By Eric Schoen
You are bombarded on the radio and television with commercials encouraging you to get the Covid-19 Vaccination as soon as you can. The President, former President, Dr. Fauci, celebrities, elected officials and other folks getting the vaccination at press conferences in the hope that it will encourage you to get vaccinated.
It’s your turn, you are computer savvy and you go on the website to schedule an appointment. The closest appointment is in Potsdam, New York. Potsdam, where people put toilets on their lawns and fill them with plastic flowers. Six hours away from Yonkers. Close to the border of New York and Canada.
You better dress warm. Maybe Senator Bernie Sanders will lend you his warm coat and beautiful, toasty mittens he wore at the Inauguration so that you can keep warm. Or maybe put some lotion on your fingers and hands that have been busy typing away on the computer trying to get an appointment for a vaccine to loosen them up and cover them with the mittens so the lotion soaks in and they feel better.
Operation Warp Speed? It’s warped. At the highest levels of government people haven’t a clue as to how many vials of vaccine are out there or how many vials of vaccine states, counties, vaccine centers and pharmacies will receive on a weekly basis. Companies put dosages of vaccines in bottles and those administering the vaccines say they are getting an extra dose out of the vial. I have no problem with the extra dose, but vaccine makers don’t how much vaccine they are putting in a uniform size vial?
Who do you have to know to get a COVID-19 vaccine. I have a relative whose doctor told her because of her health condition as soon as she can she must get the vaccine. A friend with cancer whose doctor told her to get the vaccine ASAP. And the Governor of New Jersey prioritizes people who smoke to get the vaccine over these people. That was the straw that broke the camels back.
When the vaccine first came out they published a list of pharmacies that were distributing it. I called at least a half a dozen of the pharmacies and they had no vaccines. I finally got through to a pharmacy on Allerton Avenue in the Bronx that was keeping 2 lists, one for group A and one for group B. I put my relatives name on the group B list (she is over 65) and haven’t heard a peep. My guess is that pharmacies that got the vaccines are vaccinating their customers before they vaccinate the general public. Makes sense!
New York City Mayor on television saying that Yankee Stadium and Citi Field (Shea Stadium) will open up mass vaccination centers that to date haven’t materialized due to shortage of doses. Why make these announcements making people hopeful only to have their dreams of a shot in their arm to protect them dashed!
Yes the Trump Administration is largely to blame for this mess. Somehow they feel that if you put the duties of running these programs in some Generals hands all will go well. But don’t put all the blame on this mess on Washington. The State of New York puts out these websites with names of small pharmacies all over the state that have haven’t received the vaccines nor the super cold refrigerators to store them in.
Let’s cut the crap with all these commercials encouraging us to take the vaccine when there aren’t sufficient doses available. There are enough people out there who want the vaccine but can’t register on the computer to get it. If the goal of these commercials is to make people crazy they are certainly doing a good job.
I would love to know how many elected officials and their family members have gotten the vaccines and are not sitting at the computer all day looking for an open slot. Can someone please tell me how my family member and my friend with cancer can get vaccinated?
Empty Store Fronts!
The Galleria Mall in White Plains. Opened in 1980 together with Galleria Malls in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Sherman Oaks, California. On Sunday, Sears which had been J.C. Penney when the mall opened marked down all remaining items in the store 90% going out of business. Macy’s, the other flagship store which was Abraham and Strauss (A&S) and then Sterns before taking on the Macy’s name is currently conducting going out of business sales.
When Macy’s closes The Galleria will have no flagship store!
Vernon Hill Shopping Center in Scarsdale. Lord and Taylor flagship store particularly after the closing of their New York City location. ‘Going Out Of Business’ sale chock full of merchandise from categories (rugs, housewares) they never featured prominently before. Still clothing, their signature item left for all members of the family. Even a box of $1 single women and men’s shoes for the dog to play with.
Same mall Brooks Brothers, the oldest clothing retailer in the United States, seller of luxury clothing, accessories and furnishings shuttered. Papyrus quality cards and gift items no more. Talbots, ladies clothing for all figures which was spread out among two stores now consolidated into one. Fig and Olive Restaurant with signs in the window that they are closed.
Godiva luxury chocolates in crisp gold packaging will close its doors after Valentine’s Day at the Westchester Mall. I guess people aren’t indulging in the freshly chocolate dipped strawberries in the window anymore. Want Godiva? You’ll find it in CVS or Walgreens.
Head south to Ridge Hill in Yonkers. Lord and Taylor which was supposed to be the flagship store in the outdoor mall closed at the beginning of the year. I was truly surprised it stayed open as long as it did with few people shopping in the store whenever I was there. REI sporting goods, camping equipment and clothing scheduled to close this year. Papyrus closed. Sur La Table items for the kitchen, door shuttered. Rumors that Ridge Hill will become an outlet mall, so desperately needed in the coming years.
Alamo Movie Theater looks sad all boarded up on Central Avenue in Yonkers. Design Within Reach factory outlet closed within a year. Wrong place for a store where clearance prices were insanely high. Bowtie Movie Theater in Bronxville with a phone recording that lists the movies that were playing there on March 14 of last year. Very few cars in the Showcase DeLuxe Movie Theater at Cross County. I haven’t been upstairs at Ridge Hill.
What’s the reason. Changing tastes. People order everything on line on Amazon. First run movies on your Home Screen. The Pandemic? People are afraid to go out shopping because of COVID-19?
We need to get Covid shots in people’s arms. But sadly it’s going to take a lot to fill these many empty store fronts. If we collectively think together, maybe we can come up with a solution. It’s so sad looking at all these empty storefronts! Maybe the folks at Target coming into the old
Sears/Wanamaker’s at Cross County Mall have the answer. Let’s hope so!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers.
Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
