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Outbreak Outlook – Northeast – Dec 16

Covid makes a comeback

CAITLIN RIVERS DEC 16 ∙ PAID

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Welcome to the Northeastern edition of Outbreak Outlook! It is only available to paid subscribers. If you wish to become a paid subscriber and access region-specific information, please click the Subscribe now button below. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin

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Respiratory Diseases

PERTUSSIS WHOOPING COUGH SPREADING

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it’s marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like “whoop.”

Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease. Now whooping cough primarily affects children too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations and teenagers and adults whose immunity has faded.

Deaths associated with whooping cough are rare but most commonly occur in infants. That’s why it’s so important for pregnant women — and other people who will have close contact with an infant — to be vaccinated against whooping cough.

• Like the rest of the country, New England and Mid-Atlantic states have reported a dramatic surge in pertussis cases in 2024, with 7,075 cases compared to 1,502 cases in 2023. 
• New York (including NYC) has seen the sharpest increase with 2,512 cases, up from 775 cases in 2023. Pennsylvania has reported 2,757 cases, an eight-fold increase from 337 cases last year. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine have also seen notable increases, with Connecticut reporting 281 cases compared to just 9 in 2023, Massachusetts recording 715 cases versus 14, and Maine documenting 162 cases up from 66.

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Symptoms

Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear, though it can sometimes take longer. They’re usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:

• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Red, watery eyes
• Fever
• Cough

After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable coughing. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:

• Provoke vomiting
• Result in a red or blue face
• Cause extreme fatigue
• End with a high-pitched “whoop” sound during the next breath of air

However, many people don’t develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough.

Infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may struggle to breathe, or they may even temporarily stop breathing.

ILI

New Jersey leads northeastern states with 5.4% outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI), showing a substantial increase over recent weeks. The state also leads for emergency department visits, now nearly at 1% of visits.

New York is coming in at 2.7% outpatient ILI and hospitalizations at 1.2 per 100,000, indicating a steady rise in activity. New York City is substantially higher at 6% outpatient ILI; last week also saw a notable jump in emergency department visits for ILI.

New England is in better shape but with consistent increases, with Massachusetts reporting 2.4% ILI, Connecticut at 2.6% ILI with hospitalizations at 0.8 per 100,000, and Rhode Island at 1.6% ILI and moderate wastewater activity.

Northern New England maintains lower levels, with Maine at 1.6% ILI, New Hampshire at 1.5% ILI, and Vermont at 0.8% ILI, though all show slight upward trends.

Pennsylvania also has rising ED visits, with activity highest in the eastern part of the state, and increasing wastewater concentration.

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COVID-19

Things are still really quiet across much of the Northeast, but spread is increasing in a few places.

Regionally, wastewater activity held steady at minimal levels this past week. However, at the state level, we are seeing some increases. Wastewater activity is very high and increasing in Massachusetts.

Concentration moved from moderate to high activity in Pennsylvania and Maine, and is also high and increasing in Rhode Island. In New Hampshire, activity declined slightly, but remains high.

It is moderate and increasing in Connecticut.

However, activity remains stable at minimal levels in New York and New Jersey and at low levels in Vermont.

Trips to the emergency room remain at minimal levels (<1.5% of all ED visits, see plot below) in all states in the region.

However, ED visits increased moderately or substantially this past week across most of the region, including in those states where wastewater activity remains low (i.e., New York and New Jersey).

Hospitalizations also ticked up slightly in New York – to 3.1 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Hospitalizations held steady at 3.2 in Connecticut (which is fairly low for the state, but not minimal).

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RSV

The Northeast is seeing an increase RSV transmission, with several states showing increases in both clinical and wastewater indicators.

Massachusetts leads northeastern states with 0.9% ED visits, showing high wastewater activity. New Jersey follows at 0.9% ED visits with minimal wastewater activity.

Rhode Island and New York report 0.6% and 0.6% ED visits respectively, with New York showing hospitalizations at 1.8 per 100,000 and minimal wastewater activity.

However, these levels are favorable compared to southern states, which are nearing 2% ED visits.

The northern states show lower activity, with Connecticut at 0.5% ED visits and hospitalizations at 1.6 per 100,000, though showing very high wastewater activity. Maine and Vermont maintain lower levels at 0.1% and 0.1% ED visits respectively.

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Other Bugs

Several viral causes of respiratory infections are circulating.

These all tend to cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract infections, with standard cold and flu-like symptoms: runny nose, headaches, cough, sore throat, and fever. However, infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune symptoms are at greater risk of developing more severe disease, including bronchitis and pneumonia.

