Wayne, Sullivan reps vote yes on USPS bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) and Rep. Antonio Delgado (NY-19) both voted yes on the Delivering for America Act last weekend. The bill was introduced as an effort to counter controversial changes to the U.S. Postal Service’s operational standards recently put into place by U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The House-approved legislation provides $25 billion to the Postal Service in coronavirus aid and reverts operations to the way they were on January 1 of this year. The bill now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that it is unlikely to pass.

Trump-PA lawsuit halted

PITTSBURGH, PA — President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign’s lawsuit with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over mail-in voting procedures has been halted by a federal judge.

Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan put a “stay” on the case until October 5, giving the court time to see whether the electoral issues raised by Trump’s campaign are decided or narrowed by the state courts in that time. (See page 5 for background on the lawsuit.)

Cuomo extends commercial eviction moratorium

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed an executive order extending the state’s moratorium on COVID-related commercial evictions and foreclosures an additional month, until September 20. This measure extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants. The extension of this protection gives commercial tenants and mortgagors additional time to get back on their feet and catch up on rent or renegotiate their leasing terms to avoid eviction proceedings and foreclosures moving forward.

PA tightens school mask guidance

HARRISBURG, PA — The PA Department of Health and Department of Education have recently provided more specific mask-wearing guidelines for students in school.

The state has laid out just three instances when students should be permitted to take off their masks in school: when eating or drinking at least six feet apart, when wearing a face mask would create an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or perform a task, and during designated “mask breaks,” which must go on for no longer than 10 minutes.

Legislature forms broadband LDC

MONTICELLO, NY — After learning that a wireless broadband project could reach up to 60 percent of the population, the Sullivan County Legislature unanimously agreed to create the Broadband Access Local Development Corporation (LDC).

Cell-based broadcast equipment is proposed to be mounted on a total of 12 towers. Information Technology Services Commissioner Lorne Green said that the county will be able to provide up to 200 Mbps service, compared to 6-7 Mbps with DSL service.

Legislators authorized Green and his staff to launch a pilot project later this year in the Monticello area. The county aims to roll out the service across Sullivan, utilizing a mixture of grants and revenue from subscribers to the service.

NYS private-sector job count grows faster than U.S.

ALBANY, NY — According to a release from the NYS Department of Labor, in July 2020, the number of private-sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 244,200, or 3.6 percent, to 7,116,200. In comparison, the U.S. private-sector job count grew by 1.3 percent in July 2020.

New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 15.6 percent to 15.9 percent in July 2020, and the number of unemployed New York State residents increased by 60,000, while labor force levels increased by 204,800. 

SUNY Sullivan closes residents halls

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — SUNY Sullivan has announced that campus residence halls will not be opened for the fall semester.

Remote instruction modalities will remain the same as previously planned. Courses that do not require specialized equipment will be taught at a distance, limiting both faculty and student traffic on campus and further reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure. Classes that involve laboratory experiences or clinical experiences will include in-person instruction. Certain classes will be conducted in a hybrid environment with a combination of in-person and distance learning instruction. And student support activities, such as tutoring, advising, counseling, and club activities, all of which help provide the full college experience, will take place in virtually networked communities.

The administration has implemented mask mandates, installed plexiglass barriers in communal areas, increased cleaning and sanitizing intervals and placed hand-sanitizing stations throughout the campus.

Lake Huntington woodchuck tests positive for rabies

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan County Public Health Services is advising the public that a groundhog (woodchuck) tested positive for rabies after attacking an individual in the Town of Cochecton near Lake Huntington. The person is being treated for rabies exposure.  

Public Health has advised that the best way to keep pets safe from rabies is to get them vaccinated and keep their shots up to date. If your pet is injured by a rabid animal, contact your veterinarian to get medical attention. Even if your pet has been vaccinated, a booster dose of rabies vaccine may be needed within five days of the incident. Pets that are too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors and allowed outside only under direct supervision. Contact your local health department to determine what follow-up may be needed.

Milford COVID relief funds organizations

MILFORD, PA — Thousands of dollars in grants have been awarded to qualified nonprofit and government organizations from the Milford COVID Relief Fund, (MCRF) administered by Greater Pike Community Foundation. The grants will help offset a decline in donations, memberships and fundraising due to the pandemic. More than $50,000 has been raised and more than a dozen organizations have received grants so far.