WCP_81326

The Westchester County Press Post Office Box 152, White Plains, NY 10602

97 YEARS

VOL. XCVII NO. 33

County Press The Westchester

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WHITE PLANS, NY PERMIT # 5069

“Documenting Our History for the Future.”

ISSN 0043-3373

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026

MEMBER OF NNPA

Trump Administration Halts Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Redesign Special to BlackPressUSA

(Photo Credit: Black PressUSA)

The Trump administration has halted plans to place abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, ending a decade-long effort that began under President Barack Obama’s administration and was revived under President Joe Biden.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last Monday that the department is “not at present” moving forward with the redesign, prompting criticism from Democratic lawmakers who argue the decision abandons years of bipartisan work to recognize one of the nation’s most influential figures in the fight against slavery.

The proposed redesign would have replaced former President Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill with Tubman, who was born

enslaved in Maryland in the early 1820s and later became one of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds of enslaved people escape to freedom. Had the redesign been completed, Tubman would have become the first Black American featured on U.S. paper currency.

The effort to place Tubman on the $20 bill began during the Obama administration in 2016, when then-Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced plans for a major redesign of U.S. currency. The announcement came as part of a broader effort to feature more women and civil rights figures on American money, with the Treasury initially aiming

TUBMAN $20 BILL, Cont’d. on page 8

Digital Copy: www.westchestercountypress.com

2 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026

SUNY Westchester Community College Appoints New Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs SUNY WCC reaffirms commitment to student outcomes through hire of Kelvin Rutledge VALHALLA, NY – August 7, 2026. After an extensive national search process, SUNY Westchester Community College has named Dr. Kelvin Rutledge as its new Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs. In this role, Dr. Rutledge will provide leadership and vision for a comprehensive student experience agenda designed to promote student success and inclusive excellence practices and strategies.

Dr. Rutledge has more than 15 years in higher education within the areas of higher education leadership, equity and inclusion, student and employee outcomes assessment and evaluation, and external and community relations. Most recently, at Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Rutledge served in executive and divisional leadership roles with expanding responsibility, driving university-wide strategy, budget operations, and student success initiatives. Notably, he led strategic

efforts that increased retention rates among underrepresented male students by 10% and helped spearhead key institutional, compliance, and community engagement planning.

Prior to his time at SCSU, Dr. Rutledge directed experiential learning and career development initiatives at flagship public institutions including the University of Georgia and Florida State University. Dr. Rutledge’s extensive record of student-centered leadership, scholarly research, and demonstrated commitment to equitable student outcomes position him to make an immediate impact across the SUNY WCC campus.

“Dr. Kelvin Rutledge brings a dynamic record of transformative leadership, student-centered vision, and dedicated community engagement to SUNY Westchester Community College,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President of SUNY Westchester Community College. “His

proven success in advancing student retention, managing complex operational and financial strategies, and creating environments where all students can thrive aligns directly with our mission. We are thrilled to welcome him to our campus community to lead our Student Affairs division into its next chapter of excellence.”

“I am honored and deeply excited to join SUNY Westchester Community College as Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs,” said Dr. Rutledge. “SUNY WCC is a strong representation of educational access, opportunity, and success in the region. I look forward to collaborating with President Miles, the dedicated faculty and staff, and— most importantly—the vibrant student body to cultivate environments and pathways that empower every student to achieve their personal, academic, and professional aspirations.”

Dr. Rutledge received his B.S.

DR. KELVIN RUTLEDGE

from Austin Peay State University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Higher Education from Florida State University.

Westchester County to Host Four Free Fall Compost Giveaway Events

WHITE PLAINS, NY -- The Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) will host four free compost giveaway events this fall, allowing County residents to receive nutrient-rich compost produced locally through the County’s CompostED Program. Registration is required for all events, and preference will be given to residents who did not receive compost during the spring giveaway events.

The compost is produced at DEF’s CompostED site, a compost education and demonstration facility that processes up to two tons of food scraps each week while serving as an educational resource for composting throughout Westchester County. The giveaway events support the County’s efforts to promote food scrap recycling, reduce waste and provide residents with highquality compost for gardens and landscaping.

They also offer an opportunity for CompostED staff to connect with residents and encourage participation in the County’s Residential Food Scrap Transportation and Disposal (RFSTAD) Program.

Residents will also have the opportunity to purchase compost bins, rain barrels and related

accessories at reduced prices during the Sept. 30 Important Information: event. Backyard composting helps reduce household waste while creating nutrient-rich compost · • Due to limited quantities, registration is for gardens. Rain barrels help conserve water, required for all events. reduce storm water runoff and provide a natural water source for plants and landscaping. · • Residents must register online for a speUpcoming Event Schedule: cific time slot to receive compost.

• Wednesday, Sept. 16 – Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson | 4 to 7 p.m. · • Tuesday, Sept. 22 – Sprout Brook DEF Facility, Cortlandt | 4 to 7 p.m. · • Wednesday, Sept. 30 – Household Material Recovery Facility, Valhalla | 4 to 7 p.m.

· • Registration can be completed at: https:// environment.WestchesterCountyNY.gov/residential-compost-distribution-events · • Each registered resident will receive two one-cubic-foot bags of compost.

· • DEF staff will be on-site to verify registration and load pre-bagged compost into vehicles. · • Saturday, Oct. 3 – Harrison Train Station, CompostED tours are available for WestchesHarrison | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ter County residents. To schedule a tour or learn Residents interested in purchasing compost more about CompostED, residents can contact bins or rain barrels must place their orders in ad- DEF at CompostEd@WestchesterCountyNY. vance and pick them up on Wednesday, Sept. 30, gov, visit our website environment.Westchesterfrom 4 to 7 p.m. at the Household Material Re- CountyNY.gov, or call the Recycling HelpLine at covery Facility, 15 Woods Road, Valhalla.

