JOHN BAILEY’S TUESDAY WHITE PLAINS REPORT HEARD ON WVOX 1460 ON WESTCHESTER’S NUMBER ONE LOCAL MORNING SHOW “GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER” WITH “DENNIS AND TONNY”

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WPCNR ON THE AIR. TRANSCRIPT OF JOHN BAILEY’S TUESDAY MORNING ON THE AIR APPEARANCE ON THE “DENNIS AND TONNY” WVOX 1460 GOOD MORNING WESTCHESTER TODAY AT 7:50 AM DECEMBER 22, 2020:

HAPPY HOLIDAY! GOOD MORNING FROM WHITE PLAINS NY USA WHERE IT’S 35 CLOUDY WPCNR DEGREES.

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Mayor Roach said in his weekly COVID BRIEFING last night, the County is in the process of transitioning to a new system to track and present Westchester County COVID data.

“As a result, they have discontinued the presentation of the county “map” and have not been providing us with estimated active cases. We have been told that the new system will be operational by the beginning of the year. “

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MAYOR ROACH In the meantime, SAID “as predicted, the raw data confirms continuing increases in new cases in Westchester County and in White Plains.   “

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WPCNR, USING THE DATA ON DISPLAY DAILY AT 2 PM ON THE WORKBOOK NY STATE COVID TRACKER HAS DETERMINED THAT COVID INFECTIONS IN WHITE PLAINS DOUBLED IN THE 20 DAYS SINCE DECEMBER 1ST FROM 10,573 TO 22,679 WITH 433 NEW PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID IN WESTCHESTER TESTING SUNDAY.

THE SUNDAY INFECTION RATE OF WESTCHESTER PERSONS TESTING POSITIVE WAS  5.3% THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF NEW INFECTIONS A DAY FOR THE LAST WEEK IS 586 A DAY. A CLEAR, CONCISE, COMPREHENSIVE COVID MAP OR GISMO OF THE GROWTH RATE OF NEW INFECTIONS FROM THE COUNTY IS LONG OVERDUE.

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WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE THE HYBRID LEARNING FORMAT IT HAS STUCK WITH  WHEN SCHOOLS RESUME IN JANUARY THE WHITE PLAINS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DR. JOSEPH RICCA ANNOUNCED MONDAY.

TO DATE ACCORDING to THE NEW YORK SCHOOL REPORT CARD COVID TRACKER, 108 STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID IN 12 WEEKS OF SCHOOL

THERE ARE 7,200 STUDENTS AND 1,400 STAFF AND TEACHERS, SO THIS MEANS OF 8,600 AT RISK, THE INFECTION RATE AT THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS THROUGH DEC 18 IS 1.3%. THE SCHOOLS IN WHITE PLAINS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM

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Mayor Roach took note of this urgency to self-distance in last night’s message to White Plains, “We are in the midst of the holiday season and I certainly understand that we all want to spend time relaxing with family and friends. This is not the year for it.”  

“How we behave between now and the end of the year, the Mayor said, will determine what we are able to do in January and February. With the vaccine roll out taking place, now is not the time to backslide.”

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 At White Plains Hospital, Mayor Roach said the number of COVID patients has been holding steady.   They continue to perform elective procedures and encourage all community members to go to the hospital if they are in need of emergency care.  

THE MAYOR WAS ON HAND WHEN WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL STARTED VACCINATING ITS FRONT LINE WORKERS. HE SAID THE VACCINE IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL SPRING. THE WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL HAS PREPARED MATERIAL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. YOU CAN LEARN MORE BY GOING TO www.wphospital.org  

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 The Governor has issued an Executive Order allowing local governments to automatically renew STAR benefits for 2021 for all property owners who received the benefit in 2020 and remain eligible for it.  

SPEAKING OF JANUARY RESTAURANT MONTH BEGINS IN WHITE PLAINS JANUARY 2 TO 31ST.

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THE CITY CENTER MANAGEMENT IS BRINGING ON A NEW NON UNION CLEANING FIRM WHICH WANTS TO CUTCLEANING STAFF TO 6 FROM 14 AND ELIMINATE SOME 14 SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION 32BJ EMPLOYEES. THIS WAS PROTESTED BY A DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE CITY CENTER.

