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 ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. September 15, 2021:

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a series of universal mask requirements designed to protect New Yorkers against the highly contagious Delta variant and the recent surge in COVID-19 infections statewide.

The requirement applies to New York State Office of Children and Family Services-licensed and -registered child care centers, home-based group family and family child care programs, after-school child care programs and enrolled legally exempt group programs during operational hours. Implementing the mask regulation in child care programs will provide consistency between child care program children and school children, many of whom often share the same buildings.

New masking requirements will also apply to congregate programs and facilities licensed, registered, operated, certified or approved by the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

This includes but is not limited to certified residential and day programs, inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, substance abuse programs, juvenile detention programs, juvenile residential facilities, congregate foster care programs, runaway and homeless youth, domestic violence and other shelter programs. These requirements apply to anyone medically able to tolerate wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

“With the Delta variant on the rise, requiring masks at state-regulated child care, mental health, and substance abuse facilities is a key part of our broader strategy for slowing the spread of the virus, reopening our economy safely, and protecting vulnerable members of our population,” Governor Hochul said. “For children under 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, masks are the best line of defense against COVID-19 infection. This new mask requirement ensures that children in our child care facilities receive the same protection as children in our schools.”  

The new mask requirement in child care facilities brings New York State into compliance with federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance issued in July that recommends universal indoor masking for anyone age two and older who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is medically able to wear a mask. It also brings child care facilities in alignment with school masking requirements announced on Governor Hochul’s first day in office.

Because the Delta variant is so highly transmissible, there have been large increases in cases across all age groups. Because children under 12 years of age are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, there have been large increases in cases among children, which translates to higher numbers of severe cases. Additional protective measures will help to keep New York’s children safe at this important time.

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“SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. JOSEPH RICCA IN A MESSAGE AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN WHITE PLAINS NY USA, VISITED EVERY SCHOOL IN WHITE PLAINS LAST THURSDAY AND SAID THAT ON THE FIRST DAY THERE IS USUALLY SOME ANXIETY, BUT SAID HE HAD SEEN NONE OF THAT, SAYING THE STUDENTS TEACHERS AND STAFF WERE HAPPY AND PLEASED TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

HE REPORTED NO INCIDENTS. HE THANKED PARENTS FOR THEIR COOPERATION AND PROMISED THAT WE WOULD ALL GET THROUGH THIS YEAR TOGETHER.

WPCNR REMINDS YOU THAT PARENTS HAVE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITH THEIR SCHOOLS TO VISIT ALL WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS. YOU MUST WEAR MASKS WHILE VISITING AND STUDENTS DO WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOL. WHITE PLAINS ADMINISTRATORS TEACHERS AND STAFF WERE 90 PERCENT VACCINATED WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OPENED LAST SPRING HAD A 4-1/2% INFECTION RATE WITH THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO GOT INFECTED WERE INFECTED OFF THE SCHOOL SITES– A WARNING ADVISORY FOR THOSE STUDENTS, PARENTS AND FAMILIES WHO SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION IN THEIR OFF SCHOOL SITE GATHERINGS; SPORTS ARE PROCEEDING UNMASKED IN COMPETITION.“

“

IN WHITE PLAINS AT THE HIGHLANDS MIDDLE  SCHOOL TONIGHT, THE COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS PRESENTS MAYOR ROACH AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER CHRIS GOMEZ TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON HOW NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT WILL INFLUENCE THE REIMAGINING OF THE WHITE PLAINS MASTER PLAN THAT IS ENVISIONED TO TAKE UNTIL 2026 TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

“THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL IS SPECIALIZING IN SEEING “POP-UP APARTMENT PROJECTS” PRESENTED AT COMMON COUNCIL MEETINGS ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE COUNTY POP UP VACCINATION SITES.

ANOTHER ONE WAS PRESENTED LAST NIGHT FOR STORY APARTMENTS TARGETED FOR THE OLD FROZEN ROPES SITE AT 51 SOUTH BROADWAY THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A DECADE.

THESE PROJECTS USUALLY GET APPROVED RIGHT AWAY WITH LITTLE DISCUSSION, NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE LAST TO KNOW, AND PROJECTS TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET STARTED ONCE APPROVED.

MEANWHILE THE MITCHELL IS MOVING RIGHT ALONG ON MAMARONECK AVE AND POSTROAD. TARGET DATE PERHAPS IN THE SPRING AND THEN WE WILL SEE THE DEMAND FOR APARTMENT CITY OTHERWISE KNOWN AS WHITE PLAINS NY USA WILL BE THERE.

