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White Plains TV’s WPCNR weekly news roundup– WHITE PLAINS WEEK, the latest program is viewable worldwide on YouTube. John Bailey covers the Supreme Court decision on Cuomo capacity restrictions on churches, George Latimer on COVID spread in the county, the White Plains and Westchester economy, unemployment and more. Just click the video arrow above to see the Friday evening report.

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. Thanksgiving Portfolio, all photos by WPCNR: On this Thanksgiving, let us remember the band of hardy intrepid souls who crossed an ocean in a boat no  bigger than a large Chris Craft and settled in an unforgiving landscape and started a country in the cold landscape of New England.

They were helped by Indians who welcomed them, without whom they would not have survived. A salute to this brave band.

They sailed into a bay, dropped anchor and just carved out a living after living in incredible conditions in a ship’s hold for weeks, crossing the storm-tossed North Atlantic. Here are some views of America’s first hometown captured by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.

Plymouth Rock Landing. Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Mayflower II. Plymouth Harbor.

Statue of Squanto welcoming the Pilgrim Settlers. Plymouth.

Governor William Bradford Statue on the Shores of Plymouth Harbor

“Plymouth Rock,” The landing place of the pilgrims.

Settlers Home, left, circa 1690.

Church, Plymouth late 1700s. .

The Jury: Old Burial Ground, Plymouth. Last resting place of the pilgrims overlooking Plymouth Harbor. The sacrifices, bravery and true grit of these persons stand as examples to Americans today. How are we doin’?

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Benjamin Boykin, Chairman of the Board of Legislators , November 25, 2020:

The Board of Legislators will conduct a remote public hearing on the proposed Westchester County 2021 Budget on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 7 p.m.

Pursuant to Executive Orders from Governor Cuomo, to protect public health and safety, the hearing will be held without in-person access, but members of the public may participate several ways:

TO WATCH

The hearing will be streamed live and be archived our website, www.westchesterlegisltors.com.  To stream it live, please navigate to the Current/On-Demand Meetings section of site  —  https://westchestercountyny.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1.  A live link to the meeting will appear on our Upcoming Events list when the hearing begins.

TO SPEAK OR SUBMIT COMMENTS

The information below is for people who intend to speak or submit comments at the hearing.  If you would like to watch but not speak, we encourage you use our web video streaming system as noted above.

• Online:  To register to speak via the Board’s Webex teleconferencing system, please visit: https://westchestergov.webex.com/westchestergov/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee889d58fbd92372bcf3074eb34be3247
   
• By phone: Speakers may call 1-844-621-3956 when the meeting begins and use the event number: 178 866 6052.
   
• In writing: Written statements may be submitted in advance and will be included in the record. Written comments may emailed to BOLPublicHearingComments@westchesterlegislators.com, by 5 p.m., December, 9, 2020; or physically mailed to the Clerk of the Board of Legislators, 148 Martine Ave., 8th Floor, White Plains, NY 10601. These must be postmarked by December 9, 2020.

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Browsing is Suspended at White Plains Library
Use Our Grab & Go Pickup Service

In response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Westchester County, the Library is suspending browsing in the building. This means there will be no access to our first floor collections or the Trove beginning Friday, November 27.

We will continue to offer our Grab & Go pickup service in our vestibule as well as reference services via phone, text, and email.

Our online programs and services remain unaffected.

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WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT By John F. Bailey. (reprinted from November, 2001) UPDATED. November 23, 2020:

Someone made a big mistake this year. The papers on November 22nd had no reference to the day John F. Kennedy was shot and killed. 

November 22 at 1 in the afternoon in Dallas, Texas.

Today is the day in Dallas 57 years ago on Friday afternoon when President John F. Kennedy was shot riding in his motorcade in front of the Texas Book Depository Building.

November 22,  1963. A most unfortunate coincidence that someone should have noticed.

Fifty-seven years ago yesterday at about midday eastern standard time, President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas.

When I heard the news, I was heading up the steps of  Gray Chapel at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. It was sobering news. Then within the hour it was reported that the President was dead, and the search was on for potential suspects.

It was the first time in my life a national event had ever affected me.

Persons in their late 60s can probably remember exactly what they were doing when they heard that electrifying news.

Disbelief. Concern. Sadness.

Who would shoot the President?  How could they? The President no matter who he was was revered and respected at that time — not ridiculed, mocked, vilified, and criticised for his every move as he is today.

President Kennedy’s popularity was ebbing at that time. The public was initially inspired by the vision of Camelot and the likable, energetic young president. However, by the time he was assassinated, President Kennedy was coming under harsh criticism for his foreign policy and his inability to move an agenda through congress.

