Cuomo says NYC transportation workers have to get vaccinated or be tested for COVID; urges local governments to consider vaccine mandates...
Governor Andrew Cuomo says workers in New York City's airports and public transit system will have to get COVID-19 vaccinations or face weekly testing for the coronavirus. However... he stopped short of mandating either masks or inoculations for the general public. Speaking to reporters Monday... Cuomo said he no longer has the legal authority to make masking mandatory. He says it's up to local governments to consider mandating vaccines. If they don't act, he warns "we'll be where we were last year" when there was a state-wide emergency. Cuomo also urged bars and restaurants to adopt a policy of only serving vaccinated people and that more hospitals should require workers to get vaccines. The Democrat says an average of nearly 2,300 people have been testing positive for COVID-19 daily across New York state over the past week, up from around 300 new cases per day in late June.
Seven new COVID-19 cases reported in Chautauqua County from past weekend...
There were seven new cases of the COVID-19 virus reported in Chautauqua County over the past weekend... and, risk is now listed as "moderate." The county Health Department's COVID-19 Dashboard reported the new cases late Monday. Officials say there have now been 9,351 total cases... and, 26 of those are now active. They add that one case is now hospitalized. There are now 9,167 cases that have recovered... and, the seven-day infection rate is 2.3-percent.
Jamestown resident urges city leaders to consider a new mitigation and protection plan in wake of spreading Delta variant...
COVID-19 has "roared back to life" thanks to the more infectious Delta Variant... and, with that... the city of Jamestown needs to be ready for it. Those are the feelings of resident Doug Champ... who offered more input on what the city should do with some of the $14-million in American Rescue Plan funding it has received. The city was awarded a total of $28-million over two years. Speaking at last night's City Council work session, Champ told lawmakers that creating a mitigation and protection plan tops the federal government's list of potential uses. He says public safety, citizen recovery and protection top the list of uses. Champ told lawmakers that the city could use existing health care providers... and, use incentives similar to what some states have done to get more people vaccinated. He noted that people could present their vaccination verification information to receive whatever the incentive is. The city completed it's four public input sessions late last week... and, Mayor Eddie Sundquist said Monday that he was pleased with overall turn-out, and input received. He says the information is still be complied for council's review in the coming days.
Malatras at JCC to announced Child Care initiative...
The head of the State University of New York system has unveiled a plan to make sure the SUNY system is part of the solution to the "child care crisis" in the state and nation. SUNY Chancellor James Malatras was at Jamestown Community College Monday afternoon to announce a multi-pronged effort to meet child care needs in the colleges, and surrounding community. Malatras says first is a $500,000 infusion of money to provide paid internships at child care facilities. He says that will give those students valuable experience, and they would be paid for it. Malatras says some of the system's colleges -- like JCC -- are in "Child Care Deserts..." meaning there aren't the resources to meet the need locally. He says he's also dedicating resources to helping get new facilities the licensing and accreditation that they need because they want "high-quality" facilities. He says training and staffing are also key to avoiding a "child care crisis." Malatras was joined for the press announcement by SUNY JCC President Daniel DeMarte, and JCC North County Center and Career Advantage Director Beth Starks -- a staunch child care advocate -- for the announcement.
Cuomo provides 11 hours of testimony to A.G. investigators into sexual harassment allegations...
Investigators conducting an inquiry into sexual harassment allegations against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo questioned him for eleven hours when he met with them last month. That from the New York Times... which spoke to five people who had been briefed on the meeting, and who recounted some details on the condition of anonymity. Cuomo declined to say anything when asked about the meeting at a press conference on Monday. State Attorney General Letitia James hired the investigators to conduct the probe after several women accused Cuomo of subjecting them to inappropriate kisses and touching or inappropriate sexual remarks. Cuomo has denied the allegations.
Wolf calls on PA lawmakers to extend Opioid Emergency Declaration...
The governor of Pennsylvania is asking state lawmakers to return to Harrisburg within a month to extend a statewide disaster emergency intended to help stem the opioid addiction crisis. In a letter to the General Assembly... Tom Wolf said he plans an Aug. 5th renewal of the disaster emergency declaration first issued in January 2018 and wants lawmakers to consider extending it by by Aug. 26. The governor can no longer unilaterally extend the 90-day disaster emergency declaration, something he had done more than a dozen times, following approval by the voters of a state constitutional amendment curbing the emergency powers of a Pennsylvania governor.
