WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.
JOHN BAILEY THE CITIZENETREPORTER APPEARS WEEKLY ON THE DENNIS & TONNY GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER PROGRAM AT 7:50 A.M. TUESDAYS FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.
” GOOD MORNING DENNIS AND TONNY FROM WHITE PLAINS NY USA WHERE ITS 72 CLOUDY WPCNR DEGREES.
“WHITE PLAINS IS READY, POISED FOR OPENING OUR SCHOOLS SEPTEMBER 9,.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. JOSEPH RICCA TOLD ME THIS WILL BE A FULL TILT OPENING WITH MASK WEARING REQUIRED BY ALL STUDENTS IN GRADES K THROUGH 12 WITH CAREFUL ACCESS TO SCHOOLS BY NON STUDENTS AND STAFF.
IF YOU’RE A PARENT OR PERSON WANTING TO VISIT THE SCHOOLS YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE AND OF COURSE MASK-UP. SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE OBSERVED IN THE SCHOOLS AND THERE WILL BE EXTENSIVE TESTING AS NEEDED.
STUDENTS WILL NOT BE TESTED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. HE REPORTED THAT PARENTS ARE (WITHOUT BEING ASKED) ADVISING THEIR SCHOOLS THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN VACCINATED. THIS, (RICCA SAID IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE SHOULD A STUDENT BE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID IN A CLASS THE SCHOOLS WOULD KNOW WHICH STUDENTS (UNVACCINATED) TO TEST FOR COVID FIRST SHOULD AN INFECTION DEVELOP.
HE SAID THE TESTING THE SCHOOLS WOULD USE IS THE SALIVA TEST WHICH IS A FAST READ TEST AND NON-EVASIVE
. HE SAID INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS WOULD BE PLAYED WITH MASKING. HE SAID THE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PARENTS SENT STUDENTS TO SUMMER SCHOOL FOR REMEDIAL WORK WHO WERE NOT REQUIRED TO GO. RICCA SAID IT IS POSSIBLE WHITE PLAINS WOULD CONTINUE THIS VOLUNTARY SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM NEXT YEAR.
WHITE PLAINS WILL RUN ATHLETICS THIS FALL AS USUAL WITH MASKING FOR THE CONTACT SPORTS OUTSIDE. HE SAID A FEW ATHLETES COMPETING LAST YEAR DID TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID BUT VERY FEW IN NUMBER.
DRAMATICS. PERFORMING ARTS AND AUDIENCE ACTIVITY PROTOCOLS FOR SEATING ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT.
HE COMPLIMENTED THE ENTIRE TEACHING, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND THE PARENTS OF WHITE PLAINS FOR MAKING THE REOPENING PROGRAM OF LAST SPRING SUCCESSFUL. LAST YEAR 439 STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF CAUGHT COVID, 4-1/2% OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL POPULATION OF STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF APPROXIMATELY 8,400 .
HE SAID STUDENTS WERE VERY COOPERATIVE IN WEARING MASKS ALL YEAR LONG, AND SAID THE MAJORITY OF POSITIVE COVID CASES WERE ENCOUNTERED IN SOCIAL GATHERINGS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
HE SAID THERE WOULD BE MORE TESTING OF STAFF AND FACULTY THIS YEAR THAN LAST. HE SAID 80% OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF WERE VACCINATED BY THE SPRING REOPENING LAST YEAR FOR ALL STUDENTS AND SAID THERE ARE MORE THAN THAT VACCINATED NOW GOING INTO THE OPENING.
TOMORROW ON SEPTEMBER 1 THERE WILL BE A PANEL WITH DOCTOR RICCA AND DR. RACHEL GOLDMAN AND DR. PETER RICHEL ON ISSUES AND QUESTIONS VIA ZOOM SPONSORED BY THE NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL AT 7 PM. FOR THE LINK GO TO THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY WEBSITE.
THERE WERE 1,517 NEW CASES FOR THE LAST 7 DAYS SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY IN WESTCHESTER 217 NEW PERSONS A DAY TESTED POSITIVE OF 48,454 TESTED AN INFECTION RATE FOR THE 7 DAYS OF 3.5%.
