Town Board to make a prudent decision regarding allowing dispensaries to operate.
I suggested that until adequate info is available we should opt out. If in the future the obstacles and issues regarding such dispensaries are addressed Greenburgh could have comfortably revisited the matter and with the input of our community organizations and their leadership the Town Board could more intelligently decide if we should participate.
TARRYTOWN, HASTINGS HAVE OPTED TO ALLOW DISPENSARIES – ARDSLEY, ELMSFORD< DOBBS FERRY AND IRVINGTON HAVE NOT
Officials in towns and villages around the state have until December 31st to decide whether to allow cannabis dispensaries and lounges. Most of the cities have opted to allow dispensaries/lounges. In Greenburgh some of the villages have opted in. Others have opted out.
GEORGE LATIMER ON THE RADIO: DEALING WITH HIS COVID CONDITION COMES BACK STRONG THIS MORNING ON WVOX RADIO TALKING SLOWLY BUT CLEAR AS A BELL. DEFENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY. DEFENDS BUDGET. REPORTS 126 HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID AS OF YESTERDAY. WILL BRIEF COUNTY FROM HIS HOME ON COVID AT 2 TODAY.
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. December 14, 2021:
County Executive George Latimer, isolated in his home because he tested positive for the coronavirus Monday sounded firm and confident Tuesday morning, phoning in his regularly scheduled WVOX 1460 Radio appearance on the “Dennis and Tonny Good Morning Westchester” program.
His voice was firm and measured, a little slower in delivery but did not sound seriously sick or breathing labored from covid to this reporter.
He told hosts Dennis Nardone and Tonny he was “feeling a little better”, talking a little more slowly than he usually does with a sharp edge, modulating his voice well. He sounded very good, spirited.
Commenting on covid in the county, The County Executive noted how fast the covid disease had grown in the last month. On November 1, he said, the County had 1,259 cases of covid with an infection rate of 1.8 (1 infected person infecting 1 other person). But by December 1, one month later the county had 4,858 cases of covid a with 4.8% of persons testing positive (2 days ago on Saturday).
He reported there were now 126 hospitalizations in Westchester County ( related to the new persons testing positive two weeks ago. WPCNR observes the 126 positives come from the 907 persons testing positive the week of November 20-27. That figure is up 41 hospitalizations since the 84 the County Executive reported at last week’s briefing.
The number of hospitalizations of the universe of 907 covid positive victims, means the current hospitalization rate of positive testing persons is 14%, up sharply from the 9.3% last week (had the hospitalizations not gone up in the last week).
Mr. Latimer asked about the criticism he had received for declaring a state of emergency last week, said that the increase in numbers last week dictated that “you want to do all you can to prevent it.My decision was based on numbers, not on fantasy. The numbers are up dramatically. That’s why you have a state of emergency.”
Host Mr. Nardone asked what Mr. Latimer thought about county executives in Rockland and other northern counties saying they would not enforce Governor Hochul’s mask mandate issued Friday. He noted those County Executives are Republicans “who will not enforce a mandate under any circumstances. We (Democrats) put on mandates when the numbers demand it. It’s hard not to, unless you’re playing politics.”
He said he would be signing the County Budget this afternoon “virtually,” and ran over the steps the new budget
(Editor’s note: The new budget is 2.2 Billion, up 9.5% in spending, a $19 Million dollar increase in spending and a property tax cut. It restores the reserve, by using covid relief money to replace the hole in the reserve fund created by filling the 2021 budget shortfall due to losses from sales tax revenues in 2021 and 2020, and adding needed programs, detailed County Chairman of the Board of Legislator Benjamin Boykin’s statement yesterday which you can find scrolling down the WPCNR Newsfeed below.
Mr. Latimer mentioned how much tax relief White Plains taxpayers receive from the property tax cut: 8% of county property taxes in the new budget.
COVID INFECTIONS OUT OF CONTROL. PROJECTS TO SURPASS 7 TIMES THE 1,300 COUNTY HAD IN COVID FIRST WAVE MARCH 25,2020 BEFORE CHRISTMAS. IF HOSPITALIZATIONS RISE OVER 84, HOSPITALIZATIONS WILL SOAR FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. VACCINATIONS ARE A CIVIC DUTY TO STOP THE SURGE.
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WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT. By John F. Bailey. December 13, 2021 UPDATED 10:45 P.M. E.S.T.:
New covid positive persons from TWO weeks back reveal covid in Westchester is tripling in new infections every two weeks.
Persons tested positive two weeks ago ( November 20 to 27) spread the disease to 3 others for every new positive that week.
The daily total in two weeks time will equal or surpass horridly by far the 1,300 new cases a day the county experienced in the first weeks of covid March 31, 2020, before the first lockdown
Tuesday evening, the New York State covid tracker reported Saturday the 11th covid numbers, finishing off this week with 350 new persons testing positive, 4.8% of 7,306 tested.
This new number brings the December 5 through 11 week total to 2,788, an average of 398 new cases a day last week, ending two days ago.
Two weeks ago there were 907 new infections, and here, two weeks later we have 2,788, spiking the new infection rate from covid-infected persons two weeks ago to a level where each newly infected person infected 3 others.
