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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WHAT CITY AND TOWNS HAVE SETTLED SEWER SUITS. WHICH HAVE NOT SETTLED.

THE WHOPPER NEW YORK STATE BUDGET DEFICIT:

ASTOUNDING COST OF SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS ACROSS THE STATE TO COME NOBODY’S TELLING YOU

THE EFFECT OF SEWAGE LEAKAGE ON THE COUNTY, LONG ISLAND SOUND

INSIDER ANALYSIS OF THE SUCCESSFUL SAVE THE SOUND LAWSUITS FORCING REPAIRS WHEN THE STATE WOULD NOT

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WPCNR PUERTO RICO on the scene REPORT. From the Governor’s Office. January 15, 2020:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the deployment of further assets to Puerto Rico to assist with emergency response efforts following a series of initial damage assessments conducted by the Governor and his delegation.

The Governor will deploy eight additional engineers and utility experts from the New York Power Authority to address power outages caused by the recent earthquakes and work to stabilize the island’s power system to help mitigate the repeated power outages.

The State and the Greater New York Hospital Association have authorized the deployment of bilingual mental health professionals to support people on the island who are suffering from the trauma of the disaster.

The Governor has also authorized the deployment of a team of dozens of inspectors from State Fire and the Department of State to conduct more extensive damage assessments of buildings and basic code compliance inspections of public facilities.

Additionally, the Governor called on the Trump administration to immediately release federal funds to Puerto Rico and declare a Major Disaster Declaration for the damage caused by the earthquakes.

“The people of Puerto Rico have been through hell, and while the federal administration abdicated its responsibility to help American citizens during difficult times, New York is continuing to step up to provide assistance,” Governor Cuomo said. 

“After surveying the damage and touring the island, we are more resolved than ever to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico. I am authorizing the deployment of more state personnel including building experts, engineers, and mental health professionals to help the island get through this crisis and come out stronger and more resilient than before. I am also demanding the Trump Administration immediately release federal funds that have been held up for two years to Puerto Rico and declare a Major Disaster Declaration for the damage caused by the earthquakes so Puerto Rico residents can rebuild their homes and lives.”

New York Power Authority Deployments

Engineers and utility experts from the New York Power Authority are conducting damage assessments of power plants, substations and hydropower dams following the widespread blackouts caused by a series of devastating earthquakes in Puerto Rico. The additional support announced today – eight engineers and utility experts from NYPA – will integrate with the team of 10 NYPA experts already established on the ground in Puerto Rico. The NYPA experts will address the recent power outages and work to stabilize the island’s power system, restarting power plants not damaged by the recent earthquakes. The NYPA team is also providing guidance to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority on its energy management system, which NYPA activated and configured in collaboration with PREPA following Hurricane Maria in 2017.

NYPA is providing PREPA with technical assistance on the issuance of a Request for Proposals for the rental of modular-mobile power plants—which will be used to provide roughly 500 megawatts of additional electric capacity to the power grid—and undertaking system modeling to determine the optimal locations to place the power generation units. In addition, the NYPA team is providing an assessment on the refurbishment of two mothballed steam units in PREPA’s San Juan power plant for temporary use until more electric capacity can be brought online.

Mental Health Support

The New York State Office of Mental Health has authorized the deployment of mental health professionals to support people on the island suffering from the trauma of the disaster, if requested. Additionally, the Greater New York Hospital Association has partnered with 162 hospitals and health networks across the state to recruit and sponsor bilingual mental health professionals to be deployed to Puerto Rico as soon as possible. The Greater New York Hospital Association said they will cover the cost and make sure lodging and transportation needs are paid for.

UNICEF USA and SUNY New Paltz Institute for Disaster Mental Health Director Dr. Amy Nitza will conduct a “Train the Trainer” program in Puerto Rico to help trauma-impacted young people who are suffering from the trauma of the disaster. The training will be for 50 employees from all the Boys and Girls Clubs across the island, and the “train the trainer” model is estimated to reach 16,000 kids. Additionally, at the end of January the Institute for Disaster Mental Health will conduct a two-day training for six University of Puerto Rico students on how to work with trauma-impacted children.

Structural Assessment Team Deployments

The Governor has authorized the deployment of a structural assessment team of dozens from State Fire and the Department of State to Puerto Rico to conduct damage assessments of buildings and basic code compliance inspections of public facilities. Additionally, the Governor authorized the deployment of Division of Building Standards and Codes staff members to conduct rapid safety assessments of buildings. The team will determine if a damaged structure can be occupied and what if any significant code issues may need to be addressed.

