“OPPENHEIMER” : WHAT DOES IT MEAN TODAY? YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST PERSPECTIVE

Posted on July 25, 2023 by John Bailey

Oppenheimer: What does it mean today?

by DR. KATELYN JETELINA (Reprinted with permission)

JUL 25, 2023

Over the weekend, the Oppenheimer family invited me to San Francisco for the big film debut!

If you haven’t seen the movie, you should: It’s big. With big ideas. A portrayal of the challenges faced by humanity during a tumultuous period in history.

I think it was particularly heavy because it was released in 2023: On the heels of a pandemic, in the face of AI discovery, gene editing, space exploration, and during ongoing conversations around power, trust, and responsibility.

Before the screening, I joined a colloquium of 150 physicists, government officials, and technology leaders discussing this movie’s meaning in today’s landscape. I was certainly out of my element, but the conversations were eerily familiar to public health.

Here are some themes I jotted down:

It takes a crisis to perform in this nation. The spirit and power of institutions can be grand when we put our minds to it. But do we always have to be reactive? We can proactively move at the speed and scale, too.
Complex vs. complicated problems. A car engine is complicated; traffic is complex. Each requires unique approaches. Big science problems are complex, complicated, or both.
Ethical dilemmas and moral responsibility in scientific advancements. Tread carefully. Ensure that our pursuit of innovation does not compromise our moral compass.
What is public investment in science for? To improve human connectedness. To seek to inform, not control. This can conflict with private interests and politics.
Big science includes international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and unity.
What happens when a scientist changes their mind? It’s often villainized. But, typically, where one stands on a topic isn’t so black and white.
Science and technology can create an opportunity to talk, just like the end of the pandemic. But followed by a frustrating pattern: Our institutions don’t match the conversations with systematic change.

Bottom line

The movie is a striking reminder of today’s challenges and how these problems have been with us for a long time. With great power comes great responsibility, and the intersection of science and technology is notwithstanding.

Next up: Barbie! I bet we can also find public health themes in there, too :).

Love, YLE

“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH Ph.D.—an epidemiologist, wife. During the day, she is a senior scientific consultant to several organizations. At night she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health world so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below:

ECONOMY SLUGGISH. WHITE PLAINS, WESTCHESTER SALES TAX RECEIPTS EVEN WITH LAST YEAR AFTER FIRST 6 MONTHS. SALES LAG BEHIND INFLATION RATE

Posted on July 25, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS REPORT AT MIDYEAR. FROM NY DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION & FINANCE.OBSERVATION & ANALYSIS BY JOHN F. BAILEY JULY 25, 2028:

THE FIRST 6 MONTHS SALES TAX RECEIPTS ARE IN.

WHITE PLAINS AND WESTCHESTER ARE APPROXIMATELY EVEN IN SALES TAX COLLECTION RECEIPTS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. WHITE PLAINS HAS GONE UP 1% AFTER THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 2023. WHITE PLAINS HAS $27.5 MILLION –1% AHEAD OF THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 2022.

IF THE CITY CONTINUES THE PACE OF LAST YEAR THE CITY WILL SET A SALES TAX RECEIPTS RECORD OF 55.9 MILLION.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAS BROUGHT IN $429 MILLION IN 6 MONTHS…DOWN 1% IF THAT TREND DOES NOT SWING UP AND REMAINS THE SAME THE COUNTY WILL BANK $882.5 MILLION BELOW THE OVER 900 MILLION THEY HAVE BUDGETED.

THE QUESTION IS WHY ARE SALES TAX RECEIPTS ONLY EVEN WHEN WE ARE TOLD INFLATION IS AROUND 4%.

PERHAPS THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES ARE HURTING LOANS ON MAJOR PERCHASES AND CREDIT CARD DEBT IS HURTING THE CONSUMER THE ECONOMY IS SLOW.

YONKERS POLICE CAPTURE PRISONER WHO ESCAPED WHILE BEING TRANSFERRED TO COUNTY JAIL SUNDAY

Posted on July 24, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. Special to WPCNR from Yonkers Police Department. July 24, 2023:

The Yonkers Police Department has successfully captured Geraldo ROJAS, the
escaped prisoner on the run since yesterday morning.