(914)813-5425.

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, ,2026 • 3

OP-ED: When Healthcare Becomes Optional: What Our Federal Priorities Say About Who We Are

By Jewel Williams Johnson

There are moments when federal decisions become more than legislation, regulations, budget proposals and administrative directives. Taken together, they become a statement of values. They tell us what we are willing to protect, what we are willing to sacrifice and, ultimately, whom we believe government exists to serve.

That is why the recent direction of federal healthcare policy should trouble every American—not simply those who receive Medicaid, purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act or depend upon Medicare for prescription drugs.

Some changes were enacted by Congress.

Others came through administrative action. Still others remain budget proposals or proposed regulations. Those distinctions matter legally, but to the person at the kitchen table deciding whether she can afford medication, what matters most is the result.

If her prescription costs more, she feels it. If his insurance disappears, he feels it. If a hospital or nonprofit loses resources, an entire community feels it.

What we are witnessing is not one isolated cut.

It is a cumulative retreat from important pieces of America’s healthcare safety net. And we should be outraged.

The Presidency Carries a Responsibility to All of Us

Political scientist Clinton Rossiter, whose 1956 landmark The American Presidency became a classic study of the office, described the President not merely as Chief Executive and Commander in Chief, but also as the “Voice of the People” and “Protector of the Peace.” Most powerfully, he called the President “the moral spokesman for us all.”

The President does not govern only those who voted for him, the prosperous, the healthy or the politically powerful. The moral authority of the office carries a responsibility to see all Americans: the elderly widow counting prescription pills, the child whose family depends on Medicaid, the worker purchasing Marketplace insurance, the person living with a disability, and the family one diagnosis away from financial catastrophe.

If the President is to be the “moral spokesman for us all,” then all must still mean all.

What This Means at the Kitchen Table

For millions who purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. In 2026, average monthly premium payments rose

58 percent, from $113 to $178, while average deductibles increased 37 percent to $3,786.

That can mean having insurance and still being afraid to use it—the parent wondering whether a child’s persistent cough warrants another bill, or the worker postponing a screening because the deductible is more than the household can absorb.

Then there is Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that provisions of Public Law 119-21 will sharply reduce federal Medicaid spending and increase the number of uninsured Americans by 7.5 million in 2034. New work-reporting and eligibility requirements also raise the risk that people lose healthcare because of paperwork rather than because their need disappeared.

Cancer does not disappear because someone missed a form. Diabetes does not pause while a mother proves eligibility.

Healthcare bureaucracy should never become a mechanism for making sick people simply vanish from the rolls.

Our Seniors Are Not Immune

One important Medicare protection remains: in 2026, Medicare Part D beneficiaries have a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket threshold for covered prescriptions. That progress should be protected.

But other changes move in the opposite direction. The 2025 reconciliation law broadened the orphan-drug exclusion from Medicare’s drugprice negotiation program, allowing more qualifying high-cost drugs to remain outside negotiation.

CMS also reduced special premium-stabilization support for participating stand-alone Part D plans and increased the allowable year-to-year premium increase under that demonstration.

Those may sound like technical adjustments in Washington. They are not technical to a senior living on a fixed income.

Fifty dollars is groceries. A few hundred dollars can be the difference between filling every prescription and deciding which medicine must wait.

Our seniors spent their working lives contributing to this nation. Medicare should remain a promise they can depend upon.

Weakening the Infrastructure That Keeps Us Safe

One of the least understood developments involves the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ. Its work improves patient safety, diagnostic accuracy, healthcare quality and the evidence clinicians and hospitals use to

HON. JEWEL WILLIAMS JOHNSON

provide better care.

Congress has not formally abolished AHRQ. But the Administration’s FY2027 budget proposes moving its functions into another HHS office, ending new competing healthcare-research grants and discontinuing important research functions. Americans are entitled to ask whether we are witnessing its dismantling by another name.

And the concern extends beyond AHRQ.

There is something profoundly jarring about watching our nation summon imagination for gold, monuments, ballrooms and architectural grandeur while, when the conversation turns to keeping Americans insured, protecting seniors, supporting hospitals, preventing medical harm, or employing the expert scientists, epidemiologists and publichealth professionals who monitor emerging viruses, infectious-disease outbreaks, parasites and other threats, the vocabulary suddenly becomes one of scarcity, cuts, restructuring and sacrifice.

Public health is often most successful when nothing dramatic happens—when an outbreak is identified early, a dangerous pathogen is contained, or scientists recognize a threat before most Americans have ever heard its name. We may never know how many illnesses, hospitalizations or deaths were prevented because trained profession-

HEALTHCARE, Cont’d. on page 11

4 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Wilbur T. Aldridge

PUBLISHER

1986-2009

M. Paul Tells All

By M. Paul Redd, Sr. August 11, 1928 - January 9, 2009

Services for Wilbur T. Aldridge Wake/Visitation Friday, August 21, 2026 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

61 years later, the fight isn’t over…

Funeral Services Saturday, August 22, 2026 Viewing: 10:00 AM Service: 11:00 AM Calvary Baptist Church 15 Clinton Street Haverstraw, NY 10927 HAVERSTRAW, NY -- Former NAACP Regional Director Wilbur Aldridge passed away on August 10th. He was 80 years old.

Mr. Aldridge was a longtime resident of Haverstraw. He will be remembered for his leadership, and strong commitment to civil rights, social justice and advocacy.

Let us come together as an NAACP family to celebrate Wilbur’s life, honor his decades of service, and pay tribute to a man who never stopped fighting for justice.

The Westchester

County Press

(ISSN 0043-3373) is published weekly on Thursday in White Plains, New York. Copies: 40¢. Yearly Subscription: $25.00, two years: $45.00. National Advertising representative: National Newspaper Publishers Association. Local and national advertising rates on request.

