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PLUS THE WESTCHESTER STATE SENATORS AND ASSEMBLYPERSONS BUDGET HEARINGS
TEXAS ON ICE — COULD IT HAPPEN HERE? NO. MIKE WELCH OF WESTCHESTER POWER TELLS YOU WHY
NOW THE STATE HOUSE WANTS TO TAKE AWAY GOVERNOR CUOMO’S SUPER POWERS. AFTER 12 MONTHS?
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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2021. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2021.
At a virtual meeting of the White Plains Democratic City Committee this evening, committee District Leaders nominated George Latimer for County Executive, Benjamin Boykin for County Legislator and nominated Mayor Thomas Roach to run for a third term as Mayor. Incumbents John Martin, Councilman since 2011 was nominated to run for another full term as Councilman, and Justin Brasch to run for reelection to the White Plains Common Council for a second term
A first-time candidate for Common Council, Richard Payne, Organization Chairman of the City Committee was nominated to run instead of John Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick, an incumbent Councilman who has served for two full terms.
The vote officially nominating Mr. Payne took place because Kirkpatrick contested the nomination.
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BRITTANY BRANDWEIN ON
HOW RESTAURANT MONTH LIFTED UP WHITE PLAINS TO A BETTER JANUARY THAN DECEMBER
HOW FITNESS FEBRUARY IS INTRODUCING NEW CUSTOMERS TO 17 FITNESS BUSINESSES –AND THERE IS STILL 10 DAYS TO GO TO GET READY FOR THE BEACH
HOW RESTAURANTS ARE DOING-RESPONDING-KEEPING IN BUSINESS
THE KEY TO ADJUSTING TO THE MARKET: TAKE OUT, DELIVERY, ONLINE PRESENCE
COME ON DOWN, DOWNTOWN
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| WPCNR GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO CORONAVIRUS REPORT. February 18, 2021: All of our decisions are guided by science and data and we adjust as the virus adjusts. With continued decreases in the infection and hospitalization rates, we are able to take steps in our post-COVID recovery and we are now in a place where we can bring back our recreational industries with the proper safety protocols in place. Indoor family entertainment centers will be able to reopen with 25 percent capacity and health protocols starting Friday, March 26th. Outdoor amusement parks can open with a 33 percent capacity starting Friday, April 9th. As we’ve said time and time again, our success will be determined by our actions and as long as we stay united and keep carrying this progress forward we will be able to see more and more sectors of our economy reopen. 1. Four major vaccination sites will open in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Yonkers in partnership with FEMA. These four vaccination sites outside of New York City will vaccinate approximately 1,000 New Yorkers each day beginning the first week of March, and appointments will be initially reserved for members of the community in which the sites are located. These sites will help us in our goal of ensuring vaccine access in socially vulnerable communities, and we thank the federal government for their partnership. More details will come soon. 2. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 6,574. Of the 169,963 tests reported yesterday, 6,092, or 3.58 percent, were positive. There were 1,273 patients in ICU yesterday, up two from the previous day. Of them, 854 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 109 New Yorkers to the virus. 3. As of 11am Wednesday morning, 91 percent of first doses allocated to the state have been administered. This represents 2,068,561 first doses administered of the 2,263,960 first dose allocations received from the federal government. So far, 942,833 second doses have been administered out of the 1,231,325 second doses received. To date, NYS distribution sites have administered 94 percent of first doses received for weeks 1-9. See data by region on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker. 4. There are now a total of 82 known cases of the UK COVID variant in New York State. Twelve additional cases of the UK variant were identified: Eleven in New York City and one in Broome County. 5. Day and overnight summer camps in New York State can begin to plan for reopening. The Department of Health will issue specific reopening guidance, including details on timing, in the coming weeks. Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo |
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Today
Snow, mainly after 10am. High near 28. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Tonight
Snow. Low around 26. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday
Snow, mainly before 3pm. High near 33. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Northeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Friday Night
A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph.
