WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR COVID SITUATION IN REAL TIME. From New York State Covid Tracker. Observations by John F. Bailey. November 27, 2021:

With cases building in the New York Metropolitan Area, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency Saturday.

“We’ve taken extraordinary action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and combat this pandemic. However, we continue to see warning signs of spikes this upcoming winter, and while the new Omicron variant has yet to be detected in New York State, it’s coming,” Hochul said.

“In preparation, I am announcing urgent steps today to expand hospital capacity and help ensure our hospital systems can tackle any challenges posed by the pandemic as we head into the winter months,” the governor said. The order will be reassessed January 15.

In 13 of the last 17 days, the 9 suburban counties of New York City: Westchester County, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Putnam, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties, and Nassau and Suffolk counties have generated more new cases of covid than all five boroughs of New York City.

Friday was the first time in 5 days, the 9 counties were under the NYC total, 1,079 new covid positives, compared to 878 for the 9 suburban neighbors but this came from very small testing universe, 21,091 tests, yielding a 4.2% infection rate. .

On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Westchester and the 8 other suburban hot spots generated 1,447 new persons testing positive for covid, to New York City’s 1,358. It should be noted that the 9 counties have 5,374,770 people compared to New York City’s 8,804.

On Wednesday, Travel Day before Thanksgiving the 9 counties reported 2,013 new covid positive persons, to New York Cities 1,626. There is no question the suburban counties are putting the whole region at risk. The counties have lead New York City in infections in 13 of the last 17 days. Westchester alone has doubled cases every week for three weeks

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“We are closely monitoring the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529, also known as the Omicron variant. The Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center Laboratory will continue to actively monitor COVID-19 virus samples selected from throughout New York State to compare sequences and identify circulating and new variants. While we have not yet identified any Omicron cases, we are not surprised that new variants are emerging and may likely end up in New York. We will continue to monitor WHO actions and work with our partners at the CDC to keep a close eye on developments.”

“I want to remind New Yorkers to continue taking the precautionary steps we know reduce the spread of this deadly virus: wear a mask in indoor public places, use proper hand hygiene, get tested, and stay home when sick. The vaccine also remains one of our greatest weapons in fighting the pandemic, and this news further emphasizes the need for each of us to get vaccinated and get the booster if you’re fully vaccinated.” 

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WPCNR CORONA VIRUS MONITOR. From the New York State Covid-19 Workbook. Observations by John F. Bailey. Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2021:

On 11 of the last 14 days, the Mid-Hudson Region and Long Island counties have lead New York City in new cases of covid, despite having 60% less population.

The first two days of Thanksgiving week, Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Rockland, Putnam, and Sullivan Counties and Long Island Nassau and Suffolk Counties with a combined 9-County population of 5,274,770 people (2020 census) reported more infections than New York City’s 5 boroughs of 8,804,190 persons, dramatically demonstrating how suburbia is spreading and sustaining the Fourth Wave of coronavirus.

Monday, November 22, the 9 counties with greatly reduced tests, reported 1,198 new persons getting covid. All five boroughs of New York City reported 1,206 – just 8 more cases. With 3.5 million less people than New York City, the 9 suburban counties are spreading and continue to spread covid at the same rate.

Tuesday the 9 counties exceeded more cases than New York City. New York reported 1,469 new covid-infected positive tests, the suburban 9 counties, 1,655, 186 more cases for the suburbs. This is not good news at all.

On the numbers, Westchester County reported 158 infection Tuesday, November 23, , 2.2% of 7,245 tested, which is on target  for 1 new infected person spreading the disease to 2 other persons, based on the 82 infections on November 9.

County Executive George Latimer in his Covid Report Tuesday put hospitalizations at 40, an increase from 30 last week. He said the 2,700 hospital beds should be able to handle that rate of hospitalization. The worry obviously is how many of the 1,000 infections a week in Westchester alone will result in how many new hospitalizations, and how fast.

In two weeks the 158 persons testing positive  just Tuesday could conceivably result at (2 persons newly infected by 1 person), bring 300 new infections. Westchester averages 150 new positives a day over the last week, that is 1,050 new infections a week. The actual total from November 14 to 20 was 1,108.

In two weeks it is worrying that we might see 2,216 new infections based on the 1 person infecting 2 two-week spread rate.

Though infections are not as high as a year ago, that is the past. What is significant is our behavior now.