I WAS STRUCK BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER’S REPORT THIS MORNING THAT WE ARE DOWN TO 100 VACCINATIONS FOR COVID A DAY AT THE COUNTY CENTER WHEN PREVIOUSLY THE COUNTY CENTER HAD BEEN VACCINATING 2,000 A DAY AND THAT HAS REALLY TAILED OFF. THAT HAS TO RAMP UP. EXPONENTIALLY IF WE ARE GOING TO STOP THIS COVID MONSTER. THOSE 2,000 NEW INFECTIONS IN TWO WEEKS COULD MEAN 200 NEW INFECTIONS IN THE NEXT 10 TO 14 DAYS. AT THE PRESENT SPREAD RATE IN WESTCHESTER WHICH IS 1 PERSON INFECTING 1 OTHER PERSON, COVID AND THE COUNTY ARE TIED. CASES ARE NOT GOING DOWN BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING UP.

IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, EACH WEEK NEW COVID INFECTIONS HAVE HIT 1,000 NEW INFECTIONS. 90% OF WESTCHESTER CASES HOSPITALIZED ARE UNVACCINATED. SO SHOTS HAVE TO RAMP UP TO STOP COVID BEING A THREAT TO OUR RECOVERY.

NEXT COVID VACCINATION POP-UPS ARE SCHEDULED FOR PORT CHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL ON SEPTEMBER 17 FROM 3 TO 6 PM; CROSS RIVER JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL ON SEPTEMBER 21 AT 2:45 PM TO 5:45 PM AND NEW ROCHELLE LEONARD SCHOOLS ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1 TO 11 TO 4 PM.

“

WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY GATHERING OF REMEMBRANCE & HOPE CLOSED WITH THE YOUTH BUREAU COMMUNITY YOUTH COURT STUDENTS READING NAMES AND BIOS OF 50 VICTIMS OF 9/11 WHICH CRYSTALIZED FOR MANY IN ATTENDANCE THE PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE AND MESSAGE THE VICTIMS LEAVE FOR US THE LIVING: TO DO OUR PART AND SHOULDER THE VOID THEIR LOSS LEAVES AND “STRENGTHEN UP” SETTING THE THEME OF DRAWING COURAGE AND INSPIRATION FROM THOSE WHO DIED, VICTIMS AND RESCUERS.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER IN HIS MESSAGE, SAID , “THIS IS A TEST,” RECALLING HOW HE WAS ONCE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT A TEST IN SCHOOL AND HIS FATHER TELLING HIM, “WHEN YOU’RE A GROWN MAN, YOU WILL BE TESTED EVERY DAY.” MR. LATIMER SAID THE PEOPLE IN THE TRADE CENTER THAT DAY REALIZING THEY WERE TRAPPED FACING THE FLAMES, CALLED THEIR LOVED ONES ON THEIR CELLPHONES, AND “TOLD THEM THEY LOVED THEM, AND WILL NOT EVER SEE THEM AGAIN AND TOLD THEM GOODBYE.” THEY PASSED THE TEST. HE SAID THE RESCUERS AND RESPONDERS DIED BECAUSE THEY WENT INTO THE DOOMED BUILDINGS. HE SAID SOME DAY WE WILL ALL FACE SUCH TESTS AND SHOULD DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THE SACRIFICE IN THE FACE OF CRISIS DEMONSTRATED BY THE HEROES AND VICTIMS OF 9/11.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIRIAM ROCAH, SAID SHE WAS GOING TO WORK THAT DAY AND GETTING OFF THE SUBWAY 20 YEARS AGO, SAW PEOPLE COVERED IN ASH WITH “LOOKS OF HORROR ON THEIR FACES, I’D ONLY SEEN IN MOVIES.” SHE SAID SHE THEN AND THERE BASED ON THE COURAGE, COMPASSION AND STRENGTH STRANGERS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS DEMONSTRATED THAT DAY, DECIDED TO DEVOTE HERSELF TO PURSUIT OF JUSTICE.

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Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress combating COVID-19.  

“We are continuing to closely monitor the numbers across the state and working with localities to identify hotspots and dispatch resources as necessary,” Governor Hochul said. “We all want to put COVID-19 behind us, but the reality is we still have more work to do – and we need to stay vigilant. The vaccine is still our greatest weapon in this fight, and those who are still unvaccinated need to understand the power they have in their hands to help New York and our nation finally beat this virus.”

 
Yesterday, 5,447 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 in New York State, bringing the total to 2,323,065. 

 (WPCNR EDITOR’S NOTE: In Westchester County New York Covid Tracker reports 134 persons tested positive of 4,566 persoms tested, an infection rate of 2.9%yesterday in Westchester County Sunday, September 12.

From Sunday September 5 through September 12, going back, 150 persons were found covid-positive Saturday, 165 tested positive Friday and 300 tested positive last Thursday, 168, positive last Wednesday; 118, Last Tuesday and 103 last Monday, a total of 1,004 positives in one week, last week.