HOSPITALIZATIONS SATURDAY ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER IN HIS COVID BRIEFING, WERE UP TO 108 COMPARED TO 84 LAST WEEK. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES WERE EVEN LAST WEEK. HE SAID VACCINATIONS LAST WEEK WERE 1,100 AT THE COUNTY CENTER WHICH MR. LATIMER EXPECTS WILL BE GOING UP. HE ENCOURAGED VACCINATIONS. WITH THE GREAT WEATHER JUST FORECAST FOR THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
WE ENCOURAGE TO SOCIALIZE AND BEACH RESPONSIBLY. COVID’S OUT THERE BUT THE BIG POSITIVE OF THE TALE COVID STATS TELL THIS WEEK IS THE WESTCHESTER SPREAD RATE HAS RETURNED BELOW 1 PERSON INFECTED FOR EVERY 1 PERSON INFECTED TWO WEEKS AGO. JUST ABOUT 1:1 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. IT WAS A TIE WITH COVID LAST WEEK. NOT GROWING NOT DECREASING IN CASES WHICH IS A GOOD THING BUT IT’S UP TO YOU MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WESTCHESTER.”
“DON’T FORGET THE JAZZ FESTIVAL IN ITS 10TH YEAR BEGINS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8 WITH BRAZILIAN JAZZ DURING THE FARMERS MARKET. TO SEE THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE GO TO WESTCHESTERARTS.ORG
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. August 28, 2021:
We’re all overwhelmed with excitement and happiness. The Afghanistan woman we’ve been trying to help escape from the Taliban is now in Germany.
Professor Sheldon Malev, a Greenburgh resident, had reached out to me earlier this week asking me to try to help.
Senator Charles Schumer’s office, Congressman Mondaire Jones, the media all helped give Freshta a second chance at life.
A true team effort to save an amazing woman’s life.
Freshta is recovering from a road side bomb in Afghanistan. When I spoke with Sofia Boto during the week she told me how her cousin (who graduated law school and is a woman’s rights activist) escaped the Taliban.
Her landlord evicted her this week – mentioning that if she did not leave she would be reported to the Taliban. Before being thrown out of her house the Taliban knocked on her door repeatedly and she had to make sure they couldn’t hear her. She was beaten on the way to the Kabul airport with metal whips. And injured. She’s a brave and amazing woman.
If she chooses to move to Westchester we’re going to make sure that she has the support she needs. Her cousin, Sophia, lives in Westchester. Already – volunteers are expressing interest in helping her adjust to live in the United States. We need to ‘unofficially adopt her’ –help her find happiness, employment, housing here. Her suffering needs to end. She is a real inspiration.
Although we’re happy that Freshta is about to get a second chance, there are many other brave, smart women in Afghanistan who are still suffering and trying to escape. Let’s hope that they have successful futures.
PAUL FEINER Greenburgh Town Supervisor
Ms. Bato’s MESSAGE:
Good Morning all, I just received a call from my cousin Freshta. She is in a US Air Base in Germany. I’m so relieved to know she is safe as we had lost contact with her when she was at Kabul airport. We could not talk much as she was using someone else’s phone.
She said “God gave me a second chance in life”. She told me to please reach out to everyone and on her behalf. She wants to give her most sincere and humble thank you to all of you for saving her life.
She mentioned that they will keep her in Germany for a few days. She received medical attention for her wounds that she got from the Taliban. She is going to try to charge and fix her phone and will be in touch with me very soon. I want to thank you everyone for all your support. I hope Freshta will be in the United States very soon.
WPCNR COVID ADVISORY. From the NY State Covid Tracker. August 27, 2021:
The latest covid figures for new Westchester County covid CASES reports 281 persons positive for covid of 7,655 tested Thursday, an infection rate of 3.7%.
The 281 figure was the highest number of positives since April 15,2021 when 291 tested positive.
it also computed the Westchester spread rate to 1 persons infecting 4 based on infections 2 weeks ago on August 12 when 202 persons tested positive for covid.
If you assume all 202 persons that day two weeks ago each met one person then if you divide 202 into the 281 new cases Thursday the Westchester Spread Rate which had been under the 1:1 (one person infects one other person) to 1 person infecting 4 others.
The dilemma in tracking the ups and downs of daily infections is you want to discern a trend to make decisions.