• Human coronaviruses continue to be on the upswing.
• Rhinoviruses/enteroviruses are declining, but remain elevated (22.5% test positivity).
• Adenoviruses remain moderately elevated but appear to be declining. In addition to the standard symptoms listed above, adenoviruses can also cause a range of other symptoms, including pink eye, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
• Parainfluenza seems to have peaked and is declining. In addition to the standard symptoms listed above, parainfluenza viruses can also cause ear pain, and are a common cause of croup in small children. In more severe cases, people may develop a barking cough and wheezing.

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Stomach Bugs

As expected, norovirus has continued to climb.

It is now high in the Northeast with 11.7% test positivity.

This represents a nearly 5-fold increase in the past 3 weeks.

This is starting to approach its peak of the past year, which was 14.3% in April.

Nevertheless, the Northeast continues to have the lowest rates of norovirus in the country by far (currently, the West has nearly double the rate of the Northeast).

Source: CDC

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Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New:

• Connie’s Thin Crust Cheese Frozen Pizzas (more info)
• Daily Veggies Enoki Mushrooms (more info)
• Sprouts Markers Market Gyro Family Kit (more info)
• MadeGood Granola Bars (various flavors and varieties) (more info)

Previously reported:

• Large-scale cucumber recall is affecting both whole cucumbers and prepared foods with cucumbers
• Blue Ridge Beef log Puppy Mix [for Dogs]. While not for human consumption, humans may be infected by Salmonella if they do not adequately wash their hands or contaminated surfaces after handling the product. (more info)
• Kirkland Signature Organic Eggs (more info)
• Ready-to-eat fruit and vegetable products sold by Gracie’s Kitchen (more info)
• If you have food allergies, you may wish to review these FDA safety alerts and USDA alerts for foods with undeclared allergens.

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In other news MEASLES MUMPS RUBELLA COVERAGE IN NORTHEAST. NY 98% VACCINATED.

• The United States has a target of 95% coverage for the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine among children in kindergarten. New York and Connecticut exceed this protective threshold at 97.7% immunization coverage, as does Rhode Island at 97.1% and Maine at 97.5%.
• However, Massachusetts and New Jersey fall slightly below optimal measles protection at 96.3% and 93.2% respectively, while Vermont and New Hampshire at 92.9% and 89.2% are notably under the 95% target. Despite the variability, the region has the highest coverage in the country.
  • The region has reported 15 locally-acquired (vs travel-associated) measles cases so far in 2024 compared to 0 in 2023.

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. An Album of Christmas Past: 

These photographs of Christmas night and Christmas Days of the Past feature  some of the festive lights of the city, an American parlor, a typical family dinner setting, complete with kids’ table, and a Christmas Hearth.

It is especially important that at this time of troubles in our country, that families and members of communities everywhere in America, appreciate each other as individuals and treat each other with respect and understanding and not act in ways we know are wrong. Listen to the voice in your head that always tells you what the right thing to do is and the right way to act and how to rise above hurts of past and heal. That is the message of this holiday.

Though the pictures below are from the recent past, I fondly remember when my Grandmother, Gertrude Pinneo of Pleasantville on Sunnyside Avenue always gathered her children, their children, and all the cousins for the Christmas dinner at Grandma’s house. Attendance was mandatory.

The cocktail hour featured Ritz crackers with peanut butter, cream cheese, Ritter’s relish and a pickle on top. And of course, potato chips, dips, celery and carrots. (This was the 1950s), and there was no television set in the living room with her ornate 1930s furniture.

I still see her now at the head of the table carving a huge roast beef, with mashed potatoes, gravy creamed peas, mince pie for dessert with us all gathered round.

These dinners no longer happen as my nieces and nephews are spread around the country. But I miss them. So may you enjoy the spirit of family I was fortunate enough to experience in those years as you prepare for your holidays this week.

SANTA’S WORKSHOP and Reindeer, White Plains. Photo by The WPCNR Roving Photographer.

A Holiday Parlor. Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.

A Holiday Hearth. Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.

A HOLIDAY TABLE, Complete with “Kids’ Table” Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer

Christmas Morning, 2005.  Real Tree Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer

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 NO BREAKS FOR EMPTY POCKETS

WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT By John F. Bailey. December 12, 2024:

I could not help but laugh at the poppycock I read last week about the poor banks suffering from regulations that keep them from making money, investing in stocks, investing in property, mortgages, and creating trusts and funds, and financial instruments of their own.

The banks and the billionaire owners are whining again.

Beware.

This is typical corporate-speak. It’s always so tough on the whining baby CEOs.  Corporations hate rules, restrictions on deals where there is a conflict of interest, hate lowering interest rates, and love to foreclose on you the individual homeowner and business when you cannot pay off your bond or loans, except if the loan foreclosure would take a big chunk out of their assets.

That’s what happened in The Great Crash 1929,  history that reads like a thriller by John Kenneth Galbreaith, of Harvard University published in 1954.

