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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New STEAM Center, Finance Center and Additional Classrooms of the Future Continue Stepinac’s Leadership in Secondary Education

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to WPCNR from Archbishop Stepinac High School. May 5, 2021:

Continuing its leadership in secondary education to provide students with the skills they will need to become globally competitive at college and in their future careers, Stepinac High School today announced the start of a new round of creating innovative learning spaces typically available at college, not a high school.

The highlights of what Stepinac President Fr. Thomas Collins (Class of ’79) (left) described as “bold, visionary and technologically advanced initiatives to help assure the post-secondary success of our students “include a STEAM Center, Finance Center as well as two additional cutting-edge classrooms modeled after Columbia University learning spaces that Stepinac introduced in the fall of 2019

.The latest chapter in Stepinac’s pioneering learning capabilities, which have been recognized by Rice University as a ‘model for high school education in America,” has already started with design and planning. Construction is scheduled to start later this spring and will be completed for the start of the new school year in September 2021.

The STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Center will boast a state-of-the-art Makerspace with a visual arts design studio where “students will be encouraged to tap into their creativity and try something new,” explained Principal Paul Carty.

Located on the first floor adjacent to the science wing, the new facility comprising 2,200 square feet will also house professional industrial equipment and the latest technology that “will expose students to real-world experiences in engineering, architecture and design and prepare them to pursue opportunities in these disciplines if they choose,” added Carty.

The 1,500-square-foot Finance Center, which will be located on the second floor adjacent to the library, will also “represent another Stepinac first in curriculum innovation,” said Frank Portanova (Class of ’93), Vice Principal of Curriculum and Academic Studies.  “This unique space will be devoted to teaching professional literacy in finance at a college level.”

A distinctive Wall Street atmosphere will be created featuring LED ticker displays in real time, an essential tool used daily by newsrooms, financial wealth management firms, and university business school finance labs.

In addition, the new lab will allow for the integration of the Bloomberg Terminal and Bloomberg Market Concepts into the curriculum. Accordingly, students will then graduate with a Bloomberg certificate. Portanova noted: “This will certainly be a boon to their college resumes and transcripts and show Stepinac’s continued commitment to our mission of bringing the real world into our classrooms.”

Building on the success of Stepinac’s new classrooms of the future, which were well received in 2019 by students and faculty, Stepinac will create two more non-traditional, 21^st century learning spaces. The additions will “expand our advanced learning environment that, unlike anything else in the region, prepares students for what they will expect when they go to college and into their chosen career or industry,” Carty explained.

The classrooms will be equipped with numerous touch-interactive displays with high performance front-facing speakers, and numerous inputs for all video formats as well as built-in browser, white boarding, and wireless sharing without requiring a computer. The rooms will also feature moveable premier Steelcase furniture that will allow students to collaborate better, concentrate better, experiment better, and learn better.

Stepinac’s other groundbreaking initiatives to develop a cutting-edge, technology enabled high school include the first-of-its-kind all-digital textbook library, the blended curriculum (each course has one-of-a-kind technology platforms), the Honors Academy which has become a model for an effective small personal learning program for academically top-achieving students and the Entrepreneurship Program elective that was launched in the fall 2020.

“We take enormous pride in Stepinac’s preeminence in curriculum innovation and technological advances, the critical underpinnings to a successful 21^st century high school education that will continue Stepinac’s tradition of shaping our students to become tomorrow’s leaders in their professions and in their communities.,” Father Collins said.

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“GOOD MORNING FROM WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA WHERE ITS 54 OVERCAST WPNCR DEGREES.

THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL TIGHTENED UP ITS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORDINANCE GOVERING INSTALLATION OF NEW CELL TOWERS IN THE CITY BY A VOTE OF 7-0. THE ORDINANCE WAS REVISED IN LIGHT OF VERIZON EFFORTS TO INSTALL HIGH INTENSITY 5G T

THE NEW ORDINANCE ALLOWS THE CITY TO HIRE TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO CHECK WHETHER A NEW INSTALLATION OF A CELLPHONE TOWER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH FCC RADITION REQUIREMENTS. IT ASSURES RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY WILL BE NOTIFIED IF AN ADDITIONAL CELLTOWER IS PLANNED TO BE INSTALLED NEAR THEM VIA THE CITY WEBSITE. THE CITY ESTABLISHES A PRIORITY CITING OF ADDITIONAL CELLTOWER INSTALLATIONS CONSIDERING PLACEMENT ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY FIRST, BUSINESS DISTRICT SECOND AND RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS LAST.