If this 281 figure up 66 cases from Wednesday means more persons started relaxing and socializing two weeks ago vacationing and loosening up their guard (camps ending, persons going out to beaches it was very hot) going out to dinner— this Thursday number could be a warning of lots more infections over the Labor Day Weekend, the start of school and of course the religious holidays of Rosh Hoshanna and Yom Kippur, followed by the opening of schools in Westchester.
If the 281 people two weeks ago infect 4 persons each, this would mean 1,100 new cases from this group spreading the disease in two weeks.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL LAYS DOWN THE RULES FOR OPENING SCHOOLS; MASKS, VACCINES AND TESTING==FUNDS TESTING FOR ALL SCHOOLS IN STATE –OPENS IMMIGRATION FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES
AFGHANICIDE
WESTCHESTER SPREAD RATE KEEPS CORONAVIRUS FROM GROWING IN NUMBER OF CASES
WPCNR CORONAVIRUS MONITOR. From the NY Coronavirus Tracker. August 26, 2021:
The New York State Coronavirus Tracker reports 215 of 7,318 tested in Westchester yesterday August 25, tested positive for corona virus an infection rate of 2.9%. this marked the fourth consecutive day that Westchester County has stayed at the rate of one person infected with covid spreads the virus to one other person — the rate at which the virus infections do not increase exponentially, according to the Johns Hopkins spread metric.
However the bounce back up to 215 infections will mean 215 infections two weeks from yesterday. Westchester is being more careful but we have to vaccinate and not mingle irresponsibly.
For the record, since Governor Hockel as taken office, the Covid Tracker is now being updated by 6 PM, not 3 PM as was previously the case.
THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY SPREAD RATE SINCE AUGUST 9
August 9: 161 new infections 2.2 positives for every 1 infected on July 26 when there were 74 new infections
August 10: 215 new infections , 2.6 positives for every 1 infected on July 27 when there were 82 new infections
August 11: 228 new infections or 1.7 persons for every 1 infected on July 28 when there were 129 new infections
August 12: 202 new infections or 1.5 persons for every 1 infected on July 29 when there were 140 new infections
August 13: 186 new infections or or 1.0 persons infected for every 1 infected July 30 when there 186 new infections
August 14: 208 new infections or 1.5 persons infected for every 1 infected July 31 when there were 137 new infections
August 15: 146 new infections or 1.5 persons infected for every 1 infected Aug 1 when there were 98 new infections
August 16: 189 new infections or 1.3 persons infected for every 1 infected Aug 2 when there were 147 new infections
August 17: 234 new infections or 1.7 persons infected for every 1 infected Aug 3 , when there 139 new infections
August 18: 243 new infections or 1.3 persons infected for every 1 infected Aug.. 4, when there were 183 new infections
August 19: 232 new infections or 1.5 persons infected for every 1 infected Aug 5 when there were 148 new infections
August 20: 230 new infections or 1.2 persons infected for every 1 infected August 6 when there were 192 new infections
August 21: 151 new infections or 1.1 persons infected for every 1 infected August 7 when there were 134 new infections
August 22: 154 new infections or .90 persons infected for every 1 infected August 8 when there were 168 new infections
August 23: 146 new infections or .90 persons infected for every 1 infected August 9 when there were 161 new infections
AUGUST 24: 176 NEW INFECTIONS or .8 PERSONS INFECTED FOR EVERY 1 INFECTED AUGUST 10 WHEN 215 WERE INFECTED
AUGUST 25: 215 NEW INFECTIONS OR .9 PERSONS INFECTED FOR EVERY 1 INFECTED AUGUST 11 WHEN 228 WERE INFECTED
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state’s progress combating COVID-19.
“As we approach back to school season, it’s crucial to keep our children, teachers and other school staff in our minds and get vaccinated,” Governor Hochul said. “The vaccine is the best option we have when it comes to keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. If you haven’t already, go out and get your vaccination as soon as you can.”
