COVID-19 UpdateAs of Tuesday, April 14th, 60,606 residents have been tested for COVID-19. Approximately one-third, 20,191 people, have tested positive for the virus. Here in the Town of New Castle there are 86 COVID-19 positive cases – although we fully recognize that this under-represents the number of positive cases since many residents who were in good health with only mild symptoms were told to self-quarantine. Sadly, we have lost 596 Westchester County residents to this disease, and we know that this number will continue to rise. There is however some positive news: with each passing day it appears more likely that we are flattening the curve. Whether we have in fact flattened the curve, or if this is a plateau remains to be seen, and depends on our actions, but we are hopeful. In New Castle, we can take some measure of pride in our low number of positive cases, at 0.45% New Castle boasts one of the lowest percentage of positive cases when compared to the total population. I recognize that this is correlated population density and household income, and I am cognizant that the county numbers tell a sad story about racial and economic inequality. Continuing to flatten the curve relies on all of you – staying home, continuing to practice social distancing, not becoming complacent or nonchalant. We can do this New Castle! Guidance on ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES and PPE:On Sunday, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.16 which states that: For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees. This provision may be enforced by local governments or local law enforcement as if it were an order pursuant to section 12 or 12-b of the Public Health Law. This requirement shall be effective Wednesday, April 15 at 8 p.m. If you know of an essential business that is not in compliance, please reach out to the police desk 238-4422 and we will follow-up. Extension of Local State of EmergencyPursuant to New York State Executive Law on March 17, 2020 New Castle Town Supervisor Ivy A. Pool issued a Proclamation of Local State of Emergency to protect life and health and to control the emergency situation. The State of Local Emergency, shall continue to be in effect for an additional thirty (30) days and shall terminate on May 14, 2020, unless sooner rescinded or extended. Property TaxesCounty and local tax bills were mailed to residents on April 1st. The deadline to pay your taxes is April 30th. The Westchester County Board of Legislators is currently considering legislation to greatly reduce penalties for late payment, to provide relief to all residents and those that have suffered economic hardship due to COVID-19. The Town of New Castle has advocated for residents and supports this proposal. We will communicate with you when the details are known. However, we ask all residents – if you can pay on time, please do! Our local budget and the services we provide depend on these revenues. Unlike federal and state income tax, which is usually withheld throughout the year and sometimes refunded as a result of the annual filing, local and County taxes are collected through this annual process. We expect the results of the County BOL’s deliberations on Friday, April 17th. To learn more, I encourage you to visit the County BOL website: Westchesterlegislators.com Think Twice about LEAF BLOWERS: Be a Good NeighborBe a good neighbor by limiting your use of leaf blowers to reduce harmful particulates and decrease noise pollution while we are all working from home! Many of our friends and neighbors suffer from seasonal allergies and other respiratory issues, and we know that 86 New Castle residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Do your part by limiting lawn maintenance to essential activities! While New York State has not weighed in on whether a leaf blower is considered an essential tool, each of us should think about whether a leaf blower is essential to maintaining your property at this time. Consider the health of your neighbors – we are all in this together! COVID-19 Resource GuideThe Town of New Castle has created an online resource guide for residents, which compiles all of our guidance from previous e-Newsletters, and contains important links to State and County resources. Con Edison and Post Storm Power RestorationUnfortunately, high winds had a negative impact on restoration timelines for residents with power outages due to the recent storm. However, Con Edison was able to restore power for all but 7 residents as of the estimated time of restoration of 11PM on Tuesday, April 14th. I would like to thank Town Administrator Jill Shapiro, Police Chief Jim Carroll, and the entire Town Hall staff for their collective efforts to coordinate restoration and road re-opening activities. Thanks! |