The Siena College Research Institute released a new poll on Tuesday, December 7 that shows New York Democrats favoring Kathy Hochul at 36%, State Attorney General Letitia James at 18%, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at 10%, and Representative Tom Suozzi and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio both at 6%. 24% are still undecided or back another candidate.

The poll also found that New York State voters view creating economic opportunity, fighting crime, and managing the pandemic as the top 2022 priority for the governor and legislature.

Voters support the Build Back Better Act even though half the voters think it will increase inflation which they say will have a serious negative effect on the economy and their personal finances.

The newly diagnosed cases include two critically ill, hospitalized patients in New York City and a hospitalized man in Nassau County.

Governor Cuomo also said the number will continue to go up as testing increases, adding that he expected “significant” spread through the public.

As health officials work on addressing the virus and try to develop a vaccine – which could take more than a year – there are still a number of steps that residents can take to minimize the spread of all respiratory illnesses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Heavily soiled hands should be washed.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Stay home when you are sick;
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces;
• Stay up to date on vaccinations, including influenza.

Locally, the Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting that the novel coronavirus has led the city of Jamestown, Chautauqua County and Jamestown Public Schools to create a pandemic task force.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist says the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, Chautauqua County Emergency Services department, city officials and Jamestown Superintendent Bret Apthorpe have collaborated to form the task force.

The idea for the task force was created when Apthorpe was creating a plan for the school district and reached out to city officials about coordinating services.

Sundquist said the newly created group doesn’t have a name and its members have yet to be selected.

Fast food employees call for better wages during a 2013 rally. (image from http://www.sanders.senate.gov)

ALBANY – The minimum wage for fast food workers could soon be going up to $15 an hour.

That after a state wage board – chaired by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown – unanimously recommended the increase on Wednesday.

Under the recommendation, New York City workers will be the first to benefit, with the increase due to be in place by the end of 2018. Fast food workers in the rest of the state will have to wait until 2021 for the rise. The hike would only impact employees at restaurant chains with 30 or more units.

The move is expected to affect around 180,000 workers which are employed in the fast food industry in New York State.

The state minimum wage is currently $8.75

The panel’s recommendation must now be approved by the state labor commissioner Peter Rivera, marking the last significant hurdle before it becomes mandatory.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the minimum wage hike marked one of the really great days of his administration. And New York mayor Bill de Blasio said he would now push for every worker in the city, not just fast food staff, to get a higher salary.

Restaurant owners warned that the increase would force them to either reduce their staff numbers or increase menu prices. An attorney hired by a group of franchise owners said the group was looking into whether the decision could be challenged in court.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials held a news conference Thursday night providing more information on the case.

Health officials say Dr. Craig Spencer works with Doctors Without Borders and recently returned to New York City from West Africa, where he was working with Ebola patients in Guinea. The 33 year old physician returned more than a week ago but Thursday morning, he reported a fever and called health officials. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is now in an isolation unit.

Spencer is also a physician at New York Presbyterian, but did not return to work after his trip and did not see any patients.

Officials have identified three people who came in contact with Spencer during the relevant period of time and and they are now under quarantine.

ASTORINO CRITICAL OF STATE FOR FAILING TO PREVENT CASE

The Republican running against Gov. Cuomo in this year’s election says that the recent case of Dr. Craig Spencer being diagnosed with ebola in New York City was avoidable.

Westchester County executive and gubernatorial candidates Rob Astorino is accusing both President Obama and Gov. Cuomo of leaving JFK airport open to passengers arriving from Ebola-stricken nations – even though they knew the likelihood of an Ebola case arriving here was great. He said the two chose political correctness over public safety.

In recent weeks Astorino and other Republicans across the state – including local Senator Cathy Young of Olean – have been calling on both the president and governor to shut down JFK and Newark to potentially infected passengers as matter of common sense.

Astorino reiterated his request, saying that JFK must be shut down to passengers originating from Ebola designated nations.

Health officials have said that it would be extremely difficult to stop determine which passengers are coming from west Africa and entering the country via the New York City Airports because there is usually at least one connecting flight in Europe. Spencer came into New York from West Africa, via Brussels.