It shows you just what big businessmen and women are like when it is their money on the line they want to increase it keep it and take yours. They do anything to keep the money train with then in the engine cab going even if it is ruining the economy and a nation at the same time even when the tracks are out.

Nobody likes to believe this is the way the banks and businesses and investment firms work. But they do.

Galbraith’s superb, no-holds-barred analysis, impeccably sourced, names the villains and enablers of how big investment banks and stock shorting brokers, lenders wrecked the country’s prosperity for 12 years. Nothing they could do could stop the bleeding of cash. It took World War II and its blood and spending for war to bring American back from the robber barons of the ‘20s.

Now where are we today as we are watching a new administration attempt to make America prosperous again?

The situation today is eerie economically compared to 1928, 97 years ago. In 1928 the stock market was going up it seemed like nothing would slow Wall Street’s appeal. It promoted itself as the everyday American could get rich. Loans were made by brokerage firms to allow new investors to buy stocks on credit. Goldman Sachs invented the notorious invest trust which threw lit gasoline on stocks

The bandit banks and brokers did virtually nothing to stop it, and looked out for their self-interest that made them money while investors lost virtually all theirs.

Today the money men in America are licking their collective lips are eagerly looking forward to an “anything goes” era.

The 20’s were era of “anything goes.”

People were so eager to buy stocks, they borrowed money from brokers to buy stocks. As long as their stocks went up everything seemed good but if they could not pay off their loans  when they were forced to sell they lost their investment and profit.

Then banks, most notably Goldman-Sachs invented the investment trust system where a bank would create a trust with its own money, sell shares in its trust and then lend money to brokerages, investors and professional short sellers which increased the credit burdens of familiar and new investors in the market. Trusts proliferated, based on the Goldman-Sachs model and so did consumer debt owned stock brokers. As stocks started to fall they continued to fall and short sellers reaped profits buying out the stocks as it it the short sell price for a lower price but pity investors who bought at the top and lost their original invested money and the loans they had been willingly offered to buy the stocks.

In February, 1929 The Federal Reserve raised interest rates from 5 to 6%   to stocks. This deepened the crisis. Note this parallel to 2024 after the Federal Reserve had raised interest rates to keep inflation under control. Now rates have been lowered to banks to 7%

Now the greatest problem in reviving the economy after covid and making the housing industry grow is how the banks and the realtors are reacting to the lowered  interest from the Federal Reserve.

As CNN explains the new commission rule:

The (key) change, which was the primary subject of the DOJ’s warning, requires buyers’ agents to discuss their compensation upfront, meaning that all agents working with a prospective homebuyer must enter into a written buyer agreement before touring a property together. The agreement is designed to inform buyers that they are responsible for paying their own Realtors if a seller chooses not to cover the cost.

The new rules came after a series of lawsuits alleged that home sellers should not be responsible for paying the fees for buyers. NAR maintained that commissions were always negotiable.

I walked with a mortgage broker in the metro area about how the realtors and the banks are coping with mortgage availability  and keeping commission costs at 6% and the realtors with the federal ruling that real estate commissions can no longer be negotiated.

My source who has been finding affordable mortgage loans for families for over a decase  says the hardest thing about my job is informing clients that they have been turned down because they have too much debt, not enough income, and not enough down payment.

The banks are being very tough on qualifications and credit scores, he reports and not enough down payments. He said banks are requiring 1/3 of the cost for a downpayment. On a 600,000 home in Westchester that is $200,000 dollars. A $400,000 home $133,200. I asked him what the banks were giving mortgages he said it was 7 to 8%.

Now, I recall the last three years in Westchester when sales of high end real estate were soaring, but lower priced homes lagged in sales.

It has only been recently the lower priced residential opportunities: condominiums have become attractive.

Another assurance that it was time to buy now, well it may be good to buy now if your wallet is fat and your credit is good. If you’re a young couple want a first home, the two of you employed as many are, the down payment which you may have already saved for may no longer be enough. My mortgage lender sees banks not lowering interest rates and keeping them at 7 to 8%. They are not going to take a chance on you you have to show them the money.

He also says there are a lot less home refinancing mortgage brokers like him. He estimates 25% have left the business.

On the commissions situation, the mortgage man says there is a trend that if a buyer is not willing to compensate the  realtor broker for his or her services  by paying 6%  or more  even if the seller refuses to pay the other half of the commission.

This is why a written agreement is now required by the buyer after a ruling and settlement with the National Association of Realtors last March.

With this ruling the buyer is required to iron out a signed written agreement with the broker  on who is paid what and how much at the closing.

This is a very sensitive point to me when Brenda Starr and I bought our second house in White Plains.

At the closing, my wife and  I were informed the owner wanted us to pay their share of the commission. Our lawyer who was recommended by the realtor did not say a thing.

