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.
Ann Vacaro-Teich , Assistant Superintendent for Business on what the new budget does.
https://youtu.be/68scunKSM9Y
CAYNE LETEZIA TALKS ABOUT THE TOUGH BUDGET YEAR. MR LETIZIA WAS ELECTED ALONG WITH OTHER INCUMBENTS JIM HRICAY AND ROSE LOVITCH. RAINA KINDAVAL RAN 27 VOTESBEHIND LOVITCH
The Superintendent released this statement this evening after the election:
The voters approved:
The $229,627,400 budget for the 2021-22 school year that decreases spending by $3.62 million (1.55%) from the current year: 1174 yes; 165 no;
The election of the following members to the White Plains Board of Education: Jamie Hricay (912 votes), Rose Lovitch (843 votes), Cayne Letizia 965
On behalf of our children, educational community members and the Board of Education, please accept my humble thanks and appreciation for all of your support and of course for taking the time to engage in the electoral process. This election’s results are a reminder of how supportive our community is of our school district. I am grateful that we have the opportunity to continue working on behalf of our children and that we are able to move forward with a sound fiscal plan that ensures that our students receive the best education possible.
WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE.From Westchester County Department of Communications. May 18, 2021:
Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced today the County will provide local Westchester County police departments access to real-time interpreter services through Language Line. The move will allow law enforcement agencies to better serve residents, witnesses and crime victims in their native languages.
Under this initiative, any local police department in need of translation services in any language will contact the WCDPS Communications Unit who will connect the department with a translator. This will enable all residents to receive immediate translation services and be able to communicate with the police in the language in which they are most comfortable.
Language Line provides on-demand interpreting in more than 240 languages via mobile, video, and phone through a team of more than 14,000 professional interpreters.
According to statistics, language barrier can be a strong disincentive for crime victims or witnesses to approach law enforcement for assistance. Non-English-speakers commonly rely on friends of family members to provide translation, but this informal process can be unwieldy and impractical, especially when reporting a crime.
###
https://youtu.be/lGooCDsMcJI
WESTCHESTER DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIRIAM E. ROCAH ON LANGUAGELINE
“TODAY IS SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET AND ELECTIONS DAY. POLLING PLACES IN WHITE PLAINS OPEN AT NOON
JOHN BAILEY THE CITIZENETREPORTER, BROADCASTS EVERY TUESDAY AT 7:50 WITH THE NICEST TWO PEOPLE ON THE RADIO, DENNIS AND TONNY ON WVOX 1460 AM. HE HAS BEEN DELIVERING THESE REPORTS FOR SIX YEARS. THIS IS A TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY’S BROADCAST.
“THE 2021-22 WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS BUDGET INCREASES PROPERTY TAXES 1.3% AND REDUCES SPENDING $3.62 MILLION OR 1.5% WITH NO CUTS TO ANY EXISTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE BUDGET IS $229.7 MILLION OR $31.892 PER STUDENT.
4 PERSONS ARE RUNNING FOR 3 BOARD OF EDUCATION SEATS: JAMES HRICAY, RAINA KADAVIL, CAYNE LETIZIA, AND ROSE LOVITCH.
THE ELECTION IS HIGHLIGHTED BY MS. KADIVIL’S CANDIDACY. A GRADUATE OF THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS AND WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, B.A. GRADUATE OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY, NOW STUDYING FOR HER MBA AT JOHNS HOPKINS WHILE EMPLOYED AS A MARKETING ANALYST AT MASTERCARD’s DATA AND SERVICES SEGMENT.
SHE IS RUNNING BECAUSE SHE FEELS SHE IS MOST REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND WILL BRING A NEW AND MUCH NEEDED PERSPECTIVE TO THE BOARD, AND A MORE DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES OUR STUDENTS WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF HER OWN RECENT EXPERIENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS SHE HAS WITH FAMILIES STILL GOING THROUGH THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE TEACHERS THAT SHAPE OUR CLASSROOMS
WHITE PLAINS WILL HOLD A MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY THIS YEAR TO HONOR THE NATIONS WAR DEAD AND THE LOSS OF SO MANY LIVES VICTIMS OF THE CORONA VIRUS. IT WILL BE HELD AT DEFINO PARK AT 11 AM MAY 31 LARGE ENOUGH TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE. IF RAIN, THE CEREMONY WILL MOVE INTO EBERSOLE RINK.