 IT IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO TWO YEARS. BY LAW THE CITY CENTER OWNER IS SUPPOSED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNION WORKERS ON SEVERENCES AND POSSIBLE CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. THE SEIU CLEANERS GET ONLY $15 AN HOUR.

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GREENBURGH THIS MORNING INITIATED A BAN ON DOOR-TO-DOOR SOLICIATIONS FOR THE FORESEABLE FUTURE. IT WAS ANNOUNCED BY TOWN SUPERVISOR PAUL FEINER ONE OF ONLY TWO CITY LEADERS ALONG WITH THE MAYOR OF MOUNT VERNON, WHO HAS INSTITUTED NEW ENFORCEMENT MEASURES ON SOCIAL DISTANCING.

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I CONGRATULATE COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER EARLIER ON YOUR PROGRAM THIS MORNING ANNOUNCING THE COUNTY HAS SETTLED ITS LEGAL DISPUTE WITH STANDARD AMUSEMENTS ON PLAYLAND. I PREDICTED THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON “WHITE PLAINS WEEK” FREQUENTLY IN THE LAST YEAR.

The CitizeNetReporter, John Bailey founder of Wpcnr.com reporting since 2000 A.D., is heard Tuesdays at 7:50 AM on WVOX 1460 AM or WVOX.COM on Westchester County’s Number One rated morning show Dennis & Tonny’s Good Morning Westchester. Drivers should pull off the road while listening to avoid being distracted in traffic due to the content you will hear nowhere else.

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https://youtu.be/to9BIlpcEQA
PORT CHESTER CLERGY URGE OBSERVATION OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, LIMIT FAMILY GATHERINGS, NOT ATTEND RELIGIOUS SERVICES
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Greenburgh Prohibits Door-to-Door Soliciting Effective 6:00 A.M Tuesday

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. December 21, 2020:

EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED PROHIBITING PEDDLERS, SOLICITORS AND CANVASSERS FROM GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE DUE TO COVID-19 IN GREENBURGH

 I, Paul J. Feiner, Town Supervisor of the Town of Greenburgh, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, in order to protect residents in the unincorporated section of the Town of Greenburgh, hereby issue the following Local Emergency Order No 1.5  pursuant to the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, specifying that :

  1.  Pursuant to Section 24(1)(b),  Peddlers, Solicitors, and Canvassers as defined in Chapter 390 of the Code of the Town Of Greenburgh, are prohibited from going from house to house or place of business to place of business or any combination thereof for the purpose of peddling, canvassing or soliciting as defined under such chapter during this Town of Greenburgh Declaration of Disaster Emergency, declared on March 17, 2020.

WHEREAS, as of December 9, 2020, in excess of 55,796 residents of Westchester County, including nearly 1,861 residents of the unincorporated section of the Town of Greenburgh, have contracted the Covid-19 virus and 1,539 Westchester County residents suffered Covid-19 virus related deaths; and three nearby Westchester communities remain in colored zones of concern with positive Covid-19 rates well in excess of 5%.

WHEREAS, door to door peddlers, solicitors and canvassers, may put residents of the unincorporated Town of Greenburgh at a greater risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus by traveling door to door to resident’s homes and such residents are more focused on protecting the safety of their families during this public health emergency;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Paul J. Feiner, Town Supervisor of the Town of Greenburgh, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, in order to protect residents in the unincorporated section of the Town of Greenburgh, hereby issue the following Local Emergency Order No 1.5  pursuant to the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, specifying that :

  1.  Pursuant to Section 24(1)(b),  Peddlers, Solicitors, and Canvassers as defined in Chapter 390 of the Code of the Town Of Greenburgh, are prohibited from going from house to house or place of business to place of business or any combination thereof for the purpose of peddling, canvassing or soliciting as defined under such chapter during this Town of Greenburgh Declaration of Disaster Emergency, declared on March 17, 2020.
  1. This Local Emergency Order shall become effective 6:00 am on Tuesday, December 22, 2020.
  1. This Local Emergency Order No. 1.5 shall remain in effect for a period of five (5) days, and automatically renew until the Declared State of Emergency relating to the Covid-19 Virus Outbreak has ceased, or earlier upon a declaration by me, as Town Supervisor, that the State of Emergency no longer exists in the unincorporated section of the Town of Greenburgh.