Now supposedly the new written agreement law prohibits this flagrant surprise cost. It was only $6,000 more at the time. We did not want to lose the house by refusing. What a shifty maneuver. Beware. Today if you buy a $650,000 house the commission is $39,000.  If your seller does not want to pay the commission you have to fork up $80,000 for a commission. That is robbery. (And we do not a Consumer Fraud Bureau?)

High prices in real estate only make money for realtors and bankers.

Why aren’t homes selling it’s not low inventory it is because they cost so much money, thanks to banks reaping the profit of the high interest rate and lowering to 6% as predicted would happen. You think banks like low interest rates? They don’t. They have to be jawboned.

My mortgage broker friend said this created another trend in real estate “marketing.”

The way he describes it:  If realtor introduces them to the house they want, and the homeowner refuses to pay the commission, this creates a problem.

The person seeking a house, refusing to agree to pay more than 6%, may not be shown many houses. Conversely if the owner of a house refuses to pay commission to the broker representing the house, that homeowner may have his or home not shown much. The mortgage broker pointed out brokers are discriminating among clients they show homes to and owners who refuse to pay the 6% to the broker that reps them.

The banks are not making loans at interest rates that persons looking to buy can afford, the mortgage hunter says.

What does this mean for the real estate market? If inventory comes on the market maybe buyer’s interest rates will come down. But how far down.

Realtors call me, John Bailey, every two months to see if I want to put my home on the market. However, we have to move out. We want to get our equity out.  If you as a homeowner have not paid off your mortgage you cannot afford to lower the price of your house to where you cannot pay off your mortgage, and you are whipsawed by the gun-to-your head commission charge.

The commission on a mid market price in White Plains if you have to pay it all almost makes you want to sell the house yourself.

Will real estate comeback? Did the banks bring the economy back in the depression? No. They foreclosed a lot. But the bad actors in the 1930s are saying their deregulation to bring back the speculation and ability to invest in new ventures, with your money. Beware of whining banks.

Until banks take on a new sense of public service to the citizens it lends to based on society need that is not good.  To find out how the wise money men  thought in the depression it compelling and disgusting to read about the greed of these men all who headed the big name banks of today back then, I suggest reading The Great Crash 1929.

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WPCNR STATE OF THE CITY, PART 3. By John F. Bailey, December 6, 2024:

EDITOR’S NOTE: IN 2008, I WROTE ABOUT WHAT I SAW IN WHITE PLAINS AT THAT TIME. I PULLED OUT THOSE THOUGHTS AND DECIDED TO SEE HOW THE ISSUES OF THAT DAY FOR THE CITY HAVE WORKED OUT OVER 17 YEARS SINCE THEN. HERE IS WHAT I SAW THEN AND WROTE ABOUT AND WHETHER AS PROUST PUT IT:

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

1. School Budget Reform :  This is another very sensitive issue. White Plains school taxes will be averaging five figures this year. The budget is going to top $200 Million in 2009-2010.  (this  year, 2024, the budget has reached $266 MILLION) The school administration has to take budget cutting more seriously. The budget has to be held at the inflation rate. Otherwise, with real estate values dropping – the tax increase is going to hit the double digits consistently. Just do the math. It can be no more business as usual by the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee. Failure to hold the line on inflation in the district is going to wear out taxpayer good will rapidly. FIXED! STABLE FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS  BUT ASSESSMENT ROLL IS DROPPING. INSTEAD OF STEADY  5 TO 7% INCREASES ABOVE THE INFLATION RATE TAX INCREASES HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 2%. IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN FINANCED BY ESTABLISHING A CONSTRUCTION FUND TO AVOID BONDING FOR CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MANAGED TO HOLD THE LINE DESPITE CONSISTENT DECLINE IN THE ASSESSMENT ROLE. THE MYSTERIOUS CONTINUED DEVALUING OF WHITE PLAINS REAL ESTATE DESPITE IT BEING IN DEMAND IS A PROBLEM. UNLESS THIS ASSESSMMENTS TURN AROUND IN THIS NEW 2025 ASSESSMENT ROLL THE CITY HAS TO FIND SOLUTION TO THIS ASSET DRAIN WHICH THE HOMEOWNER PAYS FOR. A RUSH ON DEMANDS FOR LOWERED ASSESSMENTS BY COMMERCIAL OWNERS COULD BE EXPECTED THIS YEAR TRYING TO COVER LOSS IN REVENUE FROM THEIR PROPERTIES, IN THE 5 YEARS OF COVID,  MAY RESULT IN A HIT ON THE ASSESSMENT ROLL AGAIN

 2. Parking Reform: If you live in White Plains, even in 2008, when parking fees became a revenue generator to be manipulated according to city need for revenue,  you know you have to plan your visits to downtown because of the limited parking options, as well as the severe time limitations placed on the meters – as well as the high likelihood of getting a $15 ticket. (now $25 in 20240). It is no fun. This needs to be looked at. When residents do not feel like going downtown, the city retail is getting killed. AND the $1.25 for a half hour is a huge inconvenience. NOT FIXED. GETTING WORSE? HURTING WHITE PLAINS RETAIL REPUTATION. 