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WPCNR Westchester County Clarion-Ledger. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. February 18, 2021:
Westchester County Sciences Accelerator, WCBA Wednesday announced the second cohort of emerging biosciences ventures invited to participate in the annual program.
County Executive George Latimer said: “This is what Westchester County’s economic plan is about – merging great ideas in the private sector with support from County government to cultivate them. These entrepreneurs have proven already to show they have the dedication required and I look forward to watching their future successes.”
Twelve ventures will participate in the 6 month-long program that features entrepreneurship education, coaching and mentoring, to develop fundable business plans and expand the Biosciences community in Westchester. Ventures are supported by an experienced entrepreneur coach and receive customized business networking introductions to business professionals to help advance their early stage ventures.
The 2021 WCBA cohort participants and ventures include:
WCBA Program Director Mary Howard, said: “We are excited to launch the 2021 cohort and continue to support emerging Westchester bioscience ventures fundraising and implementing life-saving technologies.”
Graduating in June, 2020, WCBA alums have achieved important milestones including Farzenah Ahmadi, Laronix, starting clinical trials for their bionic voice box after closing an angel round matched by the Australian government; Bina Basinath and Jacob Nye, Colon.ai, funded by Health Wildcatters in Dallas; and Parsa Mirhaji Cognome implementing AI analytics software at Montefiore to develop the hospital’s COVID treatment protocol.
For more information on these ventures and their successes, visit Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator.
The WCBA is supported by Wilson Sonsini, and by Target Health.
Jules Mitchel, MBA, PhD, CEO Target Health, LLC, a dMed Company, stated that “he was very pleased for Target Health to be a Corporate Sponsor of the Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator.”
About Target Health and dMed: Target Health LLC, a New York City based dMed Company, is a full-service CRO and Clinical Trials Software company committed, through creative collaboration, to serve the pharmaceutical community with knowledge, experience, technology and connectivity. Target Health’s staff are dedicated to all aspects of Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Research, Biostatistics, Data Management, Internet-Based Clinical Trials (EDC, electronic data capture), Software Development, Strategic Planning and Drug and Device Development supporting the pharmaceutical industry. Target Health LLC was acquired by dMed Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. (“dMed Global”) in September 2019. dMed is the leading next generation global clinical development partner uniquely and strongly positioned in China and the US, the world’s two largest markets, and is committed to enable customers to accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions to patients worldwide.
Craig Kenesky, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati said “Wilson Sonsini is excited to be a part of the life science expansion in Westchester County. Westchester has all the right ingredients: some prominent, local medical institutions, early-stage lab space, capital, a few success stories, government support, and it is a great place to live. Westchester will have a great synergy with New York City, and is poised to grow up even faster based on the advances in this region over the past ten years. We will really enjoy being a part of this vibrant and promising community. “
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s legacy closely traces the birth and evolution of Silicon Valley. For nearly six decades, the firm has represented the technology pioneers associated with virtually every milestone innovation. Today, Wilson Sonsini is synonymous with ushering promising, innovative companies through their business life cycle.
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WPCNR GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO CORONAVIRUS REPORT. February 17, 2021:
On Sunday, we expanded eligibility to include New Yorkers with qualifying comorbidities and underlying conditions.
And on Sunday we saw the largest single-day registration total since vaccinations began: 250,924 New Yorkers made appointments at a rate of nearly 10,000 per hour.
While we wait for supply to increase, we’re doing everything we can to roll out the vaccine to as many eligible New Yorkers as possible with what vaccine supply we currently have.
I ask New Yorkers to remain patient when trying to schedule appointments. And to wear masks and keep socially distant as we continue to battle this deadly virus.
