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.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo extended the deadline for school budget absentee ballots to be received from June 9 to June 16, because of printing delays in districts across the state.
Dr. Joseph Ricca Superintendent of Schools for White Plains, clarified some questions on how this affected White Plains in a brief interview with WPCNR this morning:
(WPCNR )1. The absentee ballots have to be mailed in correct? They cannot be dropped off past 5 o’clock tomorrow?
[JLR] Ballots can be dropped until 5PM tomorrow. Thereafter, must be mailed.
(WPCNR:) Or can they be dropped off at ed house up to June 16, 5 PM?[JLR] Please see above.
(WPCNR:) 3. Will results be delayed being counted until June 16?
[JLR] Yes
(WPCNR) 4. Or will results once half the absentee ballots are in and Yes’s have substantial majority, be announced sooner than June 16…?
[JLR] No counting may take place until the 16th at 5PM
(WPCNR) 5. If budget fails, when would revote take place?
Confirms 1,108 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State – Bringing Statewide Total to 377,316; New Cases in 45 Counties
WPCNR SATURDAY GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO CORONAVIRUSBREIFING. From the Governor’s Press Office. June 6, 2020:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state has reached the lowest number of hospitalizations and deaths since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of total hospitalizations was down yesterday to 2,603 from a record-high of 18,825 during the peak of the pandemic, and 35 people in New York passed away due to COVID-19, down from a record-high of 800 just eight weeks ago.
Governor Cuomo also announced places of worship will be permitted to reopen with 25 percent occupancy with all social distancing protocols in place during phase two of reopening. Places of worship in the seven regions that have already entered phase two – the Capital Region, Central New York, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern Tier and Western New York – can reopen beginning tomorrow, June 7th.
The Governor also announced he will issue an Executive Order allowing commercial buildings to conduct temperature checks for anyone entering the building as office workers begin to return to the workplace.
The Governor also announced New York City remains on track to enter phase one of reopening on Monday June 8th. The percent of positive COVID tests per day in New York City has dropped from a high of 57 percent per day to 2 percent per day. New York Forward guidance for phase one reopening can be found here.
The Governor also announced that in anticipation of New York City’s reopening, the state is deploying over one million masks, as well as 25,000 gallons and 500,000 2 oz. bottles of sanitizer to the MTA.
“The reopening of the economy is a valve – we said we were going to open the valve incrementally and then watch the metrics, and our metrics today are all very good so we’re going to open the valve more than we originally anticipated,” Governor Cuomo said. “We now have the lowest number of hospitalizations and deaths from coronavirus since this pandemic began – which is great news – so we are going to accelerate the opening of temples, mosques and churches and allow these places of worship to open with up to 25 percent capacity in phase two. But people still have to stay smart and follow all the necessary precautions and guidelines because if the metrics start to change, the reopening will have to be slowed down.”
Finally, the Governor confirmed 1,108 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 377,316 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 377,316 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
It is 76 years today since allied troops died and lived on Normandy beaches in the largest military operation in history to turn the tide against Nazi Germany, the ultimate evil Third Reich.
It is a day to remember, reflect. Examine ourselves. Would we have the courage those men and women did? Do we have their believe in truth, justice and the American Way?
I thought in preparing my simple news program, what kind of a visual should I put up to remember those brave who faced massive, withering fire hitting them and killing them instantly on those beaches? Should it be the sobering pictures of the wounded? The sobering lineups of corpses in the sand? An empty soldier’s helmet upside down on the beach? The overhead awe-inspiring photographs of the landing?
I chose this: thousands of crosses to remember who died together fighting tyranny and evil because you must always fight tyranny and evil and hate together. You cannot negotiate with it. There is no excuse for it then and certainly not today.
The crosses are all the same.
There are thousands of them in graveyards like the one shown here. The horror of sacrificed humanity, all the same in death, united in death, whether black, latino, Brit, American, Canadian, Australian, no matter their nationality, creed, religion. They were all equal in death comrades in death.