Paper founded August 1, 1928 to serve the County of Westchester, New York.

Sandra T. Blackwell President, Publisher & Editor Carolyn B. Coleman Vice President Alyce T. Coleman Executive Editor Bruce L. Bozeman, Esq. Legal Counsel Celeste Coleman-Housey, Ed.D. Art Director/Managing Editor Editorial & Advertising Offices P.O. Box 152 White Plains, NY 10602

Telephone:(914) 953-2620 Member: National Newspaper Publishers Association

By Derrick Johnson, Esq. President & CEO, NAACP

WILBUR T. ALDRIDGE Photo Credit: Channel 12 News

Wilbur believed in the work, he believed in the movement, and most importantly, he believed that we must continue the fight even when the work is difficult.

May we honor him not only by remembering the work he did, but by carrying that work forward.

Please keep Margaret, his family, and all those who loved Wilbur in your thoughts and prayers.

With love and solidarity, Nicole Hines NAACP Regional Director MidHudson/Westchester President, Nyack Branch www.nyacknaacp.org

How to Donate Blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Sixty-one years ago today, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law. It was a hard-won victory forged through sacrifice, courage, and the unrelenting determination of a movement that refused — and STILL refuses — to be silenced.

Today, we mark that anniversary under a dark shadow.

On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, a decision that rolled DERRICK JOHNSON, Esq. back the clock on voting rights, putting our access to the ballot box in jeopardy.

The practical consequence is devastating: Louisiana’s SB8 congressional map — which included two majority-Black districts — was struck down.

Black communities and communities of color across this country lost a critical legal shield that generations fought to build. And attempts to redraw maps across the South ramped up.

We refuse to accept this as the end of the story.

Here’s where the fight continues: In the courts: Legal challenges continue. Section 2 of the VRA was wounded, but we will continue to pursue every possible avenue to defend voting rights within the law.

In statehouses: State-level voting rights laws can fill gaps the Supreme Court leaves behind. Advocate for strong state protections in your legislature.

At the ballot box: Representation matters. Elected officials at every level shape who draws maps, who appoints judges, and whose voices get counted In the streets: The movement that won the VRA in 1965 was built on organized, visible, persistent pressure. That playbook still works.

The arc of history bends toward justice. Let’s continue to fight for the future we want to see.

Stand Up for Voting Rights Peace and Power, Derrick Johnson @DerrickNAACP President and CEO NAACP

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, ,2026 • 5

450,000 student loan borrowers duped into high-cost loans receive $23B in relief

Long-awaited settlement includes refunds on payments for over 150 for-profit schools

By Charlene Crowell A federal appeals court last month issued a ruling erasing $23 billion in student loan debt for an estimated 450,000 borrowers duped by false promises made by more than 150 for-profit colleges. The debt ruling for full settlement relief came on July 17 in a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case known as Sweet v. McMahon.

It makes clear that the federal government cannot simply disregard borrowers’ rights and its own legal obligations without consequence,” said Eileen Connor, the president and director of The Project on Predatory Student Lending, an advocacy organization that brought the lawsuit in 2019.

The case centered on a federal rule known as borrower defense to repayment that protects defrauded student loan borrowers who incurred massive debts on false promises and misrepresentations. The ruling found that more than 150 for-profit colleges used high-pressure sales tactics in their recruitment that targeted Blacks, Latinos, veterans, and other low-income consumers to extract the maximum amount of federal loans, Pell grants, and veteran’s benefits with each enrollment.

Connor shared that one student’s loan debt swelled from $250,000 to roughly $400,000 while she waited for the Education Department to decide on her Borrower Defense claim.

The case showed that these forprofit schools lured students with promises of high-paying careers in an array of disciplines including beauty culture, culinary arts, computer technology, court reporting, and photography. Other for-profits solicited graduate level students in business management, law, and medicine.

Among these institutions are many of the largest and well-known for-profit schools like Capella University, three DeVry-branded schools, ITT Technical Institute, Keller Graduate School of Manage-

Photo Credit: CRL Image

ment, and the University of Phoenix. A complete list of schools represented in the settlement is available at: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/sweet-v-cardona-school-list.pdf.

Full Settlement Relief means that the federal student loan(s) associated with the borrower’s attendance at the school will be discharged. Further, the Education Department will refund any amounts paid on those loans, and the credit report entries for those loans will be deleted from the borrower’s credit report. The settlement includes borrower defense applications filed on or before Nov. 15, 2022, as well as borrowers whose applications for borrower defense discharges were pending as of June 22, 2022. Any amounts paid to the Education Department on those loans will be refunded.

These actions will be taken 90 days from the court’s decision to notify affected borrowers that they will receive full relief. Until this relief is provided, lenders cannot make any efforts to collect on these loans.

Earlier research by the Center for Responsible Lending probed the value of for-profit colleges and universities and posed the question, Do Students of Color Profit from For-Profit College?

Its eye-opening findings include: • Black and Latino students enroll in for-profit colleges at much higher rates than other students, which puts them at risk of high student loan debt, default, and failure to graduate.

• Students who attend for-profit colleges are more likely to need to borrow for their education and tend to borrow more than their peers at public or private, nonprofit schools.

• Students who attend for-profit colleges are also less likely to graduate, more likely to default on their student loans, and may face poor employment outcomes.

• An African American student at a for-profit college will borrow at the highest rates almost twice as frequently as African American students at a public college (35% vs 19%), regardless of income.

As early as 2012, a 2-year investigation by the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee revealed that for-profit colleges collected over $30 billion annually in federal funds, making up 25 percent of Department of Education student aid and nearly half of military and veteran educational benefits.

The committee also found that more than half of the students who enrolled in 2008–2009 withdrew by mid2010, and these attendees accounted for nearly half of all federal student loan defaults.

