RyeCity REVIEW THE
June 26, 2020 | Vol. 8, Number 25 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Astorino launches state Senate campaign By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief
Moviegoers will have to wait longer to catch a flick in the theaters. Cinemas are no longer part of the phased-in restart and have no timeline for opening their doors to the public. For story, see page 5. Photo/Christian Falcone
Cuomo, state officials fear COVID cluster in Chappaqua By CHRISTIAN FALCONE Editor-in-Chief An attendee of a high school graduation in Westchester, who recently traveled to Florida, tested positive for COVID-19 and may have infected others, according to the governor. On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, directed the New York State Department of Health to investigate any potential exposure in the county after a student attended a Horace Greeley High School drive-in graduation ceremony in Chappaqua. The individual began showing symptoms in the following days and then tested positive for COVID-19. Four more individuals who attended the ceremony and had contact with the first positive case have also tested positive. All individuals who were infected are currently self-isolating, according to Cuomo. “We’re prepared to do
the aggressive testing and contact tracing required to slow and ultimately control any potential clusters of new cases like the one in Westchester County,” he said. New York’s first cluster of COVID-19 was identified back in March in the city of New Rochelle. In addition to the graduation, the student also participated in a “Field Night” event on June 20, which was also attended by juniors and seniors and students from other school districts. Individuals who attended either event or any other events associated with graduation, which continued into June 21, should extend their quarantine period until July 5, according to state health officials. The state Department of Health and county Health Department are working with school officials from Horace Greeley to identify all individuals who attended the graduation and any subsequent gatherings where they may have
been exposed. And the contact tracing program but in place by the state will attempt to reach out to any individuals identified and try to trace who they’ve come in contact with since those events. The state is also asking anyone who attended any of the events in question to get tested. “New Yorkers have controlled the spread of this unprecedented virus by being smart and disciplined, and our progress to date is illustrated by the current low numbers of new cases and hospitalizations,” Cuomo said. “But as we are seeing in other states who reopened quickly, the pandemic is far from over and we need stay vigilant.” As a result, Cuomo also issued an executive order on Saturday making any New York state employees who voluntarily travel to hotspots after June 25 now ineligible for COVID-19 paid sick leave. “If we are going to maintain
the progress we’ve seen, we need everyone to take personal responsibility,” he said. Cuomo had previously put into place a tri-state travel advisory for any high-risk states—including Florida—with coronavirus infection rates topping 10% that would require a two-week quarantine when visiting New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. That advisory also went into effect on June 25. A spike in first wave COVID-19 cases has continued in several states outside of the Northeast and Midwest regions, concerning public health officials. This week 29 states reported a resurgence in the number of positive cases believed to be due to a combination of relaxing social restrictions, ongoing protests for social justice and an increase in testing capabilities. CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com
Rob Astorino, arguably Westchester’s highest profile Republican, threw his hat back into the political arena today formally launching a campaign for New York State Senate. Astorino, the former two-term Westchester County executive, will attempt a comeback by looking to unseat Sen. Pete Harckham, a South Salem Democrat, in the state’s 40th Senate District, which includes areas of Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess counties. Astorino, 53, lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife and three children. “New York is being challenged as perhaps never before, and it’s imperative that taxpayers be vigorously defended in the coming legislative term,” he said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “There are many in Albany already calling for dramatic new tax hikes, and middle class families can’t afford to pay a penny more.” With Westchester an increasingly difficult political landscape for Republicans—Democrats took control of the state Senate in 2019—Astorino will run on a familiar playbook of curbing taxes, something he did successfully as county executive. Under his watch, the county held the line on taxes; eight consecutive budgets required no increases to the tax levy. That feat was accomplished by his ability to gather bipartisan support within the county Legislature. Astorino will also tout the addition of 44,000 new private sector jobs during his administration, while reducing the cost of the county’s workforce. And he plans to push for term limits and new ethics laws. “So much is happening so fast, it’s tough to take it all in,” he said. “But New York’s troubles didn’t
start with the coronavirus lockdown, they’ve been building up for far too long. Record deficits, highest taxes in America, one million New Yorkers fleeing the state in just the past 10 years.” For months Astorino was rumored to be mulling another political run after losing a re-election bid in 2017 to George Latimer, a Democrat. His name was also mentioned as a possible candidate for Congress with the opening of Nita Lowey’s seat. Lowey, a longtime U.S. representative, announced last year that she would be retiring from politics. By setting his sights on state government, Astorino will be turning his attention to an old foe. An outspoken critic of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Astorino failed to upset Cuomo in a 2014 gubernatorial run. But he’s also been critical of the state Legislature’s progressive policies, most recently its bail reform agenda—which Cuomo singed into law earlier this year—that eliminates the bail requirement for suspects arrested on most misdemeanors, including burglary and stalking, even if they pose a threat to the community. Controversy ensued earlier this month in New York City after late-night rioters began looting stores in New York City following mostly peaceful protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. At the time, Astorino called for the system to be suspended immediately labeling it an “ill-conceived criminal justice blunder” after the NYPD reported that most arrested would be back on the streets the following day. Astorino said he’d work to repeal the “reckless” cashless bail law. “New York is in turmoil right now, and there’s a critical need for firm, measured voices in the state legislature,” he said. ASTORINO continued on page 11