After approximately twenty-nine hours of intensive search efforts, our Yonkers Police
Detectives assigned to the Major Case Squad and Field Intelligence Division, along with
Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the FBI Westchester Safe Streets Task Force,
located ROJAS after he escaped from Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

During the operation, ROJAS was located in the Bronx, NY, , taken into custody without incident.

The swift response from law enforcement personnel ensured the escapee could not flee further.

ROJAS was arrested and booked on July 21st, 2023, by members of the Yonkers Police
Department for multiple robberies that occurred in Yonkers. On July 22nd, 2023, before
ROJAS could appear in court, he suffered a medical event that required Yonkers Police
Officers to transport him to Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

ROJAS was arraigned by a Judge in theh ospital during the early afternoon hours July 22nd, 2023.

He was remanded to the County Jail awaiting trial. However, because he was not medically discharged from the hospital, custody of ROJAS was transferred to the Westchester County Department of Correction.
Correction Officers were sent to assume the prisoner watch of Rojas at Saint Joseph’s
Hospital, beginning at approximately 6:00 PM on July 22nd, 2023.

At around 4:30 AM on July 23rd, 2023, ROJAS managed to escape from the custody of Westchester County
Department of Correction Officers.

From the onset, Yonkers Police Major Case Detectives
and Officers assigned to the Yonkers Police AWARE Room reviewed hours of surveillance
video around the City, tracking ROJAS’ escape route to lead the investigation in the right
direction.

Escape from custody, in ROJAS’ case, is a crime punishable as a felony in the State of New
York; therefore, the Yonkers Police Department then assumed the primary investigative
role of ROJAS’ crime of escape. Westchester County Department of Correction is the
primary investigative agency of the internal investigation into the details of ROJAS’ escape
at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

City of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano stated, “The apprehension of this felon speaks to the
great Police work and collaboration among our Yonkers Police Detective Division and FBI.
In just 29 hours, this individual is off the streets and in custody, ensuring the safety of our
residents. Congratulations on a job well done.”

“We are relieved that Geraldo Rojas is back in custody,” said Yonkers Police
Commissioner Christopher Sapienza. “Our dedicated Detectives and Task Force Officers
worked tirelessly to locate and apprehend Rojas to ensure the safety of our citizens. Their
unwavering commitment to upholding the law serves as a powerful reminder that fugitives
will not evade justice in Yonkers and that public safety remains a top priority for our city.”
ROJAS is now lodged in the City of Yonkers Jail, awaiting transport to the Westchester
County Jail. This successful capture stands as a testament to the diligence and expertise of
our local law enforcement professionals in collaboration with our top-tier investigative
partners in the FBI.

Posted on July 24, 2023 by John Bailey

District 92 | News You Can Use

Flexible Loans for New York’s Small Businesses

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the New York Forward Loan Fund 2 program for qualifying small businesses and nonprofits. After broadening criteria for qualifications, and with even greater resources allocated for the program, the enhanced fund represents an expanded commitment to New York State’s small businesses. Qualified recipients with fewer than 100 employees and less than $5 million in gross annual revenue can apply for loans up to $150,000 with affordable, fixed-rate interest rates.

Part of New York’s State Small Business Credit Initiative efforts led by Empire State Development, the fund will be in place for the next eight years and will focus on helping small businesses and nonprofits, particularly those in low-income and historically underbanked communities and rural areas access flexible working capital to cover a wide range of expenses, from payroll and marketing to facility renovations. Additionally, free support services from experts will work with businesses throughout the life of the loan.

Interested businesses can pre-apply here.

Veterans’ Services Benefits Advisors

The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services has experienced Veterans’ Services Benefit Advisors ready to help complete applications, obtain necessary documentation, file claims for veterans’ benefits and more. To schedule an appointment with a Veterans’ Services Benefit Advisor, visit https://veterans.ny.gov/.

Home & Business Damage Self-Reporting

In collaboration with affected counties, New York State has developed an online form allowing residents to self-report damages to their homes and/or businesses. The purpose of this form is solely to collect information that may help State and local officials identify supplemental damages to develop and augment potential requests for available federal assistance programs. Please note that this form is not an application for relief programs.

If you experienced storm damage due to the recent heavy rainfall, I encourage you to respond to the survey. You can access the online form here.

Kingsland Point Park Public Hearing

Representatives from Westchester County and the Village of Sleepy Hollow will be holding a public forum to discuss the future of Kingsland Point Park. You can share your views with them by email to [email protected]. More information is available here.