Mr. Latimer said Tuesday the vaccinations are stemming the persons getting infected but the next month will be crucial in limiting the spread of the disease and he urged care in socializations.

In a statement released Thanksgiving Day, County Executive Latimer wrote:

“Thanksgiving is a day where all of us, no matter our race or religion, gather – once again in person – to give thanks. These past nearly two years have been challenging for all of us, but in times of difficulty it is of paramount importance to take stock of what we do have to be thankful for. A bright future is ahead of us, and without the blessings we have already received that future could not be realized. I extend my warmest wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to all Westchester County residents.”

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” CITY OF WHITE PLAINS OPENS ITS 2^ND HOLIDAY MARKET IN 2 WEEKS  ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 FOR 15 CONSECUTIVE DAYS 11 AM TO 7 PM EVERY DAY DECEMBER 5TH THROUGH DECEMBER 19TH. THE MARKET WILL BE LOCATED ON COURT STREET BETWEEN MAIN STREET AND MARTINE AVENUE. THIS WAS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL LAST DECEMBER WITH 40 VENDERS AND THIS YEAR IT HAS GROWN TO 62 ARTISANAL VENDORS FROM AROUND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY REGION. ORNAMENTS, HAND PAINTED GLASS, JEWELRY, POTTERY, AND OTHER ART, KNITS, AFRICAN AND TIBETAN PRODUCTS, BATH PRODUCTS, OILS, VINEGARS, HOME ACCESSORIES, ABORIGINAL TOWELS AND SILKS, NESTING DOLLS. I PICKED OUT SEVERAL GIFTS FOR BRENDA STARR LAST YEAR. THERE’S PLENTY OF PARKING ON THE COURT STREET MUNICIPAL LOT AND THE GALLERIA.

SPEAKING OF GIFTING EXPERIENCE, SANTA IS HOLDING COURT IN  THE NEWLY MADEOVER NEW WESTCHESTER MALL. THE MALL NEW LOOK AND THE DEBUT OF UPSCALE PURVEYORS OF  HIGH FASHION AND TASTES FOR PERSONS OF INTEREST, KIDS, TWEENS AND HIPSTERS, AND CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY,  INCLUDE “MY SUIT,” “BO CONCEPT DESIGN,” “HOPE AND HENRY” FOR KIDS, “DIRECT KICKS,” “OCCITANE EN PROVENCE,” “BONOBOS,” “CHIC BOUTIQUE,” AN UNSCALE GOWNS SHOWCASE, AND “NEAHAUS,”A CHOCOLATIER FROM BELGIUM HAS REPLACED LADY GODIVA. “ARITZIA,”  AND  “MADSWELL”  AND “MY SHEIK WARDROBE”ARE  OUTSTANDING NEW LOOK WOMENS FASHIONS FOR WINTER AND GOING OUT.  JUST SOME OF THE NEW SURPRISES YOU MR. AND MS. AND MRS. WESTCHESTER CAN CHECKOUT AT THE NEW WESTCHESTER MALL.

MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL CONTINUE IN THE WHITE PLAINS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT INTO JANUARY, THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, DR. JOSEPH RICCA SAID IN A LIVE BRIEFING MONDAY. HE SAID THAT THANKS TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT 500 WHITE PLAINS UNDER 12 STUDENTS VACCINATED WITH THE FIRST SHOT OF THE CHILD DOSE OF PHISER VACCINE

RICCA ANNOUNCED ANOTHER VACCINATION SESSION FOR 5-TO 12s WOULD TAKE PLACE NOVEMBER 27 AT POST ROAD SCHOOL.  HE SAID THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS NOT DECLARED TAKING THE VACCINE MANDATORY THAT IT WAS UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO DECIDE FOR THEIR CHILD. THE 9 SCHOOLS HAVE 2,000 UNDER 12S TO GO.

ON THE SUBJECT OF MASKING, HE REPORTED THAT THE STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS HAS ASKED THE NEW YORK STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHAT PROTOCOLS OR STANDARDS IN CONTROLLING COVID HAVE TO BE DEMONSTRATED TO ELIMINATE MASKING IN SCHOOLS. SO FAR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS NOT ISSUED THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE TO BE MET TO DROP MASKS IN SCHOOLS REQUIREMENTS COULD EASE OR ELIMINATE MASKING IN THE SCHOOLS.

