ON WHITE PLAINS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. HOW THE CITY HAS CHANGED. WHAT THE FUTURE MAY BE LIKE
COVID IN WASTEWATER INCREASES IN 3 REGIONS: NORTHEAST, SOUTHERN WESTERN
Wastewater ticks up
I wrote two weeks ago that mid-summer often marks the beginning of a new Covid-19 wave, and that those often start in the South.
Well, I have new news. Biobot wastewater data show an increase in the Southern, Northeastern and Western regions.
Deep dive: State level data is quite messy, and wastewater data providers don’t tell exactly the same story—WastewaterSCAN and NWSS do not show as much of an increase in activity as Biobot. Still, because this is pretty much exactly what I was expecting in terms of summer epidemiology, I think it’s likely a real signal.
For my Canadian readers, there are no noticeable changes in wastewater trends right now.
Why do summer waves start in the South? The old chestnut is that it’s especially hot in the South, so people spend more times indoors with the air conditioning on, without good ventilation and filtration. This explanation gives me pause. The average American spends 90% of their time indoors.
I haven’t found a breakdown showing how that breakdown changes by region or by season, but it’s hard to believe it varies enough to explain the dynamics of a summer wave. In short, I’m content to say it’s still a scientific mystery why summer waves start in the South. If you have data I don’t know about, please send.
What it all means: Overall, the viral concentration in wastewater is still very low — about on par with April, and far, far below what we saw over the winter. Personally, I don’t plan to make any changes (yet) based on this information, other than to keep a closer eye on things. But I know some of my readers need or want to be extra cautious, so I wanted to let you know soonest.
1
This is not a great reference; it dates to 1989. I found several sources that newer cite survey data that also comes in around 90%, but they aren’t high quality sources. In any case, I think it’s safe to say that most people spend a huge majority of their time indoors.
Diverse Abilities Job Fair Returns on July 18 to Westchester
HOMELAND SECURITY HEAD VISITS NYC TODAY. PLEASE SIR, COULD YOU GIVE GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE LATIMER A CALL AND DISCUSS THEIR ASYLUM COURT AND MIGRANT WORK REQUESTS, PLEASE
WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. July 13, 2023:
It has been six weeks since County Executive George Latimer and Governor Kathy Hochul pleaded with the Biden Administration to designate judges to establish an interim amnesty court to expedite processing migrants currently housed in three locations in Westchester.
The two top New York State leaders also wanted the migrants to be allowed to work in the county while they stay here and asked for monetary help to house the immigrants and pay for security, health, safety costs. I believe money has been promised, but it is policy toward what happens to the migrants now that matters urgently
Now.
Despite Hochul and Latimer letters sent to the Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, six weeks ago, there has been no action yet on either of those two requests.
New York City has been unable to move migrants to other locations in Westchester to relieve the approximately 100,000 homeless and migrant population severely stressing the homeless shelters and services in the city.
Perhaps coincidently, no more migrants currently swelling the New York City homeless facilities have been sent to Westchester to be housed at the request of Mayor Eric Adams.
I asked the county if it has received more requests from Mayor Adams to house more migrants whose numbers fill the NYC shelters in other locations. So far the county has not responded.
I asked the county also if they have other hotels, motels, churches, county facilities or any location at all willing to increase Westchester ability to take on more migrants and relieve New York City. Again, the county has not responded.
It has been six weeks.
The migrants have been model guests according to the County Executive George Latimer. If the county is expecting more migrants shifted to Westchester, a list of possible vacant or commercial venues must be lined up. I hope the county has done this. The county did not respond to this question.
Hopefully Mr. Mayorkis will fit in at least a phone call to Governor Hochul and Mr. Latimer or in interest of time, make a conference call. Please if you have the time, call Mayor Tom Roach of White Plains, Mayor Mike Spano of Yonkers and Mayor of Ardsley whose cities have stepped up to help the migrants and accept Mayor Adams’ pleas for migrant housing to give them an update too.
They are waiting for your call, too.
Not to do so when M. Mayorkis and his bosses have had six weeks since Hochul and Latimer made the request for an Anmesty court and right to work for migrants, he and the Biden Administration plenty of time to think about it is a slap in the face to Governor Kathy Hochul and County Executive George Latimer, and every citizen of New York State and New York City.
While you are here take a plane ride over Rockland, Orange counties, tell FEMA to get a move on and help homeowners who have suffered enormous loss. Trailers, construction crews and money. NOW. We’ve got a disaster here.
The Biden Administration does not care. The priorities are out of whack.
Mayorkis is meeting in a panel discussion with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials this morning. He will also observe U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation at the International Mail Facility to inspect counter narcotics efforts and talk about ongoing DHS operations to stop fentanyl and similar synthetic drugs throughout the country.
Could you fit our Governor and our County Executive and Mayor Adams in, sir?
The Biden Administration is once more kicking the migrant can down the road.
The Biden administration refused to stop states from shipping migrants by bus to New York, instead of collecting them and sending them back.
This politically and physically inept, lack of foresight, is a failure to prevent a nationally disrupting practice enabled unwittingly by irresponsible inept leadership in the Biden administration who did not want to handle the situation. “Hands off” was their policy.
This recalls the State Department refusal to accept Jewish refugees during the 1930s and the course of World War II. (The policy was unflinchingly documented by letters from the U.S. Ambassador in the historical novel In the Garden of the Beast)
Meanwhile in the hot steaming summer of 2023 in New York, the migrants and the rest of New York City homeless are packed in in limbo.
At a standstill: Failure to act on the Hochul Latimer requestions for Asylum Court and migrant allowed to work.
Mayor Adams is stuck. With no policy from the U.S. Government to deciminate migrants orderly and humanely in New York State, the migrant situation is not being addressed.
Let us hope they are not abandoned and sent back to the gang governments of the countries they have fled.
The Biden administration totally mismanaged the Afghan withdrawal.
They are mismanaging this one, too.