THE MAYOR SAID FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS DENYING INSTALLATIONS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THEY WANTED TECHNOLOGICAL GROWTH IN PREVIOUS FCC POLICY. THE MAYOR SAID THE CITY WAS UNABLE BY FEDERAL LAW TO DENYING INSTALLATION OF A CELLTOWER ON GROUNDS IT WAS AS A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH. COUNCILWOMAN NADINE HUNT-ROBINSON SAID THE NEW ORDINANCE CONTAINED A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO CHUT DOWN THE CELLTOWER IF IT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE, AND THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENS, HUNT-ROBINSON  SAID IT WOULD MAKE THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT VOID.  COUNCILMAN JUSTIN BRASCH SAID THE CITY WILL REVIEW CHANGES AND LEGAL DECISIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAW EVERY SIX MONTHS, INDICATING THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE ADJUSTED BASED ON  FINDINGS.  COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER PUJA SAID SHE HAD LISTENED TO THE MANY ACTIVISTS WHO HAD PROTESTED THE INVASION OF THE 5G TOWERS, AND WAS VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

PREVIOUSLY THE ORDINANCE WAS CRITICISED BY 5GWESTCHESTER  AS BEING TOO VAGUE AND NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH.

ON THE COVID SITUATION THE MAYOR DELIVERED A VERY POSITIVE MESSAGE ON COVID.

There are currently an estimated 139 active cases in our City, down 55 from a week ago. Over the last 7 days we are averaging 7 new cases per day. Case numbers are continuing to decline in our area, which is good news for all of us. 

And here’s some more good news: According to the CDC, New York has the highest number of adults fully vaccinated among all the large states. YOU contributed to this, White Plains. We are doing very well and now have to focus on those who may be hesitant to get the vaccine. One way to do that is to ensure the vaccine is widely available and easily accessible. 

ON HOSPITIZATIONS FOR COVID, WPCNR HAS DETERMINED BY COMPARING POSTIVE CASES OF TWO WEEKS AGO TO THE 116 HOSPITALIZATIONS OF COVID PATIENTS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE IS HOLDING AT 3% — WHICH MEANS THAT PERSONS GETTING THE DISEASE THREE WEEKS WOULD RESULT IN ABOUT 120 HOSPITALIZATIONS IN 10 DAYS AND THE HOSPITALIZATIONS WERE RIGHT ON THAT FIGURE, 116. SO PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING SICK FROM IT.

THE ESPLANADE LAST NIGHT FILED FOR AN EXTENSION  AND APPROVAL OF A NEW SITE PLAN FOR THEIR APARTMRENT COMPLEX REBUILD.

THERE WILL BE A ZOOM MEETING HELD BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MAY 11 FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL BOARD THERE IS ONE CHALLENGER FOR THE THREE INCUMBENTS…

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New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to Lift Most Industry Capacity Restrictions Beginning May 19 Given Vaccination Progress and COVID-19 Case Decline

Business Capacity Limits to Be Replaced with Space Available to Maintain Six Feet of Social Distancing on May 19 in New York and New Jersey

Outdoor Social Gathering Limit Increases to 500 on May 10 in New York; Indoor Social Gathering Limit Increases to 250 on May 19 in New York

Outdoor Residential Gathering Limit is Removed and Indoor Residential Gathering Limit Increases to 50 on May 19 in New York

Large-Scale Indoor Venue Capacity Increases to 30% and Large-Scale Outdoor Venue Capacity Increases to 33% on May 19, Proof of Vaccination or Recent Negative Test Still Required in New York

New York Subways will open for 24 hour a day service May 17

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont today announced a significant easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the region’s businesses, venues and gatherings given significant progress in vaccinations and sustained reduction in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Today, the Senate Democratic Majority will advance legislation to extend the state’s eviction and foreclosure moratorium, as well as the Protect Our Small Business Act until August 31 2021, building on the Senate Majority’s continued work in helping New York renters and homeowners stay in their homes if they are facing hardships due to the pandemic. 