OUR LISTENERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT WESTCHESTER COUNTY NEW INFECTIONS DOUBLED LAST WEEK AND THE MID-HUDSON REGION THE OTHER SIX COUNTYIES COMBINED WITH NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES– NEW COVID CASES NOW ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME NUMBERS IN NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS AS THE FIVE BUREAUS OF NEW YORK CITY. ON SUNDAY, WESTCHESTER ORANGE DUTCHESS ULSTER PUTNAM, ROCKLAND SULLIVAN AND NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES TOTALED 1,287 NEW CASES. ALL 5 BOROUGHS  OF NEW YORK CITY  HAD 1,307— THE CASE COUNT SEPARATING THE CITY AND THE 9 SUBURBAN COUNTIES IS ONLY 20 CASES APART.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN 6 DAYS THAT THE 9 SUBURBAN COUNTIES WERE NOT LEADING NEW YORK CITY IN CASES. IF TRAVELING. IT’S OUT THERE BIG TIME , IF VISITING BEWARE.

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WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT By John F. Bailey. (reprinted from November, 2001) UPDATED. November 22, 2021:

https://youtu.be/bATbYBs0Jt0

Someone made a big mistake again this year. The papers on November 22nd had no reference to the day John F. Kennedy was shot and killed. Today.

Three gunshots on November 22 at 1 in the afternoon just about an hour and a half ago in Dallas, Texas murdered President John F. Kennedy.

Today is the day in Dallas 58 years ago on Friday afternoon when President John F. Kennedy was shot riding in his motorcade in front of the Texas Book Depository Building.

November 22,  1963. A most unfortunate coincidence that someone should have noticed.

Fifty-eight years ago today at about midday eastern standard time, President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas.

When I heard the news, I was heading up the steps of  Gray Chapel at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. It was sobering news. Then within the hour it was reported that the President was dead, and the search was on for potential suspects.

It was the first time in my life a national event had ever affected me.

Persons in their mid-70s can probably remember exactly what they were doing when they heard that electrifying news.

Disbelief. Concern. Sadness. Grieg. Nothing you could do about it.

Who would shoot the President?  How could they? The President no matter who he was was revered and respected at that time — not ridiculed, mocked, vilified, and criticised for his every move as President Biden is today.

President Kennedy’s popularity was ebbing at that time in 1963.

The public was initially inspired by the vision of Camelot and the likable, energetic young president.

However, by the time he was assassinated, President Kennedy was coming under harsh criticism for his foreign policy and his inability to move an agenda through congress. (Sound familiar?)

He was pushed around by congressional heavyweights — eerily not too much different from our President today, who today pushes congress members to pass voting rights and immigration reform and is blocked blocked blocked by congressmen and senators who know better.

When Kennedy was shot, the American public, even those who disagreed with his politics and considered him in over his head in the presidency, were stunned by grief and horror.

Nothing had happened like that in America since 1901 when President William McKinley was assassinated.

An entire nation reflected in guilt for a week as the three television networks showed 24 hours a day assassination and funeral coverage. Walter Cronkite shed a tear on camera when he reported Kennedy was dead. No commentator would think about reacting in glee on the air as they do now at Biden presidential defeats.

And please, no congressional personality would ever show video of himself cutting the throat of a fellow member of congress. That throat slitter guy needs to be thrown out of congress or at least arrested for threatening Congresswoman Alexandria Castro Cortez.

Does this mean in today’s law, threatening the life of a member of congress is not a crime or at least a menacing charge???? Please.

Until the Trade Center Horror in 2001, this nation had not experienced anything on that national scale of reaction to an event.(With the exceptions of the Detroit riots in 1967 and anti-Viet Nam War protests.)

Were we a more sensitive nation then? More sensitive to what killing actually is? I wonder. In the fast-moving sensationalism of news ambulance and shootings chasers today, would the same sensitivity be there today? No. And it’s not!

Or, have we been hardened to violence, and do we now see violence as more of an acceptable solution to problems than to be avoided at all costs? Yes, we do. And we have an an ex-“president” who came out supporting a vigilante teen with an AK-47 who gunned down unarmed people in Kenosha Wiconsin as protecting himself. That takes my breath away. And whose Ak-47 was it? His? His parents? Very key question.

It seems so. With disgruntled, overly sensitive misfits just taking guns and shooting innocent people and they get acquitted on self-defense?

I remember how Americans sat mesmerized in front of their televisions as the Kennedy goodbye played out.