More recently, this summer CRL issued a new policy brief calling on Congress to use its authority to respond to the continuing student loan crisis: “Congress should eliminate the new borrowing limits that will push students towards higher-cost private loans, or worse, make education completely inaccessible. Congress should also restore and maintain adequate funding to the Department of Education, investing in programs like subsidized loans and Pell grants that help lower- and middle- income borrowers.” ### Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org .

6 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026

Trump Administration Halts Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Design Cont’d. from page 1

to unveil the new $20 bill in 2020 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

However, the redesign stalled during President Donald Trump’s first administration. Then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced in 2019 that the new $20 bill would not be released until at least 2028, citing security concerns and the need for updated anti-counterfeiting technology. Trump himself criticized the move in 2016, calling the decision to replace Jackson “pure political correctness” and arguing that Tubman could instead be placed on another denomination, such as the $2 bill, while Jackson remained on the $20.

The Biden administration sought to revive the effort shortly after taking office. Despite renewed efforts, the redesign was expected to take years. Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen estimated that the new $20 bill would likely not be ready until around 2030 because of the extensive design, testing, and security requirements involved in producing new currency.

Democratic senators are now urging the Trump administration to restart the Tubman project.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen and New

Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen recently led a group of Democratic senators in a letter to Bessent criticizing the Treasury Department’s decision to abandon the redesign.

“We write to express our deep frustration that the Department of the Treasury is ‘not at present’ planning to move forward with the long-standing effort to place Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill,” the senators wrote.

The senators also questioned why the administration had halted the Tubman redesign while pursuing other currency projects involving President Trump’s likeness.

They pointed to plans for a commemorative $1 coin featuring Trump and proposals backed by some Trump allies for a new $250 bill celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The push to feature Trump on currency has raised questions because federal law generally prohibits living individuals from appearing on U.S. paper money. The administration has argued that a commemorative $1 coin featuring Trump is allowed under a 2020 law signed during Trump’s first term that permits the Treasury secretary to issue coins with designs commemorating the nation’s semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary. The Trump administration has also explored the possibility of creating a $250 bill featuring the president’s image.

Federal law currently prohibits living people from appearing on paper currency, but lawmakers allied with Trump have introduced legislation that would create an exception for the proposed commemorative bill. The Treasury Department has said it is conducting “appropriate planning and due diligence” regarding the proposal.

The administration has also moved toward including Trump’s signature on money.

No new individual has appeared on U.S. paper currency since 1928, when the government began using the portraits currently seen on many bills. Supporters of the Tubman redesign argue that replacing Jackson would better reflect the nation’s history, pointing to Tubman’s role in ending slavery and advancing freedom. Critics of removing Jackson, including Trump during his first term, have argued that changing currency designs should not be driven by political considerations.

The dispute now places two competing visions of American symbolism against each other: one focused on expanding representation in national institutions, and another focused on elevating Trump’s role in commemorating the country’s founding anniversary.

Based on reporting by The Carolinian.

Support the Black Press

WBWPC Celebrates 50 Years of Leadership, Advocacy, and Political Empowerment The Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus (WBWPC), one of Westchester County’s most respected and influential political organizations, proudly announces its 50th Anniversary Golden Celebration Cocktail Reception and Dinner, to be held on Friday, October 16, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at The Surf Club on the Sound, 280 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle, New York.

Our theme: Rooted in Legacy, Rising in Power.

Rooted in Legacy: We celebrate the extraordinary women whose vision, courage, and determination established the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus and laid the foundation for five decades of advocacy, leadership, civic engagement, and community impact.

Rising in Power: As we honor this rich history, we look boldly toward the future. Our roots remind us of the sacrifices and resilience of those who came before us, while our rising power re-

flects the strength, unity, and purpose of today’s leaders. Together, they continue to break barriers, amplify the voices of Black women, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.

We are excited to honor one of our Founding Members, The Honorable Ruth Hassell­Thompson, President and CEO of Third Act Ill Development Consultancy Firm, whose distinguished career in public service has left an indelible mark on communities throughout New York State.

For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, journal advertisements, or additional information, please see links below.

PAYPAL LINK: https://www. paypal.com/donate/?hosted button id=RSVFH86LSYHNS EVENTBRITE LINK: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/1992072181520 ?aff=oddtdtcreator Angela Davis-Farrish, President

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, ,2026 • 7

COMMENTARY: Count Them. Then Hire Them.

By Ben Jealous

Ben Jealus

Three weeks before he was killed, Martin Luther King Jr. stood up in a high school gym in Michigan and argued with a number.

It was March 1968. The government said unemployment in the Black community was 8.8 percent.

King said it was almost twice that.

Not because anybody was cooking the books.

The country felt good about jobs that spring. The national unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, near the lowest since the Korean War. Washington called that full employment.

King was telling them the number was hiding people.

He explained how the count worked. It counted people out of work and still looking. It did not count the people who had stopped looking.

He described them plainly. People who had lost hope. People who had so many doors shut in their faces that they quit knocking.

“These people are considered the discouraged,” he said.

Add them back, he argued, and the true figure was closer to 16 or 17 percent.

That was 58 years ago. The count still works much the same way.

Presidents have come and gone. The count has not changed.

Last week the government released the July jobs report. The country lost 23,000 jobs. It corrected May and June, erasing 103,000 jobs we thought we had. Over the past year we have averaged about 34,000 new jobs a month.

Almost nobody is being hired.

Outside a few industries, almost nobody is being fired either. If you have a job, you are probably safe. If you need one, the door will not open.

Then came the number that would have gotten King out of his chair.

The unemployment rate went down. It fell from 4.2 percent to 4.1

percent.

That happened because 264,000 people left the labor force. They did not find work. They stopped being counted.

You are counted as unemployed only if you have no job and you looked for one in the last four weeks. Stop looking, and you are not counted as unemployed. You are not counted at all.