MAYOR ROACH SAID, “MEMORIAL DAY REMAINS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS WHEN IT WAS FIRST ENACTED IN MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR. GREAT SACRIFICES ARE MADE EVERY DAY BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. ARMED SERVICES. THEIR SACRIFICES REMIND US ANEW TO BE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY AND A COUNTRY.”
DURING THE PAST YEAR OF TREMENDOUS UPHEAVAL AND LOSS, WE ALSO REMEMBER THE 12,000 RECORDED DEATHS OF VETERANS FROM COVID-19.
DECEASED HONOREES THIS YEAR ARE MALCOLM BAEHR AND JACK COLLINS. BOTH SERVED ON THE MAYOR’S VETERANS COMMITTEE FOR MANY YEARS. THEY WERE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THEIR TIME SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES AND DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO HONORING ALL VETERANS RESPECTFULLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MAYOR ROACH SAID IN HIS WEEKLY COVID TELEPHONE CALL TO RESIDENTS THAT NEXT MONDAY WOULD BE HIS LAST COVID CALL. HE SAID THERE ARE ABOUT 48 ACTIVE CASES WHITE PLAINS NY USA, DOWN 32 FROM A WEEK AGO. OVER THE LAST 7 DAYS, WP IS AVERAGING 2.7 NEW CASES PER DAY. CASES ARE CONTINUING TO DECLINE IN OUR CITY AND IN NEW YORK STATE AS A WHOLE. THE CURRENT POSITIVITY RATE IN OUR REGION IS LESS THAN 1%.
THE ENTIRE MID-HUDSON REGION IS ALL-IN ON GETTING VACCINATED, DENNIS. WESTCHESTER, DUTCHESS ORANGE, PUTNAM, ROCKLAND, SULLIVAN AND ULTER COUNTIES ARE VACCINATING AT THE RATE OF 33,000 SECOND VACCINATIONS A WEEK AND WE A REGION SHOULD BE FULLY VACCINATED BY JUNE 20. WITH ONLY CHILDREN UNDER 12 NOT CLEARED FOR VACCINATIONS YET.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY ON TRACK FOR “FULL VACINATION” BY SAME DATE.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY CONTINUED REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS TESTING POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS AND IS ON PACE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY THE SAME DATE IF NOT SOONER.
ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY MAY 13, 14, AND 15, 161 PERSONS TESTED POSITIVE. THE PERCENTAGE OF POSITIVE CASES WAS LESS THAN 1% EACH DAY.
IN CONTRAST TO THE NUMBER OF POSITIVES PER DAY ON APRIL 1, WHEN THE COUNTY WAS AVERAGING 400 NEW INFECTIONS A DAY, THE COUNTY HAS COME A LONG WAY REDUCING INFECTIONS FROM THE HIGHS OF 400 A DAY TO THE AVERAGE OF 50 TO 60 A DAY WITH A LOW OF 33 ON SUNDAY.
THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN THE LAST 6 WEEKS IS VACCINATIONS ROLLING OUT AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ROLLING BACK THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES, REDUCING NEW CASES PER DAY BY 87%.
HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE RUNNING ABOUT 5.8% OF THOSE TESTING POSITIVE THE LAST THREE WEEKS—63 IN THE HOSPITAL AS OF YESTERDAY. THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE OF THE NUMBER OF POSITIVES THE LAST THREE WEEKS HAS GONE UP IN TWO DAYS AND IS RUNNING AT 5.8% AS OPPOSED TO 3% TO 3.5% AND THIS MAY BE A CONCERN BUT I HAVE ASKED THE COUNTY FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THIS IF THERE IS ANY.
There are currently an estimated 48 active cases in our City, down 32 from a week ago. Over the last 7 days, we are averaging 2.7 new cases per day. Cases are continuing to decline in our city and in New York State as a whole. The current positivity rate in our region is less than 1%.
We are doing very well, and as a result, the State is continuing to ease restrictions. At the same time, they have announced a variety of efforts to promote vaccination. The message is clear: If you have been vaccinated you will be able to do more and it will speed your return to normal activities.
Starting this Wednesday, May 19th , New York State will adopt the new CDC guidelines on mask wearing. Those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a mask and social distance. Those who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear a mask and social distance. It’s important to note that these guidelines do not preclude public facilities or private businesses from continuing to require masks within their premises where the vaccination status of patrons is unknown. Masks will still be required on public transportation, and in schools and healthcare facilities.