Next time you hear the speeches of hate and prejudice and superiority, please remember this picture and this day.
Seventy-SIX years ago this morning, thousands of troops stormed the beaches in Normandy, France in the largest invasion in history. The bloody assault against a heavily defended coastline, requiring incredible courage and sacrifice (certain deaths) of allied troops, landing craft, paratroops, signaled the beginning of the end of the Third Reich and the evil regime of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
The quiet beaches of Normandy today. The hundreds of rows of white crosses in cemeteries around the little town bear silent eternal testimony and tribute to the sacrifice of those brave men and women who fought, died, and triumphed this day 75 years ago today.
We can in no way, or through any motion picture know what any veteran experienced that day. The veterans who still are with us do not like to talk about their combat experiences. And they do not.
One veteran of D-Day, asked what he thought of Saving Private Ryan, the movie of a few years ago depicting the landing and the realism of it, said the real D-Day was worse. However, veterans we have interviewed remark that they think of their combat experience every day. It is always with them.
The great battle was at its height this morning. Horror. Hell. Suffering beyond imagination.
It is inconceivable to me that I could ever be able to do what these men and women did. I would like to hope I could have. However, the veterans have.
They left ordinary lives as teenagers office workers, factory workers, farmers, accountants, and what have you and were able to go to war and “rise to the occasion,” or as they say today, “step it up to the next level.” The highest level.
Rising to the occasion is hard. Stepping it up to the next level is hard. Giving all in vain is heartbreaking.
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.From the League of Women Voters. June 5, 2020:
We have been advised by the White Plains School District that absentee ballots for the June 9 Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election have been mailed. For various reasons they have been slow to arrive at people’s homes but they are being delivered.
If for some reason you do not receive a ballot and are eligible to vote, then a ballot may be obtained in-person at Education House (5 Homeside Lane) during business hours until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 9.
Completed ballots must be received either by mail or deposited in a special ballot box at Education House no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 9.
DON’T MISS DR. JOSEPH RICCA, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND DR. ANN VACCARO-TEICH ON THE BUDGET AT 12 NOON TODAY ON FIOS CH. 45 AND ALTICE CH. 76 OR ANYTIME AT www.wpcommunitymedia.org (just scroll down to “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” ON THE VIDEO WALL.THE ENVELOPE YOU SHOULD LOOK FORWHAT’S IN YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT ENVELOPE. READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. June 5, 2020:
This summer, Westchester County will be opening four public pools. On Friday, June 26 Saxon Woods Pool in White Plains and Sprain Ridge Pool in Yonkers will open followed by Willson Woods Pool in Mount Vernon and Tibbetts Brook Pool in Yonkers on July 3 – all with some slight modifications to help ensure safety in the age of Covid-19.
Modifications include:
· No Aqua Playground at Saxon Woods Pool.
· No Aqua Splash Pad at Sprain Ridge Pool
· No Waves in the Wave Pool or Aqua Playground/Splash Pad at Willson Woods Pool
· No Lazy River Tubes, Aqua Playground, Water Slides or Basketball Court at Tibbetts Brook Park Pool.
To further ensure safety, the pools will follow New York State and Westchester County Department of Health regulations of 50% maximum occupancy. The pools will be first come first serve entry with two public pool sessions throughout the day.
· Open Session 1: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
· Clean/Disinfect: 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
· Open Session 2: 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
· Clean/Disinfect: 6 p.m.-7 p.m.
When Session 1 tickets are sold out, Session 2 tickets will go on sale to remaining patrons. When session 2 ticket are sold out no more tickets will be sold for that day. No rainchecks, re-entry or refunds.
Westchester County Department of Public Safety and Parks staff will posted at entrances informing guests if session is sold out prior to parking.
Also, Parks staff will make announcement every half hour reminding guests to use all proper social distancing guidelines and guests must wear a mask or face covering anytime they are closer than 6’ from any other guest. Masks will be required to enter restrooms.