From Monday September 6, back to through Sunday August 29, 1,230 persons tested positive for the disease. August 29, 147 positives, August 30, 139 positives, August 31, 212 positives; September 1, 176 positive; September 2, 193 positives; September 3, 188 positive, September 4, 175 positives, and September 5 148.

This is the first time Westchester hit over 1,000 new positives in a week, (two weeks in a row I might add) since mid-April.

At the present average infection rate in Westchester County of 2.5% positive a day and a spread rate of .7, or less than 1 person infected for every person infected, this may result in approximately 140 new infections in 2 weeks.

Today at the Westchester County Covid Briefing, Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said that hospitals in the county had told the county 90% of all new Westchester covid cases have occurred in persons who had not been vaccinated.

County Executive George Latimer said the current 106 hospitalizations was well below the 588 hospitalized last January at the height of the second wave. He said the county had a 1,000 bed capacity set aside for covid treatment. Latimer said that 85% of Westchester 1,004,000 residents had been vaccinated with at least one shot.

Mr. Latimer reported that the spread of covid was well below the last January number of cases of 11,000, and that the county was organizing vaccination pop-up sites which had been slowed by the Ida storm damage last week.

Mr. Jenkins said pop-ups would happen at Port Chester Middle School on September 17 from 3 to 6 PM; Cross River John Jay High Schools on September 21 at 2:45 PM to 5:45 PM and New Rochelle Leonard Schools on September 22, 1 to 11 to 4 PM.

Mr. Latimer said FEMA was overing registration for Ida storm damage claims 7 days a week at Mamaroneck Courthouse and at the Will Library in Yonkers, and residents from any community in the county could file for relief funds there.

This is the first time Westchester hit over 1,000 new positives in a week, (two weeks in a row) since mid-April. (END Editor’s Note).

County	Total Positive	New Positive
Albany	27,769	64
Allegany	3,875	13
Broome	21,020	59
Cattaraugus	6,508	18
Cayuga	7,622	44
Chautauqua	10,357	45
Chemung	8,660	19
Chenango	4,057	11
Clinton	5,351	22
Columbia	4,497	8
Cortland	4,638	18
Delaware	2,883	13
Dutchess	33,101	53
Erie	97,137	198
Essex	1,868	6
Franklin	3,270	40
Fulton	5,110	15
Genesee	5,893	14
Greene	3,833	7
Hamilton	396	0
Herkimer	5,828	9
Jefferson	7,118	33
Lewis	3,070	1
Livingston	5,028	9
Madison	5,236	13
Monroe	76,411	143
Montgomery	4,899	8
Nassau	203,217	250
Niagara	21,655	65
NYC	1,039,416	1,388
Oneida	24,984	50
Onondaga	44,435	106
Ontario	8,294	22
Orange	53,579	85
Orleans	3,498	11
Oswego	9,149	24
Otsego	4,037	11
Putnam	11,604	24
Rensselaer	12,913	39
Rockland	50,062	47
Saratoga	17,988	39
Schenectady	14,921	36
Schoharie	2,016	8
Schuyler	1,223	3
Seneca	2,364	10
St. Lawrence	8,357	60
Steuben	7,991	24
Suffolk	222,987	211
Sullivan	7,620	18
Tioga	4,282	18
Tompkins	5,683	14
Ulster	15,968	33
Warren	4,501	22
Washington	3,743	23
Wayne	6,650	18
Westchester	139,332	134
Wyoming	3,818	4
Yates	1,343	6

 
Yesterday, 29 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 43,977. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:  

Deaths by County of Residence
County	New Deaths
Albany	1
Broome	2
Cattaraugus	1
Erie	1
Kings	6
Madison	1
Nassau	2
Oneida	1
Onondaga	2
Orange	1
Oswego	1
Queens	5
Richmond	1
Steuben	1
Suffolk	2
Tompkins	1

 
All New York State mass vaccination sites are open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first-come, first-serve basis. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them. 

Yesterday, 22,196 New Yorkers received their first vaccine dose, and 17,509 completed their vaccine series. A geographic breakdown of New Yorkers who have been vaccinated by region is as follows: 

	People with at least one vaccine dose	People with complete vaccine series
Region	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours
Capital Region	735,425	461	675,490	509
Central New York	575,008	426	533,319	326
Finger Lakes	744,228	511	693,824	614
Long Island	1,801,624	3,053	1,595,677	2,376
Mid-Hudson	1,413,276	1,609	1,252,219	1,461
Mohawk Valley	286,457	197	264,841	222
New York City	6,364,071	14,662	5,645,175	10,912
North Country	266,355	221	240,097	130
Southern Tier	381,440	232	351,989	244
Western New York	811,645	824	745,523	715
Statewide	13,379,529	22,196	11,998,154	17,509