Today’s data is summarized briefly below:
Test Results Reported – 160,554
Total Positive – 5,407
Percent Positive – 3.37%
7-Day Average Percent Positive – 3.18%
Patient Hospitalization – 2,191 (+48)
Patients Newly Admitted – 312
Patients in ICU – 441 (+19)
Patients in ICU with Intubation – 214 (+5)
Total Discharges – 191,582 (+283)
New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 25
Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 43,458
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 – 55,440
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 – 22,414,005
Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 59,839
Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 337,155
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 76.2%
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 69.3%
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 78.9%
Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 70.9%
Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 64.2%
Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 57.9%
Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 66.6%
Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 59.4%
Each region’s 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows:
Region
Monday, August 23, 2021
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Capital Region
4.19%
4.16%
4.10%
Central New York
4.44%
4.18%
4.00%
Finger Lakes
3.86%
3.97%
4.22%
Long Island
3.98%
3.92%
4.15%
Mid-Hudson
3.41%
3.51%
3.50%
Mohawk Valley
3.85%
3.99%
4.06%
New York City
2.52%
2.52%
2.55%
North Country
4.33%
4.40%
4.04%
Southern Tier
3.23%
3.23%
3.16%
Western New York
3.71%
3.68%
3.79%
Statewide
3.13%
3.13%
3.18%
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
Monday, August 23, 2021
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Bronx
3.00%
3.06%
3.01%
Kings
2.61%
2.59%
2.63%
New York
1.98%
1.98%
2.01%
Queens
2.50%
2.51%
2.53%
Richmond
3.17%
3.09%
3.17%
Yesterday, 5,407 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 in New York State, bringing the total to 2,236,634. A geographic breakdown is as follows:
County
Total Positive
New Positive
Albany
26,448
66
Allegany
3,674
7
Broome
19,726
59
Cattaraugus
6,017
18
Cayuga
6,958
22
Chautauqua
9,453
32
Chemung
8,167
18
Chenango
3,823
14
Clinton
5,017
22
Columbia
4,310
12
Cortland
4,258
24
Delaware
2,633
17
Dutchess
31,643
102
Erie
93,668
132
Essex
1,753
2
Franklin
2,811
20
Fulton
4,735
22
Genesee
5,636
13
Greene
3,627
9
Hamilton
354
0
Herkimer
5,519
12
Jefferson
6,549
25
Lewis
2,940
2
Livingston
4,745
16
Madison
4,836
5
Monroe
73,322
204
Montgomery
4,590
21
Nassau
196,540
548
Niagara
20,847
30
NYC
1,008,477
2,235
Oneida
23,726
54
Onondaga
41,688
88
Ontario
7,832
22
Orange
51,564
114
Orleans
3,279
7
Oswego
8,273
41
Otsego
3,744
6
Putnam
11,232
29
Rensselaer
12,166
23
Rockland
48,943
48
Saratoga
16,945
60
Schenectady
14,213
15
Schoharie
1,851
9
Schuyler
1,133
3
Seneca
2,138
4
St. Lawrence
7,300
45
Steuben
7,292
32
Suffolk
214,217
676
Sullivan
7,225
33
Tioga
4,040
6
Tompkins
4,861
31
Ulster
15,088
66
Warren
4,120
25
Washington
3,404
16
Wayne
6,229
22
Westchester
136,137
215
Wyoming
3,686
5
Yates
1,232
3
Yesterday, 25 New Yorkers died due to COVID-19, bringing the total to XXX. A geographic breakdown is as follows, by county of residence:
Deaths by County of Residence
County
New Deaths
Bronx
4
Chautauqua
1
Erie
1
Fulton
1
Kings
1
Manhattan
1
Nassau
2
Niagara
1
Oneida
1
Orange
2
Queens
3
Richmond
1
St. Lawrence
1
Suffolk
3
Ulster
1
Westchester
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, 35,600 New Yorkers received their first vaccine dose, and 26,351 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
717,563
1,430
660,862
1,010
Central New York
561,934
988
523,404
752
Finger Lakes
725,889
1,306
679,476
1,116
Long Island
1,722,830
5,405
1,534,192
3,869
Mid-Hudson
1,362,726
3,889
1,211,833
2,801
Mohawk Valley
279,655
464
259,032
378
New York City
6,059,863
19,171
5,385,092
14,483
North Country
259,379
436
235,961
307
Southern Tier
372,198
753
345,042
436
Western New York
789,955
1,758
729,195
1,199
Statewide
12,851,992
35,600
11,564,089
26,351
The COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard is available to update New Yorkers on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. The New York State Department of Health requires vaccinating facilities to report all COVID-19 vaccine administration data within 24 hours; the vaccine administration data on the dashboard is updated daily to reflect the most up-to-date metrics in the state’s vaccination effort. New York State Department of Health-reported data from NYSIIS and CIR differs slightly from federally-reported data, which is inclusive of federally-administered doses and other minor differences. Both numbers are included in the release above.
WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Governor Kathleen Hochul’s Press Office. August 26, 2021:
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the selection of Brian Benjamin for Lieutenant Governor.
Senator Benjamin and Governor Hochul have previously worked together on several key issues, including fighting the opioid epidemic and boosting addiction recovery programs, supporting MWBE business owners and making it easier for New Yorkers to vote.
Senator Benjamin previously served as the New York State Senator for District 30 – which encompasses Harlem, East Harlem, and the Upper West Side – Chairman of the Senate Committee on Revenue and Budget and Senior Assistant Majority Leader, where he distinguished himself as a leader in criminal justice reform and affordable housing. Senator Benjamin remains heavily involved in his community in Harlem.
“I believe that governing is about working together. Teamwork is the essence of effective leadership, and it is more important than ever as we confront the urgent problems facing the state,” Governor Hochul said.
“My administration is going to attract the best and the brightest — people who share my values of working hard for the people of this state and who will get the job done – and that includes the newest member Senator Brian Benjamin who has agreed to serve as my Lieutenant Governor. There is so much work to do, and I am grateful to have him by my side as we implement our vision for a safer, healthier and fairer New York.”
“I want to thank Governor Hochul for trusting me with the incredible honor of serving alongside her as Lieutenant Governor,” said Senator Benjamin. “Governor Hochul is a collaborator who makes sure everyone has a seat at the table, and, like me, is laser focused on listening to the needs of New Yorkers and empowering local leaders. We have a strong history of collaboration that will help us to hit the ground running immediately as we help guide New York through this challenging moment in history.”
Senator Benjamin was born in Harlem to a Caribbean mother who came to this country seeking new opportunities. Though they didn’t have a college education, his parents were fortunate enough to find well-paying union jobs, which allowed them to provide Senator Benjamin and his siblings with a middle class upbringing.
After graduating from high school in New York City, Senator Benjamin sought the quality education his parents had dreamed of providing him with, earning his undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Brown University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
After school, Senator Benjamin returned to Harlem to build affordable housing, creating over a thousand units of environmentally sustainable, affordable housing at an MWBE while helping young people develop work skills and secure good construction jobs through community youth programs.
In his community, Senator Benjamin worked to preserve the character of Harlem and help keep the community affordable. He helped countless young people at Harlem’s Wadleigh High School achieve a brighter future since launching a mentoring program in 2013, and he is honored to serve as an alumni-elected trustee of Brown University. Senator Benjamin is also an active member of Harlem’s historic First Corinthian Baptist Church.
During his time in the New York State Senate, Senator Benjamin successfully pushed for the divestment of the state public pension funds from private prisons in 2018, and the following year he introduced a bill to forbid state-chartered banks from such investments as well, which helped pressure Bank of America to end their relationship with Geo Group and Core Civic. Senator Benjamin’s proposal to keep rent controlled apartments affordable was a part of the history-making Tenant Protection Act of 2019, the largest expansion of tenant’s rights in decades.
In his first term, he served as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Pensions, where he looked to defend the public pensions of hard working public servants like his parents while ensuring the pension money was invested in a manner that reflected New York’s values.
WPCNR REALTY REALITY.News and comment by John F. Bailey August 26, 2021:
The Boulevard Property as it looked in 2015, 6 years ago
Westfaironline reported Wednesday Montifiore White Plains Hospital has purchased the 4 acres of razed property that six years ago was approved by the White Plains Common Council for a major retail and housing complex .
The project to be built by Grid Properties was named “The Boulevard.” The property was acquired by the hospital for $38 Million. Westfair said that CB Richard Ellis, the commercial real estate broker had reported the sale of the planned project for the former Sholz Buick property to the hospital from Grid Properties and Gotham Properties.
The property acquistion raises the possibility that Montifiore-White Plains Hospital will expand on the 4 acres in some way– given the recent court decision that stymied The City of White Plains eminent domain effort to acquire properties on the north side of West Post Road adjacent the Winbrook complex. The rumored use was that White Plains Hospital would develop the properties if the city acquired them for offices and housing.
