TUNNELS AT THE END OF THE LIGHT? TRUMP TO CUOMO: WILL TALK TO MY PEOPLE ABOUT HUDSON TUNNELS REPLACEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL OF 2ND AVENUE SUBWAY EXTENSION. “HE GETS IT. HE’S A BUILDER…WHAT BETTER MOMENT TO DO IT. AT LEAST BUILD THINGS WE CAN LEAVE OUR CHILDREN.” COVID NUMBERS DECLINING ALL CATEGORIES. GOVERNOR RESTATES AGGRESSIVE CASE FOR CONGRESS MAKING STATES WHOLE.

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GOVERNOR CUOMO ON THE TRUMP MEETING
The Last Word

WPCNR WEDNESDAY GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO CORONAVIRUS BRIEFING. By John F. Bailey. May 27, 2020:

President Donald Trump, meeting with Governor Andrew Cuomo this morning in Washington, listened to the Governor’s case for starting major infrastructure projects to bring jobs back to New York sooner rather than later.

Governor Cuomo said he and the President “had a good discussion” about building new railroad tunnels across the Hudson River that link AMTRAK to the Northeast, to replace tunnels now in dilapidated condition. He said the President was aggressive about getting these projects done on time.

The two also discussed expediting Washington environmental approval of the Second Avenue Subway extension to 125th Street, Manhattan, that has already been approved by New York State awaits Washington Department of Transportation approval. Governor Cuomo said President Trump listened to the proposals and said he would discuss the two projects with “his people,” and he and governor would “talk next week.”

The Governor said the other projects the Governor had mentioned yesterday, an Airtran to Laguardia Airport; speeding construction of LaGuardia Airport and building a new Penn Station (“Empire Station”) were not discussed. T

The governor focused on the positive, saying he thought the President wanted to see the economy recover and believed in the projects: “He’s a builder, he’s a developer. He gets it. It’s been his career. ”

Mr. Cuomo ended the “Question & Answer” part of the briefing, saying “ It was about what we could do to supercharge the opening and getting up and running and we need jobs now more than ever. When is there a better moment to do it (infrastructure), at least building these we have something we can leave our children.”

The governor strongly pleaded with the U.S. Senate to give the states that have suffered the most in the coronavirus pandemic, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Delaware the funds needed to get them back contributing to the U.S. economy.

He predicted that there will be no recovery if the U.S. Senate does not want to send aid to relieve the deficits the states face:

“There cannot be any national recovery if states and local governments are not funded, because those states contribute 1/3 of the nation’s Gross National Product. State and local spending is essential to the health of the economy. Act accordingly. This partisanship is toxic for the country. You represent the United States. Can’t there be one moment of good government? Over partisan politics? Politics 365 days a year is poison. It is not red and blue, it is red, white and blue.”

Finally, the Governor confirmed 1,129 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 364,965 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 364,965 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows (MIDHUDSON COUNTIES IN BOLD FACE. THE GOVERNOR ALSO CONFIRMED YESTERDAY THERE ARE 170 CASES OF PEDIATRIC MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME (AFFECTED CHILDREN 1 TO 25, WHO HAVE HAD CORONAVIRUS AND ANTIBODIES IN THE STATE, CONTINUING TO RISE BY 10 CASES A DAY.:

CountyTotal PositiveNew Positive
Albany1,7963
Allegany451
Broome5286
Cattaraugus821
Cayuga802
Chautauqua781
Chemung1360
Chenango1252
Clinton950
Columbia3807
Cortland390
Delaware781
Dutchess3,84713
Erie5,81057
Essex360
Franklin200
Fulton1982
Genesee1952
Greene2316
Hamilton50
Herkimer1052
Jefferson720
Lewis200
Livingston1180
Madison3107
Monroe2,79129
Montgomery822
Nassau40,03460
Niagara9727
NYC199,968667
Oneida92912
Onondaga2,03321
Ontario1983
Orange10,29215
Orleans2102
Oswego1051
Otsego690
Putnam1,2275
Rensselaer4660
Rockland13,04728
Saratoga4652
Schenectady6735
Schoharie490
Schuyler110
Seneca550
St. Lawrence2003
Steuben2411
Suffolk39,25859
Sullivan1,3402
Tioga1242
Tompkins1551
Ulster1,6457
Warren2521
Washington2280
Wayne1100
Westchester33,18679
Wyoming820
Yates392

