THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Two Die in Saw Mill Parkway Crash. Witnesses Sought

Posted on February 25, 2021 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Westchester County Police. February 25, 2021:

Westchester County Police are investigating a crash that killed two people this morning on the Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers.

County Police received several 911 calls about 12:45 a.m. reporting that a vehicle had gone off the road and rolled over on the southbound Saw Mill near Rumsey Road. One person was found outside the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

Two other persons were extricated from the vehicle and taken by ambulance to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. One of them subsequently died of injuries sustained in the crash.

The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification to family members.

The crash remains under investigation by members of the Accident Investigation/Reconstruction Team. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact County Police at 914-864-7701.

The Yonkers Police Department, Yonkers Fire Department and Empress EMS assisted at the scene.

Confirmed: Innoculations to begin at Yonkers Armory on Wednesday, March 3, Tubiolo Says

Posted on February 24, 2021 by John Bailey

County Legislator David Tubiolo has confirmed that after Yonkers and Mount Vernon residents (only) apply for appointments for Covid-19 vaccinations today at the Yonkers Armory, (by calling the State Appointments number, 1-833-697-4829 ) that actual administration of first shots will begin Wednesday March 3, depending on the pace and availability of next week’s vaccine distribution to the new facility.

This morning the telephone line had a half hour delay after only a half hour after it opened at 8 AM, according to a report from a Yonkers resident. How many vaccinations will be able to be administered after March 3 depends on the amount of vaccine does allotted to the Yonkers Armory facility that began accepting requests for appointments today. Majority of shot appointments were being made by telephone, not computer.

Mr. Tubiolo’s announcement:

A COVID-19 vaccination site, set up by federal and state officials, will open at the New York National Guard Armory in Yonkers at 2 Quincy Place, on March 3.

The scheduling of appointments at the site will begin on Wednesday, February 24, at 8 a.m.

Those eligible for shots at the site during its first week of operation must live in one of the seven following zip codes in Yonkers and Mount Vernon: 10701, 10703, 10704, 10705, 10550, 10552 and 10553. And, of course, they must meet all the current State criteria for eligibility.

To check your eligibility and to make an appointment, you must use the State’s Am I Eligible website at https://am-i-eligible. covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ or call the State’s COVID-19 vaccination hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

After one week, appointments at the location will be made available for all eligible Westchester residents.

Department of Education: No Child Should Be Forced to Go to School to Take an Assessment Test: Regents Exams Not Required for Graduation.

Posted on February 24, 2021 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Dr. Joseph Ricca, the White Plains Superintendent of Schools. February 24, 2021:

In a message on the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Ricca’s Twitter account page this morning, he posted a statement from the Department of Education indicating that assessments and regents exams would not be allowed to be required for graduation, or that children would be required to come to a school exclusively to take them. The State Department is formulating policy reflecting this announcement and will present it at the March Regents meeting.

The Statement below:

NEW YORK STATE SENATE PASSES UTILITY RESTRICTIONS AND PROTOCOLS TO IMPROVE CONSUMER RIGHTS DURING OUTAGES.

Posted on February 24, 2021 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the New York State Senate Majority. February 24, 2021:

The Senate Democratic Majority passed legislation to ensure the utility services New Yorkers depend on meet added criteria for safety and regulation.

This package will extend the COVID-19 moratorium for utility service disconnections, hold utilities accountable for failures in restoring service, ensure that utility companies do not pass on the cost of legislative lobbying to customers, and clarify the medical equipment that qualifies for essential electric service.

These bills will also assure customers are compensated for service interruptions, provide a voice for consumer advocacy within the Public Service Commission and strengthen the standards for utility service provider’s emergency response plans. In addition to these measures, this package will require new gas infrastructure projects to be approved by a professional engineer and add public oversight to the pay rates of top utility executives.

“New Yorkers deserve to be able to depend on the utility services that they are paying for,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “Across New York State, we have seen serious issues with the services being provided by utility companies, especially following major weather events that have become increasingly common. I commend the sponsors for these bills.”

The legislation being passed by the Senate Majority, includes:

Utility Moratorium: This bill, S.1453A sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, will extend the moratorium on utility shut-offs until December 31^st, 2021, or the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or expires.
Protecting Customers Lobbying Costs: This bill, S.1556 sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker, will protect utility customers from unknowingly paying for lobbying activity, including for political activity that may influence policies that go against the best interest of the customers.
Electricity Plan for Essential Medical Needs: This bill, S.931A sponsored by Senator Anna Kaplan, identifies the specific medical equipment that qualifies for essential electricity and additional utility outreach during outages.
Utility Reimbursement: This bill, S.929B sponsored by Senator Anna Kaplan, will provide consumers with a bill discount when a contracted service provider fails to provide the agreed upon service.
Utility Consumer Advocacy in the Public Service Commission : This bill, S.1199 sponsored by Senator Michael Gianaris, will require at least one commissioner of the public service commission to have experience in advocating in the interests of utility consumers.
Emergency Response Plan Requirement: This bill, S.968 sponsored by Senator James Gaughran, will establish the criteria for the Long Island Power Authority and its service provider’s emergency response plans, and subject them to review, approval and enforcement by the Public Service Commission.
Stronger Utility Storm Response: This bill, S.4960 sponsored by Senator Shelley Mayer, will remove restrictions on the Public Service Commission’s ability to penalize utility company violations and will enhance oversight of utilities to ensure improved storm planning and response.
Professional Engineer Approval Requirement: This bill, S.544 sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky, will require a professional engineer to review and approve a gas infrastructure project to prevent public utility accidents from occurring in New York.
Public Statements of Compensation: This bill, S.1544A sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky, will require large utility companies to publicly report the annual pay of their top employees.
Reimbursement for Lost Food or Medicine: This bill, S.3784A, sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie, will provide a customer reimbursement for lost food or medicine due to an extended power outage.