This legislation will also provide support for struggling small businesses facing eviction and foreclosure, relieving the burden of fear and uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought New York’s families and small businesses.

“The tide is turning against COVID-19 in New York, and thanks to our increasing vaccination rates, as well as our successful, data-based regional approach, we’re able to take more steps to reopen our economy, help businesses and workers, and keep moving towards returning to normal,” Governor Cuomo said. “Thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers and our partners in government, we are now able to increase capacity limits for businesses, event venues and residences to reflect what we’re seeing in the COVID data. Maintaining this progress is critical and in order to keep moving in a positive direction, New Yorkers must continue to take all the proper precautions. If we let up now, we could slide backwards and that is something nobody wants. So, let’s be safe and for anyone who has yet to be vaccinated, please do so as soon as you can. With the addition of walk-in appointments, we’ve made it as easy as every to get your shot, so there are truly no excuses.”

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Office, with WPCNR local details PROVIDED . May 3, 2021:

(Editor’s Note: The day after Governor Cuomo announced the lowest state wide infection rate of Coronavirus new cases of 1.5% of those tested –the lowest infection rate since October 28– he issued this report on the progress of Covid-19 vaccinations.

Local details: In the Mid Hudson region consisting of Westchester, Dutchess, Orange , Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster Counties, 705,877 persons have completed both doses, 23% of the 3,100,000 total residents in all 7 counties.

On Saturday, Westchester County found 96 persons testing positive of 8,391 tested for an infection rate of 1.2% the county lowest total percentage since the second wave of covid spread began 6 months ago.

The last time the county tested this low was October 21, when the positive rate was 1.3%. This completed a week where total persons tested positive in the county averaged 1.6% per day. The number of new persons found positive for covid was 857.

In two weeks time given a hospitalization rate of 3% last week would find 25 persons needing hospitalizations, down from 120 hospitalizations a week when new positives were running 400 a day just before April 1 and hospitalizations of persons testing positive were running at the rate of 4.3% in the county. End Editor’s Note)

The Governor’s report:

93,940 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours          

More than 1.2 Million Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days           

Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily on the State’s Vaccine Program Here    

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state’s vaccination program. 93,940 doses have been administered across the state’s vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and more than 1.2 million doses have been administered over the past seven days. The week 20 allocation of 1,419,795 first and second doses is expected to finish arriving today. 

“Our progress in beating back this virus has allowed us to slowly reopen our state and, if more people get vaccinated and the overall metrics continue to move in the right direction, we are optimistic that we can stay on this trajectory.” Governor Cuomo said. “We cannot afford to get cocky, nor can we get lax in our vaccination efforts. Even as the spring season is in full swing and more people want to get outside and enjoy the warm weather, the footrace between the infection rate and the vaccination rate is still on. I remind all New Yorkers who still need to get the vaccine that it’s the only way to show support for our health providers who work tirelessly to get shot into people’s arms – and for everyone in their community who is vulnerable to this virus.”  

All New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first serve basis. The walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses only with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot. In addition, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments for eligible New Yorkers. 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 vaccinefinder.org to find information on vaccine appointments near them.           

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered – 15,643,329

Total doses administered over past 24 hours – 93,940

Total doses administered over past 7 days – 1,208,303

Percent of New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 46.5%

Percent of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 34.9%  

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 Yorkers who suspect fraud in the vaccine distribution process can call 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) toll-free or email the state Department of Health at STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov. Hotline staff will route complaints to the appropriate investigative agencies to ensure New Yorkers are not being taken advantage of as the State works to vaccinate the entire eligible population.   

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WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. Transcript of proposed Enhanced telecommunications code for City of White Plains regulation of celltower installations and conditions for new applications presently to be considered Monday May 3rd by Common Council. May 1, 2021:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 4-23 OF THE WHITE PLAINS MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED “TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISES AND LICENSING” TO AMEND SECTION 4-23-4(C)  REGARDING REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS  AND TO ADD NEW SECTIONS 4-23-12 REGARDING  PREFERRED LOCATIONS FOR SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES AND NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, 4-23-13 REGARDING LIABILITY INSURANCE, 4-23-14 REGARDING TESTING OF SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES, 4-23-15 REGARDING SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND 4-23-16 INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT.