Photo of the Day: On Saturday, Niagara Falls was illuminated in red, black and green to celebrate Black History Month (Photo courtesy NY State Parks) Here’s what else you need to know tonight:
1. The MTA will expand overnight service on the Subway. Effective Monday, February 22nd, the MTA will extend late-night subway service by two hours, moving to a 2 a.m. – 4 a.m. closure daily. The changes will lengthen the subway’s operations by two hours while enabling the MTA to continue the most aggressive deep cleaning and disinfecting regimen in its history.
2. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 6,620. Of the 136,392 tests reported yesterday, 6,753, or 4.95 percent, were positive. There were 1,271 patients in ICU yesterday, up one from the previous day. Of them, 878 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 107 New Yorkers to the virus.
3. As of 11am Tuesday morning, 92 percent of first doses allocated to the state have been administered. This represents 2,024,225 first doses administered of the 2,192,675 first dose allocations received from the federal government.
So far, 900,303 second doses have been administered out of the 1,178,350 second doses received. See data by region on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.
4. A case of the South African COVID-19 virus variant has been found in New York. A Connecticut resident who is a patient in a New York City hospital has tested positive for the South African variant. There is no evidence of any spread in New York State to date, but regardless, all New Yorkers should continue to exercise vigilance in the face of COVID and its variants.
Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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The data is continuing to show a decline in active COVID cases in in White Plains. There are currently an estimated 388 active cases in our City, down 102 from our call last week. Over the past 7 days we have averaged 30 new cases per day.
The number of COVID patients at White Plains hospital has declined; patients are encouraged to come to the hospital if they are in need of care.
We appear to have moved past the post holiday surge, our next challenge is to guard against mutations of the virus known as variants, some of which appear to make the virus easier to transmit between people.
The CDC has provided additional guidance on the most effective masks and the most effective ways to make use of them to protect yourself and others. Please go to the City of White Plains website cityofwhiteplains.com for more information.
The number of persons authorized to obtain a vaccination has expanded but the demand continues to far exceed the supply and as a result appointments remain difficult to secure.
Eligible residents should continue to check the state website (at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/) or call the state Hotline to check for new openings. You can also sign up for alerts about vaccine eligibility from the Westchester County Department of Health. Further information is available on the city’s website.
This week is Winter Break for the White Plains School District and our beloved Ebersole Ice Rink is open for special White Plains Resident only sessions Wednesday 2/17 and Thursday 2/18 from 1:30-3:30. Skate rentals are available come out and join us!
Our next call is on Monday, February 22nd. Until then remember, we’re standing together by staying apart.
Las estadísticas indican que los casos activos de COVID en White Plains están disminuyendo. Actualmente hay un estimado de 388 casos activos en nuestra ciudad, 102 menos que la última vez que lo llamamos la semana pasada. Durante los últimos 7 días, ha habido un promedio de 30 casos nuevos por día. El número de pacientes con COVID en el hospital de White Plains ha disminuido. Animamos a los pacientes a que acudan al hospital si necesitan atención.
Al parecer estamos pasando la oleada de infecciones posterior a los feriados y ahora debemos protegernos contra las variaciones del virus que lo hacen más infeccioso. La CDC ha dado nuevas recomendaciones sobre las mascarillas más efectivas que lo proporcionen mayor protección. Por favor visite la página web de la ciudad para más información.
Aunque puede que califique para la vacuna, la demanda supera con creces la cantidad de vacunas disponibles y, como resultado, las citas siguen siendo difíciles de conseguir. Los residentes que cumplan con los requisitos deben seguir visitando el sitio web del estado: https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ o llame a la línea directa del estado para verificar si hay nuevas vacantes. También puede inscribirse para recibir alertas del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Westchester. Vaya a cityofwhiteplains.com para obtener más información.
¡Esta semana son las vacaciones de invierno para el distrito escolar de White Plains! La pista de hielo de Ebersole está abierta para sesiones públicas de residentes de WP el miércoles 17 de febrero y el jueves 18 de febrero de 1:30 a 3:30. ¡Vaya y disfrute de esta entretenida actividad!