Nearly 6 million Americans say they want a job and are not counted.

They are not lazy. They stopped looking because looking stopped working. They did not stop wanting a job. They stopped believing one was coming.

Thirty years ago I crisscrossed this country arguing against NAFTA. Corporate lobbyists said we sounded like Chicken Little. Two decades and 63,000 shuttered factories later, every exaggeration they accused us of had come true.

Those factories did not close on

Black towns or white towns. They closed on both.

King saw it coming. He wrote in 1967 that there were twice as many white poor as Negro poor in America.

So he was not just giving a speech that night. He was building something.

He had marched to desegregate the lunch counter. That fight was won. The fight left was whether a man could afford what was on it.

In December 1967 he announced the Poor People’s Campaign. The demand was jobs or income for all.

He meant to bring the poorest families in America to Washington and set them where the country could not look away. Not only Black families. White families out of the mountains. Mexican American families. Native families. Puerto Rican families. One caravan left Chicago on May 8, 1968.

King never saw it. He was killed

COMMENTARY, Cont’d. on page 11

8 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026

U.S. Sen. Gillibrand Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bill Imposing Term Limits on Supreme Court Justices

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media • Source: BlackPress USA

Justices of the United States Supreme Court. Courtesy of Supreme Court of the United States.

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined several Senate Democrats in introducing legislation that would establish 18-year active terms for Supreme Court justices and create a regular schedule for appointing new members to the nation’s highest court.

The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits (BATL) Act would require the president to nominate one justice every two years, during the first and third years of each presidential term, with Senate confirmation. Under the proposal, justices would serve 18 years hearing the Supreme Court’s full docket before transitioning to senior status, where they would retain their lifetime appointments but hear only a limited number of constitutionally required cases and serve as substitutes when active justices are unavailable.

Supporters say the legislation is designed to reduce the politicization of Supreme Court

appointments and restore public confidence in new presidential term following its enactment. the judiciary by ensuring predictable vacancies and regular turnover on the Court.

The bill is sponsored by Padilla, Sens.

Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Cory “The Supreme Court has reached unprec- Booker of New Jersey and Richard Blumenedented and unacceptable levels of politiciza- thal of Connecticut. The legislation is also cotion,” said Padilla. “Term limits are a com- sponsored by Sens. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, monsense solution to lower the temperature Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Peter Welch of Veron the Judiciary and start restoring trust in the mont, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Kirsten Gillihighest court in our land.” brand of New York, Adam Schiff of California and Patty Murray of Washington State Under the bill, only the nine most recently appointed justices would hear appellate cases, The proposal has received endorsements which make up the vast majority of the Court’s from several advocacy organizations, includworkload. Justices serving in senior status ing the Brennan Center for Justice, Public would continue to hear original jurisdiction Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethcases and could participate in appellate cases ics in Washington, the Project on Government if an active justice is recused or otherwise un- Oversight and Stand Up America, which aravailable. gue the changes would make the Court more accountable and strengthen public confidence If approved by Congress, the legislation in the judiciary. would not take effect immediately. Instead, it would become effective at the start of the first

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, ,2026 • 9

Con Edison Natural Resources Scientist Shows ELOC Summer Students What a Career in the Environmental Field Looks Like Story by Marvin Church

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.—July 27, 2026 — Students in Environmental Leaders of Color’s (ELOC) summer program got a firsthand look at what it means to build a career protecting and revitalizing local ecosystems when John Pavacic, a natural resources scientist with Con Edison, visited the organization’s New Rochelle site at the Booker T. Washington program on Wednesday, July 22nd.

The visit was part of ELOC’s summer program curriculum, which this year centers on the theme of “Ecosystems”. Students will spend the summer exploring how plants, animals, water, and humans interact with and depend on one another in the communities where students live.

As a subject matter expert in Con Edison’s Environmental, Health & Safety department, Pavacic guides the utility’s projects through environmental regulatory processes, negotiating permits and terms with agencies such as NYC Parks, the

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He also leads Con Edison’s sustainability programs, including its Rewilding Initiative, living shoreline projects, and efforts to incorporate green infrastructure into the company’s work. He is also one of the authors of Con Edison’s Biodiversity Plan.

Pavacic walked students through the wide range of projects he leads and supports at Con Edison, from eradicating invasive species that crowd out native plants to designing rain gardens that capture stormwater before it overwhelms local sewers and waterways to rewilding initiatives that reintroduce native species and pollinators to areas where they had previously disappeared. He also shared projects the utility is planning, giving students a look at how green infrastructure is shaping the region’s future.

As valuable as the science was, the key message was that a career in environmental studies is possible. Pavacic’s visit showed students that the environmental concepts they study each week translate into real careers where scientists dedicate their time to restoring habitats, managing stormwater, and bringing pollinators back to their neighborhoods. For many students, it was their first time meeting a working natural resources scientist and hearing how someone turns a passion for the environment into a profession.

“Our students see environmental science in textbooks every week, but moments like this show them it’s also a real career, one where you can spend your days restoring wetlands, protecting shorelines, and bringing pollinators back to neighborhoods

ELOC STUDENTS,

Cont’d. on page 13

10 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026

HEALTHCARE, Cont’d. from page 2

als were watching, testing, studying and sounding the alarm.

Those scientists are not an extravagance. They are part of our nation’s early-warning system.

A country that waits until people are sick and hospitals are filling before deciding scientific expertise was worth maintaining has confused prevention with expense—and learned the lesson far too late.

Meanwhile, Congress provided $40 million for the National Garden of American Heroes, and the National Park Service separately awarded approximately $5 million to restore and gild monumental statues near the Lincoln Memorial in 23.75-karat gold leaf. Plans for a vast new White House ballroom have likewise become a prominent symbol of the Administration’s reshaping of Washington, although substantial portions of that project are privately financed.