The hospital did purchase one of the properties on the south side of West Post Road on the corner of Lexington Avenue and West Post Road (across from the Sholz property).
White Plains Hospital at no time had indicated what they planned to build on the city-targeted property and neither had the City of White Plains, which was the legal reason why the eminent domain of 13 properties was denied by the court: no purpose was cited by the city.
The Montifiore acquisition now allows the hospital should they wish to expand down Post Road altering the aesthetic approach and atmosphere of the Fisher Hill neighborhood.
The acquisition by the nonprofit hospital removes 4 acres of property from the city tax rolls, where assessments have been flat in recent years.
The recent White Plains push to expand residential presence along Main Street and Post Road has seen three developments approved by the Common Council stymied because of lack of financing, a changing real estate demand bringing into question whether or not the retail sector is still enamored of mixed use residential and retail.
The rebuild of the White Plains Pavilion is still a large hole on Maple Avenue with a redisgn still being considered by Lennar properties.
The White Plains Mall mixed use retail is at a standstill because the Department of Motor Vehicles continues to occupy the site prior to a move to the former Fortunoff complex across from the Westchester. Negotiations on that lease by the DMV are now being conducted, if not already completely. However the developer of that White Plains Mall signature project still has to step in fully financed and ready to build.
The four city owned parcels adjacent the Metro North railroad station have still not attracted developer proposals to the city’s tastes, and that lynch pin start to the renaissance of Main Street is a mystery.
The Mitchell is perhaps half complete at this time on Mamaroneck Avenue and Post Road, and has resumed construction.
The YWCA reinvention is underway.
The 55 Main Street Continuum is built and leasing.
The Ginsberg Development Corporation project of turning One Main Strtet into a residential complex is moving along.
The Gateway II residential apartments across from the train station has been approved and start of construction is anticipated.
The building of two apartment complexes at the foot of Ferris Avenue has been approved and we await the start of those buildings. That project and the Gateway II project and the Ginsberg project depending on when they open will significanty busy-up Main Street considerably with vehicular traffic, and perhaps stimulate restaurant and and on-street retail perhaps within 2 years depending on how vast construction proceeds.
On Bloomingdale Road a senior living project The Waterstone is near completion across from Bloomingdales and an apartment project on Westchester Avenue has begun remediation preparing to build.
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKERFrom Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. August 25, 2021
Attorney, single woman, someone disabled by a roadside bomb needs help getting out of Afghanistan
This memo will make you cry! Professor Sheldon Malev is a Professor at Westchester Community College. One of his favorite former students, Sophia Bator, has a cousin who is desperately trying to get out of Afghanistan. Today HER COUSIN was beaten up by the Taliban on the way to the airport.
I invited Sophia and Sheldon to appear on my WVOX radio program this Friday from 10 AM to 11 AM (1460 AM or www.wvox.com). Have also been in contact with Senator Charles Schumer’s office asking their office to help. And, Sophia and Sheldon have been in contact with Congressman Mondaire Jones who is also trying to help.
Some residents of Greenburgh may know people who can help this brave, young, Afghanistan attorney who only wants one thing: a better life for herself. She is disabled from a road bomb. Read her story.
If she succeeds in coming to the United States I hope to organize a group of people who can “adopt” her –and help her in her efforts to have a good life. If you know anyone in the state department…anyone in Afghanistan who can help her…have any other ideas please advise. I can put you in contact with her cousin who lives in Westchester.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
My name is Sofia Bator and I am from Afghanistan. I’m desperately trying to help my Cousin from Kabul. She is a young woman who graduated from Law School and became a Women Rights Activist in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Four years ago she suffered major injuries when a roadside bomb exploded killing several of her co-workers and severely injuring her. Before the Taliban took over the city of Kabul she was working with the Afghan Government under the local Department of Combating Corruption.
> Now my cousin is hiding in a small room unprotected trying to escape from the Taliban. She fears that she will be torture, sexually abused or killed by the Taliban if she gets capture. She is desperately asking for help as her time is running out.