I remember, too how Kennedy’s death swiftly paved the way for the landmark Civil Rights act of 1965, legislated by Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. That legislation, without Kennedy’s assassination would probably never have been passed. I believe it passed because of collective guilt over Kennedy’s demise.

For 58 years, politicians, when their charisma is measured, have always been compared to Mr. Kennedy.

However, charisma does not get things done any more and it has lost its lustre as being a good thing.

Charisma and popularity does not make for change by itself.

The last four years we have seen the downside of charisma without compassion and thought.

It is nice but it achieves nothing unless you have some good solid ideas, management skills, and are willing to work hard for it. And compromise for the greater good. There are not people in congress both houses, who do that today.

Even, then, as a recent Kennedyesque President, with a license to use charisma, Barack Obama found out, it may not happen.

However, the political rancor and hysterical hatred of our President  Obama that was expressed in the Republican debates, on talk radio and by candidates who should know better back in 2016, created an atmosphere of disrespect for then President Obama and the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton exceeded even that aimed at George W. Bush.

The lack of respect for President Biden today and hatred of Democrats has created an atmosphere that is far more dangerous for the President and the country  than we can ever tell.

Mr. Trump, the former “president” polarized the nation into two warring camps with unprecedented name-calling, purely nasty, hurtful policies towards minorities and immigrants, bragging about the right to molest women, and supporting womanizers in his administration, and planned takeaways of health care, and blatant giveaways to robber barons on poshly appointed carpatted crags in concrete canyons reminiscent of the cruel British aristocracies.

The toxicity against the Presidents, both Obama, President Trump (though much is of Mr. Trump’s own immaturity and inability to manage) and now the pathological vilification of President Biden has been inflamed

Mr. Trump’s whining about the election being rigged is reckless and immature. Poor Little Rich Boy’as whining. No presidential candidate has ever acted this way before. But people bought it. They stormed the capitol with Mr. Trump’s “Stop the Steal” campaign in the last 14 days of the worst American Presidency ever.

Mr. Trump is a winner again from above to stealing a solid grip on the title of “Worst American President” from Richard Nixon, Andrew Johnson, both George Bushes, and Bill Clinton.

The job of the nation is to make sure they do not bring Mr. Trump to finish wrecking the nation in 2024.

Al Gore when he lost the 2000 election did not, to my memory come out and call for revolution.

Mitt Romney’s petulance in 2012 at his defeat by President Obama started a tradition of losing ungracefully.

Voters saw right through this Mitt “Guy Smiley” of a candidate they in their guts knew the phony he was. Voters were not as astute in 2016.

Romney’s comments to his donors, were echoed by  Michael Steele’s statement about Emperor Obama and his “reign of lawlessness” is exactly the sort of talk that paved the way for the Republican campaign of hatred in 2016. It was irresponsible of Romney and Steele.

A losing Presidential candidate has one job, unite behind the new leader. Romney is the only President in my memory ever to have not — until the Little Rich Boy with the forked tongue.

The Republicans’ inability to compromise has stalled the nation on recovery, immigration, health care…you name the issue, the Republican Party has stalled progress in their frantic effort to roll back the clock to the turn of the 20th century. (1899-1900) when white and rich were right. Robber barons, oil tycoons, industrialists, bankers, ruled the roost.–until the great Teddy Roosevelt broke up Standard oil, forced the banks to support the economy and supported the union movement.

Now we have a misguided America think that the rich will help them thanks to the self-rights movement.

We should always remember The Republicans’ whining. Bullies always whine. Fixers always are sore losers.

Ideas and rhetoric are one thing, but to vilify President Obama on the scale of what we heard in 2016 was irresponsible. Because it was listened to by persons across the country who suddenly got the “OK” from Republican candidates and “leaders” that it was ok to hate, to blame America’s problems on immigrants, and trade policies, and ignore science.

When educated leaders in congress endorse the policies of hate and punishment people can be OK with that? Leaders are giving people license to hate and hurt, discriminate, exploit, kill and build up themselves at the expense of others.

5 years ago the American people elected a President who did just that. Just that.

So when you sit down to turkey Thursday give a thought to be thankful for a nation that once did not rise up in arms whenever a leader is elected that a portion of the populace does not like. (Yet and yet, many did on January 6 this year, at the urging of that “president.”)

Be thankful that the American people once spoke and felt as one, and hopefully will learn to do so again even though we disagree.

I hope so.

They must.