RyeCity REVIEW THE
December 3, 2021 | Vol. 9, Number 46 | www.ryecityreview.com
In face of omicron, Hochul declares State of Emergency
Somers survives
Somers’ Matt Kapica against Rye at Middletown High Timothy Cardinal Dolan of the New York Archdiocese heldcarries mass atthe theball Westchester County School on Nov. Tuskers topped to advance to the Department of Correction on Nov. 22. The mass 26. wasThe attended by both maletheandGarnets female 14-7 residents as a show of unity and redemption in this coming holiday see page stateseason. finals For thismore, weekend. For 6.more, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
County raises awareness of mortgage fraud on elderly The Westchester County Departments of Consumer Protection and Senior Programs and Services, DSPS, have joined forces to raise awareness of older homeowners falling victim to mortgage fraud. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Office of Private Sector, criminal actors are using forgery, identity theft and online activity to target older homeowners and conceal unlawful activity from their victims, lenders and law enforcement. According to a recent report,
the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, CID, in coordination with the FBI’s Office of Private Sector, OPS, concluded that there was an increasing threat of mortgage fraud targeting the elderly homeowner equity. In response, the two County Departments are working together to put forth an informational campaign to stop instances of mortgage fraud in Westchester. “The Consumer Protection Department is engaged each day in educating the public about the latest scams,” said Jim Maisano,
director of the county Department of Consumer Protection. “Mortgage fraud is a particularly egregious scam often targeting seniors. Our best advice is to always avoid unsolicited communications to our phones, texts, emails, mail or even someone knocking on the door. Do not trust anyone who contacts you about your mortgage if you are not 100% sure who they are. If you think you have been contacted by someone engaging in mortgage fraud, call law enforcement immediately. If you
ever have questions about any possible scams, call our office at 914-995-2155.” Victims are typically homeowners without liens or judgments and who are less likely to monitor their financial accounts. These perpetrators also conduct searches of county records to identify victims and property. Homes owned but not occupied are targets as well. “We want to be sure that our seniors are informed about any FRAUD continued on page 5
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, Nov. 26 urgent action to boost hospital capacity and address staffing shortages ahead of potential spikes in COVID-19 cases this upcoming winter. Through an Executive Order signed by Hochul, the state Department of Health will be allowed to limit non-essential, non-urgent procedures for in-hospitals or systems with limited capacity to protect access to critical health care services. Limited capacity is defined as below 10% staffed bed capacity, or as determined by the Department of Health based on regional and health care utilization factors. The new protocols will begin on Friday, Dec. 3, and will be re-assessed based on the latest COVID-19 data on Jan. 15. The Executive Order will also enable New York State to acquire more quickly any critical supplies to combat the pandemic. “We’ve taken extraordinary action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and combat this pandemic. However, we continue to see warning signs of spikes this upcoming winter, and while the new Omicron variant has yet to be detected in New York State, it’s coming,” Hochul said. «In preparation, I am announcing urgent steps today to expand hospital capacity and help ensure our hospital systems can tackle any challenges posed by the pandemic as we head into the winter months. The vaccine remains one of our greatest weapons in fighting the pandemic, and I encourage every New Yorker to get vaccinated, and get the booster if you›re fully vacci-
nated. The Hochul administration continues to take comprehensive steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including mask protocols in health care and P-12 school settings, correctional facilities and detentions centers, public transportation and at transportation hubs, and implementation of the HERO Act, which requires all employers to implement workplace safety plans in response to COVID-19. The administration continues to focus on boosting vaccination rates among New Yorkers, including bolstering the state’s network of vaccine access points, and working to expand testing supplies. That also includes acting on our comprehensive plan to vaccinate school-aged children 5-17, provide incentive programs, combat vaccine misinformation campaigns, increase vaccine awareness, deploy pop-up vaccines in targeted low-vaccination areas, and implement vaccine requirements for health care workers. On Aug. 24, the vaccination rate among adults with one dose was 78.8%. Today, it is 90.2%. Further, the administration continues to ramp up booster shots and urges all New Yorkers to get the booster dose once fully vaccinated. As of Nov. 24, more than 2.2 million boosters and/or additional doses have been administered. Nearly 4,500 locations across the state are administering booster shots. The administration will continue to partner with local leaders to make vaccines, boosters and testing more widely available. (Submitted)