Section 1. Chapter 4-23-4 (C) of the White Plains Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

            (c)The application fee for installation of small wireless facilities as defined by the Federal Communications Commission’s Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order adopted September 26, 2018 (No. 18-133) shall be $500 for up to five (5) units and $100 for each additional unit proposed and a fee of $1,000 if a new pole is proposed for the facility. Said non recurring fee shall apply to the initial application for a small wireless facilities as part of the franchise agreement as well as subsequent requests for additional units in the future.  Applicants shall also pay a deposit, in the amount of six hundred ($600) dollars per each unit to cover the City’s initial costs in reviewing and processing the request. Payment shall be made by depositing six  hundred ($600.00) dollars per each unit with the Department of Public Works with the initial application fee prescribed in this subsection. The city may draw from the deposit account after providing the Applicant written notice of the reasonable costs to be paid from the account. Applicants shall be responsible for payment of such additional reasonable costs as the City may incur in reviewing the application. Such reasonable costs may include, but are not limited to, internal staff time, and reasonable costs associated with the retention of consultants to provide additional expertise where needed. In the event such additional expenses are required, the City shall so advise the applicant. Any outstanding amount shall be due upon final action on the application and must be paid prior to the City’s issuance of any permit under this section. Any amounts not expended in the review shall, upon written request to the City be returned to the Applicant.

            Section 2. Chapter 4-23 of the White Plains Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section 4-23-12 to read as follows:

            4-23-12.          Preferred locations for small wireless facilities and notice requirements.

(a) To the extent technically feasible, small wireless facilities should be located first in industrial districts, secondly in business districts and last in residential districts;

(b)  To the extent technically feasible, no  small wireless facilities as defined in 47 C.F.R. §1.6002(1) shall be located in the Front Facade Area of a residential structure,  any public, private and/or state-chartered preschool, elementary school, or secondary school, daycare center or nursing home or use (“Front Facade Area” being the area of the public right-of-way directly in front of any of the aforementioned structures, identified by drawing a perpendicular line from each corner of the structure to the public right-of-way) but rather, if required, such facilities shall be located at the intersecting point of the front and side property lines;

(c)       Notwithstanding the preferences in subsections a and b hereof, the Commissioner of Public Works may approve the location of a small cell wireless facility wherever necessary to meet the Applicant’s network service needs, reduce the facilities aesthetic impact or prevent a violation of law.

(d)   The Applicant shall provide notice of an application for a small wireless facility to the owners of  property, if any, located within 500 feet of the proposed small wireless facility. Such notice shall be sent by certified mail within five (5) days of filing for approval from the City which notice shall indicate (i)that the application is being considered by the Commissioner of Public Works and, if traffic poles are being utilized, by the Deputy Commissioner of Parking for Transportation,  (ii) that the Commissioner(s) may consider whether a nearby location might have less of an aesthetic impact and be a safer location as well as the necessity of a general location to provide adequate service coverage for the Applicant’s network and (iii) all comments should be promptly emailed to DPWadmin@whiteplainsny.gov.

            Section 3. Chapter 4-23 of the White Plains Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section 4-23-13  to read as follows:

            4-23-13 Liability Insurance

All franchise agreements for small wireless facilities as defined in 47 C.F.R. §1.6002(1) shall   provide general liability insurance without a pollution exclusion or in the event that franchisee cannot obtain general liability insurance without a pollution exclusion, the franchisee may supply self-insurance, so long as the net worth of the party electing to self-insure shall exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) in Constant Dollars, upon the following terms:

a.         If the franchisee elects to self-insure for this risk, which would otherwise be covered by third party insurance required to be maintained hereby if such party had not elected to so self-insure, occurs:

            (1) with respect to a  commercial general liability insurance claim that would be covered except for the pollution exclusion clause of the commercial general liability policy, the self-insuring party shall undertake the defense of any such claim, including a defense of the other party, at the sole cost and expense of the self-insuring party;

            (2) the self-insuring party shall use its own funds to pay any claim or otherwise provide the funding which would have been available from insurance proceeds but for the election to self-insure (and this item (2) shall not be construed in any manner to prevent or restrict the self-insuring party from pursuing any claim against any party, except the other party and the other party’s Indemnified Parties, with respect to such claim after the self-insuring party has paid the claim);