Getting the vaccine is easier than ever. The County Center in White Plains and the Yonkers Armory are open to any eligible New Yorker age 12 and older for vaccinations on a walk-in basis. Most pharmacies and large health care providers are also offering the vaccine. Choosing to be vaccinated protects you, your family, and our community – and it is Free.
Our next call is on Monday, May 24th. It will be our last regular, weekly COVID call. Until then remember, we’re standing together by staying apart, unless you’re fully vaccinated in which case, as of Wednesday, you’re good
Actualmente hay un estimado de 48 casos activos en nuestra ciudad, 32 menos que hace una semana. Durante los últimos 7 días hemos tenido un promedio de 2,7 casos nuevos por día. Los casos continúan disminuyendo en nuestra ciudad y en el estado de Nueva York en general. La tasa de casos activos actualmente en nuestra región es de menos de 1%.
Lo estamos haciendo muy bien y, como resultado, el Estado continúa levantando las restricciones. También se han anunciado una variedad de iniciativas para promover la vacunación. El mensaje es claro: si te vacunas podrás hacer más cosas y podrás retomar las actividades normales más rápido.
A partir de este miércoles 19 de mayo, el estado de Nueva York adoptará las nuevas pautas de la CDC sobre el uso de mascarillas. Quienes no estén vacunados o no estén completamente vacunados deben continuar usando mascarilla y practicar el distanciamiento social. Por otro lado, aquellos que estén completamente vacunados ya no tendrán que usar mascarilla y mantener distanciamiento social. Es importante tener en cuenta que estas pautas no impiden que las instalaciones públicas o las empresas privadas sigan exigiendo mascarillas dentro de sus instalaciones donde se desconoce el estado de vacunación de los clientes. Las mascarillas seguirán siendo necesarias en el transporte público, escuelas e instalaciones de salud pública.
Recibir la vacuna es más fácil que nunca. El City Center en White Plains y el Yonkers Armory están abiertos a cualquier neoyorquino que cumpla con los requisitos y está disponible aquellos de 12 años o más sin necesidad de cita previa. La mayoría de las farmacias y los grandes proveedores de atención médica también ofrecen la vacuna. Elegir vacunarse lo protege a usted, a su familia y a nuestra comunidad, y es gratis.
Nuestra próxima llamada es el lunes 24 de mayo y será nuestra última llamada con información de COVID semanal. Hasta entonces y recuerde, estamos más juntos manteniéndonos más separados, a menos que esté completamente vacunado, en tal caso, a partir del miércoles, está bien.
In this clip from the Westchester County Executive George Latimer at his Covid Briefing at 2 PM Monday, Mr. Latimer assured the Somers Mayor that the county was “almost done” with Covid and said the numbers continued strong. Here are those numbers in this rundown.
For the past year, 1000+ residents like yourself have been appealing to Mayor Roach and the White Plains Common Council to add amendments to the White Plains Telecom Code to protect residential areas from 24/7 radiation-emitting antennas.
This big effort came to a climax at the May 3 Common Council meeting, when new amendments (attached) were enacted into Section 4-23 of the White Plains Municipal Code. The Code was last visited in 1997, long before mini-cell towers were on the landscape. The following is a list of the more important amendments
(in black) that were passed, followed by 5GAlert Westchester comments (in red):
1. Higher fees for telecom applicants to enable the City to pay for consultants and additional expertise to review applications.
We’re glad the City will be reviewing applications with more scrutiny. However, applications must require numerous fact-finding determinations, all of which should be codified. Since they are not in the code, we will be looking to the City to provide us with a sample of a new application.
2. A provision that reads “to the extent technically feasible small wireless facilities should be located first in industrial districts, secondly in business districts, and last in residential districts.”
Directionally good but no process or documentation is described for stated 3-tiered approach, nor for proof of “technical feasibility.”
3. A provision “to the extent technically feasible,” no cell antenna may be placed in the Front Facade Area of a residence, school, daycare center, or nursing home.
A minor improvement. Placement away from Front Facades will do nothing to diminish outdoor or in-home exposure levels to microwave radiation. Besides, we don’t want them in residential areas in the first place.
Both 2 and 3 above are made conditional by the language, “notwithstanding… the Commissioner of Public Works may approve the locations of small cell wireless facilities wherever necessary to meet the applicant’s network service needs.” White Plains residents will be watching to see that 2 and 3 above are enforced.
4. Notification shall be sent by certified mail to all property owners within 500 feet of a proposed cell siting.
Good! Excellent! An email address will be provided for notified residents to send comments. ‘Comments’ are insufficient. There has to be a process by which residents can appeal. Other cities hold public hearings for antenna installations, but not White Plains. We will continue to speak to the Mayor about this and work to create an appeal process. If you receive a notice, report it immediately to this email.