He was ridiculed by impressionists and pushed around by congressional heavyweights — eerily not too much different from our President today, who today pushes congress members around, insults critics, imprisons children in cages, and refuses to abide by an election result.

When Kennedy was shot, the American public, even those who disagreed with his politics and considered him in over his head in the presidency, were stunned by grief and horror.

Nothing had happened like that in America since 1901 when President William McKinley was assassinated.

An entire nation reflected in guilt for a week as the three television networks showed 24 hours a day assassination and funeral coverage. Walter Cronkite shed a tear on camera when he reported Kennedy was dead.

Until the Trade Center Horror in 2001, this nation had not experienced anything on that national scale of reaction to an event.(With the exception of the Detroit riots in 1967 and anti-Viet Nam War protests.)

Were we a more sensitive nation then? More sensitive to what killing actually is? I wonder. In the fast-moving sensationalism of news today, would the same sensitivity be there today? No.

Or, have we been hardened to violence, and do we now see violence as more of an acceptable solution to problems than to be avoided at all costs? Yes, we do. And we have a President who urges the right to violence.

It seems so. With disgruntled misfits just taking guns and shooting innocent people and they get $2 Million bail when apprehended instead of no right to bail.

I remember how Americans sat mesmerized in front of their televisions as the Kennedy goodbye played out.

I remember, too how Kennedy’s death swiftly paved the way for the landmark Civil Rights act of 1965, legislated by Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. That legislation, without Kennedy’s assassination would probably never have been passed. I believe it passed because of collective guilt over Kennedy’s demise.

For 57 years, politicians, when their charisma is measured, have always been compared to Mr. Kennedy.

However, charisma does not get things done any more and it has lost its lustre as being a good thing.

Charisma and popularity does not make for change by itself. The last four we have seen the downside of charisma without compassion and thought. It is nice but it achieves nothing unless you have some good solid ideas, management skills, and are willing to work hard for it. And compromise for the greater good.

Even, then, as a recent Kennedyesque President, Barack Obama found out, it may not happen.

However, the political rancor and hysterical hatred of our President  Obama that was expressed in the Republican debates, on talk radio and by candidates who should know better back in 2016, created an atmosphere of disrespect for then President Obama and the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton exceeded even that aimed at George W. Bush.

The lack of respect for President Trump today and hatred of Democrats has created an atmosphere that is far more dangerous for the President and the country  than we can ever tell.

Mr. Trump has polarized the nation into two warring camps with unprecedented name-calling, purely nasty, hurtful policies towards minorities and immigrants, and planned takeaways of health care, and blatant giveaways to robber barons on poshly appointed carpetted crags in concrete canyons reminiscent of the cruel British aristocracies.

The toxicity against the Presidents, both Obama and now President Trump (though much is of Mr. Trump’s own immaturity and inability to manage) has been inflamed

Mr. Trump’s whining about the election being rigged is reckless and immature. Rich kid’s whining. No presidential candidate has ever acted this way before.

Al Gore when he lost the 2000 election did not, to my memory come out and call for revolution.

Romney’s petulance in 2012 at his defeat by President Obama started a tradition of losing ungracefully. Voters saw right through this Guy Smiley of a candidate they in their guts knew the phony he was. Voters were not as astute in 2016.

Romney’s comments to his donors, were echoed by  Michael Steele’s statement about Emperor Obama and his “reign of lawlessness” is exactly the sort of talk that paved the way for the Republican campaign of hatred in 2016. It was irresponsible of Romney and Steele.

A losing Presidential candidate has one job, unite behind the new leader. Romney is the only President in my memory ever to act this way.

The Republicans’ inability to compromise has stalled the nation on recovery, immigration, health care…you name the issue, the Republican Party has stalled progress in their frantic effort to roll back the clock to the turn of the 20th century.

We should always remember The Republicans’ whining. Bullies always whine. Fixers always are sore losers.

Ideas and rhetoric are one thing, but to vilify President Obama on the scale of what we heard in 2016 was irresponsible. Because it was listened to by persons across the country who suddenly got the “OK” from Republican candidates and “leaders” that it was ok to hate, to blame America’s problems on immigrants, and trade policies, and ignore science.

When educated leaders in congress endorse the policies of hate and punishment people can be OK with that? Leaders are giving people license to hate and hurt, discriminate, exploit, kill and build up themselves at the expense of others.

They elected a President who has done just that. Just that.

So when you sit down to turkey Thursday give a thought to be thankful for a nation that once did not rise up in arms whenever a leader is elected that a portion of the populace does not like.

Be thankful that the American people once spoke and felt as one, and hopefully will learn to do so again even though we disagree.

I hope so.