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OPENING DAY! GOVERNOR CUOMO: LOWEST SINCE COVID-19 START. REOPENS PHASE 1 WESTCHESTER. NYC FOCUS: INFECTION ZIPS CUOMO PLANS ADVANCING PENN STATION, LAGUARDIA AIRTRAIN 2ND AVE SUBW TO 125TH St, AMTRAK TUBES. NO BORROWING FOR DEFICITS. “FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IT’S YOUR TURN TO DELIVER.” 20% CUTS–IF THEY DON’T

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BIG PLANS AHEAD: GOVERNOR CUOMO OFF TO SEE THE PRESIDENT TOMORROW TO DISCUSS BRINGING NEW YORK BACK WITH ACCELERATED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

WPCNR TUESDAY GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO CORONAVIRUS BRIEFING. By John F. Bailey. May 26, 2020:

Today was Opening Day.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Westchester County and the rest of the Midhudson region is starting Phase 1 of Reopening. (Details on the reopening are provided in the story below from County Legislator Benjamin Boykin.)

He said New York City  still has too many infections in poor neighborhoods rising and not enough tracers signed on yet to open.

He said New York City would be concentrating on getting the high rate of infections in the poor minority districts of New York in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx by zip code, and meeting the number of tracers needed for New York City to follow and get  the new infections (occurring at rates up to double the infection rates in the rest of the city). There was no target date of when NYC could expect to do that. Long Island is expected to open tomorrow.

The Governor said he has been in touch with County Executives across the state allowed to reopen,  to watch their infection rates and when they see numbers of corona virus infections rise steadily to “jump on it.”

Moving ahead the Governor said he wanted to accelerate major projects now under way that by acceleration would create 8,000 jobs. The projects are the Empire Station complex at old Penn Station, speed completion of LaGuardia Airport, build an Airtrain to LaGuardia; construct an extension of the new 2nd Avenue Subway to 125th Street; refurbish the AMTRAK TUNNELS under Manhattan.

The Governor’s Daughter, Michaelia Kennedy Cuomo introduced the winning Public Service Commericals for the state “Wear a Mask Campaign.” Ms. Kennedy Cuomo said 186, 117 people voted in the contest among 5 productions. Governor Cuomo said the top two spots split 96,000 votes between them and were separated by only 500 votes, so he made an “Executive Order” to run both “Wear the Mask” spots alternately in the upcoming public service campaign

In the Question and Answer session, the Governor was asked if he would consider borrowing to finance the state budget deficit. The Governor said the state had to be “fiscally responsible…we don’t want to create more debt  than the state can repay it—now we’re in a downward spiral. Decisions call for hard choices

He said the subways would continue to cleaned every night because the Center for Disease Control did say the coronavirus could not be caught from hard surfaces, only that hard surfaces were not the primary source of infection. (Air droplets are.)

Asked about enforcement of wearing a mask on public transportation, the governor appeared to indicate there were no   penalties or enforcement measures at this time planned. He recommended “polite, curious” reminders to persons not wearing a mask, to wear one.

On the  matter of the budget deficit the state faces, the Governor said he wanted the federal government to own this issue. “Tell me what the Federal Government does, and I will tell you what the New York State budget is.  Congress has to deliver. Federal government it’s your turn to deliver.”

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY REOPENS: GUIDELINES FROM BENJAMIN BOYKIN, CHAIR OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATORS

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Chairman of the County Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin. May 26, 2020:

New York’s Mid-Hudson Region — which includes Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties — has met Governor Andrew Cuomo’s criteria to begin Phase 1 re-opening.Re-opening refers to non-essential businesses and business activities.

Essential businesses and business activities that are open will remain open.Businesses that are seeking to re-open must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must be made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection. 