5. Liability insurance. An insurance provision, intended to protect the City from liability related to future health claims from exposures to (RF) microwave radiation.
Aside from the fact that none of us want to be submitting one of those health claims, this is a complicated provision which I cannot clearly explain. If there is an insurance expert reading this, please volunteer to interpret this provision which can be found in section 4-23-13 (attached).
6. Emissions testing. Telecom carriers must document RF compliance at time of installation and randomly thereafter at least once a year. If not in compliance with FCC standards, telecoms must cease operation until in compliance, as well as check all other facilities they operate. Failure to comply “could” result in loss of permission to operate in the City.
This is a necessary measure, made stronger at the last minute by Common Council Member Nadine Hunt-Robinson. However, it’s important to understand the FCC exposure standard is so astronomically high that it is virtually impossible for a cell facility to surpass it. Recently in Sacramento, a family was made sick by a nearby antenna measured to be 60,000 miliwatts; the FCC standard is 10 million milliwatts. As necessary as this provision is, it will not protect you.
Thank you for all your support in getting us this far. Despite the Mayor’s closing remarks at the May 3 meeting, there is much more we can do. Council Members Jennifer Puja and Justin Brasch made strong public statements in support of additional protective provisions, as well as the need to revisit the legislation every six months. This is positive and wouldn’t have happened without you.
We will keep pressing. We will be looking to see that provision #2 above will be well-enforced by the City and serve to limit radiation-emitting antennas in our neighborhoods.
WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT Statistics from the NY VACCINATION TRACKER INTERPRETED BY WPCNR. 7:15 A.M. EDT MAY 17, 2021:
This morning the NY State Vacccine Tracker statistics show the Mid Hudson Region of 7 Counties, including Westchester County at the present clip of 33,000 second vaccinations a week should be fully vaccinated by June 20.
MID-HUDSON REGION–BOTTOM LINE ON PACE FOR FULL VACCINATION BY JUNE 20
The Monday morning report shows that 378,619 Mid-Hudson residents of Westchester, Dutchess, Rockland, Putnam, Sullivan and Ulster Counties remain of those needing a second shot to be fully vaccinated across the region.
At the present relentless pace of second shots of 33,000 second shots being administered every 7 days, this means in 5 weeks the region should be “fully vaccinated.” The approximate date when this will COULD come true is June 20.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY ON TRACK FOR “FULL VACINATION” BY SAME DATE.
Westchester County continued reducing the number of persons testing positive for the coronavirus and is on pace to be fully vaccinated by the same date if not sooner.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 13, 14, and 15, 161 persons tested positive. Manual pdf
The infection rate was .007 % Thursday, (60 of 8,930); 72 on Friday of 8645 tested positive (. Manual pdf 008 %) and Saturday the percentage of new cases was . Manual pdf 004%, 29 of 7,076 tested. These new positives would reduce the hospitalizations expected to 8 in 10 to 14 days if the trend continues.
In contrast to the number of positives per day on April 1, when the county was averaging 400 new infections a day, the county has come a long way reducing infections from the highs of 400 a day to the average of 50 to 60 a day.
The major difference in the last 6 weeks is vaccinations rolling out and simultaneously rolling back the number of new cases, reducing new cases per day by 87%.
County Executive George Latimer announced in his Covid-19 briefing Thursday, the county is starting a program to administer vaccines in the homes of residents who are homebound.
A vaccination specialist will come to a loved one’s home to administer first or second shots of the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccination specialist will also vaccinate any companion caretaker living with the homebound resident. To arrange for an in-your-home covid vaccination for a homebound individual, call 914-813-6300.
You can also see Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins announcement of the details on the most recent county Covid briefing ON the Westchester County Facebook acccount.
MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE RETURNS TO DELFINO PARKWESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER ON THE WEEK IN COVIDSUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS JOSEPH RICCA ON COVID CONTROL PLANS FOR OPENING SCHOOL IN THE FALL CRITICAL RACE THEORYJOANNE DUNN YOUTH SHELTER OF WESTCHESTER ON HOW PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, COURTS, POLICE CAN CHANGE TO SAVE 18 TO 24 YEAR OLDS’ FROM RECIDIVISMJOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS ON WHITE PLAINS WEEKON CH. 45 FIOS, CH 76 OPTIMUM AND WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG