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> I’m currently here in New York contacting all the Senators and Congressmen to help save my cousin. My college professor Dr. Sheldon Malev
> Thank You
> Sofia Bator
(I deleted her name for security reasons but Sofia is available to speak…)
I was born in the village of Dawlat Abad in the north of Afghanistan. I’m the only child from my parents and the first woman from my family to attend school and higher education. We are from a small village that has no running water, no electricity, no hospital, no teachers and far away even from a main road. Due to our poverty situation my parents have always work hard in farms, cleaning houses and caring for life livestock. They put all of their money and send me to Kabul for me to have the opportunity to go to school.
Seeking for a better future I study very hard and worked at the same time to help with my expenses and send little money back to my parents. I was grateful that the presence of the United States army kept Kabul safe for women. Many young girls like me we had the chance to have a higher education and for the time our dreams were slowly becoming a reality.
After graduating from Kabul University, I joined a group of Women’s Rights Activists in Mazar-i-Sharif. Our mission was to provide books and school supplies to small villages in the north. We focused on all the children but especially young girls who were marginalized from education. Our focus was also to teach the mothers about safety, feminine hygiene and giving them access to any resources available for them. One day I was traveling in a vehicle to a small village and all of the sudden I heard an extreme loud noise and the vehicle I was in started rolling. In seconds I could not hear or see anything and the extreme pain on my body blackout my mind. When I became conscious, I could not move my legs, my hip was in extreme pain and I had blood all over my body. I was paralyzed.
For one year I was paralyzed as the doctors informed me that my hip and legs were almost shattered. I also learned that the cause of the vehicle rolling and burning was due to a roadside bomb that the Taliban had placed killing and injuring many of my coworker. Now after several surgeries and with the help of my parents who sold all of their animals to pay the medical bills I’m slowly recovering.
I did not give up and I continue my work as an Afghan woman rights activist. I work at the same time with Department of Combating Corruption in Afghanistan. I was in my office and everyone started running around burning all documents in small flower pots. Everyone scared, terrified screaming
“Taliban has surrounded Kabul, run for your life”. Few minutes later I was informed that president Ashraf Ghani had run away and left the country to Taliban invasion. As I get out of the office suddenly, I saw an army of Taliban with machine guns approaching towards me and everyone in the street run away.
I got myself to safety, and enter my little room that I rent in Kabul. Immediately locked my door and block it with a table. I have been unable to get out as I’m alone with no protection as young woman. From a small window I see Taliban with their machine guns walking the streets and often I hear gunshots. Several times my door has been knocked with force but I have made no noise to make them believe no one is living here. My food and water are running out as I eat little pieces of bread once a day. At night every few hours the silence is broken by several gunshots. To my tragedy the landlord of the building has asked me to leave the room ASAP as the Taliban had order him that no single women without men companion is allow to live by herself. At this time, I’m without food, money or shelter and I fear for my life.
I desperately ask everyone for help to save my life. I’m a young woman without any protection and in grave danger to be taken by Taliban. My time is running out please help me. If Taliban captures me, I will be torture, beaten, sexually abuses or killed. I will appreciate any help possible to please get me out of here. I have tried to call all the embassies but no one has able to help me. And this is not how I see my future as I prefer to end my life before being capture by this evil regime.
WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. August 25, 2021:
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State is prepared to welcome the arrival of Afghan nationals fleeing violence and instability spreading throughout the troubled nation. The state’s Refugee Services and Office for New Americans are both ready to assist those seeking to resettle in New York and continue the state’s proud tradition of welcoming those who are fleeing persecution or war.
New Yorkers seeking to support Afghans arriving in New York State can contact the Office for New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 for information on local providers and how they can assist. The Hotline is also available for any immigrant in need of confidential assistance and connection to support and services.
“As the world watches the instability in Afghanistan unfold, New York is stepping up to once again serve as a beacon of hope and refuge,” Governor Hochul said. “The richness of culture and community that refugees and immigrants bring to our state is beyond measure, and the message to the world in no uncertain terms is that our state is committed to helping those who seek shelter on our shores.”
While the previous presidential administration drastically reduced the number of refugees and immigrants accepted into the United States, President Joseph Biden issued an emergency determination that raised the national ceiling to 62,500 admissions.
The federal government also authorized 8,000 additional special immigrant visas specifically for Afghan translators and interpreters working with the U.S. military and meeting certain requirements.