            (3) since the franchise agreements require the City to be named as an additional insured, the self-insuring party shall have the same fiduciary duties to the other party that the self-insuring party’s third party insurer would have had to the other party if

            (i) such third party insurer was providing such insurance and

            (ii) such third party insurer had named the other party as an additional insured with respect to such insurance;

            (4) the claim shall be treated as an insured claim hereunder, and

            (5) the expiration or termination of the franchise agreement or any default by the other party hereunder shall not terminate or otherwise affect the obligation of the self-insuring party to provide, through such self-insurance, the insurance coverage the self-insuring party would otherwise be required to obtain from a third party insurer hereunder.

            Section 4. Chapter 4-23 of the White Plains Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section 4-23-14  to read as follows:

            4-23-14  Testing of small wireless facilities

            All franchise agreements for small wireless facilities as defined in 47 C.F.R. §1.6002(1) shall contain a provision requiring the franchisee to provide to the Commissioner of Public Works a report in a format acceptable to the Commissioner of Public Works showing that all installations shall be in compliance with the applicable, mandatory guidelines of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) including those related to radio frequency (“RF”) emissions. In addition, the franchisee shall be required to deposit money into an escrow account with the Commissioner of Public Works  to allow for the retention by the Commissioner of Public Works of a qualified independent testing firm to periodically verify that all RF exposure levels are within FCC  guidelines as said small wireless facilities are operated in the future. The franchisee shall be required to restore the escrow account to the required amount as funds are expended by the Department of Public Works to perform such testing. In the event that such testing performed by a RF engineer or other qualified independent testing company retained by the Commissioner of Public Works reveals that any of said small wireless facilities tested is not operating within the RF exposure levels set by the FCC for “general population/uncontrolled exposure” and/or indicates a substantial change to any areas to which “occupational/controlled exposure” guidelines would apply and/or finds that any of such small cell facilities tested is not complying with other applicable FCC standards, the franchisee shall be required to submit a report from a RF engineer or other qualified independent testing company approved by the Commissioner of Public Works certifying that all of the franchisee’s small wireless facilities  are operating within FCC guidelines and further indicating all areas around all of the franchisee’s small wireless facilities to which “occupational/controlled exposure” guidelines would apply.

            Section 5. Chapter 4-23 of the White Plains Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section 4-23-15 to read as follows:

            4-23-15.          Small wireless facility on private property

            A small wireless facility to be installed on private property shall be subject to the issuance of a permit from the Commissioner of Public Works, the application for which shall include the location and installation details of the facility and shall be subject to the same application fees, as a facility placed in the right of way, set forth in Section 4-23-4(c) of the Municipal Code. The Commissioner of Public Works shall issue an administrative permit for the installation of the facility provided that (1) the facility complies with  all applicable Federal, State and County laws, rules and regulations; (2) the facility complies with all applicable laws, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations of the City now or hereafter enacted and all fees, taxes and other payments required hereunder or by such laws, codes, rules or regulations are paid; (3) all construction, installation, maintenance and repair shall be in compliance with the National Electric Safety Code (NESC) and the National Electric Code (NEC) and, where applicable and required by the FCC, all electrical portions of the facility shall be U/L certified; (4) the facility shall not constitute a hazard to pedestrian safety and (5) the installation shall be designed  by a New York State licensed professional engineer in accordance with the latest TiA/EIA specifications to withstand  sustained winds of 100 mph. The facility shall also be subject to the provisions and requirements of Sections 4-23-12, 4-23-13 and 4-23-14 of the Municipal Code.

            Section 6. Chapter 4-23 of the White Plains Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section 4-23-16 to read as follows:

            4-23-16.          Installation of Equipment

            The Commissioner of Public Works shall only approve equipment to be installed within the public right of way which is authorized by the franchise agreement including that the equipment is of the same or substantially consistent in size, quantity, shape, color, weight, configuration, or other physical properties of one of the approved configurations in the franchise agreement as may be amended from time to reflect the existence of new technologies or equipment.

            Section 7. This ordinance shall take effect immediately.            (Editor’s note: If Common Council approves it Monday evening)