The daily total in two weeks will equal or surpass horridly by far the 1,300 new cases a day the county experienced in the first weeks of covid March 25, 2020.
Last week from December 6 through Friday, December 10, IN 6 DAYS new covid infections approached 3,000 cases at 2,548, with Saturday’s infections expected tonight.395 on December 6, 366 on Pearl Harbor Day; then the shocker, 444 on December 8, and then, 497 on December 9 and 459 on December 10.
The 2,548 new cases hit highs not seen since last March 28, 2021 when Westchester hit 459; and early we Westchester recorded 584 on March 31, when vaccines were starting to stop the 2nd wave in April.
Westchester now is on track for over 6,582, based on the 2,438 new infections sufferers in 6 days last week. Those 2,438 were infected by most of the 907 newly infected Westchesterites two weeks prior during the week of November 20 to 27, the first victims of the Thanksgiving three day holiday dividing the 2,438 figure by 907 produces an infection rate of 2.8 showing every person infected two weeks ago spread the disease to close to 3 persons.
Not all persons get sick immediately the infections occur over 10 to 14 days. If you multiply 907 by three persons this shows the infections grew to the figure of last week, 2,438.
If the 2,438 spread the disease at the same rate this produces 6,582 new infections by Christmas. Tonight the Saturday total of 350, raising the new infections last week to 2,788 means at 3 infected for every person, that total could rise to 8,364, unless more people get vaccinated fast and protect themselves with masks, social distancing and not exposing mouth and nose to breathe in the pestilence, the Red Plague.
The most covids Westchester saw was on March 25, 2020: 1,300.
In two weeks this chilling spread rate of the last two weeks fueled by new socialization since Thanksgiving, and community events, and socializing without masks, and positive thinking that the recovery is here and we are safe and can be normal again
The infection rate is on projection to increase infections 7 times more than the worst covid infection day ever in two weeks.
The effect on hospitalizations cannot be known until we get a handle on what this week’s hospitalization rate in Westchester County. Last week the County Executive said there were 84 hospitalizations on track to 100 and called it a state of emergency.
A week ago Westchester had 84 hospitalizations, the county declared a prestate of emergency, not making any moves to mask or close anything, but threatening it was coming if we hit 100 hospitalizations.
The 907 new infections two weeks ago resulted in 84 or 9.3% of new covid sufferers in Westchester being hospitalized. Officials were optimistic the county was controlling the disease better and hospitalizations going up but not at a rapid rate.
The possibly 6, 582 infections if the number needing hospitalized stays at 9.3%, those infected two weeks ago would have had 100 hospitalizations if the hospitalization goes up 11%; 125, if the hospitalizing rate hits 14%; 150 hospitalizations if 16% of the 907 needed hospitalization and 200 hospitalizations if the hospitalized are just 22% of the 907 total.
The total 6,582 new covid cases by Christmas at the current low 9.3% rate of hospitalization would produce 612 hosptializations by January 7 around the county.
It is imperative this spread rate be stopped and infections go down dramatically person to person and people get vaccinated now who are not vaccinated.
Currently Westchester County has 708,909 persons of its 1.4 million population fully vaccinated and 93% of the population over 18 with one dose. Those 224,811 who only have one dose need to get those shots and parents of children under 12 but not under 5 need to get your children vaccinated to keep the schools open.
Now.
The current spread is about to explode in new infections numbers never seen.
Unless we get vaccinated, hospitals will not be able to treat even mild cases at this rate of spread.
I hope my math is wrong; I do truly hope I am wrong. But it’s not.
I am going to very careful.
This is no magic formula, just baseball statistics and vaccine.
Please get yours for your sake. Call for your shot or shots and bring the under-12s for theirs.
Nothing is worse than watching your child suffer, and hearing them cry,”Make it better, Mommie”
And you can’t.
Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators Benjamin Boykin reminded all of
Westchester that beginning today there is a new indoor mask requirement in New York State.On December 10, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.
In all public spaces that do not have vaccine requirements, any person, past their second birthday and medically able to tolerate a face covering, must wear an appropriate mask while in any indoor place, regardless of vaccination status.
This action is designed to address the winter surge comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise statewide and is in alignment with the CDC’s recommendations for communities with substantial and high transmission.
The measure will remain in effect through January 15, 2022 at which time the State will evaluate next steps.The requirement applies to all non-private residences, including office spaces.
If the office does not require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry, everyone must wear masks at all times regardless of vaccination status except when eating, drinking, or alone in an enclosed room.
Patrons of eating and drinking establishments can remove their masks only while they are actively eating or drinking, at which time appropriate social distancing measures, proper air ventilation, and filtration methods are highly recommended.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID. SYMPTOMS “MILD”
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The Westchester County Department of Communications at 2 PM released this statement:
“Earlier today, Westchester County Executive George Latimer tested positive for COVID-19.
The County Executive sought out a test after hearing that he was exposed at a community event.
The County Executive is home in isolation, and is continuing to carry out the work of the Government from his residence.
He is grateful his symptoms are mild thanks to his COVID-19 vaccinations.”
Earlier this morning, the Department announced Mr. Latimer had postponed his scheduled usual Monday briefing on Covid without explanation.