The point is not that every dollar comes from the same account. It is that government reveals its values through what it champions, what receives public resources and what it is willing to cut.

A great nation can honor its history. But surely it must first honor its people.

What This Means for New York

Federal healthcare reductions do not remain in Washington. They arrive in Albany.

New York has estimated enormous losses associated with these changes, including approximately $7.5 billion in annual federal funding connected to the Essential Plan. When Washington withdraws resources, the medical need does not disappear. The State must replace federal dollars, restructure programs, reduce services, lower provider payments or ask hospitals to absorb more uncompensated care.

Someone still treats the uninsured child. Someone still delivers the baby.

Someone still responds to the psychiatric crisis. Someone still cares for the senior with dementia.

Eventually, someone receives the bill.

What This Means for Westchester County

Then it reaches our door.

County government is where national policy becomes personal. When residents lose insurance, they turn to emergency rooms, health centers, mental-health providers, social services, senior programs and nonprofit organizations. Ultimately, those pressures reach county government.

That makes OMB’s proposed federal grant changes especially concerning. If finalized, they would expand political-appointee review of discretionary awards for consistency with federal priorities and the “national interest” and impose additional payment-justification requirements on many recipients and sub-recipients.

A nonprofit treating mental illness should not need enormous cash reserves to survive while awaiting federal reimbursement. A county should not become the banker of last resort because authorized federal dollars are caught in another administrative layer.

A federal healthcare cut does not eliminate a human need. It simply transfers responsibility for that need somewhere else—first to the State, then to the County, then to the nonprofit, and eventually to the family.

That is why I am not content merely to document what is happening.

This week, I am submitting resolutions to the New York State Association of Counties addressing many of these federal healthcare concerns.

Through NYSAC, counties have a collective voice, and we should use it. Rural, suburban and urban counties may differ in geography and politics, but we share one reality: when Washington withdraws healthcare resources or creates new obstacles to accessing them, county governments inherit consequences we did not create and cannot simply wish away.

What Kind of Nation Do We Want to Be?

Fiscal responsibility matters. Accountability matters. Preventing fraud and waste matters.

But health matters too.

There is nothing fiscally responsible about allowing treatable illness to become an emergency. Nothing efficient about driving people into emergency rooms because preventive care became unaffordable. Nothing prudent

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, ,2026 • 11

about weakening healthcare research and disease surveillance and later paying the human and financial cost of preventable harm.

More than two centuries ago, James Madison offered a simple measure of good government in Federalist No. 62: “A good government implies two things: first, fidelity to the object of government, which is the happiness of the people.”

Government exists to serve the people. Their health, safety and general well-being are not incidental obligations to be addressed only after grander ambitions have been satisfied. They are among the very reasons government exists.

The arithmetic becomes painfully simple.

Washington saves a dollar. The State struggles to replace it. The County tries to absorb it. A nonprofit stretches another grant. A hospital absorbs another unpaid bill. And somewhere, a family pays the actual price.

Budgets are moral documents, but so are laws, regulations, administrative actions and executive priorities. Taken together, they tell us what government considers worthy of investment—and what it is prepared to leave behind.

So we should ask: when we can summon resources, urgency and imagination for gold, grandeur, ballrooms and monuments, how can we tell the American people that their health, their medicine and their well-being are where our ambition must end and our austerity must begin?

As Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Health Committee, I refuse to accept that those are the priorities of the America we aspire to be. I refuse to believe that the wealthiest nation on Earth must choose between fiscal responsibility and taking care of its people.

We are capable of both.

Rossiter reminded us that the President is called upon to be the moral spokesman for all of us. Madison reminded us that the object of good government is the happiness of the people. Nearly two and a half centuries into the American experiment, neither “all” nor “the people” should be treated as expendable words.

The question is whether we still possess the national will to make the health and general well-being of the American people a priority worthy of our greatness.

COMMENTARY, Cont’d. from page 7

in Memphis on April 4.

The campaign went on without him and mostly failed. They built a camp on the National Mall and called it Resurrection City. Rain turned it to mud. Police cleared it in June. No jobs bill passed. Nobody got a guaranteed income.

But King was right about the count. He is still right. A country that stops counting people finds it easy to forget them.

There will be plenty of arguing about these numbers. Arguing has never hired anybody. Only people hire people.

So here is what I ask of you.

If you run a business, interview the person your software screened

out. Ask about the gap in the work history instead of assuming the worst.

If you know somebody who quit looking, walk with them back to the door. Say their name to somebody who is hiring.

If you belong to a church or a union or a lodge, find out this month who among you is out of work. Do not stop at praying for them. Make the call.

Dr. King argued with a number because he knew a number can hide a person.

Count them. Then hire them.

Based on reporting by Washington Informer.

Advertise Your Business Call (914) 953-2620

12 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026

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Email us: westchestercountypress@yahoo.com

County Press The Westchester

County Urges Residents to Take Steps to Prevent Identity Theft Westchester County is encouraging residents to protect themselves against identity theft by following simple precautions that can help safeguard personal and financial information. The Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection has released 10 practical tips designed to help residents recognize common scams and reduce their risk of becoming victims of fraud.

The Department of Consumer Protection encourages residents to remain vigilant by safeguarding sensitive documents, protecting online accounts and recognizing common scam tactics.

Small preventative measures can significantly reduce the risk of identity theft and financial fraud.

Identity theft prevention tips include: • Shield keypads and paperwork from “shoulder surfers” when entering personal information in public.

• Shred bank statements, tax records and other confidential documents before disposing of them.

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, ,2026 • 13

ELOC STUDENTS Cont’d from page 9

like theirs. When they meet someone like John, who’s doing that work at a company as large as Con Edison, it becomes tangible. They start to see themselves in that role, not just as students learning about ecosystems, but as future scientists and stewards of their own communities,” said Marvin V. Church, Associate Executive Director of Environmental Leaders of Color.