Detailed industry-by-industry specifics, summary guidelines for how to reopen and business safety plan templates are available online from New York State at https://forward.ny.gov/industries-reopening-phase.Here is a breakdown of industries that are eligible to re-open in Phase 1:Construction

  • Building Equipment Contractors
  • Building Finishing Contractors
  • Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
  • Highway, Street and Bridge Construction
  • Land Subdivision
  • Nonresidential Building Construction
  • Residential Building Construction

Non-Food Related Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

  • Animal Production
  • Crop Production
  • Support Activities for Animal Production
  • Support Activities for Crop Production
  • Support Activities for Forestry

Retail – (Limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off)

  • Clothing Stores
  • Direct Selling Establishments
  • Electronics and Appliance Stores
  • Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses
  • Furniture and Home Furnishing Stores
  • Florists
  • General Merchandise Stores
  • Health and Personal Care Stores
  • Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores
  • Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores
  • Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores
  • Used Merchandise Stores
  • Shoe Stores
  • Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument and Book Stores
  • Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers

Manufacturing

  • Apparel Manufacturing
  • Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
  • Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing
  • Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
  • Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
  • Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
  • Machinery Manufacturing
  • Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
  • Paper Manufacturing
  • Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
  • Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
  • Printing and Related Support Activities
  • Textile Mills
  • Textile Product Mills
  • Wood Product Manufacturing
  • Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

  • Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers
  • Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers
  • Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
  • Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
  • Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
  • Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers
  • Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers
  • Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
  • Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers
  • Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
  • Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
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Missing the Parade of Memory

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The White Plains Rural Cemetery on a Memorial Day of the Past.

WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. May 26, 2020:

It was not really Memorial Day in White Plains without the Memorial Day Parade.

In years past, I recall Jewish Veterans of Foreign Wars marching stalwartly. Korean War Veterans with measured purpose and quiet honor. The White Plains High School Band playing. The Thomas Slater Center Drum and Bugle Corps rumbling down Mamaroneck Avenue, somber cadences, rolling thunder, chilling thrilling celebrating the resolute courage of young men and women with everything to live for offered their lives to preserve the ideal of America, 244 years ago.

 Then the Vietnam War veterans would parade past greeted with respect and applause.  Younger faces from the newer wars, the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts would march. The Common Council  and Mayor would proceed from the White Plains Library to Mamaroneck Avenue then down Mamaroneck Avenue swinging right onto Main Street and past the reviewing stand in front of city hall. Then up North Broadway to the White Plains Rural Cemetery

Older veterans would receive rides up to the Rural Cemetery, children would march alongside the bands and contingents of veterans as they marched.

At the Cemetery, the National Anthem would be played.  They would read the poem, Flanders Fields. Remarks would be made by an honored veteran, and reminisces of what the young patriots  who died who might have been if they had not lost their lives fighting for truth, justice and the American Way for freedom for this country. 

Mayors, veterans themselves, of the past would speak whether it was Joe Delfino, Alfred Del Vecchio,  Dick Hendy they would place  wreaths before the old faded stones of  American Revolutionary patriots.

The tombstones of the first Americans who gave their lives are virtually unreadable today, but the stones speak their eloquence of excellence, not to be forgotten. 

Coronavirus caused many ceremonies to be cancelled out of fear of spreading the virus.

It is poignant that when you needed the veterans to march on Memorial Day, this year they could not. Previously they often did even when it rained.

I remember along the sidewalks of Mamaroneck Avenue, citizens  holding hands of children and grandchildren came out. Not huge crowds but spectators to give tribute, thanks, and credit to everyday persons who stepped out up out of the crowd to another level and made a difference for millions, with their lives.

 The parade goers applauded politely with dignity as the fighters for freedom, the keepers of the American Dream marched quietly, somberly acknowledging the applause, somewhat humble as the veterans marched to remember and the citizens remembered too.

This year the parade was cancelled on the one day we all needed to remember what it takes to be free and the dear cost our freedom was purchased with—lives, hopes, dreams.  

In the distant past of memory at the Rural Cematery  in white plains there would be a  21 gun salute with muskets. Taps would be played, mellow, drifting with melancholy on the fresh spring air, remembrance and respect  soothing over the graves with the little American Flags by the stones, whisking back and forth.

I hope the parade  will be back next year. We like it.  We need it. The country needs it.

Thank you, veterans. Thank you to the departed.

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