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Link for WPWEEK of 1/10/20 on

youtube https://youtu.be/92zWQC8Fhvk

GOVERNOR CUOMO PLANS CUT BACK ON MEDICAID COSTS–COUNTIES TARGETED AND MORE

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Governor Cuomo’s Synopsis of his State of the State Address Wednesday. January 9, 2019:

For generations, New York has embodied the progressive philosophy — not just with rhetoric, but with results. That is New York — we are idealists and we are realists, we are dreamers and we are doers. We have accomplished more together than we could have imagined and now we are called on by circumstance to do even more. Our current challenges are daunting — but nothing New York can’t handle at her best. This year, as part of my annual State of the State agenda, I’m excited to advance a blueprint to continue New York’s legacy as the progressive capital of the nation. 

Watch the full speech here. What’s next for New York? My proposals for 2020 include:

• Combatting the scourge of violent hate crimes by passing a domestic terrorism law
• Legalizing the adult use of cannabis
• Protecting our environment by passing a $3 billion ‘Restore Mother Nature’ Bond Act
• Expanding the Excelsior Scholarship, New York’s tuition-free college program, to more families
• Enacting legislation to ensure that all workers have Paid Sick Leave
• Achieving 100% statewide cell phone service
• Protecting gig economy workers
• Closing a dangerous loophole that allows rapists to escape justice
• Legalizing surrogacy so that LGBTQ people and couples struggling with fertility can raise a family
• And much, much more

See the full list of State of the State proposals here. I’m confident that we can achieve all this, and more, while continuing our record of fiscal responsibility and lowering middle-class taxes. Unfortunately, these past few years we have witnessed abhorrent acts of racism, discrimination, and anti-Semitism. Only a couple weeks ago, a rabbi and his congregation celebrating Hanukkah were brutally attacked in Monsey, New York. Racism and discrimination are not new. But lately, they have reared their ugly heads again. If we do not confront hate, and if we do not defeat it, it will defeat us — there is no nation on this globe that can beat this nation, but this nation can defeat itself. New York must be the antidote to this virus. So, as we look to the year ahead, we must remember that there is so much more that unites us than divides us, and we must reaffirm that diversity is our greatest strength, not a weakness. Our nation’s motto is E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. As long as that philosophy guides us, as long as it prevails over the forces of hate, our state and our country will prosper and we will keep on leading the way forward. 

Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  

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WPCNR HEALTH ISSUES. From the Westchester County Department of Health. January 8, 2019:

With peak flu season at the height of activity, County Executive George Latimer announced that the County Health Department will offer more free flu vaccines for residents by appointment on Tuesday, January 14 and Tuesday, January 21 at the County Clinic in White Plains.

Latimer said: “The flu is widespread this season, and it can be miserable if you come down with the virus. I encourage anyone who did not have a flu vaccine this fall to sign up for one today, to protect you and those around you well into 2020.”

The New York State Department of Health has reported a sharp increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases and hospitalizations reported statewide. So far this season in New York, 3,592 flu-related hospitalizations and one flu-associated pediatric death have been reported. 

Westchester flu clinics are open to all, especially those without insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover vaccines. Register online for a free flu vaccine atwww.health.ny.gov/gotoclinic/60. The vaccines will be given at the County Clinic, 134 Court St., White Plains, as follows:

• Tuesday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The County Health Department has focused its public vaccination efforts on people who lack the means to get vaccinated elsewhere by bringing flu shots to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries throughout Westchester.

Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said: “Everyone six months and older should get a flu shot each year. Flu can be deadly, and the flu vaccine is very safe and the best protection we have. By getting an annual flu shot, you help protect infants too young to be vaccinated, seniors and people with chronic health conditions, who are more vulnerable to flu complications.”

Flu activity usually peaks between December and February, but can last into May. One flu vaccine now provides protection all season long and can prevent illness or reduce the severity of flu symptoms. The vaccine becomes fully effective after about two weeks.

Dr. Amler said that anyone who does get a respiratory infection should cough or sneeze into their elbow, wash their hands frequently with soap and water, stay home until 24 hours after their fever subsides to avoid spreading germs, clean surfaces they touch frequently, such as doorknobs, water faucets, refrigerator handles and telephones, and get plenty of rest.