Weekend News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on September 11, 2021
Several doctors in Western New York are pushing the State Health department to make a vaccine mandate for kids 12-17 to slow the spread of COVID 19. They cite an increase in hospitalizations among unvaccinated individuals and a fourth wave of COVID cases in Erie County. Dr. Gale Burstein, the Erie County Health commissioner says that 40 percent of new cases are vaccinated but don’t present serious illness or need to go to the hospital. Dr. Winkelstein of Jacobs School of Medicine at University at Buffalo says that as winter approaches if you combine the Delta variant with colder temperatures, Western New York could see a dramatic increase in cases and hospitalizations. The State Health Department said they are waiting for a mandate from Governor Hochul who has said she is considering it.
Congressman Chris Jacobs is protesting President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate. Jacobs wrote in a press release: I am opposed to the President’s mandates and believe he has overstepped his authority in announcing them. In addition, I disagree with the President pitting vaccinated Americans against their unvaccinated peers. This serves no public health interest and only further divides an already fractured nation. Jacobs also stated that he believes the vaccines work and are safe and credits Operation Warp Speed with getting the vaccine to 75 percent of Americans.
If you need to go to the hospital in Buffalo steer clear of Mercy Hospital. The nurses are going on strike. The nurses union at Mercy hospital have declared they intent to strike with 97 percent of the union voting to strike to protest low wages and understaffing starting within 10 days. The hospital administration says this is unconscionable and will take care workers away from patients who need them in order to walk a picket line. The nurses say this is for the greater good of the community and not just better pay.
The GCEDC Board of Directors accepted an initial application for a $4.5 million project proposed by Valiant Real Estate USA, Inc. known as New York Bus Company. The company plans to build a new 20,000 square-foot facility at the corner of Saile Drive and Call Parkway in the Town of Batavia. They are expecting to create 24 full time jobs and are requesting 430 thousand dollars in exemptions. Also Liberty Pumps is expanding their company in Bergen to the tune of 13.7 million dollars and wants to get 1.5 million in exemptions while creating 30 new jobs.
The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, September 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds. Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.