New York’s Refugee Services is prepared to resettle these new arrivals and assist them as they transition to life in New York. Between October 2020 and July 2021, there have been 458 refugees resettled throughout the state, including 140 Afghans and an additional 83 individuals on a special immigrant visa -most of whom are from Afghanistan.
Overseen by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Refugee Services is aimed at helping refugees and their families to achieve economic and social self-sufficiency. Among other functions, this program helps repatriated citizens arrive safely, provides assistance to victims of human trafficking, and assures unaccompanied refugee and entrant minors have proper foster care.
New York has committed to resettling 1,320 refugees and special immigrant visa holders during Federal Fiscal Year 2021, so the state is prepared for additional arrivals. New York’s statewide network of community-based providers has helped resettle upward of 5,000 individuals over the course of a year.
WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS.Transcript of Governor Kathleen Hochul comments on National Public Radio this morning on Covid and schools. August 25, 2021:
Governor Hochul: Well my task right now is very immediate. I have to get COVID under control, protect the safety of New Yorkers, and I started with a mask mandate in schools effective immediately. Also, get more vaccinations out there and particularly if we’re looking at the booster shots there’s a lot of older people who feel very insecure and invulnerable because they would have had their first shots just about eight months ago, and that’s when I spoke with Dr. Fauci and the time he said people should be getting their next booster shot. So, I’ll be having a very aggressive program to get the boosters out. But there’s still a lot of people who never got their first dose, and that’s going to be a barrier to getting people feeling secure about going to schools and to work. So I’m laser focused on those two big initiatives.
Steve Inskeep: Do you feel that you’re taking office in a crisis that has nothing to do with Andrew Cuomo’s crisis? You were at 300 new cases per day in New York not long ago, and I think you’re now up to 5,000 new cases a day.
Governor Hochul: Yes, so it’s very concerning. There’s no doubt about it. I was in the trenches during the first months of last year’s pandemic. I was literally embedded with the local health officials and county executives in upstate New York, so I know how scary this is and what people went through and I have a different approach. We were successful last year, but also as we see this resurgence I’m going to be doing more to empower local government officials who spend all their days training for this, the local health departments, the emergency management individuals who know how to get vaccines out. So, in my opinion it does not have to be so top heavy, but we also need to engage our local partners. That’s something I’ve done all my life from my career in local office to county office to Congress and on up, so that’s natural for me but it’s going to be a different approach, but we’ll get to the same place where we eventually drive this down and protect people the process.
Steve Inskeep: Do you have some people who think that you are being top heavy by imposing a statewide mask mandate?
Governor Hochul: This is actually the results of an effort of outreach I did to school superintendents, school boards, teachers, all kinds of groups I assembled on a Zoom call a couple days before I took office. They told me they want this to happen, they just want to cover. They want to be able to go back to their parents at a school board meeting and say this is a state mandate, we had to follow it. So, because they did have that they were the ones that were that front of all the criticism and I have no trouble, problem at all, assuming that responsibly. I’m going do that. The vast majority of my conversations have been this is in the no brainer category as much as politically divisive in some other states. In the state of New York, yes, people criticize, I’ve already heard from them, but the vast majority of New Yorkers want to get through this as soon as possible.
And, number one, keep kids safe in schools. I mean, I’m a parent. This is a time of high anxiety for every mom and dad or anyone who sends kids to school, and I want to alleviate that by saying you know what, your child is going to be protected. We know masks work and then we’ll work on getting the vaccinations are and we’ll have done everything we possibly can to ensure that that environment is safe so kids can start learning again.
Steve Inskeep: Did you literally have school superintendent saying that to you? Force me to do this, twist my arm?
Governor Hochul: Oh yes. We had a conversation with leadership on a call and the leadership, I can’t say they speak for every single member, and I’ve represented the most conservative parts of New York as a member of congress, I know that there will be individuals who disagree with that. I’m balanced, we have to make a decision that affects New York State as a whole for now but also my flexibility is that I’m willing to release the restrictions based on what’s happening in different geographic areas. We’ll have a statewide mandate to start, however I’m going to monitor closely. I’m watching the data like a hawk all day long to see what’s happening. And if there’s an area that’s not really that affected, they’re coming out of it, they have good vaccination rates that we can allow them to lift them.
So, I’m not going to be a dictator about this. I’m going to be flexible.