The guest speaker engagement reflects ELOC’s ongoing commitment to

• Keep financial records, identifi- connecting Westchester youth with environmental professionals and demcation documents and checkbooks in a onstrating pathways into the green workforce. ELOC thanks the Booker T. secure location at home.

Washington program for its partnership and Con Edison for supporting en• Protect outgoing and incoming mail by using secure USPS collection boxes and retrieving mail promptly.

vironmental education in the community.

About Environmental Leaders of Color (ELOC)

Environmental Leaders of Color (ELOC) is a Westchester County-based nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering • Help prevent check washing by using electronic payments when pos- young people to become leaders in environmental justice. Through hands-on sible or permanent black gel ink when environmental programming, civic partnerships, leadership development, writing checks. and academic support, ELOC equips the next generation with the knowledge and skills to create healthier, more sustainable communities.

• Verify website addresses before shopping online and consider using a credit card or digital wallet for added security.

• Ignore unexpected emails or text messages requesting personal information and contact the company directly using verified contact information.

• Never share passwords, PINs or login credentials with unsolicited callers claiming to represent a financial institution.

County Press The Westchester

14 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026

Community Calendar

CALENDAR SUBMISSION: Please use a brief paragraph to describe your event. The paragraph should include event name, date(s), time, location and contact information. Send calendar information via email to westchestercountypress@yahoo.com. Please type “CALENDAR EVENT” in the subject bar.

Thursday, August 13

Let the rhythms take control in this R&B line dancing workshop designed for all skill levels. Stepby-step instructions will guide participants through basic movements before teachers gradually introduce more complex steps as guests groove to a mix of classic and contemporary music. This session promises a fun night for both seasoned dancers and beginners. Artist: DJ Danny Washington TICKET PRICE: $20 (nonmembers), $10 (ArtsW members) DOORS OPEN AT: 6:40 PM. R&B Line Dancing August 13, 2026 | 7-9 PM ArtsWestchester Gallery, 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY.

Thursday, August 13

Public Hearing on Bee-Line Student Fares To seek public comment on the Bee-Line System’s proposed student fare adjustments Thursday, August 13 from 5:30 7:00 p.m. at the Department of Public Works & Transportation, 148 Martine Ave., White Plains, NY – 5th Floor Room 527. Join remotely by registering in advance here.

Sunday, August 16

Dia De La Cultura Ecuatoriana Sunday, August 16, 2026 | 3-8PM Barnhart Park, 25 Andrews Lane, Sleepy Hollow, NY. Join us for an afternoon of Ecuadorian music, dance, food and craft, along with family-friendly presentations that feature traditional Ecuadorian costumes and the indigenous Kichwa language. Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets to enjoy the performances. Co-organized by ArtsWestchester and the Village of Sleepy Hollow.

Wednesday, August 19

White Plains BID presents its final 2026 Rock the Block event on

Mamaroneck Avenue, with live performances by indie/alt rock jam band The Band Memo along with all-female brass band Brass Queens inspired by New Orleans tradition. The street will close to traffic between E. Post Rd. and Maple Ave. for expanded outdoor dining, mini golf, lawn games and ArtsMobile activities. Begins at 5:30pm.

Saturday, August 22

The St. Catherine AME Zion Women’s Ministry is hosting a BUDGET STORE BUS TOUR to the Super Walmart and Ollie’s Bargain in Middletown, NY, 8AM to 5PM. Cost is $45 and includes a breakfast snack. Please contact church for details at 914235-0001.

Sunday, August 23

Please join RANWP on Sunday, August 23rd, in person at the Somers Library (182 Primrose Street) or on Zoom. We are delighted to have a special presentation this month on African American Artists: The Untold Story.

Karen M.A. Renna is an artist who retired from teaching in 2021 and recognized, as a teacher, that there were no African American artists mentioned in any of her Art History books when she first began teaching. For the 27 years that she taught, she continued to compile lists of more and more African American artists and put together her own files of their artwork. It is her joy and pleasure to share with you just a few of the artists she has collected. Join us at 2:00 for a social half hour and refreshments. At 2:30, we will begin our presentation, which will be followed by a discussion. For those of you unable to be with us in person, this meeting will be hybrid (in person/Zoom). Please join us online at 2:30. A link will

be sent the day before. We look forward to seeing you on August 23rd! In amity, The Steering Committee, Race Amity of Northern Westchester & Putnam

Wednesday, August 26

The Great New York State Fair starts Wednesday, August 26, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. All concerts are included in the price of admission.

Tickets are on sale now at The Fair’s website, https://nysfair. ny.gov. Packed with value, a single admission ticket costs $8 and includes access to all grounds entertainment and The Fair’s awardwinning concert lineup. In addition, a Frequent Fairgoer ticket option is available for $25. The Fair continues to be one of the most affordable fairs in the nation, with admission remaining free for those aged 65 and older along with children 12 years old and under. Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation. The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

Thursday & Friday, September 10 & 11

Westchester County will host two commemorative events to honor the memory of those who perished in the tragic events of Sep-

tember 11, 2001, and those who later died from 9/11-related illnesses. The events will feature an Interfaith Prayer Vigil on September 10, and a September 11th Memorial Service on September 11.

INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL Thursday, September 10 | 5 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 11th MEMORIAL SERVICE Friday, September 11 | 2 p.m.

Sunday, September 13

From 3–5 p.m, at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, Peekskill, N, The Robeson in Peekskill Project presents its third annual commemoration of the Peekskill Riots and celebration of Paul Robeson’s legacy. Hosted and narrated by Shana L. Redmond, award-winning author of Everything Man: The Form and Function of Paul Robeson, with visuals by documentary filmmaker and historian Jon Scott Bennett, the program brings together music, storytelling, history, youth voices, and community performers in an afternoon rooted in history and alive with the energy of the present. Featured performers include Resistance Revival Chorus, Cole Quest and the City Pickers, AMAUTA, Bria The Artist, and the Peekskill City Singers. Together, they will create an afternoon that is rooted in history, alive with the energy of the present, and designed to invite audiences of all ages to reflect, connect, and sing.

