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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WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Tom Roach. April 4, 2020″

 Governor Cuomo wrote today:

1. New York State received a donation of 1,000 ventilators from China. This significant donation was madeby the Joseph and Clara Tsai Foundation and facilitated by the Chinese government and Ambassador Huang, the Chinese Consul General. (Joe Tsai is the owner of the Brooklyn Nets.) The ventilators arrived at JFK Airport today. Additionally, the Joseph and Clara Tsai Foundation and the Jack Ma Foundation have donated one million surgical masks, one million KN95 masks and more than 100,000 pairs of goggles. We thank them. 

2. Oregon Governor Kate Brown has offered to provide New York with 140 ventilators from Oregon’s stockpile. We are so grateful to Governor Brown and the people of Oregon. New York State will repay the favor when Oregon needs it. This generous offer is an inspiring example of the solidarity that other states are showing to New York.

 3. I issued an Executive Order today allowing medical students slated to graduate this spring to begin practicing now. These are extraordinary times, and we need all the help we can get.

 4. Long Island’s number of Coronavirus cases, as a percentage of the total number of cases in our state, has grown to 22% from 15% on March 22. That’s worrisome. I urge Long Island residents, and all New Yorkers, to stay at home and if you must go out, to practice social distancing. We need to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we all have a role to play. 

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: The media company CONVICTS has produced a powerful video called “NY Tough,” celebrating the resiliency of New Yorkers and memorializing those New Yorkers lost to this vicious virus. Watch the inspiring video here. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach in his nightly message wrote:

There are 324 residents of White Plains diagnosed with coronavirus in Whtie Plains, but that is all the information we are given.

He thanked the persons who participated in the Friday night shout out and all the persons who have volunteered to help in the city. The text of tonight’s phone communication:

Posted on: April 4, 2020

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update for Residents April 4, 2020

New York state now has close to 114,000 cases; there are 730 new cases in Westchester for a current total of 13,081 out of over 42,000 people tested in the county. The municipality specific data we received from the county today indicates 324 positive cases in White Plains.

As we have noted these local numbers do not accurately reflect the actually count in a municipality on the day they are received. We share them because they are the best data we have been given.

The Center for Disease Control Is now recommending that a face covering be worn when you are in situations when you will be in contact with others. It is important to remember that social distancing is still the primary means of preventing transmission and should be maintained even if wearing a face covering. To learn more about this and other corona virus information please see CDC.gov.
Thank you to all who participated in the #wpshoutout to essential employees last night the response was tremendous. I can tell you it was well appreciated by the staff at White Plains Hospital and Empress Ambulance with whom I spoke. And it was great to be outside and see and hear our neighbors and to feel we’re all still here, we’re in this together, and we are all doing our part to flatten the curve. We are working on another one, keep an eye out on the city’s social media sites for our next clap for essential workers.
It’s hard to believe that the first case in NY was only about a month ago. Our world has changed so dramatically in such a short period of time in ways that we could not have imagined. And I know it’s not easy. But we are starting to see signs that all of our efforts are having an impact. And the cooperation we have seen in our city by all of you and the spirit with which you have met these challenges is inspiring. And when this is all over, and it will be over, we will be able to look back and say that together, as a community, we saved lives.
Lastly, we have gotten a great response from our request for volunteers. Thank you for those who have emailed. If you, too, would like to help in the community, please email: volunteer@whiteplainsny.gov.

Remember we are standing together by staying apart

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WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey, April 4, 2020:

Last Monday all hospitals in New York State, we were told would act as one big hospital, sharing ventilators, opening their rooms, expanding bed capacities to corona virus and overflow non coronavirus victims in the New York coronavirus effort.

 It was understood that ventilators as needed would be sent to  them to the New York area hospitals that were in need of ventilators, with less crowded hospitals accepting overflow from New York metropolitan area hospitals. Medical personnel would also be shared.

The Governor and the head of the Greater New York Hospitals, said all hospitals had agreed to this. It took a great deal of anxiety off the minds of people. It inspired us. Now the critics start???

Now congress members, local leaders state representatives are complaining about the shifting of ventilators from the hospitals upstate and in all the counties upstate about possibly releasing their medical supplies, ventilators to hospitals severely stressed and without enough ventilators down here doctors, nurses, police, firemen, volunteers are catching the virus and dying.

Not every politician and business leader, I  guess can miss the opportunity to score political points with their constituents and play both ends against the middle, and look out for their political and business bottom line, by indignantly and clevery criticising decisions to say “Look how I care about you every day. You won’t have a hospital to take care of you if you share your equipment.”

That’s political hysteria without a solution, scaring people. It’s something to say when a microphone is stuck into your face.

It creates anxiety and distrust of the hardest working, most valiant people trying stop and cure this modern plague. The governor is asking just for you to be part of the effort and you will not be left without medical care in a hospital near you.

I thought we had an unprecedented united response to the medical needs of New Yorkers, last Monday. I hope it has not held up shipment of ventilators from upstate hospitals as a result of the “political outcry” that “our hospitals will not be ready for our constituents.” (In fact those reporters who cover the Governor’s daily briefings might ask this question.)

I and 19 million New Yorkers thought we had a deal last Monday.