Issued:  December 21, 2020

       12:00 p.m.

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British Airways Will Test all Passengers for Covid Boarding Flights to NY Complies with Governor Cuomo Request. Vaccine Rollout Detailed. DELTA AIRLINES JOINS BRITISH AIRWAYS. VIRGIN ATLANTIC FOLLOWS

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. December 21, 2020 UPDATED DECEMBER 22, 2020 12 NOON EST:

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that British Airways as agreed to begin testing passengers boarding its planes to the New York area beginning tomorrow. The Governor said that the two other air carriers flying in to Port Authority of NY and NJ airports have not gotten back to him yet.

DELTA AIRLINES AND VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS have follwed British Airways in agreeing to test travelers board flights to the New York area for covid prior to boarding flights in response to Governor Cuomo’s request.

The Governor said New York, with the exception of the Finger Lakes Region had avoided the spikes many states had seen over the Thanksgiving holiday.

He also outlined details on how Coronavirus vaccines would be distributed and how minority communities would receive fair distribution of the vaccine. Here is his news conference on the Covid situation:

https://youtu.be/Txcxjqvnv10
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City Center Mall Plans Dismissing Union Cleaning Staff January 1

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SEIU 32BJ THIS MORNING DELIVERING THE PETITION CALLING FOR KITE REALTY TO OBEY THE LAW

WPCNR LABOR LAW JOURNAL. From the Service Employees International Union 32BJ. December 21, 2020:

Westchester County Legislators Damon Maher, David Tubiolo, Nancy Barr, Ruth Walter, and MaryJane Shimsky joined with union representatives and City Center Mall cleaners to deliver a petition signed by the mall’s 14 workers, asking mall managers Kite Realty Group to help them retain their jobs.

On Thursday last week, this successful, nationwide realty company posted a notice announcing that, on January 1, 2021, the unionized company that cleans the mall will be replaced with a non-union contractor, Gladiator Building Services.

 Despite the clear language of Westchester County’s Displaced Worker law, Gladiator has yet to provide a written job offer to the cleaners.

David Tubiolo with Laura Maria Miranda Varon, one of the SEIU union workers who may lose their job. “It worries me very much, my husband is an independent electrician but he hasn’t had much work since the pandemic hit. We have a 15-year-old daughter and my mother back in Colombia, both of whom depend on us. My job is our main income. It would devastate of us if I were to lose it.” (Photo, SEIU32BJ)
 

In an initial conversation with 32BJ SEIU, a Gladiator representative said the new contractor was planning to reduce the staffing from the current 14 cleaners to six cleaners.

The Gladiator representative would not state whether his company would honor the terms of the current union contract in effect at the mall. 

“Just as Christmas approaches, this hardworking, longstanding group of cleaners is suddenly facing the loss of their jobs in the midst of the worst health and economic crisis of our lifetimes,” said Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President of 32BJ and head of the union in the Hudson Valley.

“Kite Realty is a successful company that can well afford to hire a contractor that would retain the current workforce at their modest wages of $14.50 an hour come the New Year. These workers are now petitioning the mall owners to require the new cleaning company to retain the current workforce at industry standards. Anything less would undercut the high level of cleaning and disinfecting that shoppers and mall workers deserve.”

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WP SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FIRST HALF REPORT

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Dr. Ricca in one of his virtual interviews he conducts frequently for the school district

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By Dr. Joseph Ricca, White Plains Superintendent of Schools. December 21, 2020:

Dear WPCSD Key Communicator,

Happy Holidays!

It is hard to believe that we are in the holiday season, the first semester is ending and that for the past nine months we have all been dealing with one of the greatest public health challenges in the history of the United States of America and the world. 

Unfortunately, even in the best of times, the holidays are often difficult for some.  This year that challenge is magnified.  2020 brought with it a time of stark contrasts:  the joy and excitement of the season versus the difficulties and misfortunes caused by a horrendous pandemic. 

We know many of our families are struggling and along with our effort to be as supportive as we can, we try to impart the hopefulness and happiness that December usually brings. We are committed to hope and we are determined in our mission to ring in 2021 with positivity and a vision for a better, stronger year for all.

