Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Peril from Yonkers, or Deathraceway 2020

I don't usually link to the New York Post, because it's a Rupert Murdoch rag, but I haven't seen this local interest story elsewhere... a COVID-19 outbreak in New Jersey has been traced to Yonkers Raceway, which is about a third of a mile from Casa di Bastard. Oh, poking around the t00bz, I found coverage of this story on a New Jersey news website... one of the trainers at Yonkers Raceway became Jersey's first recorded death from COVID-19. I hope this doesn't harm our standing in the 'safe cities' report. I don't want to see my beloved City of Hills (Where Nothing is on the Level) become known as the City of Peril.

In hyperlocal news, I spoke with my next door neighbor while I was putting the recycling out, and he told me that his brother was sick with COVID-19, but was well on the way to recovery. Since his case wasn't life-threatening, there really wasn't any treatment, it was just a matter of letting his immune system cope with the virus. He himself is essential personnel at work, being on the maintenance crew of a hospital, but it's masks and gloves at all time for him. My upstairs neighbors are doing well, throwing an impromptu one-on-one half-court basketball tourney, with the kids trying to best mom, with little success. I think the tables will be turned by summer's end, when they end up with a height advantage.

The neighborhood abides, with local merchants collecting donations for out of work bar and restaurant staff. I imagine that, when this thing finally runs its course and the stay-at-home order is lifted, there will be a bacchanal that makes the Solemn Feast of St Patrick look like an ice cream social. Goodness knows everybody is a little stir crazy.

Secondary title cribbed from this classic bit of B-Movie sleaze

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