A longer time limit is needed at the parking meters – perhaps raising the rates a little, but the time limits are what are so bad. You can rarely get everything done within an hour. Two hours is reasonable. One hour is not.  I also do not like the double billing at the console parking lots, where the city is earning money when there is still time left on a parking space. That needs adjusting. I would also like free parking after 5 PM. That would be much more reasonable.

I also suggested graduated parking tickets. Your first parking ticket would be  $5 $10, second, $15, third $20, fourth, $25 and so on. This coordinated with expanded meter time intervals with increased rates for those longer meter intervals might be a direction to go.

These are wild suggestions, but a city that is unpleasant to shop in is not a city that is going to become a magnet destination. Though the Department of Parking is the city’s most profitable department, raking in $20 Million and spending only $10 Million in expenses, this does not mean it should keep increasing its profit margins just because it can.

3. Policy Making:  I wrote in 2008 The Common Council has to work just a little in-between Work Sessions and Special Meetings and the monthly Common Council meetings. They have to go out and mingle with the city. Go into places like Winbrook, South Lexington Avenue, the senior center, hold community meetings on their own and not just listen to their city political leaders who have no clue what is going on.NOT FIXED OR CONSIDERED. NO PROGRESS IN PRESENTING NEW PROJECTS WAY BEFORE THEY ARE REFERRED TO THE COMMON COUNCIL. NO PROGRESS ON PENALIZING BUSINESSES THAT FAIL TO OBTAIN FINANCING OR DWADDLING ON SITE PLAN OR DESIGN DECISIONS OR INEPT MARKET RESEARCH

The council people have to start the year holding an open meeting or two to discuss things with the city administration and ferret out where the administration is taking the city. The council does not do that now, and have never done it in the 24 YEARS  this website has been reporting the news in town. I have seen the council spring surprises on the Mayor, but never asked the Mayor – well, Mr. Mayor? What do you have in mind for the South Lexington Avenue corridor?  (For example) Instead they react according to what they think will make them look good politically. It is time for them to stop reacting and start finding out what is going on in the administration minds. Take an interest. Look at parking statistically. Do surveys not do professionally prepared listening presentations that are slanted towards what the city wants to do, which of course we never know. The council needs to take back control from the developer interests that have the administration attention, and establish some protections for the city when developments do not start and get done. New Rochelle has gained a great advantage as a result in attraction of renters for their apartments that are doing well. Ours have not opened yet

4. I wrote this in 2008 about planning: “However,  listening twice a month is not leadership for our $40,000 a year for each councilmember. Because whoever becomes Mayor or if Mr. Roach decides not to run – cannot jump into the job and do nothing OR BUSINESS AS USUAL We will know then just how successful development really is – and the sales tax has to be topping ohhhhh — $60 Million by 2009-2010– it’s now at $44.8 Million, otherwise there are going to be serious problems in wages – and property taxes.”

NOT FIXED! THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS IN WHITE PLAINS  HAVE AFTER 17 YEARS NOT REACHED $56 MILLION NOT FIXED. THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS WERE BEING HURT IN 2008 BY WHAT I BELIEVE THE UNFRIENDLY, INCONVENIENT PARKING RATES AND FINES. YOU GET ONE $25 TICKET YOU ARE NOT COMING BACK TO WHITE PLAINS. THIS WEEK WHITE PLAINS SALES TAX RECEIPTS ARE UP  2.8% FOR 2024 JUST THE INFLATION RATE. THAT MEANS TO ME RETAIL TRAFFIC AND BAR/RESTAURANT TRAFFIC IS THE SAME AS IT WAS. A SLUGGISH SALES TAX RECEIPTS TREND OVER 17 YEARS TELLS YOU SOMETHING BUT THE CITY HAS NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT IS SAYING. BASEBALL TELLS YOU IF YOU HAVE A BAD BALL CLUB AND A TERRIBLE BALLPARK YOU DO NOT DRAW.  

The council has to demand projections of finances. They have to examine those capital project numbers seriously.

5. Development?  I wrote this in 2008: “Well – the council and the Mayor and the community have to agree. There are three areas of town left to fix: The station area, Lexington Avenue, and East Post Road – and you cannot do the latter without removing the Coachman and 186 East Post Road—the homeless shelter sites – as well as the Department of Social Services areas – those are roadblocks to making the Lex-Post Road corridors. nothing more than a health services corridor like any other.”