As you know, the WPCSD has operated a hybrid system of in-person and remote instruction since September, with learning opportunities both at home and in school.   We have been fortunate to have had a limited number of cases of COVID-19 among our school community. 

Still, when they do occur, we are quick to act — closing a portion of our facilities and/or quarantining affected people.  In some cases, we have had to close an individual school for a short time. 

We will continue to be vigilant and protect our staff and student population.  Safety is our primary consideration. Still, we are #WPProud that we continue to press forward and look for ways to bring stability and continuity to our children and community, wherever possible.

We cannot thank our staff and community partners enough for their dedication and commitment to our students and their families.  They have all gone beyond the ‘call of duty’ to provide whatever is needed to keep us moving forward, not only academically, but socially and emotionally.

If 2020 showed us something, it certainly showed us the everyday heroes in our community, those willing to do whatever it takes to move us forward. We are grateful for all and their on-going efforts to bring support to those in need.

Through the challenges of the pandemic, our students continue to amaze us!  Our students and staff continue to look for new ways to spread joy and share their accomplishments. The High School Theatre Unlimited production was an original play written by WPHS Senior Max Kohn called “A. I. Certification.”  It was created specifically for a Zoom performance and directed by WPHS Teacher, Seren Cepler.  You can enjoy this one-of-a-kind work HERE. 

We are also very proud of our Fall Scholar-Athletes who were honored at the December Board of Education Meeting – 78 members of six athletic teams with 90-or-better averages.  Athletic Director Matt Cameron and our WPHS coaches led a video tribute available HERE. And, let’s hear it for WPHS Senior Christopher Cardenas! Chris was nominated to the US Presidential Scholars program – a tremendous honor. We are so very proud of Christopher and we hope you share in our #WPPride!

Finally, don’t forget to keep up with us on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/wpschools, our website, www.whiteplainspublicschools.org and twitter:  www.twitter.com/wplainsschools 

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

On behalf of the WPCSD Board of Education and the entire WPCSD educational community, we wish you all the very best for a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!              

Respectfully,

Joseph Ricca

GOVERNOR CUOMO CALLS FOR PREBOARDING COVID TESTING ON ALL UK ORIGINATING FLIGHTS INTO NEW YORK. CALLS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT “GROSSLY NEGLIGENT.”

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From WHEC-TV ROCHESTER. December 20, 2020:

WHEC-TV Rochester coverage of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s telephone news conference day reports Governor Cuomo wants to travelers on aircraft traveling to the New York area from Great Britain should be covid tested.

Currently the station reports travelers from the UK are not required to take a Covid test before boarding a plane to the US.

Jennifer Lewke of WHEC-TV quoted Governor Cuomo as saying “right now this variant is getting on a plane and coming to JFK.”

“How many times in life do you have to make the same mistake before you learn?” The federal government is being grossly negligent just like the spring. All it takes is one person.

“We have done absolutely nothing.To me, this is reprehensible.”

The variant is spreading rapidly through England and parts of the UK, is supposedly 70% more transmissible.

Dr. Deborah Birx Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force said on News 12 on the 10:30 PM newscast said “I do not believe it (the new strain) is more deadly, or affects the vaccine. ”

At least six European nations — the Netherlands, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Germany — have already shut down or are about to stop all U.K. flights.

As many as 120 countries — but not the U.S. — require a negative COVID test for travelers before they leave the U.K. 

Foreign nationals are currently banned from flying into the U.S. if they’ve been in any of several European and other countries in the past 14 days. But American citizens are free to fly back and forth. There are currently six daily flights from the U.K. to New York, Cuomo noted.

Britain this week instituted stiff new coronavirus restrictions for England, with particularly stringent limits in the South-East, East and in London, where households are prohibited from mixing even over Christmas.

The government announced the frightening rates of transmission of the new strain as cases burgeoned in southern and eastern regions of England. The strain was first detected in September, but its rates of transmission were reported last week.

Cuomo said a new virus variant discovered in the U.K. has led to at least 120 countries either banning travelers or requiring they get tested before boarding a plane to NY. Right now the New York Port Authority does not have the jurisdiction to do the tests.

Governor Cuomo used the call to remind reporters on the call that the virus came to the U.S. and the New York area carried by travelers on flights from China and the Pacific in January and on flights from Europe which infected New York City rapidly in the spring.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed plans to shut down some businesses and require people to cancel their Christmas gatherings

The super virus transmission volatility was first reported by The Independent two weeks ago.