Tickets are available at tinyurl. com/SWSTIX. Admission is $35 regular; $25 seniors 65+; $15 students; $5 kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult.

September 16-20

The wait is over—registration is now open for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC)! Septem-

CALENDAR, Cont’d from page 14

ber 16–20, 2026, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. Join us for five days of impactful conversations, thought-provoking policy discussions, networking opportunities, and celebrations that bring together leaders, advocates, professionals, students, and changemakers from across the nation. This year’s ALC is especially significant as we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of CBCF—a milestone that honors five decades of cultivating leaders, advancing equity, and creating pathways for future generations. Together, we’ll reflect on our legacy, celebrate our progress, and look ahead to the future of Black leadership and civic engagement. For more information about the Annual Legislative Conference, please email our team. Registration: eventsupport@cbcfinc.org ALC Sponsorship Opportunities: rd@cbcfinc. org

Thursday, Sept. 17

Westchester County Board of Health Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 17 at 8:30 a.m. in the Westchester County Health Department Office, 11 Martine Avenue, 12th Floor, White Plains, NY 10606. Members of the public may view this meeting online at: meetings.westchestercountyny.gov

Friday, Sept. 18

Artrider Productions is excited to welcome visitors back for Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst, one of the Hudson Valley’s premier fall shopping events, returning September 18–20, 2026. Set against the spectacular autumn landscape of the historic Lyndhurst estate overlooking the Hudson River, this annual event offers an unforgettable weekend of shopping, fine craftsmanship, delicious food, family activities, and the beauty of the season. Visitors can shop from 200 accomplished artists and makers from across the country, featuring an extraordinary selection of original handmade jewelry, ceramics, clothing and accessories, home décor, fine

art, specialty foods, and much more. Show hours are Friday, from 10am-5pm, Saturday, from 10am-6pm, and Sunday, from 10am-5pm. Advanced online ticket purchase available and strongly encouraged. Tickets available at www.artrider.com. Group rates are available and tour buses are welcome. Mansion tours are an additional fee and best reserved in advance via Lyndhurst’s website.

Crafts at Lyndhurst is held at Lyndhurst, located at 635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. Parking is free and the show is outdoors, rain or shine. While we love our furry friends, no pets, with the exception of service animals, are allowed within the show site. More details are available at www.artrider.com.

The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, ,2026 • 15

JazzFest White Plains Sept. 2327, 2026 | White Plains, NY JazzFest White Plains returns this fall with a bold, artist-driven lineup that reflects the vitality of jazz today. Across five days, 19 performances will bring legendary artists, contemporary innovators and emerging voices to downtown White Plains. Featuring five GRAMMY Award winners and nominees, the festival offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the living evolution of jazz—from its foundational masters to the artists defining its

for ArtsWestchester, on Saturday, November 7, 2026 featuring a concert by Grammy®-nominated, classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin. It’ll be a full evening with fabulous dinner stations, an open bar, live and silent auctions, a world-class music performance and a dessert afterparty -- all in the company of people who love the arts as much as you do. Don’t miss this special evening to ensure the vibrancy and accessibility of the arts in the greater Westchester region. A Benefit for ArtsWestchester Featuring a Concert by Black Violin future.

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 VIP DinSaturday, Nov. 7 ner & Reception 5:00PM | ConJoin us for our biggest celebra- cert 7:30PM. tion of the year, the 2026 Benefit

Saturday, Sept. 19

September 19th, 2026, Times Square at Noon LOVE OUR MOTHER Concert Calming/Celebration/Party. Join us, as we honor and strengthen the message for the upcoming September 21st, the UN International Day of Peace at Noon WORLDWIDE, 193 Counties in the UN Agreed to participate and 1.6 billion people are aware (McKinsey Co.) of Peace Day...we want 8 billion to join in at noon (Put down the guns, anger and make love not violence) around the world for a MOMENT/MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR PEACE, Ringo Starr will lead the Minute/Moment:) Peace & Love and may it continue FOREVER Here is a message from the Executive Producer about why we should all get involved and why for 24 years, our nonprofit, Good News Corporation, has: :https://pausetheworldforpeace. org/reverend-paul-sladkus-all-faithsand-spiritual-producer-of-earth-andpeace-day-concerts-for-24-yearsshares-why/ Thank you all for caring for our world and those living in it…

Our Good News Community hasn’t deviated since our first Good News Broadcast on July 4, 1998, through to the establishment of our International Day of Peace Concerts in 2002. WE CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR YOUR DESIRE TO SEE MEDIA AND EVENTS PROMOTE THE GOOD

Wednesday, Sept. 23 thru Sunday, Sept. 27

County Press The Westchester

Blood crisis NOW: Immediate Need for Blood Donations

Red Cross issues rare crisis call for donors as summer blood shortage intensifies Patient care threatened as critical blood type levels continue to fall For only the second time in history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis — and patients may already be feeling the impact. Donors are asked to act immediately to help save lives.

Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening this season’s emergency blood shortage. All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially dire for type O blood as the Red Cross is now limiting distributions of these blood products to hospitals. The supply of type O positive blood has now dropped below a one-day supply.

Help end this crisis and stabilize the blood supply. Book an appointment to give blood now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood. org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all who come to give by July 31 will receive a Fandango Movie Ticket by email (up to $15 ticket price and fees). See RedCrossBlood.org/July.

Tthose who come to give Aug. 1-31, 2026, will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card by email. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/August.

16 • The WESTCHESTER County Press • Thursday, AUGUST 13, 2026