NOT FIXED The council needs to develop a policy formulation stance to consider how they will develop those three areas  instead of using the shotgun  “Anything Goes” approach.  If they don’t the city will have two years of  stagnation. The Mayoral-wanna-be’s will be trying to be all things to all voters instead of leaders. It’s no good saying we want “balanced development” without defining balanced It does not work saying, you want “smart growth” without defining what is smart OR KNOWING WHAT SMART IS I say smart growth is “growing within your financial means and attracting development the city needs”I say “balanced development” is “developing a mix of housing and commercial that  BOTH PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AND OWN WAY WITHOUT USING LOSSES AND INCOMPETANCE TO TURN LOSES INTO PROFIT.  Homeowners and commercial interests must pay their own way without bleeding the present tax payer.”  So far I have not seen that.

AS OUR APARTMENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN FILL UP AS THEY BECOME FINISHED IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS IT WILL SHOW THAT TIMELY PLANNING BY DEVELOPERS MUST BE ENFORCED. THE CITY CENTER AND RITZ-CARLTON WERE BUILT IN 6 YEARS. IT HAS TAKEN 17 YEARS FOR THE EAST POST ROAD AND LEXINGTON PROJECT AND IT IS STILL A FEW YEARS AWAY. AND WE  FINALLY HAVE 2 NEW BUILDINGS IN THE DOWN TOWN AND AWAIT THE FINISH OF HAMILTON GREEN AND THE HOLE IN THE GROUND ON MAPLE AVENUE (60 BROADWAY).  COVID WAS A FACTOR ADMITTEDLY. BUT THE FINANCING PROBLEM HAS COST US TIME AND MONEY AND COMPETITIVE POSITION AT THE LONG AWAITED FINISH.

The council at long last should find out what combination will achieve those two definitions  SMART GROWTH AND BALANCED GROWTH IS.

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WPCNR STATE OF THE CITY SERIES. By John F. Bailey December 2, 2024:

Editor’s note: Seventeen years ago prior to the ending of the Delfino Adminstration, I wrote this summary of what I though the next Mayor might concentrate on doing based on conditions of the city then. In looking through 17 years of stories this weekend I ran across, let’s see how the 2009-2024 years have brought change, or have they? 

Unfinished Business in 2008

WPCNR Tomorrow’s News Today. News & Comment By John F. Bailey December 27, 2007: There are a lot of issues facing the City of White Plains in 2008 that WPCNR identified at the close of  2006.  They still face us and as a resident and an observer of the city these are situations which need to be addressed

1. REMOVE TCEs from City Dump and Build Fields There:  How long does it take the DEC and the city to evaluate how dirty the dump is? Testing has been going on for five months. If the DEC rules White Plains does not have to clean it up – then it calls into question how competent the DEC really is. Is it just an employment program for well educated, politically connected hacks? They have allowed the city to pollute the Beverly Road, Rocky Dell neighborhoods for 38 years. Could the Department of Public Works instead of spending more money on rolling stock clean it up, please – just because it is the right thing to do?  DONE!

2. Develop Police Emergency Notification System MORE THOROUGHLY: The White Plains Department of Public Safety would after 18 years needs needs a means of communicating with citizens during a citywide or even a minor city emergency. Then Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Charles Jennings proposed such a system to be developed 2009-2010. Such a system might constitute any number of procedures: a tape loop system updated that citizens could call for information; an AM radio system such as the Air Traffic Information System used at all airports. Still, no movement on this very urgent need. The police have no way of notifying all the citizens quickly about situations breaking in the city. WPCNR thinks it is about time!

STILL NOT AVAILABLE. The  city telphone advisory system for DPW issues which we get every major three day holida on when collections change, is a start and is most appreciated, but in traffic jams which are much more frequent in the downtown now.There should be advisories of where the lane eliminations are every morning  FOR THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION during the week–or email advisories of lane closures, AT LEAST. 

EMERGENCY ADVISORIES COULD BE SENT OUT BY CELLPHONE, FOR EXAMPLE TO ALL CELLPHONE NUMBERS SUBMITTED A TEXT MESSAGE WARNING OF FIRE, WATERMAIN BREAKS. TO BE SURE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS VERY WELL EQUIPPED, BUT A INSTANT WARNING SYSTEM OF MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO TRAFFIC OR DANGERS IN THE CITY IS LONG OVERDUE. SUCH WARNINGS COULD ALSO BE POSTED IN REAL TIME BY THE CITY WEBSITE. YOU CAN’T HAVE EVERYTHING, I REALIZE THAT BUT YOU HAVE NO LOCAL RADIO STATIONS THAT GET THE WORD OUT OR EVEN FEE IT IS NECESSARY TO DO THAT. 