$908 Billion in Relief for Struggling Americans, Businesses, Special Interests, from Washington. No Relief for States’ Loss of Revenues. Details Sketchy. STIMULUS PAYMENTS CONTINUE BUT CUT IN HALF. END IN MARCH.

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WPCNR WASHINGTON WIRE. From The Associated Press. December 20, 2020:

The Associated Press reported late Sunday evening that congress agreed to enact a $300 “bonus jobless benefit” per week lasting through March.

There will be new round of 11 weeks of a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans and a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction, no details provided yet.

There was no relief for states income losses due to coronavirus and economic tax and revenue losses as many governors, including Governor Andrew M. Cuomo have called on Washington and their representatives in congress to deliver for 10 months.

Congressional leaders Senator Charles Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said this bill was “just the first step” and the states’ economic needs would be addressed later.

The $300 per week bonus jobless benefit was one half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the $1.8 billion CARES Act last March and would be limited to 11 weeks instead of 16 weeks.

The additional direct $600 stimulus payment to most people would also be half the previous $1,200 March payment, contingent on lower payments after $75,000 in income

“We put our heads down and worked around the clock for nearly a month to produce a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address the emergency needs of our country,” the bipartisan group of about a dozen lawmakers said in a statement. “Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package.”

The sustaining of aid to unemployed Americans is part of the Government appropriations bill, scheduled to be voted on Monday in both houses.

There is $284 Billion agreed to for the Paycheck Protection Program,providing more Paycheck Protection Program grants (with no details provided yet) to “hard hit businesses,” as the AP called them. There were also grants for low-income and minority communities, no details.

These “Benies” include $25 billion in rental assistance (no details yet), $15 billion for theaters and other live venues, $82 billion for local schools, colleges and universities, and $10 billion for child care.

The AP said a $1.4 Billion payment was likely to provide a last $1.4 billion payment for the U.S.-Mexico border wall “as a condition of winning President Donald Trump’s approving the Apropriations Bill that funds the U.S. through next September.

There’s more:

  • $10 billion for 46 Army Corps of Engineers flood control, environmental and coastal protection projects.
  • Extension expiring tax breaks for craft brewers wineries and distillersAnother addition would extend a batch of soon-to-expire tax breaks, including one for craft brewers, wineries and distillers.

  • Clean energy provisions
  • $7 billion to increase access to broadband,
  • $4 billion to help other nations vaccinate their people.
  • $14 billion for transit systems, Amtrak and airports.
  • $22 Billion more to help states and localities with COVID-19
  • Relief for persons with sky high medical expenses, which the AP attributed to health care providers drop out of insurance networks.

“We put our heads down and worked around the clock for nearly a month to produce a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address the emergency needs of our country,” the bipartisan group of about a dozen lawmakers said in a statement. “Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package.”

SATURDAY NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES IN WESTCHESTER REPORTED: 535. TOTAL RISE IN NEW COVID CASES IN 19 DAYS SINCE DEC 1: 22,246, AVERAGING 1,170 NEW WITH COVID A DAY WESTCHESTER INFECTION RATE 6.3%.

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The Saturday Westchester New Cases.
The Friday new cases in Westchester County
The Thursday New Westchester Cases
Mid Hudson region NYC and Long Island in growing spread.

WPCNR CORONA VIRUS REPORT. Compiled from the Workbook NY State Tracker. December 20, 2020:

The number of Westchester persons testing positive for corona virus on Saturday saw the infection rate rise to 6.3% of 8,495 persons tested. A total of 535 Westchester persons were found to be positive, raising the number of persons with Covid to 22,246 –all newly infected in the last 19 days.

With vaccinations of the new Pfizer vaccines starting among medical workers in the last week and a second vaccine due to arrive in the next two days, the vaccination campaign cannot ramp up soon enough.

In the last 7 days the infection rate (number of persons tested found positive with the virus, has averaged just shy of 6% (5.98), and new cases have averaged 586 persons a day since last Sunday (Dec. 13). This average the previous 7 Days (Dec. 5 to Dec. 13) was 579 new tested positive persons a day. The spread of the virus is not slowing.

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