Today’s data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported – 109,138
• Total Positive – 3,686
• Percent Positive – 3.38%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 3.19%
• Patient Hospitalization – 2,391 (+24)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 257
• Patients in ICU – 544 (+25)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 282 (+15)
• Total Discharges – 196,282 (+202)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 29
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 43,977
  The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC – 56,029
  This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
• Total vaccine doses administered – 24,347,526
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 38,558
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 337,322
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 79.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 71.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 81.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 73.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 66.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 60.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 69.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 61.7%

Each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:  

Region	Friday, September 10, 2021	Saturday, September 11, 2021	Sunday, September 12, 2021
Capital Region	4.38%	4.29%	4.42%
Central New York	5.60%	5.76%	5.73%
Finger Lakes	4.55%	4.68%	4.69%
Long Island	4.28%	4.23%	4.12%
Mid-Hudson	3.64%	3.67%	3.64%
Mohawk Valley	5.36%	5.33%	4.92%
New York City	2.19%	2.15%	2.15%
North Country	5.57%	5.71%	5.83%
Southern Tier	3.34%	3.30%	3.31%
Western New York	4.78%	4.93%	5.07%
Statewide	3.22%	3.22%	3.19%

 
Each New York City borough’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:

Borough in NYC	Friday, September 10, 2021	Saturday, September 11, 2021	Sunday, September 12, 2021
Bronx	2.59%	2.49%	2.50%
Kings	2.20%	2.19%	2.19%
New York	1.54%	1.53%	1.56%
Queens	2.35%	2.30%	2.29%
Richmond	3.63%	3.45%	3.28%

 
Yesterday, 29 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, bringing the total to 43,977. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:  

Deaths by County of Residence
County	New Deaths
Albany	1
Broome	2
Cattaraugus	1
Erie	1
Kings	6
Madison	1
Nassau	2
Oneida	1
Onondaga	2
Orange	1
Oswego	1
Queens	5
Richmond	1
Steuben	1
Suffolk	2
Tompkins	1

 
All New York State mass vaccination sites are open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first-come, first-serve basis. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them. 

Yesterday, 22,196 New Yorkers received their first vaccine dose, and 17,509 completed their vaccine series. A geographic breakdown of New Yorkers who have been vaccinated by region is as follows: 

	People with at least one vaccine dose	People with complete vaccine series
Region	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours	Cumulative Total	Increase over past 24 hours
Capital Region	735,425	461	675,490	509
Central New York	575,008	426	533,319	326
Finger Lakes	744,228	511	693,824	614
Long Island	1,801,624	3,053	1,595,677	2,376
Mid-Hudson	1,413,276	1,609	1,252,219	1,461
Mohawk Valley	286,457	197	264,841	222
New York City	6,364,071	14,662	5,645,175	10,912
North Country	266,355	221	240,097	130
Southern Tier	381,440	232	351,989	244
Western New York	811,645	824	745,523	715
Statewide	13,379,529	22,196	11,998,154	17,509

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The next White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) meeting is tomorrow Sept. 14 at 7pm. Mayor Roach & Commissioner Gomez will be the guest speakers. The topic is the new Comprehensive Plan and how the neighborhood associations can/should be involved. A question and answer session will follow a brief overview of the topic, timeline, and process.

The meeting will take place in person in the Highlands Middle School auditorium. Masks are required in the building.  There will also be a live Zoom component for those that are interested in listening to the discussion.  Unfortunately, only those who are at the meeting in person will be able to participate in the question and answer portion of the meeting.   The Zoom link for the meeting is below. 

Topic: WPCNA Meeting 9/14 
Time: 7pm
https://zoom.us/j/95370891872?pwd=amlZdDVyWmhZMzUwTmhvRDRFalFyUT09

Other opportunities to individually participate in the planning process are below, but our voices are heard best when they are united as a neighborhood.

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WPCNR COVID REPORT. By John F. Bailey. From the NY State Covid Tracker September 10, 2021

One week after the Labor Day holiday began, Westchester covid testing recorded 300 people testing positive for corona virus out of 9,825 tested.

It is the highest single infection day since Westchester stymied the new wave of covid in mid-April when the county recorded 291 new covid infections on April  15.

This is the first time in five months the infection number has hit the 300 mark, (132 more new cases than testing recorded the day before.)

The 300 persons found to be positive were in a testing universe of 9,825 Thursday, jumping the daily infection rate to 3.1% of those tested up from2.3% on Wednesday, September 8, when 7,262 were tested.

The growth or spread rate of yesterday is consistent with the 281 infections two weeks ago on August 26,  when you divide the 300 new cases by the 281 cases on August 26, the spread rate is  1.07, meaning each of the 281 infected with Covid on August 26 if the spread rate continues in the stable zone of spread which does not exponentially expand the number of new cases, but will infect  1 other person perhaps within the next two weeks which would could mean  300 new cases from yesterday’s new persons infected.