3.Develop Lexington Avenue Corridor: The highly touted next piece of the City Renaissance  introduced in 2007– cleaning up the Lexington Avenue look adjacent the Winbrook projects. No meetings have been held on this among property owners since last spring to this reporter’s knowledge. It would also be very nice if the meetings that are held are not held in secret. Could the city be more forthcoming in 2008 on this critical piece of the city’s rebirth?  Out of the blue came the knowledge recently that townhouses are being considered for the Winbrook site. Who asked for those? Who is going to pay for them? A little candor, a little news conference maybe?

18 YEARS BEHIND SCHEDULE  2025 BUT WHAT IS NEXT: THE DEVELOPMENT OF WINBROOK HAS BEEN SHELVED BY THE CITY BEING A PARTNER TO WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS.

THE WINBROOK REBUILD OF 5 BUILDINGS IS STILL NOT COMPLETE AND HAS TWO BUILDINGS TO GO MAINLY DUE TO FAILURE  TO FIND FINANCING BY THE CITY’S HOUSING AUTHORITY . THIS PROJECT WHEN COMPLETED MAY OR MAY NOT IMPROVE THIS AREA AS HOPED. THIS WINBROOK REBULD MAY BE COMPLETED IN 3 YEARS. (IT SHOULD BE.) MEANWHILE AT LEXINGTON AVENUE AND POST ROAD THE URBAN RENEWAL EMINENT DOMAIN TOOL IS BEING UTILIZED TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR A PARKING GARAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF WHITE PLAINS HOPSITAL A NON-PROFIT SUBSIDIZED BY CITY ENABLING EVERY HOSPITAL EXPANSION. WHAT IS THE STRETCH OF POST ROAD GOING TO LOOK LIKE. WHAT IS THE CITY PLAN AND MORE SIGNIFICANTLY THE HOSPITAL PLANS IF ANY FOR WHAT GOES IN FOR THE PARKING GARAGE. THIS IS AN INSULT TO THE RESIDENTS OF WINBROOK WHO ARE THERE NOW. HOW DOES THE RETAIL ON LEXINGTON AVENUE IMPROVE. MOREOVER TRAFFIC ON POST ROAD AND MAPLE CONTINUES TO BE A MESS. THE COMMON COUNCIL AND THE NEXT MAYOR (IF NOT TOM ROACH AGAIN) SHOULD DO A STUDY OF THE REVENUE THE HOSPITAL BRINGS TO THE CITY AND PROVE IT IS WORTH THE CITY BUILDING FOR THE HOSPITAL AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE AMBIENCE OF RESIDENTS OF WINBROOK LOOKING AT A PARKING GARAGE OUT THEIR UPPER STORY WINDOWS.   THE ISSUE I RAISED 17 YEARS AGO ABOUT TELLING CITIZENS ABOUT POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS HAS CHANGED INTO DEVELOPMENTS PRESENT VERY CLOSE TO WHEN THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO BE VOTED ON BY THE COMMON COUNCIL. THIS HAS BECOME THE COMMON PROCEDURE. IT SHOULD BE STOPPED AND THE MEETINGS WHEN PROJECTS ARE FIRST BE PRESENTED SHOULD NOT BE IN CONFERENCE ROOM WORK SESSIONS BUT IN PUBLIC HEARINGS IN HE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS….A TOWN MEETING IF PEOPLE WANT TO ATTEND. ENOUGH OF THESE SURPRISE AGENDAS BY THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION 

1. Develop Hamilton Avenue Gateway II Lot: The big lot across from the White Plains TransCenter. This is the last remaining parcel where buildings of 40 stories could be built. Should the Mayor proceed with getting this link in the new downtown developed – what is its status? NOT COMPLETED, BUT GATEWAY II IS NEARING COMPLETION AND THE HAMILTON GREEN IS ABOUT HALF COMPLETED WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDING ON THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS PARKING LOT AND TWO NEW BUILDINGS DEVOTED TO RESIDENCE AND AN OFFICE BUILDING PROGRESS BUT A LONG WAY OFF ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 6 YEARS FOR HAMILTON GREEN.

1. Bring Budget in Line with City Revenues? Instead of budget cutting, city hall has pursued spending policies in recent years that have required, and continue to require revenue generating by selling city land, while funding affordable housing projects with city assets. The city now faces renegotiating union contracts which they will settle at a minimum of 4% — maybe even 5% — now that they have a ¼% sales tax increase in the works.  The city needs to look at their spending policies – task force the budget – instead of lurching forward with what appears to be a lack of planning?