I was proud the governor and the Associated New York Hospital Association had in one day exerted and got the cooperation of hospitals throughout the state to organize to protect all New Yorkers.

Apparently not.

Please.

Are the upstate politicans, leaders and any irresponsible hospital leaders whose hospitals are down in patients and emergencies anyhow according to state information, now unwilling to share equipment and supplies and most importantly ventilators now?

Why? What has changed in a week?

Refusing to cooperate now is dooming more to die in New York City.

Objecting to sharing equipment, or holding back releasing it is just as bad as the U.S. Congress short-changing New Yorkers in Coronavirus relief, giving New York 1.9% of their budget in aid, and limiting that to coronavirus expenses at that, when other states with far lower budgets than New York State. That bill was bad for New York State and was crafted that way and  most Republicans particularly loved that because they hate us.

Now those complaining politicians up there whether elected or hospital-sourced (I can’t believe any hospital leader would object to sharing and aiding people they want to save), you are doing a very self-centered, self-promoting thing by complaining.

The hospitals are not doing a good business because of the statewide stay at home rule, the ban on elective surgery.

The New York area needs you now and your equipment.

The State of Oregon is sending 140 ventilators coming to New Yorkers aid.

The Governor has promised your hospitals  you will get the ventilators back. 

60,000 volunteers in state and 20,000 coming from out of state are working now and getting coronavirus and dying helping in New York, shoulder to shoulder with New York doctors. They stepped up.

But that is one thing politIcians, cannot do.

They can’t step up.

They can only pile on.

Another politician technique is to claim subltely credit for an act that was going to happen anyway, glomming onto someone else’s courageous decision. That’s happening a lot these days from the Oval Office to many state and washington representatives. See through these phonies, people.

When they lead local people with the cry that their health care will be affected by their hospitals sharing equipment, PPE’s, ventilators and personnel — when the personnel will be covered by qualified medical volunteers, then these critics of the Governor’s plan and  Cornavirus Command Center (far more in touch than the federal government grasp of the national situation)  are beyond irresponsible.

In the words of Mayor Thomas Roach of White Plains,

“STOP IT.”

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From Governor Andrew Cuomo. April 2, 2020. 8:30 P.M.:

 Tens of thousands of selfless healthcare workers have answered our urgent call to join New York’s active healthcare force, including 21,000 people who live out of state. It’s inspiring, and I personally promise that when the time comes, New York will repay the favor. We will never forget how the people of our country came to the aid of New York when we needed it, and we deeply appreciate it. Are you a qualified healthcare professional? Enlist here. 

The temporary hospital facility at the Javits Center will now treat COVID-19 patients, Governor Andrew announced this evening.

The growing number of Coronavirus cases are threatening the capacity of our hospital system. The original plan for the Javits Center was to use it for non-COVID patients in order to free up beds at other hospitals.

However, the number of COVID patients has increased to the point that it is prudent for Javits to support and care for COVID patients. I asked President Trump this morning to consider this request and stressed the urgent need and he agreed to it.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. April 2, 2020:

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented negative impact on the global economy, the Enacted Budget maintains vital services and programs, while ensuring sustainability to weather this downtown, authorizes a reduction in spending by $10 billion and empowers the State Budget Director to develop a plan for across the board reductions and implement that plan as necessary over the course of the year.

The budget also puts in place mechanisms to control spending through the year if revenues fall even further, and raise spending if either revenues come in higher than expected or the federal government delivers support that offsets the state’s revenue losses.

All funds spending is estimated to total approximately $177 billion and state operating spending is authorized up to $105.8 billion,

However in the absence of additional federal assistance or a faster than anticipated economic recovery, spending will initially total $95.8 billion.

Realigning School Aid

Due to the extraordinary challenges from our COVID-19 health crisis, creating a $10 billion loss in revenue to the State, support for schools will remain nearly flat for a total of $27.9 billion in school aid.

Redesigning Medicaid and Health Care

The FY 2021 Enacted Budget advances reforms to the Medicaid program that will ensure it remains financially viable for the future so it can continue to provide high-quality care to more than six million New Yorkers.

Medicaid spending will increase by 3%, or about $500 million ensuring continuing high-quality care for the 30 percent of New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid for health care. Spending growth is now back in line with targets established by the Governor in 2012 that kept New York State’s Medicaid spending growth to less than half the national average, saving taxpayers more than $19 billion.

Many of these reforms were developed and unanimously endorsed by the Medicaid Redesign Team II, a cross section of health care providers, labor, local government and other industry stakeholders. They were tasked with reforming the system, and their recommendations stuck to the Governor’s guidelines that they must have zero impact on local government and zero impact on beneficiaries.

The reforms included in the FY 2021 Enacted Budget include a transformation of the hospital reimbursement structure to better support services to the uninsured, increases investments in primary care to avoid more costly hospitalizations, and new requirements that enhance oversight of managed care and transportation.

The reforms also address managed long-term care, by far the fastest growing sector of Medicaid. These include aligning New York State’s eligibility requirements with those of other states for new applicants for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program and Personal Care Services and enhancing reporting requirements for both programs; capping statewide enrollment in managed long-term care to incentivize plans to assist in ensuring appropriate enrollment; and creating a statewide independent assessor to achieve efficiencies by removing duplicative efforts to determining eligibility and enrollment in the managed long-term care program.