Nuestra próxima llamada es el lunes 22 de febrero. Hasta entonces, y recuerde que estamos más juntos manteniéndonos más separados.
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JOHN BAILEY
The Old CitizeNetReporter at the WVOX mircrophone
Appears weekly on WVOX at 7:50 AM with the White Plains Report a feature of the nicest people on the radio, Dennis Nardone and Tonny on Good Morning Westchester at WVOX 1460 AM AND WVOX.COM. Here is a transcript of today’s report.
Good Morning, Dennis from White Plains New York USA where its 40 misty, miserable WPCNR degrees.
White Plains Fitness February promotion is starting its last 13 days for citizens from all over the count can try special offerings from White Plains Fitness businesses that offer free trial classes, new member deals and workout bundles,
You can find out all about it by going to www.wpbid.com
Next month the BID will be staging March Into SelfCare, featuring special discounts and prices on beauty treatments haircuts and massages from more than 20 White Plains grooming establishments. More details on the deals to come
Westchester County had a good 6 days in coronavirus positives, Dennis. Infection rates of those tested took dives.
If you follow the positive tests numbers on February 9 one week ago, 4.6% tested positive, the 10th, 4.6%, the 11th, 4.2% dropping to 4% on the 12th, lower than it’s been for weeks. Up slightly to 4.2% the 13th, and 3.6% on Valentine’s Day when people obviously behaved themselves.
The positive test average was 4.4%
Positives have not been this low since the week of November 11 through 17, 2020. That week last November, 2,324 positives were registered . The last six days through Valentine’s Day 2, 912 positives were recorded compared to the 2,324 that week in November when Westchester started its rise in cases again. The County is at 50% less positive cases the benning of the pandemic 10 months ago.
The percentage of positive cases though very good news and thanks perhaps to the cold weather and an abundance of caution is not a sign to relax.
Those 2, 912 new persons of 68,934 tests diagnosed with covid means that if the hospitalization rate continues at 5% of those infected, if the current medication is not as effective as we believe it is, if we think we are immune—we may have 145 of those 2,912 new cases being hospitalized within 10 days.
We have to keep taking precautions still…lower positive rates does not mean covid is gone. You just have not encountered it yet. Or you did but were wearing a mask, and did not get it.
There’s another factor that continues to make Westchester vulnerable to Covid, Dennis.
Hunger.
I did some research yesterday for another organization, and I was astounded to learn that more ever our neighbors right here in White Plains need our help. The Covid-19 epidemic has overwhelmed Meals on Wheels. The need for meals has doubled since last March.
The number of volunteers who deliver meals has gone down. Meals on Wheels is seeking more volunteers or donate time or money to keep their outreach to the shut-ins, and unmobile persons needing to eat. $54 supplies two meals a day to for a week for one person. You can learn more about Meals on Wheels at www.mowwp.org.
Lifting Up Westchester in White Plains feeds 60-80 persons every weekday Monday through Friday at Grace Episcopal Church they also provide sandwiches and canned food for take-home each day and Fridays, individuals can take enough food to last the weekend.
The staggering truth is that according to Feeding Westchester the organization of 300 partners across the county provided twice as many meals in 2020 than in 2019. They served between 260,000 to 300,000 residents in Westchester in 10 months.
There are 1 million people living in Westchester. This means one third of them are hungry every day.
The county provided $400,000 for food relief to such organizations, but this problem is so chronic due to job losses, having to stay at home, and lost wages due to the epidemic that the need deserves more effort of the county to address it. Perhaps paying restaurants and food establishments to stay open (employ more staff) and serve hot and cold meals to hungry residents in need. When the Covid plague goes away they will be customers for life.
People who Line up for food today is not just homeless and mentally ill persons. Grace Church says the hungry may be unemployed day laborers, retired persons, young men and women unable to find jobs or recent immigrants who have jobs, but who need help to make pay checks stretch.
See you next week.