1. Televise Work Sessions, Planning Board, Zoning Board Meetings. Major policy decisions are made at these meetings, and, in the case of the Common Council Work Sessions, and Special Meetings seemingly scheduled suspiciously close to holidays and at inopportune times to satisfy developer priorties.  Important city issues are decided on in a small packed conference room with limited audience. The city should televise these sessions and Planning and Zoning Board meetings to better inform the public. Lack of equipment is no excuse. They could also be easily televised over the internet via the city website. If WPCNR can do it with White Plains Week, the city with its Commissioner devoted to internet services and computers, could certainly do it.

1. Enact Surcharge to Arrest Assessment Decline. It is no secret that declining commercial assessments are killing Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains. This year the owner of a $700,000 house in White Plains will pay over $10,000 a year in school, city and county taxes with no end in site. A Tennessee County has moved to enact surcharges on increased value of commercial and residential properties  to reflect the actual resale value of  the properties. The city explore a surcharge for services, an air rights tax, or similar mechanism to relieve the White Plains residential property owner. The Adam Bradley separate Commercial Tax Rate for assessments (designed to eliminate the Equalization Rate penalty that increases White Plains property tax for homeowners when our homes increase in value), does not have any shot at getting passed in the senate. It is time for the city to take action and take aim at the commercial property owners who are bleeding the homeowners with certioraris.

1. Add Warming Shelters: My sources tell me there are a lot more than 17  homeless persons who need shelter from the cold and misery of one of the dampest coldest miserable winters we are experiencing. The homeless bed shortfall is by no means solved despite the efforts of the last two weeks. I suggest the backslapping and the sanctimonious pats on the back that characterized the last special meeting of the Common Council when the council agreed to allow cots is premature and in bad taste. Once again our Common Council has shown they are not leaders. They should reach out on their own to enlist the aid of concerns within the Central Downtown area to make available vacant buildings to provide beds for them all. Sites that come to mind are: the St. John’s School, which is closed and empty – and fenced. If the Archdiocese would step forward and give its permission to use this vacant space nights, you have plenty of room to house the homeless. But that’s just one place. I also suggest  the fire house down by the railroad station, the Fire Station at Lexington and Maple,  the White Plains Housing Authority, Berkeley College, Mercy College.  Could we explore with a little creativity, please? And could we have them open all year?  There is no excuse for not taking a lead on the issue, when no one else is.

1. Liaison with the Department of Transportation on the Tappan Zee/I-287 Corridor: This is long overdue. You cannot make plans for developing the railroad station area – as the council seems to be inclined to explore – without working with the state. If White Plains is not careful we are going to have another Exit 6,7,8 construction nightmare rammed down our throats.  One look at the way the Department of Transporation has ruined the Central Westchester Parkway and eastern gateway to our city is a preview of what the DOT is going to do to White Plains unless we start looking over their shoulders. Could the Mayor and the Common Council get on the stick on this issue.  You cannot redo the Railroad station without figuring out the role of light rail and commuter rail east-west. At last look on this issue – the geniuses were talking light bus routes!  Are you kidding me, DOT? We are polluting the planet with fumes and you’re even thinking more buses, which no one rides???? This kind of thinking is going to wreck White Plains unless as I say, the Mayor and the Council start interfacing with the state on this issue.  It doesn’t matter what you think you want to develop if the state wants to develop something else.

10. Illegal Housing Crackdown: The next time one of the multi-family homes with 50 persons in it burns – the city may not be so lucky. When 208 West Post Road burned, this was a warning. According to the Mayor, the residents attempted to put the fire out themselves rather than call the fire department. I wonder why? It is time to get tough on the illegal rooming houses, not matter how many rich and powerful politically connected slum scum own them. If, and mark my words this may happen next week or next month, 10 persons die in an illegal housing fire, White Plains will be front page news. You think the Journal News gave Bill Ryan a hard time, just wait.

The owners of those homes will be indicted for negligent manslaughter, and the city will be sued. The U.S. District Attorney and the State Attorney General will see another great investigation, and White Plains will receive an incredible black eye. Remember the Providence fire?  Remember Coconut Grove?

It is time to publish every housing violation; publish the names of the owners; and start eminent domain proceedings to relieve owners of those Uriah Heap rooming house cash streams – after the second violation. And could we inspect once a month please? The only reason illegal housing exists is because it is in the best interest of the city or the powerful to let it continue.

We have also heard that organizations pretending to help immigrants steer them to housing that is illegal. How sordid and despicable is that? If WPCNR can confirm this—this would be a horrible thing. I hope it is not true.

Illegal housing isn’t O.K. because important people own it. It’s slum perpetuation.

When they carry the dead babies out of the next char job, the questions will come hard, fast, and relentless, then will come the indictments, the investigations, and the revelation of who owns these scurrilous establishments.

The city, the Common Council, the authorities have to make a choice here and the time to make it is now. Stamp it out. Either by buying them all out quietly.