This summer the County will not be opening Playland Pool. Based on NYS guidelines, swimming pools must be closed if they are near a beach front. During this time, the County will be exploring how quickly renovations to the pool can be completed with the hope that it will be able to open in June 2021. This exact timeline is not yet known.
WPCNR THURSDAY GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO CORONAVIRUS BRIEFING. From the Governor’s Press Office. June 4, 2020:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state is expanding COVID-19 testing criteria to include any individual who attended any of the recent protests across the state.
The Governor encouraged any individual who attended a protest to get a test. More information on where and how to get tested for COVID-19 is available at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov.
The Governor also announced the State Department of Financial Services will issue an emergency regulation to help businesses and consumers who suffered damage from looting and vandalism by requiring New York State-regulated insurance companies to expedite the resolution and payment of related insurance claims based on similar emergency relief applied in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy.
Additional relief provided by the emergency regulation will include allowing policyholders to make immediate repairs to damaged property if necessary to protect health or safety, and to submit claims with reasonable proof of loss, including photos, so businesses don’t have to wait for police reports to file a claim.
The emergency regulation will also offer small businesses and consumers the option to resolve disputes through an impartial mediation process paid for by the applicable insurer.
Governor Cuomo also announced that schools will be permitted to hold drive-in and drive-through graduation ceremonies this year. The State will reexamine socially-distanced outdoor commencements at a later time.
The Governor also announced that medical schools statewide will be allowed to reopen on June 22nd, following appropriate precautions, in order to safely prepare for and welcome new cohorts of medical students this summer and fall.
The Governor also announced the Mid-Hudson Valley is on track to enter phase two of reopening Tuesday, June 9th and Long Island is on track to enter phase two of reopening on Wednesday, June 10th following a review of regional data by global public health experts.
“Testing is the most immediate data we have on where we are in this pandemic, giving us a fast snapshot of how many people are being infected,” Governor Cuomo said. “Our numbers have been going down every day, but now we have tens of thousands of people who have been protesting statewide that could lead to new spread of the virus. We’re going to open the testing facilities for all people who were at a protest statewide and encourage any individual who attended any protest to be responsible and get tested.”
Finally, the Governor also confirmed 1,048 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 375,133 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 375,133 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:
WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT.By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. June 4, 2020:
COVID-19 has not only resulted in the death of 100,000+ Americans. The business shutdowns will probably be fatal for many small businesses and restaurants around the nation and around Greenburgh. The town is determined to help our business district stay vibrant and to help our struggling businesses on East Hartsdale Ave, Route 119, Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown Road survive.
We have re-issued a request for qualifications for economic development services. And, today, at 6 PM, the Greenburgh Town Board will meet with United States Senator Charles Schumer’s office to discuss our efforts and to find out what the federal government can do to help local governments assist our business community. Our meetings are televised and streamed live on the town website.
On March 3, 2020, the Town of Greenburgh issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for specialized economic development services focused on challenges (declining retail market as a result of on-line competition, telecommuting impacts on office space viability, etc.) and economic development initiatives (promoting existing businesses, strategic business sector outreach- as example supermarket needs within Fairview portion of the Town, etc.). Since the issuance of the RFQ and deadline of responses (March 27, 2020), economic conditions in the Town, region and country have taken an unprecedented downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As such, the Town of Greenburgh seeks to reissue the original RFQ with a supplement adding a component for services related to economic recovery. Consultants that responded to the initial RFQ, need only provide the supplemental information identified in the next section. Consultants interested that did not respond to the initial RFQ shall provide electronic (PDF) materials responsive to the March 3rd RFQ as well as the supplemental information that follows. Respondents are required to submit an electronic copy (PDF or flashdrive) to planning@greenburghny.com no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2020 If you have any questions, please call (914) 989-1538 or email planning@greenburghny.com
